| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09747636B2 |
Enhancing information security using an information passport dashboard
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for enhancing information security using an information passport dashboard are presented. In one or more embodiments, a computing platform may receive, from a user computing device, a request for an information passport dashboard. Subsequently, the computing platform may load a listing of available dashboard content items from an information passport database. Then, the computing platform may select content items from the listing of available dashboard content items to promote one or more content items to the user of the user computing device based on user preferences information and further based on aggregate usage information. Thereafter, the computing platform may generate an information passport dashboard interface that includes information identifying the content items selected from the listing of available dashboard content items for the user of the user computing device. The computing platform then may send, to the user computing device, the information passport dashboard interface. |
| US09747632B2 |
Store mobile cloud application system for inventory management and customer order fulfillment and method for retail establishment
A store mobile cloud application system executes a retail store purchasing system having plurality of barcode scanners and scan guns integrated with a mobile tablet device carried by employees. The mobile tablet device is rotatably attached to a base housing directly below it connected by a base mount universal receiver with rotatable coupling. The Main PCB has an EEPROM controlling operations of the USB devices including the scanner and an MSR. The mobile tablet device has mobile applications which allow wireless communication with a POS store systems server and the corporate ERP system, and also commands the EEPROM. Scanned data involving a product to be purchased is received by the mobile tablet device and sent wirelessly to the POS store systems server to obtain product data. The allocation of inventory sold, but not available in the store, are processed real-time through the corporate ERP system and available for review chain-wide. |
| US09747630B2 |
System and method for enabling online ordering using unique identifiers
A system and method for automatically submitting an online order from a customer to a restaurant. Input data and customer data is used by an order engine to select a deployment platform, such as social media networks, search engines, mobile applications, and related websites, for a user interface. The order engine provides a unique identifier for each restaurant. The unique identifier can be used by third parties, such as online content providers, to return the menu for the restaurant included in the third party content. The user interface automatically populates the restaurant's menu options and business data, allowing the customer to build an order. The order engine submits the order to the restaurant via a non-verbal communication platform. |
| US09747629B2 |
Services for enabling users to share information regarding E-commerce transactions via user created communities
Various computer-implemented services are disclosed for assisting users in selecting items from an electronic catalog, and for selecting merchants with which to conduct transactions. One such service enables users to share information about their respective purchases with other users. Another service enables users to share information regarding the merchants with which they have conducted transactions. |
| US09747628B1 |
Generating category layouts based on query fingerprints
A method and system for analyzing user behavior as users search for items within an electronic marketplace is provided. A query is submitted by a user of the electronic marketplace, the query is processed to identify a series of actions or behaviors performed by the user in relation to the query and fingerprint information for the query is determined based at least in part on analyzing the actions. In one embodiment, the electronic marketplace modifies a user experience for the user based on the fingerprint information. An interactive network region comprising search results related to a query issued by a user is generated, based on fingerprint information. Various categories of items related to a query issued by the user are identified based on fingerprint information and the search results are organized based on categories. |
| US09747625B2 |
Device for adding enhancers to pet food and method of using same
A device and method for allowing the custom mixing of liquid and dry enhancers with pet food kibbles comprising a tumbler into which the kibbles are placed; a means for adding a pre-determined amount of liquid/dry enhancers to the kibbles; a means for mixing the enhancers with the kibbles; and a means for feeding the enhanced kibbles into packages. |
| US09747624B2 |
Trusted fulfillment agent network
A system and method for a trusted fulfillment agent network system is described. A network of trusted fulfillment agents is generated for a seller in an online marketplace. A transaction between a buyer and the seller corresponding to a listing of the seller in the online marketplace is accessed. A request is generated to the network of trusted fulfillment agents of the seller to fulfill a shipment of an item from the listing to the buyer on behalf of the seller. |
| US09747623B2 |
System and method for bidding on groups of fee or contingency fee-based matters
A system may comprise: a web server for posting matters of clients for bidding by contingency professionals; a client matter engine for enabling a particular client to post a particular group of related matters and to select a particular contingency professional bidding on the particular group of matters to handle the particular group of matters; a professional bidding engine for enabling the particular contingency professional to review at least a portion of the posted matters and to bid on the particular group of matters; and a bidding exchange engine for enabling the particular client and the particular contingency professional to communicate without exchanging direct contact information. |
| US09747621B1 |
Widget-based integration of payment gateway functionality into transactional sites
Various embodiments of a payment service are disclosed. In some embodiments, a merchant can enable customer use of the payment service by adding widget code to a web page, such as a catalog or shopping cart page, of the merchant's site. Thereafter, a user can invoke the payment service and complete a purchase transaction directly from the merchant site, without navigating or being redirected to a separate payment service site. In some embodiments, the user can complete the transaction without having or creating an account with the payment service. |
| US09747619B2 |
Engine, system and method of providing application and analytic services across diverse operating platforms
A system and method for providing a media engagement gateway (MEG) for providing application and analytic services across diverse operating platforms is disclosed. |
| US09747615B2 |
Systems and methods for automated mass media commerce
Systems and methods for implementing point of advertising purchasing include using mass media publications configured for or containing service, product or vendor transmittable signals, such as from radio frequency identification tags. In a preferred arrangement, a consumer perceiving an advertisement of the mass media publication may activate a reader in a portable communications device, such as a smart mobile or cellular phone, to receive information from the radio frequency signal associated with the advertisement to identify a vendor, product or service associated with the radio frequency identification. The smart mobile phone or communications device of the consumer may communicate with a system of a vendor or vendors by way of a commerce data organization system across a network to order a product or product information from a system of the vendor over the network by using the information from the radio frequency identification. |
| US09747607B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing mobile advertising service in mobile advertising system
A method and apparatus is provided for providing a mobile advertising service in a mobile advertising system, and for sharing a preference to deliver a personalized advertisement requested by a particular group member to other users. In a method for providing a mobile advertising service by a server of a mobile advertising system, a group creation request message including a user list and a group user preference is received from an advertising engine, a group is created according to the user list and the group user preference in the group creation request message, a response message to the group creation request message is sent to the advertising engine, an advertisement request message is received from one of advertising engines included in the user list, an advertisement appropriate for the group user preference is selected, and the selected advertisement is delivered to at least one advertising engine included in the user list. The at least one advertising engine is included in the same group. |
| US09747604B2 |
Automated agent for social media systems
A method to automatically process social media data includes capturing captured data, describing actions and/or context relating a user across multiple social media systems. The captured data is stored within a database. One or more interfaces are provided in order to provide access to the stored captured data. A rules database is configured to store multiple social media rules (e.g., behaviors) that may be associated with a user. A behavior engine is configured to perform autonomous activities, on behalf of a user with respect to multiple social media platforms, based on the social medial rules and/or the captured data. |
| US09747600B2 |
Item status tracking
A method and system for tracking the status of a label. The system can include a memory with a database. The database can include an indicator of the label status. The system can additionally include a processor that operates in accordance with instructions stored in the memory. The processor can receive a request to generate a label, update the first database with an identifier that indicates the existence of the label, receive a signal indicating that a service requested by the label has been provided, and update the identifier in the first database to indicate that the requested service has been provided. |
| US09747595B1 |
Readying customer data based on geo-location
In one embodiment, the invention involves a method for readying client financial data. The method comprises receiving a proximity distance; identifying a location of a mobile device of a financial professional (FP); identifying a location of a first client of the FP within the proximity distance from the location of the mobile device; downloading, by the mobile device and in response to identifying the first client, a first financial data item corresponding to the first client; and displaying, to the FP by the mobile device, the first financial data item. |
| US09747590B2 |
Automated banking machine that is operative to automatically detect and store service activities
In an example embodiment, an automated banking machine that is operable to detect signals corresponding to a plurality of service activities carried out on a transaction function device. Data representative of the plurality of service activities is stored in the transaction function device's data store. |
| US09747586B1 |
System and method for issuance of electronic currency substantiated by a reserve of assets
Disclosed herein are system and methods for issuance and circulation of electronic currency, as well as a payment system based on use of the aforementioned electronic currency. In one exemplary aspect, the system includes a management module configured to: create and manage one or more wallets of electronic currency; manage information about a reserve substantiating the electronic currency, wherein the reserve comprises one or more tangible or intangible assets; and record electronic currency transactions in a settlement network, wherein the settlement network carries out transactions and stores data describing said transactions; and an issuance center configured to carry out centralized issuance of the electronic currency and its controlled release into circulation in the settlement network, wherein the amount of the issued electronic currency released into circulation in the settlement network is equal to or less than the amount of the reserve substantiating it. |
| US09747582B2 |
Implementing a consistent ordering of operations in collaborative editing of shared content items
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for ordering editing operations in collaborative editing of shared content items. The content management system can receive an edit operation from a first client for a content item that is shared for collaborative editing between the first client and a second client. In response to receiving the operation, the system can send an update to the first client including a previous operation received from the second client prior to receiving the operation from the first client, wherein the update can instruct the first client to perform a transform operation to transform a parameter of the operation according to an effect of the previous operation received from the second client. The system can then receive a result of the transform operation from the first client and update the shared content item based on the previous operation and the result of the transform operation. |
| US09747578B2 |
Measuring device and system for freight rate optimization
A computer-based system that manages the shipment of one or more freight units includes a measuring system for measuring dimensions and weight of a freight unit, wherein the freight unit includes products, a database for storing rules for shipping freight, and a host computer system. The host computer system is for receiving information about the freight unit to be shipped, determining whether the products of the freight unit should be classified as density-based for a shipping rate determination, determining a density-based class of the freight unit, determining whether the linear feet parameter for the freight unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, receiving a selection input for a selected carrier from the one or more carriers displayed on the web site, and upon receipt of the selection input for the selected carrier, creating a bill of lading. |
| US09747576B2 |
Postage-free mail delivery using a mobile device
Machines, systems and methods for delivering mail items are provided. The method comprises scanning route information, for delivery of a mail item, using a mobile communication device; generating a first unique identifier from data comprising the route information, wherein the first unique identifier identifies the mail item; recognizing a second unique identifier associated with the mobile communication device used for scanning the route information, wherein the second unique identifier identifies a user account to which delivery charges associated with delivering the mail item are applied; associating the first unique identifier and the second unique identifier so that having access to the first unique identifier as stored in a database provides access to the second unique identifier; and mailing the mail item without prepaid postage affixed to the mail item. |
| US09747575B2 |
Flow metering of vehicles using RTLS tracking
A system and method optimizes throughput of tracked assets as work-in-progress (WIP) within a monitored environment such as a manufacturing establishment with off-line processing areas. A plurality of assets such as vehicles have a tag transmitter associated therewith and operative for transmitting a wireless RF signal that includes data relating to the identification of the asset to which the tag transmitter is associated. A real-time location system (RTLS) infrastructure tracks the location of the plurality of assets to various containment, staging, and processing task areas within the monitored environment as WIP. A processor is operative with the RTLS infrastructure for determining an asset input rate into WIP at an origin to the WIP for optimizing asset flow rate as WIP through different containment, staging, and processing areas within the monitored environment. |
| US09747574B2 |
Project assessment tool
An assessment tool for projects can include a computer system having at least one computer device to gather information about projects, generate project assessments, and display information about project assessments. A client-questionnaire module through which questions may be populated pertaining to a project can be used to gather data. Data used to generate a project assessment may be a compilation of coalesced data acquisitioned from a library of historical projects stored in a database of the system. Questions can be assigned and/or grouped based on a relevance-indicator and answers to questions can be assigned an importance-indicator. The coalesced data can be formed by assigning weight-factors to project parameters and analyzing the data to generate statistical expectation values for project parameters of a client's project. |
| US09747569B2 |
Fluid container resource management
Fluid tanks in a hospital or similar environment include sensors to detect, e.g., state and location, which can be communicated to a central station where this data can be processed to permit predictions of resource usage and enable automated management of the fluid tanks. |
| US09747568B1 |
Methods and systems for determining when to decommission vehicles from a fleet of autonomous vehicles
Example methods and systems for determining when to decommission vehicles from a fleet of autonomous vehicles are described. One method includes receiving information indicating a sequence of coverage requirements for a region over a period of time, and the region is characterized by landmarks and the period of time is divided into time intervals. Landmarks may be defined as a decommissioning site representative of a location at which a given vehicle can be taken out of service, and the method includes determining estimated landmarks that can be reached by one or more vehicles starting from a respective landmark by an end of a respective time interval, and based on the sequence of coverage requirements, determining which vehicles from among the vehicles that can reach the one or more landmarks defined as the decommissioning site to take out of service. |
| US09747562B1 |
Linking structured database management systems with document creation and word processing tools
Linking structured database management systems with document creation tools. Allowing the user of a document creation application to access cloud-based or behind firewall contract creation and management utilities without ever leaving the document interface itself. Inserting object templates stored in a cloud-based contract creation and management application from a native document creation application and flagging the document itself to indicate the presence of intelligent fields of structured data. |
| US09747561B2 |
Computational systems and methods for linking users of devices
Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out accepting device-identifier data corresponding to at least one communication device; accepting network-participation identifier data associated with a verified real-world user associated with the at least one communication device; and assigning a unique identifier at least partly based on the device-identifier data and the network-participation identifier data. |
| US09747558B2 |
Method and system for using and inspecting e-tickets on a user terminal
A method for inspecting an e-ticket on a mobile communication device of a user, including rendering the e-ticket on a display of the mobile communication device, wherein the e-ticket includes a ticket information area for displaying user related information, and a ticket validation area for displaying inspection related information when at least one predefined condition is met, enabling a ticket inspector to execute a checking gesture in the ticket validation area when the ticket inspector ascertains one or more predefined identifiers in the ticket validation area, displaying a confirmation code in the ticket validation area, upon execution of the checking gesture, enabling the ticket inspector to execute a confirmation gesture in the ticket validation area when the displayed confirmation code matches a predefined confirmation code, and marking the e-ticket as used upon execution of the confirmation gesture. |
| US09747556B2 |
Automated customized web portal template generation systems and methods
An automated Web portal template generation method includes parsing, via a parser subsystem, a number of Webpages of a first Website from which a Web portal template to be customized is to be accessed. The method further includes producing an entity feature set for the first Website based on a result of the parsing and processing the entity feature set for the first Website via a classifier subsystem to produce a set of data that represents, for each of a plurality of entities, a respective probability of the entity belonging to a respective one of a plurality of classes. The method additionally includes performing, by a color matching subsystem, color matching on the set of data produced by the classifier subsystem to generate a number of proposed color combinations for a proposed customization of the Web portal template. |
| US09747555B2 |
Labeling of data for machine learning
A computer generates labels for machine learning algorithms by retrieving, from a data storage circuit, multiple label sets that contain labels that each classify data points in a corpus of data. A graph is generated that includes a plurality of edges, each edge between two respective labels from different label sets of the multiple label sets. Weights are determined for the plurality of edges based upon a consistency between data points classified by two labels connected by the edges. An algorithm is applied that groups labels from the multiple label sets based upon the weights for the plurality of edges. Data points are identified from the corpus of data that represent conflicts within the grouped labels. An electronic message is transmitted in order to present the identified data points to entities for further classification. A new label set is generated using the further classification received from the entities. |
| US09747550B2 |
Producing clustered top-k plans
A mechanism is provided for identifying a set of top-in clusters from a set of top-k plans. A planning problem and an integer value k indicating a number of top plans to be identified are received. A set of top-k plans are generated with at most size k, where the set of top-k plans is with respect to a given measure of plan quality. Each plan in the set of top-k plans is clustered based on a similarity between plans such that each cluster contains similar plans and each plan is grouped only into one cluster thereby forming the set of top-m clusters. A representative plan from each top-m cluster is presented to the user. |
| US09747548B2 |
Rotating data for neural network computations
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for computing a layer output for a convolutional neural network layer, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of activation inputs; forming a plurality of vector inputs from the plurality of activation inputs, each vector input comprising values from a distinct region within the multi-dimensional matrix; sending the plurality of vector inputs to one or more cells along a first dimension of the systolic array; generating a plurality of rotated kernel structures from each of the plurality of kernel; sending each kernel structure and each rotated kernel structure to one or more cells along a second dimension of the systolic array; causing the systolic array to generate an accumulated output based on the plurality of value inputs and the plurality of kernels; and generating the layer output from the accumulated output. |
| US09747546B2 |
Neural network processor
A circuit for performing neural network computations for a neural network comprising a plurality of neural network layers, the circuit comprising: a matrix computation unit configured to, for each of the plurality of neural network layers: receive a plurality of weight inputs and a plurality of activation inputs for the neural network layer, and generate a plurality of accumulated values based on the plurality of weight inputs and the plurality of activation inputs; and a vector computation unit communicatively coupled to the matrix computation unit and configured to, for each of the plurality of neural network layers: apply an activation function to each accumulated value generated by the matrix computation unit to generate a plurality of activated values for the neural network layer. |
| US09747536B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes multiple image processing units, a detector, and a distribution unit. The multiple image processing units perform image processing to convert image data distributed on a page-by-page basis into raster-format color print data. The detector detects a processing-load cycle of a case where image data is converted into print data on a page-by-page basis. The distribution unit distributes on a page-by-page basis to the multiple image processing units image data included in a received print command and, in a case where it is determined in accordance with the processing-load cycle and the number of the multiple image processing units that pages involving heavy processing loads may be distributed to a specific image processing unit in a non-uniform manner, changes, from a preset distribution order, a distribution order of the multiple image processing units. |
| US09747531B1 |
Envelope printer
The envelope printer is adapted for use with envelopes. The envelope printer is a printer that is customized for printing envelopes. The envelope printer comprises a feed tray, an output tray and a printer. The feed tray and the output tray are attached to the printer. The feed tray is a first bin that is designed specifically to hold envelopes. The printer will draw blank envelopes from the feed tray for printing. The output tray is a second bin that is designed specifically to receive envelopes from the printer. The printer is a specially designed printer that is optimized for processing and directly printing on envelopes. |
| US09747527B2 |
Performing object detection operations via random forest classifier
In one embodiment of the present invention, a graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to detect an object in an image using a random forest classifier that includes multiple, identically structured decision trees. Notably, the application of each of the decision trees is independent of the application of the other decision trees. In operation, the GPU partitions the image into subsets of pixels, and associates an execution thread with each of the pixels in the subset of pixels. The GPU then causes each of the execution threads to apply the random forest classifier to the associated pixel, thereby determining a likelihood that the pixel corresponds to the object. Advantageously, such a distributed approach to object detection more fully leverages the parallel architecture of the PPU than conventional approaches. In particular, the PPU performs object detection more efficiently using the random forest classifier than using a cascaded classifier. |
| US09747526B2 |
Using machine learning to define user controls for photo adjustments
In various example embodiments, a system and method for using machine learning to define user controls for image adjustment is provided. In example embodiments, a new image to be adjusted is received. A weight is applied to reference images of a reference dataset based on a comparison of content of the new image to the reference image of the reference dataset. A plurality of basis styles is generated by applying weighted averages of adjustment parameters corresponding to the weighted reference images to the new image. Each of the plurality of basis styles comprises a version of the new image with an adjustment of at least one image control based on the weighted averages of the adjustment parameters of the reference dataset. The plurality of basis styles is provided to a user interface of a display device. |
| US09747524B2 |
Disparity value deriving device, equipment control system, movable apparatus, and robot
A disparity value deriving device includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a degree of matching between a reference region in a reference image captured from a first imaging position and each of a plurality of region in a designated range including a corresponding region to the reference region in a comparison image captured from a second imaging position; a synthesizer configured to synthesize the degree of matching of a reference region in neighborhood of a predetermined reference region in the reference image and the degree of matching of the predetermined reference region in the reference image; and a deriving unit configured to derive a disparity value of an object whose image is being captured in the predetermined reference region and a corresponding region to the predetermined reference region, based on a synthesized degree of matching obtained by the synthesizer. |
| US09747523B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes a tracking unit configured to identify a tracking region including a tracking object in an image, an identification unit configured to identify a motion region inside the tracking region in the image, a derivation unit configured to derive a ratio of the motion region relative to the tracking region, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to continue tracking the tracking object based on the derived ratio. |
| US09747520B2 |
Systems and methods for enhancing inspection sensitivity of an inspection tool
Systems and methods for enhancing inspection sensitivity to detect defects in wafers using an inspection tool are disclosed. A plurality of light emitting diodes illuminate at least a portion of a wafer and capture a set of grayscale images. A residual signal is determined in each image of the grayscale image set and the residual signal is subtracted from each image of the grayscale image set. Defects are identified based on the subtracted grayscale image set. Models of the inspection tool and wafer may be built and refined in some embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods. |
| US09747518B2 |
Automatic calibration sample selection for die-to-database photomask inspection
A method for selecting samples of reticle design data patterns in order to calibrate the parameters based on which the reference image used in a die-to-database reticle inspection method is rendered, the method comprising the steps of applying local binary pattern (LBP) analysis to a plurality of samples to obtain a p-dimensional vector output for each of the plurality of samples, clustering the q-D data points to M groups, selecting one sample from each clustered group, calculating evaluation scores for the samples selected, and, selecting a portion of the M samples on the representativeness score and the diversity score. |
| US09747515B2 |
Efficient feature point selection
Systems and methods are provided for selecting feature points within an image. A plurality of candidate feature points are identified in the image. A plurality of feature points are selected for each of the plurality of candidate feature points, a plurality of sets of representative pixels. For each set of representative pixels, a representative value is determined as one of a maximum chromaticity value and a minimum chromaticity value from the set of representative pixels. A score is determined for each candidate feature point from the representative values for the plurality of sets of representative pixels associated with the candidate feature point. The feature points are selected according to the determined scores for the plurality of candidate feature points. |
| US09747514B2 |
Noise filtering and image sharpening utilizing common spatial support
An image processing pipeline may perform noise filtering and image sharpening utilizing common spatial support. A noise filter may perform a spatial noise filtering technique to determine a filtered value of a given pixel based on spatial support obtained from line buffers. Sharpening may also be performed to generate a sharpened value of the given pixel based on spatial support obtained from the same line buffers. A filtered and sharpened version of the pixel may be generated by combining the filtered value of the given pixel with the sharpened value of the given pixel. In at least some embodiments, the noise filter performs spatial noise filtering and image sharpening on a luminance value of the given pixel, when the given pixel is received in a luminance-chrominance encoding. |
| US09747512B2 |
Article recognition apparatus and image processing method for article recognition apparatus
According to one embodiment, an article recognition apparatus includes an image acquisition unit, a recognition unit, a region detection unit, a storage unit, and a determination unit. The recognition unit recognizes each of the articles. The region detection unit determines article region information. The storage unit stores article information including a reference value for the article region information. The determination unit determines that an unrecognized article exists, if the reference value for the article region information of each article which the recognition unit recognized does not match with the article region information. |
| US09747511B2 |
Image recognition device, image recognition method, program, and recording medium
An image recognition device includes an edge direction evaluation unit configured to evaluate a direction of an edge at each coordinate by assigning points to the coordinate when a deviation amount between a direction of an outline of an abundance ratio higher than a predetermined abundance ratio threshold value among directions of an outline of a character available for the vehicle number plate and the direction of the edge at each coordinate of the image is less than a predetermined deviation amount threshold value and a vehicle number plate region extraction unit configured to extract a region of the vehicle number plate from the image based on a distribution of the points assigned by the edge direction evaluation unit. |
| US09747510B2 |
Techniques for rotating language preferred orientation on a mobile device
Techniques presented herein describe rotating text content rendered on a mobile device to a preferred orientation based on the mobile device orientation and language of the text content. A display tool executing on the mobile device detects an orientation of the mobile device changing from a first orientation to a second orientation. The mobile device currently displays the characters in the text content according to the first orientation. The display tool determines that the text content is written in a specified language. The display tool re-renders the display of the characters in the text content and any accompanying images according to the second orientation. |
| US09747509B2 |
Automatically capturing and cropping image of check from video sequence for banking or other computing application
A mobile device with camera automatically captures an image of a check from a video sequence. A computing application assesses quality metrics of a frame of the video and, if acceptable, initiates capture of the check in that frame without user selection. Metrics include an aspect ratio of the check, image quality of the routing transit symbols that delineate a routing transit number on a MICR line of the check, distances between the routing transit symbols and to an edge of the check, recognition of digits of the routing transit number, checksum of the routing transit numbers, and image sharpness. Other embodiments note cropping of the check from the background of the image, properly orienting the check for viewing, and providing color coded visual feedback to users about the quality of the image frame about the check, to name a few. |
| US09747506B2 |
Perception-based speed limit estimation and learning
Systems, methods, and devices for estimating a speed limit are disclosed herein. A system for estimating a speed limit includes one or more perception sensors, an attribute component, an estimator component, and a notification component. The one or more perception sensors are configured to generate perception data about a region near a vehicle. The attribute component is configured to detect one or more environmental attributes based on the perception data. The estimator component is configured to determine an estimated speed limit based on the environmental attributes. The notification component is configured to provide the estimated speed limit to an automated driving system or driver assistance system of the vehicle. |
| US09747504B2 |
Systems and methods for generating composite images of long documents using mobile video data
Techniques for capturing long document images and generating composite images therefrom include: detecting a document depicted in image data; tracking a position of the detected document within the image data; selecting a plurality of images, wherein the selection is based at least in part on the tracked position of the detected document; and generating a composite image based on at least one of the selected plurality of images. The tracking and selection are optionally but preferably based in whole or in part on motion vectors estimated at least partially based on analyzing image data such as test and reference frames within the captured video data/images. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US09747502B2 |
Systems and methods for automated cloud-based analytics for surveillance systems with unmanned aerial devices
Systems and methods for cloud-based surveillance for a target surveillance area are disclosed. At least two mobile input capture devices (ICDs) are communicatively connected to a cloud-based analytics platform via a data communication device. At least one user device can access to the cloud-based analytics platform. The cloud-based analytics platform automatically analyzes received 2-Dimensional (2D) video and/or image inputs for generating 3-Dimensional (3D) surveillance data and providing 3D display for a target surveillance area. In one embodiment, the at least two mobile ICDs are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). |
| US09747498B2 |
Biometric recognition
A fused image of the person's hand is accessed, the fused image having been generated using a segmented graylevel image and a segmented color image. The hand in the fused image is identified. One or more finger tips and one or more finger valleys in the fused image are identified. One or more fingers of the hand are segmented, based on the identified finger tips and finger valleys. The one or more fingers of the hand are labeled. One or more features for each finger of the hand are determined. |
| US09747497B1 |
Method and system for rating in-store media elements
The present invention is a method and system for rating in-store media elements based on the measurement for behavior patterns and demographics of the audience in the vicinity of the media element, where a plurality of input images of the audience are captured by at least a means for capturing images in the vicinity of the media element. The input images are processed by automated video analytic algorithms in order to measure the behavior patterns and demographics of each person in the audience tied to the media element. The measurements for the behavior patterns and demographics of the audience from the target media elements are aggregated. A set of ratings for the media element is calculated based on the measurements. The measured media elements are sampled, and the audience measurement for the sample is extrapolated to other media elements for in-store locations or for a group of stores. The ratings are converted into a standardized output. The standardized output facilitates comparisons among a plurality of media elements. The rating can be used to plan media types in the media element for reaching targeted demographics. |
| US09747495B2 |
Systems and methods for creating and distributing modifiable animated video messages
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention enable collaborative creation, transmission, sharing, non-linear exploration, and modification of animated video messages. One embodiment includes a video camera, a processor, a network interface, and storage containing an animated message application, and a 3D character model. In addition, the animated message application configures the processor to: capture a video sequence using the video camera; detect a human face within a sequence of video frames; track changes in human facial expression of a human face detected within a sequence of video frames; map tracked changes in human facial expression to motion data, where the motion data is generated to animate the 3D character model; apply motion data to animate the 3D character model; render an animation of the 3D character model into a file as encoded video; and transmit the encoded video to a remote device via the network interface. |
| US09747494B2 |
Facial matching system
In some implementations, a computer-implemented method for recognizing facial images may include a multi-stage facial verification process to improve the speed and accuracy of a facial recognition operation. For example, a facial recognition module may include multiple stages where a subset of data is analyzed recursively to improve the speed of the facial recognition processes. The multiple stages may be arranged in a fast-to-slow and coarse-to-fine arrangements such that a match decision may be made at each successive stage. |
| US09747493B2 |
Face pose rectification method and apparatus
A pose rectification method for rectifying a pose in data representing face images, comprising the steps of: A—acquiring a least one test frame including 2D near infrared image data, 2D visible light image data, and a depth map; C—estimating the pose of a face in said test frame by aligning said depth map with a 3D model of a head of known orientation; D—mapping at least one of said 2D image on the depth map, so as to generate textured image data; E—projecting the textured image data in 2D so as to generate data representing a pose-rectified 2D projected image. |
| US09747492B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method of processing image, and computer-readable storage medium
A method of processing an image involves detecting a face from a first image; determining a composition of the first image; selecting a composition of a second image according to the composition of the first image; and generating the second image including the face by trimming the first image, according to the composition of the second image. |
| US09747488B2 |
Active sensing element for acoustic imaging systems
An acoustic fingerprint imaging system having a plurality of acoustic elements, each acoustic element including a transducer, and independent drive and sense circuitry is disclosed. Drive circuitry may require higher voltage than low voltage sense circuitry. Many embodiments described herein include a ground shifting controller to apply a voltage bias to the low voltage sense circuitry during a drive operation, in order to prevent electrical damage to the sense circuitry. |
| US09747485B2 |
Arrangement for and method of cleaning a platter of a product checkout workstation
A checkout workstation includes a generally planar platter having a contact region, a generally horizontal window integrated with the platter, a data capture arrangement for capturing through the horizontal window a target associated with a product to identify the product being checked out at the workstation, and a support structure for supporting the platter in a generally horizontal plane on a plurality of bottom supports during product checkout. The bottom supports are asymmetrically mutually arranged about a periphery of the platter to enable the platter to tilt to a tilted plane that is inclined relative to the horizontal plane when a downward force is exerted on the contact region of the platter for cleaning the horizontal window. |
| US09747483B2 |
Methods for securing invisible 2D barcodes and printed images
A secure document includes a fluorescent barcode and a fluorescent filler printed onto a substrate. The fluorescent barcode is printed using a first fluorescent ink of a first color and the fluorescent filler is printed using a second fluorescent ink of a second color that is different than the first color. In order to read the fluorescent barcode, the secure document must be illuminated with ultraviolet and/or infrared light. Then, a color filter must be used to filter the fluorescent filler out, leaving the fluorescent barcode visible. |
| US09747482B2 |
Aimer accessory for capturing a coded image
An aimer accessory for a mobile device and method of use is provided. The accessory includes a body configured for being affixed to the mobile device. The body includes a collimator terminating with a grating disposed in a distal portion thereof. The grating is configured to receive light from a lamp of the mobile device and to generate a light pattern on the surface containing a barcode. Registration of the light pattern and the barcode in a scan area enhances the ability of the mobile device to capture a barcode image. Registration may be configured for blind or target mode scanning. In blind mode, the registration occurs on detection of the light pattern and barcode in a viewing angle of a camera of the mobile device. In target mode, the registration occurs on a detection of the light pattern hovering over the barcode in a viewing angle of the camera. |
| US09747481B1 |
System controlled by data bearing records
A system controlled responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records is operative to cause vehicle repair parts to be determined and furnished. Data read by a reader from a tag associated with a damaged vehicle is used to determine vehicle identifying data. A repair estimate calculation circuit (RECC) operates responsive to the read data to produce a needed parts record (NPR). The records produced by the RECC are operative to cause a vehicle repair entity (VRE) to be furnished the vehicle repair parts. |
| US09747478B2 |
Low cost, wide area RFID system
Techniques for radio-frequency identification systems include sensor systems having a sensor unit and one or more sensors and a server. The sensor system includes one or more antennas at a location configured to receive signals from a tag proximate to an antenna and a processor configured to process tag detection signals based on the received signals. The processing may include selectively storing tag detection signals received from one or more antennas and identify an event related to the presence of a tag proximate to an antenna at the location. Sensor system may include a transmitter configured to transmit a message indicating the event over a network to a server. The server may be configured to process the message by analyzing a feature of the signals related to the event. The analysis may evaluate an adjustment of a configuration parameter used to operate an antenna. The configuration parameter may be updated by the server, and the server may transmit a message indicating the configuration parameter to the sensor system. |
| US09747477B2 |
Ultra-high-frequency, UHF, radio frequency identification, RFID, reader
In one embodiment a UHF RFID reader is adapted to operate in either a reader mode or in a tag emulation mode, wherein in the reader mode the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one RFID tag to access the at least one tag's memory contents and in the tag emulation mode the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one other UHF RFID reader to share memory content with the at least one other UHF RFID reader. Furthermore, an RFID network and a method for communication in an RFID network are described. |
| US09747476B2 |
Information processing apparatus, power source control method of information processing apparatus and program
Provided is an information processing apparatus including an IC module that performs communication with an external apparatus, a detection unit that detects an electric wave, a timer that measures a time course after being started, a power supply unit that supplies a power source to the IC module, and a control unit that controls a supply amount of the power source based on a detection result of the electric wave and a determination result of a value of the timer. The control unit starts the timer after terminating communication with the external apparatus, restarts the timer every time a transmission start of an electric wave is detected, in response to detection of an electric wave received from an outside at a predetermined interval in the detection unit. |
| US09747472B2 |
Mesh grid protection
A mesh grid protection system is provided. The protection system includes a plurality of grid lines forming a mesh grid proximate to operational logic. The protection system also includes tamper-detection logic coupled to the plurality of grid lines and configured to toggle a polarity of a signal on at least one grid line at each clock cycle and to detect attempts to access the operational logic by comparing a reference signal driving a first end of a grid line to a signal at the opposite end of the grid line. |
| US09747467B2 |
Anonymized data generation method and apparatus
A method for generating anonymized data includes: (A) extracting, from plural data blocks, each of which includes a secret attribute value and a numeric attribute value, plural groups of data blocks, wherein each of the plural groups includes data blocks that include a first data block, which has not been grouped, whose frequency distribution of the secret attribute value satisfies a predetermined condition and whose numeric attribute values are within a certain area that has a predetermined size; and (B) replacing the numeric attribute values of the data blocks that belong to each group of the plural groups with a numeric attribute value calculated for the group. And, the certain area is determined without any relation with other certain areas for other groups. |
| US09747466B2 |
Hosted application gateway architecture with multi-level security policy and rule promulgations
A hosted application gateway server node may be communicatively coupled to backend systems, client devices, and database shards associated with database servers. Through the gateway server node, various services may be provided to managed containers running on client devices such that enterprise applications can be centrally managed. A sharding manager may manage relationships of database items across database shards. Each shard stores a copy of a table representing a split of a relationship. A shard ID mask is included in each item's ID. At query time, the shard ID can be extracted and used to query the correct database. This query routing mechanism allows navigation from one shard to another when multiple items are in a relationship (e.g., share the same resource such as a document). As such, embodiments can eliminate the need for APIs to join in data that span multiple shards. |
| US09747464B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
An image processing apparatus includes: a central processing unit (CPU) configured to process data; a random access memory (RAM) which includes a first storage area which stores the data processed by the CPU and a second storage area different from the first storage area; and a RAM controller configured to authorize the CPU to access the first storage area and block the CPU from accessing the second storage area so that the data loaded to the second storage area can be prevented from being copied by the CPU. |
| US09747462B2 |
Steganography detection
Systems and methods for detecting potential steganography use to hide content in computer files transmitted via electronic communications are provided. An electronic communication associated with a computer file may be identified. The communication and the computer file may be analyzed to determine whether the computer file potentially includes hidden content. To determine whether the computer file potentially includes hidden content, a set of steganographic criteria may be analyzed. If at least a portion of the steganographic criteria are satisfied, then it may be determined that the computer file potentially includes hidden content. If at least a portion of the steganographic criteria are not satisfied, then it may be determined that the computer file does not potentially include hidden content. If the computer file is determined to potentially include hidden content, an individual may be notified of the communication associated with the computer file. |
| US09747446B1 |
System and method for run-time object classification
One embodiment of an electronic device comprises a processor and a memory accessible by the processor. The memory comprises virtual execution logic and run-time classifier logic. The virtual execution logic includes at least one virtual machine that is configured to virtually process content within an object under analysis and monitor for anomalous behaviors during the virtual processing that are indicative of malware. The run-time classifier logic performs, during run-time, a first analysis on the monitored anomalous behaviors and a pre-stored identifier to determine if the monitored anomalous behaviors indicate that the object is malware belonging to a classified malware family. The pre-stored identifier is a collection of data associated with anomalous behaviors that uniquely identify the malware family. |
| US09747444B1 |
System and method for providing network security to mobile devices
A small piece of hardware connects to a mobile device and filters out attacks and malicious code. Using the piece of hardware, a mobile device can be protected by greater security and possibly by the same level of security offered by its associated corporation/enterprise. In one embodiment, a mobile security system includes a connection mechanism for connecting to a data port of a mobile device and for communicating with the mobile device; a network connection module for acting as a gateway to a network; a security policy for determining whether to forward content intended for the mobile device to the mobile device; and a security engine for executing the security policy. |
| US09747443B2 |
System and method for firmware based anti-malware security
A system for securing an electronic device includes a non-volatile memory, a processor coupled to the non-volatile memory, a resource of the electronic device, firmware residing in the non-volatile memory and executed by the processor, and a firmware security agent residing in the firmware. The firmware is communicatively coupled to the resource of an electronic device. The firmware security agent is configured to, at a level below all of the operating systems of the electronic device accessing the resource, intercept a request for the resource and determine whether the request is indicative of malware. |
| US09747440B2 |
On-line behavioral analysis engine in mobile device with multiple analyzer model providers
Methods, systems and devices for generating data models in a client-cloud communication system may include applying machine learning techniques to generate a first family of classifier models that describe a cloud corpus of behavior vectors. Such vectors may be analyzed to identify factors in the first family of classifier models that have the highest probability of enabling a mobile device to better determine whether a mobile device behavior is malicious or benign. Based on this analysis, a second family of classifier models may be generated that identify significantly fewer factors and data points as being relevant for enabling the mobile device to better determine whether the mobile device behavior is malicious or benign based on the determined factors. A mobile device classifier module based on the second family of classifier models may be generated and made available for download by mobile devices, including devices contributing behavior vectors. |
| US09747438B2 |
Enabling resource access for secure application containers
Embodiments of the disclosure enable resource access for secure application containers. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises identifying a tracing wrapper for an application to be executed by a process. The tracing wrapper to track an event associated with an interaction of the application with one or more system resources. An instance of the application is executed by the process using an application account having access to the system resources. A first system resource of the system resources is determined to be used by the application in view of the tracing wrapper. The application is then copied to a secure container to be executed by the process using a container account of the secure container. The secure container is isolated from access to the one or more system resources. Thereupon, the container account is provided access to the first system resource. |
| US09747437B2 |
Output control apparatus, computer-readable medium for storing program for output control apparatus, output control method, and output control system
Provided is an output section that outputs data to outside; a condition storage section that stores an abnormal condition showing at least one of a characteristic of data to be outputted from the output section by means of malicious software and a characteristic of an operational pattern of the output section that results when the malicious software outputs data; and an output control section that prohibits output of data when at least one of a characteristic of data to be outputted from the output section and a characteristic of an operational pattern of the output section satisfies the abnormal condition. |
| US09747431B2 |
Multiple user accounts for managing stored information in an implantable medical device system
Techniques for managing stored information in an implantable medical device system using multiple user accounts are described. An implantable medical device system may provide a general user account and a set of authenticable user accounts. In some examples, the general user account does not require a user of a programmer in an implantable medical device system to enter user identity information to manage information stored in the implantable medical device system. The general user account may be permitted to perform a subset of actions available to an authenticable user account. In some examples, an authenticable user account may rollback changes made to the stored information by the general user account. An authenticable user account may also be able to synchronize changes made to the stored information across all or some of the user accounts. |
| US09747430B2 |
Controlling privacy in a face recognition application
Embodiments of the present invention may involve a method, system, and computer program product for controlling privacy in a face recognition application. A computer may receive an input including a face recognition query and a digital image of a face. The computer may identify a target user associated with a facial signature in a first database based at least in part on a statistical correlation between a detected facial signature and one or more facial signatures in the first database. The computer may extract a profile of the target user from a second database. The profile of the target user may include one or more privacy preferences. The computer may generate a customized profile of the target user. The customized profile may omit one or more elements of the profile of the target user based on the one or more privacy preferences and/or a current context. |
| US09747420B2 |
System and method for diagnosing a patient based on an analysis of multimedia content
A method for diagnosing a patient based on analysis of multimedia content is provided. The method includes receiving at least one multimedia content element respective of the patient from a user device; generating at least one signature for the at least one multimedia content element; generating at least one identifier respective of the at least one multimedia content element using the at least one generated signature; searching a plurality of data sources for possible diagnoses respective of the one or more identifiers; and providing at least one possible diagnoses respective of the at least one multimedia content element to the user device. |
| US09747419B2 |
Privacy-compliant analysis of health by transaction data
Health-related data is accessed; as is a database of payment card transaction data. At least a portion of the health-related data is linked to at least a portion of the payment card transaction data to obtain linked data. Statistical analysis is carried out on the linked data, and the results of the statistical analysis are made available to at least one appropriate party. Privacy is protected, for example, via an opt-in approach or through data aggregation. |
| US09747415B2 |
Single schema-based RIS/PACS integration
An example integrated clinical information system includes a single schema, a database, and a user interface. The example single schema is to be used to represent clinical data related to a patient. The single schema is to provide a definition of an object in the system. The single schema is to define both objects of domain and objects of design, the definition to include attribute and relationship information. The single schema is to allow multiple applications forming the integrated clinical information system to process the object according to their respective data sets using a common interpretation according to the single schema. The single schema is configured to represent both patient image and order information and to provide a database agnostic data model for application development. The example user interface is to unify multiple applications according to the single schema and database. |
| US09747410B2 |
Development tool
A neutral file generally includes information related to a object of development. The neutral file may be based on a reusable module. The neutral file may pass information between reusable modules. A computer may conduct an analysis using the reusable module and information in the neutral file. The computer may display the result of the analysis on an external device. |
| US09747408B2 |
Generating final mask pattern by performing inverse beam technology process
The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC) method in accordance with some embodiments. The method includes receiving an IC design layout; and performing an inverse beam technology (IBT) process to the IC design layout, thereby generating a final mask pattern, wherein the IBT process uses a single IBT model to simulate both a mask making process and a wafer making process. |
| US09747407B2 |
Categorized stitching guidance for triple-patterning technology
A computer-implemented method for validating a design is disclosed. The method includes receiving, with the computer, the design, where the design is printable using a multiple-patterning process when the computer is invoked, and where the design includes a plurality of shapes and at least one conflict preventing decomposition of the design into a plurality of multiple-patterning masks. The method also includes forming a subset of the shapes, the subset including the shapes associated with the at least one conflict, categorizing each of the shapes of the subset into one of a plurality of topology types generating one or more stitch candidate solutions for each of the plurality of topology types, and decomposing the design into a plurality of masks. |
| US09747406B2 |
Spine routing with multiple main spines
A computer implemented method of routing a net of an electronic circuit is disclosed. The net connects a plurality of pins of the electronic circuit. The method includes selecting, using one or more computer systems, first and second main spine routing tracks for respective first and second groups of pins of the net. The method also includes generating, using one or more computer systems, a first main spine wire on the selected first main spine routing track and a second main spine wire on the selected second main spine routing track. A router configured to perform the method is also disclosed. |
| US09747401B2 |
Methods for modifying an integrated circuit layout design
A method for modifying an integrated circuit layout design includes providing an initial multiple-patterned circuit layout design comprising a first pattern exposure and a second pattern exposure; modifying the initial multiple-patterned circuit layout design by providing a subresolution assist feature to the first pattern exposure; determining whether the presence of any overlapping areas between the subresolution assist feature of the first pattern exposure and the second pattern exposure; and further modifying the initial multiple-patterned circuit layout design by: maintaining the size of any portion of the subresolution assist feature in the overlapping areas; and shrinking the size of any portion of the subresolution assist feature that is not in the overlapping areas. |
| US09747392B2 |
System and method for generation of a room model
A method for generating a floor plan of a room uses a mobile electronic device and a range finder to produce approximate and modified floor plans. The method includes receiving a plurality of strokes corresponding to walls in a room with a gesture input device, generating an approximate floor plan of the room based on the strokes, generating an approximate floor plan of the room with reference to the plurality of strokes, receiving an input gesture corresponding to one wall in the approximate floor plan of the room for measurement, receiving measurement data from a range finder corresponding to a dimension of the selected one wall, modifying the approximate floor plan with reference to the measurement data from the range finder, and generating with a display of the modified floor plan of the room. |
| US09747390B2 |
Ontology for use with a system, method, and computer readable medium for retrieving information and response to a query
A system, method, and computer readable medium for applying one or more information retrieval technologies is disclosed for resolving a query. In one embodiment, an exemplary system generates a response using a language analysis module configured to parse a query into elements. This system can also include a rules engine configured to compare a condition of a rule against the elements, where the rule is configured to perform an action to retrieve information. Further, a response generator coupled to said rules engine receives the rule and retrieves the information for presentation to a querier in a portion of a display that adjusts proportionately to the degree of importance of said information. |
| US09747388B2 |
Systems and methods for providing access to external content objects
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for providing access in an on-demand database service to a content object stored in an external content management data source. Information data identifying a content object stored in an external content management data source can be received and communicated through one or more middleware components. The one or more middleware components can serve as a content hub to establish access with the content object and retrieve data regarding the content object. The data regarding the content object can be stored in a persistent object, which can represent the content object in a social layer of the on-demand database service. |
| US09747387B2 |
Methods and systems for content enhancement
A method, system and computer program product for progressive enhancement of content in a browser. The method includes receiving a document with content containing a plurality of elements and parsing the received content with at least one processor. The method also includes identifying a subset of the plurality of elements that are marked for enhancement and replacing each of the element in the identified subset with their respective enhancement to obtain the document with the enhanced elements. |
| US09747386B1 |
User-perceived performance through browser hints
Features are disclosed for enabling servers to initiate the opening of connections with clients, initiate transfers of data to clients, and provide clients with hints regarding which content retrieval, connection establishment, and other network operations will likely improve user-perceived performance on the client. A token may be transmitted from a client to a server, and the server may utilize the token to initiate a network connection with the client and send data to the client. The token may also be passed to a third party for similar use. Hints may be provided to the client, indicating actions that the client may perform in order to improve content processing efficiency and enhance a user experience with the content. The disclosed features may, for example, be incorporated into web browser and server software. |
| US09747381B1 |
Querying and configuring an identity management framework
A processor-executed access manager with an identity management framework receives a first query from a user of a client device connected to a network for a system. The query seeks information as to identity types supported by the system. The access manager responds to the first query with a list of supported identity types. The supported identity types include at least a hardware device, a role, and a user. The list is retrieved from a global configuration data structure in a global data store. The access manager receives a second query from the user for identities of the hardware devices associated with one of the supported identity types. And the access manager responds to the second query with the identity of a specific hardware device, if the user is permitted to access the specific hardware device according to permissions obtained through the global configuration data structure. |
| US09747378B1 |
Linked web presence pages associated with a top level domain
A system for providing a directory service for generating web presence pages made available on a network may include a computer processor and memory having instructions stored thereon. The instructions may instruct the computer processor to parse registration information of a registrant domain name to obtain keywords and to search the network using the keywords for information about the registrant. Registrant information may be created based on information obtained, and a trusted web presence page may be generated. The trusted web presence page may include at least a first portion of the registrant information as read only content. A link may be created between a profile page and the trusted web presence page. The profile page may include at least a customizable second portion of the registrant information. The trusted web presence page may be published on the network. |
| US09747376B2 |
Identifying an item based on data associated with the item
There are provided methods and systems to identify an item based on data associated with the item. Information is received that is descriptive of an item to be listed on an information storage and retrieval platform. The information is associated with an aspect-value pair, which is an aspect of the item and a value of the aspect. An expression of an interest of a user in the item is received. The expression is associated with the aspect-value pair. In response to the associating of the expression with the aspect-value pair, the item is identified. |
| US09747375B2 |
Influence personal benefit from dynamic user modeling matching with natural language statements in reviews
An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager receives a review request from a user to review an item. The knowledge manager identifies importance factors corresponding to the user and locates reviews of the item that include opinion phrases corresponding to the user's importance factors. In turn, the knowledge manager displays the set of located reviews on a display. |
| US09747370B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for searching within movies (SWiM)
Systems, methods and computer-readable media process a series of media files into a searchable format. The method includes generating a media database by processing each of a plurality of programs. The steps of the method include extracting a subtitle track from each of the programs, retrieving at least one frame associated with the subtitle track, adding metadata to the extracted subtitle track and at least one frame, processing the subtitle track, program statistics and at least one frame in a media database. Another aspect includes receiving a user query associated with dialog in a program, searching the media database and presenting a listing of results, receiving a user selection or program from their listing and transmitting at least one frame, a portion of associated subtitle track and prompts for ordering the program. |
| US09747362B2 |
Data center capability summarization
A method for summarizing capabilities in a hierarchically arranged data center includes receiving capabilities information, wherein the capabilities information is representative of capabilities of respective nodes at a first hierarchical level in the hierarchically arranged data center, clustering nodes based on groups of capabilities information, generating a histogram that represents individual node clusters, and sending the histogram to a next higher level in the hierarchically arranged data center. Relative rankings of capabilities may be used to order a sequence of clustering operations. |
| US09747361B2 |
System and method for grouping an unbounded dataset into groups that can be subsequently binned
A computer system to group a data set is provided, in which the computer system includes a memory configured to store instructions and a processor disposed in communication with the memory. The processor upon execution of the instructions is configured to access a data set including a plurality of data elements and associate the plurality of data elements with a plurality of data groups. The data set is assignable to a plurality of bins that are grouped differently than the plurality of data groups, wherein assignment of the data set to the plurality of bins is performed by accessing the plurality of data groups without accessing the data set or the plurality of data elements. |
| US09747358B2 |
Pattern analysis for a multi-dimensional analytical system
A pattern analysis system enables a user to obtain specific analysis from multi-dimensional storage structures. The patterns analysis system guides the user interaction through the selection of specific available patterns. This enables the user to gain access to analytics data available in the multi-dimensional storage structure without specific knowledge of a command system syntax or semantics. Also, the user does not need knowledge of the contents or organization of the multi-dimensional storage structure. |
| US09747354B2 |
Systems and methods for publishing data through social media websites
Systems and methods and for publishing data on social media website(s) are disclosed. A system may include an identifier processing device for determining a device identifier (ID) of a computing device publishing a social media website. The device ID uniquely identifies the computing device in a network. The identifier processing device may be configured to extract data from the determined device identifier. The system may also include a tagging device for determining a unique identifier based on the extracted data. An identifier processing device of the system is configured to present a menu including options for customizing the unique identifier, customize the unique identifier based on a selection of option received from the user, and associate the customized unique identifier with user-generated data. A data publishing device of the system may publish the customized unique identifier along with the user-generated data through the social media website on the computing device. |
| US09747345B2 |
System and method for identifying relationships in a data graph
A graph database system is used to determine relationships between persons. The graph database system manages relationship data records having a compact data structure stored at a relationship database and accessed to find links or common relationships. For determining relationships between two people, the relationship records in the relationship paths for those two people are alternatively accessed and compared it to each other. Relationship records may include an identifier for a person having a relationship to a given individual, a relationship type, and a weight reflecting the confidence level or quality of the relationship. |
| US09747339B2 |
Server-based management for querying eventually-consistent database
A technique for managing access to a distributed database includes providing a server configured to receive database requests from client machines over a network. The server intelligently responds to a database request by (i) sending a first query to the distributed database at a lower consistency level to obtain a first response and (ii) conditionally sending a second query to the distributed database at a higher consistency level to obtain a second response. The server sends the second query conditionally based on whether the first response meets a plausibility condition specified in the database request. If the first response meets the plausibility condition, the server returns the first response to the client to satisfy the database request and no second query is sent. Otherwise, the server sends the second query to the distributed database and returns the second response to the client. |
| US09747337B2 |
Group-by size result estimation
A method and system for accurately estimating a result size of a Group-By operation in a relational database. The estimate utilizes the probability of union of the columns involved in the operation, as well as the relative cardinality of each column with respect to the other columns in the operation. In addition, the estimate incorporates the use of table filters when indicated such that table filters are applied prior to determining the size of the tables in the operation, as well as including equivalent columns into the list of columns that are a part of the Group-By operation. Accordingly, the estimate of the result size of the operation includes influencing factors that provide an accurate estimation of system memory requirements. |
| US09747335B2 |
Generic operator framework
In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for query optimization including generating a knowledge based container for one or more new operators, building a generic operator structure for the knowledge based container generated for each new operator, and applying optimization rules to each new operator based on the generic operator structure built for each new operator to thereby increase extensibility of the query optimizer using a structured query language (SQL). |
| US09747330B2 |
Demographic determination for media consumption analytics
A system, method and apparatus are disclosed which may be used to provide demographic and behavior data of a user of a video service provider. The user demographic information may be obtained by obtaining an image of the user, analyzing the image data, and providing the information about the determined demographic data. Behavior data may be obtained from at least one sensor monitoring user actions and correlating the user actions with video content being provided to the user. |
| US09747323B1 |
Method for reconstruction of a distributed lock state after a node addition or removal using a consistent hash
Implementations are provided herein for an efficient reconstruction of distributed lock states during a group change within a distributed file system. When a node leaves or joins the cluster, a consistent hash can be used in reassigning the coordinator node to all the distributed locks throughout the file system. Through the use of the consistent hash, wherever possible, nodes that exist both prior to and after the group change can maintain their coordinator status for the locks they manage. If the node is aware they are maintaining coordinator status for the locks it manages, it can retain the locking status previously associated with the locks it was coordinating prior to the group change, thus reducing necessary backplane communication from a coordinator change, and increasing the efficiency for the group change process. |
| US09747318B2 |
Retrieving data in a storage system using thin provisioning
The invention relates to retrieving data from a storage system. One embodiment of the invention comprises receiving a write operation, establishing a correspondence relationship between a logic block address and a physical block address of the write operation, and determining whether a valid data percentage in a mapping table is greater than a predetermined threshold after the correspondence relationship is added in stored metadata of stored metadata. |
| US09747310B2 |
Systems and methods of increasing database access concurrency using granular timestamps
A method reads and writes data from a database table. Each row in the table has a primary key and multiple non-key columns. Each non-key column has one or more column values, and each column value has an associated timestamp that identifies when the column value was stored. The timestamps associated with the column values in each non-key column provide a unique order for the column values. A read transaction is initiated to read from a first non-key column of a first row. A write transaction is in progress that is updating a second non-key column of the first row, where the second non-key column is distinct from the first non-key column. The write transaction holds a lock on the second non-key column of the first row. The method concurrently reads the data from the first non-key column and writes a new column value to the second non-key column. |
| US09747309B1 |
Auto-determining backup level
A system for auto-determining a backup level comprises an input interface and a processor. The input interface is configured to receive backup information. The processor is configured to determine whether a backup criterion is satisfied, based at least in part on the backup information, and in the event the backup criterion is satisfied, change the backup level. |
| US09747308B2 |
Method and apparatus for searching an image, and computer-readable recording medium for executing the method
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for searching an image, and to a computer-readable recording medium for executing the method. The apparatus for searching an image of the present disclosure obtains features of an input image; and obtains words that correspond to the features respectively and an adjacent word that is adjacent to the words corresponding to the features. When a word is assigned to a first word cell of a plurality of word cells that are included in a visual feature space, an adjacent word is assigned to at least one second word cell that is adjacent to the first word cell, where the plurality of word cells is assigned to different words, and at least one word being within a predetermined distance from a word is designated as the adjacent word. The apparatus is further configured to search for an image that is identical or similar to the input image based on information associated with a first group of images corresponding to the word and information associated with a second group of images corresponding to the adjacent word, the information on the first and second groups of images being stored in a database. |
| US09747305B2 |
Image search device, image search method, program, and computer-readable storage medium
An image search device is configured to: obtain a plurality of query feature amounts each indicating a local feature of an image serving as a query; select image feature amounts respectively corresponding to the respective query feature amounts so that one image feature amount is selected relative to one of the plurality of query feature amounts for each of a plurality of images to be searched from image feature amounts respectively indicating local features of each of the images to be searched; generate a score indicating a degree of similarity between each of the plurality of images to be searched and the image serving as the query based on the image feature amounts selected relative to the plurality of query feature amounts; and select at least one image from the plurality of images to be searched based on the score generated for the image. |
| US09747304B2 |
Approximating a user location
Systems and methods for approximating a user location are provided. For instance, historical location data and internet protocol address data can be analyzed to identify a plurality of locations. A confidence score for each of the plurality of locations can be determined. Two or more locations of the plurality of locations that form a cluster can be identified and the confidence scores for each of the two or more locations that form a cluster can be modified by adjusting each confidence score by a weight associated with the cluster. |
| US09747301B2 |
Distributed file system using consensus nodes
A cluster of nodes in a distributed file system may include; at least two namenodes, each coupled to a plurality of data nodes and each configured to store a state of a namespace of the cluster and each being configured to respond to a request from a client while other(s) of the namenodes are responding to other requests from other clients; and a coordination engine coupled to each of the namenodes. The coordination engine may be configured to receive proposals from the namenodes to change the state of the namespace by replicating, deleting and/or adding data blocks stored in the data nodes and to generate, in response, an ordered set of agreements that specifies an order in which the namenodes are to change the state of the namespace. The namenodes are configured to delay making changes thereto until after the ordered set of agreements is received from the coordination engine. |
| US09747299B2 |
Heterogeneous storing server and file storing method thereof
A heterogeneous storing server and a file storing method thereof are provided. The heterogeneous storing server has a file storing priority table which records different device type groups. The heterogeneous storing server determines the device type group to which a file belongs according to attributes of the file. The heterogeneous storing server stores the file into appropriate storing devices dynamically and adjusts the number of backups of the file in the storing devices dynamically according to a definition of the device type group. |
| US09747297B2 |
Synchronization of shared folders and files
A method of synchronizing shared folders and files within a remote and local file system includes determining a remote and local file system state. The remote file system state includes remote hash values for remote instances of shared folders, shared sub-folders, shared files, shared sub-level files, and shared shortcuts. The local file system state includes a local hash values for local instances of shared folders, shared sub-folders, shared files, shared sub-level files, and shared shortcuts. The method also includes comparing the remote file system state and the local file system state to determine any differences in the hash values within the remote file system state and the local file system state and synchronizing any shared folder, shared sub-folder, or shared file having a differing value in the remote file system state and the local file system state across the local file system and the remote file system. |
| US09747295B1 |
Updating a large dataset in an enterprise computer system
A method of updating fields of records in a dataset mediated by a database management tool (DMT) that does not an API function for updating individual fields of records. The method comprises adding a temporary field to each record in a dataset by the DMT, copying a subset of the records in the dataset by an application that is not the DMT, changing at least one field in each of the copied subset of records by the application, changing the temporary field of the copied subset of records by the application. The method further comprises adding the subset of records to the dataset by the DMT, aggregating, by the DMT, the dataset based on a selection criterion defined with reference to the temporary field, wherein aggregating removes conflicts between records that have the same unique identifier based on the temporary field values of the conflicting records. |
| US09747294B2 |
Generic data collection plugin and configuration file language for SMI-S based agents
A system and method is provided for facilitating data collection from storage devices. A generic low level module may be provided that can handle data collection for devices that store data according to particular variants of a storage standard such as SMI-S storage standard, SNMP protocol, and/or other storage standard. |
| US09747287B1 |
Method and system for managing metadata for a virtualization environment
Disclosed is an improved approach for managing updates to metadata for a virtualization environment. According to some embodiments, a compare and swap approach is taken to manage updates and to handle possible inconsistencies. |
| US09747286B2 |
Acquiring information dynamically regarding a hardware component in the cloud computing system while on the floor of the data center
A method, system and computer program product for managing hardware components in a cloud computing environment. A mobile device captures an image of a bar code placed on a rack that is associated with an identifier that references an Internet resource of the management software that manages the rack. The mobile device transmits a request to the management software for information regarding a component in the rack, where the request includes a unique identifier (e.g., serial number) associated with the component. The management software uses the unique identifier to identify the component of interest and transmits information regarding the component of interest to the mobile device. In this manner, the client device can conveniently access the management software as well as conveniently acquire information dynamically from the management software about specific hardware components in these racks while the user is on the floor of the data center. |
| US09747285B1 |
Geolocation systems and methods for searching for entertainment events
A computer-implemented method for presenting an entertainment requester with a selection of entertainment events comprises determining a geographic location of the entertainment requester and conducting, with the aid of a processor, a search for at least one entertainment event within a search area encompassing in whole or in part the geographic location of the entertainment requester. A geographic location of one or more entertainment events revealed upon the search is then displayed to the user on a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device of the entertainment requester. The entertainment requester may then check into an entertainment event selected from the one or more entertainment events. |
| US09747281B2 |
Generating multi-language social network user profiles by translation
Techniques are provided to allow users of a social network to have multilingual profiles (or profiles in second languages that are different than the users' native, or original, profile languages). In one technique, a translation model is applied to one or more data items (in a first language) in a user's profile to generate translated data items in a second language. The translated data items are displayed to the user (or an online social “friend” of the user) and the user is allowed to select one of the translated data items to include in the user's “second language” profile. The selection may then be used to improve the translation model. |
| US09747272B2 |
Feature-based autocorrection
A computing device is described that outputs for display at a presence-sensitive screen, a graphical keyboard having keys. The computing device receives an indication of a selection of one or more of the keys. Based on the selection the computing device determines a character string from which the computing device determines one or more candidate words. Based at least in part on the candidate words and a plurality of features, the computing device determines a spelling probability that the character string represents an incorrect spelling of at least one candidate word. The plurality of features includes a spatial model probability associated with at least one of the candidate words. If the spelling probability satisfies a threshold, the computing device outputs for display the at least one candidate word. |
| US09747271B2 |
Techniques for generating outgoing messages based on language, internationalization, and localization preferences of the recipient
According to various embodiments of the disclosure techniques for generating outgoing messages are disclosed. The technique includes receiving a request to generate an outgoing message for a recipient and retrieving one or more recipient preferences of the recipient from a recipient preferences database. The one or more recipient preferences relate to customization of messages that are to be delivered to the recipient. The technique further includes retrieving a message template from a plurality of message templates stored in a message template database based on the request and the one or more recipient preferences. The technique also includes generating the outgoing message based on the retrieved message template and the one or more recipient preferences, and providing the outgoing message to the recipient. |
| US09747270B2 |
Natural input for spreadsheet actions
Different gestures and actions are used to interact with spreadsheets. The gestures are used in manipulating the spreadsheet and performing other actions in the spreadsheet. For example, gestures may be used to move within the spreadsheet, select data, filter, sort, drill down/up, zoom, split rows/columns, perform undo/redo actions, and the like. Sensors that are associated with a device may also be used in interacting with spreadsheets. For example, an accelerometer may be used for moving and performing operations within the spreadsheet. |
| US09747266B2 |
Clipboard augmentation with references
Systems, methods, data structures and/or the like are provided for placing copy data, supplemental, and/or additional data on a clipboard, for example. The copy data may comprise a reference to supplemental data, such as HTML data (e.g., a social media data from an HTML social media webpage). The supplemental data may be retrieved using the reference, and placed within the clipboard. In this way, the copy data and the supplemental data may be available within the clipboard. |
| US09747264B2 |
Optimizing update operations in hierarchically structured documents
Optimizing update instructions in hierarchically structured documents is provided. A pending update list including a first plurality of items is received. Each item of the first plurality of items describes an update to a hierarchically structured document. Each of one or more items of the first plurality of items is added to a subsumed update list having a second plurality of items. The subsumed update list is ordered based, at least in part, on a document order and on a target node of each of the second plurality of items. Subsume logic is applied to each of the one or more items based, at least in part, on the second plurality of items. Responsive to determining that subsume logic has been applied to each item of the first plurality of items, each of the second plurality of items of the subsumed update list is executed. |
| US09747263B1 |
Dynamic page classifier for ranking content
A system comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to identify a page on a website, retrieve a stream of posts related to the page, determine whether the page is dynamic, in response to the page being determined to be dynamic, modify the stream of posts related to the page biased toward including more recent posts, generate a user interface element for display of the stream of related content; and provide the user interface element for presentation to the user. The disclosure also includes similar methods and computer program products. |
| US09747262B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for retrieving information from a webpage and organizing the information in a table
A method includes extracting text elements from a webpage, storing the text elements in a data structure, and comparing the text elements in the data structure with a Document Object Model (DOM) structure of the webpage. The extracted text elements may then be processed and exported to a display format. Information from a webpage can, therefore, be extracted for processing using other applications regardless of how the elements were coded to form the webpage. |
| US09747259B2 |
Searching, reviewing, comparing, modifying, and/or merging documents
Review, comparison, modification, and/or merging of multiple sources of data associated with media content are facilitated. Multiple documents can be simultaneously reviewed with a base document, and the changes or differences associated therewith can be flexibly reviewed, compared, accepted, and/or rejected to efficiently generate a new document having the changes or differences merged. Documents can be reviewed compared, modified, and/or merged based on sections of the base document. Efficient and selective search-and-replace of data associated with media content in files of various data sources or locations is thus enabled for a wide array of document tasks. |
| US09747257B2 |
Updating document previews of embedded files
When a multi-page document is embedded in a notebook system, a preview object is generated for pages of the embedded document. The preview objects are displayed in the notebook, and when a user modifies the document underlying the preview objects, to change a relationship between the preview objects, the preview objects are synchronized with the underlying document to reflect those modifications. |
| US09747256B2 |
Energy and effort efficient reading sessions
Presenting text and figures on a display screen by formatting, by a computer, text in a document into a single display line, scrolling the single display line on a first portion of the display screen, wherein the display screen remains active, and displaying, on a second portion of the display screen, figures in the document referenced by the scrolled text in the single display line on the display screen. |
| US09747248B2 |
Wireless communication system
A processing system is described that includes a wireless communication interface that wirelessly communicates with one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of an establishment. The wireless communication interface receives a remote order corresponding to an item selected by at least one of the wireless client devices. A local server computer located in proximity to the establishment generates instructions for processing the remote order received from the wireless communication interface. The local server computer then passes the processing instructions to an order processing queue in preparation for processing of the remote order. |
| US09747243B2 |
Electronic equipment for the replication of ports and the routing of digital signals
The present disclosure relates to a piece of electronic equipment for the replication of ports and the routing of digital signals, intended for secure environments for concentrating signals coming from a plurality of pieces of measuring equipment, as well as communication with a piece of supervising equipment. The equipment includes: —N ports whereof M ports are electrically insulated by optoelectronic coupler, N being an integer greater than or equal to 1, and M being an integer between N−1 and N, —a radiofrequency interface with a matched piece of supervising equipment, —a processor performing a protocol conversion between the radiofrequency protocol and the protocol of the ports. |
| US09747230B2 |
Memory rank and ODT configuration in a memory system
A memory system includes a two memory modules and a memory controller. The memory modules each include at least a first memory package corresponding to a first number of memory ranks (e.g. one memory rank) and a second memory package corresponding to a second number of memory ranks (e.g. two memory ranks) that is greater than the first number of memory ranks. For each module, the memory packages may be asymmetrically staggered such that one memory package is further from the memory controller than the other memory package. The memory controller is coupled to the memory packages of both modules via a common data line and generates control information for controlling the on-die termination (ODT) of the memory packages. |
| US09747226B2 |
Packet processing system, method and device to optimize packet buffer space
A buffer logic unit of a packet processing device that is configured to allocate single pages to two or more packets if the current packets stored on the page do not fully fill the single page and to store and maintain page slot specific page state data for each of the packet data stored on the pages. |
| US09747225B2 |
Interrupt controller
An interrupt controller includes a fabric slave that can receive MMIO operation requests, a plurality of output interrupt lines, a plurality of interrupt registers with each interrupt register corresponding to an output interrupt line, a MMIO routing circuit in communication with the fabric slave and the interrupt registers, a plurality of input interrupt lines for receiving line interrupts, and a line interrupt routing circuit in communication with the input interrupt lines and the interrupt registers. The interrupt registers store data for an interrupt that serves as an indication of the source of the interrupt and/or what task(s) need to be done for the interrupt. |
| US09747222B1 |
Dynamic ingestion throttling of data log
A technique for controlling acceptance of host application data into a data log in a data storage system includes selectively accepting or refusing newly arriving host data into the data log based on a comparison between an oldest entry in the data log and an age threshold. The age threshold is dynamically updated based on system heuristics. As long as the oldest log entry is younger than the age threshold, the data log continues to accept newly arriving host application data, acknowledging IO requests to host applications as the data specified in those requests is entered into the log. However, when the oldest log entry is older than the age threshold, new log entries are temporarily refused entry into the data log. Instead, newly arriving data are placed in a pending list, where they are kept until the data log is again accepting new log entries. |
| US09747220B2 |
Methods, apparatus, and systems for secure demand paging and other paging operations for processor devices
A secure demand paging system includes a secure internal memory having a table relating physical addresses to virtual addresses, a non-volatile memory, a decryption module and a hash module between the secure memory and the non-volatile memory to allow for decryption and integrity verification of data stored in the non-volatile memory during a transfer to said secure memory and means for connecting the secure memory to a volatile page swap memory such that the non-volatile memory is bypassable during a page swap. |
| US09747218B2 |
CPU security mechanisms employing thread-specific protection domains
A computer processor includes an instruction processing pipeline that interfaces to a hierarchical memory system employing an address space. The instruction processing pipeline includes execution logic that executes at least one thread in different protection domains over time, wherein the different protection domains are defined by region descriptors each including first data specifying a memory region of the address space employed by the hierarchical memory system and second data specifying permissions for accessing the associated memory region. The address space can be a virtual address space or a physical address space. The protection domains can be associated with different turfs each representing a collection of region descriptors. A given thread can execute in a particular turf, one turf at a time. The particular turf can be selectively configured to change over time. |
| US09747217B2 |
Distributed history buffer flush and restore handling in a parallel slice design
An approach is provided in which a computing system captures content included in a history buffer entry that corresponds to a flush ITAG. The computing system, in turn, uses an execution unit to transmit the content over a results bus to multiple registers and restore at least one of the registers accordingly. |
| US09747216B2 |
Computer processor employing byte-addressable dedicated memory for operand storage
A computer processor including a first memory structure that operates over multiple cycles to temporarily store operands referenced by at least one instruction. A plurality of functional units performs operations that produce and access operands stored in the first memory structure. A second memory structure is provided, separate from the first memory structure. The second memory structure is configured as a dedicated memory for storage of operands copied from the first memory structure. The second memory structure is organized with a byte-addressable memory space and each operand stored in the second memory structure is accessed by a given byte address into the byte-addressable memory space. |
| US09747214B2 |
Forecast modeling cache prefetch system and method
A system and method for prefetching data. Address logs are separated into streams and a model associated with each stream. Each stream address is forecasted according to its respective model and pages corresponding to one or more forecasted stream addresses are retrieved from memory based on their respective models. |
| US09747210B2 |
Managing a lock to a resource shared among a plurality of processors
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing a lock to a resource shared among a plurality of processors. Slots in a memory implement the lock on the shared resource. The slots correspond to counter values that are consecutively numbered and indicate one of busy and free. A requesting processor fetches a counter value comprising a fetched counter value. A determination is made as to whether the slot corresponding to the fetched counter value indicates free. A processor identifier of the requesting processor is inserted into the slot corresponding to the fetched counter value in response to determining that the slot corresponding to the fetched counter value indicates not free. The requesting processor accesses the shared resource in response to determining that the slot corresponding to the fetched counter value indicates free. |
| US09747208B2 |
Instruction and logic for flush-on-fail operation
A processor includes a memory management unit and a front end including a decoder. The decoder includes logic to receive a flush-on-commit (FoC) instruction to flush dirty data from a volatile cache to a persistent memory upon commitment of a store associated with the FoC instruction. The memory management unit includes logic to, based upon a flush-on-fail (FoF) mode, skip execution of the flush-on-commit instruction and to flush the dirty data from the volatile cache upon a subsequent FoF operation. |
| US09747204B2 |
Multi-section garbage collection system including shared performance monitor register
A system includes memory and a hardware processor. The memory includes a load-monitored region register (LMRR) and a sampled data address register (SDAR). The hardware processor is configured to perform a garbage collection process that reclaims unused objects of the memory. The hardware processor further executes a performance monitoring process that provides information indicating a utilization of an instruction performed by the hardware processor. The SDAR is configured to store first data generated according to the garbage process and second data generated according to the performance monitoring process. |
| US09747198B2 |
Processing a point-in-time copy establish command to copy data
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a copy command indicating a source set comprising a subset of source logical addresses to copy to an indicated target set comprising a subset of target logical addresses. Complete is expected to be returned to the copy command in response to completing the copying of the source set to the target set. A point-in-time (PiT) copy establish command is generated in response to receiving the copy command, indicating the source and target sets in the copy command, The generated PiT copy command is executed to generate copy information indicating the source and target sets of source logical addresses and whether they have been copied to the target set. Complete is returned to the copy command after generating the copy information and before copying all the source logical addresses to the target logical addresses. |
| US09747197B2 |
Methods and apparatus to use an access triggered computer architecture
A method for using an access triggered architecture for a computer implemented application is provided. The method receives a set of data at a designated functional block associated with a system memory location; performs an operation at the designated functional block, using the set of data, to generate a result, wherein the operation is performed each time information is received at the designated functional block; and returns the generated result to the system memory location. |
| US09747191B1 |
Tool to replicate actions across devices in real time for improved efficiency during manual application testing
Embodiments presented herein provide techniques for evaluating for dynamically testing an application or “app” on multiple computing devices at the same time. Each device participating in a testing session runs a device agent which monitors and records user input directed to the app on that device. When a user input event occurs is directed to the app on one of the devices, the corresponding device agent translates the user input into replication events that can be broadcast to, and then replayed by, the app on the other computing devices participating in the testing session. |
| US09747189B2 |
Breakpoint for predicted tuple processing time in a streaming environment
A stream of tuples is received to be processed by processing elements operating on one or more computer processors with each processing element having one or more stream operators. A breakpoint is identified for a stream operator that is configured to be triggered when time for processing of a tuple by the first stream operator is predicted to exceed a threshold time. A tuple is received at the stream operator having a set of attributes. A predicted time to process the tuple is determined based on the set of attributes. It is determined that the predicted time exceeds the threshold time. The breakpoint is triggered, in response to determining that the predicted time exceeds the threshold time, to pause processing of the tuple by the first stream operator. |
| US09747188B2 |
Determining importance of an artifact in a software development environment
In an approach to determining an importance value of an artifact in a collaborative software development environment, a computer determines a snapshot of a collaborative software development environment, wherein the snapshot includes an artifact and at least one relationship between the artifact and one or more nodes in one or more hierarchical levels. The computer then determines, based, at least in part, on the snapshot, a plurality of parameters for the artifact in the collaborative software development environment. The computer calculates, based, at least in part, on the plurality of parameters, an importance value of the artifact. |
| US09747185B2 |
Acceleration benefit estimator
Technologies related to acceleration benefit estimation are generally described. In some examples, data centers may identify applications that may benefit from Programmable Hardware Accelerators (PHAs), and test the identified applications by running accelerated versions thereof, i.e., versions that use one or more identified PHAs, and comparing performance of the accelerated versions to reference versions, i.e., versions that do not use the one or more identified PHAs. Data centers may report comparison results may be reported to data center customers to encourage customer adoption of PHAs. |
| US09747184B2 |
Operation of I/O in a safe system
A module health system includes a module health circuit comprising a hardware register that is set to a first value in response to the system starting, an application register that is set to the first value in response to the system starting and a watchdog timer register that is set to the first value in response to the system starting. The system further includes a power on self-test that determines whether the system has passed a plurality of tests and that selectively sets the hardware register to a second value based on the determination, an external software application that determines whether a safety critical system is healthy and selectively sets the application register based on the determination, a watchdog timer application that selectively sets the watchdog timer register, a central processing unit that determines whether to de-assert a module health signal. |
| US09747181B2 |
System and method for inspection of system state during testing
A system and method for inspecting system state during testing includes determining one or more inspection modules for examining respective portions of a state of the system using a test inspector, initializing each of the inspection modules, saving the respective portions of the state of the system using the inspection modules, executing a test of the system, checking the respective portions of the state of the system using the inspection modules, and repeating the saving, executing, and checking for each additional test of the system. The test inspector is executed by one or more processors of the system. In some examples, saving a first one of the respective portions of the state of the system includes determining state variables and corresponding values associated with the first respective portion of the state of the system and saving the state variables and corresponding values in a state repository. |
| US09747178B2 |
Configuration inconsistency identification between storage virtual machines
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for identifying configuration inconsistencies between storage virtual machines across storage clusters. For example, a first storage cluster and a second storage cluster may be configured according to a disaster recovery relationship where user data and configuration data of the first storage cluster are replicated to the second storage cluster so that the second storage cluster can takeover for the first storage cluster in the event a disaster occurs at the first storage cluster. Because replication of configuration data (e.g., a name and size of a volume, a backup policy, etc.) may fail for various reasons, configuration of the first storage cluster is compared to configuration of the second storage cluster to identify a configuration difference (e.g., a new size of the volume at the first storage cluster may have failed to be replicated to a replicated volume at the second storage cluster). |
| US09747177B2 |
Data storage system employing a hot spare to store and service accesses to data having lower associated wear
A controller monitors access frequencies of address ranges mapped to a data storage array. Based on the monitoring, the controller identifies frequently accessed ones of the address ranges that have lower associated wear, for example, those that are read more often than written. In response to the identifying, the controller initiates copying of a dataset associated with the identified address ranges from the data storage array to a spare storage device while refraining from copying other data from the data storage array onto the spare storage device. The controller directs read input/output operations (IOPs) targeting the identified address ranges to be serviced by access to the spare storage device. In response to a failure of a failed storage device among the plurality of primary storage devices, the controller rebuilds contents of the failed storage device on the spare storage device in place of the dataset associated with the identified address ranges. |
| US09747173B2 |
Data storage devices and data maintenance methods
A data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory includes a plurality of blocks. Each block includes a plurality of pages. when the data storage device is resumed from a power-off event, the controller selects a first block which was written last before the power-off event among the plurality of blocks and writes data of a plurality of first pages of the first block into a plurality of second pages of the first block. |
| US09747171B2 |
Point-in-time copy restore
Managing storage volumes in a point-in-time copy cascade. The cascade includes a first source volume, a first target volume and a second target volume. The method detects a corruption of the first source volume and, if a first restoration of the first source volume from the first target volume is in progress, creates a third target volume from the second target volume and directs I/O operations for the first source volume to the third target volume. The first restoration is stopped. The first source volume is restored from the third target volume, and the third target volume is deleted. |
| US09747166B2 |
Self healing cluster of a content management system
Systems and methods herein provide for a clustered content management comprising at least two computing nodes. A first node comprises an instance of the content repository. The first computing node may perform content management operations on its instance of the content repository. Changes to the instance of the content repository of the first computing node are synchronized with the content repository by way of a second computing node. The second computing node is communicatively coupled to the first computing node through a network and is operable to synchronize the change with the content repository. The second computing node also determines that synchronization of the change is blocked due to an error. The second computing node identifies the error, determines that the error is correctable, and corrects the error to synchronize the change with the content repository. |
| US09747165B1 |
Self-recovering application
Systems and methods for recovering a process in an application are disclosed. According to some aspects, a guest process is run within an application executing at a computing device. The guest process stores and processes untrusted content. An embedder process is run within the application and in parallel with the guest process. The embedder process stores and processes trusted content and a guest process state. The guest process state is periodically updated based on asynchronous communication between the guest process and the embedder process. The embedder process receives an indication of an execution failure of the guest process. The guest process is recovered after the execution failure based on the guest process state stored by the embedder process. |
| US09747164B1 |
Guide word paged hash table
A set of pages including a set of entries are stored on disk. A set of page headers are stored in memory. Each page header corresponds to a page on disk. A page header includes a page number identifying a corresponding page on disk, a first guide word, and a second guide word. The first and second guide words define minimum and maximum name values, respectively, of entries on the page. Upon a request to determine if an entry associated with a name value exists, the page headers are scanned to identify a page number in a header where the name value is between the guide words. The page, if not resident in memory, is located on disk, loaded into memory, and examined to determine whether the entry exists on the page. |
| US09747162B2 |
Distributed erasure coded virtual file system
A plurality of computing devices are communicatively coupled to each other via a network, and each of the plurality of computing devices comprises one or more of a plurality of storage devices. A plurality of failure resilient address spaces are distributed across the plurality of storage devices such that each of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces spans a plurality of the storage devices. Each one of the plurality of failure resilient address spaces is organized into a plurality of stripes. Each one or more stripes of the plurality of stripes is part of a respective one of a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) protection domains. Each of the plurality of stripes may comprise a plurality of storage blocks. Each block of a particular one of the plurality of stripes may reside on a different one of the plurality of storage devices. |
| US09747160B2 |
Securely storing data in a dispersed storage network
A method includes monitoring write processing performance while storing a plurality of sets of encoded data slices in storage units. The method includes comparing the write processing performance with a desire write performance range. When the write processing performance compares unfavorably to the desire write performance range, the method includes establishing a data partition between the data segments of the data encoded using the first dispersed storage error encoding parameters and subsequent data segments of the data; determining second dispersed storage error encoding parameters based on the unfavorable comparison between the write processing performance and the desired write performance range; encoding the subsequent data segments of the data using the second dispersed storage error encoding parameters to produce a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices; and monitoring write processing performance while storing the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices in the storage units. |
| US09747158B1 |
Intelligent refresh of 3D NAND
A method for processing blocks of flash memory to decrease raw bit errors from the flash memory is provided. The method includes identifying one or more blocks of the flash memory for a refresh operation and writing information regarding the identified blocks, to a data structure. The method includes issuing background reads to the identified blocks, according to the data structure, as the refresh operation. The method may be embodied on a computer readable medium. In some embodiments the background reads may be based on a time based refresh responsive to an increase in raw bit error count in the flash memory over time. |
| US09747157B2 |
Method and system for improving error correction in data storage
A method of operation of a data storage system includes: monitoring a data interface bus, the monitoring by a non-volatile memory controller; activating a zero bit counter for detecting a ratio of 1's to 0's on the data interface bus; and adjusting a threshold voltage (Vth), based on the ratio of the 1's to the 0's from the zero bit counter, by the non-volatile memory controller. |
| US09747156B2 |
Management system, plan generation method, plan generation program
A management system that generates a plan which is a countermeasure against an event occurring in a computer system includes: a plan generating unit configured to generate a plan according to the event; and an indicator generating unit configured to generate, as a performance change evaluation indicator of the plan, information on a change in performance of a resource of the computer system, which can occur due to other subject's process executed by the other subject different from a subject of the plan when the plan generated by the plan generating unit is executed. |
| US09747155B2 |
Efficient data reads from distributed storage systems
A method of distributing data in a distributed storage system includes receiving a file and dividing the received file into chunks. The chunks are data-chunks and non-data chunks. The method further includes grouping chunks into a group and determining a distribution of the chunks of the group among storage devices of the distributed storage system based on a maintenance hierarchy of the distributed storage system. The maintenance hierarchy includes hierarchical maintenance levels and maintenance domains. Each maintenance domain has an active state or an inactive state; and each storage device is associated with at least one maintenance domain. The method also includes distributing the chunks of the group to the storage devices based on the determined distribution. The chunks of the group are distributed across multiple maintenance domains to maintain an ability to reconstruct chunks of the group when a maintenance domain is in the inactive state. |
| US09747154B2 |
Isolating hardware and network failures in a computing environment
Various embodiments for method for detecting network and hardware failures in a computing environment, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises isolating component failures by deploying a diagnostic code within an Operating System (OS) of both a first node and a connected appliance, and executing a set of diagnostic tests using the diagnostic code to determine if the source of the failure is within the first node or the connected appliance. |
| US09747153B2 |
Resilience as a service
Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to creating a service directory of dependencies for services running on a system, wherein instances of a first service are dependent upon instances of a second service. The directory of dependencies comprises metadata associated with connections between the services. The system injects faults targeting all levels of the dependencies. The system is monitored to detect failures created by the faults. The injected faults are selected from transport layer faults, memory pressure, processor pressure, storage pressure, virtual machine restart, and virtual machine shut down. A domain name service is monitored to identify names that are resolved for the services. The service directory is then updated continuously with additional dependencies using information about the resolved names. The faults may be injected in a guided manner, wherein the scope of the faults is increased in steps over time to identify a failure point in the system. |
| US09747150B2 |
Two stage log normalization
An approach for two stage log normalization is provided. The approach retrieves a message format and a plurality of parameters from one or more log files. The approach determines a classification for one or more first sequence files, wherein the one or more first sequence files includes the message format from the one or more log files. The approach determines a classification of error for the one or more first sequence files. The approach determines whether there is a high confidence in the classification of error for the one or more first sequence files. The approach determines whether there is an improvement in confidence in the classification of error from one or more second sequence files, wherein the one or more second sequence files includes the message format and the plurality of parameters from the one or more log files. |
| US09747148B2 |
Error monitoring of a memory device containing embedded error correction
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an approach for monitoring the health and predicting the failure of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) devices with embedded error-correcting code (ECC). Additional registers are embedded on the DRAM device to store information about the DRAM, such as the number and location of soft errors detected by the device. When the DRAM device detects a soft error, it will update the information stored in the additional registers. A controller compares the information stored in the additional registers to associated thresholds. In some embodiments, after comparing the information to the associated thresholds, the controller may determine whether to schedule a repair action. In other embodiments, the controller may determine whether to alert the memory controller that the DRAM may be failing. |
| US09747147B2 |
Error source identification on time-of-day network
In an approach to identifying a source of a time-of-day network error, one or more computers increment a first counter and a second counter on each of one or more computer processors simultaneously. The one or more computers determine whether an error is detected in the one or more computer processors. In response to determining the error is detected, the one or more computers freeze the second counter on the one or more computer processors associated with the detected error. The one or more computers determine on which of the one or more computer processors the second counter is frozen. The one or more computers report a time-of-day network error, where reporting a time-of-day network error includes assigning a priority to one or more sources of the time-of-day network error. |
| US09747146B2 |
Method and system for memory access protection
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for null address handling. The method includes compiling code without adding a null check code before a memory access code, storing a first address of the memory access code in association with a second address of a handling code for null address, determining, in response to an exception that occurs at the first address during an execution of the compiled code, the second address based on the stored information, and executing the handling code at the second address. |
| US09747142B2 |
Method for centralizing events for a multilevel hierarchical computer management system
A method for centralizing events for a multilevel hierarchical computer management system, the system including a plurality of source equipments generating events and a plurality of event collectors per level, the method including selecting by an upper level collector a lower level collector according to operational parameters and/or a link quality of service of the lower level collector; receiving by the collector the events from the selected lower level collector; periodically verifying if the selected collector is available and if not repeating the selection step; and comparing by the upper level collector its events with those from the unselected lower level collectors and receiving from one of these unselected lower level collectors the events that are different. |
| US09747139B1 |
Performance-based multi-mode task dispatching in a multi-processor core system for high temperature avoidance
In one embodiment, performance-based multi-mode task dispatching for high temperature avoidance in accordance with the present description, includes selecting processor cores as available to receive a dispatched task. Tasks are dispatched to a set of available processor cores for processing in a performance-based dispatching mode. If monitored temperature rises above a threshold temperature value, task dispatching logic switches to a thermal-based dispatching mode. If a monitored temperature falls below another threshold temperature value, dispatching logic switches back to the performance-based dispatching mode. If a monitored temperature of an individual processor core rises above a threshold temperature value, the processor core is redesignated as unavailable to receive a dispatched task. If the temperature of an individual processor core falls below another threshold temperature value, the processor core is redesignated as available to receive a dispatched task. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application. |
| US09747137B2 |
System and method for providing a partition file system in a multitenant application server environment
In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for providing a partition file system in a multitenant application server environment. The system enables application server components to work with partition-specific files for a given partition, instead of or in addition to domain-wide counterpart files. The system also allows the location of some or all of a partition-specific storage to be specified by higher levels of the software stack. In accordance with an embodiment, also described herein is a system and method for resource overriding in a multitenant application server environment, which provides a means for administrators to customize, at a resource group level, resources that are defined in a resource group template referenced by a partition, and to override resource definitions for particular partitions. |
| US09747132B2 |
Multi-core processor using former-stage pipeline portions and latter-stage pipeline portions assigned based on decode results in former-stage pipeline portions
A multi-core processor includes a plurality of former-stage cores that perform parallel processing using a plurality of pipelines covering a plurality of stages. In the pipelines, the former-stage cores perform stages ending with an instruction decode stage; stages starting with an instruction execution stage are executed by a latter-stage core. A dynamic load distribution block refers to decode results in the instruction decode stage and controls to assign the latter-stage core with a latter-stage-needed decode result being a decode result whose processing needs to be executed in the latter-stage core. |
| US09747129B2 |
Methods and systems for starting computerized system modules
Graph data of a DAG is received. The data describes a module to be started by way of nodes connected by edges, wherein some nodes are submodule nodes that correspond to submodules of said module. Submodule nodes are connected via edge(s) that reflect a data dependency between the corresponding submodules. Each of said submodules is a hardware module or a software submodule, capable of producing and/or consuming data that can be consumed and/or produced, by other submodule(s) of said module, based on the DAG. Asynchronous execution is started of two of said submodules, respectively corresponding to two submodule nodes located in independent branches of the DAG. A third submodule node(s) is determined that is a descendant of each of said two submodule nodes, according to an outcome of the execution of the corresponding two submodules. Execution is started of a third submodule that corresponds to the determined third submodule node. |
| US09747128B1 |
Worldwide distributed file system model
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for providing a worldwide distributed file system model. The method includes providing a layer across at least one file system for presentation as a worldwide distributed file system and presenting the layer across the at least one file system as the worldwide distributed file system. |
| US09747127B1 |
Worldwide distributed job and tasks computational model
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for performing file system activities across administrative boundaries between a plurality of file systems. The method includes receiving a worldwide job to perform on a plurality of file systems, managing the worldwide job, and receiving results of the worldwide job from the plurality of file systems. |
| US09747121B2 |
Performance optimization of workloads in virtualized information handling systems
Methods and systems for performance optimization of workloads in virtualized information handling systems may analyze a workload at a virtual machine executing on a hypervisor. A workload policy specifying hardware resources for allocation to the virtual machine may be generated. After allocation of the hardware resources to the virtual machine, the workload may be executed on the virtual machine. The hypervisor may prioritize hardware resources among a plurality of virtual machines. |
| US09747117B2 |
System and methods for loading an application and its modules in a client device
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of dynamically load one or more modules into an application, the method comprising receiving from a configuration file a list of one or more available modules; retrieving for each available module, a mapping of a URL pattern to a callback function associated with each of the available modules; and adding the mapping of the URL pattern to a collection of URL patterns associated with the application. |
| US09747116B2 |
Identifying memory of a blade device for use by an operating system of a partition including the blade device
Examples disclosed herein relate to identifying memory of a blade device for use by an operating system (OS) of a partition including the blade device. Examples include identifying memory of a first blade device associated with a first logical processor of the first blade device for use by an OS of a partition including the first blade device and a second blade device, wherein the OS is executed by at least a second logical processor of the second blade device. |
| US09747114B2 |
Information processing apparatus, boot up method, and computer-readable storage medium storing boot up program
A SBSP writes a log into a spad in a log processor and the writing of the log from the spad to a serial port is performed by the log processor. When initialization of a main memory has been completed, the log processor temporarily writes the data read from the spad into a logmem and then clears the spad. Furthermore, when an output of the log performed by the log processor has been completed, the SBSP adds, in cooperation with the BIOS and the OS, the log processor and the logmem as the resources. |
| US09747113B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor system including the same
A semiconductor device includes a boot-up signal generator suitable for generating a boot-up signal based on an external reset signal and a specific mode signal; and an internal circuit suitable for performing a boot-up operation based on the boot-up signal. |
| US09747110B2 |
Pipelined cascaded digital signal processing structures and methods
Circuitry operating under a floating-point mode or a fixed-point mode includes a first circuit accepting a first data input and generating a first data output. The first circuit includes a first arithmetic element accepting the first data input, a plurality of pipeline registers disposed in connection with the first arithmetic element, and a cascade register that outputs the first data output. The circuitry further includes a second circuit accepting a second data input and generating a second data output. The second circuit is cascaded to the first circuit such that the first data output is connected to the second data input via the cascade register. The cascade register is selectively bypassed when the first circuit is operated under the fixed-point mode. |
| US09747106B1 |
Allocating multiple operand data areas of a computer instruction within a program buffer
The disclosure herein provides systems, methods, and computer program products for managing a plurality of operands in a computer instruction. To manage the plurality of operands, a data buffer manager executed by a processor receives information from a caller. The information relates to the plurality of operands. The data buffer manager, also, compares a free data area size to a requested minimum data area of an operand size identified by the information; selects an address when the requested minimum data area is less than or equal to the free data area size; and inserts the operand at the address. |
| US09747104B2 |
Utilizing pipeline registers as intermediate storage
In one example, a method includes responsive to receiving, by a processing unit, one or more instructions requesting that a first value be moved from a first general purpose register (GPR) to a third GPR and that a second value be moved from a second GPR to a fourth GPR, copying, by an initial logic unit and during a first clock cycle, the first value to an initial pipeline register, copying, by the initial logic and during a second clock cycle, the second value to the initial pipeline register, copying, by a final logic unit and during a third clock cycle, the first value from a final pipeline register to the third GPR, and copying, by the final logic unit and during a fourth clock cycle, the second value from the final pipeline register to the fourth GPR. |
| US09747103B2 |
Auxiliary branch prediction with usefulness tracking
According to an aspect, management of auxiliary branch prediction in a processing system including a primary branch predictor and an auxiliary branch predictor is provided. A congruence class of the auxiliary branch predictor is located based on receiving a primary branch predictor misprediction indicator corresponding to a mispredicted target address of the primary branch predictor. An entry is identified in the congruence class having an auxiliary usefulness level set to a least useful level with respect to one or more other entries of the congruence class. Auxiliary data corresponding to the mispredicted target address is installed into the entry. The auxiliary usefulness level of the entry is reset to an initial value based on installing the auxiliary data. |
| US09747102B2 |
Memory management in secure enclaves
Embodiments of an invention for memory management in secure enclaves are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction unit and an execution unit. The instruction unit is to receive a first instruction and a second instruction. The execution unit is to execute the first instruction, wherein execution of the first instruction includes allocating a page in an enclave page cache to a secure enclave. The execution unit is also to execute the second instruction, wherein execution of the second instruction includes confirming the allocation of the page. |
| US09747101B2 |
Gather-op instruction to duplicate a mask and perform an operation on vector elements gathered via tracked offset-based gathering
Instructions and logic provide vector scatter-op and/or gather-op functionality. In some embodiments, responsive to an instruction specifying: a gather and a second operation, a destination register, an operand register, and a memory address; execution units read values in a mask register, wherein fields in the mask register correspond to offset indices in the indices register for data elements in memory. A first mask value indicates the element has not been gathered from memory and a second value indicates that the element does not need to be, or has already been gathered. For each having the first value, the data element is gathered from memory into the corresponding destination register location, and the corresponding value in the mask register is changed to the second value. When all mask register fields have the second value, the second operation is performed using corresponding data in the destination and operand registers to generate results. |
| US09747098B2 |
Verifying source code in disparate source control systems
A computer program product for verifying source code in disparate source control systems. A processor configured to: obtain a first source code from a target repository; access a second source code from a source repository; and verify each file in the first source code matches each corresponding file in the second source code. Verifying causes the processor to: read contents of a file in the first source code in the target repository; access a corresponding file in the second source code in the source repository; replace contents of the corresponding file in the second source code in the source repository with the contents of the file in the first source code in the target repository; execute an editor in the source repository to display differences in the corresponding file that have been modified as a result of replacing contents; and log each file that does not match. |
| US09747096B2 |
Remote embedded device update platform apparatuses, methods and systems
The Remote Embedded Device Update Platform Apparatuses, Methods and Systems (“REDUP”) transforms telemetry inputs via REDUP components into remote embedded updates outputs. The REDUP may include a memory and processor with instructions to: obtain a remote embedded device connection request message from a remote embedded device and analyze the message to determine a version of embedded instructions on the remote embedded device. With that, the REDUP may determine if other remote embedded devices similar to the remote embedded device have provided request messages by searching a remote embedded device connection request message database. This allows the REDUP to determine if a potential issue requiring updates on the remote embedded device exists. With that, the REDUP may determine and provide an update for the remote embedded device. |
| US09747087B2 |
Variable inference system and method for software program
A variable inference system and a variable inference method for a software program are provided. The variable inference system and method calculate a first variable type output corresponding to an unknown variable for a plurality of first basic blocks of a software program. The variable inference system and method calculate a second variable type input corresponding to the unknown variable for a second basic block of the software program. The variable inference system and method calculate a second variable type generation when the second basic block includes a primitive instruction corresponding to the unknown variable. The variable inference system and method calculate a second variable type kill. The variable inference system and method calculate a second variable output corresponding to the unknown variable for the second basic block according to the second variable type input, the second variable type generation and the second variable type kill. |
| US09747081B2 |
Undo/redo in JavaScript object notation
The method includes modifying a Javascript object notation structure to include a tag on at least one object and a tag on at least one array containing a first version of the Javascript object notation structure. The method includes in response to identifying a changed second version of the Javascript object notation structure, adjusting the tag on the at least one object and the tag on the at least one array to include the second version of the Javascript object notation structure. The method includes adjusting the displayed first version of the Javascript object notation structure with the second version of the Javascript object notation structure. The method includes in response to receiving data indicating an undo/redo action, adjusting the displayed second version of the Javascript object notation structure to the first version of the Javascript object notation structure. |
| US09747075B2 |
Random number generator
The random number generator comprises a linear feedback shift register (10), which comprises a series of storage elements (14(1), 14(2), . . . , 14(n)), a first input (11) to receive a clock signal from a clock oscillator (28), a feedback line (20) connecting the output of a last storage element (14(n)) with an input of at least a first storage element (14(1)), a second input (22) coupled with the feedback line (20) via at least one cell (15) and wherein the output of the cell (15) is coupled to an input of at least one of the storage elements (14(1), 14(2), . . . , 14(n)). |
| US09747072B2 |
Context-aware notifications
Systems and approaches are provided for presenting incoming notifications to a computing device based on a determined context of the computing device. Various sensors of the device can be used to determine the context of the device with respect to a user, the state of the device itself, or the context of the device with respect to the environment in which the device is situated. The user can then be informed of received notifications in a manner likely to get the user's attention while not being overly obtrusive to the user or others within the vicinity of the user. |
| US09747071B2 |
Direct selection of audio source
When an indication is received from a user input, a name of an audio source from an ordered list of audio sources to which a headset is currently connected is output. Whenever a successive indication is received within a predefined amount of time, the name of the next wireless audio source in the list is output. If the next wireless audio source in the list is the last wireless audio source in the list, and the successive indication from the user input is received before the elapsed time exceeds the predefined value, the name of the audio source to which the headset is currently connected is output as the next selected wireless audio source in the list. When an amount of time greater than the predefined value elapses without a successive indication from the user input, the last wireless audio source that had its name output is connected. |
| US09747070B1 |
Configurable state machine actions
In a system in which an in-home audio device is supported by a network-based support service, certain aspects of the behavior of the audio device may be implemented as a state machine. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be provided by the support service to allow editing of a model representing the state machine of the device. Through the GUI, a user or developer can associate functions with states or state transitions of the state machine. In addition, the user or developer can associate custom code with individual states or state transitions of the state machine. |
| US09747063B2 |
Print apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for printing confidentially
Disclosed is a print apparatus including: a memory configured to store the print job; a print unit configured to execute a print based on the print job; a first detector configured to detect the print allowed user; a second detector configured to detect a print disallowed user; and a hardware processor configured to: obtain the print job, change a danger distance according to a first distance from the print apparatus to the print allowed user, compare the danger distance with a second distance from the print apparatus to the nearest print disallowed user when the first distance is not more than a predetermined print start distance, and instruct the print unit to start the print based on the print job in accordance with a result of the comparison. |
| US09747055B2 |
Scalable deduplication system with small blocks
Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for scalable data deduplication working with small data chunk in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, for each small data chunk, a signature is generated based on a combination of a representation of characters used in selecting data to be deduplicated. A c-spectrum of the small data chunk being a sequence of representations of different characters ordered by a frequency of occurrence in the small data chunk, and an f-spectrum of the small data chunk being a corresponding sequence of frequencies of the different characters in the small data chunk. |
| US09747047B2 |
Performing a remote point-in-time copy to a source and target storages in further mirror copy relationships
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for performing a remote point-in-time copy to a source and target storages in further mirror copy relationships. Each of a plurality of source copy relationships is from the source storage to one corresponding source copy storage. Each of a plurality of target copy relationships is from the target storage to one corresponding target copy storage, where in each relationship an indicator indicates whether to use a remote first type copy operation. The first type copy operation is used to copy data from the source storage to the target storage and copy data from the source copy storage to the target copy storage for the determined source and target copy relationships having the indicator set. A second type of copy operations is used for source and target relationships not having the indicator set. |
| US09747046B2 |
Collision avoidance using dynamic target volume allocation in a single repository
Dynamically allocates a new Flashcopy backup target volume within the single repository for executing a new Flashcopy backup to avoid a collision with one of a mount operation, a restore operation, and a clone operation when dynamically allocating the new Flashcopy target volume for the new Flashcopy backup. |
| US09747045B2 |
Sub-sector wear leveling in memories
Methods of wear leveling in a memory, and memories configured to perform such methods, are useful in extending cycling endurance in memories. Such methods include transferring data from a first block of the memory to a second block of the memory, erasing the first block, transferring data from a third block of the memory to the first block, erasing the third block, transferring data from the second block to the third block, swapping logical addresses for the first block and the third block with each other, and erasing the second block. Transferring data from the third block to the first block excludes a sub-sector of the third block that is to be erased. |
| US09747044B2 |
Interleaving read and write requests to reduce latency and maximize throughput in a flash storage device
In an all-flash storage array, write requests can take about 9 to 10 times longer than a read request of the same size. There could be several problems when reading or writing from all-flash storage, such as a large write request slowing down small read requests, or other write requests. Also, a large read request may slow down smaller read requests by filling the incoming requests queue. In one implementation, a determination is made on what is the maximum size of a request to flash storage that improves the throughput of a flash chip (e.g., write requests beyond a certain size do not improve throughput). A chunklet is defined as a block of data having the calculated maximum size. As write requests come in, the write requests are broken into chunklets, and then the chunklets are queued for processing by the flash chip. One chunklet is processed at a time per write request. This way, one write request does not monopolize the use of the flash chip for a period of time, allowing other requests to be queued while the chunklet is being processed by the all-flash storage. |
| US09747039B1 |
Reservations over multiple paths on NVMe over fabrics
A method includes receiving, by a storage drive and from a storage controller, a modified first reservation command including a first logical unit identifier. The first reservation command includes a first host identifier to identify a first host controller was previously received by the storage controller from the first host controller. The first reservation command was modified by the storage controller to replace the first host identifier with the first logical unit identifier. The method also includes responsive to receiving the modified first reservation command, identifying, by the storage drive, a first logical unit of storage based on the first logical unit identifier of the modified reservation command. The method includes granting, by the storage drive, a reservation for access to the storage drive on behalf of the first host controller by associating the reservation for the first logical unit with a second logical unit of storage. |
| US09747036B2 |
Tiered storage device providing for migration of prioritized application specific data responsive to frequently referenced data
Data is placed in tiered storage with a suitable granularity according to application characteristics. The storage apparatus comprises a controller for managing storage areas, provided by storage media of a plurality of types of varying performance, as pools, and for assigning the storage areas in page units to a virtual volume from any tiered storage among a plurality of types of tiered storage which the pool comprises in response to a data write request from the host computer, wherein, for specific data which is managed by the host computer, the controller specifies an area with a high referencing frequency among the specific data on the basis of organization information of the specific data, and moves this area to another of the tiered storage with a higher performance than an already assigned tiered storage. |
| US09747035B2 |
Reducing memory overhead associated with memory protected by a fault protection scheme
A memory request initiates access to a memory location in the memory. The memory location is evaluated to determine whether the memory location is located within a first portion of the memory or within a second portion of the memory. In response to determining that the memory location is located within the first portion and that the memory request is a read request, the memory location located within the first portion is accessed. In response to determining that the memory request is a write request and the memory location is located within the first portion, the memory location located within the first portion and a duplicate of the memory location is accessed. When the memory location is located within the second portion, the memory location located within the second portion using a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) memory mechanism, in response to the memory request being the write request. |
| US09747033B2 |
Configure storage class memory command
An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory. |
| US09747030B2 |
Managing media content storage for user devices
A user device (e.g., a smart phone) may dynamically manage photographs, videos, and other types of media content. The user device may receive media content by taking photographs, recording videos, and/or recording audio inputs. The user device may also receive media content in email messages, text message, download, etc. The user device may determine the value of the media content based on factors, such as the quality of the media content, the time and location associated with the media content, the actual content (e.g., people, landscapes, etc.) of the media content, etc. The user device may also determine a storage strategy based on the value of the media content and proceed to execute the storage strategy. For instance, the user device may store the media content locally, upload the media content to a cloud storage system, or delete the media content from a local storage of the user device. |
| US09747029B2 |
Apparatus including memory management control circuitry and related methods for allocation of a write block cluster
Memory system controllers can include non-volatile memory control circuitry including a plurality of channel control circuits. Each of the plurality of channel control circuits can be configured to be coupled to a respective number of logical units (LUNs). Memory management circuitry can be coupled to the non-volatile memory control circuitry and configured to allocate a write block cluster for host writes based on an information width of a host bus and a protocol of the host bus. The write block cluster can include one block from fewer than all of the LUNs. |
| US09747026B1 |
Low pin count solution using capacitance sensing matrix for keyboard architecture
An apparatus and method for selecting a keyboard key based on a position of a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device and a pre-defined area of the keyboard key. The apparatus may include a sensing device and a processing device. The sensing device may include a plurality of sensor elements to detect a presence of a conductive object on the sensing device. Multiple keyboard keys are assigned to pre-defined areas of the sensing device. The processing device is coupled to the sensing device using capacitance sensing pins, and may be operable to determine a position of the presence of the conductive object, and to select a keyboard key based on the position of the conductive object and the pre-defined areas of the sensing device. |
| US09747021B2 |
Document dividing and merging
Embodiments of the present invention relate to dividing and merging documents on a touch panel. A method includes dividing a document displayed on a touch panel having a display function using an information processing device connected to the touch panel. Positions of two different points on the touch panel are identified in response to a user indicating the two different points in the document. The document is divided, by a computer processor, based on a line segment extending from a starting point to an end point of a traced line traced by the user. The line segment is used as a dividing line in response to the user tracing the traced line on the touch panel so as to traverse the two different points. |
| US09747019B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal and a control method thereof capable of a touch input. A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display unit configured to display a page of an electronic note and display a thumbnail image corresponding to another page along with the page; a sensing unit configured to sense a touch input on the display unit; and a controller configured to display a page corresponding to the thumbnail image or execute an edit mode for editing at least one of the page and the thumbnail image based on a kind of touch input on the thumbnail image. |
| US09747018B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling object
An apparatus and method for controlling an object are provided. Motions of fingers present in a 3-dimensional (3D) sensing area are detected, and a pointer or an object being displayed is controlled corresponding to the detected motions. Therefore, input of a control signal may be achieved without a direct touch on a display device such as a terminal, thereby preventing leaving marks on a screen of the display. In addition, since the motions of fingers are detected within the 3D sensing area, not on a 2-dimensional (2D) plane, more types of input motions may be used. |
| US09747016B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program for selectively changing a value or a change speed of the value by a user operation
An information processing device includes an operating unit, and a control unit for switching, when dragging is performed which is an operation to change a predetermined value via the operating unit, between changing the value by an amount equivalent to the amount of dragging, and setting a change speed of the value according to the dragging and continue to change the value at the change speed, according to the position of an ending point as to a starting point of the dragging. |
| US09747009B2 |
User interface for creating a playlist
A user-friendly graphical user interface is proposed to enable creation of a playlist of data elements of any type. A graphical object is displayed representing a content based logical map arranged in two or three dimensions and defining characteristics at predefined coordinates. A trajectory defined by a mathematical spline function and having a start point, an end point and one or more intermediate points is drawn and can be changed by moving the steering point of at least one of the start point and the end point. The data elements for the playlist are selected by searching in meta-data for characteristics that best match the characteristics of points along the trajectory. |
| US09747006B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing multi-application tabs and tab sets
A sharing model enables users to easily and conveniently create and share standard and custom database objects, and applications, among users or groups of users. The sharing model includes systems and methods that allow users to conveniently create and customize tabs and tab sets that define relationships between custom objects and fields, standard objects and fields, and applications. A tab visually represents a user interface into an element of an application or into a database object. Selection of a tab provides a user access to the object or element of the application represented by the tab. A tab set is a group of related tabs that work as a unit to provide application functionality. New tabs and tab sets may be defined and tab set views may be customized so that an end user can easily and conveniently switch between the various objects and application elements represented by the displayed tabs and tab set views. |
| US09747004B2 |
Web content navigation using tab switching
A Web application maintains a record of Web content that has been displayed by the Web application. The user can navigate to different previously displayed Web content by providing various user inputs, such as a swipe across a touchscreen. The Web application detects when a user input has a threshold likelihood of being a navigation input, such as when the user swipes at least a threshold amount across a touchscreen. When a user input has a threshold likelihood of being a navigation input, the Web application begins rendering in an empty tab the Web content that would be navigated to if the user input were a navigation input, the empty tab becoming a prerender tab. If the user continues and the user input results in a navigation input navigating to the Web content rendered in the prerender tab, then the Web application switches to displaying the prerender tab. |
| US09746999B2 |
Mobile device remotely controlled by other mobile device through a network
A method for remote control wherein a first mobile device is remotely controls a second mobile device connected to the first mobile device via an audio/data transmission network. The method includes receiving a request from an user of the first mobile device on the first mobile device, performing audio transmission from the first mobile device to the second mobile device, and transmitting data for a displayed screen from the first device to the second device via the data transmission network. The received data for the displayed screen is displayed on the second mobile device, operation content is received from an user operating the displayed screen on the second device, and the operation content is transmitted from the second device to the first device via the data transmission network, so that a terminal feature on the first device is operable based on the operation content received from the second device. |
| US09746998B2 |
Collaborative data based device maintenance
Systems and methods for collaborative data based device maintenance are provided. In example embodiments, an indication of a malfunction of a user product of a user is received. In response to receiving the indication of the malfunction, a component of the user product corresponding to the malfunction is identified. User data of another user that includes data associated with the user product is accessed. An item listing associated with the component is identified based, in part, on the user data of another user. User data of the user is accessed . An order parameter for an order corresponding to the item listing is determined based on the user data of the user and the another user. A recommendation to place the order corresponding to the item listing using the determined order parameter is presented. |
| US09746997B2 |
Share timeline of calendar
Sharing a timeline of a calendar is provided. An application such as a calendar application detects an activation of a share operations control on a timeline of a calendar. A context menu is displayed on the timeline, where the context menu includes a share control and a print control. An activation of the share control is detected. A communication component is initiated to share the timeline. |
| US09746993B2 |
Measurement data display device
A measurement data display device includes a screen displaying at least one icon representing a data file in which measurement and location data indicating a location where the measurement data was measured are recorded in association with each other, and also displays a window for displaying a map; and a display control part controlling display on the screen. When the icon is moved onto the window, the display control part displays a predetermined type of symbol determined in advance depending on a value of the measurement data at a position on the map indicated by the location data corresponding to the measurement data. The measurement data display device allows the measurement data measured at an arbitrary location to be displayed with only a simple screen operation, at a location on the map corresponding to the place where the measurement was performed and for each time the measurement was performed. |
| US09746988B2 |
Multi-sensor surveillance system with a common operating picture
A method and apparatus for processing video data streams for an area. Objects are identified in the area from images in the video data streams. The video data streams are generated by cameras. First locations are identified for the objects using the images. The first locations are defined using a coordinate system for the images. Graphical representations are formed for the objects using the images. The graphical representations are displayed for the objects in second locations in a model of the area on a display system with respect to features in the area that are represented in the model. The second locations are defined using a geographic coordinate system for the model. A first location in the first locations for an object in the objects corresponds to a second location in the second locations for a corresponding graphical representation in the graphical representations. |
| US09746984B2 |
Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user while interacting with content
Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user are described. One of the methods includes sending interactive data for rendering on a head mounted display (HMD). The HMD is configured for attachment to a head of a user for playing a game. The method further includes receiving image data associated with a body part of the user while the HMD is worn by the user and the HMD renders interactive content. The method includes tracking a spatial position associated with the body part of the user from the image data of the user. In the method, physical placement of a remote-controlled device at the spatial position associated with the body part of the user is rendered in the HMD as virtual contact with an object in the interactive content. |
| US09746981B2 |
System and method for multiple object detection on a digitizer system
A digitizer system comprises at least one object incorporating an electronic tag configured for radiating at least one modulated signal and at least one second signal; a digitizer sensor configured for detecting the at least one second signal while the object is positioned on or over the digitizer sensor; and circuitry configured for identifying the object based on modulation of the at least one modulated signal and for determining a position of the object on or over the digitizer based on the detected second signal on a portion of the digitizer sensor. |
| US09746980B2 |
Capacitive finger navigation module and manufacturing method thereof
A capacitive finger navigation module including a pressure detection mode and a finger movement detection mode is provided. In the pressure detection mode, a finger press is detected to generate a continuous cursor movement signal. In the finger movement detection mode, a finger movement is detected to generate a single cursor movement signal. |
| US09746977B2 |
Display
To reduce disturbances in display of images due to static electricity without deteriorating optical properties in a display. The display includes a conductive pattern provided on the upper surface of the substrate, a protection layer provided on the upper surface of the substrate to cover the conductive pattern, and a conductive layer provided on the protection layer. The sheet resistance of the conductive pattern is not more than 8Ω/square. A ratio of the total sum of areas of portions of the plurality of sub-pixels that overlap the conductive pattern in a plan view to the total sum of the areas of the plurality of sub-pixels is 1 to 22%. A sheet resistance of the conductive layer is higher than the sheet resistance of the conductive pattern. |
| US09746976B2 |
Touch control device and fabrication method thereof
A touch control device includes at least one sensing unit that includes an electrically insulating and light transmissive substrate, multiple mutually electrically insulating touch control electrode structures spacedly disposed on a same side of the substrate, and at least one dummy electrode set disposed on the substrate and located between adjacent ones of the touch control electrode structures. The dummy electrode set forms a groove that extends from a top side thereof through to the substrate and including a plurality of dummy electrode structures that are dividedly defined by said groove. The groove extends between the adjacent ones of the touch control electrode structures and forms at least one bent. |
| US09746975B2 |
Capacitive measurement processing for mode changes
Hybrid detection includes determining a first profiles based on multiple capacitive measurements, segmenting the first profiles into one dimensional intervals to obtain multiple segments, determining multiple regions of interest using the segments, and determining a set of contiguous regions based on multiple mutual capacitive measurements. Hybrid detection further includes selecting, from the set of contiguous regions, a set of valid contiguous regions using the regions of interest, and reporting positional information for each contiguous region in the set of valid contiguous regions. |
| US09746973B2 |
Method for driving in-cell touch panel, drive device and display device
A method for driving an in-cell touch panel, a drive device and a display device are disclosed. The driving method includes: in a touch period, applying touch detection signals to self-capacitance electrodes, receiving feedback touch sensing signals, and determine a possible touch area provided with at least one self-capacitance electrode according to the variation of the touch sensing signals compared with the touch detection signals; subsequently, taking at least a portion of self-capacitance electrodes in the touch area as a first touch electrode, taking a self-capacitance electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode as a second touch electrode, and determining an accurate touch position according to the principle of the different amount of projection fields between the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes. The driving method can improve the touch detection accuracy. |
| US09746971B2 |
Touch sensing device and driving method thereof
A touch sensing device includes: a capacitive-type touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a touch coordinate detecting unit, and a direction vector calculating unit. The capacitive-type touch sensor is configured to detect a first aspect of a touch input. The pressure sensor is configured to detect a second aspect of the touch input. The touch coordinate detecting unit is configured to, based on the first and second aspects, determine a touch coordinate associated with the capacitive-type touch sensor and a touch coordinate associated with the pressure sensor. The direction vector calculating unit is configured to determine a direction vector based on the respective touch coordinates. |
| US09746968B1 |
Touch screen display with tactile feedback using transparent actuator assemblies
The present invention provides a module or system and a method that includes: 1) a transparent screen assembly containing an actuator layer lying between two layers of transparent multiple line electrodes, where one electrode layer of forms lines in the x-direction layer and the other electrode layer forms lines in the y-direction; and 2) a controller that is connected to these electrodes. The system and method of the present invention provides: 1) multiple touch sensing on or near a surface of the transparent screen and 2) simultaneous high resolution tactile feedback across the same surface. |
| US09746967B2 |
Concurrent touch and negative pixel scan
A concurrent touch and negative pixel scan performed at a touch panel is disclosed. The concurrent scan can include sensing an object proximate to the touch panel and sensing a negative pixel effect, based the object's grounding condition, at the touch panel, at the same time. As a result, sense signals indicative of the proximity of the object and coupling signals indicative of the negative pixel effect's magnitude can be captured concurrently. Because the negative pixel effect can cause errors or distortions in the sense signals, the coupling signals can be used to compensate the sense signals for the negative pixel effect. |
| US09746962B2 |
Frequency selecting module and related computing device and frequency selecting method
A frequency selecting module for a touch system includes a storage unit, for storing a sum of at least one of a plurality of sensing signals of a plurality sensing channels in the touch system; a spectrum calculating unit, for transforming the sum of the at least one of the plurality of sensing signals stored in the storage unit to generate a spectrum data and storing the spectrum data to the storage unit; and a selecting unit, for generating an adjusting signal according to the spectrum data to select one of a plurality of operation frequencies as a working frequency of the plurality of sensing signals. |
| US09746961B2 |
Background signal processing system and background signal processing method
A background signal processing method and a background signal processing system are provided. The background signal processing method includes measuring a first conductive wire group, comparing a first background signal measurement value with a predetermined background signal threshold value to determine their difference, and executing the following steps according to the amount of the difference: (1) performing no updating; updating the background signal according to the first background signal measurement value; and further measuring a second conductive wire group and calculating a background signal speculating value of a third conductive wire group, other than the first and second conductive wire groups, based on the second background signal measurement value and the first background signal measurement value, to provide the complete background signals and ensure the quality of the captured signals. |
| US09746959B2 |
Array substrate, color filter substrate, touch control display device and method for driving the same
The disclosure provides an array substrate and a color filter substrate of a capacitive touch control screen, a touch control display device and a method for driving the touch control display device, so as to achieve the self-capacitive multi-point touch. The array substrate of the capacitive touch control screen includes: a peripheral area and a display area; a plurality of pixel units with pixel electrodes arranged in the display area; a plurality of touch control electrodes; and touch control electrode lead wires connected with a module configured to detect a touch control signal, wherein each of the touch control electrodes is connected respectively with one of the touch control electrode lead wires. |
| US09746958B2 |
Display device with a touch sensor
A display device with a touch sensor having a display function and a touch sensor function is provided. The display device includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode; a first electrode along a first direction; and a second substrate including a second electrode that includes patterns of electrodes along a second direction crossing the first direction and that faces the first electrode and the pixel electrode, wherein upon the display function being activated, the pixel electrode is supplied with a pixel signal, and the second electrode is supplied with common voltage, and upon the touch sensor function being activated, the first electrode is applied with a first signal and the second electrode is configured to receive the first signal to be a second signal as a touch detecting signal. |
| US09746955B2 |
Method of manufacturing zinc oxide nanosheet structure, and electronic apparatus and touch sensor apparatus having the zinc oxide nanosheet structure
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a zinc oxide nanosheet structure. The zinc oxide nanosheet structure may be manufactured by forming a zinc oxide seed on a substrate and growing zinc oxide from the zinc oxide seed in a zinc oxide growth solution in which zinc precursors and a doping-element-containing compound are dissolved. |
| US09746947B2 |
Touch panel and display device including the same
A touch panel and display device including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the touch panel includes an insulation substrate having a length and a width and a first sensing electrode pattern formed over the insulation substrate and including a plurality of first sensing electrodes and a plurality of first connection portions connecting the first sensing electrodes to each other in a first direction. A second sensing electrode pattern is formed over the insulation substrate and includes a plurality of second sensing electrodes, wherein the first and second sensing electrodes are alternately arranged. The touch panel also includes a plurality of second connection portions substantially overlapping the first connection portions and connecting the second sensing electrodes to each other in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second directions are inclined with respect to the length and width of the insulation substrate. |
| US09746944B2 |
Universal stylus communication with a digitizer
A method includes generating a first signal type and a second signal type in a handheld device and transmitting both the first signal type and the second signal type in a transmission cycle of the handheld device. The first signal type and the second signal type are different in at least one of frequency or modulation and are defined to include a same information related to the handheld device. |
| US09746943B1 |
Stylus with configurable hardware settings
A stylus may comprise a configurable profile to control one or more local and remote operational features. The stylus may comprise a main body configured to receive a nib having an identifier and a sensor configured to detect the identifier of the nib, wherein the identifier is associated with a configurable profile including information for controlling at least one operational feature of the stylus. A sensory feedback element may be configured to provide one or more of a tactile, audible, and visual feedback based at least in part on the configurable profile. |
| US09746941B2 |
Sensors-based automatic reconfiguration of multiple screens in wearable devices and flexible displays
Embodiments for providing a wearable device are generally described herein. A wearable device may include a processor having memory and communicatively coupled to a plurality of display areas; and an orientation sensing module communicatively coupled to the processor to determine at least one of an orientation and a location of at least one of the plurality of display areas with respect to a point of view of a user; wherein the processor provides a function for at least one of the plurality of display areas based on the determined at least one of the orientation and the location of at least one of the plurality of display areas by the orientation sensing module. |
| US09746938B2 |
Exclusive view keyboard system and method
A secure computer keyboard system utilizes a mobile device in conjunction with a keyboard device to provide secure keyboard entry in a public place. An application on the mobile device produces a mapping of characters to character codings, and displays to the user a key such as a modified keyboard showing the mapping. The keyboard device receives input keystrokes from the user representing the codings and transmits the keystrokes back to the mobile device or to a server. The mobile device or server decodes the keystrokes using the mapping. |
| US09746936B2 |
Remote controller
A controller includes a substrate is fixed relative to a movable plate. When a movement or an input operation on the movable plate or surface is detected, a drive signal is directed to drive electrodes or elements related to the substrate. The drive signal is modulated with signals dependent on the location of the movable plate. The movable plate is part of a including a plate being flat plate-like in shape. A movable plate support section supports the movable plate on a support structure so as to permit the movable plate to be moved along a plane lateral and parallel to the plate surface of the movable plate. An actuator is configured to respond to the movable plate; an actuator drive control section for outputting an actuator drive signal to drivingly control a sensor as signaled by the actuator drive control section. |
| US09746935B2 |
Methods for controlling objects using a motion based control apparatus
An electrical switch apparatus including a movement sensitive form is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a motion sensor and a processing unit, where motion on, near or about the motion sensor is translated into output commands adapted for list scrolling, where the list can be arranged in a hierarchy such as menus or for changing a value of an attribute of a electrical device under the control of the switch. |
| US09746934B2 |
Navigation approaches for multi-dimensional input
Multi-dimensional gesture input to a computing device can be improved by providing a mechanism to lock or reduce the effects of motion in unintended directions. In one example, a user can navigate in two dimensions, then provide a selection action through motion in a third dimension. If a computing device analyzing the gesture is able to detect the selection action, the device can limit motion outside the corresponding third dimension in order to ensure that the proper selection action is performed. Various thresholds, values, or motions can be used to limit motion in one or more axes for any appropriate purpose as discussed herein. |
| US09746933B2 |
Systems and methods for natural motion interaction with a virtual environment
A system includes a hand controller that includes a rigid ergonomic chassis; a hand strap, coupled to the right side of the ergonomic chassis; a main trigger, configured such that the main trigger is operable by an index finger of the right hand; a lower lever, fixed to the front of the rigid ergonomic chassis and below the main trigger, configured such that the lower lever is actuated by contraction of any of a middle finger, a ring finger, and a pinky finger of the right hand; a joystick, configured such that the joystick is operable by a thumb of the right hand; a tracking module that enables tracking of a position and orientation of the hand controller; and a wireless communication module. |
| US09746931B2 |
Image processing device and image display device
The input device and the input system include a hand detection means which detects the position of the hand, a body part detection means which detects positions of user's body parts such as the face, for example, a relative position calculation means which calculates a relative position of the hand with respect to body parts from hand position information being a detection result of the hand detection means and body part position information being a detection result of the body part detection means, and a gesture recognition means which recognizes a hand gesture on the basis of a change in the hand position information being the detection result of the hand detection means, wherein when a hand gesture is recognized, the operation of the input device with respect to the user's gesture is changed according to a relative position of the hand with respect to body parts. |
| US09746930B2 |
Detection and usability of personal electronic devices for field engineers
A system and method for improved detection and usability of personal electronic devices for field engineers is disclosed. A personal electronic device stores a list of commands in memory. The personal electronic device presents a user interface in a relative motion input mode, wherein the user interface in the relative motion mode is divided into a plurality of user interface zones. The personal electronic device receives relative motion input, wherein the relative motion input is received through one or more relative motion sensors of the personal electronic device. The personal electronic device determines whether the received relative motion input matches input associated with a respective command in a list of reference commands. In accordance with a determination that the received relative motion input matches input is associated with a respective command in the list of reference commands, the personal electronic device executes the respective command. |
| US09746926B2 |
Techniques for gesture-based initiation of inter-device wireless connections
Techniques for gesture-based device connections are described. For example, a method may comprise receiving video data corresponding to motion of a first computing device, receiving sensor data corresponding to motion of the first computing device, comparing, by a processor, the video data and the sensor data to one or more gesture models, and initiating establishment of a wireless connection between the first computing device and a second computing device if the video data and sensor data correspond to gesture models for the same gesture. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09746924B2 |
Electronic device, method for controlling electronic device, and recording medium
A portable terminal device (10) includes a touch panel display (12) which displays information such as character strings, vibration setting information (16c) which stores character strings and vibration patterns in association with each other, a control unit (15) which recognizes an image displayed on the touch panel display (12) as a character string, and a vibration generating unit (14) which generates vibration in a particular vibration pattern. The control unit (15) determines a character string from among a displayed image, obtains a pattern of vibration corresponding to the determined character string referring to the vibration setting information (16c), and causes the vibration generating unit (14) to generate vibration in the obtained vibration pattern. |
| US09746923B2 |
Systems and methods for providing features in a friction display wherein a haptic effect is configured to vary the coefficient of friction
A touch-enabled device can simulate one or more features in a touch area. Features may include, but are not limited to, changes in texture and/or simulation of boundaries, obstacles, or other discontinuities in the touch surface that can be perceived through use of an object in contact with the surface. Systems include a sensor configured to detect a touch in a touch area when an object contacts a touch surface, an actuator, and one or more processors. The processor can determine a position of the touch using the sensor and select a haptic effect to generate based at least in part on the position, the haptic effect selected to simulate the presence of a feature at or near the determined position. The processor can transmit a haptic signal to generate the identified haptic effect using the actuator. Some features are simulated by varying the coefficient of friction of the touch surface. |
| US09746920B2 |
Determining errors in forms using eye movement
Tracking eye movement during the completion of a form on a mobile computing device to determine possible errors and suggest changes to the form. To improve data quality, eye-tracking data is used to determine input fields on a form that cause issues for a user; based on the eye tracking data, suggestions are made to change a response or to modify the form. |
| US09746916B2 |
Audio user interaction recognition and application interface
Disclosed is an application interface that takes into account the user's gaze direction relative to who is speaking in an interactive multi-participant environment where audio-based contextual information and/or visual-based semantic information is being presented. Among these various implementations, two different types of microphone array devices (MADs) may be used. The first type of MAD is a steerable microphone array (a.k.a. a steerable array) which is worn by a user in a known orientation with regard to the user's eyes, and wherein multiple users may each wear a steerable array. The second type of MAD is a fixed-location microphone array (a.k.a. a fixed array) which is placed in the same acoustic space as the users (one or more of which are using steerable arrays). |
| US09746913B2 |
Secured mobile maintenance and operator system including wearable augmented reality interface, voice command interface, and visual recognition systems and related methods
Secured remote maintenance, configuration management, and systems engineering apparatuses and methods including wearable augmented reality (AR) interface systems are provided. Embodiments can support secure and remote configuration setting changes (CSC) to a system or subsystem of interest (SSoI) using a head mounted device (HMD), a camera, a visual interface section, and a processing section including a plurality of processing instructions operable to operate a command input (CI) interface using one or more user command input CIs (e.g. voice or motion/gesture input recognition) using a secure user authentication systems. HMD machine vision and pattern recognition systems visually identify a SSoI, displaying a 3D model(s) of the SSoI on the HMD's visual interface using the AR interface system, obtaining a plurality of SSoI data, and displaying one or more of the SSoI data in relation to the 3D model on the HMD visual interface to support various tasks including CI directed CSCs. |
| US09746910B2 |
Supporting runtime D3 and buffer flush and fill for a peripheral component interconnect device
Particular embodiments described herein provide for an apparatus that includes a means for determining a power state for a device connected to a system, a means for determining that the device should change power states, and means for sending a signal to the device to put the device in a D3-cold state while the system is a GO/SO state. In an embodiment, the device is a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) device. Also, the particular example implementation can include means for sending a PCIRST# signal from the device to a controller to cause the device to exit the D3-cold state, wherein the PCIRST# signal is received at a pin on the controller that is different than a designated PCIRST# signal pin. |
| US09746905B2 |
Selectively shifting to a second power mode that cuts power to a memory and a first power mode that do not cut power to the memory in an image forming apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes, a reception unit configured to receive an instruction to transfer the information processing apparatus to the second power state, an analysis unit configured, when the reception unit receives the instruction, to analyze a factor limiting the transfer of the information processing apparatus to the second power state, and a control unit configured, when the analysis unit analyzes the factor and as a result the factor is a first factor, to control the information processing apparatus to transfer to the third power state without waiting until the factor is resolved, and configured, when the factor is a second factor, to control the information processing apparatus to wait until the factor is resolved, and to transfer to the second power state. |
| US09746897B2 |
Method for controlling a multi-core central processor unit of a device establishing a relationship between device operational parameters and a number of started cores
A method for controlling a central processor unit (CPU) of an electronic device includes establishing a corresponding relationship among operational parameters of the electronic device and a number of started cores of the CPU. Current operational parameters of the electronic device are acquired. The number of started cores of the CPU corresponding to the current operational parameters is adjusted based on the corresponding relationship. Then, the CPU is controlled to run with the adjusted number of started cores. |
| US09746896B1 |
Power conservation in always-on displays
A computing device is described that includes a display unit. The display unit includes an array of pixels defined by N rows and M columns and at least one row select unit configured to select one or more of the N rows. The display unit further includes a first column control unit configured to drive a first contiguous group of pixels from the array of pixels, and a second column control unit configured to drive a second contiguous group of pixels from the array of pixels. |
| US09746893B1 |
Delaying power restoration
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying, for each of multiple circuits of an electrical device, a discharge time that indicates an amount of time previously taken for a voltage level of the circuit to decrease from a normal operating voltage to a specified voltage level after power was removed from the circuit. A delay time period is determined for the electrical device based on each discharge time. A command is received to cycle power to one or more components of the electrical device. In response to receiving the command, power is removed from the circuits for an amount of time that corresponds to the delay time period and power is restored to the circuits in response to the amount of time lapsing. |
| US09746891B2 |
Computer
A computer is used in a computer. The computer includes a resistor coupled to a motherboard of the computer, a control module, and an output module. The output module is coupled between the resistor and the control module. The control module is configured to control the output module to make a first response when the computer is in a S3/S4 state and control the output module to make a second response when the computer is working at a full speed. The motherboard is configured to output a first voltage to the output module when making the first response and output a second voltage to the output module when making the second response. The first voltage is configured to supply the addition card via the control circuit and the second voltage is configured to supply the addition card via the control circuit. |
| US09746890B2 |
Method and electronic device for generating a reference voltage
A method for generating a reference voltage is provided. The method for generating a reference voltage includes the following steps: providing a voltage identification signal corresponding to an operating frequency of a processor; receiving the voltage identification signal and providing a reference voltage according to the operating frequency; determining whether the reference voltage is greater than a first threshold voltage or less than a second threshold voltage; regulating the reference voltage corresponding to the voltage identification signal by adding a first offset voltage when the reference voltage is greater than the first threshold voltage; and regulating the reference voltage corresponding to the voltage identification signal by subtracting a second offset voltage when the reference voltage is less than the second threshold voltage. In addition, an electronic device using the method for generating a reference voltage is also provided. |
| US09746881B2 |
Apparatus for port expansion
A port expansion dock for a mobile electronic device comprises a housing, a connector positioned within the housing and configured to be connected to the mobile electronic device, and at least one video output port positioned within the housing and configured for a first connection to a first peripheral device. |
| US09746876B2 |
Drift compensation for a real time clock circuit
Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for adjusting a counter in a computing system to account for drift of the counter value over time compared to another counter of the system. In particular, a processor of the computing system that includes a local counter component may access a counter component of another processor of the system, referred to as the reference counter. By comparing the value of the reference counter to the local counter, the processor may determine any drift that may have occurred over a period of time in the local counter. The calculated drift, or counter error, may be converted into one or more adjustments to the local counter to synchronize the local counter with the reference counter. In one embodiment, the adjustment to the local counter includes increasing the rate at which the local counter is incremented for a period of time. |
| US09746875B2 |
Ticket production device and ticket production method
A ticket production device that cuts continuous recording paper printed with information and produces a ticket includes a paper conveyance means that conveys the recording paper through a paper conveyance path; a printing means that prints information on the recording paper conveyed by the paper conveyance means; a paper cutting means that cuts the recording paper on which information was printed into a ticket of a specific length; a paper position detection means that detects the position of the recording paper waiting at a paper exit; and a control means that integrally controls these other means. When the paper position detection means detects the position of the recording paper changed, the control means operates the paper cutting means and produces a ticket based on the detection result from the paper position detection means. |
| US09746874B2 |
Ergonomically symmetric pedal control system
An industrial symmetric pedal control system is provided which allows for ergonomically favorable operation by paired reciprocal control pedals which mirror an operator's right and left limbs. The reciprocal mirror control pedals allow operation of the same predetermined function within designated machinery by either the left or right foot of an operator, thus reducing fatigue while maintaining proper position at a particular workstation. Also included in the system is an ergonomically designed floor mat to provide the operator with more comfort and less fatigue while operating machinery. |
| US09746865B2 |
Current-to-voltage conversion circuit, reception apparatus, and imaging system
Provided is a current-to-voltage conversion circuit, including: an input/output node configured to input a current signal including a direct current component and an alternating current component, and to output a voltage based on the current signal; an amplification unit configured to input the voltage of the input/output node; an extraction unit configured to output a voltage based on a direct current component of a voltage output from the amplification unit; a first current supply unit configured to supply a current based on the voltage output from the extraction unit to the input/output node; and a second current supply unit configured to supply a current based on the alternating current component of the current signal to the input/output node. The current supplied by the second current supply unit corresponds to a difference between a current of the current signal and the current supplied by the first current supply unit. |
| US09746863B2 |
Electronic device for heating an integrated structure, for example an MOS transistor
An electronic device includes an integrated circuit with a MOS transistor and a heating circuit electrically coupled to at least two points of one of the source or drain semiconductive region of the transistor. A portion of the source or drain semiconductive region between the two points forms a resistive element. The heating circuit is configured to cause a current to circulate through the resistive element between the two points to heat an active region of the transistor. |
| US09746860B2 |
Electric tool adaptor and electric tool system using same
An electric tool adaptor is configured to be disposed between an electric tool and a battery pack and attached detachably with respect to the electric tool and the battery pack. This adaptor includes a DC-DC converter configured to increase or reduce a voltage of the battery pack to convert the voltage to a drive voltage of the electric tool and supply the drive voltage to the electric tool. |
| US09746858B2 |
Control device for automatically starting warm-up
A control device of the present invention estimates warm-up time that it takes for a warm-up of a machine based on the temperature of the machine to be warmed up and the saturation temperature that is unique to the machine. Warm-up start time is calculated based on the obtained warm-up time and predefined warm-up end time. In this way, the warm-up can be efficiently performed as the warm-up can be performed for an appropriate period of time in consideration of the saturation temperature unique to the machine. |
| US09746853B2 |
Traffic signal timing estimation using a support vector regression model
A method and apparatus for traffic signal timing estimation are disclosed. Traffic signal timing estimation may include a vehicle identifying transportation network information representing a vehicle transportation network including an intersection. The transportation network information may include expected traffic control device state information corresponding to the intersection, such as a support vector regression based machine learning model trained for the intersection. The vehicle may identify a route through the vehicle transportation network that includes the intersection based on the expected traffic control device state information and may control the traversal of the vehicle transportation network by the vehicle based on the expected traffic control device state information to minimize one or more operational cost metrics. Training the model may include identifying training data from input data previously generated and stored by a traffic control device controller of the intersection. |
| US09746841B2 |
Reducing pilot runs of run-to-run control in a manufacturing facility
A system and method for reducing pilot runs of run-to-run control in a manufacturing facility calculates an unbiased estimation of an independent model intercept based on a state space model associated with the manufacturing facility. A determination is made as to whether to perform a pilot run in the manufacturing facility. Upon determining that the run is to be performed, an indication that the pilot run is to be performed is generated. Pilot run data is received in response to the pilot run being performed, and the state space model is updated based on the received data. |
| US09746838B2 |
Method and apparatus for content management
A method and apparatus for content management are provided. The method and apparatus efficiently manage content so as to provide a convenient user interface in an electronic device supporting content playback, browsing and storage. The method includes obtaining attribute information of a content item from a storage device, registering the attribute information in a content database, determining content items to be played back by a content player using the attribute information registered in the content database, creating a content list on the basis of the determined content items, displaying the content list, and playing back a content item selected by a user from the content list. |
| US09746836B2 |
Supply and demand control device and supply and demand control method
A supply and demand control device includes: a first communication unit which communicates, via a communication network, with an electrical device which belongs to a customer and consumes power from a power system; and a control unit which obtains a frequency of the power system, and start observation control if the obtained frequency falls below a lower limit of a predetermined frequency range, in which in the observation control, the control unit determines start time for reducing power consumption by the electrical device via the first communication unit, based on a rate of change in frequency obtained after the observation control is started, and starts reducing the power consumption at the start time if the obtained frequency does not return to within the predetermined frequency range within an observation duration which is a duration from start of the observation control to the start time. |
| US09746834B2 |
Self-recharging electronic watch
A self-recharging electronic watch includes a receiving body, a watch strap, at least one flexible touch screen, a processor, and at least one battery. The watch strap, which includes at least one temperature difference power generator, holds the electronic watch to wrist of user and gathers its heat. The at least one flexible touch screen is arranged to cover an outside surface of the watch strap. The processor in a receiving space of the receiving body controls the flexible touch screen to display time and other information to user and can receive audible and other input from user. The battery is arranged in the receiving space and receives electrical power from the at least one temperature difference power generator. |
| US09746833B2 |
Electronic device and smart method for controlling alarm
An electronic device and a smart method for controlling an alarm are provided. The smart method includes, controlling a collection device to collect physiological parameters of a user when an alarm device of the electronic device sounds an alarm at a schedules time, obtaining the physiological parameters collected by the collection device, and determining whether the user is asleep or awake according to the obtained physiological parameters. The alarm device is disabled if the user is awake. |
| US09746831B2 |
Regulating body for a wristwatch
Regulating body for a wristwatch, comprising: a generator provided with a rotor and a stator with M+N coils, M being a whole number higher than, or equal to, 1; and an electronic regulating circuit having a first load impedance with an adjustable value for adjusting the current in N of said M+N coils, and therefore the rotational speed of the rotor. Only a limited number of coils is therefore used for the braking, the other coils continuing to supply the electronic regulating circuit. |
| US09746830B2 |
Display mechanism
A centralized control unit for controlling an arm moving in a clockwise direction and in a counter-clockwise direction includes an arbor about which the centralized control unit pivots. The arm is integrally mounted on a toothed actuating wheel as an assembly, and the assembly is mounted to freely rotate about the arbor. The centralized control unit also includes a wheel to control the arm in the clockwise direction, a wheel to control the arm in the counter-clockwise direction, and a power wheel kinematically connected to an independent barrel to drive the arm. |
| US09746827B2 |
Image forming apparatus and drying device
An image forming apparatus includes a drying section, a cooling section, and an exhaust section. The drying section dries a recording medium on which an image is formed. The cooling section cools the recording medium dried by the drying section. The exhaust section exhausts air from the drying section and the cooling section through an exhaust port. The exhaust section includes a plurality of flow path determiners disposed on opposing walls of the exhaust section, to form an air flow path from the drying section to the exhaust port. The plurality of flow path determiners alternately projects from the opposing walls. |
| US09746825B2 |
Image forming apparatus having mountable and demountable photosensitive member cartridge and developing cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a feeding tray, a pickup roller, a developing cartridge, a photosensitive member cartridge, and an exposing unit. The photosensitive member cartridge is configured to be mounted and demounted to and from a photosensitive member cartridge mounting position in the main body through a space under the exposing unit and through an opening of the front wall of the main body in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the pickup roller. The developing cartridge is configured to be mounted and demounted to and from a developing cartridge mounting position in the main body through a space under the exposing unit and through the opening in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the pickup roller, in a state the photosensitive member cartridge remains at the photosensitive member cartridge mounting position in the main body. |
| US09746824B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit configured to develop using toner an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member, a mounting unit to which a container is mounted, the container including a containing unit configured to contain toner and a pump unit, and performing a supplying operation for supplying toner by expansion and contraction of the pump unit, a driving unit configured to rotationally drive the container to cause the container to perform the supplying operation, and a controller configured to control a rotational speed of the container based on a time for which the supplying operation has been performed. |
| US09746819B2 |
Powder collection container and image forming apparatus including the same
A collection container is divided by a divider plate into waste developer collection chambers in communication with waste developer reception ports for each color developer and a single waste toner collection chamber in communication with waste toner reception ports for each color toner. Further, the divider plate is a part of the inner wall of the collection container and the part is installed extending in the vertical direction to define a clearance between the divider plate and the bottom plate of the collection container. This makes it possible to collect color waste toner and color waste developer with a simple configuration. |
| US09746817B2 |
Cleaning blade with elastic member including reformed layer, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge with the same
Provided is a cleaning blade including an elastic member configured to abut on a surface of a cleaning target member and remove residual material deposited thereon, wherein elastic member satisfies requirements a to c below, a. an abutment part of the elastic member to abut on the surface of the cleaning target member has a reformed layer, b. Martens hardness at a surface of the reformed layer is from 1.5 to 15 N/mm2, and c. a relationship H/L between maximum Martens hardness H among Martens hardnesses H in a region inward from the abutment part thicknesswise and distance L from the surface of the reformed layer is from 0.010 to 0.2 (N/mm2·1/μm), where distance L represents minimum distance among distances to the surface of the reformed layer, from positions at which a measured Martens hardness and a measured elastic power are equal to those of the elastic member. |
| US09746813B2 |
Image forming apparatus and voltage supply method
An image forming apparatus and a voltage supply method are provided which are capable of fulfilling a stable bias supply to a fittable-and-removable image forming unit and moreover offering improved accessibility to the board. The image forming apparatus includes a lower casing, an image forming unit, a high-voltage board, and a left interconnecting unit. The high-voltage board has a plurality of electric components and output terminals in its upper surface portion above the image forming unit. When a top cover of the lower casing is removed off, the high-voltage board is exposed. The left interconnecting unit is fitted to a side end portion of the high-voltage board and electrically connected to the output terminals of the high-voltage board. The left interconnecting unit supplies a voltage to the image forming unit via a side portion of the high-voltage board. |
| US09746810B2 |
Sheet humidification apparatus, sheet humidification method and image formation system
A sheet humidification apparatus includes a pair of humidification rollers, a water supply section, and a control section configured to control humidification of the humidification rollers and water supply of the water supply section, and the control section refers to a contacting period between the humidification rollers to control the water supply such that a second water supply amount from the water supply section to the second humidification member is smaller than a first water supply amount from the water supply section to the first humidification member. |
| US09746808B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus which is able to stably perform paper feeding without double feeding the printing medium, and is also able to prevent a quality of the printing medium from being damaged is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a pick-up roller configured to pick up the printing medium, and a driving source configured to transmit a driving force to the pick-up roller, wherein the pick-up roller is provided to be raised and then to be returned to its original location when picking up the printing medium. |
| US09746803B2 |
Image forming apparatus having fixing unit with suction part
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit receiving through an inlet a recording medium with a transferred toner image and heat fixing the toner image to the recording medium before discharging the recording medium from an outlet; a suction part for sucking the recording medium through a recording-medium suction opening, the recording medium conveyed on a recording medium conveyance path leading to the inlet; an exhaust passage for discharging to the outside a gas sucked by the suction part; and a filter disposed in the exhaust passage and serving to capture fine particles generated from the fixing unit and sucked in by the suction part. |
| US09746801B2 |
Cartridges and electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same
A cartridge attachable to and detachable from a body of an image forming apparatus includes a toner container containing a toner and including a stirring member configured to stir the toner, and a developing section connected to the toner container through a supply port and including a developing section stirring member configured to stir the toner, a supply roller configured to receive the toner supplied from the developing section stirring member, and a developing roller configured to receive the toner supplied from the supply roller. A rotation ratio of the stirring member to the supply roller is 5% to 25%. |
| US09746800B2 |
Liquid storing body including a stirring member
Provided is a liquid storing body for preventing a liquid containing a sedimentous component with a predetermined concentration or more from being supplied to a liquid jetting apparatus. An ink tank is provided with an ink storing part in which an opening provided on a side surface of a case is sealed with a film. An ink injection port is formed in an upper portion wall of the case. A plug member is provided with a sealing part that can seal the ink injection port, an operation part that is inserted in an ink reservoir chamber via the ink injection port, and a stirring portion provided at the lower end of the operation part. Ink in the ink storing part can be stirred by a user moving the plug member up and down with their hand. |
| US09746798B2 |
Developing device including casing having supply opening and discharge opening, and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A developing device includes: a casing having a partitioning wall, a toner chamber, and a developing chamber positioned above the toner chamber; a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a supply roller; first and second conveying members. The developing roller, the supply roller, and the second conveying member are accommodated in the developing chamber. The first conveying member is accommodated in the toner chamber. The partitioning wall has a supply opening and a discharge opening for providing communication between the toner chamber and the developing chamber. The supply and discharge openings are positioned outward of the supply roller in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The first conveying member conveys the toner accommodated in the toner chamber into the developing chamber through the supply opening. The second conveying member conveys the toner supplied by the first conveying member from the supply opening to the discharge opening in the axial direction. |
| US09746796B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit for forming toner images on a first photosensitive body; a second image forming unit for forming toner images on a second photosensitive body; a first exposure unit for exposing the first photosensitive body; a second exposure unit for exposing the second photosensitive body; a transfer unit for transferring, onto an intermediate transfer belt, toner images for correction formed from the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit; a detection unit for detecting the toner images for correction; and a control unit for controlling an exposure cycle of the first exposure unit, wherein the control unit corrects the exposure cycle of the first exposure unit based on a detected consequence of the detection unit. |
| US09746792B1 |
Charging member, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus for reducing production of micro-chromatic line
A charging member includes a support member, a conductive elastic layer disposed on the support member, and a front surface layer disposed on the conductive elastic layer. Irregularities with a cycle of shorter than 0.1 mm and irregularities with a cycle of 0.1 mm or longer are distributed on an entirety of an outer circumferential surface of the charging member, and satisfy the following conditions of (1) and (2):(1) The irregularities with the cycle of shorter than 0.1 mm have an average height of 5 μm to 8 μm; and(2) The irregularities with the cycle of 0.1 mm or longer have an average height of 6 μm to 30 μm.A half-value width of a maximum frequency value of a height distribution on the outer circumferential surface is 1 μm to 3 μm. |
| US09746790B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus, and chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal and method for producing the same
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer in this order. The photosensitive layer contains a chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal represented by formula (1) in which at least one organic compound selected from N,N-dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide is contained. The content of the organic compound contained in the chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal represented by the formula (1) is 0.10 mass % or more and 0.80 mass % or less based on a content of the chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal represented by the formula (1). |
| US09746789B2 |
Exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus which performs a scanning exposure of each of a plurality of shot regions on a substrate, comprising a measuring device including a first detector configured to perform detection with respect to a measurement point on the substrate and a second detector configured to perform detection with respect to the measurement point prior to detection by the first detector, and configured to measure a height of the substrate based on an output from the first detector and an output from the second detector, and a processor configured to determine, based on measurement obtained based on an output from the first detector along with a scanning exposure of a first shot region, a first measurement point where the measuring device performs measurement first based on an output from the second detector with respect to a second shot region. |
| US09746786B2 |
Overlay mask
An overlay mask includes a plurality of first patterns, a plurality of second patterns and a plurality of third patterns. The first patterns are arranged within a first pitch. The second patterns are arranged within a second pitch. A first portion of the third patterns are arranged alternately with the first patterns, within the first pitch, and a second portion of the third patterns are arranged alternately with the second patterns, within the second pitch, and the first pitch is not equal to the second pitch. |
| US09746784B2 |
Lens heating compensation systems and methods
Methods for calibrating a photolithographic system are disclosed. A cold lens contour for a reticle design and at least one hot lens contour for the reticle design are generated from which a process window is defined. Aberrations induced by a lens manipulator are characterized in a manipulator model and the process window is optimized using the manipulator model. Aberrations are characterized by identifying variations in critical dimensions caused by lens manipulation for a plurality of manipulator settings and by modeling behavior of the manipulator as a relationship between manipulator settings and aberrations. The process window may be optimized by minimizing a cost function for a set of critical locations. |
| US09746780B2 |
Maskless exposure device, maskless exposure method and display substrate manufactured by the maskless exposure device and the maskless exposure method
A maskless exposure device includes an exposure head including a digital micro-mirror device and an exposure source, the digital micro-mirror device being configured to reflect a source beam outputted from the exposure source to a substrate and a system controller configured to control the digital micro-mirror device by using a graphic data system file. The graphic data system file includes data regarding patterns to be formed on the substrate. A pattern extending in a direction parallel to a scan direction of the exposure head includes a first pattern portion having a first width that is greater than a target width and a second pattern portion alternately disposed with the first pattern portion and having a second width that is less than the target width. |
| US09746779B2 |
Illumination optical unit for projection lithography
An illumination optical unit for projection lithography serves for illuminating an object field, in which an object to be imaged can be arranged, with illumination light. The illumination optical unit has a field facet mirror having a plurality of field facets. Furthermore, the illumination optical unit has a pupil facet mirror having a plurality of pupil facets. The field facets are imaged into the object field by a transfer optical unit. The illumination optical unit additionally has a deflection facet mirror having a plurality of deflection facets, which is arranged in the illumination beam path between the field facet mirror and the pupil facet mirror. This results in an illumination optical unit in which the illumination of the object to be imaged can be configured flexibly and can be adapted well to predefined values. |
| US09746778B2 |
EUV exposure apparatus with reflective elements having reduced influence of temperature variation
A projection lens of an EUV-lithographic projection exposure system with at least two reflective optical elements each comprising a body and a reflective surface for projecting an object field on a reticle onto an image field on a substrate if the projection lens is exposed with an exposure power of EUV light, wherein the bodies of at least two reflective optical elements comprise a material with a temperature dependent coefficient of thermal expansion which is zero at respective zero cross temperatures, and wherein the absolute value of the difference between the zero cross temperatures is more than 6K. |
| US09746777B2 |
Exposure apparatus and exposure method thereof
An exposure apparatus includes at least one radiation source, a plurality of projection lenses, and a lens switch. The radiation source is operable for providing a radiation beam. The lens switch is operable for selecting one of the projection lenses to focus the radiation beam to a target plane. |
| US09746775B2 |
Method for manufacturing substrate having concave pattern, composition, method for forming conductive film, electronic circuit and electronic device
Provided is a method for manufacturing a substrate having a concave pattern to be used for forming a high-definition pattern while suppressing wet-spreading and bleeding of a film-forming ink, provided is a composition to be used for manufacturing the substrate, and provided are a method for forming a conductive film, an electronic circuit, and an electronic device.The method for manufacturing a substrate having a concave pattern includes: (i) a step of applying, on a substrate 1, a composition containing a polymer having an acid-dissociable group and an acid generator to form a coating film 2 and (ii) a step of irradiating a predetermined portion of the coating film 2 with radiation. The method for forming a conductive film includes applying a conductive film-forming ink on the concave pattern formed in the exposed portion of the coating film 2 and heating the ink to form a pattern 6. The electronic circuit and the electronic device are provided by using the method for forming a conductive film. |
| US09746765B2 |
Exterior décor panel for home appliance and method of manufacturing the same
Manufacturing an exterior décor panel for a home appliance includes laminating a photosensitive dry film on a front surface of a metal sheet, the photosensitive dry film having a higher etch resistance than the metal sheet against an electrolytic solution, photo-masking the photosensitive dry film attached to the metal sheet to create a pattern having a minimum width of 0.1 mm in the photosensitive dry film to thereby expose the front surface of the metal sheet corresponding to the pattern in the photosensitive film, electrolytic-polishing the photo-masked metal sheet by dipping the photo-masked metal sheet in an electrolytic bath to allow the electrolytic solution to contact the exposed front surface of the metal sheet and form the pattern in the front surface of the metal sheet, and performing post-treatment on the metal sheet, the post-treatment including washing and removing the photosensitive dry film. |
| US09746764B2 |
Mask blank and transfer mask
A mask blank, including: a thin film for forming a transfer pattern; a resist underlying film made of a resist underlying composition and provided on the thin film; a resist film made of a chemically amplified resist and provided on the resist underlying film; and a mixture film provided so as to be interposed between the resist underlying film and the resist film, wherein the resist underlying film is configured so that a molecular weight is reduced from the thin film side to the resist film side in a thickness direction, and has a low molecular weight region in which the molecular weight is low on the resist film side surface, and the mixture film is formed by mixing a component of the low molecular weight region and a component of the chemically amplified resist. |
| US09746763B2 |
Phase shift mask and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a phase shift mask including a substrate, a phase shift layer, and a shielding layer. The phase shift layer is located on the substrate. A pattern of the phase shift layer includes a main pattern and sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs). The SRAFs are disposed around the main pattern. The phase shift layer has a transmission, and the transmission is larger than 6%. The shielding layer at least covers the SRAFs of the phase shift layer. |
| US09746762B2 |
Conductive film coated substrate, multilayer reflective film coated substrate, reflective mask blank, reflective mask, and semiconductor device manufacturing method
Provided is a conductive film coated substrate, including a conductive film formed thereon. In a relationship between a bearing area (%) and a bearing depth (nm) that are obtained by measuring, with an atomic force microscope, a region of 1 μm×1 μm of a surface of the conductive film, the surface of the conductive film satisfies a relationship that (BA70−BA30)/(BD70−BD30) is 15 or more and 260 or less (%/nm), and a maximum height (Rmax) is 1.3 nm or more and 15 nm or less. |
| US09746760B2 |
Video display with photo-luminescent dyes
A video display system includes a light source configured to generate light and a substrate having a plurality of pixels deposited on a first side of the substrate. Each of the pixels is formed from a plurality of photo-luminescent dyes, and the light source is configured to project light onto the first side of the substrate to illuminate at least a subset of the photo-luminescent dyes in a raster pattern to generate an image. In another embodiment omitting the substrate, the photo-luminescent dyes forming the pixels are deposited directly onto a screen. |
| US09746758B2 |
Illumination optical system and image projection apparatus with the same
An illumination optical system illuminates an image display element and includes a first lens array configured to divide light emitted from a light source, a second lens array configured to receive light from the first lens array, and a condenser optical system configured to guide light from the second lens array to the image display element, and a conjugate point of the image display element is located between an incident surface of the first lens array and an incident surface of the second lens array. |
| US09746752B1 |
Directional projection display
In some examples, a projection display surface is configured to reflect a first image or image portion in a first direction and a second image or image portion in a second direction. In some cases, first light corresponding to the first image is projected onto a display surface that includes a first plurality of reflectors configured to reflect the first light in a first direction, but not reflect second light corresponding to the second image. The display surface may further include a second plurality of reflectors to reflect the second light in a second direction, but not reflect the first light. In some examples, the first light is within a first wavelength range and the second light is within a second, different wavelength range. In other examples, the first light has a first polarization and the second light has a second, different polarization. |
| US09746751B1 |
Camera mount system
A camera mount system having two camera mounts connected to a main rail and moveable longitudinally with respect to each other, for differing lens lengths. One of the mounts includes two rollers to allow the camera to be rotated relative to the shooting plane. A rifle-like arrangement is used wherein a handle, with trigger connected to the camera with a cable, and stock/butt stock is provided. The stock and butt stock are vertically and laterally adjustable to accommodate right and left handed use as well as proper shoulder alignment. |
| US09746749B2 |
Lifetime extending and performance improvements of optical fibers via loading
An optical fiber includes a core and a cladding. The optical fiber includes a core material and a cladding material, respectively, wherein the fiber is a non-linear microstructured optical fiber, the microstructured optical fiber being obtainable by a method including loading with hydrogen and/or deuterium and optionally annealing and/or irradiation whereby the lifetime of the fiber may be extended in high power applications. |
| US09746748B2 |
Apparatus and method for generation of high harmonics from silicon
A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating tunable attosecond-scale radiation pulses, with a frequency in range of mid-infrared to ultra-violet, from a silicon medium. The invention utilizes an intense laser pulse to drive a high harmonic generation (HHG) process in a silicon medium and a weak secondary field to control the HHG process. The weak secondary field has a frequency equal to the second harmonic of the intense laser pulse. The spatial, temporal and spectral properties of the HHG process and the emitted harmonic beam are tuned by adjusting the relative delay between the two fields and the intensity of the weak secondary field. |
| US09746747B2 |
Optical switch, optical switch apparatus and node, and communication network
An optical switch has four optical ports; a first optical waveguide coupled between a first of said ports and a second of the ports; a first switch element provided between the first waveguide and a second optical waveguide that is coupled to a third of the ports; a second switch element provided between the first waveguide and a third optical waveguide that is coupled to a fourth of the ports. Each switch element has a micro-ring resonator having an active state in which it is coupled to the first waveguide and to a respective one of the second and third waveguides for optical signals at a preselected wavelength, and an inactive state in which no coupling occurs. Each switch element has a control element arranged to receive a respective control signal configured to cause it to switch the micro-ring resonator between said states. |
| US09746746B2 |
Fast optical switch and its applications in optical communication
A fast optical switch can be fabricated/constructed, when vanadium dioxide (VO2) ultra thin-film or a cluster of vanadium dioxide particles (less than 0.5 microns in diameter) embedded in an ultra thin-film of a polymeric material or in a mesh of metal nanowires is activated by either an electrical pulse (a voltage pulse or a current pulse) or a light pulse just to induce rapid insulator-to-metal phase transition (IMT) in vanadium dioxide ultra thin-film or vanadium dioxide particles embedded in an ultra thin-film of a polymeric material or in a mesh of metal nanowires. The applications of such a fast optical switch for an on-Demand optical add-drop subsystem, integrating with or without a wavelength converter are also described. |
| US09746744B1 |
Method for forming a self-aligned mach-zehnder interferometer
A method of forming a waveguide for a self-aligned Mach-Zehnder-Interferometer. The method includes forming a waveguide on a substrate and providing a first mask with a first opening exposing a first width and a pair of second widths towards opposite sides of the first width. Additionally, the method includes doping a first dopant of a first concentration through the first opening into a first thickness of the waveguide to form a first semiconducting phase thereof. The method includes providing a second mask with a second opening exposing part of the waveguide and doping a second dopant of a second concentration through the second opening into the part of the waveguide to form a second semiconductor phase thereof sharing a boundary with the first semiconducting phase to form a PN junction across the boundary. The boundary is allowed to vary with a margin of tolerance within the first width. |
| US09746743B1 |
Electro-optic optical modulator devices and method of fabrication
A novel electro-optic optical modulator device and a related method for creating the novel optical modulator device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the novel optical modulator comprises a high index contrast optical waveguide, a mesa region, electrical modulation electrodes, RF transmission lines, and interconnection layers. The high index contrast optical waveguide comprises an electro-optic slab core region and a high index ridge core region. A mesa section which includes the core regions can be formed, and electrical modulation electrodes are placed on etched sidewalls of the mesa section to achieve electro-optical index modulation of the electro-optic slab core region. The RF transmission lines include RF electrodes that connected to the electrical modulation electrodes. The interconnection layers connect the modulation electrodes with the RF electrodes by using etched vias. The novel optical modulator can also incorporate foldable modulation arms for poling in the electro-optic slab core region. |
| US09746734B2 |
Pixel structure and manufacturing method thereof, display panel and display device
The present invention relates to a pixel structure and a manufacturing method thereof, a display panel and a display device. The pixel structure comprises a plurality of columns of pixels, a data line is provided between every two adjacent columns of pixels, each pixel comprises a pixel electrode and a thin film transistor comprising a gate, an active layer, a source and a drain, wherein, a gate protective layer is provided between the gates and the active layers, grooves, each of which is at least partially located between two adjacent columns of pixels, are provided in the gate protective layer, for opposite ends of the pixel electrodes of the two adjacent columns of pixels and the data line between the two adjacent columns of pixels, one is located in the groove, and the other is located on a part of the gate protective layer without the groove. |
| US09746733B2 |
Liquid crystal display with reduced number of data lines and method for driving the liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel comprising: a display area in which a display area in which an array of pixel units is disposed, each of the pixel unit at least comprises a blue sub-pixel; a plurality of scan lines for providing a plurality of scan signals to the pixel units; and a plurality of data lines for providing a plurality of data signals to the pixel units, wherein the blue sub-pixels of the pixel units in every two separated columns, which are separated by one column, are coupled to a first data line, and the first data line provides an identical data signal to the blue sub-pixels in a same line of the two separated columns. The present invention further provides a method for driving the liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal display comprising the above mentioned liquid crystal panel. |
| US09746732B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a substrate including an active region, a non-active region disposed outside the active region, and a driving region disposed on one side of the non-active region, gate lines disposed in the active region to extend in a row direction, data lines disposed in the active region to extend in a column direction, pixels connected to the gate lines and the data lines, repair wiring disposed in the non-active region, and a gate driving integrated circuit (“IC”) disposed in the driving region, the gate driving IC generating gate driving signals and transmitting the gate driving signals to the gate lines, where the repair wiring includes a first sub-repair line connected to the gate driving IC, and a second sub-repair line disposed in the non-active region to extend in the column direction, to be connected to the first sub-repair line, and to overlap the gate lines. |
| US09746729B2 |
Liquid crystal display
According to one embodiment, there is a third column of third color (Blue) pixels and fourth (White) color pixels arranged alternately. The first set of a first (Red), a second (Green) and a third (Blue) color pixels along the first direction, and the second set of a first (Red), a second (Green) and a fourth (White) color pixels along the first direction are each defined as a composite color unit pixel. In the composite color unit pixels located at the first or second one along the first direction from composite color unit pixels to which color pixels of the third columns belongs, a connection pattern is designed that the pixels of the third columns are connected to the odd-numbered gate lines and the even-numbered gate lines, alternately, along the first direction. |
| US09746728B2 |
Display panel with metal connecting line area including protective layer and display device
A display panel and a display device are provided to better protect a metal connecting line area in a peripheral wiring region, improve the protection degree and prevent the wire breakage. The display panel includes a gate insulating layer (102) disposed on a gate metal layer (101); and a protective layer (103), a passivation layer (105) and an indium tin oxide (ITO) coating layer (107) disposed on the gate insulating layer in sequence. The display panel and the display device can increase the film thickness in the peripheral wiring region, and hence can protect the entire peripheral wiring region and particularly the metal connecting line area exposed outside a color filter panel and improve the protection degree. |
| US09746726B2 |
Liquid crystal display, a method improving the response time thereof, and an array substrate
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display, a method improving the response time thereof, and an array substrate. The array substrate comprises a substrate and multiple pixel units provided in the array on the substrate. Each said pixel unit comprises a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that are used to generate a first electric field to control liquid crystal molecules deflected from an initial direction to a predetermined angle spaced from each other provided along a first direction, and a third pixel electrode and a fourth pixel electrode that are used to generate a second electric field to control liquid crystal molecules deflected from the predetermined angle to the initial direction spaced from each other provided along a second direction. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can improve the response time of the liquid crystal display, thereby improving the display quality. |
| US09746724B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel including: a lower display substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed in a matrix and data lines extend in a column direction between adjacent pixel electrodes; an upper display substrate on which a common electrode is disposed; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the lower display substrate and the upper display substrate and including liquid crystal molecules. The display panel includes a plurality of unit pixels, each unit pixel including pixels having different colors, and each pixel including one of the pixel electrodes. A gap between neighboring unit pixels is larger than a gap between neighboring pixel electrodes within each unit pixel, and a data line positioned between the neighboring unit pixels has a portion having a width larger than that of a data line positioned between the neighboring pixel electrodes within each unit pixel. |
| US09746723B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device improves an aperture ratio and stabilizing a storage voltage, including a first substrate; a second substrate opposed to the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate; a semiconductor layer overlapping the gate line; a first drain electrode overlapping the gate line and the semiconductor layer and connected to the data line; a first source electrode overlapping the gate line and the semiconductor layer; a first sub-pixel electrode connected to the first source electrode; a second drain electrode overlapping the gate line and the semiconductor layer and connected to the first drain electrode; a second source electrode overlapping the gate line and the semiconductor layer; and a second sub-pixel electrode connected to the second source electrode. The second source electrode overlaps the gate line more than the first source electrode does. |
| US09746719B2 |
Liquid crystal dropping device and liquid crystal dropping method
The present invention provides a liquid crystal dropping device and method, relates to technical field of manufacturing liquid crystal display devices, and may solve the problem of defective display resulting from dropping of liquid crystal on a substrate in the existing technology. The liquid crystal dropping device of the present invention comprises a platform for bearing substrates and a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting temperature of at least partial area of the substrate. |
| US09746714B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device includes a substrate, a thin film transistor positioned on the substrate, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, an alignment layer positioned on the pixel electrode, a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules formed on the alignment layer and positioned in a plurality of microcavities, a roof layer positioned such that the roof layer is spaced apart from the pixel electrode with a microcavity interposed therebetween, and an overcoat positioned on the roof layer and covering a trench positioned between the plurality of microcavities, in which in the liquid crystal layer, a pre-tilt angle manifestation group positioned to be adjacent to the alignment layer is formed, and the pre-tilt angle manifestation group includes a polymer of a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1. |
| US09746712B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate including a pixel; a pixel electrode in the pixel of the first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a common electrode on the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel includes a first domain, a second domain, a third domain and a fourth domain. Within the pixel including the first to fourth domains, a planar shape of each of the first domain, the second domain, the third domain and the fourth domain is a right triangle, and among sides of the right triangle, an oblique side of the first domain is adjacent to an oblique side of the second domain, and an oblique side of the third domain is adjacent to an oblique side of the fourth domain. |
| US09746705B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Discussed is a liquid crystal display device which facilitates to repair a backlight unit and corresponding internal parts without separation of a cover glass and a liquid crystal display panel, wherein the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit disposed at a lower side of the liquid crystal display panel, and a conductive tape electrically connected with the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight unit, wherein the conductive tape includes a first conductive adhesive member, a non-adhesive pad attached to one surface of the first conductive adhesive member, and a second conductive adhesive member attached to the other surface of the first conductive adhesive member, and wherein the first conductive adhesive member is attached to the liquid crystal display panel, and the second conductive adhesive member is attached to the backlight unit. |
| US09746701B2 |
Display device
A display device is provided. The display device may include a display panel for displaying an image and a back cover provided behind the display panel and coupled to the display panel. A bending assembly may be coupled to the back cover to bend the display panel. A controller may be provided that is configured to control the bending assembly to apply a physical force to the back cover to bend the display panel a prescribed amount. |
| US09746698B2 |
Electrical crosstalk reduction in a high-order digital optical modulator
A digital optical modulator including a waveguide comprising a plurality of light paths, and a plurality of phase shifter segments, each optically coupled to a light path from the plurality of light paths, configured to modulate light carried in the plurality of light paths to generate a modulated light in response to an electrical drive signal, at least two of the plurality of phase shifter segments having the same length. A digital optical modulator comprising a first waveguide arm comprising a first end and a second end, a first plurality of phase shifter segments with at least two of the first plurality of phase shifter segments that are the same length optically coupled to the waveguide arm, and a second waveguide arm optically coupled to the first waveguide arm at the first end and the second end. |
| US09746696B2 |
Contrast enhancing filter for eye glasses and contrast enhancing eye glass
An optical filter for eye glasses, in particular suitable for spectacle lenses or ski goggles, has a spectral power transmission curve of optical radiations. The spectral power transmission curve exhibits a local maximum spectral transmission (Tmax) of radiations in a first wavelength range (Δλmax). The first wavelength range (Δλmax) is between 380 nm and 420 nm. The spectral power transmission curve exhibits spectral transmissions (T) of radiation in a second wavelength range (Δλth) which are lower than an upper threshold spectral transmission (Tth,u). The second wavelength range (Δλth) is between 420 nm and 500 nm and the upper threshold spectral transmission (Tth,u) is smaller than the maximum spectral transmission (Tmax). The maximum spectral transmission (Tmax) is larger than 21%. |
| US09746694B2 |
Lens set, method of designing lens and method of manufacturing lens
There is provided a progressive addition lens for spectacles including a distance portion and a near portion having different powers, wherein an equivalent spherical power of the distance portion is plus; and a first lens and a second lens having different addition powers from each other, and a difference between vertical surface power in the distance portion and vertical surface power in the near portion on an object-side surface of the first lens, and a difference between vertical surface power in the distance portion and vertical surface power in the near portion on an object-side surface of the second lens are the same. |
| US09746693B2 |
System comprising a multifocal diffractive lens component
A system includes a simultaneously bifocal diffractive lens component having a first focal point, a second focal point and a plurality of diffractive zones including a central zone and a plurality of annular concentric zones surrounding the central zone, the lens component having a first optical power and a second optical power associated with the first and second focal points respectively, the first and second focal points respectively corresponding to points of convergence of the most luminous orders of diffraction generated by the lens component for a nominal wavelength, the first system focal point and the second system focal point having a position dependent upon the value of the first optical power and the second optical power of the lens respectively, the central zone having a surface area value determined as a function of the pupil of the optical system, of the first optical power and the second optical power. |
| US09746692B1 |
Wearable electronic device with articulated joint
Apparatuses, systems for electronic wearable devices such as smart glasses are described. The wearable device can comprise a frame, an elongate temple and an articulated joint. The frame can define one or more optical element holders configured to hold respective optical elements for viewing by a user in a viewing direction. The temple can be moveably connected to the frame for holding the frame in position when the device is worn by the user. The articulated joint can connect the temple and the frame to permit movement of the temple relative to the frame between a wearable position in which the temple is generally aligned with the viewing direction, and a collapsed position in which the temple extends generally transversely to the viewing direction. The articulated joint can include a base foot fixed to the frame and oriented transversely to the viewing direction. |
| US09746689B2 |
Magnetic fluid optical image stabilization
Techniques related to a method, apparatus, and systems for magnetic fluid shutter operation are described herein. For example, an apparatus may include a magnet, a ferrofluid and a coil. The ferrofluid may surround the magnet. Additionally, the coil may be disposed near the ferrofluid, wherein in response to a current through coil, the magnet is to shift a lens. |
| US09746687B2 |
Illumination apparatus and biometric authentication apparatus
An illumination apparatus is disclosed, which includes a light source configured to generate light for an illumination area to be illuminated, and a diffraction grating element provided between the illumination area and the light source, and including a plurality of diffraction gratings arranged in a two dimensional array. A distribution of grating intervals of the diffraction gratings in the diffraction grating element has a characteristic such that a center region, along a predetermined line in a plane of the two dimensional array, has a greater grating interval than an end region. |
| US09746679B2 |
Wavelength beam combining laser systems utilizing lens roll for chief ray focusing
In various embodiments, a wavelength beam combining laser system includes a fast-axis collimation lens that is rotated with respect to a plurality of emitters in order to converge the emitted beams onto a dispersive element and/or reduce the size of the multi-wavelength output beam of the system. |
| US09746672B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and image processing system for displaying a virtual object shared among multiple users
There is provided an image processing apparatus including: an input image acquisition unit for obtaining an input image generated by taking an image of a real space; an image recognition unit for recognizing, when a first user-input representing a start of manipulation is detected, a manipulator used for manipulating a virtual object, wherein the manipulator appears in the input image; a calculation unit for calculating, according to a result of the recognition of the manipulator provided by the image recognition unit, a position on a screen of a display device at which the virtual object is to be displayed; a display control unit for displaying the virtual object at the position of the screen of the display device calculated by the calculation unit; and a communication unit for transmitting, when the first user-input is detected, a first notification signal for notifying the start of manipulation to another apparatus displaying the same virtual object. |
| US09746671B2 |
Head mounted display apparatus, information terminal, and methods and information storage devices for controlling head mounted display apparatus and information terminal
A head mounted display (HMD) apparatus including a head posture information sensor for sensing a value of a head posture information and a display for displaying an image in a display area. An information terminal (IT) including an IT-side sensor for sensing a value of an IT-side information. In a first control mode the IT transmits a first control mode information to the HMD apparatus, wherein the first control mode information is determined based on a received first value of the head posture information and the value of the IT-side information, and the HMD apparatus sets the image to be displayed based on the first control mode information. In a second control mode, the HMD apparatus sets the image to be displayed based on a second value of the head posture information. Methods and information storage devices storing programs for controlling the HMD apparatus and IT are also provided. |
| US09746670B2 |
Device for presenting information near the eyes
The invention relates to a device for presenting information near the eyes, comprising a support (12) that can be carried on the head (10) of a user and comprising a monocular display unit (16) which is disposed on the support (12) and is positioned in a peripheral region of the field of vision of a first eye (14) of the user during use. According to a first aspect of the invention, a light-collecting unit (18, 20) on which ambient light can impinge is disposed on the support (12), and the light-collecting unit (18, 20) is coupled to the display unit (16) in order to illuminate same. |
| US09746665B1 |
High acceleration actuator
Embodiments of the present disclosure include an actuator for steering mirrors with low magnetic hysteresis losses at high frequencies, with a fast step response, and without excessive heating of the steering mirror. Various embodiments of the actuator include two stators (a left stator and a right stator or an inner stator and an outer stator) and a rotor positioned between the stators. Each stator has a core assembly with one or more cores, two or more legs, and two or more faces positioned proximate to the rotor. The two or more legs are separated from one another by portions of the one or more coils. The rotor includes a core and a plurality of magnets, where each magnet has a face positioned proximate to the faces of one core assembly. |
| US09746664B1 |
MEMS-based display with high-strength cover glass
An apparatus includes one or more light sources configured to provide light having at least three different colors and a backlight layer configured for diffusing the light. A MEMS-based shutter layer includes a plurality of pixel elements having shutters programmably controlled to allow light from the backlight layer to pass through the shutter layer when the MEMS-based shutter is in an open configuration and to block light from passing through the shutter layer when in a closed configuration. A processor is configured to control the provision of the different colored light from the one or more light sources to the backlight layer and configured to control the passage of light from the backlight layer through the plurality of pixel elements to provide a predetermined image on the display apparatus. A hard, scratch resistant cover glass layer is stacked above the MEMS-based shutter layer. The MEMS-based shutter layer is stacked above the backlight layer without any intermediate layer between it and the backlight layer, and the cover glass layer is stacked above the MEMS-based shutter layer without any intermediate layer between the shutter layer and the cover glass layer. |
| US09746661B2 |
Protective device for a lens
A protective device for a lens (2) having a protective hood (3) which protects a lens mount against ballistic effects, the protective hood (3) having a sight opening (4) for the lens (2), and a closing flap (5) for closing the sight opening (4), wherein the closing flap (5) can be rotated relative to the protective hood (3), wherein the rotary axis (D) of the closing flap (5) runs through the lens mount. |
| US09746658B2 |
Objective for microscope
An objective for a microscope includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with positive refractive power, and a third lens group with negative refractive power. When NA represents a numerical aperture of the objective, FN represents a field number of the objective, β represents a magnification of the objective, ε represents an Airy disk diameter on an axis to a d-line of the objective, φmax represents a maximum value of an effective diameter of a lens included in the objective, and hexp represents a radius of an exit pupil of the objective, the objective satisfies the following conditional expressions: 0.8≦NA≦1.5 (1) 1000≦FN/|β|/ε≦10000 (2) 1.7≦φmax/2/hexp/NA≦4 (3). |
| US09746656B2 |
Measurement apparatus configured to control the on/off state of illumination source
There is provided a measurement apparatus including a control unit configured to control an on/off state of illumination that does not contribute to acquisition of measurement data on the basis of an acquisition time period of the measurement data. |
| US09746654B2 |
Optical delay elements created from variations of the robert cell
An optical delay device comprises a multi-pass optical cell including first and second facing curved mirrors defining an optical cavity. One curved mirror includes a spatially extended aperture, such as a wedge-shaped notch aperture formed into the perimeter of the curved mirror. One curved mirror is split into two component mirrors one of which is tilted to define a swirling reflection pattern on the curved mirror that includes the spatially extended aperture. The optical time delay introduced to a light ray by the multi-pass optical cell depends on the input location of the light ray into the spatially extended aperture. The optical delay device may include two such multi-pass optical cells and a mirror that optically couples the two said multi-pass optical cells. |
| US09746653B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens is constituted by, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; a stop; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power or a negative refractive power. The first lens group has at least two positive lenses, a first positive lens from among the at least two positive lenses being positioned most toward the object side, and three negative lenses being consecutively provided adjacent to the first positive lens at the image side thereof. The first lens group is fixed with respect to an imaging surface, and focusing operations are performed by moving the second lens group and the third lens group. |
| US09746652B2 |
Projection lens and image display device
A projection lens includes, in order from a magnification side to a reduction side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a reflector to bend an optical path, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and an aperture stop disposed within the second lens group. The second lens group has a positive refractive power on the magnification side of the aperture stop, and a negative refractive power on the reduction side of the aperture stop. Conditional formula (A) is satisfied: (A) Ot/Y′<6.1, where Ot is a distance along the optical axis between a maximum-magnification-side surface of the first lens group and a surface of a lens adjacent to a reduction-side surface of the reflector, and Y′ is a maximum height of the image displayed on the display surface of the image display element. |
| US09746651B2 |
Zoom lens system and camera system
A zoom lens system according to the present disclosure includes, in order from an object side to an image plane side, a first lens group having positive optical power; a second lens group having negative optical power; a third lens group having positive optical power; and a subsequent lens group including a fourth lens group, a fifth lens group, and a sixth lens group. The first lens group comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens element having negative optical power; a second lens element having positive optical power; a third lens element having positive optical power; and a fourth lens element having positive optical power. The fifth lens group in the subsequent lens group has negative optical power. The first lens group is fixed with respect to the image plane in zooming from a wide-end to a tele-end upon image shooting. |
| US09746649B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side: a positive first lens group; a negative second lens group; a positive third lens group; a negative fourth lens group; and a positive fifth lens group. The distance between the first and second lens groups constantly increases, the distance between the second and third lens groups constantly decreases, the distance between the third and fourth lens groups constantly changes, and the distance between the fourth and fifth lens groups constantly increases when changing magnification from the wide angle to the telephoto end. The first lens group includes three lenses. The second lens group includes four lenses. The third lens group includes six lenses and an aperture stop. The fifth lens group includes a single lens component. |
| US09746642B2 |
Photographing lenses and photographing apparatus
A photographing lenses and a photographing apparatus including the photographing lenses. The photographing lenses include: a first lens having a positive refractive power and a convex object-side surface; a second lens having a negative refractive power and a flat surface facing an object side or an image side; a third lens having a refractive power; a fourth lens having a negative refractive power and a meniscus shape concave toward the object side; and a fifth lens which is concave toward the image side in a region around an optical axis of the photographing lenses, wherein the first to fifth lenses are sequentially arranged in a direction from the object side to the image side. |
| US09746637B2 |
Apparatus for coupling SiC reflex mirror
Disclosed is an apparatus for coupling an SiC reflex mirror, configured to mount an SiC reflex mirror formed on a plurality of points and having a cylindrical portion on one surface thereof, to a mounting plate. The apparatus includes: an insertion portion having a vertical portion having a curved shape and attached to inside of the cylindrical portion, and a horizontal portion integrally formed with the vertical portion and formed to cross the vertical portion; an adhesive provided between the vertical portion and an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, and configured to attach the insertion portion to the cylindrical portion; a fixing portion having one end fixed to the horizontal portion, having another end fixed to the mounting plate, and configured to fix the SiC reflex mirror to the mounting plate; and a coupling member configured to fix the fixing portion to the insertion portion. |
| US09746635B2 |
Lens module
A lens module is disclosed. The lens module includes a lens barrel including a first barrel wall extended horizontally and a second barrel wall extended from the first barrel wall; a lens group including at least one lens, the lens includes a first slope; a stop on the first barrel wall and forming a light hole for the lens, and a pressing ring attached to the stop. The first barrel wall of the lens barrel includes a second slope abutting against the first slope for ensuring the concentricity. |
| US09746633B2 |
Clamp and bending strain relief apparatus and methods
Clamp and Bending Strain Relief (BSR) system and method are disclosed. One example of a system can include a clamp coupled to a cable. The clamp is configured to couple an apparatus to the cable while allowing the cable to pass continuously through the clamp. A BSR apparatus is coupled to the clamp and the cable by a housing. |
| US09746632B1 |
Light waveguide apparatus
A light waveguide apparatus includes a light transmission body that is fittable under or around a structure such as a window or a door. The light waveguide apparatus includes two lenses, each mounted to a respective end of the light transmission body. The apparatus further includes a transmission medium optically coupling the lenses. |
| US09746631B1 |
Optical patch panel
Optical patch panels are disclosed. In one example, a housing module may include at least one wall arranged to present connectors for mating with optical cables. A plurality of trunk connectors may be arranged in at least one wall of the housing module, each of the trunk connectors being connectable to an optical trunk line entering the housing module. A plurality of duplex fiber connectors may be arranged in at least one wall of the housing module, the duplex fiber connectors being operable to mate with downstream networking equipment, the duplex fiber connectors being arranged in clusters, each cluster presenting a group of four pairs of duplex fiber connectors. The duplex fiber connectors in a cluster may be optically coupled to one of the plurality of trunk lines via the plurality of trunk connectors. |
| US09746626B2 |
Method and system for optical power monitoring of a light source assembly coupled to a silicon photonically-enabled integrated circuit
Methods and systems for optical power monitoring of a light source assembly coupled to a silicon photonically-enabled integrated circuit (chip) are disclosed and may include, in a system comprising an optical source assembly coupled to the chip: emitting a primary beam from a front facet of a laser in the optical source assembly and a secondary beam from a back facet of the laser, directing the primary beam to an optical coupler in the chip, directing the secondary beam to a surface-illuminated photodiode in the chip, and monitoring an output power of the laser utilizing an output signal from the photodiode. The primary beam may comprise an optical source for a photonics transceiver in the chip. The focused primary beam and the secondary beam may be directed to the chip using reflectors in a lid of the optical source assembly. |
| US09746616B2 |
Optical module of micro spectrometer with tapered slit and slit structure thereof
An optical module of a micro spectrometer with tapered slit and slit structure thereof. The optical module includes an input section and a micro diffraction grating. The input section includes a slit structure, which receives a first optical signal and outputs a second optical signal travelling along a first optical path. The slit structure includes a substrate and a slit, which penetrates through the substrate and has a gradually reduced dimension from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate. The micro diffraction grating, disposed on the first optical path, receives the second optical signal and separates the second optical signal into a plurality of spectrum components travelling along a second optical path. The optical module of the micro spectrometer with the tapered slit and slit structure thereof according to the embodiment of the invention can be manufactured in a mass-production manner using the semiconductor manufacturing processes, so that the cost can be decreased, and the slit can have a smooth surface, which avoids the negative effect on the incident light. |
| US09746610B2 |
Optical fiber cutting device and optical fiber cutting method
A cutting device for cutting an optical fiber running in a first direction includes a supporting piece having a free end and a fixed end and having resilience, a cutting blade supported by the supporting piece that comes into contact with the optical fiber to make a right angle with the optical fiber at a point of the contact, and a driving device. The driving device is configured to press the supporting piece in a second direction in a plane perpendicular to the first direction, with the second direction not intersecting with the first direction. |
| US09746606B2 |
Waveguide structure, waveguide coupling structure, and production method
The present invention provides three waveguide structures, including a protruding-type waveguide structure, a buried-type waveguide structure, and a redeposited-type waveguide structure, the protruding-type waveguide structure includes two axisymmetrically disposed first ends, and the first end is sequentially divided into a first region, a second region, and a third region in a direction toward an axis of symmetry; and the waveguide structure includes a first silicon substrate layer, a second silicon substrate layer, a first silicon dioxide layer, a second silicon dioxide layer, and a first silicon waveguide layer. The waveguide structure and the waveguide coupling structure that are provided in the present invention have advantages of a small size, low polarization dependence, and low temperature sensitivity, and a crosstalk value is greater than 25 dB, which meets a requirement of a passive optical network system, and provides feasibility for commercialization of the arrayed waveguide grating. |
| US09746605B2 |
Optical fiber
An optical fiber 1A comprises an optical transmission member 10 including a core 12 and a clad 14, a primary resin layer 22, and a secondary resin layer 24. The effective area of the optical transmission member 10 is 130 μm2 or larger. The transmission loss of the optical transmission member 10 at a wavelength of 1550 nm is 0.165 dB/km or smaller. The Young's modulus of the primary resin layer 22 is 0.7 MPa or lower, and the Young's modulus of the secondary resin layer 24 is 600 MPa or higher and 1500 MPa or lower. The difference between the transmission loss when the optical fiber 1A is wound at a tension of 80 g around a bobbin on which a metal mesh member having vertical wires of a 50-μm diameter and horizontal wires of a 50-μm diameter are wound and spaced at a pitch of 150 μm, and the transmission loss of an optical fiber coil is 1.0 dB/km or smaller. |
| US09746604B2 |
Light guide apparatus and fabrication method thereof
A light guide apparatus that can redirect light impinging on the apparatus over a wide range of incident angles and can concentrate light without using a tracking system and methods for fabrication. This apparatus uses conditions of total internal reflection and refraction near the critical angle for total internal reflection (near TIR) in order to trap light within the apparatus. |
| US09746602B2 |
Backlight device and display device including the same
A backlight device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes, a light guide plate including a convex portion and a recess portion, a lower cover including a lateral surface cover part positioned adjacent to the convex portion, the lower cover surrounding the light guide plate, and a fixing member positioned between the light guide plate and the lateral surface cover part of the lower cover, in which the lateral cover part includes an opening, and the fixing member includes a first hook surrounding the convex portion and a second hook protruding through the opening of the lateral surface cover part. |
| US09746601B2 |
Light guide plate and assembly module using the same and backlight module
A light guide plate includes a light incident section and a light guiding section. The light incident section includes a light incident surface configured to receive light beams emitted from a light source, a top surface adjacent to the light incident surface, a first bottom surface oppose to the top surface. The light guiding section includes a main light emitting surface, a connecting surface connecting the main light emitting surface with the top surface, a second bottom surface opposite to the main light emitting surface and connecting with the first bottom surface, and a contacting surface connecting with the main light emitting surface and the second bottom surface. A step is formed at a junction of the light incident section and the light guiding section, and the connecting surface and the top surface define an accommodating space. |
| US09746600B2 |
Illuminating glazing with incorporated deflector
A lighting glazing includes a first sheet of glass of refractive index n1 with a first main face, a second main face and a rim; a transparent polymer film in adhesive contact with the second main face of the first sheet, the film having a refractive index n2 |
| US09746595B2 |
Solid-state image capture element optical filter and application thereof
An object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state image capture element optical filter having excellent visible light transmission characteristics with reduced incidence angle dependence even in the near-ultraviolet wavelength region, in which the defects of conventional optical filters such as near-infrared cut filters are improved; and a device comprising the optical filter. The solid-state image capture element optical filter of the present invention comprises: a transparent resin substrate comprising a compound (X) having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 300 to 420 nm and a compound (Y) having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 600 to 800 nm; and a near infrared-reflecting film on at least one side of the substrate. |
| US09746593B2 |
Patchwork Fresnel zone plates for lensless imaging
Described are imaging devices that employ patchworks of diffractive structures as focusing optics. Each diffractive structure best focuses light over a relatively narrow cone of incident angles, and provides suboptimal focusing for incident angles outside that cone. Different diffractive structures best focus different angular ranges, with the patchwork thus providing an overall focusable response for the relatively broad range of angles required to image a scene. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing. |
| US09746586B2 |
Method of manufacturing microlens array substrate, microlens array substrate, electro-optic device, and electronic
A microlens array substrate includes a substrate. A plurality of first recesses are provided in a first area of a surface of the substrate. A plurality of second recesses are provided in a second area of the surface of the substrate. The second area is outside of the first area. A light transmission layer has a refractive index which is different from a refractive index of the substrate and is provided to cover the surface of the substrate and to bury the first recesses and the second recesses. Each of the first recesses has a first depth from a surface of the light transmission layer. Each of the second recesses has a second depth from the surface of the light transmission layer. The second depth is deeper than the first depth. |
| US09746582B1 |
Method for improving precision of neutron induced gamma ray spectroscopy
A method for determining a composition of a formation, includes characterizing by energy detected gamma rays resulting from interaction of neutrons that irradiated the formation. Elemental yields are determined by spectrally analyzing the energy characterized gamma rays. A subset of the elemental yields is selected as background yields. The background yields are filtered. An apparent contribution of the filtered background yields to the characterized gamma rays is determined. Foreground elemental yields are determined by spectrally analyzing the characterized gamma rays having the apparent contribution removed. |
| US09746581B2 |
Compact, interleaved radiation sources
Compact, dual energy radiation scanning systems are described comprising two particle beam accelerators, each configured to accelerate charged particles to different energies, positioned parallel to a direction of movement of an object to be inspected. The accelerator may be positioned perpendicular to a plane of the conveying system, instead. Bend magnet systems bend each charged particle beam toward a respective target. Alternatively, a single dual energy accelerator capable of accelerating charged particles to at least two different energies is positioned parallel to the direction of movement of the object, or perpendicular to a plane of the conveying system. A single bend magnet system is provided to bend each accelerated charged particle beam toward the same target. The particle beams may be bent through an orbit chamber. Two separate passages may be defined through at least part of the orbit chamber, one for charged particles having each energy. |
| US09746575B2 |
Induction type broadband 3-component borehole magnetic measuring sensor and borehole electromagnetic tomography method using the same
Borehole electromagnetic exploration or tomography (EM tomography). An induction type broadband 3-component borehole magnetic measuring sensor can accurately and precisely measure a broadband magnetic field about x, y and z axes using a three-dimensional (3D) model within a borehole by monitoring natural variations in the earth's magnetic field or based on EM tomography using the borehole. The measuring sensor is applicable to energy resource fields such as petroleum and coal, mineral resources fields and civil engineering and environmental fields. |
| US09746574B2 |
Resistivity imager for conductive and non-conductive mud
Methods and apparatus configured to evaluate a volume of interest of an earth formation intersected by a borehole. Apparatus comprise a transceiver electrode on the tool body configured to provide electrical current to the earth formation; a return electrode configured to receive the electrical current returning from the earth formation; a multi-function electrode on the resistivity imager tool; and an electrical system configured to provide current measurements at the transceiver electrode. In the first operational mode, the electrical system maintains the tool body at a first electrical potential, and maintains the multi-function electrode and the transceiver electrode at a second electrical potential; and in the second operational mode, the electrical system maintains the tool body at the first electrical potential, maintains the multi-function electrode at the first electrical potential, and maintains the transceiver electrode at the second potential. |
| US09746568B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for generating slowness-frequency projection logs
An example method for displaying sonic logging data associated with a formation surrounding a borehole can include acquiring sonic data at a plurality of depths using an acoustic array located in the borehole and transforming the acquired sonic data from a time-space domain to a frequency-wave number domain at a limited number of discrete frequencies. The method can also include estimating slowness values at the limited number of discrete frequencies from the transformed sonic data, interpolating the estimated slowness values to obtain a projection of one or more slowness-frequency dispersions of the acquired sonic data and displaying the projection of the slowness-frequency dispersions. The projection of the slowness-frequency dispersions can include a plurality of color bands corresponding to each of the limited number of discrete frequencies. |
| US09746567B2 |
Systems and methods for performing dual-scale interpolation
Systems and methods are provided for processing seismic data and displaying an output associated with the seismic data. A method includes: separating the seismic data into a fine-scale dataset and a coarse-scale dataset, wherein each dataset includes a non-zero portion of the data; applying a first interpolation to the coarse-scale dataset which results in an interpolated coarse-scale dataset; applying a second interpolation to the fine-scale dataset which results in an interpolated fine-scale dataset, wherein the first and second interpolation are different interpolations; summing together the interpolated coarse-scale dataset and the interpolated fine-scale dataset which results in a summed interpolated dataset; and displaying at least one image based on the summed interpolated dataset. |
| US09746565B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing polarization in imaging detectors
A method is provided including acquiring detection events with a radiation detector that includes a semiconductor plate. Electrons and holes are generated in the semiconductor plate responsive to absorption of ionizing radiation. The holes including groups of holes having different effective masses for corresponding different valence energy bands. The method also includes optically coupling infrared (IR) radiation into the semiconductor plate of the radiation detector. The IR radiation has at least one wavelength selected from a spectral range including wavelengths to which the semiconductor plate is partially transparent. The wavelengths of the IR radiation are configured to excite at least some of the holes from a first group at a first valence energy band to a second group at a second valence energy band, with the holes of the second group having lower effective masses than corresponding holes of the first group. |
| US09746562B2 |
Portable ground based augmentation system
A method and apparatus of generating navigation information for an aircraft. Satellite signals are received at a group of reference receivers at a group of locations. A level of accuracy is identified for the group of reference receivers based on satellite data formed from the satellite signals. It is indicated when the group of locations of the group of reference receivers does not meet a desired level of accuracy. Messages are generated using the navigation information from the satellite data when the group of reference receivers has the desired level of accuracy. |
| US09746558B2 |
Proximity sensor apparatus for a game device
A proximity sensing apparatus includes a device housing, a plurality of energy emitters, an energy detector, a reflective member, and a controller system. The proximity sensing apparatus channels reflected energy to the energy detector and determines the location of the source of reflection. The channeling of energy to the energy detector may reduce manufacturing costs by utilizing less hardware while maintaining a high level of reliability. |
| US09746557B2 |
Proximity sensor module including time-of-flight sensor wherein a second group of light sensitive elements is in a second one of the chambers of the module
The present disclosure describes proximity sensor modules that include a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor. The module can include a plurality of chambers corresponding, respectively, to a light emission channel and a light detection channel. The channels can be optically separated from one another such that light from a light emitter element in the light emission chamber does not impinge directly on light sensitive elements of the TOF sensor in the light detection chamber. To achieve a module with a relatively small footprint, some parts of the TOF sensor can be located within the light emission chamber. |
| US09746553B2 |
Method for generating an image and handheld screening device
A method for generating an image is provided including taking a first active radar image of an object from a first position with a handheld screening device; taking a second active radar image of the object from a second position with the handheld screening device; and generating a third image based on the first active radar image and the second active radar image. A corresponding handheld screening device is provided as well. |
| US09746552B2 |
Remote detection and measurement of objects
Provided are methods of using electromagnetic waves for detecting metal and/or dielectric objects. Methods include directing microwave and/or mm wave radiation in a predetermined direction using a transmission apparatus, including a transmission element; receiving radiation from an entity resulting from the transmitted radiation using a detection apparatus; and generating one or more detection signals in the frequency domain using the detection apparatus. Methods may include operating a controller, wherein operating the controller includes causing the transmitted radiation to be swept over a predetermined range of frequencies, performing a transform operation on the detection signal(s) to generate one or more transformed signals in the time domain, and determining, from one or more features of the transformed signal, one or more dimensions of a metallic or dielectric object upon which the transmitted radiation is incident. A system and method for remote detection and/or identification of a metallic threat object using late time response (LTR) signals is also disclosed. |
| US09746549B1 |
Constant false alarm rate circuitry in adaptive target detection of radar systems
Integrated circuits may include a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection circuit, which may identify targets among clutter and noise in a range-Doppler map. The CFAR detection circuit may compute power values for each cell in the range-Doppler map and scan the range-Doppler map cell by cell. For this purpose, the CFAR detection circuit may compute a target value for a cell-under-test and surrounding cells and a noise value for one or more regions in local proximity of the cell-under-test on the range-Doppler map. For example, the CFAR detection circuit may perform a two-dimensional filtering to compute the target value and compute a sum of accumulated power values weighted by predetermined coefficients. The predetermined coefficients may taper at edges of the range-Doppler map and/or at edges of the regions. The CFAR detection circuit may declare a target based on a comparison of the target value and noise value. |
| US09746544B2 |
Position measurement systems using position sensitive detectors
Methods and devices for a remote control device for a display device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the remote control device may comprise a plurality of light sources that each has a light profile angled in a predetermined degree different from other light sources. In another embodiment, the remote control device may comprise a controller; and a plurality of optical detectors coupled to the controller. Each optical detector may generate a pair of electrical signals in response to incident light from a plurality of light sources located on a display device and the controller may calculate the position of the remote control device based on the electrical signals. |
| US09746540B2 |
Device and method for calibrating tracking systems in imaging systems
A device and a method for calibrating the coordinate system of imaging systems having a tracking system prior or during image data acquisition, e.g. by way of magnetic resonance tomography. |
| US09746539B2 |
MR imaging with suppresion of flow artifacts
At least two gradient echo signals are generated at two different echo times by subjecting a portion of a body (10) in an MR examination region (1) to an imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients. The 0th moment of the readout magnetic field gradient essentially vanishes at the time of a first gradient echo while the 1st moment of the readout gradient is non-zero. Both the 0th and 1st moments of the readout magnetic field gradient essentially vanish at a time of a second gradient echo. Gradient echo signals are acquired. Acquiring the gradient echo signals is repeated for a plurality of phase encoding steps. A first MR image is reconstructed from the gradient echo signals of the first gradient echo and a second MR image is reconstructed from the gradient echo signals of the second gradient echo. Ghosting artefacts in the first and/or second MR image are identified by comparing the first and second MR images. |
| US09746538B2 |
Reference oversampling in sense-type magnetic resonance reconstruction
Magnetic resonance imaging uses regularized SENSE reconstruction for a reduced field of view, but minimizes folding artifacts. A reference scan is oversampled relative to the reduced field of view. The oversampling provides coil sensitivity information for a region greater than the reduced field of view. The reconstruction of the object for the reduced field of view using the coil sensitivities for the larger region may have fewer folding artifacts. |
| US09746531B2 |
Magnetic sensor circuit
To provide a magnetic sensor circuit which does not output spike-like voltage errors to a signal processing circuit. A magnetic sensor circuit is provided which is configured so as to output an output signal to a signal processing circuit through a plurality of hall elements driven by a first switch circuit and a second switch circuit controlled by a second control circuit and in which the first switch circuit controls timings at which spikes occur in the output signal of each of the hall elements in such a manner that the timings are not the same, and the second switch circuit selects and outputs an output signal having a period of a timing free of the occurrence of a spike. |
| US09746529B2 |
Methods and systems of proactive monitoring of LED lights
Various embodiments of methods and systems of proactive monitoring of LED lights are described herein. An LED light monitoring system may include a specification database of LED lamps and drivers, a usage database that records the usage of LED lamps and drivers, a data acquisition subsystem that obtains the identity and the usage data of LED lamps or drivers in use, and a data processing subsystem that calculates, for each LED lamp, its current lumen output statistically and, for each LED driver, its remaining lifetime, and provides replacement recommendations for LED lamps and drivers. |
| US09746526B2 |
Battery cell unit and method for determining a complex impedance of a battery cell arranged in a battery cell unit
A battery cell unit includes a battery cell and a monitoring device for monitoring the state of the battery cell. The monitoring device comprises an actuating device configured to activate an impedance spectroscopy mode provided by the battery cell unit, in which impedance spectroscopy mode measurement currents can be applied to the battery cell to perform impedance spectroscopy of the battery cell, said measurement currents flowing through the battery cell and comprising alternating currents at different frequencies. The monitoring device also comprises a sensor device designed to detect the measurement currents and the corresponding measurement voltages, each of which is a battery cell voltage arising as a response to a measurement current, such that a complex impedance of the battery cell can be determined from the measured values of the measurement currents and the measurement voltages as a function of the frequency of the measurement currents within predetermined tolerance limits. |
| US09746525B2 |
Battery system monitoring device
A battery system monitoring device that monitors a battery system provided with a cell group having a plurality of battery cells connected in series with each other, including: a first control device that monitors and controls states of the plurality of battery cells of the cell group; a second control device that controls the first control device; a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the first control device; and a plurality of voltage detection lines, for measuring an inter-terminal voltage of the battery cell, which connect each of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery cell and the first control device. The first control device includes a balancing switch, which performs balancing discharge of the battery cell for each of the battery cells. |
| US09746516B2 |
Collecting diagnostic data from chips
A failing latch is identified on a chip including a plurality of latches with the failing latch receiving data propagated from a first set of test input latches. A diagnostic set of latches is determined which includes the failing latch and a set of related latches. The set of related latches each receives data propagated from at least one test input latch from the first set of test input latches. The set of related latches is identified from a related latches table. One or more tests are performed on the chip and test output data is collected from the diagnostic set of latches. The related latches table is created by tracing from a target latch. |
| US09746514B2 |
Apparatus and method for accurate measurement and mapping of forward and reverse-bias current-voltage characteristics of large area lateral p-n junctions
Methods and apparatus for providing measurements in p-n junctions and taking into account the lateral current for improved accuracy are disclosed. The lateral current may be controlled, allowing the spreading of the current to be reduced or substantially eliminated. Alternatively or additionally, the lateral current may be measured, allowing a more accurate normal current to be calculated by compensating for the measured spreading. In addition, the techniques utilized for controlling the lateral current and the techniques utilized for measuring the lateral current may also be implemented jointly. |
| US09746510B2 |
Ground-fault detector for multifurnace installation
An apparatus for detecting ground faults in a multifurnace installation with at least two induction furnaces and a multifurnace installation are described. A ground-fault sensor is associated with each induction furnace and is connected to the electrical supply line to the induction furnace coil. Furthermore, the apparatus has a ground-leak sensor. Moreover, the apparatus includes an additional ground-fault sensor that measures at the same location as the ground-leak sensor. In this manner an improvement of security during the operation of the system is obtained. |
| US09746508B2 |
Method of measuring the aging of electrical cables
A method may include injecting at an instant a reference signal at an injection point of the assembly, the reference signal having been obtained beforehand by injecting an initial signal at the injection point at an instant, by a measurement of the reflected signal resulting from this injection, and by the time reversal of the measured signal. The method may also include measuring a reflected signal resulting from the propagation of the signal in the assembly of at least one cable. The method may further include determining the aging of the assembly of at least one cable between the instant and the instant, the aging being deduced from the measurement of the reflected signal. |
| US09746506B2 |
Nonlinear system identification for optimization of wireless power transfer
A method of detecting whether a receiver coil is near a transmit coil in a wireless power transfer system (WPTS), the method involving: applying a pseudo-random signal to the transmit coil; while the pseudo-random signal is being applied to the transmit coil, recording one or more signals produced within the WPTS in response to the applied pseudo-random signal; by using the one or more recorded signals, generating a dynamic system model for some aspect of the WPTS; and using the generated dynamic system model in combination with stored training data to determine whether an object having characteristics distinguishing the object as a receiver coil is near the transmit coil. |
| US09746496B2 |
Signal measuring system, method for electrically conducting signals and a signal cable
The present invention relates to a signal measurement system (100, 200, 300) for measuring a signal, the system comprising a signal detection unit (41) for detecting a raw signal, a signal processing unit (42) and a signal cable (10) electrically connecting the signal detection unit (41) with the signal processing unit (42). The signal cable (10) comprises a signal conductor (1, 2) for electrically conducting a first signal from the signal detection unit (41) to the signal processing unit (42), which first signal comprises at least the raw signal, a reference conductor (11, 12) for detecting and electrically conducting to the signal processing unit (42) only a noise signal induced by a movement of the signal cable (10) or by electromagnetic interference. In this way the effect of noise on the signal quality is reduced caused by movement of the signal cable (10) or other sources of noise that induce a noise signal in the signal cable (10), such as electromagnetic interference, while at the same time not increasing the power usage or power loss. |
| US09746493B2 |
Sample holder for an atomic force microscope
The present invention relates to sample holders for holding a sample, particularly for an atomic force microscope. Such a sample holder comprising a sample dish (1) comprising a bottom (2), and an opening (3) arranged in said bottom (2) for receiving and holding the sample (15). Furthermore the present invention relates to a sample holder system and to a method for transferring an e.g. biological sample (15) from a biopsy tool (18) to a sample holder. |
| US09746480B2 |
Human myeloid derived suppressor cell cancer markers
Provided herein are methods for determining the presence of cancer (malignant versus benign), monitoring the progression of cancer, monitoring cancer relapse, monitoring the response to cancer therapy, or cancer staging in a subject, by evaluating CD33+/HLA-DRlow, CD14+/HLA-DRlow, CD66b+/HLA-DRlow or, CD11b+/HLA-DRlow MDSC for activation of a transcription factor. Transcription factors include, but are not limited to, STAT3, pSTAT3, HIF1α, or C/EBPβ. The MDSC phenotype can be CD33+HLA-DRlowHIF1α+/STAT3+, CD14+HLA-DRlowHIF1α+/STAT3+/pSTAT3+/C/EBPb+, CD66b+HLA-DRlowHIF1α+/STAT3+/pSTAT3+/C/EBPb+, CD33+HLA-DRlowHIF1α+/STAT3+/pSTAT3+/C/EBPb+, CD11b+HLA-DRlowHIF1α+/STAT3+/pSTAT3+/C/EBPb+, or CD11b+HLA-DRlowC/EBPβ+. Also provided herein are methods for inducing human MDSC from healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by co-culturing PBMC with human solid tumor cell lines and subsequently measuring their suppressive ability. |
| US09746479B2 |
Methods and compositions to predict and detect acute rejection
In some embodiments, a method to detect acute rejection in allograft from is described. In some embodiments, a method to anticipate an episode of acute rejection in allografts is also described. In some embodiments, a kit for detecting or predicting acute transplant rejection of a transplanted organ is described. |
| US09746478B2 |
Characterization of microbial deposition and immune response at the basement membrane and methods relating thereto
Methods for diagnosing a systemic or autoimmune disorder and methods for treating the same by inducing the production of or otherwise providing an autoantibody that recognizes a skin basement membrane component. |
| US09746476B2 |
Real-time analytical methods and systems
The present invention is generally directed to compositions, methods, and systems for performing single-molecule, real-time analysis of a variety of different biological reactions, and for determining various characteristics of the different biological reactions. The ability to analyze such reactions provides an opportunity to study those reactions as well as to potentially identify factors and/or approaches for impacting such reactions, e.g., to stimulate, enhance, or inhibit such reactions. |
| US09746468B2 |
Bioaffinity sensors based on surface monolayers
Methods, systems, devices and materials are disclosed for implementing a bioaffinity sensor having a self-assembled monolayer interface for detection of a target molecule. In one aspect, a sensor device for detecting a target molecule includes a surface capable of attaching a thiol and a molecular monolayer formed on the surface that includes a molecular capture probe having a thiol region, a linear alkanethiol molecule having one thiol region, and a linear alkanedithiol molecule having two thiol regions, in which the molecular capture probe includes a region for receiving a target substance having a complimentary region that couples with the region of the molecular capture probe to generate a detectable signal. |
| US09746467B2 |
Microstructured chip for surface plasmon resonance analysis, analysis device containing said microstructured chip and use of said device
A microstructured chip (3; 33; 43; 53; 63) for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, taking the form of a solid formed by: a base (5; 77); an upper surface (4; 44), at least part of which is covered with a metal layer (2; 22; 42; 52; 62); and at least one side surface (55; 66). The chip is characterized in that the aforementioned upper surface is provided with micrometric zones intended to receive species to be analyzed and selected from among n protrusions and m cavities, and in that when n+m≧2 the zones are separated from one another by planar surfaces, with n varying between 1 and j, m varying between 0 and i, and j and i being integers. |
| US09746465B2 |
Magnetic bead-based digital microfluidic immunoanalysis device and method thereof
A magnetic bead-based digital microfluidic immunoanalysis device and a method thereof are provided, which includes a lower plate, an upper plate disposed above the lower plate, a separating structure therebetween and a magnet disposed on the upper plate or the lower plate. The lower plate includes a first electrode layer including a plurality of channel electrodes with different sizes. A droplet containing few magnetic beads is adapted to be disposed on the lower plate and corresponding to the channel electrodes. The magnet attracts the magnetic beads to approach to the smaller one of the channel electrodes though a magnetic force, and when a voltage is applied to the first electrode layer, the droplet is divided to a detection portion with the magnetic beads and a waste-liquid portion without the magnetic beads respectively corresponding to the smaller one and the larger one of the channel electrodes through a dual-direction electrowetting-on-dielectric force. |
| US09746464B2 |
High sensitivity quantitation of peptides by mass spectrometry
The instant invention provides an economical flow-through method for determining amount of target proteins in a sample. An antibody preparation (whether polyclonal or monoclonal, or any equivalent specific binding agent) is used to capture and thus enrich a specific monitor peptide (a specific peptide fragment of a protein to be quantitated in a proteolytic digest of a complex protein sample) and an internal standard peptide (the same chemical structure but including stable isotope labels). Upon elution into a suitable mass spectrometer, the natural (sample derived) and internal standard (isotope labeled) peptides are quantitated, and their measured abundance ratio used to calculate the abundance of the monitor peptide, and its parent protein, in the initial sample. |
| US09746463B2 |
Undercarboxylated/uncarboxylated osteocalcin increases beta-cell proliferation, insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance and decreases fat mass
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating and diagnosing disorders related to energy metabolism and the OST-PTP signaling pathway involving gamma-carboxylase, osteocalcin and adiponectin. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, metabolic syndrome, glucose intolerance, diabetes types 1 and 2, atherosclerosis and obesity. |
| US09746460B2 |
Method for detecting the interaction of at least one entity with a dielectric layer
The invention relates to a method of detecting the interaction between at least one entity and a dielectric layer containing different electron levels in the energy band gap of the dielectric layer, the method comprising the following steps: a) depositing the entity on the dielectric layer; b) subjecting the dielectric layer and the entity deposited thereon to exciting electromagnetic radiation that does not give rise to observable luminescence in the entity itself under the conditions implemented in step c); and c) detecting the luminescence of the dielectric layer, in which the radiative and non-radiative electron transitions between the energy levels of the band gap have been influenced as a result of its interaction with the entity. |
| US09746458B2 |
Dynactin subunit p62 biomarker for neurological conditions
Methods and kits for identifying neurological conditions in a patient by determining a level of expression of dynactin subunit p62 are disclosed. The neurological conditions may include, for example, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) without cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). |
| US09746451B2 |
Kinetic chlorine measurement
An aspect provides a method of determining a concentration of free chlorine in an aqueous sample, including adding a reagent to the sample, the reagent being reactive with the free chlorine at a first kinetic rate and reactive with at least one chloramine at a second kinetic rate, the first kinetic rate being different from the second kinetic rate; measuring an absorbance response over time resulting from reaction of the free chlorine and the at least one chloramine with the reagent over time; and determining the concentration of the free chlorine in the sample based on a determined rate of change of the absorbance response over time. Other aspects are described and claimed. |
| US09746448B2 |
Ultrasonic probe apparatus and ultrasonic imaging apparatus using the same
An ultrasonic probe apparatus and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus are disclosed. The ultrasonic probe apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transducer configured to output an electrical signal upon receiving ultrasonic waves; a sound absorption unit, one surface of which is an installation surface of the ultrasonic transducer and is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer; a first electronic circuit electrically connected to the sound absorption unit; and a substrate connection unit disposed between the sound absorption unit and the first electronic circuit, configured to electrically interconnect the first electronic circuit and the sound absorption unit. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes the above ultrasonic probe and a main body. |
| US09746443B2 |
In-situ pathogen detection using magnetoelastic sensors
In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method for in-situ pathogen detection may comprise distributing one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors on a surface of a test object, wherein each of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors includes a biorecognition element configured to bind with a pathogen to cause a shift in a characteristic frequency of the associated measurement sensor; applying a varying magnetic field, using a test coil, to the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors distributed on the surface of the test object, wherein the test object is positioned outside of an inner volume defined by the test coil; detecting a frequency response of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors using the test coil, while applying the varying magnetic field; and determining whether the pathogen is present based on the detected frequency response of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors. |
| US09746439B2 |
Integrated gas sensor device, in particular for detecting carbon monoxide (CO)
It is described an integrated gas sensor device comprising a silicon substrate and an oxide layer on the silicon substrate, as well as a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode, on the oxide layer, the working electrode and the counter electrode having respective active area exposed to an environmental air through at least a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings in the oxide layer in correspondence of the working electrode and of the counter electrode, further comprising an electrolyte layer portion and a hydrogel layer portion on the electrolyte layer portion, the electrolyte and hydrogel layer portions having a same size, suitable to cover at least the working, counter and reference electrodes, the hydrogel layer portion acting as a “quasi solid state” water reservoir. |
| US09746437B1 |
Cmos-based process for manufacturing a semiconductor gas sensor
A CMOS-based process for manufacturing a semiconductor gas sensor includes the steps of: I) providing a semi-product, II) etching a substrate to remove a portion of the substrate and a portion of a first insulation layer so as to form a gas-sensing cavity, thereby to expose at least one sensing electrode; and III) depositing a gas-sensitive layer to cover the at least one sensing electrode. |
| US09746434B2 |
Method and system for determining flow distribution through a component
Systems and methods for determining the flow distribution of a fluid through a component with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the component. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and the fluid exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal is adapted to receive a signal from each of a plurality of sensor locations and measure a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to determine a flow of the fluid by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto. The present invention can be effective in accurate and high spatial resolution of flow distributions through vessel components, such as a particulate bed (such as a reactor catalyst bed), a wash bed including packing material, an absorbent bed, a structured bed, a filter, or the like. |
| US09746433B2 |
X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and X-ray fluorescence analyzing method
An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer includes: an X-ray source (3) to irradiate, with primary X-rays (6), a sample (1) that is multiple nanoparticles placed on a substrate (10); an irradiation angle adjustment unit (5) to adjust an irradiation angle at which a surface (10a) of the substrate is irradiated; a detection unit (8) to measure an intensity of fluorescent X-rays (7) from the sample (1); a peak position calculation unit (11) to generate a sample profile representing change of the intensity of the fluorescent X-rays (7) against change of the irradiation angle, and to calculate a peak irradiation angle position; a particle diameter calibration curve generation unit (21) to generate a calibration curve; and a particle diameter calculation unit (22) to calculate a particle diameter of nanoparticles of an unknown sample (1) by applying the peak irradiation angle position of the unknown sample (1) to the calibration curve. |
| US09746432B2 |
Spacer accessory for XRF handheld analyzers
Disclosed is an attachable spacer applied to the front base plate of a hand-held and self-contained XRF testing device that holds the face plate at a forwards tilt towards a test sample, and ensures that only the top rim of the face plate ever touches a test sample. The resulting triangular gap minimizes contact between the front plate window and the test surface, prevents the transfer of heat to the XRF testing device's circuitry, and locks in a fixed distance between the face plate of the XRF testing device and the sample being tested. |
| US09746430B2 |
Optical inspecting apparatus
An optical inspecting apparatus includes a first light source, a beam splitter, a first lens, a first light detector, and pinhole plates. The first light source emits a first light beam. The beam splitter transmits or reflects the first light beam. The first lens provides the first light beam to transmit through a transparent substrate of a photomask and forms a first focusing spot on a first surface of the transparent substrate or a top surface of a photomask pattern formed on the transparent substrate. The first light detector detects a first reflection light beam generated by reflecting the first light beam from the first surface of the transparent substrate or the top surface of the photomask pattern. The pinhole plates are disposed in front of the first light detector to filter noise in the reflection light beam. |
| US09746425B2 |
Waste detection
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for waste object detection. For example, a waste alert component is configured to emit ultraviolet light towards a waste detection zone, such as a bathroom floor or countertop. If a waste object, such as a paper towel or other object with a fluoresce property, exists within the waste detection zone, then the waste alert component may detect an increase in light due to the waste object fluorescing visible light in response to the ultraviolet light. If the increase in light intensity exceeds a detection threshold, then the waste alert component may provide a waste detection alert that the waste object exists within the waste detection zone (e.g., a message may be sent to a housekeeper that paper towel waste in on the bathroom countertop). |
| US09746423B2 |
Reverberation chamber loading
A method and system for selectively varying the performance of a test chamber are disclosed. According to one aspect, the performance is affected by a variable absorbing structure of the test chamber. The absorbing structure enables selective exposure of absorbing material to achieve a specific performance. |
| US09746422B2 |
Gemstone registration and recovery system, and systems for evaluating the light performance of a gemstone and capturing forensic characteristics of a gemstone
A computer-implemented system is provided and includes a processor and a memory accessible by the processor, with the system being configured to measure light performance properties of a gemstone and generate an objective grade for the gemstone. |
| US09746418B2 |
Portable reflectometer and method for characterising the mirrors of solar thermal power plants
The invention relates to a portable reflectometer and to a method for characterizing the collector mirrors used in solar power plants for the in-field characterization of reflection coefficients. The equipment includes all of the components required for this measurement, such as a module to measure the reflection coefficient of the mirror, an electronic data acquisition and processing system, a system for processing data and controlling the equipment, a system for storing the data of interest, a user interface system, and a system allowing communication between the aforementioned systems and an outer casing. The equipment can be used to characterize the specular reflection coefficient of flat or curved mirrors of different thicknesses, without requiring adjustments to be made to the equipment, minimizing the influence of diffuse reflection on the measurement. |
| US09746417B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining concentration using polarized light
An apparatus and method for determining the concentration of chiral molecules in a fluid includes a first polarizer configure to polarize light in substantially a first plane to provide initially polarized light. A second polarizer is capable of polarizing the initially polarized light in a plurality of planes, at least one of the plurality of planes being different from the first plane, to provide subsequently polarized light. One or more receivers are included for measuring an intensity of the subsequently polarized light in one or more of the plurality of planes. |
| US09746415B2 |
Sample holder, detector mask, and scope system
A detector mask transmits selectively a plurality of probe particles to a particle detector, the detector mask includes: a plate including a plate wall disposed in the plate and enclosing a transmission orifice arranged in a transmission profile to: transmit probe particles having a trajectory coincident with the transmission orifice, block probe particles having a trajectory external to the transmission orifice, and form a probe particle beam comprising the probe particles transmitted by the transmission orifice to the particle detector, wherein the transmission profile includes a sector, a semi-circle, an annular sector, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing first transmission profiles. |
| US09746412B2 |
Flow cytometer
The disclosed flow cytometer includes a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The WDM includes an extended light source providing light that forms an object, a collimating optical element that captures light from the extended light source and projects a magnified image of the object as a first light beam, and a first focusing optical element configured to focus the first light beam to a size smaller than the object of the extended light source to a first semiconductor detector. The disclosed flow cytometer further includes a composite microscope objective to direct light emitted by a particle in a flow channel in a viewing zone of the composite microscope to the extended light source, a fluidic system and a peristaltic pump configured to supply liquid sheath and liquid sample to the flow channel, and a laser diode system to illuminate the particle in the flow channel. |
| US09746411B2 |
Apparatus and method for evaluating gas barrier properties
An apparatus for evaluating gas barrier properties, containing a polymer-containing support for supporting a sample, a chamber on a permeation side, and a detection unit, in which the support is connected with an opening of the chamber on the permeation side, and in which glass transition point of the polymer contained in the support is 100° C. or higher. |
| US09746405B2 |
Method for elementally detecting variations in density
A method and system are provided for elementally detecting variations in density. The method includes providing a computed tomography device, comprising a radiation source, a detector, and at least one grating between the radiation source and the detector, positioning the component between the radiation source and the detector, directing radiation from the radiation source to the detector to acquire information from the component, generating at least one phase contrast image and at least one dark field contrast image of the component corresponding to variations in density with the information from the component, correlating the variations in density to a foreign mass, and displaying foreign mass distribution within the component. The system includes a radiation source, a detector, a component, a first grating, a second grating, and an analysis device capable of determining total variation of density in response to radiation received by the detector, and correlating the variation of density to free element distribution in the component. |
| US09746404B2 |
Inspection methods and apparatuses for liquids
A method and apparatus for inspection of liquids are disclosed. The method includes inspecting a liquid with a technique selected according to whether the package of the liquid is transparent, semi-transparent or opaque. If the package is transparent or semi-transparent, a Raman spectra technique is used; if the package is opaque, a technique using an electronic scale and a barcode reader is used. In some embodiments, the Raman spectra technique and the technique using barcode reader and electronic scale can be used independently for inspection of the liquid. The inspection apparatus according to the present disclosure has advantages, such as capability of material identification, rapid examination speed, small volume, light weight, portability, low cost, freedom from radiation, and simple maintenance. The method and apparatus according to the present disclosure are suitable for safety inspection in public places having a large number, and fast flow, of people. |
| US09746403B2 |
Method of testing a polycrystalline diamond compact cutter
The method for determining fracture toughness includes clamping a cutting element in a first orientation, exerting a confining pressure on the cutting element, applying a first load at a first distance from a perimeter of the diamond table of the cutting element, increasing the first load to a first level sufficient to fracture, and recording the first level sufficient to fracture. Then, another load is applied at another distance from a perimeter of the diamond table with another cutting element or the same cutting element in another orientation. The load is increased until fracture again. The steps are repeated at different distances and different orientations to create a profile of the fracture toughness of the cutting element. The method also includes wearing the cutting element and measuring fracture toughness at a worn distance. The profile is a more complete rating of the cutting element under drilling conditions. |
| US09746402B2 |
Molding grip fixture
The present grip design includes a two-piece clamp with an interior space which forms a mold for the sample material. The two-piece clamp further includes undercut apertures which engage complementary tapered portions of upper and lower grips. The sample material can be poured to fill the mold formed within the two-piece clamp. The interior of the upper and lower grips includes a pattern, such as, but not limited to, a threaded pattern, in order to more firmly engage the sample. The samples may include soft materials, liquids, gels, compounds, powdered or similar materials. The grip may be used in connection with bioreactor or materials testing applications. |
| US09746401B2 |
Multi-axis universal material testing system
A universal materials testing machine is disclosed. In one embodiment, the machine comprises a plurality of grips holding a circular material specimen sheet; the grips being capable of pulling the material specimen radially outward. Each grip is connected to a force measurement sensor such as a load cell. The grip and the load cell assembly is connected to a linear actuator assembly. The linear actuator assembly comprises a motor connected to an arm that can move along a straight line. The actuator pulls or pushes the load cell and grip assembly. A camera module captures images of the specimen while being stretched or released. A data processing system gathers camera module images along with force measurements from the load cells. An analysis module running on the data processing unit computes stress and strain measurements and fits them to user selectable material model. |
| US09746400B2 |
Method for evaluating semiconductor wafer and apparatus for evaluating semiconductor wafer
The present invention provides a method for evaluating a semiconductor wafer concerning a breaking strength of a notch portion of the semiconductor wafer, comprising: applying a load to a notch portion of the semiconductor wafer to be evaluated toward the center of the wafer such that the notch portion of the semiconductor wafer is broken; and evaluating the breaking strength of the notch portion. The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for evaluating a semiconductor wafer that can evaluate the breaking strength of a notch portion of a semiconductor wafer with higher precision and higher sensitivity. |
| US09746398B2 |
Apparatus and method for automated analysis
An automated analyzer is offered which can dilute an analyte repeatedly without contamination due to carry-over and thus can yield reliable analysis results. The analyzer has an analyte turntable for holding analyte containers in which analyte is stored, a dilution turntable for holding dilution containers for storing a diluent, a dilution probe for aliquotting a liquid between two containers held on these two turntables, respectively, a diluent vessel for storing a diluent, and a diluent supply mechanism for supplying the diluent into the diluent vessel. The dilution probe has a function of aliquotting the diluent stored in the diluent vessel into the dilution containers held on the dilution turntable. The diluent vessel has a diluent discharging mechanism for discharging the diluent from inside the diluent vessel. |
| US09746395B2 |
Exhaust fume isolator for a gas turbine engine
Exhaust ducting for a gas turbine engine includes a lower plenum, an upper plenum, an exhaust fume isolator, and an inner duct seal positioned between the upper plenum and the exhaust fume isolator. The lower plenum is in flow communication with an exhaust collector of the gas turbine engine. The upper plenum is adjacent and in flow communication with the lower plenum. The exhaust fume isolator includes an isolation chamber and mixed exhaust ducting. The isolation chamber is adjacent the upper plenum and in flow communication with the enclosure. The mixed exhaust ducting is in flow communication with the isolation chamber and extends from the isolation chamber to the enclosure exhaust. |
| US09746394B2 |
Bench test, for the characterization of a flow of a two-phase fluid
The invention provides a test bench for characterizing a flow of a two-phase fluid, the test bench comprising a fluid tank, a first pump suitable for taking fluid from the tank and for feeding first and second lines connected in parallel, each line being provided in succession, from upstream to downstream in the flow direction of the fluid, with: injection means for injecting air into the fluid; measurement means suitable for providing information about the proportion of the vapor phase relative to the liquid phase of the fluid; and a second pump or a Venturi. |
| US09746393B2 |
Fibre optic sensing
This application relates to methods and apparatus for fiber optic sensing which can provide information about the environment in which the fiber optic is deployed. In particular the application relates to fiber optic based sensing of the mechanical impedance of the environment. The method comprises using an interrogator (201) to interrogate an optical fiber (104) which is coupled to a first element (202; 802) which is responsive to electromagnetic fields. In use a varying electric current (I), which may be an alternating current, is applied so as to induce a varying force (F) on said first element. The optical radiation backscattered from within the optical fiber is analyzed to determine a measurement signal indicative of a variation in the backscattered radiation corresponding with said electric current applied. The first element may be a first conductor (202) and the varying current may be supplied to the first conductor, or to a second conductor (701). Alternatively the first element could be a magnetic element (802). By applying a variable force to the first element, and hence the optical fiber, the characteristics of the environment can be determined. |
| US09746392B2 |
Systems and methods to determine navigation states of a platform
Systems and methods to determine navigation states of a platform are disclosed. An example system includes a first processing node to determine a first aeroelastic navigation state of a platform at a first structural location of the platform with respect to a first aeroelasticity reference, a second processing node to determine a second aeroelastic navigation state of the platform at a second structural location of the platform with respect to the first aeroelasticity reference or a second aeroelasticity reference, and a storage device to store a platform navigation state based on at least one of the first or second aeroelastic navigation states. |
| US09746388B2 |
Wireless telemetry using voltage and pulse intervals
According to techniques of this disclosure in various examples, a wireless signaling system may include a stationary element such as a stator and a non-stationary element such as a rotor. The stationary element includes a stationary element controller. The stationary element is configured to transmit a wireless signal comprising a pair of pulses. The non-stationary element comprising a non-stationary element controller. The non-stationary element is configured to receive the wireless signal from the stationary element controller, measure a transition in voltage of each of the pulses and a time interval between the pulses, and interpret a signal based on the transition in voltage of each of the pulses and the time interval between the pulses. |
| US09746386B2 |
Apparatus and methods for measurements of pressure
A strapping device for a pipe and methods of using the strapping device to non-invasively detect pressure inside the pipe and the residual stress exerted on the pipe. The strapping device includes a linked or a solid band adapted to be fitted around an outside diameter of the pipe. The strapping device further includes a sensor for measuring at least one of a change in the outside diameter of the pipe due to a corresponding change in pressure inside the pipe and to detect the stress or strain transferred from the pipe. The measurements can be conveniently processed in a circuit board coupled to the strapping device or in a remote location. The measurements can be transmitted through wires or digitally transmitted to the circuit board. |
| US09746383B2 |
Throttling memory in response to an internal temperature of a memory device
Systems and methods of managing memory devices provide for reduced power consumption and better thermal management through enhanced memory throttling. In one embodiment a memory unit includes a memory device and a temperature measurement module coupled to the memory device. The temperature measurement device measures the internal temperature of the memory device. Memory throttling can therefore be implemented based on more accurate measurements and with a much shorter response time. |
| US09746381B2 |
Laser instrumentation bracket
An exemplary laser instrumentation bracket includes a support structure providing a recess configured to receive a collar of a laser housing. The laser housing has a main body extending axially through an aperture of the support structure when the recess receives the collar. |
| US09746375B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for optical noise management in optical spectroscopy
Aspects of the disclosure include suppression of optical interference fringes in optical spectra via a modification to the refractive index of media that forms or is contained in one or more components of equipment utilized for optical spectroscopy. Such a modification can yield changes in the optical path of light propagating through at least one of the media, with the ensuing changes in the spectral structure of interference between light propagating through different optical paths. In certain embodiments, the refractive index of the media that forms or is contained in one or more components can be modified via application of a time-dependent stimulus to at least one of the one or more components. The applied stimulus can include pressure, mechanical strain or stress, temperature, a combination thereof, or the like. |
| US09746373B2 |
Apparatus for detecting photon in accordance with atmospheric condition using function of adjusting light quantity, and method of adjusting light quantity
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting photons according to an atmospheric condition, using a function of adjusting light quantity that can significantly improve reliability of an atmospheric condition analysis result by minimizing noise in a spectrum by maintaining the quantity of incident light uniform within a predetermined range regardless of atmospheric conditions and changes, and to a method of adjusting light quantity. The apparatus for detecting photons in accordance with atmospheric conditions using a function of adjusting light quantity includes: an apparatus case having a light inlet; a light quantity adjuster disposed under the light inlet and adjusting quantity of incident light such that a predetermined quantity of light travels inside; and a controller controlling operation of the light quantity adjuster in accordance with intensity of light detected by the light quantity adjuster. |
| US09746372B2 |
Receiver of a pulsed light signal with wide dynamic range
A receiver of a pulsed light signal comprises a photodiode adapted to generate an electric current in response to this light signal, having a parasitic capacitance Cd as its characteristic; an electrical ground; and a transimpedance amplifier connected to the input of the photodiode by a linking capacitor Cliaison. It includes an attenuation pad located between the photodiode and the transimpedance amplifier, consisting of a capacitor Cp where Cp=Cd/(α−1), α being a predetermined attenuation, where α>1. |
| US09746371B1 |
Light sensor calibration system and method
A method and a lighting control system for automatically determining a calibration curve for use in daylight harvesting applications. The lighting control system comprises a light sensor configured for recording light levels and a load controller configured for provide a dimmed output to a lighting load. The calibration curve comprises a calibration slope (SC) defined by a calibration coordinate (CC) and a night coordinate (CN). The calibration coordinate (CC) comprises a calibration dimming level (DC) set by a user and a calibration light level (LC) recorded by the light sensor when the lighting load is set to the calibration dimming level (DC). The night coordinate (CN) comprises a night scene dimming level (DN) and a night scene light level (LN), wherein the night scene light level (LN) comprises a difference between a sunlight plus night scene light level (LNS) recorded by the light sensor when the lighting load is set to the night scene dimming level (DN) and a sunlight level (LS) recorded by the light sensor when the lighting load is turned off. |
| US09746366B2 |
Radar level gauging
Method for determining product surface distance in a tank comprising: i) generating a transmission signal as a first pulse train; ii) generating a reference signal having a second pulse train by time delaying said first pulse train; wherein each pulse in said first and second pulse trains have essentially identical waveforms and pulse repetition frequency; iii) guiding said transmission signal towards the product surface; iv) receiving a reflected signal; v) forming a correlation value based on a time correlation between the reference signal and the reflected signal; vi) carrying out steps i) to v) in sequence for at least three different pulse repetition frequencies, until at least three pairs of correlation values and associated pulse repetition frequencies have been stored; vii) determining said distance based on said at least three pairs of correlation values and associated pulse repetition frequencies, and said fixed time delay. |
| US09746361B2 |
Gaseous flow sensor and related method thereof
A gas flow sensing device, and related method of manufacturing, comprising a conductive layer encapsulated in dielectric film, suspended over a cavity to form a diaphragm. The conductive layer functions as both a heating a sensing element and is patterned to provide uniform heat distribution across the diaphragm. The device is designed to sense flow from any direction relative to the device and the design of the dielectric film and diaphragm reduces sensor drift during prolonged operation. |
| US09746354B2 |
Elastomer encased motion sensor package
A motion sensor package with an elastomer layer that encases the sensor electronics, including the sensors, a processor, an antenna, and a battery. The elastomer layer may provide shock isolation and water resistance to protect the enclosed electronics. Embodiments may also include an outer housing into which the elastomer encased package is installed. The outer housing may for example comprise two cylindrical sections that screw together to close the outer housing. In one or more embodiments part of the outer housing may be integrated into an item of sports equipment. Embodiments for golf may also include a golf club grip adapter that is inserted into the top of a grip, and which attaches to the outer housing containing the elastomer enclosed sensor package. |
| US09746352B2 |
Method and apparatus for underground equipment monitoring
The present disclosure provides a system which collects data from a set of sensors installed on underground vehicles which is then transferred to a remote data collection node through multiple communication protocol/channels according to priority calculations. Data priority is defined based on the evaluation of individual criteria and a set of weights. Priorities, weights and criteria can be dynamically adjusted depending on environmental factors. The protocol, channel and transfer order will depend upon calculated priorities. |
| US09746349B2 |
Opto-electronic module including a non-transparent separation member between a light emitting element and a light detecting element
An opto-electronic sensor module (e.g., an optical proximity sensor module) includes a substrate, a light emitter mounted on a first surface of the substrate, the light emitter being operable to emit light at a first wavelength, and a light detector mounted on the first surface of the substrate, the light detector being operable to detect light at the first wavelength. The module includes an optics member disposed substantially parallel to the substrate, and a separation member disposed between the substrate and the optics member. The separation member may surround the light emitter and the light detector, and may include a wall portion that extends from the substrate to the optics member and that separates the light emitter and the light detector from one another. The separation member may be composed, for example, a thermosetting polymer material, a UV-curing polymer material or a visible light-curing polymer material, wherein the separation member further includes one or more inorganic fillers and/or dyes that make the separation member substantially non-transparent to light detectable by the light detector and/or emitted by the light emitter. |
| US09746348B2 |
Double pass interferometric encoder system
An encoder head includes one or more components arranged to: i) direct a first incident beam to the diffractive encoder scale at a first incident angle with respect to the encoder scale; ii) receive a first return beam from the encoder scale at a first return angle, the first return angle being different from the first incident angle; iii) redirect the first return beam to the encoder scale as a second incident beam at a second incident angle; and iv) receive a second return beam back from the encoder scale at a second return angle, the second return angle being different from the second incident angle, in which a difference between the first incident angle and second incident angle is less than a difference between the first incident angle and the first return angle and less than a difference between the second incident angle and the second return angle. |
| US09746347B2 |
Sensor unit and instrumented bearing comprising such a sensor unit
A sensor for sensing an angular position of a rotatable element with respect to a non-rotatable element, the sensor comprising an encoder fast in rotation with the rotatable element, and a sensor body fixed respective to the non-rotatable element. The sensor body includes at least one sensing element adapted to sense angular position or rotation speed and direction of the encoder, a signal processor support member, and a sensing data output connector comprising at least one electrical wire connected to the support member. The sensor comprises a tubular body (accommodating the connector), including a first half-shell integral with the sensor body and a second half-shell assembled with the first half-shell around the connector. A tubular body internal surface comprises at least one radial ridge adapted to block a translation of the output connector along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body by penetrating into a sheath of the connector. |
| US09746342B2 |
Systems and methods for generating electronic map displays with points-of-interest based on density thresholds
Methods and systems are provided for generating an electronic map display. In one implementation, a method is provided for determining a route distance based on information for a route, comparing the route distance with a distance threshold, defining a search area when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the search area including boundaries, calculating, using a processor, a points of interest (POI) density of the search area, comparing the POI density with a first density threshold and a second density threshold, adjusting the boundaries of the search area based on a result of comparing the POI density with the first density threshold and the second density threshold, identifying POIs in the adjusted search area, and providing POI information for an electronic map display, the POI information being associated with one or more POIs identified in the adjusted search area. |
| US09746340B2 |
Map storage for navigation systems
When preparing a representation of map display information for use by a navigation device, a set of source map data (600) is subject to a similarity analysis step (601) to try to identify elements in the source map data (600) that are similar in terms of their shape and/or their appearance when displayed. A classification and transformation parameter generation step (602) then classifies elements in the map into groups of similar elements as determined by the similarity analysis (601) and also determines the parameters and conditions under which the identified map elements can be considered to be similar. This is then used to generate a map database that includes a library of predefined map display elements having parametrable aspects, which map display elements can then be used to construct a desired map for display. |
| US09746339B2 |
Apparatus, method, computer program and user device for enabling control of a vehicle
An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the method comprises: processing circuitry; and memory circuitry including computer program code; the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least to perform: identifying at least one user device associated with a user; enabling information indicative of an intended path of a vehicle to be provided to the at least one identified user device; determining whether or not the apparatus has received a notification that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle; and if the apparatus has not received the notification, enabling modification of the intended path of the vehicle. |
| US09746326B2 |
Drive apparatus, physical quantity detection apparatus, and electronic apparatus
A driver apparatus includes a vibrator and a drive circuit configured to input a drive signal to the vibrator to vibrate the vibrator. The drive circuit includes an output amplifier configured to output the drive signal to the vibrator based on a monitor signal, a power supply unit configured to supply a power supply voltage, and a power supply voltage controller configured to control the power supply voltage and to supply the controlled power supply voltage to the output amplifies. This driver apparatus can increase amplitude of the vibration of the vibrator, and can increase detection sensitivity to a physical quantity detection apparatus including the driver apparatus. |
| US09746323B2 |
Enhanced optical detection and ranging
In an embodiment, a method includes, for each field of view of a plurality of fields of view forming a field of regard, positioning a rotating disk in a first position corresponding to a first section of a plurality of sections. Each section of the plurality of sections may have a different focal length. The method further includes receiving a first image representing a first field of view, analyzing the first image, adjusting the plurality of mirrors based on the analysis, positioning the rotating disk in a second position corresponding to a second section, and receiving a second image representing the first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the second position. The method further includes generating a range image of the field of view using at least the first image and the second image, and determining a range to a target using the range image. |
| US09746322B2 |
Thickness measuring device and thickness measuring method
A thickness measuring device using ultrasonic waves is provided. A cortical bone thickness measuring device includes a plurality of oscillators, a reception waveform storage, an echo waveform synthesizing module, an inner-surface focusing waveform acquiring module, and a thickness calculating module. The plurality of oscillators are arrayed and each of the oscillators is transmittable and receivable of an ultrasonic wave. The echo waveform synthesizing module obtains an echo waveform corresponding to the ultrasonic beams by synthesizing reception waveforms of the respective oscillators stored in the reception waveform storage in advance, while scanning a focusing position of the ultrasonic beams. Concerning the obtained echo waveform, when it is determined that the beams suitably focus on an inner surface of a cortical bone as a result of an evaluation by the inner-surface focusing waveform acquiring module, the thickness calculating module calculates the thickness of the cortical bone based on the echo waveform. |
| US09746319B2 |
Generation of depth data based on spatial light pattern
Technologies are generally described for generating depth data based on a spatial light pattern. In some examples, a method of generating depth data includes obtaining an image of one or more objects on which a spatial light pattern is projected, wherein blurring of the spatial light pattern in the image monotonously increases or decreases in a depth direction, calculating a value of a spatial frequency component of the image in a local image area around a pixel of interest, and determining depth data corresponding to the calculated value of the spatial frequency component by utilizing a preset relationship between depths and values of the spatial frequency component. |
| US09746317B2 |
Image processing method and device
Image processing method and device are provided. The method includes: controlling a projector to project multi-stripe structured light and dot structured light onto an object, to form multiple light stripes and light spots between the light stripes on the surface of the object; acquiring a target image of the object having the light stripes and the light spots on the surface; obtaining a reference image including the light stripes and the light spots; calculating a first depth value at each light stripe in the target image based on feature information of the light stripes in the reference image and target image; calculating a second depth value at each light spot in the target image based on feature information of the light spots in the reference image and target image; and generating a depth image of the target image based on the first depth value and the second depth value. |
| US09746316B1 |
High-resolution in-line metrology for roll-to-roll processing operations
A substrate is tested with an interferometer in-line in a roll-to-roll processing operation to detect defects and exclude them from further processing. A tilt is introduced in the illumination path of the interferometer to allow detection of best fringes in a selected measurement field of view (FOV) that is smaller than the camera FOV in the direction transverse to the fringes. At each acquisition frame, the measurement FOV is shifted to track the best-fringe position within the camera field of view based on irradiance acquired at the previous step. As a result, the system is able to accommodate substrate flutter and roller runout and maintain focus on the substrate that allows precise identification of defects and their isolation for subsequent processing. |
| US09746315B1 |
Side illumination in interferometry
Side illumination is combined with scanning interferometry to provide a means for measuring with a single data-acquisition scan surfaces that contain sections suitable for interferometric processing as well as sections that are not suitable because of lack of fringes produced by the measurement. In the sections where no fringes are produced, the irradiance detected during the scan is processed using a depth-from-focus mapping method to yield a corresponding measurement. The result is a complete profilometric measurement of the sample surface with a single scan. In addition, by increasing sample irradiance through side illumination, the structural features of the sample become markedly more visible than when illuminated only by the object beam of the interferometer, which greatly facilitates finding focus and identifying regions of interest for the measurement. |
| US09746314B2 |
Scanning laser target sphere with internal concentric mount
A laser target sphere is used in conjunction with a laser scanner. The target sphere has an ideal lambertian reflectance appropriate for laser scanning systems facilitating the laser scanner finding the center of the target sphere. The target sphere includes an internal kinematic mount configured to concentrically mount the target sphere to a Spherical Mounted Retroreflector (SMR) providing a same center location of the two spheres. By adapting the target sphere to mount concentrically on the SMR, the laser scanner and target sphere system can use the same points defined for the SMR. |
| US09746312B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and method for measuring a position
A lithographic apparatus includes a support configured to hold an object, the support being moveable relative to a reference structure in a direction; a first position measurement system configured to provide a first measurement signal in a first frequency range, the first measurement signal representative of a position of the support relative to the reference structure in the direction; a second position measurement system configured to provide a second measurement signal in a second frequency range, the second measurement signal representative of the position of the support relative to the reference structure in the direction; and a processor configured to (a) filter the first measurement signal so as to attenuate a signal component having a frequency in the second frequency range, (b) filter the second measurement signal so as to attenuate a signal component having a frequency in the first frequency range, and (c) combine the filtered first measurement signal and the filtered second measurement signal into a combined measurement signal representative of the position of the support relative to the reference structure in the direction. |
| US09746309B2 |
Remote field testing using a permeable core
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for measuring material thickness of one or more casings using a permeable core are presented. A magnetic field is generated using a permeable core and transmitted through one or more casings. Moreover, one or more receivers measure changes to the magnetic field. |
| US09746306B2 |
Device and method for determining a contact angle of a rolling element
Method for determining the contact angle (α) of a rolling element bearing (10) comprising an inner ring (12), an outer ring (14) and a plurality, P, of rolling elements (16) interposed between the inner ring (12) and the outer ring (14). The method comprises the step of determining the relative speed of P−1 or fewer of said plurality, P, of rolling elements (16) with respect to the inner ring (12) and/or the outer ring (14) and determining the contact angle (α) of said rolling element bearing (10) therefrom. |
| US09746304B2 |
Apparatus and method to compensate bearing runout in an articulated arm coordinate measurement machine
A method and apparatus for correcting errors in a bearing cartridge used in a portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) is provided. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first bearing and a second bearing arranged in a fixed relationship to define an axis, the cartridge further including an angle measurement device configured to measure a rotation of a portion of the cartridge about the axis. A plurality of angles is measured with the angle measurement device. A first plurality of displacements is determined at a first position along the axis, each of the first plurality of displacements being associated with one of the plurality of angles. Compensation values are determined based at least in part on the plurality of angles and the first plurality of displacements. |
| US09746299B1 |
Magnetic pocket clip for holding firearm ammunition magazines
A holder for receiving and releasably retaining ferrous metal ammunition magazines for firearms in a pocket of a garment includes a rare earth magnet positioned in a passage formed centrally through a ferrous metal plate, with the passage having a front end region that is sized to retain the magnet within the passage. A rear opening of the passage is closed by a flat central region of a C-shaped ferrous metal retaining member that has spaced, forwardly extending right and left arms for retaining an ammunition magazine therebetween and in contact with a front surface of the metal plate. An elongate reverse-bent metal clip positioned rearwardly of the retaining member is configured to grip garment pocket material to secure the holder where desired. |
| US09746298B2 |
Flechette for direct fire weapons
A flechette for use with a gun barrel having a tapered bore with a diameter at the initial bore section greater than the diameter at the emergent bore. The flechette includes a body constructed of a ductile material and having an elongated axis aligned with the axis of the tapered bore when positioned in the load end of the bore. The body also includes a cylindrical bulkhead as well as a bourrelet that are axially spaced from each other along the flechette and have an outside diameter substantially the same as the diameter at the initial bore section of the tapered bore. An elongated boom is attached at the tail end of the body while a penetrator is attached at the forward end of the body. Upon launch, both the bulkhead and bourrelet are compressed radially inward by the bore reduction so that the body is substantially cylindrical upon exit from the discharge end of the bore. |
| US09746296B2 |
Customizable projectile designed to tumble
A method of making a projectile that tumbles upon impact. The projectile has a leading portion, a leading portion trailing end, and a leading portion side which forms a leading portion acute angle with the leading portion trailing end. A tip extends from the leading portion and has a tip trailing end and a tip side. The tip side forms a tip acute angle with the tip trailing end. |
| US09746295B1 |
40 mm extended range high performance projectile with rocket and guidance navigation control capability and decoupling device
An extended range, enhanced lethality 40 mm ammunition round. The round features controlled guidance and camera front end, which can be fired as fin stabilized with no appreciable spin, from an M320 grenade launcher. The round has a launching sleeve with an oversized propellant cup, to essentially double or triple conventional range, with sharp accuracy provided by the guidance system. |
| US09746294B2 |
Lobed nock for crossbow bolts
A lobed projectile includes a shaft having a leading end and a trailing end, a point positioned at the leading end, a number of circumferentially spaced apart vanes positioned on the shaft between the leading end and the trailing end, and a nock positioned at the trailing end. The nock includes a body portion attached to the shaft, wherein the body portion has a central axis, and the nock includes a lobe on the outer surface of the body portion which extends radially away from the central axis. The nock may be used to avoid dry fires of a crossbow by controlling an anti-dry fire mechanism and by securing a bowstring to the nock of the projectile. |
| US09746287B2 |
Stealth window
A window in an asset having an active adaptive stealth system including a plurality of stealth plates whose temperature can be controlled to control an IR signature of the plates, the window including a window pane pivotally mounted in a wall of the asset adjacent the stealth plates, a motor drivingly coupled to the window pane, and a tilt mechanism coupled to the motor and arranged to position the window pane such that the IR signature of the stealth plates approximates an IR signature of the window pane. |
| US09746286B2 |
System and method for target engagement
Embodiments of the present invention assist in aiming indirect fire weapons and firearms. A housing having a display and containing electronics attaches to a firearm. The electronics contain performance information specific to at least one firearm and munitions used in that firearm. Selector switches allow an operator to select the correct firearm and round to be fired from the firearm. Then, as an initial step in aiming, the operator directs the end of the weapon at a target. Then the operator adjusts the position of the firearm while observing the display. The electronics monitor the relative orientation of the firearm and displays feedback on the display as the orientation of the firearm is changed by an operator. When the display indicates the firearm is correctly aimed, the operator discharges the firearm. |
| US09746283B2 |
Cocking tab inserts and breechblock slides and firearms including the same
Cocking tab inserts and breechblock slides and firearms including the same are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a breechblock slide; a cocking tab insert removably coupled to the breechblock slide; and a sight removably coupled to the breechblock slide and overlaying the cocking tab insert to substantially prevent the cocking tab insert from being inadvertently removed from the breechblock slide. |
| US09746277B2 |
Linear clutch for use with a bow and an arrow rest
A clutch for use with an arrow rest is mounted intermediate the arrow rest and the bow. The clutch includes a body having a first end configured to operatively connect to the arrow rest cord and a second end that receives a moveable shaft. The moveable shaft has a first end received in the body and a second end configured to connect to a bow. A spring is received on the shaft and positioned between the shaft and the clutch body. The clutch is moveable between a first position in which the shaft first end is proximate the clutch body first end to facilitate the movement of an arrow rest launcher arm out of an arrow support position, and a second position in which the shaft first end is proximate the clutch body second end to facilitate movement of the arrow rest launcher arm into an arrow support position. |
| US09746275B1 |
Split cams for a compound archery bow
The split cam for a compound archery bow includes a pair of limbs, each limb having a respective loose end and at least two portions. End members are installed on the loose ends, and each end member has a pulley for a bowstring and two attachments for two cables. In between the loose ends, a first cable and a second cable are located on the same side of the bowstring. For each limb, at least one portion of the limb separates the respective pulley from at least one of the attachments for the first cable and the second cable. The portions may be of different resilience. The cam provides for convenient operation of a compound archery bow, increases initial speed of an arrow when shooting, and increases strength and reliability. |
| US09746274B1 |
Projectile firing apparatus
An apparatus for firing projectiles including a feeding mechanism adapted to feed projectiles into rotating arms rotating around an axis within a guide wall. The wall includes an opening through which the projectile are expelled due to the rotation of the arms. Strikers attached to each arm are so positioned so that they strike the projectile that has been expelled through the guide accelerating the projectile. |
| US09746270B1 |
Drive mechanism and system for remotely operating a turret
An unmanned turret having a turret ring gear and first and second electrical force-producing devices with the unmanned turret being rotatably mounted to a vehicle chassis, the turret drive mechanism including at least one ring gear independent of the turret ring gear, at least one manually-operable input component rotatably coupled to the at least one ring gear, the at least one input component accessible within the vehicle chassis, and at least one output component mechanically coupled to at least one of the first and second electrical force-producing devices of the unmanned turret to cause rotation of the at least one of the first and second electrical force-producing device. Another turret drive mechanism and an unmanned turret are also disclosed. |
| US09746265B2 |
Secure smartphone-operated gun lock with means for overriding release of the lock
A gun locking and unlocking device, which may be configured to be disposed adjacent the trigger of a gun to alternatively prevent or enable firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the data memory. One or more separate electronic gun keys are provided to transmit gun lock/unlock data to the data receiver of the gun lock device. The logic device responds to a gun control signal transmitted by one of the gun key devices with priority over a gun control signal transmitted by another gun key device. The logic device automatically locks the gun when it is located in a proscribed area, such as within a school zone or outside a prescribed protected area. The logic device also locks the gun when the gun user is intoxicated or acting in an irrational manner. Once locked, the user must set a timer which allows the gun to be unlocked only after a specified “wait” time. In case of emergency, when the gun must be available for immediate use, the user can override the safety features and unlock the gun by speaking a “secret word” or phrase. |
| US09746257B2 |
Heat exchanger and fabrication
A method for making a heat exchanger assembly is described, involving generating a digital model of a heat exchanger assembly that comprises a heat exchanger core within a housing. The digital model is inputted into an additive manufacturing apparatus or system comprising an energy source. The additive manufacturing apparatus applies energy from the energy source to successively applied incremental quantities of a metal powder, which fuses the powder to form incremental portions of the heat exchanger core and housing according to the digital model. Unfused or partially fused metal powder is enclosed in a first region of the heat exchanger assembly between the heat exchanger core and the housing. |
| US09746256B2 |
Shell and tube heat exchanger with a vapor port
A shell and tube heat exchanger having a shell having an inner surface that defines a heat exchange zone, a refrigerant pool zone is arranged in the heat exchange zone, and a plurality of tube bundles are arranged in the heat exchange zone above the refrigerant pool zone. The tube bundles have first and second wall members that define a tube channel, and a plurality of tubes arranged in the tube channel. Each of the first and second wall members have a first end that extends to a second end that is spaced from the refrigerant pool zone. The plurality of tube bundles is spaced one from another so as to define one or more vapor passages. A refrigerant distributor is positioned above the tube channel. The refrigerant distributor delivers a refrigerant onto the plurality or tubes toward the refrigerant pool zone. |
| US09746249B2 |
Heat pipe structure
A heat pipe structure includes a first tubular body and a second tubular body. The first tubular body has a first receiving space. A first working fluid is contained in the first receiving space. The second tubular body is disposed in the first receiving space. The second tubular body has a second receiving space. A second working fluid is contained in the second receiving space. The solidification temperature of the first working fluid is different from the solidification temperature of the second working fluid so that the heat pipe structure can be activated at low temperature to keep operating at normal temperature to enhance the performance. Moreover, the assembly applicability is enhanced to lower the assembling cost. |
| US09746246B2 |
Plate heat exchanger in a sealed design
The disclosure relates to a plate heat exchanger in a sealed design, with a stacked arrangement comprising a front-side and a rear-side end plate, wherein at least one end plate is constituted as a connection plate, heat exchanger plates which are arranged and stacked between the front-side and the rear-side end plate, in such a way that cavities for accommodating a plurality of heat exchanger media are formed between the heat exchanger plates, and sealing elements which are disposed to seal the cavities, and a clamping device, configured to exert an external clamping pressure on the stacked arrangement for the tensioning, wherein the clamping device is formed to encompass the stacked arrangement in a form-fit manner at least in sections, namely at least in a corner region of the stacked arrangement. |
| US09746243B2 |
Device for cooling the opening of a rotary kiln by means of cool air-blowing
A device for cooling the opening of a rotary kiln via cool air-blowing, the kiln including a metal cylinder lined internally with a refractory material and being rotatably mounted relative to the frame of the kiln, into which materials are intended to be inserted and fired. The cooling device includes: the aforementioned cylinder and a metal cylinder end part covered with a refractory material and secured to the cylinder; two concentric metal casings, known as the inner and outer casing, which surround the cylinder of the kiln and form two annular channels; and ventilation elements that allow cool air to flow through the annular channels. The device includes: an annular distribution chamber which surrounds the cylinder, is secured thereto and supplies the first channel with air; ventilation elements including at least one fan and an electric motor actuating the fan, and supplying the distribution chamber in an air-tight manner. |
| US09746242B2 |
Burner pipe and rotary kiln for producing activated carbon
The invention relates to a burner pipe for a rotary kiln for producing activated carbon and to a rotary kiln comprising said burner pipe. The invention further relates to the use of the burner pipe or rotary kiln for producing activated carbon. |
| US09746238B2 |
Drum washing machine
A drum washing machine having an improved air circulation structure thereof. The drum washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub arranged within the cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged within the tub, a drying unit which heats and circulates air discharged from the tub so as to dry laundry within the drum, the drying unit including a drying duct equipped with a heater to heat air therein, a circulation passage provided such that air circulates between the tub and the inside of the drying duct, and a suction member which is coupled to one side of the drying duct and introduces air outside the tub onto the circulation passage, and a discharge member which is coupled to one side of the tub and discharges part of the air in the circulation passage to the outside of the cabinet. |
| US09746237B2 |
Hand dryer
A hand dryer comprising a first jetting nozzle comprising a first duct in fluid communication with a first slot which forms a first nozzle outlet and a second jetting nozzle, disposed opposite the first jetting nozzle, comprising a second duct in fluid communication with a second slot which forms a second nozzle outlet. The first and second slots extend transversely with respect to the hand dryer. At least a portion of each of the first and second slots is curved such that the distance between the slots varies in the longitudinal direction of at least one of the slots. The hand dryer further comprises a blower which blows air through the jetting nozzles to produce respective air jets. |
| US09746233B2 |
Process for the separation of a gas rich in carbon dioxide
In a process for the separation of a gas rich in carbon dioxide and containing at least one component lighter than carbon dioxide, the feed gas rich in carbon dioxide is cooled in a first heat exchanger, partially condensed and separated to form a gaseous portion and a liquid, sending the liquid portion to the top of a distillation column, removing a liquid stream richer in carbon dioxide than the feed gas from the bottom of the distillation column, removing a gaseous stream less rich in carbon dioxide than the feed gas from the top of the distillation column and warming the gaseous stream in the first heat exchanger, sending the gaseous portion to a shell and tube heat exchanger having tubes in a bath of triple point carbon dioxide, in which it condenses at least partially to form a liquid fraction, sending the liquid fraction to the top of the distillation column, vaporizing a liquid stream from the bottom of the distillation column outside or within the distillation column to form a gas which is subsequently separated in the distillation column, expanding a liquid stream from the bottom of the distillation column, vaporizing at least part of the expanded liquid stream in the shell and tube heat exchanger to form a vapor and warming the vapor formed in the first heat exchanger. |
| US09746225B2 |
Refrigerator, home appliance, and method of operating the same
A refrigerator includes a motor to drive a compressor, an output current detector to detect an output current flowing to the motor, a compressor controller to calculate a power consumed in the compressor based on the detected output current, a plurality of power consuming units, and a main controller to receive the calculated compressor power consumption information, and when the plurality of power consuming units operate, to calculate a final power consumption using power consumption information stored for each power consuming unit and the calculated compressor power consumption information. Accordingly, computation of a power consumption may be simply performed. |
| US09746222B2 |
Air-conditioning apparatus
A computing device calculates an evaporating temperature Te* and a dew-point temperature Tdew* from a quality X, a temperature glide ΔT determined by a difference between a boiling temperature and a dew-point temperature at a predetermined pressure, and a refrigerant temperature detected by second temperature detection device. |
| US09746220B2 |
Refrigerant vaporizer
A vaporizer has: an inlet (72); an oil outlet (90; 94); a vent (120); a hot gas inlet (132); and a cooled gas outlet (134). A gas flowpath (130) extends from the hot gas inlet to the cooled gas outlet. A vaporizer chamber (192) is downstream of the inlet along a primary flowpath. A gas conduit (220) is along the gas flowpath in heat exchange relation with the primary flowpath. A sump (194) is below the vaporizer chamber. A housing (180) encloses the sump and the vaporizer chamber. A passageway extends from the vaporizer chamber to the sump. |
| US09746215B2 |
Heat powered reciprocating piston engine
A thermodynamic system for powering a reciprocating device includes a refrigerant passing in a closed loop between a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The system includes a heat source for heating the refrigerant, and an engine for receiving the heated refrigerant. The engine includes a housing, a shaft axially movable within the housing, a piston attached to the shaft, a shifter for reversing piston direction, and porting for passing the refrigerant into and out of the engine housing. |
| US09746214B2 |
Use of unidirectional flow modes of magnetic cooling systems
A dual-mode magnetic refrigeration apparatus includes beds of magnetocaloric material, a magnet to apply a time-varying magnetic field to the beds, a heat transfer fluid (HTF), a pump to circulate the HTF, a hot side heat exchanger (HHEX), a cold side heat exchanger (CHEX), valves to direct flow of the HTF, and a controller configured to control periodic switching of the valves to allow the apparatus to operate in a first mode and in a second mode. The first mode transfers heat from the CHEX to the HHEX. In the second mode of operation, the periodic switching of the valves is suspended to allow unidirectional flow of the HTF through the HHEX, the beds, and the CHEX such that heat is transferred from the HHEX to the CHEX. |
| US09746211B2 |
Refrigeration system including micro compressor-expander thermal units
An active gas regenerative refrigerator includes a plurality of compressor-expander units, each having a hermetic cylinder with a drive piston configured to be driven reciprocally therein, and a quantity of working fluid in each end of the cylinder. A piston seal in a central portion of the cylinder prevents passage of the working fluid between ends of the cylinder. Movement of the piston to a first extreme results in radial compression of one of the quantities of working fluid in a cylindrical gap formed between one end of the piston and an inner surface of the cylinder, while the other quantity is expanded in the opposite end of the cylinder. The piston includes a plurality of magnets arranged in pairs, with magnets of each pair positioned with like-poles facing each other. A piston drive is configured to couple with transverse magnetic flux regions formed by the magnets. |
| US09746210B2 |
Air conditioner and method of controlling the same
An air conditioner and a method of controlling the same are provided. The air conditioner includes first and second compressors capable of performing multi-stage compression, a condenser for condensing a refrigerant compressed in the first and second compressors, a refrigerant separation device for separating the refrigerant to be injected to the first or second compressor of the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, injection tubes extending from the refrigerant separation device to the first and second compressors to guide injection of the refrigerant, a main expansion device disposed at an outlet-side of the refrigerant separation device to decompress the refrigerant, an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant decompressed in the main expansion device, a valve device disposed at an outlet-side of the first compressor to guide the refrigerant compressed in the first compressor to the condenser or the second compressor, and a bypass tube extending from the valve device to an suction-side of the second compressor. |
| US09746209B2 |
Modular low charge hydrocarbon refrigeration system and method of operation
A modular refrigeration system includes a refrigeration loop having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion assembly, and a chiller interconnected by a first piping loop cycling hydrocarbon refrigerant. A high side cooling loop includes a first heat exchanger and a first pump interconnected with the condenser by a second piping loop cycling a cooling fluid, the cooling fluid exchanges heat with the hydrocarbon refrigerant at the condenser. A low side cooling loop includes a second heat exchanger and a second pump interconnected with the chiller by a third piping loop cycling a chilled fluid, the chilled fluid exchanges heat with the hydrocarbon refrigerant at the chiller. A space supports the second heat exchanger and is configured to be maintained within a predetermined temperature range, wherein the total charge of hydrocarbon refrigerant associated with the space does not exceed 150 grams. |
| US09746196B2 |
Air-guiding casing of a ventilation fan
An air-guiding casing of a ventilation fan includes a main body and an air-guiding tube. The main body forms a compartment and includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet are in communication with the compartment. A first engaging portion is arranged on a part of an edge of the outlet and on one side of the main body. The air-guiding tube has an engaging end and an outlet end opposite to the engaging end. A second engaging portion is arranged on the engaging end. The first and second engaging portions are engaged with each other. |
| US09746195B2 |
Ceiling mounted ventilation fan
A ceiling mounted ventilation fan comprises a main housing including a first opening communicating with a duct and a second opening communicating with inside of a room, and a fan unit including a fan casing having an air inlet opened in the main housing, and the fan casing includes a first engagement part releasably engaged with the first opening of the main housing, and a second engagement part releasably engaged with an inner wall of the main housing, positioning of the fan casing in an installation position is achieved in a state that the first engagement part is engaged with the first opening and the second engagement part is engaged with the inner wall of the main housing, and a state of the engagement can visually be confirmed through the second opening in a state that the positioning is achieved. |
| US09746191B2 |
System for producing heat source for heating or electricity using medium/low temperature waste heat, and method for controlling the same
A system for producing a heat source for heating or electricity, using medium/low-temperature waste heat includes: an absorption-type heat pump (100) supplied with a driving heat source and heat source water to heat a low-temperature heat medium; a regenerator heat exchange unit (210) for supplying a regenerator (110) with a driving heat source using waste heat; an evaporator heat exchange unit (220) for supplying an evaporator with heat source water; a heat medium circulation line (310) for circulating a heat medium; a generation unit (400) branching off from the heat medium circulation line (310) and producing electricity; a heat production unit (500) branching off from the heat medium circulation line (310) and supplying a heat-demanding place with a heat source for heating; and a switching valve unit (600) for controlling the flow of heat medium supplied the generation unit (400) or the heat production unit (500). |
| US09746185B2 |
Circumferential biasing and profiling of fuel injection in distribution ring
An annular fluid distribution device (20) for distributing fluid into a gaseous flow (14), that includes: a first fluid distribution manifold (30) having a first fluid inlet and first fluid outlets (24), wherein the first fluid outlets inject a first fluid into the gaseous flow; and a second fluid distribution manifold (32), having a second fluid inlet and second fluid outlets (26), wherein the second fluid outlets inject a second fluid into the gaseous flow. The second fluid manifold is isolated from the first fluid distribution manifold, and the first fluid outlets and the second fluid outlets are disposed on a common fluid outlet plane (43). |
| US09746184B2 |
Combustor dome heat shield
A combustor heat shield comprises a heat shield body adapted to be mounted to a combustor wall with a back side of the heat shield body in spaced-apart facing relationship with the combustor wall to define an air gap between the heat shield body and the combustor wall. At least one nozzle opening is defined in the heat shield bod. The opening is bordered by a nozzle opening boss. The boss extends from the back side of the heat shield body across the air gap for sealing engagement with an adjacent part of the combustor. An annular array of effusion holes is provided adjacent the nozzle opening boss. The effusion holes extend through the heat shield body for passing cooling air from the back side to a front side of the heat shield body. Fins are interspersed between the effusion holes on the back side of the heat shield. |
| US09746173B2 |
Illumination devices including enclosure panels with luminaire modules
Devices used for workspace illumination include, for example, a panel and a solid-state based optical system arranged inside an enclosure of the panel. The panel can be a cubicle divider. In one aspect, an illumination device includes a mount; a panel including a first face and a second opposing face. The panel is vertically supported by the mount along a horizontal dimension of the first and second faces. Further, the panel forms an enclosure between the first and the second face. Additionally, the illumination device includes a first luminaire module arranged in the enclosure and configured to output light in a first output angular range. The light output in the first output angular range has a prevalent propagation direction with a vertical component towards a first target area. |
| US09746171B2 |
Illumination device
The present invention discloses an illumination device (100). The illumination device (100) comprises a light source (110) arranged to generate light, a carrier (120) arranged to support the light source and an envelope (130) enclosing the light source and the carrier. The envelope comprises at least two enveloping parts which, when joined together, form the envelope. Further, the carrier is arranged in thermal contact with at least one of the enveloping parts for dissipating heat out of the illumination device. |
| US09746163B1 |
Easy use hook system for suspending light strands
An apparatus for an easy and safe method for installing a hook system for suspending outdoor holiday light strands on the roof lines of homes and businesses having one-piece-mountable-hooks able to be placed on a roof line of a building. Various embodiments of the one-piece-mountable-hooks are described to fit different types of roof lines and a roof line having a rain gutter. |