| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09713105B2 |
Method of efficiently reporting user equipment transmission power and apparatus thereof
A method and an apparatus for efficiently transmitting or reporting a Power Headroom Report (PHR) of a User Equipment (UE) are provided. The method of transmitting the PHR of the UE in a mobile communication system includes configuring an extended PHR including an indicator corresponding to a variation factor of a maximum transmission power of the UE, and transmitting the extended PHR from the UE to a Base Station (BS). The BS may be notified of a maximum transmission power of the UE and a variation factor corresponding to the maximum transmission power in order to enable efficient scheduling. |
| US09713104B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting power headroom in carrier aggregation scenario
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for reporting power headroom in a carrier aggregation context. By applying the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, PHR MAC CE and a corresponding MAC sub-header are determined according to the number of uplink component carriers needing to report power headroom and a type of the power headroom to be reported, and indication information such as length information of the PHR MAC CE, type information of the power headroom, and information about whether the power headroom is virtual power headroom is carried therein, so that a base station can precisely obtain the power headroom of each uplink component carrier. In this way, the problem that the PHR MAC CE format in the current LTE Rel-8/9 is not applicable to an LTE-A system is solved. |
| US09713102B2 |
System and method for mapping potential Internet Protocol television interference
A device is disclosed for determining a first geographical location of a customer premise, a second geographical location of a radio frequency transmitter and a third geographical location of network access equipment proximal to the customer premises, wherein the network access equipment provides access to media signals by way of a broadband communications link. The first, second and third geographical locations are mapped, and a distance between the second geographical location and one of the first geographical location or the third geographical location is determined. The distance is compared to a threshold distance based on a signal transmission power of the radio frequency transmitter, and a mitigation strategy is determined to limit interference of the radio frequency transmitter on the media signals provided to the first geographical location when the distance is less than the threshold distance. |
| US09713096B2 |
Method of terminal transmitting sounding reference signal on the basis of aperiodic sounding reference signal triggering and method for controlling uplink transmission power to transmit aperiodic sounding reference signal
The method of the terminal transmitting the SRS on the basis of the aperiodic SRS triggering according to the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving a plurality of aperiodic SRS configuration information from the base station; receiving an aperiodic SRS transmission triggering indicator from the base station; selecting the specific aperiodic SRS configuration information among the plurality of aperiodic SRS configuration information on the basis of at least one among a sub-frame index for receiving the aperiodic SRS transmission triggering indicator, a time relation between the aperiodic SRS transmission sub-frames, and an uplink channel state; and transmitting an aperiodic SRS for the aperiodic SRS transmission triggering indicator on the basis of the selected aperiodic SRS configuration information, the plurality of aperiodic SRS configuration information including the information about a resource for transmitting the aperiodic SRS corresponding to the aperiodic SRS transmission triggering indicator. In addition, according to the present invention, the terminal can be used for receiving a power offset value for transmitting the aperiodic SRS from the base station and determining a transmission power value for transmitting the aperiodic SRS. |
| US09713086B2 |
Method for controlling power of RRH in cloud RAN environment
Disclosed are: a power control method for receiving a measurement report message with respect to an RRH from a terminal, transmitting RAT information to the terminal, receiving a wake-up request message and setting a power state of the RRH to switch-on; and a power control method for determining switch-off of the RRH on the basis of the measurement report message from the terminal, transmitting an RRH state change request message to BBUs, transmitting an RRH state change command message, switching the RRH and setting the power state of the RRH to switch-off, in a cloud RAN environment in which the RRH and the BBUs are separated. |
| US09713085B2 |
Dynamic activation and deactivation of access points
A network selection device may determine that a communication between a user device and a first network device should be transferred from the first network device to a second network device that is in an idle state; output an instruction to cause the second network device to exit the idle state and communicate with the user device; determine that the second network device is unused or underutilized; and output, based on determining that the second network device is unused or underutilized, an instruction to cause the second network device to reenter the idle state. |
| US09713083B2 |
LTE advanced service indicator
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments there is at least an apparatus and method to perform receiving an indication of advanced services of an area associated with the communication network, in response to the indication of advanced services, determining a relative performance improvement of the advanced services for the device, and based on the determined relative performance improvement, setting an indication flag at the device. Further, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments, perform sending towards a user equipment information including an indication of an advanced service area available to the user equipment, where the information is for use by the user equipment in determining whether accessing the advanced service area would provide a relative operational performance to the user equipment, and in response to the sending, receiving an indication of one of the user equipment displaying an indication of the advanced service area, and the user equipment accessing the advanced service area. |
| US09713078B2 |
System and method for determining mobile data quality over a network
A computer-implemented system is disclosed for determining mobile data quality over a network. The system includes one or more processors configured to execute computer program steps, the computer program steps comprising: collecting data from a mobile device; and determining an optimal an available WIFI network or cellular network for data transmission. |
| US09713077B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing handoff control in wireless networks via programmable black and white lists
A hierarchy of controllers that are part of a communication network include: (1) a network controller at the top of the hierarchy having direct access to at least one subscription profile, ProfileUE, associated with at least one User Equipment (UE), (2) a radio access network (RAN) controller located at a level directly beneath the network controller receiving the subscription profile, ProfileUE, from the network controller, (3) a base station controller associated with a base station and located beneath the RAN controller in the hierarchy, (4) a UE controller associated with an UE located beneath the base station controller in the hierarchy. The RAN controller, based on information in the received subscription profile, ProfileUE, delegates handoff decisions to either the base station controller or the UE controller, and the RAN controller makes such delegation decisions by programming a per UE White List (WLUE) and a per UE Black List (BLUE), the WLUE comprising a programmable list of candidate base stations with which the UE is permitted to conduct handoff operations, and the BLUE comprising another programmable list of base stations with which the UE is not permitted to conduct handoff operations. |
| US09713074B2 |
Network association in an environment with hidden networks
Embodiments of the invention perform a preliminary scan for information automatically transmitted by available wireless access points. The information transmitted by access points (e.g., identity information) and information derived from the transmission (e.g., signal strength) is used to prioritize the available wireless access points before direct scanning takes place. |
| US09713071B2 |
Provisioning external identifiers
The present invention provides a method, an apparatus and computer program product relating to provisioning external identifiers. The present invention includes receiving a request including an interworking function address, a subscriber identifier, a device identifier and at least one application identifier, generating, by the interworking function or by a home subscriber server, at least one external identifier based on the received subscriber identifier, device identifier and at least one application identifier. |
| US09713070B1 |
Regional conditional access
In one embodiment, a system includes a control word processor to generate first regional-specific control word formation data items (RSCWFDI), for a first geographical sub-region of a primary geographical region which includes different geographical sub-regions, for use over cryptoperiods, the first RSCWFDI being used in generating control words in receiver-decoder devices, an encryption engine to encrypt content with the control words over the cryptoperiods yielding encrypted content, a first transmission apparatus to broadcast the first RSCWFDI and the encrypted content in the primary geographic region, and a communication interface to share data about second RSCWFDI of the first geographical sub-region with at least one regional transmission apparatus of the first geographical sub-region operative to broadcast the second RSCWFDI of the geographical sub-region in the geographical sub-region, wherein each control word may be generated in the receiver-decoder devices using one of first and one second RSCWFDI. |
| US09713066B2 |
Mobile access point connection switching
In one aspect, mobile access point devices may provide client devices access to an internet service provider. The mobile access point may communicate with the internet service provider via a cellular connection or a Wi-Fi connection. As the Wi-Fi connection may cause data service access failures due to, for example, firewalls, protocol limitations, or application layer gateways, allowing the mobile access point device to dynamically determine which mode of communication will reach the internet service provider can ensure more efficient service provisioning to the client devices. Packet filters may be maintained at the mobile access point device which identify which connections should be established via cellular and which should be established via Wi-Fi. |
| US09713064B2 |
Schedule for access to shared wireless medium based on profile data
A schedule for access to a shared wireless medium by a device is based on profile data and an algorithm. |
| US09713062B2 |
Implicit signalling method for bearer management
Implicit signalling method for bearer management in a communication network with transporting bearer resource request message of both the UE and RN via Base station to managing entity of RN within EPC, as a signalling message over uplink channel referred to as ‘Union of Resource Request (UR Request)’ message. The bearer resource response message referred to as ‘Implicit Admission Response (IA Response)’ from one of the management entity of UE or management entities of UE and RN within EPC are transported as a signalling message to Evolved Packet Edge (EPE) via Base station over the downlink channel. This manages bearer setup signalling as a single loop, by transportation of ‘UR Request’ signalling message and receiving one “IA Response” signalling message over uplink and downlink channels respectively. EPE is a conglomeration of network nodes made of UEs, RNs and all other network nodes that communicate over EPC via Base station. |
| US09713059B2 |
Mobile communications handover
A cellular telephone handover process, mediated by a mobile terminal or a base station, is controlled in accordance with Quality of service Control Indicators (QCIs) such that the base station to which handover is made (if any) is selected according to parameters which relate to the capability of each base station to handle the session or sessions currently is use. Handover may also be initiated if the user initiates an application not supported by the base station currently in use. If the session is running an application with a low latency threshold (e.g., conversational voice call), and a handover could only be achieved by interrupting the session by a “release with redirection” process, the handover is not proceeded with. |
| US09713056B2 |
Switching and aggregation of small cell wireless traffic
A small cell controller for switching and aggregating wireless data between a cellular network and a noncellular network is disclosed. The small cell controller may include a cellular interface to communicate data with the cellular network, a noncellular interface to communicate data with the noncellular network, and an analyzer configured to determine whether a portion of the wireless data may be transferred from the cellular network to the noncellular network, and determine a first portion of the noncellular network to be allocated to the portion of the wireless data when the portion of the wireless data may be transferred. |
| US09713055B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing NAS signaling request in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for processing a NAS signaling request. A method for performing a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling process by means of a terminal in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a step of receiving a first message that includes information indicating a network failure from a network node of a first network; a step of starting a timer relating to a network selection; and a step of selecting a second network from among network candidates excluding the first network during the operation of the timer relating to a network selection. |
| US09713053B2 |
Network traffic redirection (NTR) in long term evolution (LTE)
The present invention is directed towards methods and systems for redirecting roaming network traffic in an LTE network. The methods include observing a registration process of a subscriber in a visited network. The methods further include, upon successful registration, sending one or more messages to the visited network to induce a re-registration attempt by the subscriber to another visited network. |
| US09713051B2 |
Session aware access point load balancing
The present disclosure discloses a method and a network device for session aware access point load balancing. Specifically, a network device monitors data corresponding to a plurality of client devices associated with a first access point. Then, the network device determines whether the data matches particular criteria. Responsive to determining that the data matches the particular criteria, the network device select at least a first client device of the plurality of client devices for disassociation and/or de-authentication. Moreover, the network device causes disassociation and/or de-authentication of the first client device from the first access point. |
| US09713050B2 |
Aggregation of carriers of a cellular radio network with carriers of an auxiliary network
A method and devices for integrating a cellular radio network with a WiFi network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes selecting, at a base station having a cellular radio subsystem and a WiFi radio subsystem, at least one of a cellular radio network carrier and a WiFi carrier to carry at least one data flow from the base station to a user equipment. The method further includes transmitting, from the base station to a user equipment, a control signal to cause the user equipment to select at least one of a cellular radio subsystem of the user equipment and a WiFi radio subsystem of the user equipment to receive the selected at least one of the cellular radio network carrier and the WiFi carrier. Data from the at least one data flow is transmitted on the at least one selected carrier. |
| US09713049B2 |
User equipment and methods for measurement of reference signal received quality
Embodiments of UE and methods for measurement of Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) are generally described herein. The UE may be configured to determine an RSRQ of a serving cell and an RSRQ of a target cell based on an indicated RSRQ measurement type. The measurement type may be received as part of a measurement configuration Information Element (IE) that indicates a first or second RSRQ measurement type. For the first RSRQ measurement type, the RSRQ may be determined based on a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) over common reference signals (CRS). For the second RSRQ measurement type, the RSRQ may be determined based on an RSSI that is based on a received power of one or more Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols received at the UE. |
| US09713048B2 |
Method for measurement in wireless communication system and apparatus for the same
A method for measuring performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: camping on a serving cell operating on a serving frequency; receiving a reselection priority information, the reselection priority information indicating signaled priorities for the serving frequency and a inter-frequency; determining whether to apply an implicit highest priority to the serving frequency for measurement; and measuring the inter-frequency based on the signaled priorities. The step of the determining comprises: wherein if the UE receives a logged measurement configuration for a logged Minimization Driving Test (MDT) and a type of the serving cell is a predetermined type, determining to apply a signaled priority for the serving frequency indicated by the reselection priority indication. |
| US09713047B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing UE identification
A method and an apparatus in a base station of a cellular radio system for identifying whether user equipment, UE, is in a first UE group or a second UE group. A speed of any UE in the first UE group is higher than a speed of any UE in the second UE group. The method comprises: detecting one or more handover failure events of at least one of the first UE group and the second UE group; determining whether there is any UE misidentified in the first or second UE group based on the one or more handover failure events; and in response to determining that there is a UE misidentified in the first or second UE group, adjusting at least one of the criteria of identifying a UE as in the first UE group and the criteria of identifying a UE as in the second UE group. |
| US09713046B2 |
RAN assistance parameter reporting for LTE-WLAN interworking control and management
Methods for LTE-WLAN interworking control and management are proposed. In one novel aspect, a mobile termination (MT) can use an AT command to report radio access network (RAN) assistance parameters of the current serving cell. A terminal equipment (TE) can use the AT command to query the specific RAN assistance parameters and the threshold value provided by the network for making LTE-WLAN interworking decisions. If reporting is enabled by TE, then an unsolicited result code (URC) is sent from MT to TE whenever changes in the current RAN assistance parameters occur. |
| US09713045B2 |
Repurposing protocol messages to facilitate handoff
A control element identifies the possibility that a station will transfer to a destination AP, and prepares that destination for a handoff. The control element repurposes messages from the station which indicate a possible near-term handoff, to prepare access points to receive that handoff. The control element treats a neighbor list request as a trigger to select which AP's to identify, to restrict the neighbor list to selected AP's, and to prepare each selected AP for a handoff. In selecting a destination AP, the control element also selects a particular set of related features for the combination of that AP and BSS. When an AP receives a repurposed message, it informs the control element, which selects destination AP's for transfer. The control element treats the repurposed message like a probe request. The control element prepares more than one AP for transfer if handoff is possible to more than one AP. |
| US09713040B2 |
Communication system, mobile terminal, router, and mobility management entity
With the deployment of the Mobile Routers, some of the mobile devices would access the IP services, e.g. Remote Local IP Access (LIPA), via the local connections provided by the Mobile Router. In such cases, the mobile devices may be detached from the 3GPP access, and thus lose the capability of receiving certain services, e.g. CS domain related services. This invention presented a solution to allow the mobile device to continue enjoying the services provided via 3GPP access by placing the mobile device into a special state and binding Mobile Router's context with the mobile device's context. In this way, the mobile operator's core network would be able to trigger the mobile device to receive the CS service even its 3GPP access connections are removed. |
| US09713039B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for enabling managed remote access
Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for handover of a Wireless Transmitter/Receiver Unit (WTRU) moving between a local network and another network. The WTRU established a local IP access (LIPA) session in the local network via a first Access Point (AP). The method includes receiving, by a second AP in the other network, a request to connect to the other network; and transitioning the LIPA session in the local IP network to a managed remote access (MRA) session in the other network. The transitioning includes establishing a path between the first AP and the second AP via a gateway, and informing the gateway of the transition to the MRA session. |
| US09713036B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a distributed interworking based on user equipment throughput
A method and apparatus may include estimating a metric value relating to a first user equipment and an access point, without relying on actual data transmitted by the access point to the first user equipment. The method may also include estimating a quality degradation to the at least one second user equipment if at least part of the traffic of the first user equipment is routed to the access point. The method may also include performing routing of at least part of the traffic of the first user equipment based on the estimated metric value and the estimated degradation. |
| US09713033B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data packets and method and apparatus for receiving data packets
A data packet structure conveys data of service data units (SDU) using protocol data units (PDU). The data packet structure includes a data packet payload having at least one protocol data unit (PDU). A protocol data unit (PDU) includes a service data unit (SDU) or a fragment of a service data unit and a data packet header including an indicator indicating whether or not the data packet payload begins with a protocol data unit (PDU) being a fragment of a service data unit and whether or not the data packet payload ends with a protocol data unit (PDU) being a fragment of a service data unit. |
| US09713024B2 |
Measurement configuration and reporting method for multi-carrier system and device thereof
The present invention discloses a measurement configuration and reporting method for multi-carrier system and device thereof, and the method comprises the following steps: eNB sends RRC signaling carrying multi-carrier measurement configuration information to the terminal; said terminal measures according to said multi-carrier measurement configuration information and carries multi-carrier measurement results in measurement report message. In the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal carries multi-carrier measurement results in measurement report message according to RRC signaling sent by eNB to quickly provide measurement results required during eNB handover, thus facilitating source eNB to perform multi-carrier handover for UE under CA. |
| US09713023B2 |
Techniques for measurement filtering for wireless systems
An example technique may include measuring a wireless link between a user device and an access point to obtain a first set of measurement values, detecting that the wireless link is temporarily blocked during the measuring, modifying, based on the wireless link being temporarily blocked, the first set of measurement values to obtain a second set of measurement values, and sending, to a network device, a report indicating the second set of measurement values. |
| US09713017B2 |
Method and device for determining radio link failure reason
The disclosure claims a method and a device for determining a Radio Link Failure (RLF) reason, wherein a UE has an RLF in a first eNB where the UE is located, and successfully establishes a RRC with a second eNB. The method includes that: the UE sends RLF information to the first eNB, wherein the RLF information includes at least one of the following: the ambient signal quality information recorded by the UE when the RRC is established successfully, the location information of the UE when the RLF occurs, and the location information of the UE when the RRC is successfully established; the first eNB determines the RLF reason according to the RLF information. The disclosure solves the problem that the RLF reason cannot be judged accurately in the conventional art, and enables the network side to obtain more accurate and comprehensive information. |
| US09713015B2 |
Method by which base station transmits signal for coverage coordination in wireless communication system and device for same
The present invention relates to a method by which a base station transmits a signal for coverage coordination in a wireless communication system and a device for the same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a coordinating base station receives coverage related information from each of a first base station and a second base station, performs a coverage coordination procedure by using the coverage related information of the first and second base stations and transmits a signal for coverage coordination, which is determined according to the result of performing the coverage coordination procedure, to each of the first and second base stations, wherein the coverage coordination procedure includes determining whether the second base station can supplement the coverage of the first base station when the first base station switches to an idle mode. |
| US09713012B2 |
Methods, devices and systems for enabling simultaneous operation of different technology based devices over a shared frequency spectrum
In one example embodiment, a device includes a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions therein and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to determine a first signal of a first technology in presence of interference from at least a second signal of a second technology, the first signal and the second signal being overlappingly transmitted, the determined first signal being used for processing of information associated with the first signal. |
| US09713011B2 |
Managing radar detection in wireless network that uses frequency-division duplexing
An apparatus, configured to communicate with other apparatuses in a wireless network and operating in a frequency-division duplexing mode, can be caused to refrain from transmitting during a number of subframes of a frame of a downlink frequency band prior to a detection of a radar transmission, can be caused to send a first signal, related to monitoring for the radar transmission, to a second apparatus, and can be caused to change the number of the subframes of the frame of the downlink frequency band in response to an event that can be an increase or a decrease in a load of the apparatus or the detection of the radar transmission. Optionally, placement of the subframes within the frame of the downlink frequency band can correspond to placement of subframes that are designated for an uplink communication within a frame configured in accordance with the Long-Term Evolution Time-Division Duplex standard. |
| US09713005B2 |
Apparatus and method of location based telecommunication authorization
An apparatus and method directed to automated call screening, and specifically the utilization of location history of a call recipient to determine call authorization, are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a computer readable medium embodied in an article of manufacture is encoded with instructions for directing a processor to receive a request from a first device to communicate with a second device. The processor is further directed to determine at least one location associated with the first device, determine an authorization for the request based at least in part upon the at least one location associated with the first device and at least one prior location of the second device, and transmit the request to the second device in accordance with the authorization. |
| US09712999B1 |
Digest of biographical information for an electronic device with static and dynamic portions
A method of managing a lifecycle of a mobile communication device. The method comprises storing a biographical digest in a radio frequency identity chip of the mobile communication device at the time of manufacture of the communication device, wherein the biographical digest comprises information about the device and comprises a static portion and a dynamic portion. The method further comprises activating the device for wireless communication service; after activating the device, deactivating the device for wireless communication service; and after deactivating the device, writing a device status of the dynamic portion of the biographical digest in the radio frequency identity chip of the device to a value of dead, whereby the device is prevented from being activated for wireless communication service after once having the device status of the dynamic portion of the biographical digest in the radio frequency identity chip of the device written to the dead value. |
| US09712998B2 |
Creation and management of RFID device versions
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that creates, manages, or maintains multiple device versions in a network of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices. The system can include components that detect whether a device has joined the network and based at least in part on such indication creates a device profile the first time that the device is detected, establishes a version trail containing configuration settings specific to the detected device, and thereafter builds and maintains the version trail when the device joins and/or leaves the network. |
| US09712995B2 |
Method and device for performing group communication using direct communication between terminals in wireless communication system
The present application discloses a method of performing group communication using user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. In particular, the method includes: detecting a first group of discovery signals having a first tier counter value; generating a second group of discovery signals having a second tier counter value by using the first value; and transmitting the second group of discovery signals to another UE, wherein the tier counter indicates a tier value to which the UE belongs based on an initially activated UE or base station in the group communication. |
| US09712992B2 |
System, method and devices related to radio communication equipment
A system in radio communication comprising a controller, a first device, and a second device is provided. The first device is associated with a first particular sector of a radio communication cell and the second device is associated with a second particular sector of the radio communication cell. The first device comprises a first sector indicating hardware and the second device comprises a second sector indicating hardware. The first and second sector indicating hardware each comprises a first visual sector information relating to the first particular sector such that the first visual sector information is visible to a human, and a first electronically readable sector information relating to the first particular sector. Each device comprises a first reading arrangement for reading the electronically readable sector information. |
| US09712989B2 |
Communication control method, base station, and user terminal
A communication control method is used in a mobile communication system that supports cellular communication in which a data path passes through a core network, and D2D communication that is direct device-to-device communication in which a data path does not pass through the core network. The communication control method comprises: a transmission step of transmitting, by a first user terminal that camps on a cell of a first base station, a discovery-use signal related to the discovery of a proximal terminal be capable of a communication partner of the D2D communication; and a notification step of notifying, by a communication device, the first base station of interference information related to the received discovery-use signal in response to the communication device receiving the discovery-use signal. |
| US09712988B2 |
Mobile communication terminal, and system and method for safety service using same
The present invention provides a mobile communication terminal and a system and method for safety service using the terminal for checking the user's location and a situation of the surroundings of the user at the time of an emergency such as kidnapping, accident, and so on. |
| US09712984B1 |
System and method for sending messages
A system for exchanging messages between a business user and a mobile device, and methods for making and using the same. The system may include a business server, an application programming interface (“API”) and/or an SMS database. The business server may be configured to exchange messages with the business user and to obtain a public identifier for the business user to enable duplex message exchange between the business user and the mobile device by either retrieving the public identifier or associating the business user with the mobile device and a public identifier. The business user may be unambiguously determined according to the public identifier or a combination of the mobile device and the public identifier, which may enable the mobile device to direct a reply message to the business user that may be the sender of a direct message. |
| US09712978B2 |
System and method for monitoring locations of mobile devices
A method of identifying mobile computing devices includes sending a request from a first mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device for the location of the second mobile computing device, and receiving the location of the second mobile computing device at the first mobile computing device. The method further includes providing a notification to one of the first and second mobile computing devices based upon the location of the second mobile computing device. |
| US09712977B2 |
Determining exit from a vehicle
Methods and mobile devices determine an exit from a vehicle. Sensors of a mobile device can be used to determine when the user is in a vehicle that is driving. The same or different sensors can be used to identify a disturbance (e.g., loss of communication connection from mobile device to a car computer). After the disturbance, an exit confidence score can be determined at various times, and compared to a threshold. A determination of the exit of the user can be determined based on the comparison of the exit confidence score to the threshold. The mobile device can perform one or more functions in response to the exit confidence score exceeding the threshold, such as changing a user interface e.g., of a navigation app) or obtaining a location to designate a parking location. |
| US09712973B2 |
Method of selecting a SIM for a location service and multi-SIM device utilizing the same
A method of selecting a SIM for a location service and a multi-SIM device utilizing the same are disclosed. The method, adopted by a multi-SIM device, includes: acquiring Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) information from a corresponding communications network which each SIM is in connection with; determining which communications network supports a location service based on the SUPL information; and requesting the location service on a SIM that is in connection with the supported communications network. |
| US09712972B2 |
Method, system and device for determining close proximity of two or more persons
Provided is a computer implemented method of determining that two or more members of a subscription group are in close proximity to each other. The method comprises the steps of enabling a mobile electronic device of at least one member of the subscription group to use a short range wireless communication module to detect other mobile electronic devices. In response to detecting, the detecting mobile electronic device receives and stores a unique identifier for each detected other mobile electronic device. A processor compares each stored unique identifier with known unique identifiers of mobile electronic devices of members of said subscription group. As a consequence of the comparing step, the processor determines that two or more members of the subscription group are in close proximity to each other if at least one of the stored unique identifiers matches one of the known unique identifiers of mobile electronic devices of members of the subscription group. This method can be used to infer that the two or more members of the group are sharing the same vehicle for a journey. When one of the mobile electronic devices is detected as having reached a location on or within a boundary of a geo-fence associated with a carpark, data is communicated to a system or device of a third party associated with the carpark to alert the third party and/or provide the third party with data indicative of an identity of the vehicle and/or its driver to enable the driver to access car-parking spaces allocated to car share vehicles. |
| US09712967B2 |
Systems and methods for object tracking using wireless beacons
A method for distributing micro-location-based notifications to a computing device includes receiving a unique identifier associated with a first entity, the unique identifier collected from a wireless beacon by a computing device proximal the wireless beacon, receiving identification of a second entity affiliated with the wireless beacon from the first entity; and in response to positive identification of the second entity as an authorized entity, authorizing delivery of a communication from the second entity, the communication executing on the computing device responsive to receipt of the unique identifier at the computing device. |
| US09712966B2 |
Apparatus, method and process of influencing information gathered by a tethered item and computer-readable medium thereof
A tethered item is associated with an identifier that uniquely identifies the item, and one or more content processing devices execute obtaining an identifier of the item, and correlating the obtained item identifier with information related to the tethered item. |
| US09712964B2 |
Maintaining privacy in location-based operations
Various approaches discussed herein enable techniques for managing privacy with respect to location-based operations, for example by receiving point of interest (POI) data corresponding to location data such as global positioning service (GPS) data at a computing device along with various location-based rules, which when satisfied, result in attribution events being generated that indicate various characteristics associated with POIs in the POI data. The attribution events are then sent to a server without compromising the location privacy of the computing device, because the location of the computing device is not included with the attribution events. |
| US09712962B2 |
Public and private geo-fences
Embodiments for implementing public and private geo-fences are generally described herein. A system comprises a geo-fence server adapted to: receive geographical coordinates of a device; determine that the device is located in a geo-fence; determine a type of the geo-fence; and transmit a notification to the device based on the type of the geo-fence. A mobile device for using person-to-person geo-fences is adapted to: receive a geo-fence object; store the geo-fence object at the mobile device; subsequent to storing the geo-fence object, obtain a geographical position of the mobile device; determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fence based on the geographical position; determine whether the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence; and present the geo-fence object when the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence. |
| US09712961B2 |
System and method for electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location
A method and system are provided providing electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location. Mobile devices determine geographic location information based on signals received from external devices, such as GPS satellites or cell sites, and web browsers determine geographic location using external devices or third party software, such as Google Loader, or based on the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The system receives geographic location information from a mobile device or web browser in addition to a user-input message. The system distributes the message to users of the system with geographic locations within a predetermined distance from the geographic location that the message was input. |
| US09712953B2 |
Asset monitoring and tracking with a distributed Bluetooth low energy (BTLE) sensor system of heterogeneous sensors over wireless networks
One or more Bluetooth assets having a Bluetooth radio are associated with a specific set of business rules by enterprise users. Scan event data is received from at least one of a plurality of Bluetooth sensors having Bluetooth radios, wirelessly distributed around a communication network. The scan event data results from a scan event wherein the Bluetooth asset was within range of the at least one Bluetooth sensor. The scan event is analyzed against the business rules. Responsive to determining that at scan event meets at least one condition of at least one of the specific set of business rules, a notification can be sent. One specific implementation in a smart car seat safety system notifies a parent when a child is unintentionally left in a smart car seat. |
| US09712952B2 |
Network access method, device, and system
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a network access method and device. The method includes: establishing a Bluetooth connection to a Bluetooth terminal; receiving, by using the Bluetooth connection, a network access request sent by the Bluetooth terminal; and if the Bluetooth terminal is an authorized device, activating a Bluetooth network sharing function automatically and forwarding the network access request to a wide area network. In the network access method and device provided in the present invention, a simple process and low time consumption are achieved for network access. |
| US09712944B2 |
Simultaneous multiline M2M activation
A computing device uses an integration module to manage bulk activation orders placed for machine-to-machine (M2M) devices. The integration module is configured to receive an M2M bulk activation order from a first user, where the M2M bulk activation order has information associated with a plurality of electronic devices. The integration module provides a single extensible markup language (XML) device identification request to a first database to identify a plurality of M2M devices from the plurality of electronic devices. The integration module also requests, via an XML number reservation request, a unique number for each respective M2M device of the first plurality of M2M devices. The integration module then employs the unique numbers to activate the plurality of M2M devices. After activation, the integration module may notify the user via a notification that the plurality of M2M devices have been activated. |
| US09712941B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing application service in a mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing application service in a mobile communication system. A method in which a base station provides application service comprises: a step of receiving a request for application service from a mobile terminal; and a step of providing the mobile terminal with the requested application service on the basis of application service information pre-stored in the base station and/or application service information received from an application server, in accordance with whether or not the application service information corresponding to the requested application service is pre-stored in the base station. |
| US09712939B2 |
Panning of audio objects to arbitrary speaker layouts
A gain contribution of the audio signal for each of the N audio objects to at least one of M speakers may be determined. Determining the gain contribution may involve determining a center of loudness position that is a function of speaker (or cluster) positions and gains assigned to each speaker (or cluster). Determining the gain contribution also may involve determining a minimum value of a cost function. A first term of the cost function may represent a difference between the center of loudness position and an audio object position. |
| US09712938B2 |
Method and device rendering an audio soundfield representation for audio playback
The invention discloses rendering sound field signals, such as Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA), for arbitrary loudspeaker setups, where the rendering results in highly improved localization properties and is energy preserving. This is obtained by a new type of decode matrix for sound field data, and a new way to obtain the decode matrix. In a method for rendering an audio sound field representation for arbitrary spatial loudspeaker setups, the decode matrix for the rendering to a given arrangement of target loudspeakers is obtained by steps of obtaining a number of target speakers, their positions, positions of a spherical modeling grid and a HOA order, generating a mix matrix from the positions of the modeling grid and the positions of the speakers, generating a mode matrix from the positions of the spherical modeling grid and the HOA order, calculating a first decode matrix from the mix matrix and the mode matrix, and smoothing and scaling the first decode matrix with smoothing and scaling coefficients. |
| US09712936B2 |
Coding higher-order ambisonic audio data with motion stabilization
In general, techniques and devices are described for motion compensation. An example a device configured to compensate motion. The device includes a memory configured to store audio data associated with a three-dimensional (3D) soundfield and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to receive motion information indicating one or more movements associated with a capture of one or more audio objects of a three-dimensional (3D) soundfield by a microphone array, and to adjust virtual positioning information associated with one or more microphones of a microphone array to compensate one or more movements associated with a capture of one or more audio objects of the 3D soundfield by the microphone array. The one or more processors may also be configured to generate a motion-compensated bitstream based on the adjusted virtual positioning information. |
| US09712935B2 |
Microphone compatibility
Provided is a microphone compatibility device comprising a sensor that detects a voltage along a conductive path between a microphone and at least one electronic device and a current control device that draws current for permitting microphone detection by each of a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The second electronic device has a lower current draw requirement than the first electronic device. |
| US09712932B2 |
User interface control of multiple parameters for a hearing assistance device
Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for a user interface control to allow control of multiple parameters from a single control for a hearing assistance device. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to hearing assistance device for a wearer, including a housing, hearing assistance electronics housed in the housing, and a tinnitus therapy generator housed in the housing. A user interface control is connected to the electronics and the generator, and the control is configured to sense input from the wearer and provide for selection and adjustment of operational parameters for the electronics and the generator based on the sensed input. Other aspects are provided without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. |
| US09712929B2 |
Devices and methods for transferring data through a human body
An illustrative method for transferring data to a device includes identifying the data that is to be transferred to the device, modulating the data with a signal, providing the signal to a contact microphone that is in physical contact with an individual, and transmitting the signal through a body of the individual to the device using the contact microphone. An illustrative method for authenticating the individual includes transmitting a signal through a body of the individual in response to the individual physically contacting an authentication device, receiving a modified signal including the signal as modified by the body of the individual, removing the signal from the modified signal to identify a unique body signature of the individual, comparing the unique body signature to a database to determine if the database includes the unique body signature, and selectively authenticating the individual based upon whether the database includes the unique body signature. |
| US09712928B2 |
Binaural hearing system
A binaural hearing system comprising left and right hearing devices is provided, each comprising an input unit providing an electric input signal representing an environmental sound; a noise reduction system for estimating and reducing a noise component of the electric input signal; antenna and transceiver circuitry allowing the exchange of data between the hearing devices. The binaural hearing system is—in a mode of operation, where a sound source is predominantly audible at a first one of the hearing devices—configured to transmit the estimate of the noise component determined in a second one of the hearing devices to the first hearing device and to use said estimate to reduce the noise component in the electric signal of the first hearing device and to provide a noise reduced signal in the first hearing device. Thereby improved noise reduction is provided for use, e.g. in hearing aids, in non-symmetric acoustic situations. |
| US09712927B2 |
Binaural hearing assistance system comprising two wireless interfaces
The application relates to a binaural hearing assistance system comprising first and second hearing assistance devices adapted for being located at or in left and right ears of a user. The application further relates to a method of operating a binaural hearing assistance system. The object of the present application is to provide an improved binaural hearing assistance system. The problem is solved in that each of the first and second hearing assistance devices comprises a) a first wireless interface comprising first antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a first communication link to the respective other hearing assistance device based on near-field communication; b) a second wireless interface comprising second antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a second communication link to an auxiliary device based on far-field communication; c) a link control unit operatively coupled to the second antenna and transceiver circuitry and configured to repeatedly provide a second link quality measure indicative of a link quality of the second communication link; wherein the first and second hearing assistance devices are configured to exchange said respective second link quality measures between them via said first and/or second communication links. This has the advantage of providing a robust and flexible system. The invention may e.g. be used for binaural hearing assistance systems, e.g. binaural hearing aid systems, where audio quality and power consumption has to be mutually optimized. |
| US09712926B2 |
Hearing assistance system with own voice detection
A hearing assistance system includes a pair of left and right hearing assistance devices to be worn by a wearer and uses both of the left and right hearing assistance devices to detect the voice of the wearer. The left and right hearing assistance devices each include first and second microphones at different locations. Various embodiments detect the voice of the wearer using signals produced by the first and second microphones of the left hearing assistance device and the first and second microphones of the right hearing assistance device. Various embodiments use outcome of detection of the voice of the wearer performed by the left hearing assistance device and the outcome of detection of the voice of the wearer performed the right hearing assistance device to determine whether to declare a detection of the voice of the wearer. |
| US09712924B2 |
Microphone and method of manufacturing the same
A microphone includes a substrate including a penetration hole; a vibration membrane disposed over the substrate and covering the penetration hole; a fixed electrode disposed over the vibration membrane and spaced apart from the vibration membrane; a fixed plate disposed over the fixed electrode; and a plurality of air inlets disposed in the fixed electrode and the fixed plate. The vibration membrane includes a plurality of slots positioned over the penetration hole, and an entire area of the plurality of slots is approximately 8% to approximately 19% of an entire area of the vibration membrane. |
| US09712922B2 |
Sound generator, vibration member for the sound generator, and sound generation system
A sound generator includes a vibration unit (60) having a piezoelectric element (61) and also includes a weight (10) for applying a load to the vibration unit (60). The vibration unit (60) deforms based on a sound signal while receiving the load from the weight (10), thereby vibrating a contact surface (150) in contact with the sound generator (10) and generating a sound from the contact surface (150). |
| US09712921B2 |
High aspect ratio microspeaker having a two-plane suspension
A microspeaker includes a frame and a diaphragm having length sides that are longer than its width sides. A magnet is positioned below the diaphragm. A yoke includes a base portion positioned below the magnet and sidewalls which extend from the base portion, the yoke sidewalls positioned only along a length dimension of the magnet. A voice coil includes an upper end attached to a bottom face of the diaphragm and a lower end positioned within a gap formed between the length dimension of the magnet and the yoke sidewalls. A first suspension member is attached to the length sides and the width sides of the diaphragm and the frame. The first suspension member is within a first plane. A second suspension member is attached to the lower end of the voice coil and the frame. The second suspension member is in a second plane different from the first plane. |
| US09712918B2 |
Audio processor with bi-directional input/output ports
An audio processor has a number of ports that are configurable as input or output ports. Each port includes a jack, an input audio circuit and an output audio circuit. A switch is controllable to selectively connect an output of the output audio circuit to the jack when the port is configured as an output port. In one embodiment, the switch is bypassed with resistor and the output of the output audio circuit is coupled through the resistor to the jack when the port is configured as an input port. |
| US09712915B2 |
Reference microphone for non-linear and time variant echo cancellation
A far end signal from a far end user and broadcasting the far end signal at a loudspeaker is received. A signal for use in an echo transfer function is determined, and the signal selected from between: the far end signal or an echo reference signal received from a near field microphone disposed in close proximity to the speaker. The near field microphone sensing the far end signal that is broadcast from the speaker while sensing the near-end speech and ambient noise at insignificant energy levels compared to the speaker signal. An echo transfer function is determined based at least in part upon the selected signal, and the echo transfer function represents characteristics of an acoustic path between the loudspeaker and a far field microphone that is disposed at a greater distance from the speaker than the near field microphone. An estimated echo is determined based at least in part upon the echo transfer function. The estimated echo is subtracted from a signal received from the far field microphone, the subtracting effective to cancel an echo present in the signal received from the far end microphone. |
| US09712914B1 |
Costume coordinated, motion activated sound generation system
The disclosure describes a costume coordinated, motion activated sound generation system, including apparatuses and methods, for generating pre-defined audio in connection with a costume worn by a user and the type, extent, and rate of movements by the user. According to an example embodiment, the system comprises an electronic controller having a memory for storing pre-defined audio data associated with the type, forcefulness, and rate of a user's movements and having an audio interface and speaker for generating audio from such audio data. The system also comprises one or more accelerometers or sensors for enabling detection of the type, extent, and/or rate of user movements. Based in part on the type, forcefulness, and rate of such movements, the system retrieves audio data corresponding thereto from memory and causes playback thereof, creating the illusion that the character, person, or thing being played by the user while in costume produced the sounds. |
| US09712912B2 |
Manipulation of playback device response using an acoustic filter
An acoustic filter includes holes and is configured to receive sound waves generated by an audio driver of a playback device. The sound waves comprise sound waves of a first frequency that radiate according to a first radiation pattern and sound waves of a second frequency that radiate according to a second radiation pattern that is less directed along an axis of the audio driver than the first radiation pattern. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency. The acoustic filter is configured to attenuate the sound waves of the first frequency so that the attenuated sound waves of the first frequency are emitted from the acoustic filter according to an effective radiation pattern that is less directed along the axis of the audio driver than the first radiation pattern and pass the sound waves of the second frequency in substantial accordance with the second radiation pattern. |
| US09712895B2 |
Distributed wireless sensing system
A device comprising: at least one input sensor, at least one output transducer, a wireless communication module, and a processor configured to receive a local control parameter from the input sensor or a remote control parameter from a remote module communicating with the processor via the wireless communication module, and selecting one a of a plurality of operational configurations de-pending on the local and remote control parameters, each of the plurality of operational configurations including a predetermined threshold for a sensing parameter received from the input sensor, and an output response if the sensing parameter breaches the threshold. |
| US09712888B2 |
System and method for dynamically optimizing quality of videos transmitted over communication networks
This disclosure relates generally to communication networks, and more particularly to a system and method for dynamically optimizing a quality of a video being transmitted over a communication network. In one embodiment, the method comprises acquiring a plurality of video transmission parameters for the video being transmitted. The method further comprises deriving an optimum value for each of the plurality of video transmission parameters based on a predefined indicator of an acceptable quality of the video using meta-heuristic harmony search algorithm. The method further comprises dynamically optimizing the quality of the video based on the optimum value for each of the plurality of video transmission parameters. |
| US09712884B2 |
Methods and systems for generating and providing program guides and content
Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and publishing content are described. A content item, such as a video, having a first time length, is identified by a system to be included in a program scheduled for a first time period. The video may be hosted on a third party system. A first span of time within the first program is allocated for the video, wherein the first span of time is longer than the first time length. The system determines, prior to or at the first time period, a time difference between a current length of the video and the first span of time. At least partly in response to determining that the video has a time length shorter than the first span of time, the system selects supplemental content based at least in part of the determined time difference to be streamed to user terminals over a data network within the first time period. |
| US09712882B2 |
Dynamic content selection menu
A content selection menu is generated and provided to a user. The content selection menu includes a plurality of audiovisual (AV) programs that are provided for user selection. The AV programs may be positioned in the content selection menu in accordance with their associated score for content attributes. Upon providing the content selection to a user, the user may select a program for viewing or the user may indicate interest in a program. If the user indicates interest in a program a second content selection menu is generated based at least in part on the attributes of the program of interest. |
| US09712872B2 |
Set-top box, system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment
A system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment are presented. In one embodiment, a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes is provided and each set-top box includes an identification corresponding to the room in which the set-top box is placed. Each set-top box includes a wireless transceiver that periodically transmits an identification beacon that is received by a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. The proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, in turn, broadcasts data packets including an indication of the strength of set-top box identification signals received. The broadcasts are received by a server via an array of wireless routers. The location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device is determined based on the signal strength information in the data packets. |
| US09712865B2 |
Method, device and system for switching back transferred-for-play digital media content
Provided are a method, device and system for switching back transferred-for-play digital media content. The method includes: after digital media content being played at a first equipment is transferred to a second equipment, the second equipment identifies a user action; and the second equipment switches the digital media content being played back to the first equipment according to the identified user action. |
| US09712864B2 |
Broadcast service receiving method and broadcast service receiving apparatus
Provided is a broadcast service receiving method of a broadcast receiving device. The method includes: receiving an video stream among a content transmitted as a broadcast service; generating a request message for at least one of signalling information on the broadcast service and signalling information on an adjunct service of the broadcast service on the basis of part of the received video stream; transmitting the generated request message to a server through an internet network; receiving a response message corresponding to the request message from the server; obtaining at least one of the broadcast service corresponding to the video stream and the adjunct service of the broadcast service on the basis of the received response message; and providing the obtained broadcast service and adjunct service, wherein the request message comprises first query information for specifying a request time interval and second query information for specifying at least one signalling table to be requested. |
| US09712860B1 |
Delivering media content to achieve a consistent user experience
Techniques for delivering content are described that vary the bit rate with which the content is delivered to achieve a consistent level of quality from the user's perspective. This is achieved through the use of quality metrics associated with content fragments that guide decision making in selecting from among the different size fragments that are available for a given segment of the content. Fragment selection attempts to optimize quality within one or more constraints. |
| US09712854B2 |
Cost-aware cloud-based content delivery
A capability is provided for determining a fraction of content item versions to cache for use in responding to requests for content items. The fraction of content item versions to cache is determined based on a popularity distribution of the content item versions and cost model information associated with the content item versions. The cost model information may include information indicative of a cost of storing one of the content item versions and at least one of a cost of transcoding one of the content item versions or a cost of transferring one of the content item versions. The fraction of content item versions to cache may be determined based a skewness factor of the popularity distribution of the content item versions. |
| US09712852B2 |
System and method for altering images in a digital video
A method of altering a distinctive image within a digital video file is provided, wherein data representing a set of images in the file is selected. The data is then scanned for a pixel having a color associated with the distinctive image. Then additional pixels having the color are located in a plurality of directions relative to the first pixel. A shape is determined based on the location of pixels, and the shape compared to the distinctive image so that a probability can be determined as to whether the shape represents the distinctive image. If the probability exceeds a confidence level, then the distinctive image is altered. |
| US09712850B2 |
Dynamic maintenance and distribution of video content on content delivery networks
In one embodiment, a method maintains files of an asset of video content at a plurality of content delivery networks (CDNs) for delivery to users. The method determines that the asset of video content has been distributed based on a first delivery classification that is used to determine a first combination of file sizes and CDNs. A set of asset characteristics is monitored and analyzed to determine whether the first delivery classification is changed to a second delivery classification. Different values for the set of asset characteristics result in different delivery classifications. When the first delivery classification of the asset of video content is changed to the second delivery classification, a distribution of the asset of video content is automatically changed where the second delivery classification is used to determine a second combination of file sizes and CDNs and the second combination is different from the first combination. |
| US09712848B2 |
Frame buffer compression using separate aggregation of fixed-length and variable-length components of codewords
Each set of pels of an image frame is encoded into a corresponding set of codewords having fixed-length and unary variable-length components. The variable-length components are combined into a variable-length portion and the fixed-length components are separately combined into a fixed-length portion that is attached to the variable-length portion to complete a bit segment. For decompression, a first bit string of a fixed number of bits is identified as a fixed-length portion of the bit segment. A search window placed adjacent to the first bit string is scanned to find a second bit string having a number of termination bits equal to the number of codewords in the set, with the second bit string thus representing the variable-length portion of a corresponding bit segment. Each variable-length component of the identified variable-length portion is combined with a corresponding fixed-length component of the identified fixed-length portion to recreate a corresponding codeword. |
| US09712846B2 |
Filter positioning and selection
The present invention relates to a method for encoding and decoding an image signal and to corresponding apparatuses therefor. In particular, during the encoding and/or decoding of an image signal filtering with at least two filters is performed. The sequence of the filter application and possibly the filters are selected and the filtering is applied in the selected filtering order and with the selected filters. The determination of the sequence of applying the filters may be performed either separately in the same way at the encoder and at the decoder, or, it may be determined at the encoder and signaled to the decoder. |
| US09712838B2 |
Video encoding apparatus, video decoding apparatus, video encoding method, and video decoding method
A video encoding apparatus appends decoding delay correction information and display delay correction information to encoded video data in order to ensure that even when one or more pictures that are later in encoding order in the video data than a first picture that may potentially be spliced to a trailing end of other encoded video data have been discarded, the first picture and subsequent pictures in the encoded video data can be continuously decoded and displayed by a video decoding apparatus. The video decoding apparatus corrects the decoding delay and display delay of the first picture and its subsequent pictures by using the decoding delay correction information and display delay correction information. |
| US09712834B2 |
Hardware efficient sparse FIR filtering in video codec
In an embodiment, a control map of false contour filtering is generated for a predicted image. The predicted image is predicted from a low dynamic range image mapped from the wide dynamic range image. Based at least in part on the control map of false contour filtering and the predicted image, one or more filter parameters for a sparse finite-impulse-response (FIR) filter are determined. The sparse FIR filter is applied to filter pixel values in a portion of the predicted image based at least in part on the control map of false contour filtering. The control map of false contour filtering is encoded into a part of a multi-layer video signal that includes the low dynamic range image. |
| US09712833B2 |
System and method for indicating temporal layer switching points
Disclosed are a system, apparatus, computer programs and methods for indicating proper temporal layer switching points for temporal scalable coding. Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for properly indicating temporal layer switching points in a scalable video bit stream or in a scalable video file container. Using these indications, a decoder can determine where to perform temporal layer switching, after which all of the pictures at and below the desired temporal layer can be correctly decoded. |
| US09712829B2 |
Implementation design for hybrid transform coding scheme
A method and system may identify a video data block using a video codec and apply a transform kernel of a butterfly asymmetric discrete sine transform (ADST) to the video data block in a pipeline. |
| US09712827B2 |
Frame rate control method and apparatus for encoding image based on threshold value
An object is to suppress an instantaneous increase in the computational complexity of an encoder and an information amount of an encoding result without increasing a delay even when input timing of input video is not constant and fluctuates. A frame rate control method for adjusting a frame rate of input video to a frame rate at which an encoder is able to perform encoding includes: a step of determining whether the number of pictures input in the past within a predetermined time from a time when a determination target picture of dropping is input exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and a step of discarding the determination target picture if the number of pictures exceeds the threshold value and designating the determination target picture as an encoding target if the number of pictures does not exceed the threshold value. |
| US09712823B2 |
Video-encoding method and video-encoding apparatus using prediction units based on encoding units determined in accordance with a tree structure, and video-decoding method and video-decoding apparatus using prediction units based on encoding units determined in accordance with a tree structure
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding a video and a method and apparatus for decoding a video. The encoding method includes: splitting a picture of the video into one or more maximum coding units; encoding the picture based on coding units according to depths which are obtained based on a partition type determined according to the depths of the coding units according to depths, determining coding units according to coded depths with respect to each of the coding units according to depths, and thus determining coding units having a tree structure; and outputting data that is encoded based on the partition type and the coding units having the tree structure, information about the coded depths and an encoding mode, and coding unit structure information indicating a size and a variable depth of a coding unit. |
| US09712820B2 |
Predictive light field compression
According to various embodiments, a light-field image may be compressed and/or decompressed to facilitate storage, transmission, or other functions related to the light-field image. A light-field image may be captured by a light-field image capture device having an image sensor and a microlens array. The light-field image may be received in a data store. A processor may generate a first refocus image pool with a plurality of refocus images based on the light-field image. The processor may further use the first refocus image pool to compress the light-field image to generate a bitstream, smaller than the light-field image, which is representative of the light-field image. The processor or a different processor may also be used to generate a second refocus image pool with a second plurality of images based on the bitstream. The second refocus image pool may be used to decompress the bitstream to generate a reconstructed light-field image. |
| US09712818B2 |
Method for stabilizing a first sequence of digital image frames and image stabilization unit
A method for stabilizing a first sequence of digital image frames is provided including determining a dominant motion vector of a dominant motion layer of said sequence; determining a first part of the dominant motion vector representative of an intended motion in said sequence; determining a second part of the dominant motion vector representative of an unintended motion in said sequence; and generating a second sequence from the first sequence based on the second part. A corresponding image stabilization unit is provided as well. |
| US09712813B2 |
Display system and control method thereof
Disclosed are a display system and a control method for the same. The display system includes a display means (1), an image input means (2), a depth of field analysis means (3) and a bending degree control means (4). The image input means (2) inputs the images to the depth of field analysis means; the depth of field analysis means (3) analyzes the depth of field of the images; the bending degree control means (4) controls the bending degree of the display means according to the depth of field of the images; the display means (1) displays the images. The display system and the control method thereof can adapt to the images with different depth of field, thus observer's visual experience is improved. |
| US09712808B2 |
Image acquisition device and image processing method and system
An image acquisition device and an image processing method and system are provided. The image acquisition device includes a first dual-camera device and a second dual-camera device. The first dual-camera device includes a first camera and a third camera. The second dual-camera device includes the first camera and a second camera. The image acquisition device can acquire depth information of richer information content from more viewing angles and reduce the number of points that cannot be matched. |
| US09712805B2 |
Sub-diffraction limit image resolution in three dimensions
The present invention generally relates to sub-diffraction limit image resolution and other imaging techniques, including imaging in three dimensions. In one aspect, the invention is directed to determining and/or imaging light from two or more entities separated by a distance less than the diffraction limit of the incident light. For example, the entities may be separated by a distance of less than about 1000 nm, or less than about 300 nm for visible light. In some cases, the position of the entities can be determined in all three spatial dimensions (i.e., in the x, y, and z directions), and in certain cases, the positions in all three dimensions can be determined to an accuracy of less than about 1000 nm. In one set of embodiments, the entities may be selectively activatable, i.e., one entity can be activated to produce light, without activating other entities. A first entity may be activated and determined (e.g., by determining light emitted by the entity), then a second entity may be activated and determined. The emitted light may be used to determine the x and y positions of the first and second entities, for example, by determining the positions of the images of these entities, and in some cases, with sub-diffraction limit resolution. In some cases, the z positions may be determined using one of a variety of techniques that uses intensity information or focal information (e.g., a lack of focus) to determine the z position. Non-limiting examples of such techniques include astigmatism imaging, off-focus imaging, or multi-focal-plane imaging. Other aspects of the invention relate to systems for sub-diffraction limit image resolution, computer programs and techniques for sub-diffraction limit image resolution, methods for promoting sub-diffraction limit image resolution, and the like. |
| US09712803B2 |
Receiving system and method of processing data
A receiving system and a method of processing data are disclosed herein. The receiving system includes a receiving unit, a system information processor, a decoding unit, and a display unit. The receiving unit receives a broadcast signal including a 3D content and system information associated with the 3D content. The system information processor extracts identification information from the system information. Herein, the identification information may identify that the broadcast signal being received by the receiving unit includes the 3D content. The decoding unit decodes the received 3D content based upon transmission format information of the 3D content. Herein, the transmission format information may be included in the extracted identification information. And, the display unit displays the 3D content decoded by the decoding unit as a 3D image based upon a display method of a display device. |
| US09712801B2 |
Compatible stereoscopic video delivery
Stereoscopic images are subsampled and placed in a “checkerboard” pattern in an image. The image is encoded in a monoscopic video format. The monoscopic video is transmitted to a device where the “checkerboard” is decoded. Portions of the checkerboard (e.g., “black” portions) are used to reconstruct one of the stereoscopic images and the other portion of the checkerboard (e.g., “white” portions) are used to reconstruct the other image. The subsamples are, for example, taken from the image in a location coincident to the checkerboard position in which the subsamples are encoded. |
| US09712788B2 |
Request for information related to broadcast network content
A request for information (RFI) system is provided a viewer of a cable television network enters an RFI input (1) to a digital set top box using a user remote. Based on this RFI input, the digital set top box transmits a data request (2) to an RFI data center. The RFI data center also receives asset data (3) from an asset database so as to associate the RFI input (1) with a particular asset. An RFI request (4) can then be transmitted to the appropriate asset provider. The asset provider can then provide a package of assets or follow-on information (5) back to the RFI data center. The RFI data center may then, in turn, provide the package of assets or follow-on information to a user data terminal, for example, of the cable television network viewer, via access through a web-portal or e-mail (6). |
| US09712786B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting multiple broadcasters independently using a single conditional access system
A method and apparatus for brokering the enablement of the communication of encrypted media programs from a plurality of independent broadcasters to a plurality of receivers is disclosed. The system makes use of a pairing key for each provided service, which is differently encrypted by a pairing server and by the broadcaster providing the service. The encrypted versions of the pairing key are decrypted in a first receiver module using information known to the pairing service but not the broadcaster and in a second receiver module using information known to the broadcaster. The pairing key is used to cryptographically bind the first and second receiver modules. |
| US09712780B2 |
Display device attachment fitting and display device attachment jig
An attachment fitting 12 comprises a frame body 12a, a fitting component 12b, and fixing bolts 17. The frame body 12a is externally the same size as a display device 11, and is attached to a wall surface 15, and has stiffness property enough to support the weight of the display device 11. The fitting component 12b is provided to the frame body 12a on the side where the display device 11 is attached, and supports the rear face 11b side of the display device 11. The fixing bolts 17 are provided to the side faces of the frame bodies 12a, and fix the frame bodies 12a to each other in a state of being in contact with the side faces of the frame bodies 12a included in attachment fittings 12 of display devices 11 attached at adjacent positions. |
| US09712773B2 |
Image sensor and stacked structure thereof
There are provided an image sensor and a stacked structure thereof. The image sensor includes a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels for generating an output signal in accordance with incident light are arranged, a first amplifier having a first input dynamic range, and a second amplifier having a second input dynamic range that is larger than the first input dynamic range. One of the first and second amplifiers amplifies the output signal in accordance with the intensity of light. |
| US09712772B2 |
Image sensor and analog to digital converter and analog to digital converting method thereof
An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array having active pixel sensors arranged in rows and columns; a correlated double sampler that converts sensing signals transferred from pixels sensors selected from the active pixel sensors to correlated double sampling signals and outputs a conversion result by column; and an analog-to-digital converter that converts the correlated double sampling signals corresponding to plural columns to digital signals using a global code. The analog-to-digital converter includes a column shared operator that performs a digital conversion operation on correlated double sampling signals corresponding to two or more columns of the plural columns. |
| US09712769B2 |
Imaging device
An image sensor having a pixel part generating a signal in accordance with a light, a signal processing part performing signal processing on the signal read from the pixel part, and a power supply part connected to the signal processing part via a first wiring, and supplying a power supply to the signal processing part, and a storage package storing the image sensor, and having a second wiring configuring a parallel circuit by being connected to the first wiring. Accordingly, it is possible to solve a problem such that a wiring resistance is increased when a power supply circuit is configured inside of a solid state image sensor. |
| US09712768B2 |
Method and apparatus for fault detection for imager decoder
The teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for detecting erroneous pixel addressing in an imaging sensor. The method and apparatus advantageously leverage the characteristic “fixed pattern noise” of the sensor to detect addressing errors. Broadly, pixel addressing errors are detected based on comparing the pattern noise seen in data read outs from a targeted address of the sensor with characteristic fixed pattern noise known for the sensor. |
| US09712763B2 |
Apparatus and method for multi-spectral clip-on architecture
An apparatus and method improve sight. The apparatus includes a first sight configured to view a scene. A second sight is configured to alter content representative of the scene in a first manner to form first altered content. A third sight is configured to alter content representative of the scene in a second manner to form second altered content. An image combiner is configured to combine the second altered content with the first altered content to form combined altered scene content. |
| US09712755B2 |
Information processing method, apparatus, and program for correcting light field data
An object of the present invention is to realize novel information processing which uses light field data. To attain the object, light field data which represents directions of light beams which are emitted from an object to an image pickup unit and intensity of the light beams is obtained, and the light field data is corrected on a coordinate of the light field data. |
| US09712747B2 |
Method and camera for producing an image stabilized video
The present invention relates to a method for enabling an image stabilized video. The method comprises providing data defining a vignetting effect for digital image frames captured by a video camera; determining a dislocation value for a digital image frame captured by the video camera; determining, based on the dislocation value, a region of the digital image frame to be displayed in the image stabilized video; applying a vignetting removal process at least on pixels of the digital image frame corresponding to the region to be displayed in the image stabilized video, wherein said applying being based on the data defining the vignetting effect; and reintroducing vignetting on the region of the digital image frame to be displayed in the video based on the data defining the vignetting effect and the dislocation value. |
| US09712736B2 |
Electroencephalography (EEG) camera control
Various techniques for performing camera control techniques based on brainwave data from an electroencephalography (EEG) headset are disclosed herein. In an example, a computing system operates to receive brainwave data representing brainwave activity, process the brainwave data, and transmit a command to a camera device based on the processed brainwave data. For example, the brainwave data may correlate to raw brainwave signals (from gamma, beta, alpha, theta, or delta brainwaves), or composite brainwave signals (from multiple brainwaves, representative of attention, meditation, or like states). As a result, the computing system may transmit a command to a camera device to capture an image, a burst of images, start/stop video recording, or like commands for image and video operations, based on a human user's detected brainwave state. Further processing, detection, and training methods for brainwave control of camera operations are also disclosed. |
| US09712733B2 |
Method and apparatus for live capture image-live streaming camera
A live image transferring method includes the steps of capturing live image information by one or more live image devices, wherein the live image information is captured in raw format and is continuously transferred to one or more platforms in a live manner; cloning the live image information at the platform, wherein when the live image information is cloned at the platform, the live image information is converted from the raw format into a web viewable format and an embed code is generated corresponding to the live image information at the same time; and enabling one or more users to use the embed code in order to broadcast the live image information over any website. The user is able to copy-and-paste the embed code at the personal website to live stream the live image information from the live image device. |
| US09712732B2 |
Imaging module, electronic device provided therewith, and imaging-module manufacturing method
The present invention provides an imaging module, an electric device provided therewith, and an imaging-module manufacturing method capable of simply and reliably performing probing and fixing a lens unit and an imaging element unit to each other with high accuracy even when the miniaturized lens unit is used. A the lens unit (11) includes a focus driving unit, a housing (23), a first connection portion (37A), a first wiring portion by which the focus driving unit and the first connection portion are electrically connected to each other, and a second wiring portion which is electrically connected to the focus driving unit to which the first wiring portion is connected. The second wiring portion extends from the inside of the housing to the outside thereof, and a wire of the second wiring portion extends to an end surface on an end (39) of the extended second wiring portion. |
| US09712731B2 |
Optical system
There is provided an optical system including: a first lens having negative refractive power and having a meniscus shape of which an object-side surface is convex; a second lens having positive refractive power; a third lens having refractive power; and a fourth lens having positive refractive power and having a meniscus shape of which an object-side surface is convex, wherein the first to fourth lenses are sequentially disposed from an object side, whereby an aberration improvement effect, a wide field of view and a high degree of resolution may be realized. |
| US09712730B2 |
Portable video and imaging system
A portable video and imaging system includes a camera for capturing video of an event, and a video recording device for recording the captured video of the event. The camera is housed in a first housing, the recording device is housed in a second housing, and the first and second housings are physically separate. Various embodiments provide for the system to be mounted to a user's body, an article of clothing, such as a shirt or a hat, to a vehicle, or to an ancillary component carried by the user, such as a firearm. |
| US09712728B2 |
Modular digital camera for use with multiple recording modules
Modular digital camera systems, such as modular digital still and motion cameras are disclosed. Individual modules may be removed from the system and replaced, such as to benefit from upgraded technology, while preserving the remaining modules in the system. |
| US09712727B2 |
Nail information detection device, drawing apparatus, and nail information detection method
A nail information detection device includes: a placement surface on which a finger having a nail is placed; an imaging unit which images the nail from one direction and acquires a image data; a moving unit which moves the imaging unit while keeping a distance between a measurement plane which is in contact with a peak position of the nail and parallel to the placement surface and the imaging unit constant; and a control unit configured to detect nail information including a first edge position and a second edge position on a shape of the nail.The control unit aligns a reference point of an imaging range of the imaging unit at the peak position and detects a position on the measurement plane of the nail edge based on the image data as the first edge position; and aligns the reference point at the first edge position and detects a position on the measurement plane of the nail edge based on the image data as the second edge position. |
| US09712725B2 |
Imaging apparatus that outputs raw image data and associated metadata and image processing apparatus that uses same
[Object] To quickly and correctly reproduce an image intended by a photographer, a cinematographer, and the like on the occasion of post-production.[Solving Means] The development apparatus includes: an imaging unit that performs shooting and generates RAW data; a first conversion unit that converts the generated RAW data into image data by interpolation; an acquisition unit that acquires an exposure index value corresponding to an illuminance of a shooting environment; a first correction unit that corrects a value of the image data based on the exposure index value; and an output unit that associates the RAW data and the acquired exposure index value with each other and outputs the associated RAW data and exposure index value. |
| US09712723B2 |
Detecting transient signals using stacked-chip imaging systems
Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels, control circuitry and storage and processing circuitry. The image pixel array may be coupled to the control circuitry using vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may provide digital image data to the storage and processing circuitry over additional vertical conductive. The stacked-chip image sensor may be configured to capture image frames at a capture frame rate and to output processed image frames at an output frame rate that is lower that the capture frame rate. The storage and processing circuitry may be configured to process image frames concurrently with image capture operations. Processing image frames concurrently with image capture operations may include adjusting the positions of moving objects and by adjusting the pixel brightness values of regions of image frames that have changing brightness. |
| US09712718B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of points defining a plurality of line segments constituting an outline of an object, an identification unit configured to identify a first line segment constituting the outline and having a shorter distance to a second line segment constituting the outline in a predetermined direction than a threshold by calculating a distance in the predetermined direction between the first line segment and the second line segment based on coordinates of the plurality of points, a correction unit configured to perform correction relating to an end point of the identified first line segment which is included in the plurality of points, and a rasterization unit configured to rasterize the object based on the plurality of corrected points. |
| US09712715B2 |
Printing control system and printing control method that determine whether or not to transmit print job based on document information to image forming apparatus corresponding to location information of mobile terminal in accordance with approval status of document information
A printing control system includes a server, an approver terminal, an image forming apparatus, and a mobile terminal. The server includes a printing determination section and a storage section that stores therein document information. Upon output request information and location information being transmitted from the mobile terminal to the server via the image forming apparatus corresponding to the location information, the printing determination section determines whether or not to transmit a print job to the image forming apparatus in accordance with an approval status of the document information. The approval status varies depending on presence or absence of transmission of content approval information approving content of the document information from the approver terminal to the server and depending on presence or absence of transmission of output approval information approving output conditions for output of an image based on the document information from the approver terminal to the server. |
| US09712714B2 |
Digital watermark feature for device to device duplication of a digital receipt
A computer-implemented process can be operated to create a watermarked copy of a unique original copy of an electronic sales receipt in a first computerized device to a second computerized device. The watermarked copy includes an electronic watermark identifying the copy. The process includes creating the watermarked copy of the electronic sales receipt by copying information from the original copy of the electronic sales receipt to the watermarked copy and providing the electronic watermark within the watermarked copy. |
| US09712712B1 |
In-situ printhead focus adjustment
A method is described for adjusting the focus position of a linear printhead in a digital printing system. A line image is printed including a plurality of variable linewidth lines at different cross-track positions. A digital image capture system is used to capture an image of the printed line image, and a data processing system is used to automatically analyze the captured image to determine linewidth parameters representing linewidths of the plurality of lines. Linewidth progression functions are determined for the lines responsive to the determined linewidths, wherein the linewidth progression functions represent the linewidth parameters as a function of position. The linewidth progression functions are analyzed to determine defocus characteristics of the linear printhead, which are used to adjust the focus position of the linear printhead. |
| US09712710B2 |
System, method, and terminal device for providing service
A system for providing multiple services by using one or more electronic devices connected to the system includes a data processing apparatus, a portable terminal including an obtaining unit that obtains device data from a target electronic device included in the one or more electronic devices, the device data identifying the one or more electronic devices, a receiving part that receives a selection of a target service included in the multiple services, and a determining part that determines whether the target service can be executed by the target electronic device according to the device data obtained from the target electronic device. In a case where the determining part determines that the target service can be executed by the target electronic device, the portable terminal and the data processing apparatus cooperate with each other and control the target electronic device for providing the target service. |
| US09712709B2 |
Document image capturing device
A document image capturing device includes an image capturing module for capturing an image of a document, and a first aperture portion, an illumination module movable between the image capturing module and a document conveying path and including a light source for illuminating the document and a second aperture portion, and a sealer for sealing between the first aperture portion and the second aperture portion regardless of movement of the illumination module. The sealer includes a first film attached to cover an entire periphery of the first aperture portion and a second film attached to cover an entire periphery of the second aperture portion, and the first aperture portion and the second aperture portion are arranged so that a reflection light from the document illuminated by the light source passes through the first aperture portion and the second aperture portion. |
| US09712708B2 |
Human-body detecting device, image forming apparatus, human-body detecting method, and computer program product
A human-body detecting device includes a first sensor and a control unit. The first sensor outputs a first signal according to a distance between the human-body detecting device and a user. The control unit finds a first weighted average of first signals weighted with a first weight and a second weighted average of the first signals weighted with a second weight different from the first weight, and detects, when a difference between the first weighted average and the second weighted average has exceeded a predetermined value, that the user is located within a predetermined range from the human-body detecting device. |
| US09712706B2 |
Image forming apparatus and blank sheet output confirmation method that facilitate removal of blank sheet from printed matter
An image forming apparatus for performing image formation based on image data on a print job to output a printed matter includes a blank sheet detecting unit, a blank sheet processing unit and a blank sheet display unit. The blank sheet detecting unit determines whether the image data in the print job is blank sheet image data or non-blank sheet image data by each piece of image data. The blank sheet processing unit detects an order of the determined blank sheet image data and outputs a blank sheet corresponding to the blank sheet image data such that the blank sheet is displaced with respect to a printed matter corresponding to the non-blank sheet image data by a predetermined amount. The blank sheet display unit displays an order of blank sheet among the orders of the printed matters. |
| US09712703B2 |
Document detecting device, document detecting method and image reading device
Certain embodiments provide a document detecting device, including: a plate having an upper surface on which a document is placed; an imaging device that includes the upper surface in a photographing visual field range; and a controller that detects any one or more of a position, an angle, and a size of the document on the upper surface according to an image by the imaging device and fixed-size information of the document stored in advance. |
| US09712702B1 |
Apparatus and method for imaging physical documents
An imaging station includes at least one camera and at least one computing device, the at least one computing device being communicatively coupled to the at least one camera, wherein the at least one computing device is configured to receive raw image data of a physical document from the at least one camera. |
| US09712698B1 |
Customized color for multiple raster content format file
Methods and devices process an electronic image of an item that has a background color and line features of a second color distinct from the background color. An electronic image and a menu option are displayed to allow the user to define at least one area of the electronic image as a distinctive color region. The electronic image is separated into different planes, and line features within the distinctive color region are removed from a second mask plane (second color) and added to a third mask plane (third color). The first plane, second mask plane, and third mask plane, are combined into an electronic file, and automatically stored. |
| US09712696B1 |
System and method of on-screen management of scanned documents
An on-screen document management system and method includes a document processing device configured to receive touch commands on a touch capable display screen from a user. The user can select one or more portions of an existing document and place the desired selections into a new document. The portions can be resized and placed in the new document in accordance with the desires of the user. The new document is rendered with the selected portion or portions, and then displayed on the display screen as the new document would be output. The new document can be output using a document processing operation such as printing, faxing, emailing, or storing to an external server. |
| US09712689B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method, and computer program product
An image processing system includes: an information storage unit that stores therein a plurality of pieces of case information each including retouching-time reference information referred to for specifying contents of retouching and case identification information capable of identifying a case in which the retouching is performed in accordance with the contents of the retouching; an image acquiring unit that receives input of an image and acquires the image; a case selecting unit that arranges and displays a plurality of pieces of case information on a display unit based on case identification information included in each of the pieces of case information and receives selection of case information from a user; and a case applying unit that retouches the image acquired by the image acquiring unit in accordance with the contents of retouching specified by the retouching-time reference information included in the selected case information. |
| US09712687B2 |
Information processing system and method for providing built-in fault prediction logic
An information processing system includes a first and second information processing systems respectively including first and second apparatuses, and a third information processing system storing history information of the first apparatus and implementing analyzing the history information to acquire a degree of influence for an item included in the history information corresponding to a fault in the first apparatus, and generating a fault prediction logic of predicting a fault in the first apparatus using the item having a relatively high degree of influence and a value of a case where the fault occurs in the first apparatus based on a result of the analysis, and building the generated fault prediction logic into the first and second apparatuses, the first and second information processing system monitoring the history information, and detecting a state of matching a content of the built-in fault prediction logic. |
| US09712682B2 |
Method and systems for automatically assigning virtual numbers
Methods and systems for automatically assigning virtual numbers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for automatically assigning virtual numbers may include receiving, from a first customer device associated with a first identifier, a second identifier associated with a recipient device; establishing a call between the first customer device and the recipient device; assigning a first virtual number associated with the first identifier and the second identifier, wherein the first virtual number is selected to be in a local calling area of the first identifier; and transmitting the first virtual number to the customer for use in making future calls to the recipient device. |
| US09712677B1 |
Integrating two-dimensional barcodes and embedded links with call center operation
In various embodiments, advertising campaigns can be defined that incorporate technologies such as two-dimensional barcodes or embedded links in electronic material, for directing a user to communicate with a call center. For instance, in particular embodiments, the reading of a two-dimensional barcode by a user with a smart phone may cause various forms of communication requesting a return communication. The communication from the smart phone may be sent to, and received at, the call center, where a calling campaign associated with an advertising campaign is identified using information associated with the communication. A responding communication may be initiated from the call center to the user. |
| US09712675B1 |
Configuring contact center components for real time speech analytics
Configuration parameters are defined for indicating when and how a call handled by a call handler is to be streamed to a speech analytics system (“SAS”). The parameters may indicate when a call is to be streamed by identifying certain campaigns or agents in which calls associated therewith are to be streamed to the SAS. The parameters may also identify how the streaming is to occur, namely via a single audio stream, a mixed audio stream, or dual audio streams. When using dual audio streams, a stream for the agent audio is established separately from a stream for the remote party audio. In addition, procedures are indicated for determining whether licenses are available for interfacing with the SAS. The number of licenses used for a call depends on whether the configuration parameters indicate one or two streams are to be established. |
| US09712673B2 |
Providing to a public-safety answering point emergency information associated with an emergency call
Users store information relevant to first responders in the event of an emergency. When a user later places an emergency call, the user's emergency information is automatically made available to the public-safety answering point operator handling the call. Hotel personal are notified of the call and may listen to and break in to the ongoing call in order to assist. A reverse 9-1-1 broadcast enables hotel personnel to quickly notify guests of an emergency situation via in-room and mobile phones. In the event that police need to conduct surveillance on a target location, the onsite PBX server reconfigures phones within the vicinity of the target location to operate in an open mode and records the audio/visual information received. An incoming call to a hotel room from the PSAP is automatically connected to the in-room phone even if other incoming calls not from the PSAP are being screened by front desk. |
| US09712670B2 |
System, method and apparatus for call screening
Techniques, systems, apparatuses and methods to better interdict or screen calls without disturbing the callee. The phone user can implement a warning for unwanted human, i.e., live person callers, and a challenge or barrier for unwanted automated or robocalling, particularly the usage of a required response to a question. The warning and particularly the challenge would weed out undesired solicitations. The present invention also makes allowance for desired human, robotic or automated calling in addition to the proscripted calls. |
| US09712668B2 |
Systems and methods for notifying electronic devices of voice-based communication requests
Embodiments are provided for notifying an electronic device connected to a non-terrestrial communication network of a voice-based communication request that is intended for the electronic device. According to certain aspects, a data center can receive the voice-based communication request that is initiated by an originating device. The data center can generate a text message that indicates the voice-based communication request and transmit the text message to the non-terrestrial communications network for delivery to the destination electronic device. The text message can identify the originating electronic device and enable the user of the destination electronic device to send an additional text message to the originating electronic device. |
| US09712667B2 |
Identifying network entities in a peer-to-peer network
A method and a system for identifying a network entity within a first communication network, using an entity identification data of the network entity in a second communication network. More particularly but not exclusively, identifying a network entity within a peer-to-peer communication network, using an entity identification data of the network entity in an underlying conventional communication network. |
| US09712666B2 |
Maintaining audio communication in a congested communication channel
The invention relates to a communication system and a method of maintaining audio communication in a congested communication channel currently bearing the transmission of speech in audio communication between a sender side and a receiver side, the communication channel having at least one signaling channel and at least one payload channel having a quality of service. During the audio communication the quality of service of the payload channel is monitored. If the quality of service of the payload channel is below a threshold the speech at the respective sender side is converted to text; and transmitted over the retained communication channel to the respective receiver side. The text may be converted back to speech at the receiver side. |
| US09712665B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for dispute resolution, regulation compliance and quality management in financial institutions
An apparatus, system and method for multimedia capturing, logging and retrieval are disclosed. The apparatus provides time synchronized voice and data interactions capturing and logging, secured playback and retrieval functionality for dispute resolution, for detecting negative and positive conduct, for business analysis and performance, and for quality management. The apparatus provides for synchronization and association of multi-media interactions for financial transactions in order to provide for the retrieval, playback, and review of the transaction-specific events in their temporally correct and integrated sequence. |
| US09712664B1 |
Sustained service subscriptions
Systems and methods discussed herein are employed in a cross-platform notification system configured to send a series of notifications to devices and/or subscription services associated with an account where a payment is due. These notifications may be sent to an increasing number of devices and/or subscription services as time passes from when payment was due, and the iterations of notifications may take up progressively more of a graphical user interface and/or be displayed for an increasing period of time until a final notification is sent, after which point access to telecommunications services and subscription services, except for emergency functions, accessed through the telecommunications service provider are no longer available to users associated with the overdue account. |
| US09712663B2 |
Device lock mode
A system, method, and computer program for remotely managing a digital device is provided. One or more digital devices are monitored. At least one matter associated with the one or more digital devices is identified. A resolution to address the at least one matter is generated. The resolution is then distributed from a remote location. |
| US09712661B2 |
Wireless communication system, vehicle communication apparatus, and portable communication apparatus
In a wireless communication system, a vehicle communication apparatus and a portable communication apparatus provide service in cooperation. Both the apparatuses execute in cooperation each of a first application and a second application. When switching from the first application to the second application, a connection destination of a specific profile used in both the apparatuses is switched from the first application to the second application. This improves the connection of profiles. |
| US09712657B2 |
Proxying for communicating messages with an unregistered accessory device
Some embodiments relate to a mobile device, such as a smart phone, and associated method for enabling the mobile device to act as a communication proxy for an accessory device, such as a smart watch. The mobile device may be capable of providing proxy communication services for messages received from/provided to the accessory device even when the accessory device has not properly registered for the respective message service. |
| US09712651B2 |
Display unit, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A display unit includes: a display layer including a pixel electrode; a semiconductor layer provided in a layer below the display layer, the semiconductor layer including a wiring layer that includes a material removable by an etchant by which the pixel electrode is also removable; and a terminal section configured to electrically connect the semiconductor layer to an external circuit, the terminal section including a first electrically-conductive layer made of a material same as a material of the wiring layer. |
| US09712648B2 |
Anycast transport protocol for content distribution networks
A cache server for providing content includes a processor configured to receive a first datagram from a client system sent to an anycast address, send a response datagram to the client system in response to the first datagram, receive a request datagram from the client system sent to the anycast address, and send a batch of content datagrams to the client system. The first datagram includes a universal resource locator corresponding to the content. The response datagram includes a content identifier for the content. The request datagram includes the content identifier, an offset, and a bandwidth indicator. The batch of content datagrams includes a portion of the content starting at the offset. |
| US09712646B2 |
Automated client/server operation partitioning
An operation (such as a relational query) may be processed on a processing engine (such as a relational database server) on behalf of a client. A conventional processing involves the delivery of the operation to the processing engine, which executes the entire operation to completion and returns a result data set. It may be more efficient to allocate part of the operation to be performed on the client, but a developer may be unable or unavailable to rewrite the operation in a distributed manner. Instead, the operation may be automatically partitioned into a pre-engine client portion, a processing engine portion, and a client portion, and the instructions of each portion may be automatically allocated respectively to the client, the server, and the client. The partitioning may be adjusted to conserve computing resources, such as bandwidth and storage, and the instructions may be reordered to improve the processing of the operation. |
| US09712643B2 |
Method and device for calling a taxi
The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for calling a taxi. A method may include determining whether a user should call a taxi, based on at least one of schedule data or schedule data. The method may further include, when it is determined that the user should call a taxi, generating and outputting a taxi calling order. In the present disclosure, a terminal device can automatically generate and output a taxi calling order when it determines that the user should call a taxi. The method or terminal can thereby initiate a taxi calling service as early as possible, and thus avoid delaying the user's schedule. Moreover, a process may require no user initiation and little or no intervention from the user. Thus, the method or terminal can simplify user operation and save the user's time. |
| US09712636B2 |
Memory system allowing host to easily transmit and receive data
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, a control unit, a memory as a work area, a wireless communication module, and an extension register. The control unit controls the non-volatile semiconductor memory device. The extension register is provided in the memory and has a data length by which a wireless communication function of the wireless communication module can be defined. The control unit causes the non-volatile semiconductor memory device to store, as a file, an HTTP request supplied from a host, causes the extension register, based on a first command supplied from the host, to register an HTTP transmission command transmitted together with the first command, and causes the wireless communication module to transmit the HTTP request stored in the non-volatile semiconductor memory device based on the transmission command registered in the extension register. |
| US09712632B2 |
Method for receiving data, method for sending data, mobile terminal, and server
A method for receiving data, a method for sending data, a mobile terminal, and a server are disclosed. The method includes: when an application program on a mobile terminal is switched to a background, sending, by the mobile terminal, a first message to a push server, so that the push server sends a second message to an application server, where the second message is used to instruct the application server to send, when there is data that needs to be sent to the mobile terminal, the data to the push server, and the application server serves the application program; and receiving, by the mobile terminal, the data sent by the push server. Through the present invention, the mobile terminal does not need not maintain a heartbeat connection to the application server, thereby reducing signaling overhead of the mobile terminal and reducing energy consumption. |
| US09712631B2 |
Push notification via file sharing service synchronization
Embodiments relate to push notification via file sharing service synchronization. A method includes establishing synchronization, at a notification service of a mobile platform server executing on a computer processor, with a client-to-server directory of a file sharing container of a client mobile device via a file sharing service. The notification service detects a notification from the client mobile device in the client-to-server directory and determines an endpoint associated with the notification and a notification transport protocol associated with the endpoint. The notification service also selects a channel plugin associated with the notification transport protocol to establish a notification channel with the endpoint and sends a notification trigger on the notification channel to the endpoint based on the notification. |
| US09712629B2 |
Tracking user physical activity with multiple devices
Methods, devices, and computer programs are presented for creating a unified data stream from multiple data streams acquired from multiple devices. One method includes an operation for receiving activity data streams from the devices, each activity data stream being associated with physical activity data of a user. Further, the method includes an operation for assembling the unified activity data stream for a period of time. The unified activity data stream includes data segments from the data streams of at least two devices, and the data segments are organized time-wise over the period of time. |
| US09712628B2 |
Click through rate estimation in varying display situations
The presently disclosed subject matter includes at least a method, system and a program storage device of estimating click through rate (CTR) of a pair of source and recommendation, the source comprising a plurality of slots, each slot configured to present a served recommendation. The CTR estimation is performed by first determining an estimated calibration CTR coefficient for each slot and then using this information for calculating an estimated CTR of a given slot when served with a given recommendation in a given source. |
| US09712627B2 |
User interface provisioning system
Systems and methods for providing a user interface include collecting user activity data that includes navigation details provided from each of a plurality of user devices in navigating through a user interface. User interface use profiles are determined using the user activity data and include information on the likelihood of at least one subsequent navigation detail based on at least one present navigation detail. A new user navigation detail is received from a new user device accessing the user interface, and a first user interface use profile is retrieved based on a first present navigation detail in the first user interface use profile that corresponds to the new user navigation detail. A customized user interface is then created using a first subsequent navigation detail associated the first present navigation detail in the first user interface use profile, and that customized user interface is provided to the new user device. |
| US09712621B1 |
Information sharing endpoint
An endpoint may share client information as part of a negotiation of a secure connection with an application such that connections terminated by the endpoint may have client information reported to the application. An endpoint may include termination points of communication, such as a proxy. For example, a client may connect to a load balancer through a protocol, such as transport layer security (TLS). By connecting to the load balancer, client data becomes known to the load balancer. The load balancer may then connect to an application server through TLS. During the negotiation phase of TLS, the load balancer may send client data using an extension to TLS. In some embodiments, the application may use the client data to determine whether or not to accept the client connection, such as client encryption parameters that indicate sufficient encryption strength. |
| US09712616B2 |
Method for calling up a media file in a telecommunication system, computer program product for executing the method, and telecommunication system for calling up the media file
A method for calling up a media file wherein the content of the called up media file is presented unrequested to the user of one of the multiple telecommunication terminals via a connection established with a telecommunication terminal includes provisioning of an interface in the telecommunication control unit such that the media file stored outside a telecommunication system can be accessed via the interface. The establishment of the connection can also include installation of a media assignment target in the telecommunication control unit central to the telecommunication system, selection of the media assignment target by one of the multiple telecommunication terminals and placement of a link to the media file in the telecommunication control unit by means of which the media file is assigned, and call-up of the media file by the telecommunication control unit via the interface using the link placed in the telecommunication control unit. |
| US09712613B2 |
Fibre channel fabric copy service
Copy capability moved into the SAN fabric and provided as a data mover service. A well-known address is utilized to receive copy commands from the hosts. Each switch in the fabric contains a front end or service interface which receives the copy command and manages access control or zoning and LUN mapping. LUN mapping and zoning are based on shared databases. Assuming correct zoning, the service interface will perform any necessary LUN mapping on the received copy command and forward the command to a copy engine to perform the copy operation. The switch service interface also maintains copy operation status, querying the copy engine if necessary, so that any host status requests are also simply handled. Additionally, if multiple copy engines are present, the switches can communicate to perform load balancing. |
| US09712599B2 |
Application peak load processing
Systems and computer program products may provide peak load processing on a computer system. A first computer system may include a processor and a memory storage device operatively coupled to the processor. The memory storage device may store instructions that are executed by the processor to receive from a second computer system coupled to the first computer system by a network, a request to replicate at the first computer system a first instance of an application executing on the second computer system, replicate on the first computer system the first instance of the application and execute the first instance of the application on the first computer system, including processing user requests related to the application received from the second computer system. |
| US09712590B2 |
Method and device for transmitting streaming media
A method and a device for transmitting streaming media are provided. The method includes: generating at least one index segment, where the at least one index segment includes index information of at least one media segment, and the at least one index segment is independent of the at least one media segment; generating storage location information corresponding to the at least one index segment according to a generation rule of the storage location information corresponding to the at least one index segment; and storing the at least one index segment at a storage location corresponding to the storage location information, so that a client can obtain the at least one index segment from the storage location. |
| US09712585B2 |
Processing of multimedia data
The invention relates to techniques for providing media content in a broadcast scenario to a streaming player, like a DASH player. In order to compensate a problem of variable segment sizes, which leads to the variation in the reception intervals of the media segments, it is proposed to estimate the segment availability time for requesting sub-sequent media segments. The estimation considers a correction value compensating the variation in a reception intervals of media segments so that the streaming player receives the media segments at a constant time interval, namely at the segment duration. In one embodiment it is proposed to use the value of the minBufferTime from the MPDfile, The min BufferTime is namely an indication of the varying segment size of the media content. The minBufferTime indicates the time needed for buffering a media content before starting playing out said media content. The estimation may be done on the client, user equipment UEor on the server device side. If the US is correcting the segment availability, then the UE uses the time of a first segment reception as base. If the serveris correcting the segment availability then it uses the original segment avail-ability time at the server as base plus end-to-end delay. |
| US09712582B2 |
Telephone initiated protocol-improved media delivery platform
The present invention relates to a method of delivering an audio and/or visual file over the air (wireless) from one or more servers to an electronic device, dependent or independent on an Internet connection, after inquiry and/or ordering said delivery from one or more of a dialed telephone number, dialing a toll-free number, and SMS and/or MMS message, comprising transmitting a compressed audio and/or visual file to said electronic device, and wherein said electronic device is effective to receive said compressed audio and/or visual file and playback said audio and/or visual content of said file on demand by the user. |
| US09712579B2 |
Systems and methods for creating and publishing customizable images from within online events
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media creating and publishing customizable images from within online events are provided. A user may capture an image from an online event presented within a user interface. In response to capturing the image, a pop-up window may be displayed within the presented online event on the user interface. In some embodiments, the pop-up window may include one or more options for customizing or modifying a background of the capture image, as well as including one or more sharing options to publish the captured image. |
| US09712578B2 |
Determining stories of interest based on quality of unconnected content
A system identifies unconnected content items of high quality and provides the unconnected content items for display to a user. The method comprises receiving several content items posted on pages of a social networking system. The system then determines a subset of those content items (e.g., high quality content items). A topic is then extracted from each of the subset of content items. The topic is mapped to one or more related pages of the social networking system that represent an expanded set of pages associated with the content item. For each of the related pages, a user is identified who is connected to the related page. Finally, the content item (e.g., a high quality content item) is provided to the user for display in the user's newsfeed. |
| US09712577B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for sharing content from a respective application
A device with a display and, optionally, a touch-sensitive surface detects a first input corresponding to a request to share first content from a first application while displaying the first application on the display. In response to detecting the first input, the device displays a sharing interface that includes a plurality of options for sharing the first content. While displaying the sharing interface, the device detects selection of an affordance in the sharing interface. In accordance with a determination that the affordance is a respective user-first sharing option for a respective user, the device initiates a process for sharing the first content with the respective user. In accordance with a determination that the affordance is a protocol-first sharing option for a respective protocol, the device initiates a process for sharing the first content using the respective protocol. |
| US09712576B1 |
Crowd-sourced project and transaction management system for human- and device-adaptive requester-provider networks
Provided is a computer-implemented system and method for a requester-provider, query-response network that augments internet-based social networks for crowd management, rapid updating, decision support, problem-solving, reporting, and activity-tracking for transaction management and status updates for large distributed and/or co-located events or projects, such that information distributed can be private, personally targeted, timely, tagged, and geo-localized, enabling users to contribute and respond to requests using natural language, receive postings customized to their needs and preferences, share information, assess alternatives, integrate crowd-sourced resources and process transactions across distributed human-machine systems running on a diversity of computer, mobile and device platforms. |
| US09712575B2 |
Interactions for viewing content in a digital magazine
A digital magazine server user interacts with a client device presenting one or more content items from the digital magazine server to access various content items identified by the digital magazine server. For example, the user interacts with a portion of a display device of the client device and traverses to an additional portion of the display device to view additional content items on the display device. Based on a rate at which the user traverses from the portion to the additional portion, a content update rate is determined and used to select an indication of modification that is presented. The indication of modification provides the user with a visual indication that the content items presented by the display device are modified, and may include a subset of content items from the digital magazine server if the content update rate does not exceed a threshold. |
| US09712574B2 |
Real-world view of location-associated social data
Particular embodiments maintain social-networking information associated with a user, wherein the user is represented by a user node in a social graph. One or more nodes of the social graph may be associated with respective locations. A request for social information related to a location may be received from a computing device. The request may comprise a location of the computing device, an orientation of the computing device, and an identifier for the user. A relevance score may be determined for one or more proximate nodes based on the request, the social-networking information associated with the user, and the location information for the respective proximate node. Each proximate node may be associated with at least one location within a threshold distance from the location of the computing device. Particular embodiments may provide social-networking information associated with at least one of the proximate nodes for display in conjunction with an image. |
| US09712563B2 |
Connection-specific communication management
A method of managing a connection-specific policy for accessing a target system includes receiving a request from a user client for a connection with a target system. A unique identifier is determined for the requested connection. Connection settings for connecting to the target system are provided to the user client. The connection settings include the unique connection identifier. A corresponding access policy for the connection identifier is provided to the target system. The target system applies the corresponding access policy on the connection established with the connection settings. |
| US09712561B2 |
Intercepting and supervising, in a runtime environment, calls to one or more objects in a web page
In an embodiment, a method comprises intercepting a first set of instructions from a server computer that define one or more objects and one or more original operations that are based, at least in part, on the one or more objects; modifying the first set of instructions by adding one or more supervisor operations that are based, at least in part, on the one or more objects; transforming the one or more original operations to produce one or more transformed operations that are based, at least in part, on the one or more supervisor operations; rendering a second set of instructions which define the one or more supervisor operations and the one or more transformed operations; sending the second set of instructions to a remote client computer. |
| US09712558B2 |
Method, system, and device of protecting a computerized service
Devices, systems, and methods of detecting user identity, differentiating between users of a computerized service, and detecting a cyber-attacker. An end-user device (a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like) interacts and communicates with a server of a computerized server (a banking website, an electronic commerce website, or the like). The interactions are monitored, tracked and logged. User Interface (UI) interferences or irregularities are intentionally introduced to the communication session; and the system tracks the response or the reaction of the end-user to such communication interferences. The system determines whether the user is a legitimate human user, or a cyber-attacker or automated script posing as the legitimate human user. The system further detects click-fraud, and prevents or mitigates Application Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks. |
| US09712554B2 |
Event correlation across heterogeneous operations
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for transforming representations of network activity data. A data structure that represents communication events between computing devices of one or more networks is received. The data structure is analyzed and a set of potential attack paths represented in the data structure is determined. A score is assigned to each potential attack path in the set of potential attack paths. Potential attack paths that have scores that do not meet a predetermined threshold are removed from the set of potential attack paths. Potential attack paths that remain in the set of potential attack paths are ranked, based on each score assigned to each potential attack path, and the data structure that includes a ranked set of potential attack paths is provided. |
| US09712542B1 |
Permissions decisions in a service provider environment
Permissions can be delegated to enable access to resources associated with one or more different accounts, which might be associated with one or more different entities. Accordingly, approaches for delegating security rights and privileges for services and resources in an electronic and/or multi-tenant environment are provided. In particular, various embodiments provide approaches for dynamically determining and authorizing delegation of permissions to perform actions in, on, or against one or more secured accounts, where those accounts may be associated with a number of different entities and/or resource providers. |
| US09712538B1 |
Secure packet management for bare metal access
Secure networking processes, such as packet encapsulation and decapsulation, can be executed upstream of a user or guest operating system provisioned on a host machine, where the user has substantially full access to that machine. The processing can be performed on a device such as a network interface card (NIC), which can have a separate network port for communicating with mapping systems or other devices across a cloud or secure network. A virtual image of the NIC can be provided to the user such that the user can still utilize at least some of the NIC functionality. In some embodiments, the NIC can work with a standalone processor or control host in order to offload much of the processing to the control host. The NIC can further handle headers and payload separately where possible, in order to improve the efficiency of processing the various packets. |
| US09712525B2 |
Validating biometrics without special purpose readers
To validate a user's identity a network validation server receives a smartphone image of a preexisting user credential, including both a user biometric and a unique identifier associated with the credential and stores them in a database. The validation server also receives the unique identifier from a registrar network device seeking to validate the user, and in response transmits a validation code to the user's smartphone for display by the user's smartphone and/or the registrar's network device for display by the registrar's network device. The validation server additionally receives confirmation from the registrar's network device that a validation code displayed on the user's smartphone is the transmitted validation, thereby confirming that the user has been validated by the registrar. |
| US09712515B2 |
Verifying an identity of a message sender
A system includes a gateway and a verification server. The gateway is configured to receive a first message from a client over a network; send a request to a verification server to generate a first credential based on the first message; and route the first message toward a remote device. The verification server is configured to receive the request from the gateway; generate the first credential in response to the request; store the first credential; receive a second message from the remote device, the message requesting the verification server to validate a second credential; determine whether the second credential is valid based on the first credential; and send a notification to the remote device indicating whether the second credential is valid. |
| US09712512B2 |
Secure content messaging
Systems and methods are disclosed for secure messaging and content sharing. In one implementation, a processor receives a content item in a first format, the content item being associated with an intended recipient, converts the content item into a second format, provides the content item, as converted into the second format, to a device associated with the intended recipient, receives, from the device associated with the intended recipient, one or more inputs in relation to a segment of the content item, processes the one or more inputs to determine that an authentication action is being performed with respect to the segment of the content item, and based on a determination that the authentication action is being performed with respect to the segment of the content item, provides an instruction to present the segment of the content item at the device associated with the intended recipient. |
| US09712508B2 |
One-touch device personalization
Technologies for one-touch device personalization include at least two mobile computing devices configured to communicate with a personalization server. The first mobile computing device tracks changes to device personalization data and backs up the personalization data to the personalization server. The personalization server associates the personalization data to authenticated user credentials. The personalization server may store the personalization data in an operating-system-independent format. Later, a second mobile computing device sends a request for personalization including those user credentials. After authenticating the user credentials, the personalization server sends the personalization data to the second mobile computing device, which installs the personalization data. Installing the personalization data establishes a configuration of the second mobile computing device corresponding to a previous configuration of the first mobile computing device. For increased convenience and security, the user credentials may be stored on a smart card or other security device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09712507B2 |
System and method for secure messaging in a hybrid peer-to-peer network
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables endpoints to securely send and receive messages to one another within a hybrid peer-to-peer environment. |
| US09712504B2 |
Method and apparatus for avoiding double-encryption in site-to-site IPsec VPN connections
A system and a method are described that reduce or eliminate inefficiencies caused by double encryption in network tunnel communications. In particular, a set of virtual tunnels may be established that require a lower level of encryption in comparison to a full-encryption tunnel. Upon determining that a session is end-to-end encrypted, the system and method described herein may assign the session to one of the virtual tunnels instead of the full-encryption tunnel. By intelligently assigning sessions to virtual tunnels when encryption has already been applied, double encryption may be avoided, which will improve throughput and decrease processor usage. However, in cases where a session is not end-to-end encrypted, the full-encryption tunnel may be utilized to ensure secure communications are maintained between gateways. |
| US09712503B1 |
Computing instance migration
Technology for migration of a computing instance is provided. In one example, a method may include receiving instructions to initiate migration of the computing instance from a first host to a second host. A first message for sending to the first host may be generated which includes instructions to send data representing the computing instance to the second host. The first message may further include encryption information for use in deriving at least one key for encrypting communications to the second host from the first host. A second message for sending to the second host may be generated which includes instructions to receive the data representing the computing instance from the first host. The second message may further include information for use in deriving at least one key for decrypting communications from the first host. The first and second messages may be sent to the respective first and second hosts. |
| US09712502B2 |
Method and system for sending a message through a secure connection
The method and system enable secure forwarding of a message from a first computer to a second computer via an intermediate computer in a telecommunication network. A message is formed in the first computer or in a computer that is served by the first computer, and in the latter case, sending the message to the first computer. In the first computer, a secure message is then formed by giving the message a unique identity and a destination address. The message is sent from the first computer to the intermediate computer after which the destination address and the unique identity are used to find an address to the second computer. The current destination address is substituted with the found address to the second computer, and the unique identity is substituted with another unique identity. Then the message is forwarded to the second computer. |
| US09712497B2 |
Method and system for creation and verification of anonymous digital credentials
A method for providing an online reputation is disclosed. An online credential service assigns a unique client identifier to each user and a unique forum identifier to each forum that users participate. A user participating in one or more online forums registers for establishing a reputation profile at the online credential service. A unique verification code associated with each forum is generated for the user to include in the user's profile at the corresponding forum. A user's reputation is determined based on whether a verification code is included in the user's profile at the form. |
| US09712493B2 |
System and method to associate a private user identity with a public user identity
The inventive system includes a host, a network including a security gateway, and a public application. Established are an access session between the network and the host and an application session between the public application and the network. An application session record is created for the application session, and includes the user's public user identity used to access the public application, the user's private user identity used to access the network, a host identity, and an application session time. To determine the private user identity for the application session, the security gateway sends a query with the host identity and the application session time. These are compared with the host identity and access session time in an access session record, if they match, then the private user identity in the access session record is returned, and it is stored as the private user identity in the application session record. |
| US09712492B1 |
Syndicating device and application management
Techniques to provide syndicated device and application management are disclosed. In various embodiments, a request associated with accessing a third party service is received, for example, at a device management server or other management system. A third party service configuration data is used to configure the managed device to access the third party service directly from the third party service. |
| US09712491B2 |
Access control lists for private networks of system agnostic connected devices
The disclosure relates to using a control service to control external access to APIs of IoT devices on a private network. An external application can request access to an API, and in response, the control service can monitor broadcasts from the IoT devices indicating what APIs they have available. If a match exists, the control service can request user authorization to allow the requested access. The user can grant or deny the requested access, and place limitations on the authorized access. The control service uses this information to open a connection between the requesting application and the IoT device having the requested API, and via this connection, the requesting application can access and control the device running the requested API. |
| US09712488B2 |
Method and system for idle mode transfer for load balancing across distributed data plane processing entities for mobile core network
A system and an algorithm in a mobile core network to distribute the data load across multiple data processing entities. The system is seen as having one data plane entity to the external entities like routers; hence the system can scale without needing to update the external nodes. In general when a data plane processing entity is added or removed, a new distribution rule is provided to the remaining data plane processing entities. Only after some number of sessions have been migrated does the new distribution get provided to the data distribution entities. This delay allows sufficient sessions to be migrated to minimize the overall number of packets that have to be forwarded for processing. This benefit can be maximized by taking advantage of cellular network's idle mode behavior and by migrating the sessions while they are in idle mode. |
| US09712483B1 |
Automated check for simple mail transfer protocol email delays
A system for automated monitoring simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) email delays. The system comprises a data store to store message identifiers for sent emails and a first monitoring server. The first monitoring server comprises a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, builds a test email with a message identifier in a header of the email, creates an entry with the message identifier in the data store, sends the email through internal email servers to an external email system with a public distribution list (PDL), obtains average time duration for an email to be delivered, and sends an alert when the email is not received after a predefined period of time, whereby the entire delivery path of the test email is examined by sending the test email in the same email system as ordinary emails. |
| US09712479B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums for configuring electronic messaging applications
Methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums configure electronic messaging applications to communicate with a server storing messages to and/or from an electronic messaging account of a user. A method involves receiving an electronic message address and a password of the user as inputs, deriving server connection settings based on the electronic message address, and applying the server connection settings to the electronic messaging account. Another method involves receiving an electronic message address of the user and discovering the server connection settings for the electronic messaging account on a server having a designated protocol name as a server prefix name to assist in locating the server and having the server connection settings. The method also involves retrieving the server connection settings from a file provided by the server in response to locating the server having the designated name and applying the server connection settings to the electronic messaging account. |
| US09712478B2 |
Preventing a user from missing unread documents
According to one exemplary embodiment, a processor-implemented method for informing a user that an important unread email (IUE) will be removed from an online communication inbox, wherein the IUE is a high priority email determined by an algorithm is provided. The method may include determining, by the processor, if the online communication inbox associated with the user has received the IUE. The method may also include determining if an email removal event associated with the received IUE will occur within a threshold time. The method may then include displaying a notification to the user of the email removal event based on determining that the email removal event will occur within the threshold time. |
| US09712477B2 |
Email notifications
Disclosed are various examples for communicating notifications for received email messages. A monitoring service monitors inboxes to which clients are subscribed. When a message arrives in a subscribed inbox, the monitoring service sends a notification to a notification brokering service. The notification brokering service then forwards the notification to the appropriate notification service for communication to a subscribed client. |
| US09712475B2 |
Data governance for email systems
An enterprise email governance system including an enterprise-wide email communication item events monitoring subsystem providing at least near real time indications of email communication item events and an enterprise-wide email communication item events storage subsystem receiving inputs from the monitoring subsystem and providing at least near real time user accessibility to the email communication item events. |
| US09712469B2 |
Systems and methods for forwarding electronic mail
A system and method are disclosed that enable an email service provider to implement an email forwarding service without losing associated page views. In one embodiment, rather than forwarding the entire email message, the email forwarding service generates a summary email message, and sends this summary email message to the forwarding email address pre-specified by the subscriber. This summary email message includes a link that is selectable by the user to view the original email message on a web site of the email service provider. Thus, even if the forwarding email address is hosted externally, the subscriber still views the full email message on a web site of the provider of the email forwarding service. |
| US09712468B2 |
Network-enabled method for family members with shared interests or futures to mutually assist one another
A social networking device and method that creates a new virtual private network and interface for family members that have shared interests in each other's health, finances, travel, calendars, special events, debts, and physical access to assets. Fundamental to these interests are their individual respective commitments to help one another, and need for automation to assist them with the means needed to be made aware and the tools needed to be effective. A generic family-hub mobile app is downloaded to corresponding mobile devices and independently used by each family member to invite others to join a new family-hub VPN, enroll, share personal information, and access graphical user interfaces (GUI). Several dashboards in the GUI are included with scoreboards for the health, finances, travel, calendars, special events, debts, and physical access to assets of the other enrolled family members. |
| US09712462B2 |
Expandable distributed core architectures having reserved interconnect bandwidths
A network system for an expandable distributed core architecture (“DCA”) includes multiple spine switches, multiple leaf switches coupled thereto, and a plurality of interconnections coupling each of the spine switches to each of the leaf switches. Servers, storage, and other system items and resources can be coupled to the leafs via downlinks and uplinks. Each of the plurality of spine switches includes at least one unused spine port that is reserved for a future expansion of the DCA in order to accommodate the addition of at least one other separate leaf switch to the at least one unused spine port. Additional ports can be unused and reserved for future expansion additions of more leafs and/or more spines. Also, a computing system assists in the design of the specific number and configuration of spines, leafs and interconnections based upon user inputs regarding current and future system needs. |
| US09712461B2 |
Data caching system and method for ethernet device
A data caching method for an Ethernet device is provided. The method includes: receiving data frames from various Ethernet interfaces and converting the Ethernet data frames received from the Ethernet interfaces into data frames having a uniform bit width and a uniform encapsulation format; maintaining a cache address in which data has already been written and a currently idle cache address in a cache; receiving the currently idle cache address and generating a write instruction and/or a read instruction for the cache and performing a write operation and/or a read operation so as to write the data received and processed by an IPC into the currently idle cache or to read data from the cache; and performing bit conversion and format encapsulation on the data that is read according to a read request and outputting the data subjected to the bit conversion and the format encapsulation through a corresponding Ethernet interface. A data caching system for an Ethernet device is also provided. By means of the data caching method and system provided herein, the expandability and the high bandwidth storage capacity of a network switching device can be improved, a high bandwidth utilization rate is achieved, and it becomes possible to improve bandwidth utilization rate based on traffic management. |
| US09712451B2 |
Network congestion notification preservation and modification during transmission of network data between physical network and virtual network
A virtual network is implemented on a physical network. A virtual network data packet is tunneled through the physical network via encapsulation within a physical network data packet and via transmission of the physical network data packet through the physical network. A network congestion notification capability of the virtual network is preserved and modified during transmission of virtual network data through the physical network and vice-versa. Congestion notification metadata can be copied from a header of a virtual network data packet to a header of a physical network data packet when the virtual network data packet is encapsulated into the physical network data packet. Congestion notification metadata can be copied from a header of a physical network data packet to a header of a virtual network data packet when the virtual network data packet is decapsulated from the physical network data packet. |
| US09712449B2 |
Packet transfer device and power supply control method for QoS control circuit
It is intended to reduce a power consumption without degrading a communication quality of a packet transfer device. One or more of a receiver, a switch unit, and a transmitter include a QoS control circuit for applying QoS control to received packets. There is provided a power saving operation mode that enables power saving operation by changing a grain size of the QoS control according to a flow rate of the packets, and controlling whether or not to supply an electric power to the QoS control circuit or a part of the QoS control circuit, according to the flow rate of the packets. |
| US09712448B2 |
Proxy server, hierarchical network system, and distributed workload management method
A proxy server and a hierarchical network system and a distributed workload management method. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the proxy server includes: a rate controller configured to, based on measured request-related information and service quality parameters relative to service levels of requests, periodically determine a dispatch rate for requests of each service level, wherein the sum of the dispatch rate for respective service levels is less than or equal to a predetermined rate; and a request dispatcher configured to dispatch the requests of the corresponding service level in accordance with the dispatch rate determined by the rate controller. One aspect of the disclosure realizes a low overhead, highly scalable, simple and efficient workload management system to achieve QoS assurance and overload protection. |
| US09712445B2 |
System and method for routing data on a packet network
The disclosed embodiments include system and method for routing communications over a communications network. In one embodiment, a determination is made as to whether to establish a communication along a communication path based on network performance information. The disclosed embodiments provide several alternatives for establishing the communication and improving communications along the communication path in response to a determination that at least one network node along the communication path is impaired or congested. |
| US09712443B1 |
Distributed traffic quota measurement and enforcement
A network traffic controller includes components adapted to receive traffic from a multitude of switches and to compare the traffic data to one or more threshold values. The threshold values may represent usage quotas. If the traffic generated by a host is detected as exceeding such usage quota, a traffic control signal is sent to the switch connecting the host to the network. The control signal may instruct the switch to mark the associated host's traffic as low priority, or rate limit the interface so as to limit the amount of traffic that is allowed onto the network, or block the traffic altogether. |
| US09712442B2 |
Efficient memory bandwidth utilization in a network device
A system for efficient memory bandwidth utilization may include a depacketizer, a packetizer, and a processor core. The depacketizer may generate header information items from received packets, where the header information items include sufficient information for the processor core to process the packets without accessing the payloads from off-chip memory. The depacketizer may accumulate multiple payloads and may write the multiple payloads to the off-chip memory in a single memory transaction when a threshold amount of the payloads have been accumulated. The processor core may receive the header information items and may generate a single descriptor for accessing multiple payloads corresponding to the header information items from the off-chip memory. The packetizer may generate a header for each payload based at least on on-chip information and without accessing off-chip memory. Thus, the subject system provides efficient memory bandwidth utilization, e.g. at least by reducing the number of off-chip memory accesses. |
| US09712439B2 |
Packet processing match and action unit with configurable memory allocation
A packet processing block. The block comprises an input for receiving data in a packet header vector, the vector comprising data values representing information for a packet. The block also comprises circuitry for performing packet match operations in response to at least a portion of the packet header vector and data stored in a match table, and circuitry for performing one or more actions in response to a match detected by the circuitry for performing packet match operations and according to information stored in an action table. Each of said match table and said action table comprise one or more memories selected from a pool of unit memories, wherein each memory in the pool of unit memories is configurable to operate as either a match memory or an action memory. |
| US09712438B2 |
Routing messages between virtual networks
Routing messages between virtual networks using a mapping of virtual addresses from one virtual network to a virtual address of the other virtual network. Each virtual network has a valid set of virtual addresses, some of which being assigned to virtual nodes within the corresponding network. When a virtual network identifies a message to be sent, it identifies a destination for the message. Some destinations may be within the same virtual network and thus may be routed to virtual nodes within the virtual network. Other destinations may instead be mapped to a virtual address of another virtual network. In that case, routing information may also be obtained and the message may be dispatched to the virtual address of the other virtual network. This may be performed without the need for a gateway, which publishes a public address that is globally unique. |
| US09712435B2 |
Cloud-based services exchange
In general, a cloud-based services exchange (or “cloud exchange”) for interconnecting multiple cloud service providers with multiple cloud service customers is described. The cloud exchange may enable cloud customers to bypass the public Internet to directly connect to cloud services providers so as to improve performance, reduce costs, increase the security and privacy of the connections, and leverage cloud computing for additional applications. In this way, enterprises, network carriers, and SaaS customers, for instance, can integrate cloud services with their internal applications as if such services are part of or otherwise directly coupled to their own data center network. |
| US09712434B2 |
System and method for source routing with one or more delay segments
A plurality of network nodes, under the control of a network controller, are configured to perform a method to direct packets in a packet flow from a source to a destination. In one embodiment, the network controller transmits an instruction to a first node in a network instructing the first node to transmit a first packet in the packet flow along a first route from the source to the destination, the first route having a first delay. The network controller also transmits an instruction to a node in the network to transmit a second packet in the packet flow along a second route different from the first route, the second route having a second delay, the second delay having a duration less than a duration of the first delay. The network controller further transmits an instruction to a node in the second route to delay the second packet in order to delay arrival of the second packet at the destination. |
| US09712427B1 |
Dynamic server-driven path management for a connection-oriented transport using the SCSI block device model
A system and method for checking a current load on at least one virtual endpoint of a path assigned to a virtual connection that represents communication between a client and server over a fiber channel network using Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) communication. The method further includes selecting an alternate path between the client and serve over the fiber channel network, migrating a virtual connection to the selected alternate path, and messaging the client to utilize the selected alternate path using SCSI over the fiber channel network. |
| US09712424B2 |
Method for configuring node devices of a mesh communications network, computer program, information storage means and system
Node devices of a mesh communications network are interconnected by links. Forwarding tables are initially built following a link-state routing protocol. Each node device performs, upon detecting a link failure or a link recovery, determining and transmitting. Each end-point, when receiving said message(s) representative of said link failure or said link recovery, records an indication of whether each data path identified in the received message(s) can be activated or not. When the received message(s) is(are) representative of a link failure, each end-point performs selecting and transmitting. |
| US09712423B1 |
Routing protocol for an interconnection network
A node for connecting to an interconnection network may include a network interface. The node may also include a processor coupled with the network interface. The node may further include a memory coupled with the processor. The processor may be configured for periodically analyzing the connectedness of the node to the interconnection network to determine a metric for the node in relation to other nodes within the interconnection network. The node may be designated as a member of a core set of nodes within the interconnection network based upon the metric. The node may detect at least one of a derived update or an update indicating another node connects to or disconnects from the interconnection network. The node may transmit a routing update to another member of the core set of nodes only when the node is designated as part of the core set of nodes. |
| US09712416B2 |
Adaptive analysis of diagnostic messages
Adaptive processing of alert messages allows proactive maintenance. Alert messages are monitored and compared to a threshold. If a threshold number of the alert messages is exceeded, diagnostic codes are retrieved and a query value may be adjusted. |
| US09712414B2 |
Selecting a packet loss concealment procedure
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, disclosed is a method and an apparatus thereof for selecting a packet loss concealment procedure for a lost audio frame of a received audio signal. A method for selecting a packet loss concealment procedure comprises detecting an audio type of a received audio frame and determining a packet loss concealment procedure based on the audio type. In the method, detecting an audio type comprises determining a stability of a spectral envelope of signals of received audio frames. |
| US09712412B2 |
Aggregating status to be used for selecting a content delivery network
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request for content from a source in a network; determining a geographic service region for the source; determining a status of a plurality of content delivery networks in the service region. The status is indicative of at least whether each of the plurality of content delivery networks is active or impaired. The method can also include selecting a particular one of the content delivery networks having a corresponding status as active to service the request for content. |
| US09712409B2 |
Agile information technology infrastructure management system
The agile information technology infrastructure management system and related methods and processes provide a solution with the required flexibility to effectively and efficiently monitor and manage a wide-variety of disparate information technology and network infrastructure deployed in businesses and enterprises throughout a region or the world. |
| US09712408B2 |
Bandwidth management in a content distribution network
A system and method in which each node in a Content Distribution Network (CDN) maintains information about the most-recent state of the CDN as a whole to decide what bandwidth to use when serving a content subscriber so that the total bandwidth of the entire multimedia content streamed/delivered to the subscriber through various nodes in the CDN remains within a pre-defined bandwidth cap for the subscriber. The entire CDN is thus treated as a single edge node. Each node in a CDN may periodically transmit to all other nodes in the CDN, information about any activity that occurs at the transmitting node. Instead of reporting to all the nodes, the transmitting node may report details of its node-specific activity to a subset of “interested” nodes. Once each node has a model of what the entire CDN system is currently doing, that node can implement bandwidth management in a coherent manner. |
| US09712405B2 |
Integrated reporting for on-demand and on-premise solutions
Methods and systems provide integrated reporting for analytics. A flexible solution may be provided via an integrated delivered reporting model for various deployment scenarios. A customer landscape can vary, e.g., including an on-premise product, an on-demand product, or a combination thereof. The products may originate from more than one vendor. A report may be generated based on a virtual data model (VDM) and be compatible with a variety of scenarios and views for cross-reporting. A report may be generated for various deployment scenarios. A report may be generated for data stored in a relational storage apparatus (e.g., a database) with data structure(s) reflected in a corresponding VDM. Methods and systems provide automatic deployment of VDM parts into different storage apparatus/schema and automatic set up of relevant mapping, e.g., schema mapping. |
| US09712404B2 |
Performance evaluation method and information processing device
In performance estimation when the configuration of a computer system is changed, the influence, on performance, of a temporary increase in load to a computer system due to reallocation of a process request allocated to a degenerated server to another server as a result of server degeneration is taken into consideration. In an embodiment, an information processing device which evaluates the performance of the computer system estimates the performance of the computer system when operation of a server included in the computer system is stopped based on the throughput required for the server at the time of operation stop and outputs the estimated performance of the computer system. |
| US09712402B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated deployment of geographically distributed applications within a cloud
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, from a requesting device, a request to establish a component of an application; identifying a policy file associated with the application, wherein the policy file defines at least one segment for the application and defines at least one constraint for a first segment of the at least one segment; selecting the first segment for establishment of the component; selecting a location for establishment of the component, wherein the location is selected to be consistent with the at least one constraint; and establishing the component at the selected location. |
| US09712401B2 |
Quality of service policy sets
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for receiving client quality of service values associated with a first client. Client metrics of a volume in a storage system are determined for the first client. The client metrics reflect usage of the storage system by the first client. A client load value based is determined upon the client metrics. A quality of service management policy for the first client is determined from a plurality of quality of service management policies based upon the client load value. Each quality of service management policy comprises a formula based on a quality of service parameter. A client target performance value is determined based upon the formula of the quality of service management policy and the received client quality of service values. Performance of the storage system is adjusted for the first client based upon the client target performance value. |
| US09712400B1 |
System, method, and computer program for selecting from among available network access points based on an associated quality of experience for use by a client device to access a network
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for maintaining quality of experience (QoE) for a client device on a network. In use, access points that are available to a client device are determined, based on a policy. Additionally, a current QoE provided to the client device by one of the access points utilized by the client device to access the network is determined. This QoE could be valued as a score computed by a function called QoE Metric taking QoS parameters as inputs. An expected QoE associated with each of the other access points is then determined. Further, the access point utilized by the client device to access the network is conditionally switched to one of the other access points, based on the current QoE and the expected QoEs. Additionally, any potential QoE downgrades on the current access point is detected using QoE Degradation Patterns that could be matched with current QoS measures and can encourage the client device to determine more accurately the current QoE. |
| US09712399B2 |
Computer network for services retrieval, method for managing such network and a computer system for such network
The invention concerns a computer network for services retrieval consisting of one or more computer systems and one or more service providers. The computer system may comprise one or more clients. On the computer system one or more network accessible client tools are running. The client tools may be enriched with services. According to the invention the computer network comprises one or more subscription management components. The subscription management component manages and secures specific client tool related communications between the one or more computer systems and the one or more service providers. The invention also concerns a computer system for application in the computer network, as well as a method for managing the network. |
| US09712396B2 |
Topology configuration of processing elements array by using packets
In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for topology configuration of an array of packet processing elements via a topology configuration packet. Each processing element may include input packet busses from a first plurality of neighboring processing elements and output packet busses to a second plurality of neighboring processing elements. Each processing element may receive the configuration packet from one of the first plurality of neighboring elements, set its own topology configuration register according to predetermined values within the packet, and forward the packet out all of its outputs, in the same manner as a standard packet. |
| US09712395B2 |
Method for the exchange of data between nodes of a server cluster, and server cluster implementing said method
A method for the exchange of data between nodes of a server cluster comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected together by a geographic interconnection network comprising a plurality of transmission segments linking the nodes together, including sending by a sending node, data intended for at least one other node, or receiving node, transmitting the data using the geographic interconnection network, receiving the data by each receive node, supplying the data to each receiving node with information relating to the transmission segments of the geographic interconnection network traversed between the sending node and this receiving node on the transmission thereof. |
| US09712392B2 |
SIP endpoint configuration in VoIP networks
VoIP networks and methods are disclosed for configuring SIP endpoints of VoIP networks. An application server of a VoIP network identifies an endpoint configuration for the SIP endpoints, and generates a configuration command based on the endpoint configuration. The application server formats a SIP message to include the configuration command, and transmits the SIP message to the SIP endpoints. Responsive to receiving the SIP message, the SIP endpoints process the SIP message to identify the configuration command, and set local configuration parameters based on the configuration command. |
| US09712389B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for the discovery of resources in a computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention provide a detector apparatus for detecting a physical resource employed in providing a particular virtual resource in a computer network, the computer network including a plurality of physical resources each being operable to be employed in providing virtual resources and having an environment sensor outputting sensor data representing changes in an operating property of the physical resource. A detector apparatus embodying the present invention comprises a sensor data receptor operable to receive sensor data output by the environment sensors, a pattern extractor operable to extract a pattern from the received sensor data from a physical resource, and a pattern matcher, wherein the pattern matcher is operable to compare the extracted pattern with a unique pattern known to be generated by a particular virtual resource, and to detect that the physical resource is employed in providing the particular virtual resource when a match is found. |
| US09712385B2 |
Managing configurations of distributed devices
A method manages configurations of devices in a system that communicates information between a device and an enterprise. The method includes building a defined configuration for a device type. The defined configuration includes a set of value requirements. An actual configuration having values associated with the device is compared to the defined configurations. The actual configuration and defined configuration are stored in a database of the enterprise. The method also includes determining, in the enterprise, if the values of actual configuration match the corresponding value requirements of the defined configurations. The method runs business logic associated with the device based on a result from the step of determining if the values of the actual configuration match the corresponding values of the defined configurations. The matched configurations are stored for subsequent use. |
| US09712383B2 |
Device abstraction in autonomous wireless local area networks
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a managed network device assigns to itself an IP address, in absence of a DHCP service, in a link local address space within a wireless network. The system further responds to a network frame received from another device based on the assigned IP address in the link local address space. The network frame can be a network traffic frame, a control path frame, and/or a management frame. The control path frame comprises a source IP address and a destination IP address that correspond to internal IP addresses in the link local address space that are self-assigned by managed network devices. The management frame comprises the self-assigned internal IP address for the managed network device, and provides for management of managed network devices in the wireless network through a single IP address when a virtual controller is configured for the wireless network. |
| US09712379B2 |
Robust cloud instance launching
A method and system for receiving a request to deploy virtual machine instances on a first cloud and determining whether the deployment has been prepared for launch on cloud. Upon determining that the deployment has not been prepared for launch, aborting a launch of the deployment is initiated. Upon determining that the deployment has been prepared for launch, a launch of the deployment on the cloud is initiated. Upon determining that the launch of at least one of the virtual machine instances has failed to launch, a re-launch of the at least one instance that has failed to launch is initiated or a rollback of the deployment is initiated. |
| US09712378B2 |
System and method for resilient wireless packet communications
Rapid failure detection and recovery in wireless communication networks is needed in order to meet, among other things, carrier class Ethernet transport channel standards. Thus, resilient wireless packet communications is provided using a hardware-assisted rapid transport channel failure detection algorithm and a Gigabit Ethernet data access card with an engine configured accordingly. In networks with various topologies, this is provided in combination with their existing protocols, such as rapid spanning tree and link aggregation protocols, respectively. |
| US09712374B1 |
Network services resource management
In general, the invention is directed to techniques for scheduling resource access within an intermediate network device. For example, as described herein, a device receives packets for a plurality of sessions that include application-layer data for the sessions. The device determines a weight for each of the plurality of sessions and, during periods of resource congestion, selects one or more sessions for additional resource allocation based on the respective weights of the sessions. The device allocates additional memory resources to selected sessions to enable further buffering of application-layer data such that the device may apply the service to multiple sessions concurrently despite the resource congestion. |
| US09712368B2 |
Differential current mode low latency modulation and demodulation for chip-to-chip connection
A chip-to-chip communications circuit which is particularly well-suited for short range communication (less than a few inches) from one integrated circuit (chip) to another is presented. The circuits preferably utilize multi-frequency quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) mechanisms for converting digital data bits from a parallel form into a serial analog stream for communication over a chip I/O connection. Differential current mode modulation in the transmitter, and demodulation in the receiver, are utilized which reduce latency and power-consumption while increasing manufacturing yields and resilience to process variations. |
| US09712360B2 |
Backhaul downlink signal decoding method of relay station and relay station using same
A method of decoding a backhaul downlink signal is presented. A relay node (RN) receives a higher layer signal indicating a maximum transmission rank from a base station (BS), receives control information containing a resource allocation for downlink data through a relay control channel from the BS, demodulates the control information, and receives the downlink data through a data channel based on the control information. The control information is mapped to resource elements (REs) which do not overlap with user equipment-specific reference signal (URS) REs in a control region which is used for the relay control channel transmission of the BS. The URS REs are reserved REs for URSs according to the maximum transmission rank. |
| US09712357B2 |
Method for transmitting broadcasting signal, method for receiving broadcasting signal, apparatus for transmitting broadcasting signal, and apparatus for receiving broadcasting signal
The present invention provides a method for transmitting a broadcasting signal. The method for transmitting the broadcasting signal according to the present invention comprises the steps of: encoding data of a plurality of PLPs according to a code rate, wherein the step of encoding data of a plurality of PLPs comprises the steps of LDPC-encoding data of at least one PLP of the plurality of PLPs according to the code rate, bit-interleaving the LDPC-encoded data, and mapping the bit-interleaved data to constellation; mapping the encoded data of the plurality of PLPs to generate at least one signal frame; and modulating data of the generated signal frame through an OFDM scheme and transmitting a broadcasting signal including the modulated data of the signal frame. |
| US09712355B1 |
Spreading techniques for frequency-shift keying modulation
Various aspects described herein relate to distinguishing frequency shift keying (FSK) signals transmitted by each user of multiple users in a wireless communications system. One or more symbols for transmitting in an FSK-modulated signal can be obtained by a user. The one or more symbols can be encoded based on a tone location assignment corresponding to a unique spreading code associated with the user. Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and/or phase-shift keying (PSK) can be performed over at least one tone associated with the encoded symbols. Each user can transmit the encoded symbols to a receiving entity, where the receiving entity can decode each symbol received from the plurality of users to produce a distinguishable symbol for each user based on the unique spreading codes associated with each user. |
| US09712352B2 |
High-speed multi-channel data transmission method, related devices and system
A high-speed multi-channel data transmission method is disclosed. The method includes that: a data sender replaces data at intervals of N periods with frame headers in data channels, sequentially stores the data replaced with the frame headers in the data channels in a Deskew channel, and sends the data in the data channels and data in the Deskew channel to a data receiver; the data receiver determines frame header locations of the data channels and the Deskew channel, calculates offsets of the data channels according to the frame header locations, and performs period compensation for the data channels according to the calculated offsets to keep the frame header of each data channel and the frame header of the Deskew channel in a relative relationship the same as that at the data sender; and the frame headers on the data channels and the corresponding data on the Deskew channel are replaced to finish data restoration. A high-speed multi-channel data transmission system and related devices are further disclosed. According to the embodiments of the disclosure, 400 Gb/s multi-channel data alignment and restoration can be realized, and speed of data alignment and restoration is increased. |
| US09712351B2 |
Apparatus and method to adaptively set threshold to detect transmission symbol in OOK receiver
An apparatus and method are provided to adaptively set a threshold to detect a transmission symbol. The apparatus and method calculate detection parameters to determine the threshold to detect the transmission symbol based on probability distribution parameters, which determine a statistical probability distribution of an input signal. The apparatus and method adaptively detect a present transmission symbol using a previously detected transmission symbol and the detection parameters. |
| US09712348B1 |
System, device, and method for shaping transmit noise
A device includes circuitry configured to determine noise shaping parameters for one or more transmit signals on one or more transmit channels based on transmission protocol and spectral mask criteria. Frequency positions are identified for the one or more transmit channels based on the noise shaping parameters, and the noise shaping parameters are applied to the one or more transmit signals. |
| US09712345B2 |
Communication device and method of controlling same
A communication device and method of controlling the same are provided. A communication device includes a transceiver that receives a radio signal and a processor electrically connected to the transceiver, and is configured to store a data signal including data received through the radio signal in a first buffer according to a first delay period, store a channel signal including channel estimation information on a transmission channel of the radio signal in a second buffer according to a second delay period, determines a coefficient of a low pass filter and a group delay related to the low pass filter based on information related to the radio signal, and output at least one of the channel signals stored in the second buffer based on the determined group delay and the first delay period to perform equalizing. |
| US09712344B2 |
Receiving device with error detection circuit
A receiving device includes a termination circuit to which a received signal is input, a processing circuit which performs a process at a rear stage of the termination circuit, and an error detection circuit which detects an error contained in the received signal. In a case where the error is detected by the error detection circuit, a termination resistance value of the termination circuit is lowered. Therefore, the receiving device can be rapidly restored when a signal containing an error is received. |
| US09712343B2 |
Scalable telecommunications system
One aspect is directed to a node unit for a scalable telecommunications system. The node unit is configured to have inserted therein a respective power amplifier module and duplexing module for each of a plurality universal digital RF transceiver modules. The node unit is configured to communicatively couple an input of each power amplifier module to an output of the respective universal digital RF transceiver module. The node unit is configured to communicatively couple each universal digital RF transceiver module to respective external equipment via a duplexing module. At least one module comprises a module identifier. The system controller is configured to read the at least one module identifier and to configure the operation of at least one of universal digital RF transceiver modules, universal digital transport interface modules, and universal backplane module based on the at least one module identifier. |
| US09712342B2 |
Frame transmitting method and frame receiving method
A method of transmitting a frame is provided by a device in a WLAN. The device sets as additional data subcarriers some of subcarriers which are not set as data subcarriers in at least part of fields included in a frame of a legacy frame format, and allocates information to the additional data subcarriers. |
| US09712337B2 |
Employing power over ethernet for auxiliary power in computer systems
Methods and apparatus for implementing Power over Ethernet (PoE) for auxiliary power in computer systems. Under aspects of the methods, one or more voltage inputs comprising standard power input is employed by a power control component in a network interface in an apparatus such as a network adaptor board, a System on a Chip (SoC), computer server or server blade to supply power to a network controller on the apparatus when the apparatus is operating at a normal power state. To enable the apparatus to maintain network communication when operating at a reduced power state, a PoE power input derived from at least one PoE signal received at at least one Ethernet jack of the apparatus is employed to provide power to the network controller absent use or availability of the standard power input. Accordingly, the PoE power input facilitates an auxiliary power function that may be used alone or in combination with existing (as applicable) auxiliary power input when apparatus are operated in reduced power states. |
| US09712332B2 |
Node directed multicast traffic management systems and methods for mesh networks
Systems and related methods include node directed management of multicast traffic within a wireless mesh network. A wireless mesh network may include a plurality of mesh nodes and a central server in communication with at least one of the mesh nodes of the plurality of mesh nodes. The central server may be configured to generate one or more rules for at least one of the mesh nodes to instruct a change in a pre-routing parameter in a packet header based on received channel state information. The central server may include a rules-based engine configured to generate and convey one or more traffic shaping rules in response to sensing traffic conditions. The position of received multicast packets in a packet order may be modified. |
| US09712329B2 |
Cryptographic key escrow
An escrow platform is described that can be used to enable access to devices. The escrow platform can be used to sign cryptographic network protocol challenges on behalf of clients so that the secrets used to sign cryptographic network protocol challenges do not have to be exposed to the clients. The escrow platform can store or control access to private keys, and the corresponding public keys can be stored on respective target platforms. A client can attempt to access a target platform and in response the target platform can issue a challenge. The client platform can send the challenge to the escrow platform, which can use the corresponding private key to sign the challenge. The signed challenge can be sent back to the client, which can forward it to the target platform. The target platform can verify the expected private key and grant access. |
| US09712324B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for reducing or eliminating unauthorized access to tethered data
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating unauthorized access to secured files are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the method includes establishing a connection between a communication portion of the secured file and an authentication agent. The method may include requesting a decryption key from the authentication agent for accessing the secured file on a first computing device. The decryption key may be based on device information retrieved from devices in an authenticated environment of devices. The authenticated environment may be an environment in which the secured the was encrypted. The method may include destroying the secured file subsequent to receiving a message indicating that the requesting has failed. |
| US09712314B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for eliminating self-interference in a full-duplex communication
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for processing an interference signal, so as to eliminate an interference signal in a full duplex multi-antenna system. The method includes: receiving a radio signal, where the signal includes a self-interference signal of a transmit antenna, and the self-interference signal includes a first self-interference signal, and a second self-interference signal; performing primary interference cancellation processing, by using a first reference signal, on the received signal to eliminate the first self-interference signal; and performing secondary interference cancellation processing, by using a second reference signal, on the signal after the primary interference cancellation processing to eliminate the second self-interference signal. |
| US09712310B2 |
System and method for channel quality indicator and acknowledgement joint detection
An embodiment method for network communications includes receiving, by a network device, a plurality of channel quality indicator (CQI) symbols and one or more acknowledgement (ACK) symbols and selecting a reduced set of candidate CQI symbols by comparing a plurality of candidate CQI symbols with the plurality of CQI symbols. The method further includes generating a plurality of candidate CQI and ACK symbol combinations by combining the reduced set of candidate CQI symbols with candidate ACK symbols. The network device detects the plurality of CQI symbols and the one or more ACK symbols by comparing the plurality of candidate CQI and ACK symbol combinations with the plurality of CQI symbols and the one or more ACK symbols. |
| US09712306B2 |
Adaptive link adaptation for wireless communications
A wireless communication system is presented in which subframe-specific link adaptation is performed. A mobile device can transmit a signal that informs a base station whether a particular subframe was received successfully. Additionally the mobile device can calculate channel state information (CSI) for a subframe and report the CSI to a base station. The reported CSI may or may not include an indicator for informing the base station about from which type of subframe the CSI was derived. The base station can receive the signal, the CSI and/or the indicator. Based on what information the base station has received, it performs subframe-specific BLER filtering and subframe-specific link adaptation scheduling and MCS adjustments. |
| US09712299B2 |
Method of scrambling reference signals, device and user equipment using the method
A Method of scrambling reference signals, device and user equipment using the method are provided. In the method, a plurality of layers of reference signals assigned on predetermined radio resource of a plurality of layers of resource blocks with the same time and frequency resources are scrambled, the method comprising: an orthogonalizing step of multiplying each layer of reference signal selectively by one of a plurality of orthogonal cover codes (OCCs) with the same length wherein the OCC multiplied to a first layer of reference signal can be configured as different from those multiplied to other layers of reference signals; and a scrambling step of multiplying all of symbols obtained from the OCC multiplied to each of the other layers of reference signals by a symbol-common scrambling sequence wherein the symbol-common scrambling sequences can be different from each other for reference signals multiplied by the same OCC. |
| US09712297B2 |
Method and device for transmitting data
A method for transmitting data in a wireless local area network and a device suing the same are provided. The device transmits a plurality of medium access control protocol data units (MPDUs) to at least one destination station. Duration fields in all of the plurality of MPDUs are set to a same value. |
| US09712290B2 |
Network link monitoring and testing
In some embodiments, a link monitoring system (“LMS”) is configured to obtain link status metrics and packet transmission metrics for network links forming a network channel between a first network device and a second network device. The LMS can obtain link status metrics from the first network device and the second network device and can also initiate the generation of packets on the network links to obtain the packet transmission metrics. Based on the status metrics and packet transmission metrics, the LMS can determine if the network links are malfunctioning. |
| US09712289B2 |
Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) packet-centric wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system architecture
A packet-centric wireless system includes: a wireless base station communicating via a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) to a first data network; one or more host workstations communicating via TCP/IP to the first data network; one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations coupled with the wireless base station over a shared bandwidth via TCP/IP over a wireless medium; and one or more subscriber workstations coupled via TCP/IP to each of the subscriber CPE stations over a second network. The system can allocate shared bandwidth among the subscriber CPE stations to optimize end-user quality of service (QoS). The first data network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN). The second network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN). |
| US09712285B2 |
Method and device for searching for service for terminal using gas protocol
Method and device for discovering a service are provided. A responding device receives a service request frame including a first service identifier indicating a service queried by the requesting device. The responding device transmits a service response frame to indicate that the queried service is currently not available and a service announce frame follows on. The responding device determines whether the queried service is accepted or not during a pre-defined time after transmitting the service response frame. |
| US09712283B2 |
Method and apparatus for data transmission of device-to-device user equipment in wireless communication system
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for transmitting Device-to-Device (D2D) data by a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: determining a bitmap to be applied to a subframe pool for data transmission from a subframe indicator bitmap; determining a set of subframes to transmit D2D data by using the bitmap to the subframe pool for data transmission; and transmitting D2D data in a subframe included in the determined subframe set, wherein a set of values available as k being the number of 1s in the subframe indicator bitmap are changed according to a Uplink/Downlink (UL/DL) configuration set to which a UL/DL configuration configured for the UE belongs. |
| US09712276B2 |
Error reporting in multi-carrier signal communication
In a communication device, a multi-carrier signal with at least one group of signal carriers is received from a communication connection. For each of the signal carriers, at least one individual error value is evaluated or generated. From the individual error values, a combined error value is evaluated or generated. The combined error value is transmitted on a backchannel of the communication connection. |
| US09712275B2 |
Waveform-enabled jammer excision (WEJE)
A method for waveform-enabled jammer excision (WEJE) may include performing a jammer measurement during a look-through window when no signal-of-interest (SOI) is present and obtaining a jammer signal. A SOI-plus-jammer measurement may be performed and a SOI-plus-Jammer signal may be obtained when both the jammer signal and the SOI are present. Optimal weights that maximize a SOI-to-jammer power ratio may be determined. SOI-plus-jammer signals from a number of antenna elements may be optimally weighted and combined to copy the SOI and null the jammer signal based on the determined optimal weights. |
| US09712270B2 |
Transfer of synchronization in a hybrid global navigation satellite packet network system
Networks, network devices and methods of synchronization using transfer of synchronization packets are provided. Some network devices are configured to use either a timing reference extracted based on GPS signals or an imported timing reference, as an operative time reference. A network device from which to import the time reference is selected and may be updated to meet a selection rule related to the quality of receiving the transfer of synchronization packets. |
| US09712269B2 |
Electric fader drive unit, audio mixer, and electric fader driving method
An electric fader drive unit includes a drive portion, a fader position control portion, and an electric fader control portion. The fader position control portion detects a distance between a current position of the electric fader and a target position, indicates a high speed movement mode when the distance is not less than a predetermined value, and indicates a silent movement mode when the distance is less than the predetermined value. The electric fader control portion controls the drive portion to change the drive power to silent drive power not less than the minimum drive power that is the lowest drive power for moving the electric fader when the fader position control portion indicates the silent movement mode, and controls the drive portion to change the drive power to base drive power more than the silent drive power when the fader position control position indicates the high speed movement mode. |
| US09712267B2 |
Live uplink transmissions and broadcasting management system and method
A live uplink transmission and broadcasting management system and method for managing a plurality of live uplink transmissions and broadcasting events, the system comprising: (i) a publication portal for publishing transmissions of live events; (ii) a database for storing metadata, system data, broadcast data and user data; (iii) a broadcast manager adapted for receiving and processing in real-time metadata information related to a plurality of live uplink transmission events wherein each live uplink transmission event transmits in a plurality of uplink channels, wherein processed metadata information generate data elements adapted for being used in telecom and datacom real time management applications, said broadcast manager also adapted for updating the publication portal with live event information and (iv) a set of Quality of Service (QoS) management methods to coordinate the usage of Uplink transmissions based on the received metadata and their processing in the broadcast manager. |
| US09712266B2 |
Synchronization of multi-channel audio communicated over bluetooth low energy
This document describes techniques for synchronizing rendering of multi-channel audio output. First audio data corresponding to a first audio channel and second audio data corresponding to a second audio channel may be received. The first and second audio data may be configured for simultaneous rendering. A transmission schedule for wirelessly transmitting audio data to each of first and second audio rendering devices may be configured, according to which the first audio data may be scheduled for transmission to the first audio rendering device after the second audio data is scheduled for transmission to the second audio rendering device by a first length of time. An indication may be wirelessly transmitted to the second audio rendering device to delay rendering audio data by the first length of time. The first and second audio data may be wirelessly transmitted to the first and second audio rendering devices according to the transmission schedule. |
| US09712265B2 |
System and method for wirelessly transmitting and receiving customized data broadcasts
A system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving customized data broadcasts comprising at least one computer apparatus running an application for customized data broadcasts. The computer apparatus uses the application to transmit and/or receive at least one broadcast. The system is further comprised of a server network infrastructure with: the application, at least one application server, at least one web server; and at least one database/information server. The infrastructure, servers, and application comprise a distributed computing environment in a secure server network model wherein the environment utilizes the application as a secure communicator of the broadcasts, thereby enabling secure communication of the broadcasts between any computer apparatus running the application. The application strengthens standard broadcast security by communicating the broadcast via the distributed computing environment in a secure server network model comprised of proprietary software, a proprietary number of loops per broadcast transmission, and proprietary encoding and decoding protocols. |
| US09712264B2 |
Method of determining a filter of a relay and relay for performing the same
A method of determining a filter of a relay and the relay for performing the same are disclosed. The method of determining a filter of a relay to minimize data estimation error in a relay environment considering a direct link includes (a) setting a power constraint condition of the relay so that maximum value of eigenvalue of a transmission covariance matrix of the relay is less than maximum transmission power usable at respective antenna; and (b) determining a transmission filter of the relay using the maximum transmission power usable at respective antenna according to the set power constraint condition. |
| US09712263B1 |
Bit error ratio tests
An example communications device may include a slicer that may generate a digital output signal by thresholding a received signal according to variably set timing and voltage parameters. Testing circuitry may determine expected bit error ratios for multiple time-voltage slices by performing test operations corresponding respectively to the multiple time-voltage slices. Each of the test operations may include setting the timing and voltage parameters of the slicer based on the corresponding time-voltage slice, periodically measuring a bit error ratio based on the digital output signal and determining a confidence level for the measured bit error ratio, and in response to the determined confidence level equaling or exceeding a specified value, designating a current value of the measured bit-error ratio as the expected bit error ratio for the corresponding time-voltage slice and ending the test operation. |
| US09712260B2 |
Hi-fi audio device and method of removing noise of power supply
A hi-fi audio device for reproducing and outputting a hi-fi sound source, the hi-fi audio device including: an operation unit configured to operate the hi-fi audio device; and a power supply unit comprising: an alternating current (AC) power supply unit configured to rectify alternating current supplied from an external power supply into first direct current and supply the first direct current to the operation unit; and a battery unit configured to supply second direct current to the operation unit, wherein the operation unit receives the first direct current and drives the hi-fi audio device when the operation does not reproduce a sound source, and receives the second direct current and drives the hi-fi audio device while the operation unit reproduces the sound source, and while the sound source is reproduced, the supply of the first direct current to the operation unit is blocked. |
| US09712258B2 |
Low-loss electrical balance duplexer with noise cancellation
A circuit for a low-loss duplexer with noise cancellation in a receive (RX) path of a transceiver includes a duplexer, a balancing network, and a noise cancellation circuit. The duplexer circuit is coupled to an antenna of the transceiver. The balancing network is coupled to the duplexer and provides an impedance matching an impedance associated with the antenna. The noise cancellation circuit senses a noise signal generated by the balancing network and uses the sensed noise signal to improve a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the RX path. |
| US09712255B2 |
System and method for providing underwater communication data
A system and a method for communication in a submarine communication network are disclosed. The communication system comprises a branching unit, an optical cable segment comprising a first conductor path and a second conductor path, a repeater and an insulation and loopback circuit. The branching unit is configured for enabling exchange of optical communication data and electric power between an optical trunk cable of the submarine communication network and the cable segment. The insulation and loopback circuit is configured to receive the optical communication data and the electric power through said first conductor path, direct at least a part of said electric power back to the trunk cable through said second conductor path and the branching unit, and direct said optical communication data to a remote platform through a third conductor path. |
| US09712254B2 |
Current-voltage conversion circuit, optical receiver, and optical terminator
A trans-impedance amplifier that converts a current signal output by a light-receiving element into a voltage signal has a conversion gain that is variable. A gain control circuit detects a bottom voltage with respect to the voltage signal output by the trans-impedance amplifier and controls the conversion gain of the trans-impedance amplifier based on the detection results. A convergence determination circuit determines whether the control of gain is in a convergent state or a non-convergent and outputs to the gain control circuit a determination signal indicating the determination results. When the determination signal indicates a transition from the non-convergent state to the convergent state, the convergence control circuit maintains a value of the conversion gain at a time of the transition. |
| US09712251B2 |
Distortion compensation device and compensation distortion method
A distortion compensation device includes: a signal processing unit to perform signal processing on a symbol; a storage unit to store a distortion compensation value for every pattern string including a symbol of interest and predetermined number of symbols ahead of the symbol of interest among a plurality of input symbols, a distortion in the signal processing unit being compensated for such that the symbol of interest is corrected to a target value based on the distortion compensation value; a first acquisition unit to acquire a pattern string of interest including the current input symbol and the predetermined number of input symbols ahead of the current input symbol; a second acquisition unit to acquire the distortion compensation value associated with the pattern string of interest from the storage unit; and a setting unit to set the distortion compensation value to a correction value of the signal processing unit. |
| US09712250B2 |
System and method for generating a frequency modulated linear laser waveform
A system for generating a frequency modulated linear laser waveform includes a single frequency laser generator to produce a laser output signal. An electro-optical modulator modulates the frequency of the laser output signal to define a linear triangular waveform. An optical circulator passes the linear triangular waveform to a band-pass optical filter to filter out harmonic frequencies created in the waveform during modulation of the laser output signal, to define a pure filtered modulated waveform having a very narrow bandwidth. The optical circulator receives the pure filtered modulated laser waveform and transmits the modulated laser waveform to a target. |
| US09712248B2 |
Optical transmission device and optical transmission method
An optical transmission device includes: an optical splitter configured to branch signal light input from a first optical network; a variable optical attenuator configured to control an attenuation amount of first branched signal light branched by the optical splitter and output the first branched signal light for a second optical network; and a controller configured to detect a modulation component of a signal superimposed on the signal light from second branched signal light branched by the optical splitter and control, based on the detected modulation component, an attenuation amount of the variable optical attenuator, so that the modulation component is suppressed. |
| US09712243B2 |
Integrated transceiver with lightpipe coupler
A transceiver comprising a chip, a semiconductor laser, and one or more photodetectors, the chip comprising optical and optoelectronic devices and electronics circuitry, where the transceiver is operable to: communicate, utilizing the semiconductor laser, an optical source signal into the chip via a light pipe with a sloped reflective surface, generate first optical signals in the chip based on the optical source signal, transmit the first optical signals from the chip via the light pipe, and receive second optical signals from the light pipe and converting the second optical signals to electrical signals via the photodetectors. The optical signals may be communicated out of and in to a top surface of the chip. The one or more photodetectors may be integrated in the chip. The optoelectronic devices may include the one or more photodetectors integrated in the chip. The light pipe may be a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). |
| US09712240B2 |
Mapping information centric networking flows to optical flows
A method implemented by an edge node in an optical network, the method comprising receiving one or more information centric networking (ICN) service flows, each of which is identifiable by a service label, determining at least one optical resource to be provisioned to the one or more service flows based on the one or more service labels, converting the one or more ICN service flows to one or more optical flows, and transmitting the one or more optical flows using the at least one optical resource. |
| US09712239B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiplexed optical communication system using spatial domain multiplexing (SDM) and orbital angular momentum of photon (OAM) multiplexing with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)
A multiplexed optical communication system comprising a carrier optical fiber, a plurality of launching light sources, and a matching plurality of multiplexer/demultiplexers and photodetectors is described and claimed. Optical communication channel separation by Spatial Domain Multiplexing (SDM), Optical Angular Momentum (OAM) multiplexing, and Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) is used in combination to achieve significant increase in optical communication channel bandwidth over the prior art. The launching light sources may be positioned such that the light beams are incident on the receiving end of the carrier optical fiber at desired angles including complementary angles. Crosstalk between optical communication channels is minimal. The communication bandwidth of a TDM system may be increased by an order of magnitude due the layered WDM/SDM/OAM data multiplexing of the invention. |
| US09712238B2 |
System and method for communication using orbital angular momentum with multiple layer overlay modulation
A communications system includes RF processing circuitry for receiving a plurality of data streams and processing the plurality of data streams to associate with each of the plurality of data streams an orthogonal function to cause each of the plurality of data streams to be mutually orthogonal to each other on an RF link to enable transmission of each of the plurality of data streams on the RF link at a same time. Optical processing circuitry receives the plurality of data streams and processes the plurality of data streams to associate with each of the plurality of data streams the orthogonal function to cause each of the plurality of data streams to be mutually orthogonal to each other on an optical link to enable transmission of each of the plurality of data streams on the optical link at a same time. Switching circuitry multiplexes between the RF link and the optical link responsive to operating conditions on the RF link and the optical link. |
| US09712233B1 |
Full-duplex RF link for multi-channel wideband communication
A method and apparatus for cancelling interference of an interfering transmit signal. The method includes the steps of (a) transmitting an RF transmit signal from a transceiver, (b) optically modulating the RF transmit signal, (c) optically modulating a RF receive signal; (d) demodulating an optical signal back to an RF signal using an optical-electrical balanced receiver and directing to the transceiver, and (e) demodulating the optical transmit signal back to RF transmit signal. |
| US09712228B2 |
Beam forming and pointing in a network of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for broadband access
Systems and methods configured to form and point beams from one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) toward a target coverage area on the ground. One embodiment describes dividing the target coverage area on the ground among multiple UAVs when each UAV antenna system generates static beams. Another embodiment describes dividing the target coverage area on the ground among multiple UAVs when their antenna systems are capable of dynamically steering their respective beams. Another set of embodiments describe systems and method to allow multiple UAVs to provide service in the same area on the ground using the same spectrum. |
| US09712225B2 |
Digital combiner for phased-array RF receivers
Methods and systems for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals include adjusting a digital baseband signal from a first RF front-end to compensate for errors based on a correlation value from a first correlator. A set of digital baseband signals from a set of respective additional RF front-ends is adjusted to compensate for errors based on correlation values from a second correlator. The adjusted digital baseband signal from the first RF front-end and the adjusted set of digital baseband signals from the set of respective additional RF front-ends are combined. |
| US09712212B2 |
Multiple service distributed-antenna system
A distributed-antenna system is disclosed. The system has a least one leaky feeder, a plurality of RF signal sources, at least one data router providing IP addressing and data control to the RF signal sources (which may be data-controlled radios), and a plurality of RF filters connected between the respective RF signal sources and the leaky feeder and connecting the respective RF signal sources to the leaky feeder. The RF signal sources are distributed along the leaky feeder to optimize both spectrum use and coverage of predetermined areas in, for example, office or apartment buildings. |
| US09712207B2 |
Method and decoder for despreading data signals spread using walsh sequences
According to the invention, a data stream with continuous, periodic transmitted, spread data signals of N chips each is split into two data streams of N chips each, which are shifted by N chips; for each of these data streams the correlation functions are calculated within every chip clock time and, in relation to their maxima, evaluated in order to separate user signals from extraneous signals and disturbing signals. |
| US09712201B2 |
Multi-sized subscriber identity module card for use on multiple wireless devices
A subscriber identity module card for wireless devices, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first cut-out space, a first material layer arranged on the bottom surface, a second memory card secured within said first cut-out space, said second memory card having said first material layer arranged on a bottom surface of said second memory card and having a second cut-out space, and a third memory card secured within said second cut-out space, said third memory card having a second material layer arranged on a bottom surface of said third memory card. |
| US09712200B2 |
Network equipment and connector thereof
A connector adapted to be connected to a network device is provided. The network device includes a connection port, and the connection port includes an elastic sheet. A wedging hole is formed on the elastic sheet. The connector includes a connector housing, a sliding element and a rotation element. The connector housing includes a latch. The latch is formed on the connector housing, and is adapted to be wedged into the wedging hole. The sliding element is moved between a first position and a second position along a straight line. When the sliding element is in the first position, the latch wedges into the wedging hole. When the sliding element is in the second position, the sliding element abuts the elastic sheet to separate the latch from the wedging hole. The rotation element is connected to the sliding element. |
| US09712199B2 |
Receiver with an amplifier linearizer
A receiver for signals. The receiver comprises, an amplifier arranged to receive and amplify the signals received by the receiver. The receiver also comprises a linearizer arranged to linearize the amplitude value of the output signals from the amplifier. In the receiver, the linearizer is arranged to perform the linearizing by means of determining actual and desired values of a statistical function for the amplitude values of the output signals from the amplifier and to replace the amplitude values of the output signals from the amplifier with amplitude values which have the same desired values of the statistical function. In embodiments of the receiver, the statistical function is the cumulative distribution function. |
| US09712195B2 |
Radio frequency low noise amplifier with on-chip matching and built-in tunable filter
An amplifier includes a gain transistor including a control terminal to receive an input signal. A degeneration inductor is coupled between the first terminal of the gain transistor and ground. A shunt inductor and a capacitor are coupled in series between the control terminal of the gain transistor and ground, and form a filter to attenuate frequencies of the input signal within a frequency range. The degeneration inductor and the shunt inductor form a transformer to provide impedance matching. |
| US09712194B2 |
Distortion suppression for wireless transmission
A receiver arranged to receive and to suppress a distortion in a receive signal, the receive signal comprising an information signal, the information signal occupying a first frequency band, the receive signal further comprising a pilot signal, the pilot signal occupying a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, the receiver comprising a pilot removal device arranged to receive a processed receive signal, and to extract and process the processed pilot signal from the processed receive signal as a processed extracted pilot signal, and to combine the processed extracted pilot signal with the processed receive signal to generate a distortion suppressed receive signal. |
| US09712181B1 |
Incremental preloading in an analog-to-digital converter
During operation of a SAR ADC, several of the MSBs can be preloaded with predetermined bit decisions prior to carrying out bit trials. A system and method can be provided for incrementally preloading the predetermined bit decisions such as to maintain voltages present at comparator inputs within a limited range of acceptable input voltages. |
| US09712175B2 |
Clock and data recovery circuit module and phase lock method
A clock and data recovery circuit module and a phase lock method are provided. The module includes a phase detection circuit, a converter circuit and a voltage control oscillation circuit. The phase detection circuit is configured to detect a phase difference between a data signal and a feedback clock. The converter circuit is coupled to the phase detection circuit and configured to output a first phase control voltage and a second phase control voltage according to the phase difference. The voltage control oscillation circuit is coupled to the converter circuit and configured to receive the first phase control voltage and the second phase control voltage and output the feedback clock according to the first phase control voltage and the second phase control voltage. |
| US09712174B1 |
Double calibration loop for random spread spectrum modulator
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide calibration for a spread spectrum PLL device modulator. A first calibration loop includes a cross correlator to correlate a sequence of random or pseudo-random signals injected into a signal path of the PLL device to a phase error signal of the PLL device. A second calibration loop includes a bandwidth tuner to tune a bandwidth of the PLL device and to reduce a jitter of the PLL device. |
| US09712165B2 |
Semiconductor device including electrostatic protection circuit
A semiconductor device includes: a first power source (PS1) pad supplied with a PS1 voltage; a PS1 line connected to the PS1 pad; a first ground line (G1); an output circuit operated using the PS1 voltage; a second power source (PS2) pad supplied with a PS2 voltage; a PS2 line connected to the PS2 pad; a second ground line (G2); a signal line connected to an output end of the output circuit; an input circuit connected to the signal line at an input end receiving a signal from the output end and operated using the PS2 voltage; a main protection circuit unit providing discharge routes between the PS1 pad and G1, G1 and G2, and G2 and the PS2 pad; and a sub protection circuit unit. The output circuit includes: a circuit element arranged between the PS1 line and the signal line and able to function as a resistive element. |
| US09712162B2 |
Input device, display device, electronic device, and mobile terminal
[Object] To provide an input device, a display device, an electronic device, and a mobile terminal in which an opening of a decorative layer can be decorated while reducing a possibility of peeling off of a protective layer.[Solution] An input device X1 includes a substrate 2, a first decorative layer 6 that is disposed on the substrate 2 and includes an opening 6a, a first protective layer 7 that is disposed on the first decorative layer 6 and is partially located inside the opening 6a, and a second decorative layer 8 disposed on the first protective layer 7, wherein the second decorative layer 8 is located so as to at least partially overlap the opening 6a in plan view. |
| US09712160B2 |
Independent control of branch FETs for RF performance improvement
A FET-based RF switch architecture and method that provides for independent control of FETs within component branches of a switching circuit. With independent control of branch FETs, every RF FET in an inactive branch that is in an “open” (capacitive) state can be shunted to RF ground and thus mitigate impedance mismatch effects. Providing a sufficiently low impedance to RF ground diminishes such negative effects and reduces the sensitivity of the switch circuit to non-matched impedances. |
| US09712157B2 |
Control of a half-bridge
A control for an electrical consumer includes a first switching device for connecting an output for the consumer to a first potential, a second switching device for connecting the output to a second potential, a control device for activating the switching devices, a first scanning device for providing a first signal as a function of a switching state of the first switching device, a second scanning device for providing a second signal as a function of a switching state of the second switching device, and a comparator device for determining a difference in the switch-on times of the switching devices on the basis of the determined signals. |
| US09712154B1 |
Voltage generation circuit and integrated circuit including the same
A voltage generation circuit includes a voltage generator initialized in response to a first power on reset signal, and generates an internal voltage on an output node using an external voltage; and a pull-down driving unit which pull-down drives the output node in response to a second power on reset signal delayed from the first power on reset signal. |
| US09712152B2 |
Circuit for controlling power supply
A circuit for controlling power supply includes a first switch situated between a first power supply and a first node coupled to a circuit block, a second switch situated between a second power supply having a voltage value different than the first power supply and a second node coupled to a back gate of a transistor of the circuit block, a third switch situated between the first node and the second node, and a control unit configured to place the second switch in an “on” state and the third switch in an “off” state during an “on” state of the first switch, and to place the second switch in an “off” state and the third switch in an “on” state during an “off” state of the first switch. |
| US09712151B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for an edge rate controlled output buffer
A circuit for minimizing variation over process, voltage and temperature for edge rate over and propagation delay. The circuit includes at least two first buffers for decoupling large nonlinear parasitic capacitors of the main drivers, at least two second buffers for level shifting to the at least two first buffers, at least two voltage sources for initializing the stage of at least one of the first or the second buffer, and a current source generator coupled to the voltage source of the second buffers. |
| US09712149B2 |
Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes a power transistor and a sense transistor connected in parallel with each other, a first operational amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal connected to an emitter of the sense transistor and an inverting input terminal connected to an emitter of the power transistor, a resistor element having one end connected to the emitter of the sense transistor and another end connected to a first node, and an adjustment transistor placed between the first node and a low-voltage power supply. The first operational amplifier adjusts a current flowing through the adjustment transistor so that an emitter voltage of the power transistor and an emitter voltage of the sense transistor are substantially the same. |
| US09712146B2 |
Mixed signal processors
Various processor architectures for mixed signal computation exploit the unique characteristics of advanced CMOS technologies, such as fin-based, multi-gate field effect transistors, and/or emerging technologies such as tunnel field effect transistors (TFETs). The example processors disclosed herein are cellular neural network (CNN)-inspired and eliminate the need for voltage controlled current sources (VCCSs), which have previously been utilized to realize feedback and feed-forward templates in CNNs and are the dominant source of power consumption in a CNN array. The example processors replace VCCSs with comparators, which can be efficiently realized with TFETs given their high intrinsic gain. Power efficiencies are in the order of 10,000 giga-operations per second per Watt (GOPS/W), which represents an improvement of more than ten times over state-of-the-art architectures seeking to accomplish similar information processing tasks. |
| US09712144B2 |
Fine delay structure with programmable delay ranges
A circuit includes a first node, a first inverter connected to the first node and a second node. A variable resistive element is connected to the second node and a third node. A first switch is connected to the second node, a first capacitive element is connected in series with the first switch and the third node, a second switch connected to the second node, a second capacitive element is connected in series with the second switch and the third node, and a second inverter is connected to the third node and a fourth node. |
| US09712141B2 |
Modulation of power supply voltage for varying propagation delay
Embodiments relate to modulating a power supply voltage for varying a propagation delay of data paths within an integrated circuit. The power supply voltage is modulated to increase the delay of shorter data paths for reducing an incidence of hold time violations without substantially affecting the delay of longer data paths. For example, the power supply voltage is reduced from a nominal value in the first half clock cycle to increase delay of both the shorter data paths and the longer data paths. The power supply voltage is increased from the nominal value in the second half clock cycle to decrease delay of the longer data paths within the second half clock cycle such that the overall delay of the longer data paths is virtually same as when the power supply voltage is fixed at the nominal value for the entire clock cycle. |
| US09712138B2 |
Resonator element, resonator, resonator device, oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object
A resonator element includes a first region which includes a first portion and a second portion having a thickness thinner than the first portion. In a plan view, the second portion includes an outer frame in two edges present in opposite regions to regions facing the first portion, and a contour of the outer frame is bent more gently than a contour of an edge of the first portion. When R is a length of the outer frame along the X axis, λ is a wavelength of flexural vibration of the quartz crystal substrate, and R/(λ/2)=k, a relation of “0.1 |
| US09712131B2 |
High isolation power combiner/splitter and coupler
A power combiner has at least two uncommon ports and at least one common port. Isolation between the uncommon ports over a broad band is achieved through a lossy band response circuit having a phase and amplitude response effective to compensate for changes in phase and amplitude between the uncommon ports with change in frequency of an input signal. The lossy band response circuit may have a resistance approximating a resistance effective to isolate the uncommon ports over a bandwidth at a center frequency. A coupler may likewise increase the band for which an input port is isolated from the isolated port by coupling a lossy circuit between the input port and isolated port. The lossy circuit may be embodied as a lossy band response circuit. |
| US09712128B2 |
Microelectromechanical resonator
In a MEMS device having a substrate and a moveable micromachined member, a mechanical structure secures the moveable micromachined member to the substrate, thermally isolates the moveable micromachined member from the substrate and provides a conduction path to enable heating of the moveable micromachined member to a temperature of at least 300 degrees Celsius. |
| US09712126B2 |
Automatically calibrating operational amplifier (op-amp) systems for mitigating effects of offset voltages
Automatically calibrating operational amplifier (op-amp) systems for mitigating effects of offset voltages are disclosed. In one aspect, an automatically calibrating op-amp system is provided that employs an analog calibration signal corresponding to a calibration mode to compensate an output voltage signal of an op-amp corresponding to an amplify mode. An automatic calibration circuit is included that employs a successive approximation register (SAR) controller configured to successively generate digital values based on the output voltage signal of the op-amp in response to a mode signal indicating the calibration mode. The automatic calibration circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to convert each successive digital value into the analog calibration signal in response to the mode signal indicating the calibration mode. The analog calibration signal is provided to an auxiliary differential input of the op-amp to compensate for the composite offset voltage in the amplify mode. |
| US09712125B2 |
Power amplification system with shared common base biasing
Power amplification system with shared common base biasing. A power amplification system can include a plurality of cascode amplifier sections. Each one of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections can include including a first transistor and a second transistor. The power amplification system can include a plurality of common emitter biasing components. Each one of the plurality of common emitter biasing components can be coupled to a base of the first transistor of a respective one of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections and can be controllable to bias the first transistor of the respective one of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections. The power amplification system can include a common base biasing component coupled to a base of the second transistor of each of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections and controllable to bias the second transistor of each of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections. |
| US09712124B2 |
Distributed amplifier
The present disclosure provides a distributed amplifier, including: a drain transmission line; a gate transmission line; GFETs, in which sources of the graphene field-effect transistors are respectively grounded; gates of the graphene field-effect transistors respectively connected with a plurality of first shunt capacitors which are grounded; the gate transmission line is connected with a plurality of first nodes respectively between the gates of the graphene field-effect transistors and the plurality of first shunt capacitors, having a plurality of first inductors respectively between each two first nodes; drains of the graphene field-effect transistors respectively connected with a plurality of second shunt capacitors which are grounded; the drain transmission line is connected with a plurality of second nodes respectively between the drains of the graphene field-effect transistors and the plurality of second shunt capacitors, having a plurality of second inductors respectively between each two second nodes. |
| US09712123B2 |
Reconfigurable power amplifier capable of selecting wide band frequency and method for selecting wide band frequency
Provided is a power amplifier installed in wireless communication terminals and systems. According to one aspect of the present invention, a reconfigurable power amplifier capable of selecting a wide band frequency is provided. The reconfigurable power amplifier includes input transistors receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and a reconfigurable adaptive power cell configured to select the wide band frequency by applying a common-gate bias voltage to a plurality of common-gate transistors with a plurality of separate common gates to amplify the RF signal. |
| US09712119B2 |
Doherty power amplifier with tunable input network
Doherty power amplifier with tunable input network. An input network for a Doherty power amplifier can include a splitter circuit configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) signal and split the RF signal into a first portion along a first path to a carrier amplifier of the Doherty power amplifier and a second portion along a second path to a peaking amplifier of the Doherty power amplifier. The input network can further include a tunable input circuit implemented along either or both of the first path and second path. The tunable input circuit can be configured to provide control of the amplitude and phase of either or both of the first portion and second portion. |
| US09712115B2 |
Current-mode power amplifier
A current-mode power amplifier is disclosed. In some embodiments, the power amplifier may include a first cascode transistor pair including a first transfer function coupled to a second cascode transistor pair including a second transfer function. The first transfer function may be an inverse of the second transfer function. The current-mode power amplifier may also include an inductive-capacitive (LC) resonant circuit to reduce the effects of gate capacitances of the first cascode transistor pair and the second cascode transistor pair. In some embodiments, the current-mode power amplifier may include a bias current controller. The bias current controller may adjust transistor bias currents based, at least in part, on an input signal received by the current-mode power amplifier. |
| US09712113B2 |
Local oscillator paths
Provided herein are oscillator paths between an oscillator and mixers. In an embodiment, the oscillator paths include a first path between an oscillator and a first mixer and a second path between the oscillator and the second mixer, in which the first path is enabled in a first state (e.g., a low band state) and the second path is enabled in a second state (e.g., a high band state). The first path can include a radio frequency divider configured to receive a signal having the oscillator frequency and to divide the signal in frequency by a positive odd integer divisor greater than one, and a duty cycle correction circuit configured to receive an output from the radio frequency divider and provide an output having a duty cycle that is closer to 50% than the output from the divider. Such separate oscillator paths can, for example, enhance receiver performance. |
| US09712111B2 |
Oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object
An oscillator includes an input terminal, an oscillation circuit section configured to cause a resonator to resonate to output an oscillator signal, a digital input section to which a signal for controlling an oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit section is input via the input terminal, and a first bias circuit section including a constant current source configured to supply a reference current to the digital input section. |
| US09712107B2 |
Modular support assembly for a solar power system
A modular support assembly for a solar power system includes a plurality of base units each of which includes a base frame having first and second tube members, and a plurality of connection units each of which interconnects two adjacent ones of the base units. Each connection unit includes two sleeve members and a plurality of fasteners. Each sleeve member has a tubular portion sleeved on one end of the second tube member of one of the two adjacent ones of the base units, and a blind flange connected to the tubular portion and closing the one end of the second tube member. The blind flanges abut against each other and are fastened by the fasteners. |
| US09712105B2 |
Lateral photovoltaic device for near field use
A device, method and process of fabricating an interdigitated multicell thermo-photo-voltaic component that is particularly efficient for generating electrical energy from photons in the red and near-infrared spectrum received from a heat source in the near field. Where the absorbing region is germanium, the device is capable of generating electrical energy by absorbing photon energy in the greater than 0.67 electron volt range corresponding to radiation in the infrared and near-infrared spectrum. Use of germanium semiconductor material provides a good match for converting energy from a low temperature heat source. The side that is opposite the photon receiving side of the device includes metal interconnections and dielectric material which provide an excellent back surface reflector for recycling below band photons back to the emitter. Multiple cells may be fabricated and interconnected as a monolithic large scale array for improved performance. |
| US09712101B2 |
Motor control system
A motor control system include an inverter configured to convert boosted direct-current electric power output from a boost converter to alternating-current electric power and supply the alternating-current electric power to an alternating current motor, and a control unit configured to adjust boosted voltage of the boost converter. The control unit includes an optimal boosted voltage map which defines optimal boosted voltage for operating the alternating current motor with a required number of revolutions and required torque, and a boosted voltage changing program that sets boosted voltage of the boost converter to a voltage which is higher than an optimal boosted voltage when the carrier frequency is a predetermined threshold value or lower. |
| US09712090B2 |
Driving device for motor for drive wheel of vehicle
A driving device for motors for drive wheels of a vehicle includes a plurality of in-wheel motor assemblies and motor drivers. The motor drivers include a smoothing circuit, an inverter unit to convert the direct current power, inputted through the smoothing circuit, into a three phase alternating current power, an inverter control unit for controlling the inverter unit, and a cooler for cooling the inverter unit. The plurality of the motor drivers are disposed within a single common casing and the plurality of the motor drivers share the smoothing circuit. The inverter control unit of the plurality of the motor drivers is of a control type capable of driving the driving element of the inverter unit according to the PWM scheme and the plurality of the motor drivers have equal cycles of PWM relative to each other and are configured to displace ON and OFF timings of the driving element. |
| US09712089B2 |
Fan motor driving means, driving method, and cooling device and electronic equipment using the same
The present invention inhibits the voltage jump of a source voltage or an output voltage by an approach which is different from a conventional one. A logic circuit allows an H bridge circuit to be shifted among a plurality of states in a specific sequence. A compulsory regenerating circuit is configured to be switched between an enabled state and a disabled state; while being in the enabled state, the current that flows in from a ground line via the H bridge circuit and a motor coil to a power line back-flows to the ground line. |
| US09712084B2 |
Electric power conversion device
An electric power conversion device includes a power conversion unit and a converter control unit. The power conversion unit includes three arms connected to an AC circuit. The converter control unit includes a phase DC voltage control unit, a negative sequence current command value calculation unit, an output current control unit, a circulating current control unit, a voltage command value calculation unit, and a gate signal generation unit, and imbalance of cell DC capacitor voltages among phases due to grid imbalance is controlled by circulating current and negative sequence current. |
| US09712081B2 |
Power converter
A power converter includes inverters, AC sides of the inverters being connected in parallel, and a controller configured to control total output power of the inverters by controlling output power of at least one of the inverters in a control cycle shorter than a shortest communication cycle which allows communication with each of the inverters. |
| US09712080B2 |
Reducing phase current imbalances in single phase redundant power supply systems with unbalanced loads
A system includes first and second pluralities of single phase AC/DC power supplies each having an input for coupling to first and second phase voltages, respectively, in a polyphase power distribution system. The outputs of the power supplies are electrically connected in parallel for supplying DC current to a load at a substantially constant voltage. The system further includes a controller coupled to at least the first plurality of power supplies and configured to increase the DC current supplied to the load by at least one of the first plurality of power supplies in response to another one of the first plurality of power supplies shutting down. Various other systems, power supplies, controllers and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09712078B2 |
Synchronous rectification circuit adapted to electronic transformer and switching power supply thereof
The present disclosure relates to a synchronous rectification circuit adapted to an electronic transformer. Operation states of four transistor switches in the synchronous rectification circuit are adjusted in accordance with a detected input voltage signal of the synchronous rectification circuit to achieve synchronous rectification. Moreover, the transistor switches in a rectifier bridge and a switching control circuit are all integrated into a single chip to have an increased integration level, a reduced chip size, and high efficiency. The present disclosure also relates to a switching power supply comprising the above synchronous rectification circuit. |
| US09712076B2 |
Power converter with clamp capacitor on DC power supply line
A plurality of capacitors are interposed between ones of a plurality of input lines. The clamp capacitor is connected between two DC power supply lines. A current-source converter includes a plurality of switch devices, where x represents r, s and t. The switch device selects conduction/non-conduction through a first diode between corresponding one of the input lines and the first DC power supply line and conduction/non-conduction through a second diode between said corresponding one of input lines and the second DC power supply line based on external signals and brings corresponding one of the input lines with the first and second DC power supply lines in a state of not receiving the signals. |
| US09712071B2 |
Power conversion device and air-conditioning apparatus
A power conversion device includes: a rectifier, a converter unit including a reactor, a backflow prevention element, and a switching element, the converter unit being configured to boost a DC voltage rectified by the rectifier, a smoothing capacitor, a reactor current detection unit, a bus voltage detection unit, a temperature detection unit, and a control unit. The control unit includes a converter control unit configured to calculate a switching command value for driving the switching element, on the basis of a target command voltage which is the bus voltage to be targeted, the bus voltage detected by the bus voltage detection unit, and the reactor current detected by the reactor current detection unit, and a temperature correction unit configured to correct the temperature of the switching element detected by the temperature detection unit, on the basis of the switching command value calculated by the converter control unit. |
| US09712070B2 |
Power conversion device
A power conversion device includes transformers provided with primary windings connected to input terminals and secondary windings including pluralities of single-phase open windings that are insulated to each other; a plurality of converter cells connected to the secondary windings of the transformers; and a control circuit for controlling ON/OFF of switching elements. The converter cells are each include a converter and the inverter that are provided with the switching elements, in which their input ends are connected to the respective single-phase open windings, so that the input ends are connected in mutually parallel fashion, through the transformers, to the input terminal of each phase, and in which their output ends are connected in mutually serial fashion to an output terminal of each phase, to thereby perform three or more-level power conversion. |
| US09712065B2 |
Systems and methods for source switching and voltage generation
System and method for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller for regulating a power conversion system includes a first controller terminal associated with a first controller voltage and coupled to a first transistor terminal of a first transistor, the first transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a primary winding of a power conversion system, a second controller terminal associated with a second controller voltage and coupled to the third transistor terminal, and a third controller terminal associated with a third controller voltage. The first controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a first voltage difference. The second controller voltage is equal to a sum of the third controller voltage and a second voltage difference. |
| US09712064B2 |
Protection circuitry for power conversion device and power conversion method using the same
A power conversion method of a power conversion device including a primary-side port disposed in a primary-side circuit and a secondary-side port disposed in a secondary-side circuit magnetically coupled to the primary-side circuit with a transformer is provided, in which transmission power transmitted between the primary-side circuit and the secondary-side circuit is adjusted by changing a phase difference between switching of the primary-side circuit and switching of the secondary-side circuit. The power conversion method includes: determining whether the phase difference is zero; stopping transmission of electric power from the secondary-side circuit to the primary-side circuit when the phase difference is zero, the voltage of the primary-side port is equal to or greater than the first specified value, and the voltage of the secondary-side port is greater than the second specified value. |
| US09712063B2 |
Apparatus and method for loosely regulated power converters
A method for improving a power converter's efficiency comprises detecting an input voltage of a power converter, determining an operation mode of the power converter based upon the input voltage of the power converter and generating a plurality of gate drive signals based upon a damped gain control, wherein the damped gain control is configured such that an output voltage of the power converter is in a range from a tightly regulated output voltage to an unregulated output voltage. |
| US09712060B2 |
Method for managing a plurality of hysteretic DC-DC buck converters and corresponding DC-DC buck converter
A method manages hysteretic DC-DC buck converters each including a hysteretic comparator operating according to a respective hysteresis window. The method includes, in a given converter, verifying if a respective feedback voltage reaches a lower threshold in order to enter a switch-on period of the converter, The method comprises: while the verifying indicates that the lower threshold is not reached, detecting if another converter has entered a respective switch on period and, in the affirmative, entering a hysteresis voltage adjustment procedure, include increasing by a given amount the amplitude of the hysteresis window of the given converter by reducing the lower threshold of the hysteresis window. |
| US09712055B1 |
Zero voltage switching energy recovery control of discontinuous PWM switching power converters
Buck and boost power converter topologies and methods of converting power are provided. One method provides switching power conversion circuitry including an inductor and switches and clamp circuitry connected across the inductor. Control circuitry operates the switches and the clamp circuitry in a series of converter operating cycles which may include: (a) an energy transfer interval for transferring energy input to output via the inductor; (b) an energy recovery phase, during which the inductor current oscillates transitioning from substantially zero to a negative value, from the negative value to a positive value, and from the positive value toward zero; and (c) a clamp phase, during a portion of which the clamp circuitry is ON, energy is trapped in the inductor, the inductor current is negative, and is not zero at the end of the clamp phase. |
| US09712054B2 |
Voltage and current limits for electronic device based on temperature range
A design verification system simulates operation of an electronic device to identify one or more power characteristic vs. temperature (PC-T) curves for the electronic device. Each of the one or more PC-T curves indicates, for a particular reliability characteristic limit, a range of power characteristic values over a corresponding range of temperatures that are not expected to result in the reliability characteristic limit being exceeded. Based on the one or more PC-T curves, the design verification system sets a range of power characteristic limits, over a corresponding range of temperatures, for the electronic device. During operation, the electronic device employs a temperature sensor to measure an ambient or device temperature, and sets its power characteristic (voltage or current) according to the measured temperature and the power characteristic limits. |
| US09712051B2 |
Power converter with modular stages
An apparatus for electric power conversion includes a converter having a regulating circuit and switching network. The regulating circuit has magnetic storage elements, and switches connected to the magnetic storage elements and controllable to switch between switching configurations. The regulating circuit maintains an average DC current through a magnetic storage element. The switching network includes charge storage elements connected to switches that are controllable to switch between plural switch configurations. In one configuration, the switches forms an arrangement of charge storage elements in which at least one charge storage element is charged using the magnetic storage element through the network input or output port. In another, the switches form an arrangement of charge storage elements in which an element discharges using the magnetic storage element through one of the input port and output port of the switching network. |
| US09712050B2 |
Power converter utilizing a resonant half-bridge and charge pump circuit
A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a resonant half-bridge having a first power switch and a second power switch for driving a resonant circuit of the resonant half-bridge. The power converter further includes a charge pump coupled to the resonant half-bridge, where the charge pump is configured to selectively provide a positive current from the resonant circuit to an output stage of the power converter, and to selectively shunt to ground a negative current from the resonant circuit, based on an output stage feedback signal. In one implementation, the resonant circuit includes a series L-C circuit. The power converter is configured to provide a constant output current and/or a constant output voltage. |
| US09712043B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling overcurrent of grid-connected inverter due to abnormal grid voltage
An apparatus for controlling overcurrent of a grid-connected inverter due to an abnormal grid voltage includes a grid voltage sensor configured to sense a grid voltage according to an output current of the grid-connected inverter, a voltage variation calculator configured to calculate a D-axis voltage and a Q-axis voltage of the grid voltage to obtain variation values of the D-axis voltage and the Q-axis voltage, and an output current controller configured to determine whether at least one of the D-axis voltage variation value and the Q-axis voltage variation value exceeds a set value of the grid voltage variation, and decrease the output current by a predetermined value when one of the D-axis voltage variation value and the Q-axis voltage variation value exceeds the set value of the grid voltage variation. |
| US09712042B2 |
Bypass apparatus for converter
The present invention provides an apparatus for bypassing a phase current from a malfunctioning sub module in a converter. The converter includes multiple sub modules each having an energy storage unit, and at least one power semiconductor circuit which is connected in parallel to the energy storage unit and which includes a power semiconductor switch and free-wheeling diodes, wherein the sub modules are connected in series to each other. The bypass apparatus for a converter according to the present invention comprises: a vacuum switch tube for disconnecting between a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal of a malfunctioning sub module upon the occurrence of a malfunction in a specific sub module and bypassing a phase current from said malfunctioning sub module; and a control device for controlling the operation of the vacuum switch tube. |
| US09712027B2 |
Device for guiding a set of electrical wires for electric motor rotor
A guiding device for coiling electrically conducting wires around an electrically conducting block of a rotor of an electric motor including a shaft extending axially in the rotor, the electrically conducting block including at least four notches for receiving wires. The guiding device includes at least two branches extending radially away from the shaft and disposed at 90° to one another, the branches being connected by an elastic linking mechanism. |
| US09712026B2 |
Conductive wire piece set forming method and conductive wire piece set forming device
A conductive wire piece set forming method includes: a bending step of bending a conductive wire piece set in a second bent portion; a restraining step of restraining the second bent portion of the conductive wire piece set and a portion adjacent thereto with a clamp portion; and a twisting step of twisting the conductive wire piece set by rotating the clamp portion. The restraint of the conductive wire piece set is performed in such a way that the conductive wire pieces form a predetermined angle with each other. |
| US09712020B2 |
Rotor of an electric machine, and electric machine
A rotor of an electric machine includes a rotor lamination stack connected to a rotor shaft for conjoint rotation therewith. The rotor lamination stack extends from a first axial face of the rotor lamination stack to a second axial face when viewed in the direction of an axis of rotation of the rotor lamination stack. The rotor lamination stack has bores distributed around the axis of rotation and extending from the first axial face to the second axial face. A tie rod which protrudes from the axial faces when viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation is inserted into each bore. Fastening elements are attached to the tied rods at both axial faces so that the rotor laminations of the rotor lamination stack are pressed together. A fan is attached to the tie rods on the first axial face of the rotor lamination stack. |
| US09712014B2 |
Insulator, stator assembly, rotating electrical machine, and connection board
An insulator to be attached to a laminated core of a rotating electrical machine includes a frame-shaped body which surrounds the laminated core and around which a coil wire is wound, and first and second flanges provided at both open sides of the body. The second flange has a first recess that extends toward the body. |
| US09712012B2 |
Rotary electric machine having armature windings with reduced width portions
An armature winding includes a plurality of distributed winding bodies that are each produced by winding a single conductor wire that is insulated, jointless, and continuous, and that has a constant cross-sectional area perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, the conductor wires include first through third coil end portions that link first through fourth rectilinear portions and first through fourth rectilinear portions, and are formed such that radial widths w′ of the first through fourth rectilinear portions are wider than radial widths w of the first through third coil end portions, and first gaps are formed between radially adjacent coil end portions to allow a cooling medium to pass through the first gaps. |
| US09712010B2 |
Motor having a cage wave stator winding
To provide a motor in which a cage coil formed of a wave winding conductor wire wound in plural turns and with bent portions is inserted in an integral type stator core. The motor including a stator provided with a wave winding coil using a flat conductor and a stator core, and a rotor provided with a rotor shaft is configured such that the wave winding coil includes the cage coil formed of a first wave winding wire assembly wound in plural turns, this assembly being formed of a plurality of bent-end wave winding conductor wires formed in a meandering pattern and overlapped in sequence with displacements from each other, a coil end part of the cage coil at one end is bent toward the rotor with respect to in-slot portions of the stator core, and the coil end part at the one end is positioned closer to an axis of the rotor than an inner peripheral surface of the stator core is. |
| US09712009B2 |
Rotor axle of a high speed permanent magnet machine
A rotor axle of a high speed permanent magnet machine including a first part and a second part, both manufactured from a magnetically non-conducting material. The parts include an inner end and an outer end, and they can be axially interconnected one after the other by the inner ends to constitute an integral rotor axle. Their outer ends include bearing structures to fit the rotor axle with bearings. A cylindrical and solid permanent magnet is provided coaxially with the first part and the second part in between them and magnetized perpendicularly to the axial direction of the cylinder. The inner end of the first part of the rotor axle includes a cylindrical external surface with an external thread, the inner end of the second part includes a cylinder sleeve having an internal base part corresponding in shape to the cylindrical permanent magnet to constitute a space for the permanent magnet. |
| US09712007B2 |
Rotor core, motor and motor manufacturing method
A rotor core includes a laminated steel body including a plurality of magnetic core plates stacked one above another. The core plates extend in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a vertical center axis. The rotor core includes a plurality of magnetic pole portions arranged along a circumferential direction. At least some of the core plates include claws protruding from the magnetic pole portions in the circumferential direction and outer connection portions arranged radially outward of the claws to interconnect the magnetic pole portions adjoining to each other. The claws restrain the magnets from being displaced radially outward by centrifugal forces. In addition, the outer connection portions restrain the rotor core from being deformed by centrifugal forces. The outer connection portions restrain the claws from being displaced by centrifugal forces so as to further restrain displacement of the magnets. |
| US09712003B2 |
Motor of a ceiling fan with linking seat coupling to the stator core
A motor of a ceiling fan includes a stator, a shaft, a linking seat, and a rotor. The stator has a core with an assembly hole. The linking seat couples with the core and has an axial hole in alignment with the assembly hole in an axial direction of the shaft firmly resting in the axial hole. The rotor is rotatably arranged around the shaft. |
| US09712001B2 |
Power reception apparatus, medium, and method for controlling electrical power supplied to a load of power reception apparatus
Methods and apparatus for detecting the presence of undesirable foreign matter in a region between a wireless power transmission apparatus and a power reception apparatus are described. First and second detection methods, based on different detection schemes, may be used to detect and distinguish the presence of foreign matter from misalignment during power transfer operation. A first detection method may be used before power is transferred to a load in a power reception apparatus, and a second detection method may be used while power is supplied to the load. |
| US09712000B2 |
Resonance type power transmission device and resonance type power multiplex transmission system
Disclosed is a resonance type power transmission device that transmits electric power by using a resonator for transmission 3 and a resonator for reception 4 whose resonance conditions are matched to each other, the resonance type power transmission device including a transmission power supply 1 to supply electric power, a transmission antenna 2 to transmit the electric power from the transmission power supply 1, a conductive substance 7 to establish an electrical single point connection between the resonator for transmission 3 and the resonator for reception 4, a reception antenna 5 to receive the electric power from the transmission antenna 2 via the resonator for transmission 3 and the resonator for reception 4, and a reception power supply 6 to receive the electric power received by the reception antenna 5. |
| US09711995B2 |
Power transmission device and power receiving device
A power transmission device for transmitting power to a power receiving device in a noncontact manner, including: a power transmission unit for transmitting power to the power receiving device in a noncontact manner; a power supply unit, connected to an external power supply, for supplying power to the power transmission unit, and a housing housing the power transmission unit and the power supply unit, wherein the power supply unit includes first devices disposed around the power transmission unit, and a second device disposed between the power transmission unit and a bottom surface, in a state where the power transmission unit and the power supply unit are mounted on the bottom surface of the housing, and a height of each of the first devices from the bottom surface is higher than a height of the second device from the bottom surface. |
| US09711992B2 |
Display devices, wireless charging system including display devices, and methods of operating the display devices
A display device includes a display panel including at least one electrode, and a panel driving unit configured to drive the display panel. The display device further includes a power storage unit configured to store received power, and a switching unit configured to electrically connect the at least one electrode to one of the panel driving unit and the power storage unit. |
| US09711989B2 |
Power consumption control apparatus and power consumption control method
A power consumption control apparatus and method, the power consumption control method including calculating a charging cost, which represents a cost of power in a case of charging power, and a discharging cost, which represents a cost of power in a case of discharging power, of a power storage unit where the charging and discharging of power is performed, comparing the charging cost with the discharging cost of the power storage unit, controlling a power conversion unit to perform a discharging mode of performing one of the discharging of power and a reselling of power if the discharging cost is lower than the charging cost, and controlling the power conversion unit to perform a charging mode of charging the power storage unit with at least one of a new renewable power and a grid power if the charging cost is equal to or lower than the discharging cost. |
| US09711987B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing energy in building based on state of health of energy storage system
An apparatus and method for managing energy are disclosed herein. The apparatus for managing energy includes a State-of-Health (SOH) determination unit and an energy distribution unit. The SOH determination unit collects information about energy storage systems and energy facilities, and determines the SOH of each of the energy storage systems based on the information. The energy distribution unit distributes energy stored in the energy storage system to loads inside a building based on the information and the SOH. |
| US09711985B1 |
Techniques for mobile device charging using robotic devices
A method, apparatus, and/or system for providing an action with respect to a mobile device using a robotic device that tracks the user. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a request to perform an action with respect to an electronic device is received. Information may be sent to one or more robotic devices within a proximity of the electronic device. A robotic device of the one or more robotic devices may be selected to perform the action. An indication may be received from the robotic device that indicates that the user has interacted with the robotic device. Instructions may be sent to the robotic device to perform the action with respect to the electronic device. A location of the user may be tracked while charging is performed by the robotic device. The robotic device may be instructed to follow the user at a threshold distance from the user. |
| US09711980B2 |
Charging device for removable input modules
A charging device for one or more input modules for a touch-screen device is described. The charging device comprises a charging mechanism and portions which are shaped to receive an input module. The charging mechanism comprises a power input and a power output. The power input is configured to receive power from an external power source and the power input is configured to provide power to one or more input modules which are attached to the charging device. |
| US09711979B2 |
Power supply system
In a power supply system using various kinds of storage batteries such as a large capacity storage battery or a small capacity storage battery, an electric power path is complicated, which may increase failures such as a short circuit trouble. There is a problem in that, when a short circuit trouble between storage batteries occurs, damage to a smaller capacity storage battery is serious. Accordingly, in a power supply system according to the present invention, the relationship among voltages, current capacities, and electric power capacities of various kinds of storage batteries such as a large capacity storage battery or a small capacity storage battery is defined so that damage to the storage batteries may be minimized even when malfunction occurs in, for example, switching a switch, and energy transfers from a higher voltage storage device. |
| US09711976B2 |
Lead storage battery system
This invention reduces degradation of respective lead storage batteries making up a lead storage battery bank and extends the longevity of the lead storage batteries. A lead storage battery system includes an individual battery state measurement unit 102 that measures current, voltage, temperature etc. of individual lead storage batteries 151 or lead storage battery modules 152 making up a lead storage battery bank 101, a state-of-charge model storage unit 103 that accumulates state-of-charge models representing a correlation between the battery states and a state of charge, a state-of-charge estimation unit 104 that estimates individual states of charge of the respective lead storage batteries 151 or lead storage battery modules 152 from the state-of-charge models and the battery states, a state-of-charge variation range determination unit 105 that calculates a state-of-charge maximum value and a state-of-charge minimum value, and an equalization-charging management unit 109 that controls performance of an equalization charge on the lead storage battery bank 101. The equalization-charging management unit 109 performs the equalization charge so that the state-of-charge maximum value falls within a range lower than an overcharge region and the state-of-charge minimum value falls within a range higher than a sulfation region. |
| US09711973B2 |
Wireless power transfer using a microwave signal
A wireless power source including a microwave receiver, a matching network, and a transducer. The microwave receiver receives a microwave signal having a carrier frequency. The matching network receives a signal having the carrier frequency and a switched frequency and removes the carrier frequency such that the matching network outputs a switched signal at the switched frequency. The transducer is configured to receive the switched signal and output a DC voltage. |
| US09711972B2 |
Auxiliary receiver coil to adjust receiver voltage and reactance
In a wireless charging system, a receiver device includes a second coil that performs a reactance shift. The reactance shift may be used to conform the device reactance to a reactance range, or to adjust a rectified voltage of the wireless power provided to the device electronics. The reactance shift differs from resonance matching in that the power transfer efficiency may be decreased. |
| US09711968B2 |
Wireless power transmission apparatus and wireless power transmission method
Provided is a wireless power transmission apparatus and method. The wireless power transmission apparatus may include a coupling unit to couple a reflected signal with respect to a transmitted resonance power, and a resonance point detecting unit to scan a frequency of the reflected signal to detect a resonance point. A resonance frequency of the source resonator may be controlled using the detected resonance point. |
| US09711961B2 |
Protection device with communication bus fault diagnosis function, system and method
A method is disclosed for diagnosing faults on a communication bus used to transmit zone selective interlocking signals in a power distribution network. The method includes configuring interfaces of all protection devices connected to the same communication bus to be input ports within a first diagnosis time period; detecting, at each protection device connected to the communication bus, an input signal received by the input port thereof; and if abnormality is detected in the input signal, the protection device issuing a first alert associated with the corresponding interface. |
| US09711958B2 |
Wiring harness installation guide device
A guide device (10) is provided for guiding a wiring harness (32) through an aperture (26) in a panel (24). The guide device (10) has a substantially tubular sidewall (12) with opposite front and rear ends (14, 16). Portions of the sidewall (12) adjacent the front end (14) are dimensioned to fit in the aperture (26). The sidewall (12) flares out toward the rear end (16). A slit (22) extends from the front end (14) of the sidewall (12) to the rear and (16) thereof. The front end (14) of the guide device (10) can be mounted in the aperture (26) so that the wiring harness (32) can be guided into the outwardly flared rear end (16) and through the aperture (26). The slit (22) enables the sidewall (12) to be biased open at the slit so that the guide device (10) can be separated from the wiring harness (32). |
| US09711956B1 |
Hinged cable guide
A cable guide is made of four sections that are connected in series with three hinges. In the closed position, the cable guide forms a cylinder with four enclosed openings for four parallel cables. In the open position, the cable guide is linear with each section having a cylindrical slot for receiving a cable. |
| US09711953B2 |
Fuse disconnect safety switch (FDSS)
Various embodiments provide safety disconnect systems for a power system. In one aspect, a safety switch system and method for a power system, including a plurality of sequentially interlocked switches capable of being operated in a predetermined sequence to isolate one or more fuses, is provided. The described safety switch system is a convenient and sequential approach to safely remove power from a system and access associated fuses. |
| US09711952B2 |
Mounting system for arranging electric devices in switchgear cabinets
A mounting system (1) for arranging electric devices (2), for example switchgear cabinets, includes at least one preferably horizontal mounting strip (3) to which at least one device (2) can be secured. The mounting strip (3) includes a support rail (6) to which the device (2) can be releasably fastened and located in a first section (41) of the mounting strip. The first section is central in relation to a cross-sectional view through the mounting strip (3), transversely to its longitudinal axis. A third section (43) of the mounting strip located at a distance from the support rail (6) is at a greater vertical distance (44) from the bottom point (39) of the support rail (6) than a second section (42) at its end that is closer to the support rail (6), especially its end adjoining the support rail (6). The second section is located between the first section (41) and the third section (43). |
| US09711949B1 |
Method of manufacture for an ultraviolet laser diode
A method for fabricating a laser diode device includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member comprising a surface region, a release material overlying the surface region, an n-type gallium and nitrogen containing material; an active region overlying the n-type gallium and nitrogen containing material, a p-type gallium and nitrogen containing material; and a first transparent conductive oxide material overlying the p-type gallium and nitrogen containing material, and an interface region overlying the first transparent conductive oxide material. The method includes bonding the interface region to a handle substrate and subjecting the release material to an energy source to initiate release of the gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member. |
| US09711947B2 |
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser system and method for fabricating the same
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) system and method of fabrication are included. The VCSEL system includes a first portion comprising a first mirror and a gain region to amplify an optical signal in response to a data signal, the first portion being fabricated on a first wafer. The system also includes a second portion comprising a second mirror that is partially-reflective to couple the optical signal to an optical fiber. The second portion can be fabricated on a second wafer. The system further includes a supporting structure to couple the first and second portions such that the first and second mirrors are arranged as a laser cavity having a predetermined length to resonate the optical signal. |
| US09711943B2 |
Method and system for communicating with a laser power driver
A system for controlling a plurality of laser diodes includes an optical transmitter coupled to the laser diode driver for each laser diode. An optical signal including bi-phase encoded data is provided to each laser diode driver. The optical signal includes current level and pulse duration information at which each of the diodes is to be driven. Upon receiving a trigger signal, the laser diode drivers operate the laser diodes using the current level and pulse duration information to output a laser beam. |
| US09711941B1 |
Methods and apparatus for photonic integration in non-polar and semi-polar oriented wave-guided optical devices
A monolithically integrated optical device. The device has a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member having a surface region configured on either a non-polar or semi-polar orientation. The device also has a first waveguide structure configured in a first direction overlying a first portion of the surface region. The device also has a second waveguide structure integrally configured with the first waveguide structure. The first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. |
| US09711939B2 |
Semiconductor optical device
Provided herein is a semiconductor optical device, including a waveguide including lattices buried therein and having a buried hetero (BH) structure formed in an optical oscillation region in which single mode light is oscillated, a waveguide having a deep ridge structure formed in an optical modulation region, and a passive waveguide formed in a mode transition region interposed between the optical oscillation region and the optical modulation region, formed as a connecting structure of the waveguide having the BH structure extending from the optical oscillation region and the waveguide having the deep ridge structure extending from the optical modulation region, and inducing evanescent optical coupling, wherein a width of the waveguide having the BH structure in the mode transition region is smaller than a width of the waveguide having the deep ridge structure in the optical modulation region. |
| US09711936B2 |
Semiconductor laser and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser of the present invention includes a step of forming an insulating film on a surface of a grooved semiconductor substrate, a step of pasting an insulating sheet to a top surface of the insulating film so as to cover an opening of the groove and forming an insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, a step of forming an opening of providing a first opening in the insulating layer so that a part corresponding to an electrode of the semiconductor substrate is exposed and a step of forming the electrode on a top surface of the insulating layer so as to fill the first opening. |
| US09711932B2 |
Optical signal processing with modelocked lasers
The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. In some embodiments an effective CDSL is constructed with only one laser. At least one embodiment includes a coherent scanning laser system (CSL) for generating pulse pairs with a time varying time delay. A CDSL, effective CDSL, or CSL may be arranged in an imaging system for one or more of optical imaging, microscopy, micro-spectroscopy and/or THz imaging. |
| US09711930B2 |
Optical signal waveguide dispersion filter
An apparatus includes a curved multimode polymer waveguide having at least one inflection point and a doped region being doped with an amplifying dopant. An optical pump source or electrical pump source is configured to excite the doped region and amplify the optical signal transmitting along the curved multimode polymer waveguide. |
| US09711928B2 |
Single crystals with internal doping with laser ions prepared by a hydrothermal method
Single heterogeneous crystals are described that contain multiple regimes, adjacent regimes varying from one another with regard to function. Also disclosed is a hydrothermal epitaxial growth process that can be utilized to form the single heterogeneous crystals. The single heterogeneous crystals can exhibit enhanced performance when used as a laser gain medium as compared to previously known single crystals and multi-crystal constructs. The heterogeneous single crystal can be utilized for thin disk lasers and can minimize the thermal distortion effects at high powers. The heterogeneous crystal can also serve as an embedded waveguide. |
| US09711922B2 |
Busway systems and related assemblies and methods
A busway assembly includes first and second busway sections and a joint assembly connecting the first and second sections. Each busway section includes a housing including first and second opposing side portions. Each busway section includes a first insulator held in the first side portion and a second insulator held in the second side portion. The first and second insulators each hold one or more bus bar conductors. The joint assembly includes first and second connected joint housings and plurality of joint conductors held in the first and second housings. A first exposed portion of each joint conductor extends out of the first housing and is electrically connected with one of the bus bar conductors of the first busway section. A second exposed portion of each joint conductor extends out of the second housing and is electrically connected with one of the bus bar conductors of the second busway section. |
| US09711919B2 |
Coaxial connector with ingress reduction shielding
A coaxial connector with an F female end shield is configured to restrict RF ingress. |
| US09711915B2 |
Connector having a housing with a backlash preventing rib
A connector has a male housing (10) with a forwardly open receptacle (11) and a female housing (40) with a terminal accommodating portion (42) that fits into the receptacle (11). A front wall (70) is mounted on a front of the terminal accommodating portion (42) and provides terminal insertion holes (55). Fitting projections (20) are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the receptacle (11), and fitting grooves (60) are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion (42) for receiving the fitting projections (20). Backlash preventing ribs (61) are formed on inner surfaces of the fitting grooves (60) and are squeezed between inner surfaces of the fitting grooves (60) and outer surfaces of the fitting projections (20). The front wall (70) has escaping grooves (80) configured to allow the fitting projections (20) to be passed therethrough with a clearance and inserted into the fitting grooves (60). |
| US09711913B2 |
Illuminated socket
In one embodiment an electronic device comprises a housing, a socket in the housing to receive a connector, and an illumination source proximate the socket to illuminate the socket. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US09711911B2 |
Connector with tuned channel
A connector is provided that includes a housing and the housing supports a plurality of wafers. Each wafer supports a terminal and adjacent signal wafers are configured so as to provide broad-side coupled terminals. A pair of signal terminals can be surrounded on both sides by ground terminals that offer shielding so as to help isolate one signal pair from another signal pair. The geometry of the wafers can be adjusted so as to provide a tuned transmission channel. The resultant tuned transmission channel can be configured to provide desirable performance at high signaling frequencies of 12-16 GHz or even higher signaling frequencies such as 20 GHz. |
| US09711907B2 |
Connecting blade, and electrical connector including connecting blade
A connecting blade includes an insulation board; and a signal line disposed on the insulation board. The signal line has contact points at both ends thereof for connecting to a circuit connecting member. The signal line is formed of a metal band member. The signal line is arranged on the insulation board in a width direction of the signal line. The insulation board includes a cut portion penetrating through the insulation board or being recessed in a plate surface of the insulation board. The cut portion is situated at a position where the cut portion exposes a part of the signal line. |
| US09711906B2 |
Methods and systems for compensating for alien crosstalk between connectors
The present invention relates to methods and systems for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors. Specifically, the methods and systems relate to isolation and compensation techniques for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors for use with high-speed data cabling. A frame can be configured to receive a number of connectors. Shield structures may be positioned to isolate at least a subset of the connectors from one another. The connectors can be positioned to move at least a subset of the connectors away from alignment with a common plane. A signal compensator may be configured to adjust a data signal to compensate for alien crosstalk. The connectors are configured to efficiently and accurately propagate high-speed data signals by, among other functions, minimizing alien crosstalk. |
| US09711905B2 |
Reverse polarity protection
Reverse polarity protection for plug-in connectors comprising two intermateable plug-in connector parts (100, 200), wherein the one plug-in connector part (100) comprises a first coding element and the other plug-in connector part (200) comprises a second coding element and wherein the two coding elements are matched to each other in such a manner that when the plug-in connector parts (100, 200) are arranged correctly they make a plug-in connection possible and that when the plug-in connector parts (100, 200) are not arranged correctly prevents a plug-in connection, characterized in that the one coding element is a groove (110) extending in the mating direction and having a trapezoid-shaped cross-section, and that the other coding element is a coding rib (210) that is extending in the mating direction and that is formed in a U-shaped manner with elastically bendable walls (212, 213) that are arranged in a U-shaped configuration. |
| US09711902B2 |
Electrical plug connector for a safety restraint system
The invention relates to an electrical plug connector for a safety restraint system, preferably for an airbag ignition system, including at least two contact terminals disposed within the plug connector and a shorting clip, that is configured to short circuit the at least two contact terminals in an uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition of the plug connector. The shorting clip includes at least two shorting tongues. Each shorting tongue is electrically connected with a respective contact terminal. Each shorting tongue further includes at least one electrical contact surface and at least one of the shorting tongues includes an actuating member. The actuating member is provided with an actuating surface that is configured to interact with a separator device. The contact surfaces are not arranged within the same plane as the actuating surface(s). |
| US09711901B2 |
Electrical connector assembly including polarization member
An electrical connector assembly can include a polarization member that is configured to prevent first and second electrical connectors from being mated to each other in an incorrect orientation. The polarization member abuts the first electrical connector such that the first electrical connector provides structural support to the polarization member when the second electrical contacts the polarization member. The polarization member is received by the second electrical connector when the second electrical connector is mated to the first electrical connector in a predetermined orientation. |
| US09711900B1 |
Electrical outlet system
An electrical outlet system for includes a female electrical outlet that is electrically coupled to a power source. The female electrical outlet has a pair of contacts. An adapter is removably coupled to the female electrical outlet and the adapter is positioned in each of the contacts. A plug is provided that has a pair of terminals. Each of the terminals is inserted through the adapter such that each of the terminals is electrically coupled to an associated one of the contacts. The adapter inhibits the terminals from falling out of the contacts. |
| US09711896B2 |
Connector
A connector includes: a sensor side connector section mounted to a connector mounting hole and fastened thereto by thread fastening and including a first housing part in which a first terminal is disposed; and a wire harness side connector section disposing a second terminal and including a second housing part capable of being fitted to the first housing part. The connector mounting hole includes a key groove, and the first housing part includes a key protrusion. A bolt prevented from moving axially and supported rotatably is provided on the outer periphery of the first housing part. Screwing the bolt into the connector mounting hole fastens the first housing part to the connector mounting hole by thread fastening. |
| US09711895B1 |
Vehicle power adapter and method of use
A vehicle electrical adapter system includes an upper portion having a body with an electrical terminal extending from a top surface of the body; a lower portion forming a cavity; and an attachment device disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, the attachment device being configured to engage with an inner surface of a cigarette lighter housing as the upper portion slides relative to the lower portion. The method includes creating a friction fit between the inner surface of the housing with the attachment device. |
| US09711894B2 |
Electrical connector and programming method
An electrical connector comprises a printed circuit board module including a printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of electrical elements disposed on the PCB, the PCB includes a mating end for mating with a mating connector and a plurality of conductive paths electrically connecting with the electrical elements; wherein the PCB includes a fracture surface, and the plurality of conductive paths are exposed to the fracture surface. |
| US09711886B2 |
SD card access door
An apparatus for installing or replacing license software such as in a device or secure digital card of a controller. The apparatus may have a door that is situated in a base of the controller. The door may slide down to provide an opening that permits access to a place, an area or receptacle that holds the card. The door may not necessarily be open-able until the controller is removed from a panel, a din rail, or some other structure, where a removal of power has to occur. The door may be designed so that it blends in with the base in that just qualified installers are aware of how to find the door for access to the card. To close the door, the card needs to be fully installed before the door can be closed. The door may be designed with hook features to prevent its removal from the controller base. |
| US09711876B2 |
Clamping spring
A clamping spring for mounting on a circuit board includes a spring leg for contacting a conductor in a clamped manner, the spring leg having an actuating element for stopping clamping, a contact region for contacting the circuit board; and a guide element disposed in relation to the spring leg such that a tool for actuating the actuating element can be inserted between the guide element and the spring leg, wherein the clamping spring is designed in one piece. |
| US09711866B1 |
Stacked parasitic array
The present disclosure is directed to a stacked parasitic array. The stacked parasitic array may include a stack of multiple parasitic antenna arrays (ex.—layers). Each of the parasitic antenna arrays (ex.—layers) may be independently tuned for multiband operation or, alternatively, the parasitic antenna arrays (ex.—layers) may be designed for common band and fed coherently as a collinear array for promoting increased gain and elevation beam steering. |
| US09711863B2 |
Dual band WLAN coupled radiator antenna
Planar antennas comprise capacitively coupled antenna patches. A first antenna patch configured to radiate in a first frequency band is coupled to a transmitter/receiver. The first antenna patch is situated to capacitively couple radiation in the first frequency band and a second frequency band to second and third antenna patches, respectively. The first and second antenna patches extend antenna bandwidth in the first frequency band, and the third antenna patch is bent so that the antenna patches can be situated in a predetermined substrate area. |
| US09711860B2 |
Wideband antennas including a substrate integrated waveguide
A wireless electronic device includes a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW), a first metal layer including one or more top wave traps, a second metal layer, a feeding structure extending through the first metal layer and into the SIW, and a reflector on the first side of the SIW. The reflector directly connects to the first metal layer and extends outward along a major plane of the first side of the first metal layer. The wireless electronic device is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency when excited by a signal transmitted or received though the feeding structure. The one or more top wave traps are configured to trap a signal radiated by the reflector based on the signal transmitted or received though the feeding structure. |
| US09711857B2 |
Multi-band antenna
The present invention relates to multi-band antenna. This antenna comprises a substrate and at least one conductive layer provided with a plurality of antennas, such as PIFAs, resonating in specific frequency bands. The antennas are cascaded in order to achieve a compact antenna. The first antenna comprises a first radiating element, a first feed element connected to said first radiating element and a first ground return element and the second antennas comprises a second radiating element, a second feed element connected to said second radiating element and a second ground return element. The ground plane is printed in the same layer as the first or second antenna. |
| US09711846B2 |
Communication tower panel security device employing flexible banding assembly and connecting/tensioning assembly having first and second connector modules for safely securing radiation-transparent panels covering antenna service bays of a wireless telecommunication tower
Improved radio-transparent communication tower panel security devices that can be easily mounted to and strapped around the cover panels of communication towers, including flag-supporting cellular communication towers, so as to band and secure the cover panels thereto and prevent them from falling off in high winds and/or other adverse weather conditions, while preventing wear and tear of flags and their lanyards. Preferably, the communication tower panel security device employs a flexible plastic tubing assembly and a connecting/tensioning assembly having first and second connector modules for safely securing radiation-transparent panels covering antenna service bays of a wireless telecommunication tower. |
| US09711843B2 |
Systems and methods for an antenna conformal to a sphere
Systems and methods for an antenna conformal to a sphere are provided. In certain implementations, an apparatus comprises a sphere having a recessed portion formed therein, the sphere enclosing instrumentation that produces a transmittable electronic signal; central conductor placed within the recessed portion, wherein the central conductor is coupled to the instrumentation to receive the transmittable electronic signal, wherein the transmittable electronic signal is emitted outside of the sphere; and an insulator cap located over the recessed portion, wherein locations on the external surface of the insulator cap and an external facing surface of the central conductor are substantially equidistant from a center point of the sphere. |
| US09711842B2 |
Antenna alignment device and clamp
An antenna alignment device includes an enclosure. The enclosure has a top portion having a single radome and a bottom portion. The single radome has a one or more domes. The top portion and the bottom portion are attached to form a single mold. The single mold houses a global positioning system receiver and a plurality of antennas. Each of the plurality of antennas is covered by the single radome and a respective dome of the one or more domes. The single mold also houses an interconnect circuit board and a touch screen display. |
| US09711839B2 |
Frequency selective limiter
The present disclosure is directed towards a frequency selective limiter having a first magnetic material disposed over a first dielectric material and a strip conductor disposed over the magnetic material. In some embodiments, the frequency selective limiter includes a second magnetic material disposed over the strip conductor and a second dielectric material disposed over the second magnetic material. The first and second dielectric material may have a lower relative permittivity than the first and second magnetic material. In an embodiment, the frequency selective limiter includes a slow wave structure disposed to magnetically couple a magnetic field, produced by electromagnetic energy propagating through the slow wave structure, into the magnetic material. |
| US09711837B2 |
Dielectric waveguide ribbon core member arranged orthogonal to adjacent member
A multichannel dielectric wave guide includes a set of dielectric core members that have a length and a cross section shape that is approximately rectangular, The core members have a first dielectric constant value. A cladding surrounds the set of dielectric core members and has a second dielectric constant value that is lower than the first dielectric constant. |
| US09711830B2 |
Electrochemically rechargeable metal-air cell with a replaceable metal anode
The three electrode zinc-air cell with replaceable and rechargeable zinc anode has been improved to increase battery performance. The electroactive composition of the replaceable zinc anode includes expanded graphite and a conjugated polymer, and the sizes of zinc particles are in the range 30nm-5000nm. The current collector of the zinc anode includes alloys of lead, bismuth or indium. The replaceable zinc cartridge can be used with a metal-air battery to produce electricity, and a hydrogen-on-demand system to generate hydrogen. |
| US09711829B2 |
Cooling device for a vehicle battery, and vehicle battery with cooling device
A cooling device for a vehicle battery is provided with a cooling plate (22) comprising a first plate part (24) which faces towards the battery (10) and has a first wall thickness (di), comprising a second plate part (30) which has a second wall thickness (d2), and comprising a multiplicity of depressions (32) formed in the second plate part (30). The cooling plate (22) has a multiplicity of refrigerant ducts (34) with a first duct cross section, said refrigerant ducts being formed between the first and second plate parts (24, 30) in the depressions (32) of the second plate part (30). The cooling plate (22) has a distributor portion (42) and a collector portion which each have at least one connection (46) for a refrigerant feed line (56) and a refrigerant return line. The wall of the distributor portion (42) and/or of the collector portion (44) is formed at least in portions by a component (52) additional to the first and second plate parts (24, 30). |
| US09711828B2 |
Heat shrink joining of battery cell components
A cooling system for a battery cell includes at least one plate having at least one key, and a heat sink having at least one slot formed therein. The at least one key of the at least one plate is disposed in the at least one slot. The at least one plate and the heat sink form an interference fit joint securing the at least one plate to the heat sink. |
| US09711827B2 |
Sodium molten salt battery
Provided is a sodium molten-salt battery having good charge-discharge cycle characteristics. The sodium molten-salt battery includes a positive electrode that contains a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode that contains a negative electrode active material, and a molten-salt electrolyte that contains a sodium salt and an ionic liquid that dissolves the sodium salt. The negative electrode active material contains non-graphitizable carbon. The ionic liquid is a salt of a bis(sulfonyl)imide anion and a first onium cation that does not cause a Faradaic reaction with the non-graphitizable carbon. The molten-salt electrolyte contains a second onium cation in an amount of 1,000 ppm by mass or less. The second onium cation is represented by a general formula (1): R1R2R3R4N+ where R1 to R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. |
| US09711825B2 |
Lithium ion secondary battery
A lithium ion secondary battery comprising a negative electrode comprising one or more types of carbon selected from the group consisting of natural graphite, artificial graphite, non-graphitizable carbon and easily graphitizable carbon; and an electrolyte solution comprising a cyclic sulfonic acid ester represented by the following formula (1): wherein in the formula (1), R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a halogen group or an amino group with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not hydrogen atoms at the same time; R3 represents a linkage group selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, a fluoroalkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a divalent group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in which alkylene units or fluoroalkylene units are bonded through an ether group. |
| US09711824B2 |
Secondary battery and method for charging and discharging secondary battery
A secondary battery that has an electrode active material mainly composed of a low-molecular-weight multi-electron organic compound that has two or more electrons to be involved in a battery electrode reaction, and a solvent for an electrolyte solution that contains a sulfone compound. Apart of the electrode active material is dissolved in and reacted with the electrolyte solution at the first charge and discharge, thereby oligomerizing a part of the electrode active material. |
| US09711822B2 |
Lithium-lanthanum-titanium oxide sintered material, solid electrolyte containing the oxide, and lithium air battery and all-solid lithium battery including the solid electrolyte
A lithium-lanthanum-titanium oxide sintered material has a lithium ion conductivity 3.0×10−4 Scm−1 or more at a measuring temperature of 27° C., the material is described by one of general formulas (1−a)LaxLi2-3xTiO3-aSrTiO3, (1−a)LaxLi2-3xTiO3-aLa0.5K0.5TiO3, LaxLi2-3xTi1-aMaO3-a, Srx-1.5aLaaLi1.5-2xTi0.5Ta0.5O3 (0.55≦x≦0.59, 0≦a≦0.2, M=at least one of Fe or Ga), amount of Al contained is 0.35 mass % or less as Al2O3, amount of Si contained is 0.1 mass % or less as SiO2, and average particle diameter is 18 μm or more. |
| US09711820B2 |
Stacked cell manufacturing method and apparatus using the same
The stacked cell manufacturing method includes the steps of executing zigzag-folding of a band-like separator by the intermediary of a zigzag-folding mechanism, alternately feeding a positive-plate and a negative-plate onto the separator as folded back every time the separator is folded back by the zigzag-folding. A positive-plate transfer head and a negative-plate transfer head are set so as to alternately undergo a linearly reciprocating transfer in a horizontal direction at least on the table, the direction of a horizontal and reciprocating transfer made by the positive-plate transfer head and the negative-plate transfer head is set to coincide with a folding-back direction of the zigzag-folding of the separator, and a force caused by the horizontal and reciprocating transfer alternately made by each of these transfer heads is imparted to the separator guided onto the table, thereby executing the zigzag-folding while the separator is drawn onto the table. |
| US09711817B2 |
Polymer electrolyte membrane and membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cell
A polymer electrolyte membrane which comprises a polymer electrolyte having sulfonic acid groups, and contains any one of the following (a) to (c): (a) cerium ions and an organic compound (X) capable of forming an inclusion compound with cerium ions; (b) an inclusion compound (Y) comprising the organic compound (X) including cerium ions; and (c) at least one of cerium ions and the organic compound (X), and the inclusion compound (Y). |
| US09711807B2 |
Fuel cell module with heat exchanger
A heat exchanger of a fuel cell module includes a plurality of heat exchange pipes connected to an oxygen-containing gas supply chamber at one end, and connected to an oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber at the other end. An end of an oxygen-containing gas inlet pipe for guiding the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber is provided in the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber. A plurality of first inlet holes extend through the oxygen-containing gas inlet pipe in an axial direction, and a plurality of second inlet holes extend through the oxygen-containing gas inlet pipe radially. The total area of openings of the first inlet holes is smaller than the total area of openings of the second inlet holes. |
| US09711804B2 |
Electrolyte regeneration
This invention is directed to electrolysis-based devices and methods for recycling of electrolyte solutions. Specifically, the invention is related to regeneration of spent electrolyte solutions comprising metal ions such as electrolyte solutions used in metal/air batteries. |
| US09711789B2 |
Supercritical continuous hydrothermal synthesis of lithium titanate anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
A method for synthesizing lithium titanate includes preparing a supercritical fluid from water; reacting a solution containing lithium and titanium with the supercritical fluid under a condition that maintains the supercritical fluid in its supercritical state to produce a reaction mixture comprising the lithium titanate; and collecting the lithium titanate. The supercritical fluid is prepared at a temperature of 375-500° C. and a pressure of 22-35 MPa. The solution containing lithium and titanium is prepared by mixing a solution containing lithium, prepared by dissolving a lithium source in a selected solvent, and a solution containing titanium, prepared by dissolving a titanium source in the selected solvent, wherein a molar ratio of lithium:titanium is between 4.0:5.0 and 4.5:5.0. The lithium source is lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, lithium acetate, lithium oxalate, lithium nitrate, or lithium oxide, and the titanium source is tetrabutyl titanate. |
| US09711788B2 |
Primary lithium battery
A primary lithium battery having an electrode body that is arranged with a sheet-like cathode and a sheet-like anode opposing each other via a separator and sealed inside a jacket body together with a non-aqueous organic electrolyte including the cathode being made by applying or compressively bonding to a surface of a sheet-like current collector cathode material including cathode active material allowing occlusion of lithium ions, and the anode being made by applying anode material including carbon active material allowing occlusion and separation of lithium ions on a one main side face side of a sheet-like current collector having formed holes penetrating from a front to a back, and an anode active material made of a lithium metal or a lithium alloy being affixed to another face side of the current collector. |
| US09711787B2 |
Anode active material for lithium secondary battery, preparation method thereof, and lithium secondary battery comprising the same
Provided are an anode active material including carbon-based particles, silicon nanowires grown on the carbon-based particles, and a carbon coating layer on surfaces of the carbon-based particles and the silicon nanowires, and a method of preparing the anode active material. Since the anode active material of the present invention is used in a lithium secondary battery, physical bonding force between the carbon-based particles and the silicon nanowires may not only be increased but conductivity may also be improved. Thus, lifetime characteristics of the battery may be improved. |
| US09711778B2 |
Layered battery module system and method of assembly
A method of manufacturing a battery module for use in a vehicle is presented. The method may include disposing battery cells into a lower housing and disposing a lid assembly over the battery cells. The lid assembly may include a lid and bus bar interconnects disposed on the lid. The method may also include disposing a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly onto the lid assembly and electrically coupling portions of the lid assembly, portions of the PCB assembly, and the battery cells to each other. |
| US09711776B2 |
Laminated body, separator, and nonaqueous secondary battery
A laminated body of the present invention includes: a porous film containing a polyolefin as a main component; and a porous layer containing a resin, the laminated body satisfying (A)>(B), where (A) represents the amount of an increase in the dielectric strength with respect to the amount of an increase in the amount of the resin contained per unit area of the porous layer, and (B) represents the amount of an increase in the dielectric strength with respect to the amount of an increase in the amount of the polyolefin contained per unit area of the porous film. The laminated body is usable as a secondary battery separator having a higher dielectric strength. |
| US09711775B2 |
Laminated body, separator, and nonaqueous secondary battery
A laminated body of the present invention includes: a porous film containing a polyolefin as a main component; and a porous layer on at least one surface of the porous film, the porous layer containing a resin, the laminated body satisfying 0≦(A)−(B)≦20 mN/m, where (A) represents the critical surface tension over the outermost surface of the porous layer, and (B) represents the critical surface tension that, in a case where the porous layer has been peeled from the laminated body at an interface with the porous film, the porous film has on the side of the interface. |
| US09711767B2 |
Lawn-care apparatus with an accessible battery compartment
A lawn-care apparatus includes a battery-compartment having an access opening and a roof section. The roof section is configured to provide cover to the battery-compartment. A battery may be inserted into the battery-compartment through the access opening without displacing the roof section. |
| US09711763B2 |
Flexible secondary battery
A flexible secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a stack having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the first and second electrode plates, and a fixing member fixing a first end portion of the stack, a first electrode tab and a second electrode tab connected to the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, respectively, and a molding member surrounding a first end portion of the electrode assembly including the fixing member, and a connection region between the electrode assembly and the first and second electrode tabs, wherein positional variations of a second end portion of the electrode assembly are relatively large as compared to positional variations of the first end portion of the electrode assembly. |
| US09711762B2 |
Substrate for organic light-emitting diode, method for manufacturing same, and organic light-emitting diode comprising same
The present invention relates to a substrate for an organic light-emitting diode, a method for manufacturing the same, and an organic light-emitting diode comprising the same, and more particularly, to a substrate for an organic light-emitting diode, the substrate having excellent productivity and manufacturing efficiency as well as an improved light extraction efficiency, a method for manufacturing the same, and an organic light-emitting diode comprising the same. To this end, the present invention provides a substrate for an organic-light emitting diode, the substrate being disposed on one side of the organic light-emitting diode from which light irradiated thereby is emitted outside, the substrate comprising: a base plate; a light-scattering layer comprising a plurality of light-scattering particles, the light-scattering layer being formed on the base plate; and a transparent conductive film formed on the light-scattering layer, wherein a part of, or all of the pores formed between the plurality of light-scattering particles are filled with metal oxides forming the transparent conductive film; a method for manufacturing the same; and an organic light-emitting diode comprising the same. |
| US09711746B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display having an organic layer that includes layers of varied thicknesses
An organic light emitting diode display includes: a substrate; and a plurality of red organic light emitting diodes, green organic light emitting diodes, and blue organic light emitting diodes on the substrate, each of the plurality of red organic light emitting diodes, green organic light emitting diodes, and blue organic light emitting diodes including: a first electrode on the substrate; an organic layer on the first electrode; and a second electrode on the organic layer, and the organic layer includes a light emission auxiliary layer on the first electrode and an organic light emitting layer on the light emission auxiliary layer, and the organic layer of each of the red organic light emitting diodes has a thickness of about 90 to 110 nm. |
| US09711741B2 |
Metal compounds and methods and uses thereof
Disclosed herein are metal compounds, compositions, and devices related thereto, such as full color displays or OLEDs. |
| US09711739B2 |
Tetradentate metal complexes containing indoloacridine and its analogues
Platinum, palladium, and gold tetradentate metal complexes of Formulas I and II including indoloacridine. The complexes are suitable for use as phosphorescent or delayed fluorescent and phosphorescent emitters in display and lighting applications. |
| US09711738B2 |
Nickel complexes for flexible transistors and inverters
The design and synthesis of six nickel charge transfer (CT) complexes are described herein. The six nickel CT complexes have a nickel center, two organic ligands coordinated with the nickel center to form a dianionic square planar supramolecule and an organic counter-cation as represented by The ligands and counter-cations are selected to optimize properties, such as molecular alignment, film morphology, and molecular packaging. Described herein, the ligands can be 2,3-pyrazinedithiol (L1), 1,2-benzenedithol (L2) or 2,3-quinoxalinedithol (L3) and the counter-cations can be diquat (2,2′-ebpy) or methyl viologen (4,4′-mbpy). The six nickel CT complexes can also be utilized semiconductor devices, such as thin film transistors or inverters. Processes are also provided for the fabrication of semiconductors devices. The processes can include fabricating a substrate with a bilayer octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA)/Al2O3 dielectric and applying one of the six nickel charge transfer (CT) complexes to the substrate. |
| US09711731B2 |
Blue luminescent compounds
There is provided a compound having Formula I: In the formula: R1, R1a, R2, and R2a are the same or different and are H, D, F, CN, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, silyl, deuterated alkyl, deuterated partially-fluorinated alkyl, deuterated aryl, deuterated heteroaryl, deuterated silyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, fluoroalkoxy, siloxane, siloxy, deuteroalkoxy, deuteroaryloxy, deuterofluoroalkoxy, deuterosiloxane, or deuterosiloxy, with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R1a is heteroaryl or deuterated heteroaryl; R3, R3a, R4, R4a, R5, and R6 are the same or different at each occurrence and are D, F, CN, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, silyl, deuterated alkyl, deuterated partially-fluorinated alkyl, deuterated aryl, deuterated heteroaryl, deuterated silyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, fluoroalkoxy, siloxane, siloxy, deuteroalkoxy, deuteroaryloxy, deuterofluoroalkoxy, deuterosiloxane, or deuterosiloxy, where adjacent groups selected from R3, R3a, R4, and R4a can be joined together to form a fused ring; R7 is the same or different at each occurrence and is alkyl, aryl, or deuterated analogs thereof, where two alkyl R7 groups can be joined together to make a cycloalkyl spiro ring, and where two R7 phenyl groups can be joined to form a spiro fluorene group; a and b are the same or different and are 0 or 1, with the proviso that a+b≧1; x is an integer of 0-3; y is an integer of 0-4; and z is an integer of 0-5. |
| US09711729B2 |
Organic electronic element comprising fullerene derivative
The present specification relates to an organic electronic device including a fullerene derivative. |
| US09711727B2 |
Compositions and applications of a multi-component benzo[1,2-B:4,5-B] dithiophene-thienothiophene randomly substituted polymers for organic solar cells
A polymer having at least four different repeat units comprising: In this polymer R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl group, alkoxy group, aryl groups and combinations thereof and where the combination of R1, R2, R3 and R4 are not all identical. Additionally, in this polymer, m, n, o and p can be greater than 1. x and y are different from each other and can be independently selected from the group consisting of: of alkyl group, alkoxy group, aryl groups, where y=1-3, where y=0-12, where R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, of alkyl group, alkoxy group, aryl groups, where R6 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, substituted alkyls, aryls and substituted aryls, where R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, of alkyl group, alkoxy group, aryl groups, —NR9R10 where R9 and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, of alkyl group, alkoxy group, aryl groups. |
| US09711722B2 |
Method for improving mass-production yield of large-area organic solar cells
The present invention discloses a method for improving mass-production yield of large-area organic solar cells for forming the active layer using the roll-to-roll process. The active layer includes low-bandgap high-polymer PTB7, Fullerenes derivative PC71BM, and high-boiling-point additives. The addition of the high-boiling-point additives can enhance the efficiency of organic solar cells effectively. In the roll-to-roll process according to the present invention, the drying temperature for the wet film is controlled for controlling the content of additives in the dry film. Thereby, the stability of the overall mass production and the device yield can be both improved. |
| US09711717B2 |
Memory cells having a number of conductive diffusion barrier materials and manufacturing methods
Memory cells having a select device material located between a first electrode and a second electrode, a memory element located between the second electrode and a third electrode, and a number of conductive diffusion barrier materials located between a first portion of the memory element and a second portion of the memory element. Memory cells having a select device comprising a select device material located between a first electrode and a second electrode, a memory element located between the second electrode and a third electrode, and a number of conductive diffusion barrier materials located between a first portion of the select device and a second portion of the select device. Manufacturing methods are also described. |
| US09711714B2 |
Systems and methods for fabricating self-aligned resistive/magnetic memory cell
Systems and methods are disclosed to form a resistive random access memory (RRAM) by forming a first metal electrode layer; depositing an insulator above the metal electrode layer and etching the insulator to expose one or more metal portions; depositing a Pr1-XCaXMnO3 (PCMO) layer, in an electrically biased sputtering chamber, above the insulator and the metal portions, to form one or more self-aligned RRAM cells above the first metal electrode; and depositing a second metal electrode layer above the PCMO layer. |
| US09711713B1 |
Semiconductor structure, electrode structure and method of forming the same
A semiconductor structure includes an Nth metal layer, a diffusion barrier layer over the Nth metal layer, a first deposition of bottom electrode material over the diffusion barrier layer, a second deposition of bottom electrode material over the first deposition of bottom electrode material, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) layer over the second deposition of bottom electrode material, a top electrode over the MTJ layer; and an (N+1)th metal layer over the top electrode; wherein the diffusion barrier layer and the first deposition of bottom electrode material are laterally in contact with a dielectric layer, the first deposition of bottom electrode material spacing the diffusion barrier layer and the second deposition of bottom electrode material apart, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. An associated electrode structure and method are also disclosed. |
| US09711706B2 |
Piezoelectric element drive circuit
A piezoelectric element drive circuit includes an H bridge circuit, an LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit, an amplifier circuit, and an inverter circuit. First and second drive signals output from the H bridge circuit and having opposite phases are applied to a piezoelectric element. A voltage between opposite ends of a resistor connected to a first output terminal of the H bridge circuit is input to the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit. A differential signal output from the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit has a lower slew rate because harmonic components are suppressed by the function of a low pass filter. Accordingly, respective slew rates of first and second control signals input to first and second input terminals of the H bridge circuit are also reduced. Hence the first and second control signals are each provided as a signal having a step-like waveform and including harmonic components that have been suppressed. |
| US09711705B2 |
Systems, methods and/or apparatus for thermoelectric energy generation
Systems methods and/or apparatus for the conversion of various types of energy into thermal energy that may be stored and/or then converted into electrical energy. The electrical energy may be available on demand and/or at a user's desired power requirements (e.g., power level and/or type). For example, the energy may be available at a particular voltage and either as direct current (DC) energy or alternating current (AC) energy. The electrical energy may be easily transported and therefore available at a user's desired location. For example, the systems, methods and/or devices may eliminate or reduce the need for electricity transmission, at least for certain applications. In exemplary embodiments, the system may include an organic phase change material for storing the thermal energy. |
| US09711696B2 |
Lighting device having sealing member covering inside of wall member surrounding light emitting elements
A lighting device includes a body section; a substrate provided in the body section; a wiring pattern provided on a surface of the substrate and including wiring pads; and light emitting elements provided on the wiring pattern and including electrodes in the vicinity of a circumferential edge of a surface opposite to a side on which the wiring pattern is provided. The lighting device also includes wirings that respectively connect the wiring pads and a plurality of electrodes; a surrounding wall member provided to surround the light emitting elements and having an annular shape; and a sealing section provided to cover the inside of the surrounding wall member. At least a part of the light emitting elements is connected in series. The electrodes are respectively positioned on or inside a circumference passing through centers of the light emitting elements which are connected in series. |
| US09711695B2 |
Light emitting diode device and method for production thereof containing conversion material chemistry
In one embodiment, a device can comprise: a light emitting diode located in a housing. The housing is formed from a polymer composition comprising: a polymer material, wherein the polymer material comprises at least one of polyolefins, polyesters, cyanoacrylate, cellulose triacetate, ethyl vinyl acetate, propyl vinyl acetate, polyvinylbutyral, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyamide, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, cellulose nitrate, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing polymer materials; and a coated conversion material wherein the coated conversion material comprises an inorganic material that converts radiation of a certain wavelength and re-emits of a different wavelength. The coated conversion material can have a coating comprising at least one of a silicone oil and amorphous silica and, after the coated conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, it can have a luminescence lifetime of less than 10−4 seconds when the excitation source is removed. |
| US09711691B2 |
Side-view type light emitting device including base body having protruding component
A light emitting device has a base body equipped with a base material and a pair of connection terminals disposed from a first main face to a second main face that is on the opposite side from the first main face; a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the connection terminals on the first main face; and a light reflecting member that covers the side faces of the light emitting elements, the base material having a protruding component on the second main face, the protruding component being one of a heat releasing terminal, a reinforcement terminal, and an insulating film, and the connection terminals being disposed on the first main face from the second main face on both sides of the protruding component, and being partly exposed from the light reflecting member on both sides of the first main face. |
| US09711690B2 |
LED and LED packaging method thereof
An LED is provided, the LED comprising a lighting assembly and a light bead. The light head encases the lighting assembly. A cross-section of an upper portion of the light bead is an asymmetric shape with respect to the projection of a normal of the lighting assembly on the cross-section of the upper portion of the light bead, while a cross-section at the lower portion of the light bead perpendicular to the axis is a symmetric shape with respect to the projection of the normal of the lighting assembly on the cross-section at the lower portion of the light bead. The lighting assembly is located at a symcenter of the lower portion of the light bead. The aforementioned LED can increase its visible range, and can ensure an even distribution of the internal stress surrounding the lighting assembly. An LED packaging method is also provided. |
| US09711679B2 |
Front-side emitting mid-infrared light emitting diode fabrication methods
Methods for fabricating mid-infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) based upon antimonide-arsenide semiconductor heterostructures and configured into front-side emitting high-brightness LED die and other LED die formats. |
| US09711678B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device is provided. The light-emitting device comprises: a substrate; and an active structure on the substrate, the active structure comprising a well layer and a barrier layer, wherein the well layer comprises multiple different elements of group VA; wherein the substrate has a first intrinsic lattice constant, the well layer has a second intrinsic lattice constant, the barrier layer has a third intrinsic lattice constant, and the third intrinsic lattice constant is between the second intrinsic lattice constant and the first intrinsic lattice constant. |
| US09711676B2 |
Automatic production system and production process of a conductive backsheet with integrated encapsulating and dielectric layer for photovoltaic panels
Automatic production system and production process for the automatic manufacturing of conductive backsheets with an integrated encapsulating and dielectric layer, for photovoltaic panels of the back-contact type. The system includes operating stations in sequence and is made up of at least one main line combined with a secondary line having a flow converging to a station of calibrated superimposition with fixing. The main line, on trays on a continuous conveying system, arranges and prepares the back supporting and conductive layer, whereas the secondary line forms the encapsulating and dielectric multi-layer element holed in correspondence of the electrical contacts comprising an automatic picking device which takes, roto-translates and holds said multi-layer element during processing and releases it only after the calibrated superimposition with fixing. The system is combined with a control system made up of at least four devices integrated with one another to enable calibration and check the automated processes. |
| US09711671B2 |
Via structures for solar cell interconnection in solar module
System and method of providing a photovoltaic (PV) cell with a complex via structure in the substrate that has a primary via for containing a conductive material and an overflow capture region for capturing an overflow of the conductive material from the primary via. The conductive filling in the primary via may serve as an electrical contact between the PV cell and another PV cell. The overflow capture region includes one or more recesses formed on the substrate back surface. When the conductive material overflows from the primary via, the one or more recesses can capture and confine the overflow within the boundary of the complex via structure. A recess may be a rectangular or circular trench proximate to or overlaying the primary via. The recesses may also be depressions formed by roughening the substrate back surface. |
| US09711670B2 |
Self-charging electronic devices
Self-powered portable electronic devices are disclosed that have the capacity to generate their own electrical power, store electrical charge, and distribute electrical power to similarly designed devices in close proximity. Devices generate power in part using one or more non-solar thermal energy sources that have increased stability and efficiency compared to current solar cell powered devices. Devices comprise components including, control processors, data storage, energy storage, dedicated energy and power management processors, and thermophotovoltaic cells that convert thermal energy into electrical power. Devices are capable of transmitting and receiving energy, power, voice and data information using standard frequencies associated with portable devices. Additionally, the invention discloses methods, systems, and apparatuses comprising circuitry that can control power generation from multiple thermophotovoltaic cells and traditional power sources. |
| US09711669B2 |
Thin-film photoelectric converter
A thin-film photoelectric converter in which a first electrode layer formed of a transparent conductive material, a photoelectric conversion layer for photoelectric conversion, and a second electrode layer formed of a conductive material that reflects light are stacked in that order on an insulating light-transmitting substrate. The photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode layer are divided by dividing grooves into islands that form a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells separated from each other, adjacent ones of the plurality of photoelectric conversion cells separated by the dividing grooves being electrically connected in series. The photoelectric conversion layer includes: a first semiconductor layer including a microcrystalline structure; and a second semiconductor layer including an amorphous structure, the second semiconductor layer being disposed so as to surround all side wall portions of the first semiconductor layer that extend in in-plane directions of the insulating light-transmitting substrate. |
| US09711666B2 |
Sensor provided with metal oxide film and use thereof
A sensor capable of detecting light, hydrogen gas, and air pressure includes a metal oxide film produced by a process including the steps of: (a) forming an organic film by using a primer composition containing (i) an addition polymerizable compound including three or more reactive groups, (ii) an addition polymerizable compound including an acid group, and (iii) an addition polymerizable compound including a hydrophilic functional group; (b) forming a metal (M1) salt from the acid group; (c) substituting the metal (M1) salt of the acid group with a metal (M2) salt by treating the organic film with a metal (M2) ion aqueous solution; (d) reducing the metal (M2) ion so that a metal film is formed on a surface of the organic film; and (e) oxidizing the metal film. |
| US09711662B1 |
Integrated circuits with optical modulators and photodetectors and methods for producing the same
Integrated circuits and methods of producing such integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of producing an integrated circuit includes forming an upper interlayer dielectric overlying an optical modulator and a photodetector, where the photodetector has a shoulder and a plug. An etch stop is formed overlying the upper interlayer dielectric. The etch stop is a first, second, and third distance from an uppermost surface of the optical modulator, the shoulder, and the plug, respectively, where the first, second, and third distances are all different from each other. A first, second, and third contact are formed through the upper interlayer dielectric, where the first, second and third contacts are in electrical communication with the optical modulator, the shoulder, and the plug, respectively. |
| US09711660B2 |
JFET and method of manufacturing thereof
A JFET has a semiconductor body with a first surface and second surface substantially parallel to the first surface. A source metallization and gate metallization are arranged on the first surface. A drain metallization is arranged on the second surface. In a sectional plane substantially perpendicular to the first surface, the semiconductor body includes: a first semiconductor region in ohmic contact with the source and drain metallizations, at least two second semiconductor regions in ohmic contact with the gate metallization, spaced apart from one another, and forming respective first pn-junctions with the first semiconductor region, and at least one body region forming a second pn-junction with the first semiconductor region. The at least one body region is in ohmic contact with the source metallization. At least a portion of the at least one body region is, in a projection onto the first surface, arranged between the two second semiconductor regions. |
| US09711659B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first conductive type first main electrode region, a first conductive type drift region which makes contact with the first main electrode region, a first conductive type second main electrode region which makes contact with the drift region, a second conductive type well region which is provided in a part of a surface layer portion of the drift region and to which a reference potential is applied, and a first conductive type potential extracting region which is provided in a surface layer portion of the well region and to which the reference potential is applied. The well region serves as a base region which controls a current flowing between the potential extracting region and the drift region. Thus, it is possible to provide a novel semiconductor device which is high in reliability while the increase of the chip size can be suppressed. |
| US09711654B2 |
Display device
A display device including: a first base substrate including a display area and a non-display area adjacent to the display area; a plurality of signal lines disposed in the display area; a plurality of pixels disposed in the display area and connected to the signal lines; and a driving circuit disposed in the non-display area and configured to provide driving signals to the signal lines. Each of the pixels includes a switching transistor connected to a corresponding signal line, and a display element connected to the switching transistor. |
| US09711651B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer and excellent electrical characteristics is provided. Further, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which plural kinds of thin film transistors of different structures are formed over one substrate to form plural kinds of circuits and in which the number of steps is not greatly increased is provided. After a metal thin film is formed over an insulating surface, an oxide semiconductor layer is formed thereover. Then, oxidation treatment such as heat treatment is performed to oxidize the metal thin film partly or entirely. Further, structures of thin film transistors are different between a circuit in which emphasis is placed on the speed of operation, such as a logic circuit, and a matrix circuit. |
| US09711648B1 |
Structure and method for CMP-free III-V isolation
A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a channel material portion composed of a III-V compound semiconductor located on a mesa portion of a substrate. A dielectric spacer structure is located on each sidewall surface of the channel material portion and each sidewall surface of the mesa portion of the substrate. The dielectric spacer structure has a height that is greater than a height of the channel material portion. An isolation structure is located on each dielectric spacer structure, wherein a sidewall edge of the isolation structure is located between an innermost sidewall surface and an outermost sidewall surface of the dielectric spacer structure. |
| US09711644B2 |
Methods of making source/drain regions positioned inside U-shaped semiconductor material using source/drain placeholder structures
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a liner semiconductor material within a trench, the liner material defining a transistor cavity, and forming spaced-apart source/drain placeholder structures that are at least partially positioned within the transistor cavity, the spaced-apart source/drain placeholder structures defining a gate cavity therebetween where a portion of the liner semiconductor material is exposed within the gate cavity. The method further includes forming a gate structure within the gate cavity and, after forming the gate structure, removing at least a portion of the source/drain placeholder structures to define a plurality of source/drain cavities within the transistor cavity on opposite sides of the gate structure, and forming a source/drain structure in each of the source drain cavities. |
| US09711643B2 |
ESD robust MOS device
A semiconductor device includes a body and a transistor fabricated into the body. Isolation material at least partially encases the body. Biasing is coupled to the isolation material, wherein the biasing is for changing the electric potential of the isolation material in response to an electrostatic discharge event. |
| US09711637B2 |
Semiconductor device
A control electrode GE1 is formed in a lower portion of a trench TR1 formed in a semiconductor substrate SUB, and a gate electrode GE2 is formed in an upper portion inside the trench TR1. An insulating film G1 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and a side wall and a bottom surface of the trench TR1, an insulating film G2 is formed between the side wall of the trench TR1 and the gate electrode GE2, and an insulating film G3 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and the gate electrode GE2. A region adjacent to the trench TR1 includes an n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source, a p-type semiconductor region PR for a channel formation, and a semiconductor region for a drain. A wiring connected to the control electrode GE1 is not connected to a wiring connected to the gate electrode GE2, and is not connected to a wiring connected to the n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source. |
| US09711636B2 |
Super-junction semiconductor device
A super-junction semiconductor device is provided. The super-junction semiconductor device includes a substrate, a drift layer, a field insulator, a floating electrode layer, an isolation layer, and at least one transistor structure. The drift layer includes a plurality of n-type and p-type pillars alternately arranged in parallel to form a super-junction structure. An active region, a termination region and a transition region located therebetween are defined in the drift layer. The field insulator disposed on a surface of the drift layer covers the termination region and a portion of the transition region. The floating electrode layer disposed on the field insulator partially overlaps with the termination region. The transistor structure includes a source conductive layer extending from the active region to the transition region and superimposed on a portion of the floating electrode layer. The source conductive layer is isolated from the floating electrode layer by the isolation layer. |
| US09711630B2 |
Semiconductor device and an electronic device
A semiconductor device, includes a semiconductor chip which includes: first and second terminals; a first conductive film pattern for the first terminal, formed over an interlayer insulation film; an insulation film formed over the interlayer insulation film so as to cover the first conductive film pattern; a first opening for the first terminal formed in the insulation film, and for exposing a part of the first conductive film pattern; and a nickel film formed over the first conductive film pattern at a portion thereof exposed from the first opening, wherein a semiconductor element controls a conduction between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first terminal is formed of the first conductive film pattern and the nickel film, wherein the first conductive film pattern is formed of a lamination film having a first conductor film containing aluminum, and a second conductor film. |
| US09711627B2 |
Power semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
A method for forming a power semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; and forming a plurality of trenches in the second surface of the substrate. The method also includes forming a semiconductor pillar in each of the plurality of trenches, wherein the semiconductor pillars and the substrate form a plurality of super junctions of the power semiconductor device for increasing the breakdown voltage of the power semiconductor device and reducing the on-stage voltage of the power semiconductor device; and forming a gate structure on the first surface of the substrate. Further, the method includes forming a plurality of well regions in the first surface of the substrate around the gate structure; and forming a source region in each of the plurality of well regions around the gate structure. |
| US09711622B2 |
Manufacturing method of display apparatus
Provided are a display apparatus and a manufacturing method of the same. The display apparatus includes: a counter substrate, and an active matrix substrate including a pixel area. The active matrix substrate includes, in a non-transmissive region of each pixel, a transparent substrate, a polycrystalline silicon film, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, an interlayer insulating film, and a drain layer including patterned conductive films, and includes, in a transparent region of each pixel, the transparent substrate, the gate insulating film and the interlayer insulating film. The interlayer insulating film includes zones where the interlayer insulating film is thinner than a part of the interlayer insulating film at the middle of each transmissive region. The zones are each located so as to extend between the neighboring patterned conductive films and are further located so as not to overlap with the transmissive regions and regions laid over LDD portions of the polycrystalline silicon film. |
| US09711621B2 |
Trench transistor having a doped semiconductor region
A trench transistor having a semiconductor body includes a source region, a body region, a drain region electrically connected to a drain contact, and a gate trench including a gate electrode which is isolated from the semiconductor body. The gate electrode is configured to control current flow between the source region and the drain region along at least a first side wall of the gate trench. The trench transistor further includes a doped semiconductor region having dopants introduced into the semiconductor body through an unmasked part of the walls of a trench. |
| US09711620B2 |
Method for FinFET device
A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) comprises a substrate; a fin over the substrate, the fin having a channel region; a gate structure engaging the fin adjacent to the channel region; and a spacer on sidewalls of the gate structure. The FinFET further includes first and second heavily doped source/drain (HDD) features at least partially in the fin, on opposing sides of the gate structure, and adjacent to the spacer. The FinFET further includes first and second lightly doped source/drain (LDD) regions in the fin between the first and second HDD features, respectively, and the channel region. A sidewall of the first HDD feature and a sidewall of the first LDD region have substantially a same shape. |
| US09711612B2 |
Semiconductor device structure and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device structure and a method for fabricating the same. A method for fabricating semiconductor device structure includes forming gate lines on a semiconductor substrate; forming gate sidewall spacers surrounding the gate lines; forming respective source/drain regions in the semiconductor substrate and on either side of the respective gate lines; forming conductive sidewall spacers surrounding the gate sidewall spacers; and cutting off the gate lines, the gate sidewall spacers and the conductive sidewall spacers at predetermined positions, in which the cut gate lines are electrically isolated gates, and the cut conductive sidewall spacers are electrically isolated lower contacts. The method is applicable to the manufacture of contacts in integrated circuits. |
| US09711611B2 |
Modified self-aligned contact process and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a transistor and a contact pad over a substrate. The transistor includes a high-k dielectric layer, a work function metal layer, a metal gate, two spacers, a metal compound, an insulator and a doped region. The high-k dielectric layer is over the substrate. The work function metal layer is over the high-k dielectric layer. The metal gate is over the work function metal layer. The two spacers sandwich the work function metal layer and the metal gate. The metal compound is over inner walls of the two spacers and over the top surface of the work function metal layer and the metal gate. The insulator covers the metal compound. The doped region is in the substrate. The contact pad is electrically connected to the metal gate. |
| US09711608B1 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a stacked structure of first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternately stacked is formed over a substrate. The stacked structure is formed into a fin structure. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. The part of the fin structure covered by the sacrificial gate structure is a channel region. The first semiconductor layers are melted by applying heat, thereby removing the first semiconductor layers from the channel region and forming a source/drain region made of a material of the first semiconductor. A dielectric layer is formed to cover the source/drain region and the sacrificial gate structure. The sacrificial gate structure is removed to expose the second semiconductor layers in the channel region of the fin structure. A gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode layer are formed around the exposed second semiconductor layers in the channel region. |
| US09711607B1 |
One-dimensional nanostructure growth on graphene and devices thereof
A method and structure for providing a GAA device. In some embodiments, a substrate including an insulating layer disposed thereon is provided. By way of example, a first metal portion is formed within the insulating layer. In various embodiments, a first lateral surface of the first metal portion is exposed. After exposure of the first lateral surface of the first metal portion, a first graphene layer is formed on the exposed first lateral surface. In some embodiments, the first graphene layer defines a first vertical plane parallel to the exposed first lateral surface. Thereafter, in some embodiments, a first nanobar is formed on the first graphene layer, where the first nanobar extends in a first direction normal to the first vertical plane defined by the first graphene layer. |
| US09711606B1 |
Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof
The manufacturing method of the thin film transistor includes the following steps. A gate, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, a metal oxide semiconductor layer, a first etching stop layer, a second etching stop layer and a photoresist structure are sequentially formed. The second etching stop layer, the first etching stop layer, and the metal oxide semiconductor layer are patterned using the photoresist structure as a mask to form a pre-second etching stop pattern, a pre-first etching stop pattern, and a metal oxide semiconductor pattern. The pre-second etching stop pattern and the pre-first etching stop pattern are patterned using the remaining thick portion of the photoresist structure as a mask to form a second etching stop pattern and a first etching stop pattern, and a portion of the second insulating layer is removed to form an insulating pattern. A source and a drain are formed. |
| US09711603B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive pattern on a substrate, forming a filling insulation layer covering the conductive pattern, forming a contact hole in the filling insulation layer and adjacent to the conductive pattern, forming an opening in the conductive pattern by removing a portion of the conductive pattern adjacent to the contact hole such that the opening is connected to the contact hole, and forming a contact plug filling the contact hole and the opening. A width of the opening is greater than a width of the contact hole. |
| US09711601B2 |
Schottky diode structure and method of fabrication
The disclosed technology relates to a device including a diode. In one aspect, the device includes a lower group III metal nitride layer and an upper group III metal nitride layer and a heterojunction formed therebetween, where the heterojunction extends horizontally and is configured to form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) that is substantially confined in a vertical direction and within the lower group III metal nitride layer. The device additionally includes a cathode forming an ohmic contact with the upper group III metal nitride layer. The device additionally includes an anode, which includes a first portion that forms a Schottky barrier contact with the upper group III metal nitride layer, and a second portion that is separated vertically from the upper group III metal nitride layer by a layer of dielectric material. The anode is configured such that the second portion is horizontally located between the anode and the cathode and the dielectric material is configured to pinch off the 2DEG layer in a reverse biased configuration of the device. The device further includes a passivation area formed between the anode and the cathode to horizontally separate the anode and the cathode from each other. |
| US09711594B2 |
Improving linearity in semiconductor devices
A field effect transistor that has a source, a drain, a gate and a semiconductor region. The semiconductor region has a source access region between the gate and the source, a drain access region between the gate and the drain, and a channel region under the gate. The channel region under the gate has a maximum current-carrying capability that is lower than a maximum current-carrying capability of the source access region. |
| US09711592B2 |
Diode and signal output circuit including the same
A diode includes: a p-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type isolation region formed to surround a predetermined region of the n-type semiconductor layer on the p-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type buried layer formed across the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer within the predetermined region; an n-type collector wall formed in the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type anode region and a plurality of n-type cathode regions formed in a diode formation region; and a p-type guard ring formed to surround the diode formation region in a region between the diode formation region of the surface layer of the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type isolation region. A transistor for reducing a leakage current is formed by the p-type anode region, the p-type guard ring, and an n-type semiconductor between the p-type anode region and the p-type guard ring. |
| US09711590B2 |
Semiconductor device, or crystal
There is provided a semiconductor device including corundum crystal films of good quality. There is provided a semiconductor device including a base substrate, a semiconductor layer, and an insulating film each having a corundum crystal structure. Materials having a corundum crystal structure include many types of oxide films capable of functioning as an insulating film. Since all the base substrate, the semiconductor layer, and the insulating film have a corundum crystal structure, it is possible to achieve a semiconductor layer and an insulating film of good quality on the base substrate. |
| US09711588B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device that may include first and second pads on a pad area of a substrate, wherein the first pad includes a first bonding region and a first link region, and the second pad includes a second bonding region, a contact region, and a second link region. A first bonding electrode in the first bonding region is electrically connected to one or more signal lines in the active area of the device through contact holes in the first bonding region. A second bonding electrode is electrically connected to one or more signal lines of the device through contact holes in the contact region. The contact region is closer to the active area than the first bonding region. |
| US09711585B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display according to an example embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate; a scan line and a data line that are insulated from one another and crossing each other on the substrate; a first transistor on the substrate and connected to the scan line and the data line; a second transistor connected to the first transistor; a first electrode connected to the second transistor and having a cutout; an organic emission layer on the first electrode; and a second electrode on the organic emission layer, wherein the cutout is at a position corresponding to the data line. |
| US09711584B2 |
Display unit and electronic apparatus
A display unit includes a light emitting layer including a light emitting device; a color filter layer including a color filter corresponding to the light emitting device; and a light blocking layer including a light blocking member arranged to overlap an end of the color filter, a center position of the light blocking member being offset from the end of the color filter. |
| US09711582B2 |
Area sensor and display apparatus provided with an area sensor
An area sensor of the present invention has a function of displaying an image in a sensor portion by using light-emitting elements and a reading function using photoelectric conversion devices. Therefore, an image read in the sensor portion can be displayed thereon without separately providing an electronic display on the area sensor. Furthermore, a photoelectric conversion layer of a photodiode according to the present invention is made of an amorphous silicon film and an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer are made of a polycrystalline silicon film. The amorphous silicon film is formed to be thicker than the polycrystalline silicon film. As a result, the photodiode according to the present invention can receive more light. |
| US09711581B2 |
Display unit
A display unit with which lowering of long-term reliability of a transistor is decreased is provided. The display unit includes a display section having a plurality of organic EL devices with light emitting color different from each other and a plurality of pixel circuits that are singly provided for every said organic EL device for every pixel. The pixel circuit has a first transistor for writing a video signal, a second transistor for driving the organic EL device based on the video signal written by the first transistor, and a retentive capacity, and out of the first transistor and the second transistor, a third transistor provided correspondingly to a second organic EL device adjacent to a first organic EL device is arranged farther from the first organic EL device than a first retentive capacity provided correspondingly to the second organic EL device out of the retentive capacity. |
| US09711575B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device may include a substrate, an anode, an auxiliary electrode, a light emitting structure, a lower cathode, and an upper cathode. The substrate may include a pixel region, a transparent region, and a boundary region between the pixel region and the transparent region. The anode may be on the pixel region. The auxiliary electrode may be on the transparent or boundary regions. The light emitting structure may be on the anode and the auxiliary electrode and extended from the pixel region to the transparent region. The lower cathode may be on the light emitting structure and made thin to increase transmittance. The upper cathode may be on the lower cathode. The thin lower cathode may be electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode via a contact hole which penetrates the light emitting structure so as to reduce a voltage drop. |
| US09711573B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that are disposed spaced apart adjacent to each other; and a pixel-defining layer disposed on the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, the pixel-defining layer covering a part of the first pixel electrode and a part of the second pixel electrode except a center portion of the first pixel electrode, a center portion of the second pixel electrode, a first edge of the first pixel electrode in a direction to the second pixel electrode, and a second edge of the second pixel electrode in a direction to the first pixel electrode. |
| US09711572B2 |
Flexible display apparatus and method of fabricating the same
A method of forming a flexible display apparatus includes: forming a flexible substrate on a support substrate; forming a light-emitting diode on the flexible substrate; forming a first encapsulation layer on the light-emitting diode; forming a second encapsulation layer; bonding the first encapsulation layer to the second encapsulation layer using an adhesive layer between the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer; separating the support substrate from the flexible substrate and cutting the flexible substrate to form the flexible display apparatus; and forming a polarizing plate on the second encapsulation layer. |
| US09711564B2 |
Preparation method for high-voltage LED device integrated with pattern array
The invention disclosed a preparation method for a high-voltage LED device integrated with a pattern array, comprising the following process steps: providing a substrate, and forming a N-type GaN limiting layer, an epitaxial light-emitting layer and a P-type GaN limiting layer on the substrate in sequence; isolating the N—GaN limiting layer, the epitaxial light-emitting layer and the P—GaN limiting layer on the substrate into at least two or more independent pattern units by means of photo lithography and etching process, wherein each of the pattern unit is in a triangular shape, and very two adjacent pattern units are arranged in an opposing and crossed manner to form a quadrangle, and the quadrangles formed by a plurality of adjacent pattern units are distributed in array; and connecting each pattern unit with metal wires to form a series connection and/or a parallel connection, thereby forming a plurality of interconnected LED chips. For the purpose of improving the current distribution so as to increase the luminescent efficiency of the device, a current blocking layer is also arranged beneath the P-type metal contact of each unit in addition, an insulation material is also arranged to cover the surface of the chip so as to achieve the purposes of protecting the chip and increasing the light extraction efficiency of the chip. |
| US09711561B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera including discrete trench isolation structure
A solid-state imaging device including is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes: pixels arrayed; a photoelectric conversion element in each of the pixels; a read transistor for reading electric charges photoelectrically-converted in the photoelectric conversion elements to a floating diffusion portion; a shallow trench element isolation region bordering the floating diffusion portion; and an impurity diffusion isolation region for other element isolation regions than the shallow trench element isolation region. |
| US09711560B2 |
CMOS image sensor structure with IR/NIR integration
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, light sensing devices, at least one infrared radiation sensing device, a transparent insulating layer, an infrared radiation cut layer, a color filter layer and an infrared radiation color filter layer. The light sensing devices and the at least one infrared radiation sensing device are disposed in the substrate and are adjacent to each other. The transparent insulating layer is disposed on the substrate overlying the light sensing devices and the at least one infrared radiation sensing device. The infrared radiation cut layer is disposed on the transparent insulating layer overlying the light sensing devices for filtering out infrared radiation and/or near infrared radiation. The color filter layer is disposed on the infrared radiation cut layer. The infrared radiation color filter layer is disposed on the transparent insulating layer overlying the at least one infrared radiation sensing device. |
| US09711559B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method for driving the same, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic device
A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion section configured to generate photocharges and a transfer gate that transfers the photocharges to a semiconductor region. A method for driving a unit pixel includes a step of accumulating photocharges in a photoelectric conversion section and a step of accumulating the photocharges in a semiconductor region. A method of forming a solid-state imaging device includes implanting ions into a well layer through an opening in a mask, implanting additional ions into the well layer through an opening in another mask, and implanting other ions into the well layer through an opening in yet another mask. An electronic device includes the solid-state imaging device. |
| US09711558B2 |
Imaging device with photoelectric converter
An imaging device including a unit pixel cell comprising: a semiconductor substrate including a first conductivity type region of a first conductivity type, a first and second impurity regions of a second conductivity type provided in the first conductivity type region; a photoelectric converter located above the semiconductor substrate; and a first transistor including a gate electrode and at least a part of the second impurity region as a source or a drain. The first impurity region is at least partially located in a surface of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the photoelectric converter. The second impurity region is electrically connected to the photoelectric converter via the first impurity region and has an impurity concentration lower than that of the first impurity region. The second impurity region at least partially overlaps the gate electrode in a plan view. |
| US09711553B2 |
Image sensor including a pixel having photoelectric conversion elements and image processing device having the image sensor
An image sensor according to an example embodiment concepts includes a pixel array including pixels, and each of the pixels includes photoelectric conversion elements. The photoelectric conversion elements independently operating to detect a phase difference. The image sensor further includes a control circuit configured to independently control exposure times of each of the photoelectric conversion elements included in each of the pixels. |
| US09711551B2 |
Image sensors with color filter windows
An imaging pixel may include an upper substrate layer with a photosensitive layer and a lower substrate with a photosensitive layer. A color filter layer may be formed over the upper substrate layer. The color filter layer may include a color filter window that allows light to pass through the upper substrate layer to the photosensitive layer in the lower substrate. The color filter window may be formed from a dielectric material or from a color filter element with a different color than the surrounding color filter element. A metal interconnect layer may couple the lower substrate layer to the upper substrate layer. The color filter window may be formed in the central portion of a pixel, or between multiple pixels in an image sensor. |
| US09711547B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
To provide an image pickup apparatus that can increase capacitance value of an input node in a connection state without decreasing amplification transistor gain when capacitance is in a non-connection state. In an image pickup apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a gate electrode of an amplification transistor is arranged on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, a third semiconductor region having a second conductivity type is arranged in a lower part of the gate electrode, and an added impurity concentration of impurity having the second conductivity type on a PN junction surface of a capacitance is higher than a highest value of an added impurity concentration having the second conductivity type in a region from the main surface up to a depth at which a source and a drain of the amplification transistor are arranged in the third semiconductor region. |
| US09711539B2 |
Array substrate and method of fabricating the same, and display device
The present invention provides an array substrate, a method of fabricating the array substrate, and a display device. The method of fabricating the array substrate of the present invention comprises steps of: sequentially forming a first transparent conductive film and a source-drain metal film on a substrate; forming a source-drain metal pattern by performing a patterning process on the source-drain metal film; forming a pattern comprising a pixel electrode and a compensation structure that is provided below the source-drain metal pattern by performing a patterning process on the first transparent conductive film. |
| US09711536B2 |
Semiconductor device, electronic component, and electronic device
To provide a semiconductor device including a small-area circuit with high withstand voltage, an oxide semiconductor (OS) transistor is used as some of transistors included in a circuit handling an analog signal in a circuit to which high voltage is applied. The use of an OS transistor with high withstand voltage as a transistor requiring resistance to high voltage enables the circuit area to be reduced without lowering the performance, as compared to the case using a Si transistor. Furthermore, an OS transistor can be provided over a Si transistor, so that transistors using different semiconductor layers can be stacked, resulting in a much smaller circuit area. |
| US09711533B2 |
FinFET devices having different source/drain proximities for input/output devices and non-input/output devices and the method of fabrication thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first FinFET device and a second FinFET device. The first FinFET device includes a first gate, a first source, and a first drain. The first FinFET device has a first source/drain proximity. The second FinFET device includes a second gate, a second source, and a second drain. The second FinFET device has a second source/drain proximity that is smaller than the first source/drain proximity. In some embodiments, \the first FinFET device is an Input/Output (I/O) device, and the second FinFET device is a non-I/O device such as a core device. In some embodiments, the greater source/drain proximity of the first FinFET device is due to an extra spacer of the first FinFET device that does not exist for the second FinFET device. |
| US09711531B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device can include forming a channel hole in a vertical stack of alternating insulating and sacrificial layers to form a recess in a substrate. A selectively epitaxial growth can be performed to provide a lower semiconductor pattern in the recess using material of the substrate as a seed and a recess can be formed to penetrate an upper surface of the lower semiconductor pattern via the channel hole. |
| US09711530B1 |
Locally-trap-characteristic-enhanced charge trap layer for three-dimensional memory structures
Threshold voltage shift due to programming of a neighboring memory element can be reduced or suppressed by forming a compositionally modulated charge storage layer in a three-dimensional memory device. The compositionally modulated charge storage layer can be formed by providing an oxygen-containing dielectric silicon compound layer outside a tunneling dielectric layer, and subsequently nitriding portions of the oxygen-containing dielectric silicon compound layer only at levels of the control gate electrodes. An alternating stack of sacrificial material layers and insulating layers can be employed to form a memory stack structure therethrough. After removal of the sacrificial material layers, a nitridation process can be performed to convert physically exposed portions of the oxygen-containing dielectric silicon compound layer into silicon nitride portions, which are vertically spaced from one another by remaining oxygen-containing dielectric silicon compound portions that have inferior charge trapping property to the silicon nitride portions. |
| US09711528B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region includes: a part of a stacked body that includes a plurality of conductive layers; and a memory columnar body which has its side surface covered by the stacked body and configures a memory string. The second region includes: a contact; a contact portion connected to the contact, of the conductive layer; and a plurality of first columnar bodies. The third region includes a second columnar body. In a plane parallel to the substrate, a total area of the second columnar body in a small region that has the same area as one or more contact portions, in the third region is larger than a total area of the first columnar body in the one or more contact portions. |
| US09711525B2 |
Three-dimensional semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. The semiconductor device includes: source select lines, word lines, drain select lines, and a bit line stacked on a substrate in which a first cell string region and a second cell string region are defined; channel layers and memory layers vertically passing through the source select lines, the word lines, and the drain select lines in each of the first cell string region and the second cell string region; and a common source line vertically passing through the source select lines, the word lines, and the drain select lines at centers of the first cell string region and the second cell string region, and extended to a lower side of the source select lines. |
| US09711521B2 |
Substrate fabrication method to improve RF (radio frequency) device performance
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor substrate including, a first silicon layer comprising an upper surface with protrusions extending vertically with respect to the upper surface. An isolation layer is arranged over the upper surface meeting the first silicon layer at an interface, and a second silicon layer is arranged over the isolation layer. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor substrate is also provided. |
| US09711520B2 |
Three dimensional semiconductor memory devices
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate including a common source region and a drain region, a lower structure provided on the semiconductor substrate and including a plurality of lower transistors connected in series between the common source region and the drain region, a stack including a plurality of word lines stacked on the lower structure, and semiconductor pillars penetrating the stack and controlling gate electrodes of respective ones of the lower transistors. |
| US09711519B2 |
Salicided structure to integrate a flash memory device with a high K, metal gate logic device
An integrated circuit for an embedded flash memory device is provided. A semiconductor substrate includes a memory region and a logic region adjacent to the memory region. A logic device is arranged over the logic region and includes a metal gate separated from the semiconductor substrate by a material having a dielectric constant exceeding 3.9. A flash memory cell device is arranged over the memory region. The flash memory cell device includes a first memory cell gate, a second memory cell gate, and a dielectric region arranged between neighboring sidewalls of the first and second memory cell gates. A silicide contact pad is arranged over a top surface of the first memory cell gate. The silicide contact pad is recessed relative to top surfaces of the dielectric region, the second memory cell gate and the metal gate. A method of manufacturing the integrated circuit is also provided. |
| US09711518B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
Stack structures are arranged in a first direction horizontal to a semiconductor substrate, one of which has a longitudinal direction along a second direction. One stack structure has a plurality of semiconductor layers stacked between interlayer insulating layers. A memory film is formed on side surfaces of the stack structures and include a charge accumulation film of the memory cell. Conductive films are formed on side surfaces of the stack structures via the memory film. One stack structure has a shape increasing in width from above to below in a cross-section including the first and third directions. One conductive film has a shape increasing in width from above to below in a cross-section including the second and third directions. Predetermined portions in the semiconductor layers have different impurity concentrations between upper and lower semiconductor layers. |
| US09711514B2 |
Methods and apparatuses including a select transistor having a body region including monocrystalline semiconductor material and/or at least a portion of its gate located in a substrate
Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a memory cell string including memory cells located in different levels of the apparatuses and a select transistor coupled to the memory cell string. In at least one of such apparatuses, the select transistor can include a body region including a monocrystalline semiconductor material. Other embodiments including additional apparatuses and methods are described. |
| US09711512B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
In an image information chip or the like, a multi-port SRAM is embedded with a logic circuit. When the 3 port is used, the 1 port may serve as a differential write and readout port, and the 2 port may serve as a single ended readout dedicated port. While the occupied area of an embedded SRAM can be reduced, the number of write and readout ports is limited to only one, and readout characteristics as fast as differential readout cannot be expected in single ended readout. A new arrangement is therefore provided in which three differential write and readout ports are included in a memory cell structure of the embedded SRAM, an N-well region, for example, is arranged at the center of a cell, and a P-well region is arranged on both sides thereof. |
| US09711510B2 |
Memory device and manufacturing method thereof
A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells At least one of the memory cells includes a plurality of transistors with vertical-gate-all-around configurations and a plurality of active blocks. A portion of at least one of the active blocks serves as a source or a drain of one of the transistors. |
| US09711507B1 |
Separate N and P fin etching for reduced CMOS device leakage
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes blocking a first region of a wafer and forming a plurality of fins in a second region of the wafer. A protective conformal mask layer is deposited over the plurality of fins in the second region, the second region is blocked, and a plurality of fins are formed in the first region of the wafer using a variety of wet and/or dry etching procedures. The protective conformal mask layer protects the plurality of fins in the second region from the variety of wet and/or dry etching procedures that are used to form the plurality of fins in the first region. |
| US09711506B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes preparing a substrate including a first region and a second region, sequentially forming a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer on the first and second regions, patterning the first and second semiconductor layers to form a lower semiconductor pattern and an upper semiconductor pattern on each of the first and second regions, selectively removing the lower semiconductor pattern on the second region to form a gap region, and forming gate electrodes at the first and second regions, respectively. |
| US09711505B2 |
Semiconductor devices having dummy gate structure for controlling channel stress
A semiconductor device includes a gate structure on a substrate. The gate structure includes a first gate insulation pattern, a conductive pattern for controlling a threshold voltage, a first gate electrode and a first mask sequentially stacked. A dummy gate structure is spaced apart from the gate electrode. The dummy gate structure includes a first stressor pattern including titanium oxide. Source/drain regions are adjacent to the gate structure. The source/drain regions are doped with p-type impurities. The first stressor pattern may apply a stress onto the channel region of a transistor, and consequently the transistor having good electrical characteristics may be obtained. |
| US09711504B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first trench, a first fin pattern on the substrate that is defined by the first trench, a gate electrode on the substrate, and a field insulating layer on the substrate. The first fin pattern includes an upper part on a lower part. The first fin pattern includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite each other. The first sidewall is concave along the lower part of the first fin pattern. The second sidewall is tilted along the lower part of the first fin pattern. The field insulating layer surrounds the lower part of the first fin pattern. The gate electrode surrounds the upper part of the first fin pattern. |
| US09711502B2 |
Double-side process silicon MOS and passive devices for RF front-end modules
An integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, at least one first trench extending into the first semiconductor substrate from the first surface and having a first depth, at least one second trench extending into the first semiconductor substrate from the first surface and having a second depth greater than the first depth, a thinned semiconductor region with a first recessed region extending in the first semiconductor substrate from the second surface and having a first thickness, a second recessed region in the first semiconductor substrate extending from the second surface to the first surface, and a bulk dielectric layer covering the second surface of the first semiconductor substrate. |
| US09711499B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor regions, and a third semiconductor region between the first and second semiconductor regions, wherein the dopant concentration of the third semiconductor region is greater than the dopant concentration of the second semiconductor region. The semiconductor device further includes a fourth semiconductor region selectively provided on an upper surface of the second semiconductor region, wherein a portion of the second semiconductor region is interposed between the third semiconductor region and the fourth semiconductor region, an insulating layer disposed on the second semiconductor region and the fourth semiconductor region and having an opening that exposes a portion of a top surface of the fourth semiconductor region, wherein the ratio of an area of opening to an area of the top surface is from 10% to 90%, and a wiring layer on the insulating layer and connected to the fourth semiconductor region via the opening. |
| US09711496B1 |
Integrated circuit containing first and second DOEs of standard cell compatible, NCEM-enabled fill cells, with the first DOE including side-to-side short configured fill cells, and the second DOE including tip-to-side short configured fill cells
An IC includes first and second designs of experiments (DOES), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of side-to-side shorts, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of tip-to-side shorts. |
| US09711495B2 |
Oversized contacts and vias in layout defined by linearly constrained topology
A rectangular-shaped interlevel connection layout structure is defined to electrically connect a first layout structure in a first chip level with a second layout structure in a second chip level. The rectangular-shaped interlevel connection layout structure is defined by an as-drawn cross-section having at least one dimension larger than a corresponding dimension of either the first layout structure, the second layout structure, or both the first and second layout structures. A dimension of the rectangular-shaped interlevel connection layout structure can exceed a normal maximum size in one direction in exchange for a reduced size in another direction. The rectangular-shaped interlevel connection layout structure can be placed in accordance with a gridpoint of a virtual grid defined by two perpendicular sets of virtual lines. Also, the first and/or second layout structures can be spatially oriented and/or placed in accordance with one or both of the two perpendicular sets of virtual lines. |
| US09711487B2 |
Method and device for controlling operation using temperature deviation in multi-chip package
A multi-chip package includes a first die having temperature sensors and a second die. The first die generates temperature deviation information of m (m |
| US09711482B2 |
Semiconductor package embedded with plurality of chips and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package may include first semiconductor chips disposed in a rotationally symmetrical structure. First bonding pads are arranged over the bottom surfaces of the first semiconductor chips. The semiconductor package may also include a first encapsulation member formed to surround at least side surfaces of the first semiconductor chips. The semiconductor package may also include via patterns formed in the first encapsulation member. The semiconductor package may also include second semiconductor chips stacked over top surfaces of the first semiconductor chips and the first encapsulation member including the via patterns in such a way as to form step shapes with the first semiconductor chips. Second bonding pads electrically connected to the via patterns are arranged over bottom surfaces of the second semiconductor chips. The semiconductor package may also include a second encapsulation member formed over the top surfaces of the first semiconductor chips and the first encapsulation member to surround at least side surfaces of the second semiconductor chips. |