| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09775254B2 |
Aluminum oxide control mechanism
A control mechanism comprises a housing defining an interior and an exterior, an aperture formed in the housing and extending from the interior to the exterior thereof, an actuator on the interior of the housing, proximate the control aperture, and a control member positionable within the aperture to operate the actuator. The control member comprises a first surface exposed to the exterior of the housing, a second surface proximate the actuator within the housing, and a body portion extending therebetween, the body portion being formed of a substantially single crystal aluminum oxide material. A bias member is configured to bias the body portion of the control member toward an inner surface of the housing, such that the control member is retained within the aperture in operation of the actuator. |
| US09775252B2 |
Method for soldering shape memory alloys
A method of soldering a shape memory alloy (SMA) element to a component includes positioning a tinned end of the SMA element with respect to a surface of the component, and then directly soldering the tinned end to the surface using solder material having a low liquidus temperature of 500° F. or less when an oxide layer is not present on the SMA element. The end may be soldered using lead-based solder material at a higher temperature when an oxide layer is present. The end may be tinned with flux material containing phosphoric acid or tin fluoride prior to soldering the SMA element. The SMA element may be submersed in an acid bath to remove the oxide layer. The solder material may contain tin and silver, antimony, or zinc, or other materials sufficient for achieving the low liquidus temperature. Heat penetrating the SMA element is controlled to protect shape memory abilities. |
| US09775241B2 |
Nanotube dispersants and dispersant free nanotube films therefrom
A degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant comprises a multiplicity of NT associative groups that are connected to a polymer backbone by a linking group where there are cleavable groups within the polymer backbone and/or the linking groups such that on a directed change of conditions, bond breaking of the cleavable groups results in residues from the degradable polymeric NT dispersant in a manner where the associative groups are uncoupled from other associative groups, rendering the associative groups monomelic in nature. The degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be combined with carbon NTs to form a NT dispersion that can be deposited to form a NT film, or other structure, by air brushing, electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll coating, or dip coating. The deposition can render a NT film that is of a uniform thickness or is patterned with various thicknesses. Upon deposition of the film, the degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be cleaved and the cleavage residues removed from the film to yield a film where contact between NTs is unencumbered by dispersants, resulting in highly conductive NT films. |
| US09775235B2 |
Systems and methods for providing surface connectivity of oriented conductive channels
An electrically conductive composite is disclosed that includes a dielectric material having a first side and a second side, conductive particles within the dielectric material layer, and a discontinuous layer of a conductive material on a first side of the dielectric layer. The conductive particles are aligned to form a plurality of conductive paths from the first side to the second side of the dielectric material, and each of the conductive paths is formed of at least a plurality of conductive particles. The discontinuous layer includes a plurality of non-mutually connected portions that cover portions of, but not all of, the first side of the dielectric material such that exposed portions of the underlying first side of the dielectric material remain exposed through the discontinuous layer, yet the discontinuous layer facilitates the electronic coupling together of a plurality of the conductive paths from the first side to the second side of the dielectric material. |
| US09775229B1 |
Internally die-referenced thermal transfer plate
This disclosure describes an electronics device that effectively removes heat from the SoC, which increases its efficiency and extends its useful life by spreading heat in the thermally conductive plate before transferring it across the interface. Surface area is a significant factor in TIM thermal performance, so this increases the performance substantially when using the same type of TIM pad. This device allows the use of lower performance TIM pads that resolve the issues of high die pressure and non-resilient behavior of high thermal conductivity TIMs. Additionally, the device mechanically isolates the SoC from the heatsink, which reduces stress and provides improved thermal performance. |
| US09775228B2 |
Electron accelerator having a coaxial cavity
Disclosed embodiments include an electron accelerator, having a resonant cavity having an outer conductor and an inner conductor; an electron source configured to generate and to inject a beam of electrons transversally into the resonant cavity; a radio frequency (RF) source coupled to the resonant cavity and configured to: energize the resonant cavity with an RF power at a nominal RF frequency, and generate an electric field into said resonant cavity that accelerates the electrons of the electron beam a plurality of times into the cavity and according to successive and different transversal trajectories; and at least one deflecting magnet configured to bend back the electron beam that emerges out of the cavity and to redirect the electron beam towards the cavity. |
| US09775227B2 |
Non-thermal equilibrium plasma ignition plug and non-thermal equilibrium plasma ignition device
A non-thermal equilibrium plasma ignition plug including a tubular metallic shell having an axial hole extending along an axial line, an insulator disposed in such a manner as to form a gap in cooperation with a wall surface of the axial hole at a forward end portion of the metallic shell, and a center electrode held at the center of the insulator, and generates nonequilibrium plasma in response to voltage applied thereto from a power supply. The insulator has a plurality of depressions or protrusions formed on a surface thereof which faces a discharge space therearound. |
| US09775226B1 |
Method and system for generating a light-sustained plasma in a flanged transmission element
A system for forming a light-sustained plasma capable of emitting vacuum ultraviolet light includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a plasma cell including a transmission element having one or more openings, one or more flanges disposed at the openings of the transmission element and configured to enclose the internal volume of the transmission element in order to contain a volume of gas within the plasma cell. The system further includes a collector element arranged to focus the illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the plasma cell. Further, the plasma emits broadband radiation including at least vacuum ultraviolet radiation. In addition, the transmission element of the plasma cell is transparent to the illumination generated by the illumination source and at least the vacuum ultraviolet radiation emitted by the plasma. |
| US09775225B2 |
X-ray computed tomography apparatus and photon counting CT apparatus
A gantry includes two X-ray source rings and a detector ring. Each X-ray source ring includes a plurality of X-ray sources arrayed circumferentially. The detector ring is provided next to the X-ray source ring and includes a plurality of X-ray detectors arrayed circumferentially. Each of the plurality of X-ray detectors detects X-rays from the X-ray source ring. A data collection circuit collects raw data corresponding to the intensity of the detected X-rays. A reconstruction unit reconstructs the collected raw data into a CT image based on digital data. |
| US09775221B2 |
Lamp control apparatus
A lamp control apparatus includes a radio signal control module configured to receive a dimming signal from the outside, to generate a lamp control signal, and to amplify the lamp control signal by a predetermined amount, a driver configured to receive the lamp control signal amplified by the radio signal control module and to control a lamp, and a power supply module configured to supply driving power to the radio signal control module or the driver. |
| US09775217B2 |
Hand-held lighting device
A hand-held lighting device includes a light source (18) and a switching device (26) for switching the light source on and off, and the switching device (26) includes a speech processor (34) for analyzing and/or synthesis of the spoken speech. |
| US09775216B2 |
Method of controlling a lighting device
According to an aspect of the invention, a method of controlling a lighting device is provided. The method comprises receiving an input from a dimmer, the input being representative of a desired light output level for the lighting device. A control voltage for operating a driver unit comprised in the lighting device is computed based on the input and a calibrated relationship between power consumption and control voltage for the lighting device. |
| US09775215B2 |
LED tube lamp with operating modes compatible with electrical ballasts
An LED tube lamp having an LED unit is disclosed. The LED tube lamp includes a control circuit that selectively determines whether to perform a first mode or a second mode of lighting operation according to a state of a property of an external driving signal and a switching circuit coupled to the control circuit and the LED unit. When the control circuit determines to perform the first mode of lighting operation, the control circuit controls the second circuit in a manner such that the switching circuit maintains its on state to allow continual current to flow through the LED unit, until the external driving signal is disconnected from the LED tube lamp, and when the control circuit determines to perform the second mode of lighting operation, the control circuit controls the switching circuit in a manner to regulate the continuity of current to flow through the LED unit by alternately turning on and off the switching circuit. |
| US09775209B2 |
High frequency AC LED lighting system
A circuit having a series interconnection of a light-emitting diode (LED) group, a first transistor, a second transistor and a first resistor. The series interconnection has a cathode coupled to a drain terminal of the first transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor wherein voltage across the first resistor to provide a biasing voltage for the first transistor. A source terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor wherein voltage across the second resistor provides a biasing voltage for the second transistor and ancillary circuitry bypasses the series interconnection. The ancillary circuitry has a capacitor to provide current to the series interconnection to increase the amount of light emitted during an electrical excitation cycle. |
| US09775207B2 |
Configurable LED driver/dimmer for solid state lighting applications
The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for configuring and powering light fixture loads for a LED low voltage distribution system. The method and apparatus include converting power being supplied for powering the set of light fixture loads and then limiting this converted power to a set of multiple current outputs supplied to the light fixture loads. The multiple current outputs are then split or regrouped prior to being delivered to the light fixture loads. |
| US09775206B2 |
LED AC drive circuit
An LED AC drive circuit, comprising: a rectification unit, a current-limiting unit, M LED units and M−1 connected/disconnected control connection lines; each LED unit comprising ni LEDs connected in series, wherein 1≦i≦M, and n1+n2+ . . . +nM=N, 1≦M≦N, and N is determined by formula (I). The M LED units are connected sequentially to the positive end of the rectification unit and to the current-limiting unit connected to the negative end of the rectification unit; the first LED unit comprises switches connected in series at the negative end of the LED string; the ith LED unit comprises switches connected in series at the positive end of the LED string and switches connected in series at the negative end of the LED string, wherein 1≦i≦M−1; and the Mth LED unit comprises switches connected in series at the positive end of the LED string. |
| US09775195B2 |
Capacitive sensing system
A combined heating system and occupant sensing system for a vehicle seat includes first and second electrodes connected in series and a controller configured to direct a heating current to the first and second electrodes. The controller is configured to isolate the first and second electrodes from the heating current and, at the same time, provide a sensing current to only one of the first and second electrodes. |
| US09775194B2 |
Multiplexed heater array using AC drive for semiconductor processing
A heating plate for a substrate support assembly in a semiconductor plasma processing apparatus, comprises multiple independently controllable heater zones arranged in a scalable multiplexing layout, and electronics to independently control and power the heater zones. A substrate support assembly in which the heating plate is incorporated includes an electrostatic clamping electrode and a temperature controlled base plate. Methods for manufacturing the heating plate include bonding together ceramic or polymer sheets having heater zones, branch transmission lines, common transmission lines and vias. The heating plate is capable of being driven by AC current or direct current phase alternating power, which has an advantage of minimizing DC magnetic field effects above the substrate support assembly and reduce plasma non-uniformity caused by DC magnetic fields. |
| US09775181B2 |
Reducing re-association time for STA connected to AP
A method and apparatus for re-associating a station (STA) to an access point (AP). The STA sends a re-association request to the AP to initiate a re-association process with the AP. The re-association request indicates that a handshake operation is to be bypassed during the re-association process. The STA receives a re-association response from the AP in response to the re-association request and, upon receiving the re-association response, enables data communications with the AP using a set of preexisting cryptographic keys. For example, the set of preexisting cryptographic keys may be negotiated with the AP during at least one of a prior association process or a prior re-association process. |
| US09775178B2 |
Method of handling time alignment command during a random access procedure
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, a method of handling time alignment command during a random access procedure in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system is provided. |
| US09775172B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless communication
A next generation device is provided. The next generation device is configured for communicating within a wireless network including an access point (AP) supporting the next generation device. The next generation device includes a shorter Slot Time for medium access than legacy devices. |
| US09775171B2 |
System and method for speed frame exchange
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first time, by a first user equipment (UE) from a first device, a request to send (RTS) frame including a first duration and receiving, at a second time, by the first UE from a second device, a clear to send (CTS) frame including a second duration. The method also includes determining a duration of a speed frame exchange (SF) exchange in accordance with the first duration and the second duration. |
| US09775163B2 |
Resource management concept
Resource management such as network radio resource management in wireless networks, is described in connection with different aspects. |
| US09775158B2 |
Data caching at the edge of a mobile data network
Mobile network services are performed in a mobile data network in a way that is transparent to most of the existing equipment in the mobile data network. The mobile data network includes a radio access network and a core network. An edge caching mechanism is provided within a basestation to perform caching of data at the edge of the mobile data network. The edge caching mechanism analyzes historical usage data that indicates historical accesses to the basestation. Data patterns in the historical usage data may be used to define cache load criteria and to optionally define cache flush criteria. This architecture allows caching of data at the edge of a mobile data network within the infrastructure of an existing mobile data network. |
| US09775155B2 |
Integrated circuit that transforms a symbol in a time domain into a signal in a frequency domain
A communication apparatus includes a receiver, a combiner, and a transformer. The receiver receives signals mapped on plural frequency bands. A size of at least one of the frequency bands is a multiple of a product of two or more powers of prime numbers, which are integer numbers greater than 1 and are different from each other. An exponent for at least one of the prime numbers is an integer greater than 1. The combiner combines the received signals into a combined signal. The transformer transforms the combined signal in a frequency domain into a symbol sequence in a time domain with an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) having a size that is a product of powers of plural values. The values are integer numbers greater than 1 and are different from each other. An exponent for at least one of the values is an integer greater than 1. |
| US09775154B2 |
Dynamic selection of band combinations for carrier aggregation
The user equipment includes a battery, a processor to determine a charging level of the battery, and a transceiver to establish a wireless connection over a primary component carrier. The primary component carrier is on one of a plurality of frequency bands. The transceiver is also to selectively monitor, based on the charging level, a subset of the plurality of frequency bands as candidate secondary component carriers for aggregation with the primary component carrier. |
| US09775153B2 |
Allocation of unlicensed frequency bands for a wireless hotspot
User equipment aggregates connections in at least one of a first unlicensed frequency band and a second unlicensed frequency band with a connection in a licensed frequency band to form a wireless backhaul connection to the user equipment. The user equipment selectively allocates a third unlicensed frequency band to a tethering connection. |
| US09775146B2 |
Management server, base station, communication system, and communication method
There is provided a management server including a holding unit for holding a location/frequency list in which location information and frequency information are associated, a list creation unit for creating an available frequency list by extracting, from the location/frequency list, frequency information corresponding to location information received from a base station, and a list transmission unit for transmitting the available frequency list created by the list creation unit to the base station. |
| US09775145B2 |
Radio communication system, radio station, radio terminal, network apparatus, bearer control method, and computer readable medium
A radio terminal (3) has a function of establishing a second radio connection on a second cell (20) operated by a second radio station (2) while a first radio connection on a first cell (10) operated by a first radio station (1) is established. The first radio station (1) sets up a control bearer for transferring at least a control signal regarding the radio terminal (3) between an upper network (4) and the first radio station (1). Further, the first radio station (1) is configured to trigger setup of a second bearer for transferring user data of the radio terminal (3) between the upper network (4) and the second radio station (2). It is thus for example possible to enable a single radio terminal to simultaneously set up bearers on cells of a plurality of radio stations, in order to achieve carrier aggregation of cells operated by different radio stations. |
| US09775144B2 |
Method for terminal receiving downlink signal in wireless communication system and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a method for receiving a downlink signal in a wireless communication system and an apparatus for same. More specifically, a method for a terminal receiving the downlink signal in the wireless communication system supporting a coordinated multi-point (CoMP) action comprises the steps of: receiving from a serving cell which operates according to a first uplink-downlink setting monitoring information with respect to an adjacent cell which operates according to a second uplink-downlink setting; and detecting control information of the adjacent cell based on the monitoring information, wherein the first uplink-downlink setting and/or the second uplink-downlink setting is a setting established by changing a portion of a wireless resource according to a specific predetermined uplink-downlink setting. |
| US09775142B2 |
Wireless communication method and apparatus for reporting traffic volume measurement information to support uplink data transmissions
A method and apparatus for uplink transmission is disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) transmits, to a Node-B, a first type message, a second type message, and a third type message. The first type message indicates that the WTRU has uplink buffered data available for transmission. The second type message includes a plurality of indications, wherein each indication indicates an amount of uplink buffered data associated with at least one priority. The third type message indicates an amount of uplink buffered data and has less information than the second type message. The WTRU receives, in response to the transmitted first type message, the transmitted second type message, or the transmitted third type message, an uplink data scheduling message. The WTRU transmits uplink data over an uplink channel based on the received uplink data scheduling message. |
| US09775139B2 |
System and method for resource block-specific control signaling
A system and method is disclosed for resource block-specific control signaling in a communication system. Communication data is transmitted using a transmission channel comprising a plurality of resource blocks defined by allocating time-frequency slots in a transmission resource. Resource block control information is transmitted in a “feed-forward” manner to a user end (UE) or group of UEs using channels physically mapped into scheduled resource blocks (RBs) for that user or group of users. Embodiments of the invention provide an RB-specific control channel that comprises RB control elements that are embedded within scheduled resource blocks. The invention, therefore, reduces the amount of control information that must be transmitted by common or shared control channels. |
| US09775137B2 |
Radio resource management method, device and system
The disclosure provides a Radio Resource Management (RRM) method, device and system. The method includes that: a first network element judges whether a target Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network NodeB (eNB) of a terminal is a configured eNB or not, wherein the configured eNB is an eNB pre-storing context information of the terminal; and under the condition that the target eNB is the configured eNB, the first network element sends a notice of performing communication according to the corresponding context information to the configured eNB and the terminal respectively. By the disclosure, problems of serial Handover (HO) in a related technology are solved, and an effect of increasing an HO success rate is achieved. |
| US09775127B2 |
Radio communication system, radio communication method, base control station, and relay apparatus
A radio communication system includes a relay apparatus (30) connected between a base station (40) and a base control station (20) and a location information control station (10), in which: the location information control station (10) includes: a request generation unit (11) for generating a location information request including regional information of a region for which the location information is requested; and a request transmission unit (12) for transmitting the location information request that has been generated to the base control station (20), and the base control station (20) includes: a request reception unit (21) for receiving the location information request transmitted from the location information control station (10); and a request transmission unit (22) for transmitting the location information request including the regional information in the location information request that has been received to the relay apparatus (30). It is therefore possible to accurately transmit the location information request. |
| US09775124B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing synchronization in wireless communication system
A method for and apparatus for performing a synchronization in a wireless communication system is provided. A wireless device checks a configuration including a resource relationship about reference signals (RSs) between a first cell and a second cell; receives a first reference signal (RS) from the first cell; determines a timing reference to receive a second RS based on the resource relationship; receives the second RS from the second cell based on the timing reference; performs a frequency tracking using the second RS; and decodes data signals from the second cell. |
| US09775122B2 |
Transmit configuration adaptation for device to device communications based on timing measurements
A method by a first network node is disclosed for adapting transmit configuration of a first user equipment for communications directly to a second UE. The first network node obtains a first timing measurement between the first UE and the first network node. A second timing measurement between the second UE and a second network node is obtained by the first network node. A transmit configuration of a wireless communication from the first UE directly to the second UE is adapted by the first network node based on the first timing measurement and the second timing measurement. Related network nodes, methods by user equipment, and user equipments are disclosed. |
| US09775113B2 |
Voice wakeup detecting device with digital microphone and associated method
A voice wakeup detecting device for an electronic product includes a digital microphone and an application processor. The digital microphone has a function of judging whether a digital voice signal contains a subword according to subword model parameters. If the digital microphone confirms that the digital voice signal contains the subword, the digital microphone generates a first interrupt signal and outputs the digital voice signal. The application processor is enabled in response to the first interrupt signal. The application processor judges whether the digital voice signal contains a keyword according to keyword model parameters. If the application processor confirms that the digital voice signal contains the keyword, the electronic product is waked up from a sleep state to a normal working state under control of the application processor. |
| US09775110B2 |
Power save for volte during silence periods
Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a wireless device operating in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode while using a voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) service. The wireless device detects a period of voice inactivity and transmits one or more silence descriptor (SID_UPDATE) frames to a second wireless device in place of encoded speech frames. The SID_UPDATE frames are transmitted periodically based on measurements of comfort noise parameters. The wireless device determines a difference between weighted averages of comfort noise (CN) parameters of two sequences of encoded speech frames. When the difference exceeds a difference threshold, a SID_UPDATE frame is transmitted. Additionally, in some embodiments, a SID_UPDATE frame is transmitted when the weighted average of CN parameters exceeds a parameter threshold and/or when a time between SID_UPDATE frames or time elapsed after entering a silence state exceeds one or more time thresholds. |
| US09775104B2 |
Management device, terminal device, management method, channel scanning method, and memory medium that carry out channel scanning processing of wireless circuit
A reception unit receives positional information of a terminal device from the terminal device via a base station device that uses at least one of a plurality of channels. A generation unit generates channel information related to a channel in scan processing of the terminal device on the basis of the positional information received by the reception unit. A transmission unit transmits the channel information generated by the generation unit to the terminal device via the base station device. |
| US09775103B2 |
Method of dynamic frequency selection and an electronic device employing the same
A method of dynamic frequency selection includes receiving setting information of a WI-FI unit input by an input unit, controlling the WI-FI unit in a STA working mode to switch different channels to scan an available access point AP with dynamic frequency selection within one channel when receiving the setting information of setting the WI-FI unit to work in an AP working mode and the STA working mode simultaneously, controlling the WI-FI unit in the AP working mode to switch to the channel within which the WI-FI unit in the STA working mode scans the available access point AP when the WI-FI unit in the STA working mode scans the available access point AP, and controlling the WI-FI unit in the AP working mode to communicate with a terminal device via the switched access point AP. |
| US09775102B2 |
Estimating a relative difference between signal strengths of wireless signals received by a device
Methods and systems are described for determining an optimal access point for a client device based on the relative difference between signal strengths of wireless signals received by the client device from access points. In particular, the signal strengths of wireless signals received by a client device from access points are determined without receipt of signal strength and/or transmit power information from the client device. Instead, the signal strength difference value may be determined based on known characteristics of signals transmitted by the access points and known characteristics of signals received by the access points from the client device. This relative difference value may thereafter be used to determine an appropriate access point to provide network access to the client device. |
| US09775101B2 |
Management of handheld electronic device
In some cases, a scanner of a handheld electronic device may be used to capture a registration identifier (e.g., a registration barcode), and connection information (e.g., one or more wireless credentials) may be determined by scanning the registration barcode. In some cases, the connection information may be stored in a memory of the handheld electronic device and may be used to establish a Wi-Fi connection with a wireless access point (WAP). In some cases, the registration barcode may be translated into multiple screen frames that may be presented in a screen frame sequence via a user interface displayed via a display of an electronic device that is different from the handheld electronic device. The scanner may directly capture the individual frames in the sequence via the display of the other electronic device. |
| US09775095B2 |
Aircraft proximity sensor system for radio frequency transmission device
An aircraft proximity sensor system includes a control module in communication with a transceiver module and an aircraft proximity sensor module, the control module operable to disable transmission by the transceiver module in response to the aircraft proximity sensor module. |
| US09775092B2 |
User equipment, network device and method for accessing network system
The present invention discloses a method for accessing s network system, including the following steps: receiving, by a first network device of a first network system, a measurement report of a second network system sent by a user equipment of the first network system; determining, by the first network device, a second network device in the second network system according to the measurement report; and sending, by the first network device, a bearer setup request to the second network device, for enabling the second network device to set up a connection with the user equipment. The present invention, by realizing aggregation between a two network systems, may dynamically schedule the resources of the two network systems according to loads of the two network systems, thereby provides load balancing with extremely high efficiency, and is capable of increase the peak data rate of the user effectively and remarkably. |
| US09775091B2 |
Handover control method and apparatus for high speed mobility user equipment
A handover control method and apparatus for limiting handover of a User Equipment (UE) from a macrocell to an underlying small cell when the UE is operating in a High Speed Mobility (HSM) mode in a radio access network. The UE receives an HSM pilot strength threshold offset parameter from the network and initiates handover from a macrocell to an underlying small cell using a first pilot strength threshold value when the UE is operating in a standard mode. The UE initiates the handover using a second pilot strength threshold value when the UE is operating in HSM mode. The second pilot strength threshold value is equal to the first pilot strength threshold value modified by the HSM pilot strength threshold offset parameter. |
| US09775086B2 |
Device and method for optimized handovers
A device and method performs a handover. The method includes establishing a connection to a cellular network. The method includes determining whether a WiFi network is available for connection. The method includes determining performance data of the WiFi network based upon network metrics. The method includes determining a quality of service (QoS) parameter associated with a currently executed application, the QoS parameter being indicative of whether a handover from the cellular network to the WiFi network is permitted. The method includes performing the handover from the cellular network to the WiFi network when the performance data of the WiFi network satisfies a set of predetermined criteria for the network metrics and the QoS parameter indicates the handover is permitted. |
| US09775078B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating data loss during autonomous system information reading
Techniques for mitigating data loss during autonomous system information (SI) reading by a user equipment (UE) are described. For autonomous SI reading, the UE may autonomously determine when to read system information from neighbor cells and may not inform a serving cell. In one design, the UE may autonomously select a SI reading gap for reading system information from a neighbor cell. During the SI reading gap, the UE may suspend reception of downlink transmission from the serving cell, receive system information from the neighbor cell, and maintain capability to transmit on the uplink to the serving cell. In one design, the serving cell may determine SI reading gaps autonomously selected by the UE for reading system information from neighbor cells. The serving cell may communicate with the UE by accounting for the SI reading gaps of the UE, e.g., may suspend communication with the UE during the SI reading gaps. |
| US09775075B2 |
Providing circuit switched operation in a wireless network
In an evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), paging may be performed using an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or S-temporary mobile subscriber identity (S-TMSI). With the paging, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may send an extended service request message to the E-UTRAN and perform circuit switched (CS) fallback. |
| US09775071B2 |
TDD configurations and eIMTA in LTE
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus configures a radio frame with a subframe configuration based on a restriction, the radio frame being part of a sequence of a plurality of radio frames. The restriction excludes the radio frame from conforming to a set of subframe configurations based on at least one of a position of the radio frame within the sequence of radio frames or a type of information to be transmitted or received in the radio frame. The apparatus then communicates with a user equipment (UE) during the radio frame based on the subframe configuration. |
| US09775067B2 |
Intercell interference coordination for radio resource control
A system includes a first device (110) to classify data as one of a control message or a non-control message, and provide the classification of the data to a second device (122). The second device (122) receives the classification of the data, receives information associated with a resource (460), calculates an expected interference associated with the resource (460) based on the information associated with the resource (460), and allocates, to the resource (460), data classified as a control message when the expected interference corresponds to a low expected interference. |
| US09775063B2 |
Bandwidth-based initiation of handover for reference signal measurements
Processing implemented by a method and apparatus herein advantageously improves the quality of measurements performed by a wireless device (36), by ensuring that the device (36) measures its serving cell over at least as large of a bandwidth as the bandwidth over which it measures neighbor cells. Such processing specifically includes identifying, for each of a plurality of neighbor cells, a measurement bandwidth over which the wireless device (36) is to perform measurements of that cell. Processing then entails selectively initiating handover of the wireless device (36) from a serving cell to one of the neighbor cells, depending on how many of those neighbor cells have a measurement bandwidth larger than that of the serving cell. Thus, contrasted with traditional performance-based handovers that are conducted based on the strength of already made reference signal measurements, handover herein is performed based on the bandwidth(s) over which such measurements will be performed in the future. |
| US09775058B2 |
Home system for managing an internet access connection
A home system for managing an internet network (9) access connection in which at least one computer (80) can access the internet by way of a main home connection (8). The system contains software means (83) capable of detecting a failure to connect to the internet network (9) on the main home connection (8) and of controlling an automatic failover to a back-up connection comprising a control box (5) of a system for the real-time measurement and modulation of the power consumption of a plurality of electrical appliances (2). The control box (5) is capable of accessing the internet network (9) by way of a wireless connection (6) of packet telephony type. |
| US09775055B2 |
Radio performance calculator
A radio performance analyzer is provided comprising a cloud-accessible user communications interface and a radio performance calculator configured to compute a measure of performance for a plurality of networked radios operable in a geographic region, wherein the user communications interface is configured to receive a selection of a number of radios in the plurality of networked radios, wherein a selection is formed, the radio performance calculator computes the measure of performance of the selection for a plurality of locations in the geographic region spanning a selected period of time, and the radio performance calculator computes the measure of performance based on calculations of bit error rate and signal-to-noise ratio. |
| US09775050B1 |
Spectrum access for fixed LTE user equipment
Spectrum access allocation processes and systems are described in which multiple tiers of predetermined transmission powers are enforced, and where access is established by transmission at or below the lowest predetermined transmission power. The allocation processes include provisioning a wireless interface between a spectrum access system and a user equipment that is not registered with the spectrum access system. The wireless interface permits data transfer at or below a first predetermined power setting. A request to register the user equipment with the spectrum access system is transmitted to a spectrum access server. The spectrum access server receives a message from the spectrum access server indicating that the user equipment has been registered with the spectrum access system. The user equipment is controlled to transmit data at a second predetermined power setting that is greater than the first predetermined power setting. |
| US09775043B2 |
Network locking method and system for wireless terminal
The present disclosure provides a network locking method for a wireless terminal, comprising: a front-end network-locking module sends a locking certificate generation request to a wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal generates a locking certificate according to the locking certificate generation request; a back-end network-locking module signs the locking certificate to generate a signed locking certificate; the front-end network-locking module performs communication interaction with the wireless terminal to send the signed locking certificate to the wireless terminal, for the wireless terminal to perform locking operations. |
| US09775042B2 |
Secure communication connection formation
In some examples, method includes positioning a first electronic device in a target orientation with respect to a second electronic device and moving the first and second electronic devices in at least two degrees of freedom of motion while the first electronic device is maintained in the target orientation with respect to the second electronic device. The method may also include operating the first electronic device while the first and second electronic devices share a secure communication connection that is based on a first numerical value and a second numerical value. The first numerical value may be based on data that describes the movement of the first electronic device while maintained in the target orientation, and the second numerical value may be based on data that describes the movement of the second electronic device while the first electronic device is maintained in the target orientation. |
| US09775041B2 |
System and method for tethering to a mobile communication device
A mobile tethering device includes a wireless transceiver, a processor, a computer tangible storage device, and program instructions stored on the storage device for execution by the processor. The program instructions include first program instructions to receive a request to initiate a connection with a remote communications device. The program instructions further include second program instructions to establish a wireless connection with a mobile communication device via the wireless transceiver. The program instructions further include third program instructions to communicate data indicative of a request to initiate a telephone call to the mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is configured to initiate the telephone call via a public switched telephone network. The program instructions further include fourth program instructions to communicate data associated with the telephone call to the mobile communication device. |
| US09775038B2 |
Management server and method for controlling device, user terminal apparatus and method for controlling device, and user terminal apparatus and control method thereof
A universal access method performed by a mobile device includes receiving a signal from a security access point that requests authentication information from the mobile device through near field communication (NFC), selecting one of first authentication information and second authentication information corresponding to the security access point, and transferring the selected authentication information to the security access point through NFC. |
| US09775036B2 |
Access control lists and profiles to manage femto cell coverage
Access to femto cell service can be managed through access control list(s) (e.g., white list(s), or black list(s)). White list(s) includes a set of subscriber station(s) identifier numbers, codes, or tokens, and also can include additional fields for femto cell access management based on desired complexity. White list(s) can have associated white list profile(s) therewith to establish logic of femto coverage access based on the white list(s). Values of attribute fields that determine white list(s), black list(s), or white list profile(s) can be generated through various sources. An access list management component facilitates generation and maintenance of white list(s), black list(s), or white list profile(s). Values for identifier attribute field(s) available for inclusion in a white list are validated prior to inclusion therein. Various example aspects such as white list(s) management, maintenance and dissemination; automatic population or pre-configuration; and inclusion of wireless device(s) or subscriber(s) are also provided. |
| US09775034B2 |
Communications with distance authentication
Distance-based authentication is provided for mitigating undesirable interaction and/or attacks upon ranging systems, such as those involving vehicle entry or secure payment. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, a leading edge of one or more pulses in a waveform of a signal is obscured as part of distance-based authentication. For instance, noise may be generated via a noise modulation circuit and combined with some or all of a leading edge of a pulse. Distance-based authentication is provided by transmitting a signal with a waveform having the obscured portion of the leading edge, which operates to mitigate detection of the polarity of the leading edge or otherwise of the leading edge itself. |
| US09775031B2 |
Techniques for discovery of wi-fi serial bus and wi-fi docking services
Techniques are disclosed to automatically connect a mobile device to an external display or wireless dock by establishing a bi-directional link between the mobile device and the external display or wireless dock, receiving an image captured by the external display or wireless dock via the bi-directional link by the mobile device, and evaluating the image by the mobile device to verify that the external display or wireless dock is the intended external display or wireless dock with which to connect to the mobile device. |
| US09775028B2 |
Method and related device for generating group key
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a related device for generating a group key. The method includes: obtaining a group ID of a group where a machine type communication MTC device is located; obtaining a group communication root key corresponding to the group ID; generating a group key corresponding to the group ID according to the group communication root key; and sending the group key encrypted by using an access stratum key of the MTC device to the MTC device, so that the MTC device obtains the group key through decryption according to the access stratum key of the MTC device. According to the foregoing technical solutions, a base station may allocate, to an MTC device, a group key corresponding to a group where the MTC device is located. |
| US09775027B2 |
Method for interworking among wireless technologies
A method is provided for interworking of mobility key management among access networks operating under different access technologies. The method is carried out by performing mobility key management by a core-network authentication server based on the access technology that a mobile terminal accessing a wireless network has selected for operation. The method of the invention defines authentication server behavior based on different access technologies and therefore solves the technology interworking issue seamlessly. The method of the invention also facilitates coexistence of more than two different access technologies without any need for each access technology to be modified in order to interwork with core network that is specified by another technology. |
| US09775026B1 |
Privacy centric feature analysis for mobile devices
Privacy centric feature analysis. A secure set of multiple mapped features is selected and provided to a mobile device. Each mapped feature maps a sharable feature to a matching criterion for an item of protected information and no combination of mapped features for a secure set are unique to an individual item of protected information. Privacy compliance instructions enable the mobile device to select a mapped feature from a received set of mapped features by identifying an item of protected information available to the mobile device which corresponds to a matching criterion found in the received set of mapped features. The sharable feature of the selected mapped feature is identified and sent to a privacy compliant destination. Advantageously, the analysis system protects the privacy of the mobile device user because it does not require the mobile device to relay protected information for the selection of customized content or relevant advertisements. |
| US09775025B2 |
Local number for roaming subscriber
The invention relates to a method for controlling a communication activity of a roaming subscriber in a visited mobile network. The control node receives a combined subscriber profile (315) from a signaling transfer node (130) of the visited mobile communications network (60), the combined subscriber profile being a combination of a home subscriber profile (215) and a local subscriber profile (115). The home subscriber profile (215) contains subscriber related information of the roaming subscriber of the home mobile communications network (50). The local subscriber profile (115) contains subscriber related information of the roaming subscriber of the visited mobile communications network (60). The method further comprises storing the combined subscriber profile (315) with an active profile part and a non-active profile part, the active profile part being one of the home subscriber profile and the local subscriber profile, the non-active part being the other of the home subscriber profile and the local subscriber profile. The method further comprises determining for the communication activity which part in the combined subscriber profile (315) shall be used for controlling the communication activity. The method further comprises selecting the determined part as the active part of the contained subscriber profile (215) and controlling the communication activity of the roaming subscriber based on the active part of the combined subscriber profile (315). |
| US09775024B2 |
Method for changing MNO in embedded SIM on basis of dynamic key generation and embedded SIM and recording medium therefor
The present invention Includes using an embedded SIM (eSIM) associated with a newly-opened mobile network operator (MNO) system and a receiving MNO system, the method performs the steps of: generating a security domain (SD) for a receiving MNO on the basis of a request from the newly-opened MNO system; injecting a prior SD key value; installing a secure applet for key generation and secure arithmetic operations, injecting a new SD key value on the basis of a request from the receiving MNO, and transmitting only a public key to the receiving MNO system after generating key pairs for the receiving MNO; and decoding a receiving MNO profile with a private key corresponding to the public key after receiving the receiving MNO profile from the receiving MNO system or the newly-opened MNO system. |
| US09775023B2 |
UE capability report method and apparatus in mobile communication system
A method and an apparatus for reporting a capability of a User Equipment (UE) supporting advanced functions such as Carrier Aggregation (CA) are provided. The method includes checking, when a control message requesting a capability report is received, a Radio Access Technology (RAT) type and transmitting, when the RAT type is set to Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA), at least one band combination information on at least one band combination supported by the terminal. The UE capability report method is capable of reporting the UE capability related to advanced functions, such as CA and Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), to a network efficiently with the least amount of information, thereby resulting in an improvement of radio resource efficiency. |
| US09775012B2 |
System and method for tracking SMS messages
A system and method are provided for tracking messages communicated using mobile devices. A message received at a server is originated at a first mobile device and is sent by the first mobile device to a virtual number associated with a software module configured to nm as an application on a second mobile device having a phone number. At the server, it is determined that the virtual number is associated with the software module on the second mobile device. With the server, the message is sent to the software module on the second mobile device, and at the server, the message is logged. The virtual number can comprise a long code. The message can be a short messaging service (SMS) message, a voice communication or an email. |
| US09775007B2 |
Group based location service in wireless local area networks
A method of group-based location service is proposed. A wireless station initiates a ranging process with a plurality of wireless communications devices in a wireless local area network. The station belongs to a group of wireless stations. The station exchanges measurement frames with the plurality of wireless communications devices during the ranging process. The station then computes a plurality of distances to each of the plurality of wireless communications devices and thereby determining an absolute location of the station. Finally, the station informs the absolute location to a group owner of the group of wireless stations. |
| US09775006B2 |
Audio amplifier activation device, audio amplifier, and remote broadcast system
Provided is a remote broadcast system including an audio amplifier activation device configured to turn on when a level of input sound via a smartphone mobile unit exceeds a threshold, a power source for an audio amplifier configured to amplify a signal of the input sound into a broadcast audio signal, and output the broadcast audio signal to a broadcast loudspeaker, the audio amplifier activation device being configured also to turnoff the power source for the audio amplifier when the level of the input sound remains lower than the threshold for a predetermined time period. A broadcaster carrying a smartphone base unit can select a smartphone mobile station via the smartphone base unit, and establish a communication link between the smartphone base unit and the smartphone mobile station. With this, the broadcaster is allowed to broadcast evacuation guidance information even while evacuating. |
| US09775004B2 |
Telematics furtherance visualization system
A method and apparatus for use in a mobile device telemetry system is disclosed. The method and apparatus relate to a telematics furtherance visualization system. The system can sense mobile device remote observation misalignment risk and reconcile mobile device remote observation alignment by communicating a subsequent log of mobile device vector data for rendering a sequence of next positions in the furtherance of a mobile device. The system can also provide an adaptive rendering based upon a phase shift, a log of mobile device vector data, or predictive rendering until receipt of the next subsequent log of mobile device vector data. |
| US09774995B2 |
Location tracking based on overlapping geo-fences
A system for controlling a device to track the location of the device is provided. The system identifies an initial location of the device. The system then identifies a plurality of areas having different sizes. Each area encompasses the identified location. For each of the areas, the system registers the area with a location provider to receive a notification when the location provider detects that the device has left the area. Upon receiving a notification that the device has left an area, the system may repeat the process of identifying the location and the areas and registering the areas to continue tracking the location of the device. |
| US09774994B2 |
System and method for monitoring devices relative to a user defined geographic area
The present invention relates generally to providing a system and method for monitoring devices relative to a user defined geographic area using an enablement platform for building web sites and web applications using data storage, management and publication capabilities of hosted web services. The system and method for monitoring M2M devices relative to a user defined geographic area (geofence) are built on existing AerCloud concepts by allowing user to define location attributes and by using the user defined location attributes to configure and evaluate geofence parameters and issue alerts if the devices are performing outside the geofence parameters. |
| US09774993B1 |
System, method, and recording medium for geofence filtering
A geofence filtering method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium, include a user location monitoring circuit configured to monitor a pinpoint location of a user and a boundary location of the user, a geofence determining circuit configured to determine a plurality of geofences that overlap with the boundary location of the user, the plurality of geofences being stored in a database, and a cognitive filtering and ranking circuit configured to filter the plurality of geofences that overlap with the boundary location of the user based on a cognitive factor and to rank the filtered geofences based on the cognitive factor to deliver to a user device when a pinpoint location of the user overlaps with the plurality of geofences. |
| US09774989B2 |
Position and rotation of a portable device relative to a television screen
A method for determining the location of a portable device relative to a display is provided. An image stream is captured by the portable device when the portable device is positioned proximate to the display. The image stream is captured from a region of the display when the display is actively rendering a content stream, the content stream including embedded content for position determination. The embedded content is detected within the captured image stream, and the location of the portable device relative to the display is determined based on the detected embedded content. |
| US09774988B1 |
System and method for single radio multi-device communication
Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and method for communicating with multiple devices using a single radio. In one embodiment, a wearable device is configured to use a single radio for near-field and far-field communications. In another embodiment, the wearable device is configured to include an adaptable radio filter that enables the near-field and far-field transmission. The wearable device may further include an adaptable radio IC whose physical layer parameters are adjusted based in part of the transmission mode of a received signal. |
| US09774987B2 |
Method of, and a computer program product for sharing digital media such as photos and/or videos between a plurality of mobile communication devices
A method of sharing digital media such as photos and/or videos between mobile communication devices and a computer program product for sharing such digital media. Each device includes a camera module, a non-volatile flash memory module for storing the digital media, and the mobile communication devices are included in a media share group including at least a first and further mobile communication device. The method includes, by the first mobile device, establishing a connection with the further mobile device by a wireless personal area network, determining that the further mobile device is included in the media share group, defining a selection of the digital media, wherein the selection includes digital media not present on the non-volatile flash memory of the further mobile device and the digital media is generated by the camera module of the first mobile device within a predefined time period, and copying the selection of the digital media towards the further mobile device. |
| US09774975B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding a compressed HOA representation, and method and apparatus for encoding a compressed HOA representation
Encoding of Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) signals commonly results in high data rates. A method for low bit-rate encoding frames of an input HOA signal having coefficient sequences comprises computing (s110) a truncated HOA representation (CT(k)), determining (s111) active coefficient sequences (Ic,Act(k)), estimating (s16) candidate directions (MDIR(k)), dividing (s15) the input HOA signal into a plurality of frequency subbands (f1, . . . , fF), estimating (s161) for each of the frequency subbands a subset of candidate directions (MDIR(k)) as active directions (MDIR(k,f1), . . . , MDIR(k,fF)) and for each active direction a trajectory, computing (s17) for each frequency subband directional subband signals from the coefficient sequences of the frequency subband according to the active directions, calculating (s18) for each frequency subband a prediction matrix (A(k,f1), . . . , A(k,fF)) that can be used for predicting the directional subband signals from the coefficient sequences of the frequency subband using the respective active coefficient sequences (Ic,ACT(k)), and encoding (s19) the candidate directions, active directions, prediction matrices and truncated HOA representation. |
| US09774974B2 |
Audio metadata providing apparatus and method, and multichannel audio data playback apparatus and method to support dynamic format conversion
An audio metadata providing apparatus and method and a multichannel audio data playback apparatus and method to support a dynamic format conversion are provided. Dynamic format conversion information may include information about a plurality of format conversion schemes that are used to convert a first format set by an author of multichannel audio data into a second format that is based on a playback environment of the multichannel audio data and that are each set for corresponding playback periods of the multichannel audio data. The audio metadata providing apparatus may provide audio metadata including the dynamic format conversion information. The multichannel audio data playback apparatus may identify the dynamic format conversion information from the audio metadata, may convert the first format of the multichannel audio data into the second format based on the identified dynamic format conversion information, and may play back the multichannel audio data in the second format. |
| US09774973B2 |
Audio providing apparatus and audio providing method
An audio providing apparatus and method are provided. The audio providing apparatus includes: an object renderer configured to render an object audio signal based on geometric information regarding the object audio signal; a channel renderer configured to render an audio signal having a first channel number into an audio signal having a second channel number; and a mixer configured to mix the rendered object audio signal with the audio signal having the second channel number. |
| US09774967B2 |
Acoustic transducer aging compensation with life indicator
Acoustic transducer aging compensation is effective for an acoustic transducer that is driven with an adjustable drive power to output a signal. A microphone can measure the amplitude of the transmitted signal corresponding to a transmitted sound pressure level (SPL). A controller can periodically compare the transmitted SPL to the drive power or a previous SPL, and determine if the received SPL has declined with respect to the input drive power over time, whereupon the controller can direct an increase in drive power to the SPL-declined acoustic transducer to compensate for the decline in received SPL. If drive power is at a maximum, the controller can further instruct a mobile device receiver to lower its receiver detection threshold for the signal from the SPL-declined acoustic transducer to further compensate for the decline in SPL from that acoustic transducer. A life indicator can be provided to inform the system operator of the degraded speaker so as to provide an early warning indicator for servicing of that transducer. |
| US09774964B2 |
PIM housing
In a process for producing a hearing aid, comprising a housing made out, at least partially, of a metallic or ceramic part using powder injection molding technique (PIM) within the housing (1) at least one additional element (3) made out of a polymeric material is arranged for placing functional parts (5, 7, 13) within or at the housing (1) to reduce complexity of P parts and/or to compensate any tolerances due to the PIM process. |
| US09774963B1 |
Ear-wing
The present invention relates to an ear wing including: a coupling portion coupled to a sound output device; a deformable fixing portion deformed with a curvature to correspond to the shape of the antihelix in such a manner as to be located inside the antihelix and for fixing the position of the coupling portion to an external ear; and a variable portion for connecting the coupling portion and the deformable fixing portion in such a manner as to support the deformable fixing portion thereagainst and having at least one or more variable parts changed in shape according to the deformation of the deformable fixing portion. In addition, according to the present invention, the pressure applied to the surrounding portions of the antitragus and the tragus can be minimized through the structure of connecting the coupling portion and the variable portion, so that wearing comfort becomes excellent, and even if the user wears the ear wing for long hours, he or she does not feel uncomfortable, thus optimizing the conveniences in use. |
| US09774957B2 |
Multi-driver transducer having symmetrical magnetic circuit and symmetrical coil circuit
A multi-driver transducer having symmetrical magnetic circuits and symmetrical coil circuits, wherein one or more pieces of circular or annular partitions made of a non-magnetic material are used to bond two or more sets of dual magnetic gap and dual coil driver units (01 or 02) into one integrated magnetic core. Four or more coaxial isodiametric annular magnetic gaps are formed between the inner circumferential face or outer circumferential face of one or two tubular magnetic yokes embedded in an open-end tubular thin wall of the bracket and the vertical circumferential face of an upper pole plate and a lower pole plate of the magnetic core, four or more coaxial and isodiametric coils are inserted in the four or more coaxial and isodiametric annular magnetic gaps, and the winding direction, connection manner, and necessary technical features of the coils are governed; thus, the multi-driver transducer having one or more pairs of mutually-repelling magnets, symmetrical magnetic circuits, and symmetrical coil circuits is constituted. Back electromotive force and inductance acquired via induction by the transducer during the working process are mutually offset. The transducer has resistive load features or near-resistive load features, and has super-high sensitivity, high resolution, and high-fidelity quality. |
| US09774954B2 |
Impedance detection circuit, method, and integrated circuit
This document discusses, among other things, an impedance detection circuit, method, and integrated circuit, comprising a ramp-up current generation circuit and an impedance determining circuit, wherein the ramp-up current generation circuit is configured to input a ramp-up current including n breaks to a port of a device where the ramp-up current generation circuit is disposed, to which port an external device is connected, and wherein the impedance determining circuit is configured to detect an impedance of the external device in each break time period of the ramp-up current input by the ramp-up current generation circuit until the impedance of the external device is acquired by detection in the last break time period of the n breaks. |
| US09774952B2 |
Processing analog audio signals
An analog audio signal derived from a vinyl recording is processed via an input transducer, such as a moving magnet or moving coil device. A phono input stage (209) has an adjustable input impedance. A pre-amplifier (207) with variable gain amplifies an output from the phono stage. A power amplifier (201) amplifies an output from the pre-amplifier. The temperature of the power amplifier is monitored and an output (202) from the power amplifier is supplied to an output transducer. A touch sensitive screen (104) receives input gestures to provide control signals to a control processor (203). The control processor operates first relays to control the input impedance, operates second relays to control the adjustable gain and also operates the second relays in order to attenuate output volume in response to identifying the monitored temperature as being above a predetermined threshold. |
| US09774946B2 |
Wireless earplug with improved sensitivity and form factor
An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body. |
| US09774939B2 |
Slim electronic device
A slim electronic device is provided. The slim electronic device includes a substrate having an opening formed therein, and an audio component accommodated in the opening of the substrate without overlapping the substrate and disposed such that the top and bottom thereof are substantially parallel to the top and bottom of the substrate. |
| US09774933B2 |
Housing assembly and electronic device using the same
A housing assembly of an electronic device includes an outer housing, an inner housing mounted to the outer housing, a first waterproof film positioned between the outer housing and the inner housing, and a second waterproof film spaced from the first waterproof film. The first waterproof film, the outer housing, and the inner housing cooperatively define a first cavity of the housing assembly. The second waterproof film, the inner housing, and the first waterproof film cooperatively form a second cavity of the housing assembly. The first and second waterproof films provide the housing assembly an excellent waterproof property. The electronic device using the housing assembly is also described. |
| US09774929B2 |
Infrared proximity sensor control of devices
Infrared proximity sensor control of devices is described herein. One disclosed example apparatus includes an infrared proximity detection sensor disposed within a substantially environmentally-isolated zone of an electronic device, where the infrared proximity detection sensor is to detect an input sequence, and a processor to receive the input sequence, where the processor is programmed to interpret a command by comparing a defined sequence to the input sequence. |
| US09774914B2 |
Scheduling video content from multiple sources for presentation via a streaming video channel
A method includes receiving at least one search term at a computing device coupled to a first content source storing first video content, the at least one search term associated with a streaming video channel. The method also includes receiving information based on the at least one search term, the information associated with second video content available from a second content source. The method further includes generating a streaming schedule for the streaming video channel. The streaming schedule indicates that during a first time period, the streaming video channel is to present the first video content from the first content source. The streaming schedule also indicates that, during a second time period, the streaming video channel is to present the second video content available from the second content source. |
| US09774909B2 |
Unique protection of recorded content
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate a unique protection of recorded content. A central device may be configured to establish and maintain associations between unique passwords and one or more individual recordings. A user may provide a unique password to be associated with one or more individual recordings. When a recording is associated with a unique password, the central device may require entry of the unique password before carrying out an action such as playback or deletion of the recording. |
| US09774907B1 |
Tailored audio content delivery
Delivery of audio content is tailored to individual users. A viewing direction of a user to a display presenting a video stream showing a scene of an environment is determined. A physical location, in the environment, that the user is viewing in the scene is determined, and an audio stream, of several audio streams obtained from different physical locations in the environment, is identified that correlates to the determined physical location that the user is viewing. The identified audio stream is then provided to the user. Additional aspects include identifying potentially interesting areas from which audio streams are obtained and selectively triggered by users for provision to the users. Further aspects include an ability for a user to identify for other users a particular area that the user views to obtain interesting audio, informing the other users that the user is listening to interesting audio associated with that particular area. |
| US09774904B2 |
Method and apparatus for searching for IPTV service relay devices and method and apparatus for interacting with devices
Provided are method and apparatus for searching for a second device relaying at least one IPTV service included in the same residential network as a first device, wherein the searching is performed by the first device, and receiving the IPTV service provided from outside of the residential network through a found second device. |
| US09774900B2 |
Methods and apparatus to calculate video-on-demand and dynamically inserted advertisement viewing probability
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to calculate video-on-demand and dynamically inserted advertisement viewing probability. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a category manager to identify a targeting strategy for advertisements associated with media presented in a first set of households and a second set of households, a probability engine to calculate a baseline viewing probability for a non-time shifted presentation of the media in the first set of households and the second set of households, and in response to identifying presentations of the media having a subsequent temporal sequence from the non-time shifted presentation, calculate corresponding time-shifted viewing probabilities of the media for the first set of households and the second set of households, and an imputation engine to generate viewing probability trend information of the media for the first set of households and the second set of households, the viewing probability trend information based on the respective time-shifted viewing probabilities, and adjust the targeting strategy to reduce wasteful targeting of the advertisements, the adjustment to select one of the first set of households or the second set of households to insert the advertisements based on the viewing probability trend information. |
| US09774898B2 |
Apparatus and method for content influenced video commentary
A system and method for distributing video commentary related to certain content by a user to another user or user group is disclosed. The system includes a network, a system server connected to the network, and a set of user machines connected to the network. A third party content provider is connected to the system server. The system server provides a distribution system and process that defines user groups among the set of user machines in order distribute content between individual user machines and among user groups. |
| US09774895B2 |
Determining textual content that is responsible for causing a viewing spike within a video in a digital medium environment
A digital medium environment is described to determine textual content that is responsible for causing a viewing spike within a video. Video analytics data associated with a video is queried. The video analytics data identifies a number of previous user viewing s at various locations within the video. A viewing spike within the video is detected using the video analytics data. The viewing spike corresponds to an increase in the number of previous user viewings of the video that begins at a particular location within the video. Then, text of one or more video sources or video referral sources read by users prior to viewing the video from the particular location within the video is analyzed to identify textual content that is at least partially responsible for causing the viewing spike. |
| US09774892B2 |
Variability in available levels of quality of encoded content
A server resource provides notification to subscribers in a respective network environment that the content is available for retrieval at a particular bit rate (e.g., a promotional bit rate) or particular level of quality (e.g., promotional level of quality) amongst multiple levels of quality for a limited duration of time. For example, an especially high level of quality (or bit rate) of the content may be available only for the limited duration of time. After making the especially high level of quality of content available for retrieval during a promotional period, the content may be subsequently available for retrieval only at lower levels of quality. Accordingly, one or more configurations as discussed herein include changing the ability to access content encoded at different levels of quality over time. |
| US09774887B1 |
Behavioral directional encoding of three-dimensional video
A method includes receiving head-tracking data that describes one or more positions of one or more people while the one or more people are viewing a three-dimensional video. The method further includes generating video segments from the three-dimensional video. The method further includes, for each of the video segments: determining a directional encoding format that projects latitudes and longitudes of locations of a surface of a sphere onto locations on a plane, determining a cost function that identifies a region of interest on the plane based on the head-tracking data, and generating optimal segment parameters that minimize a sum-over position for the region of interest. |
| US09774886B2 |
Method and device for providing compensation offsets for a set of reconstructed samples of an image
Compensation offsets are provided for a set of reconstructed samples of an image. Each sample has a sample value. A method of providing the compensation offsets comprises selecting, based on a rate distortion criterion, a classification from among a plurality of predetermined classifications. Each predetermined classification has a classification range smaller than a full range of the sample values and is made up of a plurality of classes, each defining a range of sample values within the classification range, into which class a sample is put if its sample value is within the range of the class concerned. A compensation offset is associated with each class of the selected classification for application to the sample value of each sample of the class. |
| US09774881B2 |
Representing motion vectors in an encoded bitstream
A format for use in encoding moving image data, comprising: a sequence of frames including plurality of the frames in which at least a region is encoded using motion estimation; a respective set of motion vector values representing motion vectors of the motion estimation for each respective one of these frames or each respective one of one or more regions within each of such frames; and at least one respective indicator associated with each of the respective frames or regions, indicating whether the respective motion vector values of the respective frame or region are encoded at a first resolution or a second resolution. |
| US09774874B2 |
Transcoding management techniques
Techniques for managing the assignment of transcoding tasks to transcoding nodes in a transcoding system are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise circuitry and a transcoding management module for execution on the circuitry to assign a transcoding task to one of a set of transcoding nodes based on a set of task characteristics of the transcoding task and a set of efficiency values for the set of transcoding nodes, each of the set of efficiency values corresponding to a respective one of the set of transcoding nodes. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09774865B2 |
Method for real-time implementation of super resolution
A method for real-time multi-frame super resolution (SR) of video content is provided. The method includes receiving a bitstream including an encoded video, motion metadata for a plurality of blocks of a frame of video content, and parameters. The motion metadata is estimated from the original video before downsampling and encoding. The motion metadata is averaged over consecutive blocks. The method includes upscaling the motion metadata for the plurality of blocks. The method also includes upscaling the decoded video using the upscaled motion metadata. The method also includes deblurring and denoising the upscaled video. |
| US09774859B2 |
Image coding and decoding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics
An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data. |
| US09774850B2 |
Multi-view coding with effective handling of renderable portions
A proposed intermediate way of handling the renderable portion of the first view results in more efficient coding. Instead of omitting the coding of the renderable portion completely, even more efficient coding of multi-view signals entails merely suppressing the coding of the residual signal within the renderable portion, whereas the prediction parameter coding still takes place from the non-renderable portion of the multi-view signal across the renderable portion so that prediction parameters for the renderable portion may be exploited for predicting parameters for the non-renderable portion. The additional coding rate for transmitting the prediction parameters for the renderable portion may be kept low as this merely aims at forming a continuation of the parameter history across the renderable portion to serve as a basis for prediction parameters of other portions of the multi-view signal. Expressed differently, the prediction parameters for the renderable portion need not perfectly predict the texture within the renderable portion of the first view to keep the residual signal within the renderable portion low. |
| US09774847B2 |
Dual-port testing of a cable network
A dual-port testing apparatus is provided for testing a cable network at two test points. The testing may comprise demodulation of a same data packet at the test points, decoding the data packet, performing spectral analysis of the signal, etc. Testing results may be correlated with one another, both visually and by using pre-defined test metrics comprising a weighted sum of demodulation and decoding parameters such as modulation extinction ratio and a codeword error. |
| US09774845B2 |
Apparatus and method for presenting media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, controller and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the controller, facilitate performance of operations that include receiving a media content including three-dimensional image content for presentation on a display device. A presence is determined of a viewer within a line-of-sight of the display device, wherein the viewer is without a viewing apparatus that facilitates viewing of the three-dimensional image content. The media content is adapted to include two-dimensional image content, based on the determining of the presence of the viewer within the line-of-sight and without the viewing apparatus. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09774842B2 |
Device for 3D display of photo finish image
An imaging device for a photo finish system, including a first camera aligned on a finish line and a mechanism for display of three dimensional stereoscopic images. |
| US09774840B2 |
Stereoscopic video signal processing apparatus and method thereof
According to one embodiment, a basic format for a 3D signal having a first area to arrange main video data, a second area to arrange graphic data, a third area to arrange depth information of pixels of the main video data, and a fourth area to arrange depth information of pixels of the graphic data are defined. When depth information of pixels of the main video data is generated, a 3D processing module can select whether to use a first pattern obtained by inserting the graphic data into the main video data and a second pattern obtained by not inserting the graphic data into the main video data. A 3D related controller decides on the first or second pattern to be used by the 3D processing module. |
| US09774838B2 |
Ambient light suppression using color space information to derive pixel-wise attenuation factors
A method of ambient light suppression in an imaging system, including illuminating leaves of a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) with a first light of a lighting system inside a housing of the MCL, receiving ambient light inside the housing of the MLC through an aperture of the MLC, and capturing, using an imaging system having optics situated inside the housing of the MLC, an image of the leaves of the MLC illuminated with the first light and the ambient light. The method may further include, suppressing the ambient light in the first image to generate a second image of the leaves of the MLC and detecting a feature of the leaves of the MLC in the second image. |
| US09774836B2 |
Image projector that corrects shift direction based on deformation
An image projector includes an image forming element that is illuminated by a light from a light source, a projection optical system that projects a light output from the image forming element, a shifter that shifts the projection optical system with respect to the image forming element so as to shift a projection position, a deforming part that deforms an image formed on the image forming element, and a corrector that corrects a shift direction with the shifter on the basis of a deformation state by the deforming part. |
| US09774831B2 |
Thin form factor computational array cameras and modular array cameras
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement one-dimensional array cameras, as well as modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, a 1×N array camera module includes: a 1×N arrangement of focal planes, where N is greater than or equal to 2, each focal plane includes a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels, and each focal plane not including pixels from another focal plane; and a 1×N arrangement of lens stacks, the arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the arrangement of focal planes so as to form a 1×N arrangement of cameras, each configured to independently capture an image of a scene, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to that of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene. |
| US09774829B2 |
Demand based field of view (FOV) allocation for remote sensing systems
The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for collecting sensor data by a remote vehicle. The method involves determining, by at least one first processor, at least one scene to collect by using information in a demand map. The method further involves configuring, by at least one processor, a field of view for at least one sensor associated with the remote vehicle to collect at least one scene. Further, the method involves collecting, by at least one sensor, at least one scene. |
| US09774827B2 |
Imaging inspection apparatus for setting one or more image-capturing positions on a line that connects two taught positions, control device thereof, and method of controlling imaging inspection apparatus
An imaging inspection apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a predetermined position between a first position and a second position as a signal output position, the predetermined position being set by using a distance from a reference position that is based on at least one of the first position and the second position; an image-capturing command signal generator configured to determine, when causing a distal end portion of a robot to move from the first position to the second position, whether or not the distal end portion of the robot is located at the signal output position, and if it is determined that the distal end portion of the robot is located at the signal output position, the image-capturing command signal generator transmits, to the image-capturing device, an image-capturing command signal for capturing an image of the inspection object by using the image-capturing device. |
| US09774825B1 |
Automatic expansion and derivative tagging
Methods and systems are provided for automatically generating expanded and derivative tags associated with digital content. The methods and systems provide multi-dimensional, layered tagging with stored audio/video conference contents, creating relationships and a tag network between links and nodes in a communication system. |
| US09774823B1 |
System and method for processing digital images during videoconference
A video communication system that includes a computer readable medium and a processor, coupled with a wide angle and high resolution digital camera and the computer readable medium. The processor causes the wide angle and high resolution digital camera to acquire a digital image of a local participant during a video communication session. The processor extracts a first image of a first set of objects and a second image of a second set of objects from the digital image and provides the extracted first and second images to a remote endpoint for display to another participant. |
| US09774822B2 |
Method and apparatus for QAM modulator channel distribution having a plurality of modes
Content distribution systems, methods and user interfaces are described wherein a modulator dynamically duplicates output of multiple channels, a plurality of receivers are individually tuned to one of the multiple channels, wherein a single transport stream can be sent on the multiple channels to each of the desired receivers and wherein the distribution can occur in multiple modes, and user interfaces which allow a manager of the content distribution system to dynamically change the channels on each receiver so that each of the receivers can be tuned to one of the multiple channels through the user interface. |
| US09774820B2 |
Display system, display device, and HDMI dongle
A display system includes a display device and an HDMI dongle electrically connected to the display device. The display device includes a first transmission interface, a first control module, and a power supply module. The HDMI dongle includes a second transmission interface and a second control module. The first and the second transmission interfaces include transmission pins corresponding to each other. The first control module detects voltage of one pin to obtain matching state between the display device and the HDMI dongle and outputs an enabling signal. When the HDMI dongle matches the display device, the enabling signal controls the power supply module to transmit the power supply signal to the second control module through the first and the second transmission interfaces for charging the second control module. When the HDMI dongle does not match the display device, the power supply module is not transmitted to the second control module. |
| US09774819B2 |
Reproduction device, reproduction method, and recording medium
The present technology relates to a reproduction device, a reproduction method, and a recording medium that enable content having a wide dynamic range of brightness to be displayed with an appropriate brightness. A recording medium, on which the reproduction device of one aspect of the present technology performs reproduction, records coded data of an extended video that is a video having a second brightness range that is wider than a first brightness range, brightness characteristic information that represents a brightness characteristic of the extended video, and brightness conversion definition information used when performing a brightness conversion of the extended video to a standard video that is a video having the first brightness range. The reproduction device decodes the coded data and converts the extended video obtained by decoding the coded data to the standard video on the basis of the brightness conversion definition information. |
| US09774812B1 |
Image processing terminal and method for providing a service based on sensing levels of a key in a remote controller
An image processing terminal comprises a processor, a memory and a communication unit receives a control signal from a remote controller in response to a selection of a key by a user. One or more programs stored in the memory include instructions for determining whether a sensing level of the key in the received control signal corresponds to a normal press or a force press and executing a control command corresponding to the normal press or the force press. In response to a force press being inputted to the remote controller, the processor performs at least one of change of an object displayed on a screen or a scene transition of contents. An operation of the image processing terminal when a normal press is inputted to the remote controller is different from an operation of the image processing terminal when the force press is inputted to the remote controller. |
| US09774807B2 |
Imaging sensor, image reading device, image forming apparatus, and alignment method of imaging sensor
An imaging sensor includes multiple light-receiving elements, which are for multiple colors, configured to conduct photoelectric conversion and multiple power supply lines configured to supply a power supply voltage from a power supply source to the light-receiving elements. The light-receiving elements of each of the colors are aligned in one direction. Portions extending between the power supply source and the respective light-receiving elements of the multiple power supply lines are substantially identical in shape on at least a per-color basis. |
| US09774806B2 |
Image sensors including pixel arrays
An image sensor capable of preventing generation of a line-type defect is disclosed. The image sensor includes a row driver, a pixel array, an analog signal processor, a data mapping buffer and a row data buffer. The pixel array has a layout configuration having a nonlinear pattern for a row path and a column path, receives optical signals and converts the optical signals into electric signals, and outputs the electric signals as image signals in response to the pixel control signals. The analog signal processor performs analog-to-digital conversion on the image signals to generate first signals. The data mapping buffer compensates position errors caused by the layout configuration of the zigzag pattern for the first signals to generate a second signals. |
| US09774804B2 |
Digital imaging with masked pixels
In one application, an imaging device includes an image sensor having an array of pixels, and a mask coupled with the image sensor. The mask is configured to darken a plurality of isolated pixels or groups of pixels interspersed within the array of pixels. The imaging device also includes a processor coupled with the image sensor and configured to receive image data from the image sensor, and determine a dark current fixed pattern noise based on the image data received from the plurality of darkened pixels or groups of pixels. |
| US09774802B2 |
Method and apparatus for increasing pixel sensitivity and dynamic range
According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a unit cell comprising a photodiode, a MOSCap having an input node coupled to the photodiode, a reset switch selectively coupled between the MOSCap and a reset voltage, and a transistor coupled to the input node of the MOSCap, wherein, in a first mode of operation of the unit cell, the reset switch is configured in an open state and charge generated by light incident on the photodiode accumulates at the input node of the MOSCap in response to voltage at the input node being less than a threshold voltage, and wherein, in a second mode of operation of the unit cell, the reset switch is configured in the open state and the charge generated by the light incident on the photodiode accumulates on the MOSCap in response to the voltage at the input node being greater than the threshold voltage. |
| US09774798B1 |
Apparatus and method for a wide field of view image sensor
Methods and systems described herein address the issue of how to efficiently capture an image circle within an image sensor associated with a wide field of view camera. In one embodiment, a processor obtains several criteria, such as a plurality of sizes of a plurality of image circles, a minimal portion of the image circle to be recorded by the image sensors, and a minimal portion of the image sensors engaged in recording the image. Based on these criteria, the processor determines a number of image sensors, a number of image sensor sizes, and a number of image sensor shapes. In another embodiment, the processor receives additional criteria, such as the desired aspect ratio and the desired shape associated with the image sensor. Based on these criteria, the processor determines a number of image sensors and a number of image sensor sizes. |
| US09774797B2 |
Multi-sensor monitoring systems and methods
Systems and methods may be provided for monitoring electrical equipment. A system may include a camera having an ultraviolet light imaging module, an infrared light imaging module, a visible light imaging module, and a processor that combines image data from one or more of the imaging modules. The processor may detect anomalies such as hot spots, corona discharges or failures in the electrical equipment based on the image data. The system may include motion control components that move the camera with respect to the electrical equipment during monitoring operations. The motion control components may include components of a manned or unmanned vehicle that incorporates the camera. |
| US09774795B2 |
Infrared detector system and method
An infrared detector system is described which includes a detector diode array 3 and a non volatile memory 1. The non volatile memory 1 can use CMOS Silicon Fuse technology which can be polysilicon devices that are programmed using voltage-current-time profiles suitable for the silicon process technology, such that when applied will cause the polysilicon element to heat up rapidly and melt. This results in the fuse element going open circuit, just like blowing a known fuse. The fuse can act as a logic element that has a one time, user programmable and permanent logic state. An array of such memory cells is can be mapped to a sub pixel diode detector array. |
| US09774794B2 |
Radiographic image capturing apparatus and radiographic image capturing system
A radiographic image capturing apparatus and a radiographic image capturing system are shown. According to one aspect, the radiographic image capturing apparatus includes the following. A scanning driving unit applies voltage to scanning lines. A switching element releases electric charge upon application of the ON-state voltage. A readout circuit converts the electric charge into image data and reads the data. A controller reads the image data. The detecting unit detects start and end of irradiation based on a change in a signal. The controller determines whether a standby time from end of readout to start of readout in next capturing is changed with reference to a first period and a second period. The first period ranges from end of readout to detection of start of irradiation. The second period ranges from detection of end of irradiation to start of readout. |
| US09774793B2 |
Image segmentation for a live camera feed
Techniques are disclosed for segmenting an image frame of a live camera feed. A biasing scheme can be used to initially localize pixels within the image that are likely to contain the object being segmented. An optimization algorithm for an energy optimization function, such as a graph cut algorithm, can be used with a non-localized neighborhood graph structure and the initial location bias for localizing pixels in the image frame representing the object. Subsequently, a matting algorithm can be used to define a pixel mask surrounding at least a portion of the object boundary. The bias and the pixel mask can be continuously updated and refined as the image frame changes with the live camera feed. |
| US09774790B1 |
Method for enhancing vehicle camera image quality
A method of image enhancement for a vehicle vision system includes capturing multiple frames of image data with a camera and executing a first brightness transfer function on a current frame of captured image data to generate a first enhanced image frame. At least one previously captured frame of image data is retrieved, and a second brightness transfer function is executed on the at least one previously captured frame of image data to generate a second enhanced image frame. The first and second enhanced image frames are blended to generate a blended enhanced image frame, and these steps are repeated so as to generate multiple blended enhanced image frames. The presence of an object is detected via processing of blended enhanced image frames by a processor, and an output is generated responsive to detection of the object. |
| US09774787B2 |
Mobile zoom using multiple optical image stabilization cameras
A first camera unit includes a first actuator for moving a first optical package configured for a first focal length. In some embodiments, a camera system of a multifunction device includes a second camera unit of the multifunction device for simultaneously capturing a second image of a second visual field. In some embodiments, the second camera unit includes a second actuator for moving a second optical package configured for a second focal length. In some embodiments, the second actuator includes a second actuator lateral magnet. In some embodiments, the first optical package and the second optical package are situated between the first actuator later magnet and the second actuator lateral magnet along an axis between the first actuator lateral magnet and the second actuator lateral magnet. In some embodiments, no actuator lateral magnets are situated between the first optical package and the second optical package along the axis. |
| US09774785B2 |
Method and apparatus to correct blur in all or part of a digital image by combining plurality of images
A method and apparatus for use in a digital imaging device for correcting image blur in digital images by combining plurality of images. The plurality of images that are combined include a main subject that can be selected by user input or automatically by the digital imaging device. Blur correction can be performed to make the main subject blur-free while the rest of the image is blurred. All of the image may be made blur-free or the main subject can be made blur-free at the expense of the rest of the image. Result is a blur corrected image that is recorded in a memory. |
| US09774783B2 |
Preview image acquisition user interface for linear panoramic image stitching
A system and method that allows the capture of a series of images to create a single linear panoramic image is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image, dynamically comparing a previously captured image with a preview image on a display of a capture device until a predetermined overlap threshold is satisfied, generating a user interface to provide feedback on the display of the capture device to guide a movement of the capture device, and capturing the preview image with enough overlap with the previously captured image with little to no tilt for creating a linear panorama. |
| US09774782B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup method
An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup device arranged such that a light receiving surface is orthogonal to an optical axis of an image pickup lens, the image pickup device acquiring primary image data; an input device that receives input of correction angles including a first angle that is an angle formed in a pitch direction relative to the light receiving surface and a second angle that is an angle formed in a yaw direction relative to the light receiving surface; an image processing unit that uses a focal length of the image pickup lens and the correction angles to generate secondary image data obtained by applying a modification process of projecting the primary image data onto a plane forming the first angle in the pitch direction relative to the light receiving surface and the second angle in the yaw direction relative to the light receiving surface. |
| US09774774B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a lens, an image sensor, an optical filter, and a driving device. The lens focuses light beams from at least one subject to form an optical image, and the image sensor receives the optical image and converts the optical image into at least one electric signal. The optical filter includes a first plate and a second plate, the first plate is disposed between the lens and the image sensor, and the second plate is disposed between the first plate and the image sensor. The driving device moves the second plate. The second plate has substantially the same index of refraction as the first plate, and a thickness of the second plate is continuously decreased or increased across the second plate. |
| US09774771B2 |
Preparation, transparent plate, method for producing preparation, slide glass, imaging apparatus, imaging method, preparation producing apparatus, and preparation component set
A preparation includes an image sensor, a package, and a transparent plate. The image sensor has an imaging area on a front surface. The package is electrically connected to the image sensor. The transparent plate opposes the front surface of the image sensor with a mounting medium interposed therebetween. On the surface of the transparent plate, first and second grooves are formed. The image sensor is disposed between the first and second grooves. |
| US09774768B1 |
Wipeable camera system and device
A camera system includes a camera having a lens, and a wiper assembly attached to the camera and configured for removing a contaminant from the system. The assembly includes a housing including a frame having a back panel that defines a first viewport covering the lens; a shield; and a disc. The shield defines a second viewport spaced apart from the first and is attached to the frame to define a wash chamber between the shield and the frame. The disc is formed from a transparent material and is disposed between the shield and the housing within the chamber so as to cover the lens at the first viewport. The disc is rotatable within the chamber between a first position in which the contaminant is disposed on and partially obscures the disc, and a second position in which the contaminant is not disposed on the disc at the second viewport. |
| US09774766B2 |
Static electricity discharge structure for camera device
According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a camera device comprises a camera housing where a camera assembly is mounted; a decoration part covering the camera housing; and a fixing part provided along a periphery of the camera housing and fixing the decoration part, wherein the fixing part includes a path part along which static electricity introduced through the decoration part moves a discharge module mounted adjacent to the camera housing. Various other embodiments are possible as well. |
| US09774765B2 |
Chromatic aberration correction in imaging system including variable focal length lens
An image acquisition system is operated to provide an image that is relatively free of the effect of longitudinal chromatic aberration. The system includes a variable focal length lens (e.g., a tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens) that is operated to periodically modulate a focus position. First, second, third, etc., wavelength image exposure contributions are provided by operating an illumination system to provide instances of strobed illumination of first, second, third, etc., wavelengths (e.g., green, blue, red, etc.) timed to correspond with respective phase timings of the periodically modulated focus position which focus the respective wavelength image exposure contributions at the same focus plane. The respective phase timings of the periodically modulated focus position compensate for longitudinal chromatic aberration of at least the variable focal length lens. An image is produced that is relatively free of the effect of longitudinal chromatic aberration by combining the image exposure contributions. |
| US09774759B2 |
Print control apparatus, print control method, and storage medium
If another person comes close to a printing apparatus or print control apparatus during output of a print job by authenticated printing, he/she may accidentally glance at an output material, and private information or confidential information to be hidden may leak. To solve this problem, a print control apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention executes the following control processing. That is, if a received print job is an authenticated print job requiring authentication processing and there is a person nearby the print control apparatus other than the executor of the authenticated print job, a selection screen for accepting execution or holding of printing is displayed. In accordance with an instruction input to the selection screen, printing of the authenticated print job by the printing unit is controlled. |
| US09774757B2 |
Methods and systems for increasing quality and reliability of fax communications
This disclosure relates generally to fax communication and more particularly to methods and systems for increasing quality and reliability of fax communications. In one embodiment, a method of communicating fax in a communication network is provided. The method includes diagnosing in real-time, by at least one network device, network parameters, availability of network resources, and technical capabilities of network devices involved in communicating fax; modifying dynamically, by the at least one network device, a fax mode to one of a set of pre-set fax modes based on result of the diagnosing the network parameters, availability of the network resources, and the technical capabilities of the network devices, wherein each of the set of pre-set fax modes corresponds to a quality of fax communication; and iteratively adapting, by the at least one network device, dynamic modification of the fax mode, based on historic fax mode modification and historic diagnosis data. |
| US09774747B2 |
Transcription system
A transcription system automates the control of the playback of the audio to accommodate the user's ability to transcribe the words spoken. In some examples, a delay between playback and typed input is estimated by processing the typed words using a wordspotting approach. The estimated delay is used as in input to an automated speed control, for example, to maintain a target or maximum delay between playback and typed input. |
| US09774745B2 |
Providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an internet protocol network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network
Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). In one implementation, the system includes a computer-controlled switch for connection to a local PSTN, for receiving calls from the IP network and the PSTN, and for routing calls to the PSTN and the IP network; and gate interface circuitry connected to the switch and adapted for connection to the IP network. The gate interface circuitry includes gateway circuitry for interfacing the IP network and PSTN voice circuits, and gatekeeper circuitry for performing address translation, admission control, bandwidth management, and zone management. The switch stores at least one PSTN destination address and at least one IP network destination address for each subscriber. The switch routes an incoming call to any one of the destination addresses stored for the subscriber. |
| US09774733B2 |
Crime reporting in a controlled-environment facility
Embodiments of the invention are directed to communication systems and methods that allow a resident of a controlled environment facility to report a past, on-going or threatened crime, such as a rape. The resident is able to make the report using a facility communications system without alerting other residents of the controlled environment facility that the crime has been reported. |
| US09774729B2 |
System and method for mobile core data services
A mobile core network with distributed data services is provided. The mobile core network includes distributed mobile cores associated with mobile data service (MDS) agents at distributed data centers. A central MDS agent is host at a central data center providing legacy mobility management entity (MME) functions. The central MDS agent and the MDS agents at the distributed data centers coordinate with each other for synchronizing context information, such as subscriber data, session context data and metrics data of UEs, so that the context information is available at the central data center and the distributed data centers when or before it is requested. |
| US09774727B2 |
Secured communication via location awareness
A method and system for collecting and verifying the location information of a calling party and a device of the calling party is provided. More specifically, a method and system is provided for determining whether the identity of the calling party can be confirmed, via evaluating location information, with an acceptable degree of certainty. The location information may be provided by the calling party or obtained from various sources over a digital communication channel. Some of the provided location information which can be accidentally or intentionally altered is identified and evaluated to determine its accuracy as part of the verification process of the caller's identity. |
| US09774724B2 |
Intelligent telephone call routing
Systems and methods for intelligently routing an incoming telephone call to an internal extension based on the calling history are provided. According to one embodiment, a session log, containing information regarding sessions between internal extension numbers and external telephone numbers, is maintained by a call monitor of a telephone system. The internal extension numbers are associated with telephone extensions within the telephone system and the external telephone numbers are associated with telephones outside of the telephone system. An incoming telephone call is received by the call monitor from a telephone outside the telephone system that is associated with an external telephone number. It is determined by the call monitor whether the incoming call represents a call-back to an internal extension number based on the session log. When the incoming call is determined to represent a call-back, then causing a switch to route the incoming call to the internal extension number. |
| US09774719B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling outgoing call in vehicle equipped with voice recognition function
An outgoing call control method for an in-vehicle head unit equipped with a voice recognition function includes connecting Bluetooth communication with a user device when vehicle is powered on. Whether or not an existing voice recognition database is present is checked. Phone book information is downloaded from the user device through the connected Bluetooth communication. Voice recognition for an outgoing call is performed using the existing voice recognition database during download of the phone book information if the existing voice recognition database is present. |
| US09774715B2 |
Mobile terminal
The embodiments of the disclosure provide a mobile terminal, which includes a power generation unit, a power storage unit and a control system. The power generation unit includes a toroidal inductance coil which can move back and forth inside and outside a region of magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet and incise magnetic force lines of the permanent magnet, such that a current is generated in the toroidal inductance coil. The power storage unit is connected with the toroidal inductance coil of the power generation unit and a power supply circuit of the mobile terminal, respectively, and the power storage unit is used for storing power generated by the power generation unit. The control system is connected with the power storage unit. When electricity of a battery of the mobile terminal is less than a predetermined amount and the battery is not in a charged state, the control system causes the power storage unit to supply power to the mobile terminal. |
| US09774713B2 |
Protective case system
A protective case system includes a mounting accessory and a protective case. The mounting accessory is attachable to an object and has a dovetail rail member, a snap feature, and an engagement feature. The protective case includes an inner liner and an outer shell. The outer shell is removably attachable to the mounting accessory to removably attach the protective case to the object through the mounting accessory. The outer shell includes a receiver channel in proximity to a first end of the outer shell. The receiver channel is adapted to slidably receive the dovetail rail member of the mounting accessory to removably attach the outer shell of the protective case to the mounting accessory. The outer shell further includes an engagement feature for engaging the engagement feature of the mounting accessory to further removably attach the outer shell to the mounting accessory. |
| US09774712B2 |
Modular control interface
A modular portable device system and method improves the quality of the interface between a core device and an add-on module via an interconnection system specifically applicable to modular systems. A multi-pin connector array accessible from outside the base device is configured and located to electrically connect to a mating array on the add-on module when the two devices are docked. In an embodiment, the multi-pin connector array includes a command/control pin configured to support multiple functions such as, but not limited to, device detection, interrupt functions, mode changes and wake functions. |
| US09774711B2 |
Management system, management method and equipment
A storage battery device is provided with a transmitter which, in cases when a power supply of the storage battery device is turned on, repeatedly transmits, for a prescribed time period, a classification message including the classification of the storage battery device. |
| US09774709B2 |
Service discovery
Service discovery and other operations related to enabling devices to announce, discover or otherwise control their services and/or the services offered or available from other devices is contemplated. The service discovery may facilitating service discovery for services sourced from devices inside and outside of a network and/or from devices having incompatible messaging capabilities. |
| US09774707B2 |
Efficient packet classification for dynamic containers
A novel algorithm for packet classification that is based on a novel search structure for packet classification rules is provided. Addresses from all the containers are merged and maintained in a single Trie. Each entry in the Trie has additional information that can be traced back to the container from where the address originated. This information is used to keep the Trie in sync with the containers when the container definition dynamically changes. |
| US09774705B2 |
Router-based networking control
In a router, for example, after receiving an HTTP request communicated by a terminal device, the router can determine whether the terminal device has accessed a target webpage through that device, according to identity information of the terminal device included in the HTTP request. Where it is determined that the terminal device has accessed the webpage through the router, an HTTP response message including a URL address of the target webpage can be communicated to the terminal device. Otherwise, an HTTP response message including a URL address of an intermediate webpage of the target webpage can be communicated to the terminal device. Determining that the terminal device has accessed a target webpage through the router provides for the terminal device to bypass the intermediate page and directly access the target page; thus, control to accessing the target webpage is facilitated by the router. |
| US09774702B2 |
System and method of employing a client side device to access local and remote data during communication disruptions
A method and system are provided for locally storing data obtained from a plurality of sources, the local communication device being in communication with a local server that is associated with a local network, the local server also associated with an external network, and at least one client terminal device that communicates with the local server over an internal network, the local server synchronizing with a set of at least one or more remote servers over the external network. |
| US09774699B2 |
System and method for transforming graphical models
A mechanism for converting a graphical model of a system into an intermediate representation (IR) of a model is discussed. The mechanism alters the IR, and uses the altered IR to create a new or updated graphical model of the system that may be viewed and simulated by a user. Once the user is satisfied with the alterations to the IR, the IR or the graphical model may be used to generate code in a target language to enable the building of the physical system being designed. The use of the altered IR to generate a new or updated graphical model allows a more efficient and customizable design and simulation process than is typically found by simulating code that has been converted to target languages. The generation of the graphical model based on the altered IR allows a user to visually inspect the changes to the system, and the simulation of the graphical model based on the altered IR allows corrective action to be taken to account for any changes that occurred during the transformation of the model. |
| US09774693B2 |
Methods and systems for viewing user feedback
In a client device having one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors, graphic icons of one or more users who have provided user feedback for a first content item are displayed. Each of the graphic icons is displayed in a respective region of a display area. The client device transitions from displaying one or more of the graphic icons to displaying, in the respective regions of the display area corresponding to the one or more of the graphic icons, user feedback for the first content item provided by respective users. |
| US09774690B2 |
Information provision system, information provision device, information provision method, terminal device, and display method
An information provision system includes a terminal device, and an information provision device that can communicate with the terminal device. The information provision device includes a communicating section configured to communicate with the terminal device, a head count information managing section configured to manage current head count information for each position, and a crowd information generating section configured to determine a position for making a notification display based on the managed head count information, and generate crowd information containing information of the determined position, and a transmission control section configured to transmit the generated crowd information from the communicating section to the terminal device. The terminal device includes a communicating section configured to communicate with the information provision device, and a control section configured to execute display of a map image on a display section, and execute a display based on the transmitted crowd information on the map image. |
| US09774689B2 |
Scheduling media recording via a handheld device
Techniques for scheduling content recordings at a multimedia device are described. A mobile device receives an invitational message from a local wireless network. In response to receiving the invitational message, the mobile device sends a scheduling request/instruction to a server or to the multimedia device directly. The scheduling request or instruction causes a recording of the specific media content at a multimedia device to be scheduled. |
| US09774688B2 |
Discovery of server functions
A request associated with a functions that are provided by a server may be received from a client system. A subset of the functions that are provided by the server and that are available based on the request may be identified. Information based on the identified subset of functions may be generated. Furthermore, the information that is based on the identified subset of functions may be transmitted to the client system. |
| US09774677B2 |
Remote direct memory access with reduced latency
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for remote direct memory access (RDMA) with reduced latency. RDMA allows information to be transferred directly between memory buffers in networked devices without the need for substantial processing. While RDMA requires registration/deregistration for buffers that are not already preregistered, RDMA with reduced latency transfers information to intermediate buffers during registration/deregistration, utilizing time that would have ordinarily been wasted waiting for these processes to complete, and reducing the amount of information to transfer while the source buffer is registered. In this way the RDMA transaction may be completed more quickly. RDMA with reduced latency may be employed to expedite various information transactions. For example, RDMA with reduced latency may be utilized to stream information within a device, or may be used to transfer information for an information source external to the device directly to an application buffer. |
| US09774674B1 |
Reconciling contact information between users
Methods, devices, and products utilize wireless-backup technologies to provide contact-reconciliation services with respect to sets of contacts stored on mobile devices. One embodiment of the inventions includes receiving an indication of an update event associated with a first set of contacts on a first mobile device, updating a remotely-stored copy of the first set of contacts, determining that a remotely-stored copy of a second set of contacts does not include a portion of contact information corresponding to the first mobile device, and updating the remotely-stored copy of the second set of contacts. In an embodiment, the remotely-stored copy of the second set of contacts is synchronized with the second set of contacts, thereby updating the second set of contacts. |
| US09774673B2 |
Method and system for federated over-the-top content delivery
A method is provided for managing over-the-top delivery of content through a plurality of content delivery networks (CDN). The method provided works transparently with standard HTTP servers supporting an initial request for content from a client to a first preferred CDN. If the first CDN does not have the content, the method includes provisions for the first CDN to acquire the content from a second CDN, or for the client to request the content from a second CDN directly. A system is also specified for implementing a client and server infrastructure in accordance with the provisions of the method. |
| US09774672B2 |
Consolidated processing of storage-array commands by a snapshot-control media agent
A “snapshot-control media agent” (“snap-MA”) is configured on a secondary storage computing device that operates apart from client computing devices. A “forwarder” media agent operates on each client computing device that uses a storage array, yet lacks command channels to the storage array. The forwarder media agent forwards commands directed at the storage array to the snap-MA, which receives and processes commands directed at the storage array that were forwarded by the forwarder media agents. Responses from the storage array are transmitted to the respective forwarder media agent. The snap-MA pools storage-array-command devices to avoid capacity limitations in regard to communications channels at the storage array. The snap-MA operating in conjunction with the forwarder media agents enable the illustrative system to consolidate the communication of storage-array commands away from client computing devices and/or proxy media agent hosts and into the secondary storage computing device that hosts the snap-MA. |
| US09774671B2 |
Parallel processing system and operation method of parallel processing system
A parallel processing system includes a plurality of computers accessibly connected through a network, and distributedly executing a plurality of processes. Each of the plurality of computers is composed of an operation processing unit configured to execute an allocated process, a local memory group having a first area and a second area and an I/O control circuit. The operation processing unit executes the allocated process by using the first area as an access destination in a first period and, and executes the allocated process by using the second area as the access destination in a second period subsequent to the first period. The I/O control circuit is composed of an updating section configured to update data stored in the local memory group to the latest data by carrying out communication among the computers. The updating section updates the data stored in the first area in the second period. |
| US09774669B2 |
Service infrastructure for serving client nodes based on P2P connections
An infrastructure for serving client nodes is disclosed, wherein the infrastructure comprises: a first plurality of service nodes; a second plurality of client nodes; and at least one linking server for providing connecting information to enable the nodes to establish connections between each other, wherein each service node provides service to at least one of the second plurality of client nodes through P2P connections respectively, and a first service node of the first plurality of service nodes acts as a client node to receive service from a second service node of the first plurality of service nodes. |
| US09774668B2 |
Communication system for establishing P2P connections and the corresponding devices using the same
A communication system for establishing a P2P connection is disclosed, wherein the communication system comprises: a networked device or service device having an identification; a linking server for providing connecting information to enable a terminal device or client device to establish a P2P connections between the service device and the client device, wherein the identification of service device is registered in the linking server, wherein the client device communicates with the link server to establish a P2P connection to the service device according to the connecting information provided by the linking server, wherein the client device has not been registered into the linking server when the P2P is established. In addition, A UID (Unique Identification) can be embedded in a processor, wherein the UID can be stored in a non-volatile memory device inside the processor and the UID will be programmed and tested after the processor is fabricated, so that it can be readily used for establishing A P2P connection. |
| US09774666B2 |
Methods and system for dynamic spectrum arbitrage with a mobility load balancer gateway
A dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) system includes a dynamic spectrum policy controller (DPC) and a dynamic spectrum controller (DSC) that together dynamically manage the allocation and use of resources (e.g., spectrum resources) across different networks. The DSC component may include wired or wireless connections to a mobility load balancer gateway (MLB gateway) component that is coupled to eNodeBs, a mobility management entity (MME), and various other network components. The MLB gateway may be configured to serve/operate as a gateway that continuously, repeatedly, or dynamically identifies, selects, and assigns an MME to a wireless device and performs various other mobility management operations to coordinate the handling (e.g., handoffs, hand-ins, backoff, etc.) of the wireless devices as it is moved within and in-between networks. |
| US09774664B2 |
Social networking system based on smart clothing
The invention discloses a social networking system which includes a main data processing apparatus, a plurality of smart clothing apparatus and a plurality of sub-data-processing apparatuses. Each smart clothing apparatus includes a light-emitting device assembly. Each sub-data-processing apparatus corresponds to one of the smart clothing apparatuses. The main data processing apparatus transmits an inquiry information to each sub-data-processing apparatus. The inquiry information includes a plurality of selection data and a plurality of light color data. Each selection datum corresponds to one of the light color data. Each sub-data-processing apparatus receives the inquiry information, displays the plurality of selection data, and transmits, responsive to a selection signal corresponding to one of the selection data, the light color datum corresponding to said one selection datum to the corresponding smart clothing apparatus. The corresponding smart clothing apparatus drives the light-emitting device assembly thereof to emit at least one color light in accordance with the received light color datum. |
| US09774662B2 |
Managing transactional data for high use databases
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system compares database transactions to corresponding performance information to identify conforming database transactions with an acceptable deviation from the performance information and outlier database transactions beyond the acceptable deviation from the performance information. The system aggregates information from a threshold quantity of conforming database transactions into an aggregated record, wherein the threshold quantity is dynamically adjusted, and generates a record for each outlier database transaction, wherein conditions for identifying the outlier database transactions are dynamically adjusted. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for managing database transactions in substantially the same manners described above. |
| US09774660B2 |
Method and system for seamless webpage browsing
Various embodiments provide methods and systems for seamlessly browsing a webpage from a first browser client to a second browser client. When the first browser client receives a pre-set browser event, a webpage address of a webpage opened by the first browser client can be obtained. The webpage address can then be sent to a server and then obtained from the server when the second browser client is opened. The webpage corresponding to the webpage address can be obtained and outputted through the second browser client. When the second browser client is a mobile terminal browser, a persistent connection can be pre-established between the second browser client and the server, so that the webpage address can be quickly obtained from the server to improve the speed of seamlessly browsing the webpage. |
| US09774659B2 |
Bi-directional channel-based progress indicator
In one embodiment a bi-directional channel bound to a messaging channel provides a connection allowing an application to send progress information created by a progress indicator program to a client computer over a network. The connection allows the progress information to be send upon the event of its creation. |
| US09774657B2 |
Browser engine interfacing for accelerated physics engine
A method for application interfacing a native physics engine includes embedding access to a native physics engine within a browser engine. Bindings are provided for supporting multiple application classes from the browser engine to the native physics engine and a JavaScript engine. |
| US09774655B2 |
Server and method for transferring an object between users in a service provided by the server
A server including a first storage module for storing possessed objects of a first user and a second user, a communication module for receiving from a device of the first user a request for transfer of an object from the first user to the second user, a second storage module for storing an object transfer relationship between the first user and the second user in response to the request for transfer, and a benefit granting module for granting a predetermined benefit to the second user if a condition for granting a benefit in relation to an object transfer relationship of the second user with other users is satisfied when an object is transferred in response to the request for transfer. |
| US09774652B2 |
Systems to provide database updates
A system includes establishment of a WebSocket connection at a WebSocket endpoint of the system with a WebSocket client, registration of a callback at the WebSocket endpoint for an event associated with an update to data of the database, identification of an update to the data of the database at an HTTP endpoint of the system, sending, in response to the identification of the update, a trigger event from the HTTP endpoint, reception of the trigger event at the WebSocket endpoint, and execution of the callback by the WebSocket endpoint to transmit the update to the WebSocket client. |
| US09774649B2 |
System and method for providing a content distribution network
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for providing a content distribution network. In an embodiment, the system and method helps organizations share content as a content source, and manage multiple feeds of content from various other content sources, keeping specific information private while integrating shared updates. For example, the content may be local business information kept by numerous different organizations for their own locality. By sharing this location information through a shared content distribution network, the organizations are able to update the location information of their users and obtain a higher quality of data. In an embodiment, an organization may prioritize the content in a private feed in order to override crowd sourced external data. |
| US09774647B2 |
Live video broadcast user interface
In an example embodiment, an indication is received via a user interface in a first mobile device to begin recording live video on the first mobile device. Then the recording of live video is begun by the first mobile device in response to the receiving of the indication. The live video is displayed in the user interface as it is being recorded. A gesture by a user of the first mobile device is detected. In response to the detection of the gesture, the broadcasting of the live video as it is being recorded to a plurality of mobile devices other than the first mobile device is begun. Then, in the user interface along with the live video, identifications of a plurality of users corresponding to the plurality of mobile device other than the first mobile device to which the live video is being broadcast are displayed. |
| US09774643B2 |
Mobile source media content access
Embodiments are provided for accessing media content on a mobile device. In one embodiment, a user may add media from a mobile device carried by the user to a queue of media that may be rendered by a media system in communication with the mobile device. In one example, the user may select a subset of media from the mobile device to add to the queue, such that only the subset of media is accessible to the media system while the non-selected media on the mobile device remains private. In one case, the mobile device may become disconnected from the media system such that the added subset of media is no longer accessible by the media system. In this case, the media system may search for media equivalent to the subset of media, and replace the subset of media in the queue with the equivalent media. |
| US09774641B2 |
Prompting social networking system users to provide additional user profile information
A social networking system presents questions to a user on an interface associated with the social networking system to elicit information about the user that is missing from the user's profile or is otherwise outdated. The questions are selected based on a number of factors, such as the need for or value of the information item, probability of a response, or cost of collecting the information item. In presenting the selected question, the social networking system prompts a user for information about the user in a an interface associated with a page from the social networking system, an application external to the social networking system, or using a push notification or prompt. The questions may be formatted in various ways, such as an explicit question, confirmation, a selection of responses, or social context to encourage the user to respond to the question. |
| US09774638B2 |
Universal state-aware communications
A communications system for general business environments that exploits knowledge of user state to provide advantages of efficiency and control for individual users and for the business. The communications system also provides particular advantages in environments where users have multiple communication devices and for communications of a business with external parties. In other aspects, the communication system provides features of application flexibility and system fault-tolerance with broad applicability to communication systems. The communication system includes a controller that receives requests for establishing communications when a user is in an appropriate state to receive communications and communicates state of the user to other users. The controller receives a user request for establishing a communication when the user is not in the appropriate state for communication, receives a user request for a state change to the appropriate state to receive the communication, and initiates the communication without changing state of the user. |
| US09774636B2 |
Utilize extra web semantic for video caching
Semantic data corresponding to video data may be received. Next, the received semantic data corresponding to the video data may be analyzed. Caching decisions may then be made based upon the analysis of the received semantic data corresponding to the video data. |
| US09774635B2 |
Information processing system, device, and information processing method
A first obtaining unit obtains authentication information. A first sending unit sends the authentication information. A generating unit generates an execution request. A second sending unit sends the execution request. A device includes a first holding unit holding authentication information registered in advance; an authenticating unit performing an authentication operation by determining whether one or more sets of authentication information held by the first holding unit include authentication information matching with authentication information received by a first receiving unit; a second holding unit holding identification information of the authenticated user; and a control unit performing, when identification information included in the execution request received by a second receiving unit matches with identification information held by the second holding unit, control to perform operations based on the execution request, and, when the two sets of identification information do not match, control to request the information processing terminal for the authentication information. |
| US09774634B2 |
End-to-end secure cloud computing
A method includes receiving, at a control node of a cloud computing network, a first enterprise policy specific to the first enterprise and a second enterprise policy specific to the second enterprise, and managing communications between at least one user device of the first enterprise and the at least one enterprise application hosted on behalf of the first enterprise based on the first enterprise policy. The method also includes managing communications between at least one user device of the second enterprise and the at least one enterprise application hosted on behalf of the second enterprise based on the second enterprise policy. |
| US09774631B2 |
TLS connection abandoning
A network-based appliance includes a mechanism to enable the appliance to extract itself from man-in-the-middle (MITM) processing during a client-server handshake and without interrupting that connection. The mechanism enables the appliance to decide (e.g., based on a rule match against a received server certificate) to stop performing MITM during the handshake and thus to de-insert itself transparently, i.e., without interfering or signaling to either end of the session that this operation is occurring. Once the connection is abandoned in the manner, the appliance ignores additional traffic flow and thus can free up processing resources (CPU, memory, and the like) that would otherwise be required to decrypt the connection (even if no further inspection or rewrite processing would be expected to occur). |
| US09774629B2 |
Dynamic secure packet block sizing
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and software for handling secure transport of data between end users and content serving devices. In one example, a method of operating a content server includes identifying a content request from an end user device. The method further includes, responsive to the user request, determining a transmission control protocol window size and a secure layer protocol block size. The method also provides scaling the secure layer protocol block size to match the transmission control protocol window size, and transferring secure layer protocol packets to the end user device using the scaled secure layer protocol block size. |
| US09774628B2 |
Method for analyzing suspicious activity on an aircraft network
An aircraft includes an aircraft network having nodes and links and a sandbox network in communication with the aircraft network. The sandbox network simulates the aircraft network and includes sandbox nodes corresponding to the nodes of the aircraft network, a first set of sandbox links corresponding to the links of the aircraft network, and a second set of sandbox links providing communication between sandbox nodes not in communication via the first set of sandbox links. Computer executable instructions, when executed, perform the steps of: generating network traffic over the sandbox network such that the sandbox network models a behavior of the aircraft network; identifying a suspicious activity on the aircraft network; routing the suspicious activity from the aircraft network to the sandbox network; and analyzing the suspicious activity as the suspicious activity traverses through the sandbox network. |
| US09774622B2 |
Cross-site request forgery defense
An HTML document includes a JavaScript element that manages CSRF token use. When the HTML document is rendered, the JavaScript element asynchronously requests a CSRF token from the server. In response, the server generates a JWT using a keyed HMAC algorithm. The resulting JWT, which functions as a CSRF token, is returned to the user where it is stored in a protected variable inside the JavaScript element. The CSRF token is therefore stateless and isn't stored in a server-side repository. When the user later requests access to a server resource, the CSRF token is included in such request. This may be accomplished by adding a hidden input field that includes the CSRF token to the submission that's transmitted to the server. If the server cannot validate the received token using the HMAC key that was originally used to generate the token, the request is considered unauthorized and is not processed. |
| US09774618B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for assessing attack vulnerability of radio access network equipment
The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for assessing attack vulnerability of radio access network equipment. One method for assessing the attack vulnerability of a radio access network device includes emulating at least one good UE. The method further includes emulating at least one bad UE. The method further includes transmitting traffic from the emulated good and bad UEs to a non-simulated radio access network device under test. The method further includes monitoring a response of the radio access network device under test to the emulated good UEs. The method further includes generating output indicative of attack vulnerability of the device under test. |
| US09774616B2 |
Threat evaluation system and method
Systems and methods of evaluation of threats to elements of a client computer application having a cyber reference library, an opponent catalog and a network model. The systems and methods produce a set of analyst reports evaluating the threats to the client computer application. One embodiment of the system for evaluating at least one threat to a client computer application has a threat evaluation engine which performs a plurality of algorithms, where each algorithm of has implementation specific needs for input into the individual algorithm, a threat evaluation results data store, a statistical analysis engine, and an analysis results data store. |
| US09774615B1 |
Techniques for detecting anomalous network traffic
Techniques for detecting anomalous network traffic are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for detecting anomalous network traffic comprising the steps of receiving a list including a plurality of processes and, for each process, a list of approved types of network traffic; monitoring network traffic of each process on the list of processes; upon detecting network traffic for a process on the list of processes, determining that the type of network traffic detected is not on the list of approved types for that process; and identifying the process as infected based on determining that the type of network traffic detected is not on the list of approved types for that process. |
| US09774612B2 |
Managing virtual computing testing
Systems, methods, and interfaces for the management of virtual machine networks and other programmatically controlled networks are provided. Hosted virtual networks are configured in a manner such that a virtual machine manager of the virtual network may monitor activity such as user requests, network traffic, and the status and execution of various virtual machine instances to determine possible security assessments. A security assessment may be performed before, after, or simultaneous to the execution of the activity associated with the security assessment event. The execution of an activity may further be synchronous with the results of the security assessment. The timing of the assessment may correspond to the type of assessment or type of activity that is requested or detected. |
| US09774607B2 |
Detection of undesired computer files using digital certificates
Methods and systems for detecting undesirable computer files based on scanning and analysis of information contained within an associated digital certificate chain are provided. According to one embodiment, a file having associated therewith a certificate chain is received. A type and structure of the file are identified. A location of the certificate chain is determined based on the identified type and structure. A signature of the file is formed by extracting a targeted subset of information from the certificate chain. The file is evaluated by comparing the signature with a set signatures having a known desirable or undesirable status. The file is classified based on a result of the evaluating into a category of multiple categories, including one indicative of an associated file being an undesired file or a file suspected of being undesired. The file is handled in accordance with a policy associated with the category. |
| US09774602B2 |
Remote trust attestation and geo-location of servers and clients in cloud computing environments
Methods and systems may provide for selecting a hypervisor protocol from a plurality of hypervisor protocols based on a communication associated with a remote agent. The selected hypervisor protocol may be used to conduct a trust analysis of one or more digitally signed values in the communication, wherein a cloud attestation request may be processed based on the trust analysis. Processing the cloud attestation request may involve generating a trustworthiness verification output, a geo-location verification output, etc., for a cloud computing node corresponding to the remote agent. |
| US09774597B2 |
Configurable electronic-device security locking
An interface of an electronic device may be locked in accordance with an authorization confidence level indicating a likelihood that the electronic device is in the possession of an authorized user of the electronic device. Multiple signals may be detected using one or more sensors of an electronic device. The authorization confidence level may be automatically determined using the detected signals. The electronic device may be configured to have a security timeout based at least in part on the authorization confidence level. In some examples, collection(s) of signals may be detected using one or more sensors of an electronic device. A confidence history may be updated using the collection(s) of signals. In response to a match of the confidence history to a stored locking condition, a user interface of the electronic device may be locked. |
| US09774596B2 |
Privacy-preserving biometric authentication
A method includes receiving a registration input including a first raw biometric template and a user identifier. The first raw biometric template may be representative of unique features of a biometric characteristic of a user associated with the user identifier. The method includes generating a first transformed biometric template by applying a random projection to the first raw biometric template and communicating the first transformed biometric template and the user identifier to an authentication server. The method includes receiving a challenge input including a second raw biometric template and the user identifier. The method includes generating a second transformed biometric template and communicating the second transformed biometric template and the user identifier to the authentication server. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of an authentication decision from the authentication server. |
| US09774590B1 |
Bypassing certificate pinning
A client application performs certificate pinning as a means of authenticating the identity of a server. A proxy is interposed in the communications path of the client and the hosting server and provides a proxy security certificate to the client. In response to the client extracting a proxy authentication component from the proxy security certificate, operation of the client is paused and a hosting server authentication component is extracted from a hosting server security certificate. The client operation is resumed, providing the extracted hosting server authentication component to the client, in substitution for the proxy authentication component. Based on receiving the extracted hosting server authentication component, the client authenticates the proxy to receive communications directed to the hosting server. |
| US09774587B2 |
Mobile application based account aggregation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automating the collection of user information for account aggregation. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, at a server computer system from a mobile device of a user, a first user request to access account information; receiving, at the server computer system from a provider computer system, a plurality of mobile device applications; for each respective establishment of the plurality of establishments: storing, at the server computer system, establishment login credentials of the user to access account information of the user at a computer system of the respective establishment, and obtaining account information of the user at the respective establishment; aggregating, on the computer system, all the account information of the user from the respective mobile device application of each establishment; and providing to the mobile device the aggregated account information of the user. |
| US09774584B2 |
Authentication of a first device by a switching center
A method, a first device, and a switching center are described. A first device is authenticated by a switching center inside a network taking into account the use of additional (e.g., virtual) network interfaces. A device uses certificates to transfer additional MAC addresses for authentication. As a result, a device having a plurality of MAC addresses gains access to a network from a plurality of MAC addresses in a one-off authentication process. |
| US09774582B2 |
Private cloud connected device cluster architecture
A system for secure cloud-based management of private cloud connected devices is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more on-site cloud connected devices located within an untrusted customer site, a multi-tenant cloud-based management service configured to manage the one or more on-site cloud connected devices, and a user interface to facilitate access to the one or more on-site cloud connected devices located within the untrusted customer site by a user associated with the untrusted customer site. |
| US09774581B2 |
Identity management with local functionality
A user equipment (UE) may perform functions locally, such as on a trusted module that resides within the UE. For example, a UE may perform functions associated with a single sign-on protocol, such as OpenID Connect for example, via a local identity provider function. For example, a UE may generate identity tokens and access tokens that can be used by a service provider to retrieve user information, such as identity information and/or user attributes. User attributes may be retrieved via a user information endpoint that may reside locally on the UE or on a network entity. A service provider may grant a user access to a service based on the information that it retrieves using the tokens. |
| US09774578B1 |
Distributed key secret for rewritable blockchain
A system includes circuitry for rewriting blockchains in a non-tamper-evident or tamper-evident operation using a key secret held in portions by multiple individually untrusted parties. The blockchains may include a series of blocks secured by integrity codes that may prevent non-tamper-evident rewrites by non-trusted parties that are not in possession of the key secret or individually-untrusted parties in possession of only a portion of the key secret. In some cases, multiple individually-untrusted parties may combine their portions into the key secret. As a group, the multiple individually-untrusted parties may perform non-tamper-evident operation with respect to at least one integrity code within the blockchain. |
| US09774577B2 |
Device, system and method providing data security and attribute based data access in participatory sensing
Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for securing data using attribute based data access. The data may correspond to a sensory environment, and the data is secured at the device. The device secures the data by segmenting the data into number of segments and defining an access policy, further submitting the access policy to a PKG of system for generating Access Tree having attributes at different level for accessing the data. These Access Trees are securely stored on the device using IBE mechanism. Further, the data after being secured, is uploaded to a system for analysis. At the system, an access request may be received for accessing the data. The access request further includes a request attribute, whereby the system verifies if the attribute satisfies the Access Policy. If the verification is positive, an access may be provided to the data accessor for accessing the data. |
| US09774576B2 |
Authentication by use of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography
The present invention concerns a mutual authentication method in a communication system. According to the method, a first communication device (1), such as an RFID reader, authenticates a second communication device (3), such as an RFID tag, by using an asymmetric authentication protocol based on a generated a session key. The tag authenticates the reader by using a symmetric communication protocol based on a generated other session key. At least a portion of the session key is used to generate the other session key. |
| US09774575B2 |
System and method for authenticating user by near field communication
A system and method for authenticating a user by near field communication. The system for authenticating a user by near field communication includes a security device performing user authentication by using a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) ID and a password both being transmitted through near field communication in response to an authentication request, and a mobile device transmitting the USIM ID and password through near field communication. |
| US09774573B2 |
Secure transfer and use of secret material in a shared environment
Aspects related to the secure transfer and use of secret material are described. In one embodiment, public vendor and provider keys are provided to a customer and encrypted secret material is received in return. The encrypted secret material may include a customer secret material encrypted by the public vendor and provider keys. The encrypted secret material is imported into a trusted execution environment and decrypted with private provider and vendor keys. In this manner, a provider of cryptographic processes is not exposed to the secret material of the customer, as the customer secret material is decrypted and stored within the trusted execution environment but is not accessed by the provider in an unencrypted form. In turn, the provider may receive various instructions to perform cryptographic operations on behalf of the customer, and those instructions may be performed by the trusted execution environment. |
| US09774570B2 |
Accelerating data communication using tunnels
Methods and systems are provided for increasing application performance and accelerating data communications in a WAN environment. According to one embodiment, packets are received at a flow classification module operating at the Internet Protocol (IP) layer of a first wide area network (WAN) acceleration device via a private tunnel, which is operable to convey application layer data for connection-oriented applications between WAN acceleration devices. The packets are passed to a WAN socket operating at the transport layer. Based on the application protocol, the packets are passed to an application handler of multiple application handlers operating at the application layer each of which implements one or more application acceleration techniques for a particular application layer protocol known to behave poorly within a WAN environment. The existing connection-oriented flow is securely accelerated by performing one or more application acceleration techniques and applying one or more security functions. |
| US09774569B2 |
Detection of undesired computer files using digital certificates
Methods and systems for detecting undesirable computer files based on scanning and analysis of information contained within an associated digital certificate chain are provided. According to one embodiment, a file having associated therewith a certificate chain is received. A type and structure of the file are identified. A location of the certificate chain is determined based on the identified type and structure. A signature of the file is formed by extracting a targeted subset of information from the certificate chain. The file is evaluated by comparing the signature with a set signatures having a known desirable or undesirable status. The file is classified based on a result of the evaluating into a category of multiple categories, including one indicative of an associated file being an undesired file or a file suspected of being undesired. The file is handled in accordance with a policy associated with the category. |
| US09774567B2 |
System, server apparatus, terminal apparatus, and recording medium for generating a user affinity-based address book, and method for generating a user affinity-based address book
The invention relates to a system, to a server apparatus, to a terminal apparatus, and to a recording medium for generating a user affinity-based address book, and to a method for generating a user affinity-based address book, which support a user so that the user may intuitively recognize an affinity with a number of other users whose contact information is registered in the address book of the user. The invention is implemented such that: that information on a user's address book is provided; the result of a determination on whether or not the same contact number is shared between the user address book and an address book of each person whose contact information is registered, and the duration and frequency of talks between the user and each person whose contact information is registered; and information on a social address book is generated based on the determined affinity. |
| US09774546B2 |
Fibre channel over ethernet (FCoE) zoning in a distributed ethernet switch
Method to perform an operation comprising, receiving a login request from an endpoint connected to first physical port of a first switch module of a distributed network switch, wherein the distributed network switch comprises a plurality of switch modules, wherein each switch module comprises a plurality of ASICs, responsive to the login request, storing, in a FCDF database, an entry comprising an identifier of the first physical port and a unique identifier of the endpoint, and responsive to receiving, from a cFCF, a zoning update comprising the unique identifier of the endpoint and an FCID for the endpoint, storing the FCID in the FCDF database entry for the endpoint, identifying a first ASIC, of the plurality of ASICs of the first switch module, connected to the first physical port, and updating a zoning table of the first ASIC to include the zoning update. |
| US09774544B2 |
Industrial control device and method for insertion and removal of a module under power without interruption
Disclosed is an industrial control device including a point-to-point backplane/point module architecture providing RIUP (Removal and Insertion Under Power) functionality where data communications between modules is maintained after the removal of a point module from the backplane. According to an exemplary embodiment, a backplane includes a plurality of bypass switches controlled by respective point modules, whereby data communicated bypass a removed point module interface and point-to-point data communications are provided to an inserted point module after an initial routine is executed by a microcontroller associated with the inserted point module. |
| US09774541B1 |
System, method, and computer program for generating an orchestration data tree utilizing a network function virtualization orchestrator (NFV-O) data model
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating an orchestration data tree utilizing a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFV-O) data model. In use, an NFV-O data model is identified, the NFV-O data model being associated with an NFV-O module corresponding to a communication network. Additionally, an orchestration data tree template is generated utilizing the NFV-O data model, the orchestration data tree being utilized to support orchestration of a plurality of services associated with the communication network, and the orchestration data tree template capable of including: a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes representing one of the plurality of services associated with the communication network; a plurality of node relations, each of the plurality of node relations representing a relation of a parent node and a sub-node; a plurality of links, each of the plurality of links defining a relationship between two of the plurality of nodes; and a plurality of connectors, each of the plurality of connectors being associated with one of the plurality of nodes and functioning to connect to one of the plurality of links. |
| US09774538B2 |
Efficient processing of radio resource requests
A system for efficiently transmitting requests for data access from a wireless communications device to a radio access network. Requests for data access may be aggregated to more efficiently use radio resources. Aggregated requests may not be transmitted until a total number of requests or size of aggregated requests exceeds a threshold. Regardless of aggregation, requests may be stored until a timer expires, and then transmitted to the radio access network. Request priority, environmental data, and device data may be taken into account in determining when to transmit requests for data access. |
| US09774531B2 |
Hash-based forwarding in content centric networks
A method implemented by a network element (NE), comprising obtaining a first mapping between a first content name identifying a content data in a content centric network (CCN) and a first hash value of at least a portion of the first content name, wherein the first content name comprises a character string in a hierarchical namespace, receiving, via a receiver of the NE, an initial packet comprising an initial hash value from the CCN, determining, via a processor the NE, that the initial hash value in the received initial packet matches the first hash value in the obtained first mapping, replacing, via the processor, the initial hash value in the received initial packet with the first content name in the matched first mapping to produce a translated initial packet, and forwarding, via a transmitter of the NE, the translated initial packet comprising the first content name to a connected end host. |
| US09774525B2 |
Systems and methods for scheduling of data packets based on delay tolerance of applications
A base station, system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for transmitting data packets received by the base station. According to one aspect, the base station includes a first buffer configured to store data packets received by the base station, a second buffer configured to store data packets that are scheduled for transmission by the base station, and a computer processor, operatively coupled to the first buffer and the second buffer. The computer processor is configured to inspect a data packet to determine an application type of the data packet, determine a delay tolerance associated with the data packet based on the determined application type, determine a channel condition of a communication session with the user device, move the data packet from the first buffer to the second buffer based on the determined delay tolerance and the determined channel condition, and transmit data packets stored in the second buffer. |
| US09774524B2 |
Method and apparatus for fast reroute, control plane and forwarding plane synchronization
Exemplary methods include generating a first fast reroute (FRR) next hop (NH) comprising of a first primary next hop (PNH), a first secondary next hop (SNH), and a first attribute, wherein the first PNH and first SNH include forwarding information that causes traffic to be forwarded towards a second and third network device, respectively. The methods include sending a first request to a forwarding plane to generate a second FRR NH comprising of a second PNH, a second SNH, and a second attribute. The methods include updating contents of the first FRR NH, and sending a second request to the forwarding plane to update the second FRR NH, wherein the second request causes the forwarding plane to determine whether to revert back to using the second PNH based on whether the first attribute included in the second request is different from the second attribute of the second FRR NH. |
| US09774523B2 |
Technique for determining whether to reestablish fast rerouted primary tunnels based on backup tunnel path quality feedback
In one embodiment, a primary tunnel is established from a head-end node to a destination along a path including one or more protected network elements for which a fast reroute path is available to pass traffic around the one or more network elements in the event of their failure. A first path quality measures path quality prior to failure of the one or more protected network elements. A second path quality measures path quality subsequent to failure of the one or more protected network elements, while the fast reroute path is being used to pass traffic of the primary tunnel. A determination is made whether to reestablish the primary tunnel over a new path that does not include the one or more failed protected network elements, or to continue to utilize the path with the fast reroute path, in response to a difference between the first path quality and the second path quality. |
| US09774521B2 |
Systems and methods for intra-consist communication
A method of communicating between a source node and a target node includes, for each of a plurality of paths between the target node and the source node, determining a total number of intermediary nodes and an expected data rate. The method also includes identifying each of the plurality of paths for which the total number of intermediary nodes is equal to or below a ceiling number as a first group of paths and identifying each of the plurality of paths for which the expected data rate is equal to or exceeds a threshold data rate as a second group of paths. A preferred path is used to communicate between the target node and the source node, the preferred path being included in the first group of paths and the second group of paths. |
| US09774519B2 |
Peer-to-Peer building automation system without knowledge being required of network topology
An automation system without any of the devices in the system being required to have knowledge of each other or of the topology of the network. The automation system comprises sensor nodes and actor nodes. The sensor nodes transmit information via a wireless network based on changes that are sensed by the sensors, such as a button being pushed or motion being detected. The actor nodes detect the information that is transmitted over the wireless network and control appliance functions based on the information detected. After the sensor and actor nodes are initialized, the sensor nodes transmit packets into the network based on changes that are detected in their environment. Meanwhile, the actor nodes monitor the network for packets that contain information of scenes that are relevant to each node. Based on the information contained in each such packet, the node acts on the information by controlling its appliance function. |
| US09774517B2 |
Correlative monitoring, analysis, and control of multi-service, multi-network systems
Methods and devices for correlative monitoring, analysis, and control of multi-service, multi-network systems are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include generating a network topology graph of a metanetwork using traffic records obtained from the metanetwork, generating a causal digraph of the metanetwork using the traffic records and the network topology graph, and transmitting one or more of the network topology graph and the causal digraph to a computing system. |
| US09774515B2 |
Router and resource assignment method thereof
The present invention provides a router including first and second wide-area network interfaces, at least one local area network interface, and a control unit. The local area network interface is electrically connected to at least one electronic device through at least one local area network. The control unit enables the electronic device to have at least one network service of the Internet through the first and the second wide-area network interfaces and the local area network interface, and assigns the network service to the first wide-area network interface or the second wide-area network interface according to at least one condition of the network service, wherein the condition includes at least one packet rate caused by the network service. |
| US09774511B2 |
Receiving at a secondary port of a first web-server a request that has been rejected a predetermined amount of time by multiple web-servers
A load balancer allocates requests to a pool of web servers configured to have low queue capacities. If the queue capacity of a web server is reached, the web server responds to an additional request with a rejection notification to the load balancer, which enables the load balancer to quickly send the rejected request to another web server. Each web server self-monitors its rejection rate. If the rejection rate exceeds a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is increased. If the rejection rate falls below a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is decreased. |
| US09774508B1 |
Communication generation using sparse indicators and sensor data
Techniques, systems, and products for analyzing sparse indicators and sensor data and generating communications are disclosed. The sensors may be associated with or incorporated into devices that may automatically relay sensor data for use in analyses and communication generation. |
| US09774504B2 |
Route refresh mechanism for border gateway protocol link state
A method is implemented by a network device acting as a border gateway protocol (BGP) speaker in a network including a plurality of network devices. The method implements selective route refresh for BGP link state (BGP-LS) to reduce communication overhead in sharing network topology information with other BGP speakers in the network. The method includes receiving an advanced route refresh message from a peer BGP speaker, where the advanced route refresh message includes an address family identifier (AFI), a subsequent address family identifier (SAFI), and one or more parameters associated with the AFI and the SAFI. The method further includes determining a subset of network topology information that matches the AFI, the SAFI, and the one or more parameters in the received advanced route refresh message and transmitting the subset of network topology information to the peer BGP speaker. |
| US09774500B2 |
Device migration
Personalization data such as settings and/or state is migrated across devices including mobile phones. Device personalizations are pushed to a cloud service or other mechanism for backup and subsequent transmission to other devices. The personalization data can later be employed to configure one or more other devices in the same manner as a first device. |
| US09774499B2 |
System guided surrogating control in broadcast and multicast
Methods, computer program products, and systems to assist in distribution of packets between a plurality of switch elements in a distributed switch, by monitoring an attribute of each of the plurality of switch elements including a first switch element and a first surrogate switch element, the first surrogate switch element in a first level of a hierarchy and configured using a default hierarchy configuration, the default hierarchy configuration forwarding a data frame to at least one of: a destination switch element of the data frame, and a second surrogate switch element, the second surrogate switch element in a second hierarchy level; computing a score, based on the monitored attribute, for each of the switch elements; and upon determining the score of the first switch element is greater than the score of the first surrogate switch element, designating the first switch element as the first surrogate switch element. |
| US09774498B2 |
Hierarchical asymmetric mesh with virtual routers
A network-on-chip configuration includes a first plurality of cores arranged in a two-dimensional mesh; a first plurality of routers, each of the first plurality of routers associated with a corresponding local one of the first plurality of cores, each of the first plurality of routers having a plurality of directional ports configured to provide connections to other ones of the first plurality of routers; a second plurality of cores disposed around a periphery of the two-dimensional mesh arrangement; and a second plurality of routers, each of the second plurality of routers associated with a corresponding local one of the second plurality of cores, and having a directional port configured to provide a connection to a neighboring one of the first plurality of routers. |
| US09774496B2 |
Configuration information auto-management method based on intelligent substation
The invention discloses a method of automatic management on configuration information based upon an intelligent substation, the intelligent substation applying the IEC-61850 standard including IED devices and a switch, wherein the method includes the following steps: parsing an intelligent substation configuration file to acquire communication configuration information and communication association configuration information of the IED devices; and generating a switch configuration file from the communication configuration information and the communication association configuration information of the IED devices. The invention can parse the intelligent substation configuration file, generate the switch configuration file and perform automatic configuration of the industrial Ethernet switch in the intelligent substation using the switch configuration file. |
| US09774495B1 |
Hybrid communications system and method of operation
A method includes providing account enable data from a multi-tenant hosted communication system to a premises based communications system. The method also includes receiving user configuration data at a remote portal of the hosted communications system, the configuration data including the account enable data and user data describing properties of each of a plurality of users in the premises based communications system including at least one user group to which a subset of the users belongs. The method also includes providing enablement data to the premises based communications system via the portal to identify which resources in the multi-tenant hosted system are enabled for the plurality of users in the premises based communications system based on the user configuration data. Changes in the enablement data further can be synchronized based on changes in the user configuration data received from the premises based communications system via the portal. |
| US09774493B2 |
Retention of a sub-network connection home path
A network element, in a control plane enabled network, configured to retain a connection's home path while the connection is on an alternate path includes interfaces communicatively coupled to the network to form one or more links; circuitry communicatively coupled to the interfaces, wherein the circuitry is configured to route one or more connections which originate on the network element to the one or more links via the interfaces, wherein each of the one or more connections has an associated home path, and for a connection of the one of more connections which is not on its associated home path, reserve bandwidth for the connection through the control plane on the associated home path. |
| US09774492B2 |
Message passing to assure deletion of label switched path
A label switched path through a network of nodes, is torn down by sending a message along the path from an ingress node. If there is a fault along the path, a path error message (2) is sent back along the path to the ingress node. The ingress node uses a different route bypassing the fault to alert (3) a further one of the nodes (NE5, NE6) on that path beyond the indicated fault, to cause that further node to continue the tearing down for other nodes on that path beyond the indicated fault by sending a further message (4) along the portion of the path beyond the indicated fault, to indicate to the other nodes to continue the tear down. This enables the ingress node to clean up the rest of the path beyond the fault, to avoid leaving unused capacity unavailable for reuse, and to avoid time consuming manual clean up. |
| US09774491B2 |
Jamming detection method and device
Jamming detection device (7) and method, which scan one or more frequency bands (201, 401, 402) and, if jamming is detected in said frequency bands (201, 401, 402), transmits an alarm signal through an ultra narrow band network (8). Preferably, both an ISM network (2) connecting a control panel (3) and at least one peripheral (1), and a GSM network (4) connecting the control panel (3) and a back end service (5), are scanned. Also preferably, the ultra narrow band network (8) is implemented over the same frequency band (801) as the ISM network (2) connecting the control panel (3) and the least one peripheral (1). |
| US09774490B2 |
Alarm indication and suppression (AIS) mechanism in an ethernet OAM network
A system and method for propagating fault information in an Ethernet OAM network having multiple levels of OAM domains. An Alarm Indication and Suppression (AIS) frame is generated by a Maintenance Intermediate Point (MIP) node upon detecting a fault condition in a first OAM domain, which is transmitted to one or more Maintenance End Points (MEPs) of the first OAM domain. Upon receiving the AIS frames, the MEP nodes are operable generate another AIS frame for propagating to an adjacent higher level second OAM domain. Responsive to the AIS frame from the lower level first OAM domain, any alarms caused in the second OAM domain due to the fault condition in the first OAM domain are suppressed. |
| US09774489B1 |
Allocating computing resources according to reserved capacity
Disclosed are various embodiments for allocating computing resources according to reserved capacity. In one or more computing devices, a reserved machine instance is designated for a user in one of several zones of multiple networked computing devices. The networked computing devices include multiple machine instances in each of the zones. A request is obtained from the user to allocate a machine instance within the networked computing devices. A zone is selected for allocating the machine instance from the zones based at least in part on the zone that is associated with the reserved machine instance. |
| US09774487B2 |
Duplicate IP address detection by a DHCP relay agent
Techniques are described for detecting duplicate IP addresses at a DHCP relay agent. Embodiments identify a list of DHCP clients that have valid IP address leases from one or more DHCP servers. Additionally, network traffic from a first node passing through the DHCP relay agent is monitored. Embodiments then determine whether the first node is using a duplicate IP address, based on the monitored network traffic and the identified list of DHCP clients. |
| US09774482B2 |
High efficiency signal field enhancement
This disclosure describes methods, apparatus, and systems related to high efficiency signal field enhancement. A device may determine a wireless communication channel with a first device in accordance with a wireless communication standard. The device may generate a high efficiency preamble in accordance with a high efficiency communication standard, the high efficiency preamble including, at least in part, one or more legacy signal fields, one or more high efficiency signal fields, and one or more training fields. The device may determine one or more indication bits included in at least one of the one or more legacy fields. The device may determine a repetition pattern of at least one of the one or more high efficiency signal fields based at least in part, on the one or more indication bits. The device may cause to send the high efficiency preamble to the first device over the wireless communication channel. |
| US09774481B2 |
Systems and methods for transmitting pilot tones
Systems and methods for using travelling pilots for channel estimation are described herein. In one aspect, wireless communications apparatus is described that comprises a processor configured to divide a plurality of tones on which pilot signals are to be transmitted among a plurality of symbols, wherein each symbol includes less than all of the plurality of tones and the plurality of symbols includes at least a subset of the plurality of tones. The wireless communication apparatus further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit, during a given symbol, pilot signals on the tones included in the given symbol, wherein the tones over which the pilot signals are transmitted are changed from symbol to symbol. |
| US09774475B2 |
Mechanism to transmit text messages using ring time
A sender telephone receives a text message to send to a receiver telephone. The sender telephone determines the transmission delay time by sending a predetermined message to receiver telephone, based on the time it receives an address complete message and a release message. The sender telephone determines a constant value that is greater than the transmission delay time and in response to the determining the constant value, ringing the receiver telephone to transmit the received inputted text message. A receiver telephone receives a predetermined message from a caller telephone to determine a transmission delay time, based on the time it receives the address complete message and a release message. The receiver telephone determines a constant value that is greater than the transmission delay time. The receiver telephone receives incoming rings from the caller telephone and converts the received rings into a text message to be displayed. |
| US09774473B2 |
System and method for identifying communication between virtual servers
A server, includes a virtual machine identifier assigning section to assign an identifier of a virtual machine operating on the server; and a network interface to transmit a packet including a Layer 2 header information which includes the identifier of the virtual machine and a first packet field for a VLAN-Tag, wherein the network interface transmits the packet to a packet encapsulate section which encapsulates a second packet field including the Layer 2 header information with a virtual network identifier representing a virtual network to which the virtual machine belongs. |
| US09774472B2 |
Network for transmitting information with at least two loops
This transmission network for transmitting information, of the type comprising at least two associated loops (2, 3) for transmitting information, in each of which functional nodes (4, 5) are integrated, each comprising at least one distribution module for distributing messages (6, 7) between the input and output ports of the node and at least one network interface module (8, 9) associated with this distribution module, is characterized in that the network interface modules (8, 9) of at least certain of the nodes of at least one of the loops (2, 3) are connected to the distribution modules (6, 7) for distributing the nodes of at least one other loop. |
| US09774463B2 |
Optimizing user experiences of web conferences that send data with source-specific multicast and automatic multicast tunneling
Techniques are presented herein for a multicast server to group receivers, or user devices, with other receivers having similar characteristics, so that the group can be paired with source-specific multicast channel that is optimized specifically for the receivers of the group. The server receives information regarding hardware and network capabilities from each of the user devices. The server then groups the user devices according to their information, where each group contains user devices having hardware and network information that is similar to one another. The server then receives, at random intervals, network reports that are generated by at least one user device from at least one of the groups, where the network reports include information related to the network performance experienced by a user device. The server then adjusts the SSM channel associated with the group of user devices based on the information in the network report. |
| US09774458B2 |
Method for transporting Ethernet and non-Ethernet traffic over the same medium
Network elements within a network are configured to transport Ethernet traffic and non-Ethernet traffic over a same medium. The network elements can generate and process multi-frames that include the Ethernet traffic and non-Ethernet traffic. Each of the plurality of group slots includes a first set of bytes allocated to carry the non-Ethernet traffic and a second set of bytes allocated to carry the Ethernet traffic. At least one group slot of the plurality of group slots includes a timestamp, and the network elements are further configured to use the timestamp to reconstruct the original spacing between packets of the Ethernet traffic. |
| US09774455B2 |
RFID secure authentication
Authentication systems and methods for a population of devices each associated with an RFID tag are described. For each device, a secret key is combined cryptographically with a publicly-readable unique identifier (UID) of an RFID tag to obtain a unique authorization signature. The RFID tag is prepared utilizing the unique authorization signature as memory-access and/or tag-operation password(s). The systems and methods may safeguard against attacks whereby compromise of a single tag will not compromise the entire population of devices and may reduce or eliminate the use of inappropriate surgical devices during a surgical procedure. |
| US09774450B2 |
Network-based service content protection
Network-based service content protection techniques are described. In one or more implementations, content is edited locally by a computing device. The edited content is automatically encrypted without any user intervention by the computing device using an encryption credential, e.g., encryption key or other secret. The automatic encryption is performed responsive to a request to store the content at a network-based service provider such that the encrypted content can only be decrypted and accessed with the encryption credential and the encrypted content is uploaded to the network-based service provider. |
| US09774449B2 |
Systems and methods for distributing and securing data
A robust computational secret sharing scheme that provides for the efficient distribution and subsequent recovery of a private data is disclosed. A cryptographic key may be randomly generated and then shared using a secret sharing algorithm to generate a collection of key shares. The private data may be encrypted using the key, resulting in a ciphertext. The ciphertext may then be broken into ciphertext fragments using an Information Dispersal Algorithm. Each key share and a corresponding ciphertext. Fragment are provided as input to a committal method of a probabilistic commitment scheme, resulting in a committal value and a decommittal value. The share for the robust computational secret sharing scheme may be obtained by combining the key share, the ciphertext fragment, the decommittal value, and the vector of committal values. |
| US09774447B2 |
Online identification and authentication
Systems and methods may provide for online identification and authentication. In one example, the method may include generating a credential to represent a relationship based on a common ground of authenticated communication between a first user and a second user, identifying the second user to the first user, authenticating the relationship of the second user to the first user, and initiating, upon authentication, a communication between the first user and the second user. |
| US09774445B1 |
Host based rekeying
A system and method for re-keying ciphertext on a storage system is resident on a host/client communicating with a storage system. The generation of encryption keys and tracking which storage system blocks are encrypted with what keys remain with the security appliance or storage system, but the policy governing re-keying and initiating actions in accordance with that policy reside with the client/host. |
| US09774442B2 |
Communication device
A communication device includes: a plurality of sensors, each of which includes at least one sensor element that detects information relating to a single detection target and an output circuit that generates an output signal based on a detection signal of the sensor element and transmits the output signal; and a controller that acquires the output signal. One of the sensors transmits the output signal to the controller at an output timing that is shifted, by a predetermined period shorter than a length of one period of the output signal, from another output timing when another one of the sensors transmits the output signal. |
| US09774440B2 |
Systems and methods for real-time operation of software radio frequency canceller
A full-duplex RF communication system and corresponding methods use digital adaptive filters for interference cancellation. As provided, the techniques allow full-duplex radio frequency communication without frequency-, time-, or code-division multiplexing and without the use of hardware RF cancellers, in real-time. Such techniques may be useful for wireless communication, such a cellular communication, radio communication, broadcasting, short-range point-to-point communication, wireless sensor networks, and wireless computer networks. |
| US09774439B2 |
Duplex operation in a cellular communication system
A cellular communication system comprises a first base station serving at least a first user equipment. The base station comprises functionality for transmitting a base station duplex capability message to user equipments using a transmission format which is common to a plurality of duplex modes. A first user equipment comprises a transceiver which receives the base station duplex capability message. A RACH characteristics processor determines at least one transmit characteristic for an access message in response to the base station duplex capability message and a RACH transmit controller controls the transmission of an access message to the first base station in response to the at least one transmit characteristic. |
| US09774436B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for selective interference coordination in a cellular protocol
A user equipment (UE) can reserve shared spectrum between two wireless protocols upon the request from a tower. For example, an enhanced node B (eNB or eNodeB) transmits a message to associated UEs including a set of candidate UEs, a length of time to reserve, and a frequency band to use. UEs perform medium sensing on the specified spectrum if a UE finds its identifier in the set of candidate UEs. Candidate UEs transmit a clear to send (CTS) message with channel reservation information if the medium is idle. A result of the success or failure of the CTS transmission attempt is sent back to the eNB. Upon receiving the feedback information from the UEs, the eNB starts sending data to those UEs that sent the positive feedback on the channel reservation. |
| US09774435B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for transmitting and receiving information of an uncoded channel in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system
A method apparatus and system for efficiently transmitting and receiving channels are provided in a wireless communication system based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). A multiplexing scheme differs according to a channel when a transmitter transmits a packet data channel, a common control channel and a control channel designated for a particular user. Uncoded 1-bit information is broadly dispersed in frequency and time domains using multiplexing technology for maximizing diversity in a channel for transmitting information of at least one bit to a particular user like an acknowledgement (ACK) channel. The transmitter converts a sequence obtained by multiplexing multiple bits to be transmitted to a plurality of users to parallel signals, and broadly disperses the parallel signals in the time and frequency domains. When the uncoded 1-bit information is transmitted, reception reliability is improved because channel coding and transmission are efficiently performed using a small amount of resources. |
| US09774432B2 |
Interference measurement method, base station and user equipment
Embodiments of the present invention provide an interference measurement method, a base station, and a user equipment. The method includes: determining, by a user equipment, a first resource for interference measurement in a first subframe or determining a second resource not for interference measurement in the first subframe according to at least one of the zero-power CSI-RS configuration information, the non-zero power CSI-RS configuration information, and the CSI-IM configuration information; and performing interference measurement on the first resource, or performing no interference measurement on the second resource. The embodiments of the present invention can improve precision of interference measurement. |
| US09774429B2 |
Techniques for transmitting positioning reference signals in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band
Techniques are described for wireless communication. In one method, a positioning reference signal (PRS) may be generated. The PRS may be configured in at least one downlink subframe among a plurality of downlink subframes. The PRS may be transmitted in the at least one downlink subframe using an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. |
| US09774421B2 |
Network throughput using multiple reed-solomon blocks
Embodiments of methods and systems are presented for handling PHY frames with multiple Reed-Solomon encoded blocks in PLC networks. A PHY frame is receive from a PLC device, the PHY frame comprising two or more Reed-Solomon encoded blocks. A first Reed-Solomon encoded block comprises a media access control (MAC) header. The first Reed-Solomon encoded block is decoded. An error-detection check is performed on the first decoded Reed-Solomon encoded block. |
| US09774420B1 |
Reed-solomon coding for 40GBASE-T ethernet
A BASE-T Ethernet transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver includes a BASE-T Ethernet transmit circuit that employs a data framing module. The data framing module includes an input interface to receive Ethernet block data bits, and logic to aggregate the Ethernet block data bits in accordance with a 512/513B code. A forward error correction encoder is coupled to the logic to encode at least a first portion of the data bits to generate first error check bits. A Reed-Solomon (RS) encoder is coupled to the logic to encode at least a second portion of the data bits in accordance with a Reed-Solomon error code to generate second error check bits. |
| US09774419B2 |
Inband spurious detection and processing within communication systems
A communication device receives a transmitted signal from another communication device. This transmitted signal is generated within the another communication device based on predetermined digital data. The communication device then generates a first reference signal based on a copy of the predetermined digital data and subtracts the first reference signal from the transmitted signal to generate a first residual signal. The communication device then identifies at least one adaptation parameter based on the first residual signal and adapts the first reference signal using the at least one adaptation parameter to generate a second reference signal so that a first characteristic of the transmitted signal and a second characteristic of the second reference signal are approximately equal. The communication device then subtracts the second reference signal from the transmitted signal to generate a second residual signal processes the second residual signal to characterize inband spurious emission within the transmitted signal. |
| US09774417B2 |
Polarization splitting multiplexing device, optical system, and display unit
An optical system is provided including a light source configured to emit a light; and a polarizing splitting multiplexing device including a first prism configured to split the light into two polarized light beams having different optical path lengths, and a second prism configured to combine the two polarized light beams. The first prism includes a first reflective surface and a first polarization splitting surface facing the first reflective surface, and the second prism includes a second reflective surface and a second polarization splitting surface facing the second reflective surface. |
| US09774413B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system, and communication controlling method to synchronize clock process
Techniques for synchronizing a clock of a first apparatus and a clock of a second apparatus in communication with the first apparatus via a network. The techniques include communicating first data between the first apparatus and second apparatus via a network, communicating, while at least a portion of the first data is being communicated via the network, a synchronization packet between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and communicating second data between the first apparatus and the second apparatus after synchronization between the first apparatus and the second apparatus has been established. |
| US09774409B1 |
Radio frequency shielded robotic telecommunication device testing platform
An RF shield for enclosing a robotic tester unit while testing mobile devices. In some embodiments, the RF shield includes at least two conductive RF shield layers separated by an insulator material. In some embodiments, an inner surface of the RF shield is further lined with a RF absorbing material to absorb EM radiation generated within the RF Shield enclosure. In some embodiments, the internal components required for testing, e.g. the robot, are powered via a power conditioner that removes from the power source frequencies above a threshold, e.g. 100 Hz, to eliminate RF signals absorbed into the power lines via radio towers and/or intentionally induced into the power lines to control power equipment. |
| US09774408B2 |
Mobile communication terminal test device and a test anaylsis unit therefor
A mobile communication terminal test device communicates with a mobile communication terminal to perform a test operation. The test device includes a test analysis unit responsive to a user-selected test from a data store, the test analysis unit determining an execution path of each of a plurality of test operations in the test log corresponding to the user-selected test scenario and comparing the execution path of each of a plurality of test operations to the plurality of execution paths of the user-selected test, and displays a screen comparing the execution path of each of a plurality of test operations to the plurality of execution paths of the user-selected test on a display unit. |
| US09774407B2 |
Apparatus and method for non-determinative testing using unscripted communications between a network simulator and an equipment under test
A test apparatus is configured to perform non-determinative testing of equipment. The test apparatus comprises a test computer arranged to automatically execute a non determinative test regime under the control of a test application. A network simulator connected to the test computer is provided with communication circuitry operable to communicate with the equipment under test. The network simulator is configurable into different network states according to the non-determinative test regime, and the test application is operable to control the network simulator to transition between a plurality of different network states. Data about unscripted communications between the network simulator and the equipment under test is monitored and can be analyzed to reach a test verdict. |
| US09774402B2 |
Multi-channel optical communications integrated circuit chip having an improved layout for use in multi-channel optical transmitters, receivers and transceivers
Each channel of a high speed multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip layout is partitioned into at least first and second channel portions that are electrically interconnected with one another. Each first channel portion has an end that is located on an optical interface side of the multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip. Each second channel portion has an end that is located on an electrical interface side of the multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip. The pitch between the first channel portions is very fine and matches the pitch between optoelectronic elements of an optoelectronic array chip that interfaces with the optical interface side of the multi-channel transmitter or receiver IC chip. The pitch between the second channel portions is significantly greater than the pitch between the first channel portions to prevent cross talk. |
| US09774400B2 |
Method and apparatus for low-complexity quasi-reduced state soft-output equalizer
Quasi-reduced state trellis equalization techniques achieve low-latency inter-symbol interference (ISI) equalization by selecting a subset of accumulated path metrics (APMs) for a leading symbol to propagate over a trellis to candidate states of a trailing symbol. This simplifies the computation of APMs for candidate states of the trailing symbol. Thereafter, APMs for candidate states of the trailing symbol are computed based on the subset of APMs for the leading symbol that were propagated over the trellis. Propagating fewer than all APMs for the leading symbol to the trailing symbol reduces the complexity of APM computation at the trailing symbol. |
| US09774395B1 |
Space optical communications using laser beams
A system for communicating between an object in space and a ground station, between objects in space, or between ground stations, includes a telecentric lens. Photodetectors positioned upon a focal plane of the telecentric lens detect an inbound light beam, received from a source, that has passed through the telecentric lens to the focal plane. Lasers positioned upon the focal plane transmit light beams from the focal plane through the telecentric lens to an area that includes the source of the inbound light beam. A processor detect signals from individual photodetectors corresponding to light detected, and selectively signals individual lasers that are close to those photodetectors, resulting in a returning beam that arrives close to the source, and which carries encoded data. |
| US09774389B2 |
Dynamic link repair from lane failure with minimal link down-time while sparing fault channels
Computer program product and apparatus for repairing a communication link failure. In certain embodiments, the apparatus generally includes a controller configured to initialize the communication link for communication with another apparatus using an initial number of channels of a plurality of channels. The apparatus may also include a plurality of multiplexers configured to selectively couple a plurality of communication lanes with the plurality of channels of the communication link. In certain embodiments, during an initial state, a first lane of the plurality of lanes may be coupled with a first channel of the plurality of channels, and the plurality of channels may include a spare channel. The controller may determine whether at least one channel of the plurality of channels is experiencing a failure and control at least one of the multiplexers such that the failed channel is replaced by another channel of the plurality of channels by using the spare channel. |
| US09774388B2 |
Transmission line protection using traveling waves in optical ground wire fiber
Disclosed herein are systems for detecting a location of a fault on an electric power transmission line using a state-of-polarization traveling wave in an optical ground wire. Various embodiments may also detect a traveling wave on a conductor of the transmission system. The arrival times of the state-of-polarization traveling wave and the electrical traveling wave may be compared. Using the difference in times and the known propagation velocities of the traveling waves, a distance to the fault may be calculated. Arrival time of the state-of-polarization traveling wave may be calculated using electrical signals from photodetectors in an optical channel with polarizing filters at different orientations or reference frames. |
| US09774387B2 |
Protection for optical transport network with dual homed attachment circuits
For protecting traffic on paths extending from a source client entity (CE1) to a destination client entity (CE2) via an optical transport network and attachment circuits at ingress (A,B) and egress (C,D) nodes, there are multiple paths within the OTN network, and the attachment circuits are dual homed. By sending (120) an indication of operational status of the dual homed attachment circuits within overhead associated with the traffic and sent with the traffic through the network, a selection can be made (130) of which of the provided paths and attachment circuits to use for the traffic, based on the indicated operational status, and on OTN fault detection, to protect against a fault in the attachment circuit or in the OTN network. Thus protection can extend across the edge nodes without the complexity and delays involved in interworking of separate protection schemes and without a control plane. |
| US09774385B2 |
Layer-2 connectivity from switch to access node/gateway
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for providing layer-2 connectivity through a non-routed ground segment network, are described. A system includes a non-autonomous gateway in communication with a satellite configured to relay data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is configured to receive the data packets from the satellite at layer-1 (LI) of the OSI-model, generate a plurality of virtual tagging tuples within the layer-2 packet headers of the plurality of data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is further configured to transmit, at layer-2 (L2) of the OSI-model, the virtually tagged data packets. Each of the packets may include a virtual tagging tuple and an entity destination. The system further includes a L2 switch in communication with the non-autonomous gateway. The L2 switch may be configured to receive the data packets and transmit the data packets to the entity based on the virtual tuples associated with each of the data packets. |
| US09774382B2 |
Integrated wafer scale, high data rate, wireless repeater placed on fixed or mobile elevated platforms
Methods and systems are provided for relocatable repeaters for wireless communication links to locations that may present accessibility problems using, for example, small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). An sUAS implemented as an easy-to-operate, small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with hovering capability for holding station position may provide an extended range, highly secure, high data rate, repeater system for extending the range of point-to-point wireless communication links (also referred to as “crosslinks”) in which repeater locations are easily relocatable with very fast set-up and relocating times. A repeater system using beam forming and power combining techniques enables a very high gain antenna array with very narrow beam width and superb pointing accuracy. The aircraft includes a control system enabling three-dimensional pointing and sustaining directivity of the beam independently of flight path of the aircraft. |
| US09774380B2 |
Repeating method of wireless repeating device, and wireless repeating device
The present invention is applicable to the field of communications technologies, and provides a repeating method of a wireless repeating device and a wireless repeating device. The method includes the following steps: synchronizing network connection information of an upstream AP to a downstream WLAN AP interface of the wireless repeating device; obtaining, according to the downstream WLAN AP interface corresponding to the synchronized upstream AP, downstream wireless STA MAC address information, and establishing an upstream WLAN Client interface which is in a mapping relationship with an STA MAC address; and performing, according to the mapping relationship between the STA MAC address and the established upstream WLAN Client interface, management on data forwarded between the upstream AP and a downstream wireless STA. |
| US09774377B2 |
Method and device for rank adaptation
One of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a method for rank adaptation at a base station. The method comprises performing, during a rank sounding time interval, data transmission for a user equipment by using a sounding rank. The sounding rank is different from a transmission rank that is used in a transmission time interval immediately prior to the rank sounding time interval. The method further comprises determining whether spectrum efficiency for the user equipment under the condition of using the sounding rank is better than spectrum efficiency under the condition of using the transmission rank; and adjusting, in response to a positive result obtained from the determining step, the transmission rank to the sounding rank so as to be used during a transmission time interval immediately next to the rank sounding time interval. The present invention also relates to corresponding base station device. |
| US09774374B2 |
Selection of transmission parameters for transmit diversity terminals
Disclosed herein are system and method embodiments for selection of transmission parameters for transmit diversity terminals. According to an aspect, a method for controlling wireless receive/transmit unit transmission parameters may include configuring a WRTU to transmit dual stream when a first stream is using a predetermined transport format (TF) or subset of the TF. The method may also include applying the configuration to the WRTU. |
| US09774366B2 |
Interference mitigation
A communication device for communicating with a plurality of terminals using a frequency hopping sequence, the communication device being configured to determine that one of the plurality of terminals is subject to interference on a frequency in the frequency hopping sequence and to, in response to that determination, schedule communication with that terminal to avoid that frequency. |
| US09774365B2 |
Transceiver front-end
A transceiver front-end for a communication device is connectable at a signal transmission and reception arrangement node to a signal transmission and reception arrangement adapted to transmit a transmit signal having a transmit frequency and to receive a receive signal having a receive frequency. The transceiver front-end is also connectable at a transmitter node to a transmitter adapted to produce the transmit signal and at a receiver node to a receiver adapted to process the receive signal. The transceiver front-end comprises a transformer, wherein the transmitter node is connected to a first node of a first side of the transformer, the receiver node is connected to a first node of a second side of the transformer, and the signal transmission and reception arrangement node is connected to a second node of the first side of the transformer and to a second node of the second side of the transformer. The transceiver front-end also comprises a first tunable capacitance connected between the transmitter node and the receiver node, and a second tunable capacitance connected between the signal transmission and reception arrangement node and a signal reference level. Corresponding transceiver, communication device and method are also disclosed. |
| US09774363B1 |
Gain calibration for digitally controlled oscillator in fast locking phase locked loops
An apparatus of a mobile device may calibrate RF circuitry for mobile communications. The apparatus may include phase locked loop (PLL) comprising a digital controlled oscillator (DCO) and one or more processors coupled to the PLL. The one or more processors may determine a coarse tuning setting for the DCO based on a target frequency of a wireless channel; and calculate, a DCO gain value for the coarse tuning setting based on a calibration DCO gain value for a calibration coarse tuning setting. |
| US09774362B1 |
Adaptive antenna tuning based on a sensed characteristic
A user device obtains sensor data from sensors included in the user device. A set of current state information is determined based on the sensor data. A tuner code associated with the current state information is identified. Tuning values associated with the tuner code are varied during a training stage to determine an optimized tuner code. One or more antennae of the user device are tuned for communication in accordance with the optimized tuner code. |
| US09774360B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal allowing at least part of a display unit to be bent or flexed. A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display unit configured to operate in either a first configuration or a second configuration having different radii of curvature, and a controller configured to switch the display unit from the first configuration to the second configuration based on a call being connected in the first configuration. |
| US09774359B2 |
Card holding member and card connector
The card holding member is able to hold a card including terminal members and is able to be inserted into a card connector, and comprises a frame portion opposing the side surfaces of the card, and a movable lock portion arranged in the frame portion which is able to engage and disengage from a lock portion of the card connector, the movable lock portion being a spring member made of a metal plate and including at least one corner portion, and the movable lock portion also being elastically deformable in the width direction of the card holding member. |
| US09774357B2 |
Multi-channel array distortion compensation apparatus and method
The present invention provides a multi-channel array distortion compensation apparatus and method. The apparatus determines, according to a status of a first indication signal, whether to trigger a signal compensation operation; determines, according to a status of a second indication signal, a first adjustment condition is met, compares power of a received signal with a power threshold, and if the power of the received signal is greater than the threshold power, compensates the received signal according to a first adjustment factor; and if the status of the second indication signal does not meet the first adjustment condition, determines the status of the second indication signal meets a second adjustment condition, performs auxiliary compensation according to a second adjustment factor. By compensating signal distortion caused by chip stacking for a received signal, this reduces costs for implementing a multi-channel array system without the need to increase system complexity. |
| US09774354B2 |
Generation of correlated finite alphabet waveforms using Gaussian random variables
Various examples of methods and systems are provided for generation of correlated finite alphabet waveforms using Gaussian random variables in, e.g., radar and communication applications. In one example, a method includes mapping an input signal comprising Gaussian random variables (RVs) onto finite-alphabet non-constant-envelope (FANCE) symbols using a predetermined mapping function, and transmitting FANCE waveforms through a uniform linear array of antenna elements to obtain a corresponding beampattern. The FANCE waveforms can be based upon the mapping of the Gaussian RVs onto the FANCE symbols. In another example, a system includes a memory unit that can store a plurality of digital bit streams corresponding to FANCE symbols and a front end unit that can transmit FANCE waveforms through a uniform linear array of antenna elements to obtain a corresponding beampattern. The system can include a processing unit that can encode the input signal and/or determine the mapping function. |
| US09774351B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding information units in code word sequences avoiding reverse complementarity
A method (100) and an apparatus (200) for encoding information in codeword sequences are described which help avoid synthesizing reverse complementary nucleotide sequences, making them suitable for synthesizing nucleic acid strands. Multiple codes are provided (102), consisting of a same amount of corresponding code words. No word belongs to more than one code. Each code could completely encode all information units which are encoded using code word sequences generated from the codes. Generating (105) a sequence comprises: selecting (106), from code words of a code, a next code word to be appended to the sequence; appending (108) the next code word if a concatenation of the sequence and the next code word does not contain a reverse complementary of any code symbol sequence that at least partly contains the next code word; and otherwise (109) selecting a corresponding next code word from a different code and repeating the appending. |
| US09774349B2 |
Optimized code table signaling for authentication to a network and information system
In various embodiments, a system comprising a network interface, a processor, and a non-transient memory medium operatively coupled to the processor is disclosed. The memory medium is configured to store a plurality of instructions configured to program the processor to receive a digital bit stream, transform the digital bit stream to an encoded digital bit stream. The encoded digital bit stream comprises at least one of a gateway channel, a composite channel, or a data channel, and any combination thereof, and provides the encoded digital bit stream to the network interface for transmission. A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium and a computer-implemented method also are disclosed. |
| US09774347B2 |
Reconfigurable analog-to-digital converter, image sensor and mobile device including the same
An image sensor includes a pixel array, a controller, and a plurality of analog-to-digital converters. The pixel array includes a plurality of pixels coupled to column lines, respectively, and the plurality of pixels are configured to sense incident lights to generate analog signals through the column lines. The controller generate a conversion control signal that is configurable based on changes of at least one operational condition. The plurality of analog-to-digital converters are coupled to the column lines, respectively. The plurality of analog-to-digital converters perform a delta-sigma modulation and a digital filtering to convert the analog signals to digital signals. The plurality of analog-to-digital converters adjust a conversion gain internally in response to the conversion control signal. |
| US09774344B2 |
Continuous-time analog-to-digital converter
A converter may include multiple converter stages connected in series. Each converter stage may receive a clock signal and an analog input signal, and may generate an analog output signal and a digital output signal. Each converter stages may include an encoder generating the digital output signal, a decoder generating a reconstructed signal, a delaying converter generating a delayed signal, and an amplifier generating a residue signal, wherein the delayed signal may be a continuous current signal. |
| US09774343B1 |
Method and apparatus for improving the resolution of digitally sampled analog data
A system and method is described for converting an analog signal into a digital signal. The gain and offset of an ADC is dynamically adjusted so that the N-bits of input data are assigned to a narrower channel instead of the entire input range of the ADC. This provides greater resolution in the range of interest without generating longer digital data strings. |
| US09774341B1 |
Dynamic triggering and sampling engine (DTSE) for low-latency and cost effective control systems
A Dynamic Triggering and Sample Engine (DTSE) that detects a first trigger received on a trigger input terminal that triggers a series of analog-to-digital conversions to be completed by an analog-to-digital converter circuit. The DTSE then determines a first sequence configuration stored in a sequence configuration table that is associated with the first trigger, causes a first analog-to-digital conversion to be performed using the first sequence configuration; causes a first analog-to-digital conversion result value to be stored in a sequence result table; and outputs an interrupt to a processor indicating that the first analog-to-digital conversion result value is available in the sequence result table. The interrupt is output from the DTSE before all remaining analog-to-digital conversions in the series are completed. In response to receiving the interrupt, the processor reads the analog-to-digital result value from the sequence result table via a bus. |
| US09774332B2 |
Double data rate counter, and analog-to-digital converter and CMOS image sensor using the same
A Double Data Rate (DDR) counter includes an input clock control portion suitable for generating a first clock corresponding to a state of a input clock based on a counter enable signal, and an LSB control portion suitable for holding a least significant bit based on the counter enable signal and successively performing a counting operation on the first clock in multiple sections. |
| US09774328B2 |
Semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device may include a data output circuit and control signal output circuit. The data output circuit may convert a first input signal and a second input signal sequentially inputted thereto into output data and may compare the first and second input signals with a storage datum to generate a first comparison signal and a second comparison signal. The control signal output circuit may detect logic levels of bits included in the first and second comparison signals to generate a first detection signal and a second detection signal, may generate a first flag signal and a second flag signal from the first and second detection signals in response to a storage flag signal, and may sequentially output the first and second flag signals as transmission control signals. |
| US09774325B2 |
Gate driver and display device including the same
A gate driver and a display device including the gate driver are provided which can prevent an abnormal output of a gate-high voltage from a stage by stably maintaining a discharge potential of a pull-up node. The gate driver includes a plurality of stages, and each stage includes a pull-up transistor that outputs a clock signal input to a first clock terminal to an output terminal depending on a voltage of a pull-up node; a pull-down transistor that outputs a first source voltage input to a first source voltage terminal to the output terminal depending on a voltage of a pull-down node; and a first noise removing unit that supplies a gate-off voltage to the pull-up node to remove noise of the pull-up node in response to the clock signal input to the first clock terminal. |
| US09774322B1 |
Gate driver for depletion-mode transistors
The present disclosure presents a circuit, a method, and a system to drive a half-bridge switch using depletion (D) mode compound semiconductor (III-V) switching transistors for a DC-DC converter using at least one driver to drive the switches of the circuit. Also included is at least one charge pump electrically connected to a gate of the transistor, to maintain a voltage that holds the transistor in an off-state. The circuit includes AC coupling capacitors to level shift a voltage and realize fast transistor switching. |
| US09774321B1 |
One-direction conduction devices
A one-direction conduction device includes a first transistor and a driving circuit. The first transistor has a control terminal coupled to a first node, and input and output terminals respectively coupled to input and output electrode terminals of the one-direction conduction device. In the driving circuit, a switch circuit is coupled to the input electrode terminal and a second node. A second transistor has a base and a collector both coupled to a third node, and an emitter coupled to the second node. A first resistor is coupled to the third node and ground. A third transistor has a base coupled to the third node, an emitter coupled to the output electrode terminal, and a collector coupled to the first node. The second resistor is coupled between the first node and the ground. The switch circuit breaks off a reverse leakage current path of the one-direction conduction device. |
| US09774320B2 |
Electronic drive circuit
An electronic circuit includes an input configured to receive an input signal and an output configured to be coupled to load, an output transistor including a load path and a control node, the load path being connected between the output and a first supply node, a drive transistor including a load path and a control node, the load path being connected to the control node of the output transistor, a first electronic switch connected in series with the load path of the drive transistor, a biasing circuit including an internal impedance and connected between the control node of the drive transistor and the first supply node, and a control circuit configured to receive the input signal and to drive the first electronic switch based on the input signal. |
| US09774319B2 |
Phase detection circuit
A phase detection circuit includes a sampling signal generation circuit configured to generate a plurality of sampling signals in response to a plurality of phase change clocks having different phases and data; a charging voltage generation circuit configured to compare the plurality of sampling signals, and change a voltage level of one charging voltage between a first charging voltage and a second charging voltage; and a comparison circuit configured to compare voltage levels of the first and second charging voltages, and generate a result signal. |
| US09774317B1 |
Bistable-element for random number generation
A bistable cell includes a pair of inverters and multiple pairs of cross-coupled tristate buffers. Each pair of tristate buffers can be individually selected to implement an entropy harvesting state for the bistable cell. Each of the tristate buffers generally has lower strength than the inverters but the inverter-to-buffer strength ratio can be configured through selective use of one or more of the tristate buffer pairs. The resulting entropy harvesting state behavior can be varied based on the inverter-to-buffer strength ratio in terms of greater randomness of the output bits or decreased power consumption. |
| US09774312B2 |
Antenna matching apparatus
A high pass filter includes a first end connected to a first terminal and is a filter that transmits a signal in a first frequency band. A second terminal is connected to a second end of the high pass filter. A first switch includes a first end connected to the second end of the high pass filter. A third terminal is connected to a second end of the first switch. A low pass filter includes a first end connected to the first terminal and is a filter that transmits a signal in a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band. A fourth terminal is connected to a second end of the low pass filter. A second switch includes a first end connected to the second end of the low pass filter. A fifth terminal is connected to the second end of the second switch. |
| US09774309B2 |
Audio control using auditory event detection
In some embodiments, a method for processing an audio signal in an audio processing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving an audio signal and a parameter, the parameter indicating a location of an auditory event boundary. An audio portion between consecutive auditory event boundaries constitutes an auditory event. The method further includes applying a modification to the audio signal based in part on an occurrence of the auditory event. The parameter may be generated by monitoring a characteristic of the audio signal and identifying a change in the characteristic. |
| US09774303B1 |
Low-noise amplifier for intra-band non contiguous carrier agregation
A low noise amplifier (LNA) system for amplifying a plurality of carriers includes a first amplifier circuit that generates a first radio-frequency (RF) output signal by amplifying a first input RF signal corresponding to a first frequency band, the first amplifier circuit having a first input impedance, and a second amplifier circuit that generates a second RF output signal by amplifying the first input RF signal when the system is in a first multi-output mode, a second input impedance of the second amplifier having a first impedance value when the system is in the first multi-output mode. The LNA system further includes a first impedance controller that maintains the second input impedance of the second amplifier circuit at a second impedance value when the apparatus is in a mode other than the first multi-output mode. The second impedance value is substantially the same as the first impedance value. |
| US09774302B1 |
Amplifier circuit with single-ended input and differential outputs
Disclosed is an amplifier circuit having a single-ended input and differential outputs. The differential outputs are achieved using a first output branch and a second output branch, each including a common source FET (CS-FET) and a common gate FET (CG-FET) connected in series between ground and a corresponding out node connected to a load. An input signal is applied to the CS-FET in the first output branch and an intermediate signal at an intermediate node between the CS-FET and the CG-FET in the first output branch is applied to the CS-FET in the second output branch. The CG-FET in the first output branch and the CS-FET in the second output branch are equal in size such that their transconductances are approximately equal, such that currents in the two output branches are inverted and the outputs at the output nodes of the two output branches are differential outputs. |
| US09774298B2 |
High-frequency amplifier
According to one embodiment, a high-frequency amplifier includes an active element and an output matching circuit. The active element is provided on a substrate. The active element is configured to amplify a signal having a frequency band. The active element includes a cell region. The output matching circuit is connected to the active element. The output matching circuit includes a wire, a transmission line and an output terminal. The wire includes an input end and an output end. The input end of the wire is connected to an output part of the cell region of the active element. The transmission line is provided on the substrate. The transmission line includes an input part and an output part. The input part of the transmission line is connected to the output end of the wire. The output terminal is provided on the substrate. |
| US09774297B2 |
Double-balanced field-effect transistor mixer with direct single-ended intermediate frequency outputs
A double-balanced FET mixer may include: single-ended RF port that receives or delivers single-ended RF signal; RF balun that converts the received single-ended RF signal into differential RF signal or generates delivered single-ended RF signal from received differential RF signal; local oscillator input port receives local oscillator signal; direct IF port receives or delivers an IF signal; and at least two FETs process the local oscillator signal and generate or process the differential RF signal and IF signal. The mixer may have no IF balun separate and distinct from tRF balun; may receive an input signal at RF port and generates output signal at IF port. The mixer may receive input signal at IF port and generate an output signal at the RF port, the output signal in either case being plus or minus the local oscillator signal. The double-balanced FET mixer may operate with IF frequencies down to DC. |
| US09774295B2 |
Photoelectric conversion element and photovoltaic cell
A photoelectric conversion element includes a ferroelectric layer; a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a surface or a surface layer portion of the ferroelectric layer; a common electrode provided on a surface or a surface layer portion of an opposite side to a side of the ferroelectric layer on which the first electrode and the second electrode are provided; and a pair of lead-out electrodes extracting electric power from the ferroelectric layer, in which the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged alternately in a predetermined direction. |
| US09774294B2 |
Preventing harmful polarization of solar cells
In one embodiment, harmful solar cell polarization is prevented or minimized by providing a conductive path that bleeds charge from a front side of a solar cell to the bulk of a wafer. The conductive path may include patterned holes in a dielectric passivation layer, a conductive anti-reflective coating, or layers of conductive material formed on the top or bottom surface of an anti-reflective coating, for example. Harmful solar cell polarization may also be prevented by biasing a region of a solar cell module on the front side of the solar cell. |
| US09774291B2 |
Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof
A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture. |
| US09774289B2 |
Method for driving vibrating motor
A method for driving a vibrating motor is provided in the present disclosure. The method includes the following steps: providing a driving signal to a vibrating motor; detecting a vibration direction of a vibrating unit of the vibrating motor; determining whether the driving signal facilitates vibration of the vibrating unit; and switching a polarity of the driving signal when the driving signal does not facilitate the vibration of the vibrating unit. |
| US09774287B1 |
Modification of stator current for enhanced flux weakening
An electric machine assembly includes an electric machine having a stator configured to have a stator current and a controller configured to receive a torque command (T). The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method of modifying the stator current for enhanced flux weakening. The controller is programmed to obtain a base stator current [IdLU, IqLU] from a look-up table based at least partially on the torque command (T). The controller is programmed to obtain a characteristic angle (θi, i=1, 2, 3) based at least partially on a value of the torque command (T) and the base stator current [IdLU, IqLU]. A stator current modifier [ΔId, ΔIq] is obtained based at least partially on the characteristic angle (θi, i=1, 2, 3) and a flux weakening factor (ΔIS) such that: ΔId=(ΔIS*cosine (θi)) and ΔIq=(ΔIS*sine (θi)). |
| US09774286B2 |
Motor control device
A motor control device includes an electric power converter for generating three-phase voltages based on voltage instruction-values, and for supplying them to a motor; an induced-voltage estimation unit for estimating an induced voltage of the motor, based on the voltage instruction-values and electric current feedback values; a dead-time disturbance-voltage compensation unit; and a dead-time disturbance compensation-voltage modification unit for compensating a dead-time disturbance voltage(s) generated in the electric power converter, based on a fundamental wave component of an estimated induced voltage. |
| US09774285B2 |
Voltage sense control circuit, voltage sense control driving circuit and driving method for permanent magnet synchronous motor
A driving circuit of a PMSM can include: a current sampling circuit that obtains a current sampling signal by sampling a rotor current of one phase of the PMSM; a sliding mode estimating circuit that receives the current sampling signal and a voltage sampling signal that represents a rotor voltage of the phase, estimates a back electromotive force information of the phase, and generates a first voltage signal that represents the back electromotive force information; a speed computing circuit that receives the first voltage signal, and generates an angular velocity signal that represents rotor cycle information; and a PWM control circuit that generates a PWM control signal according to the angular velocity signal, where the PWM control signal controls the turn on/off of switches in a three-phase inverter, to control an operating current of the PMSM to be a sine wave current. |
| US09774283B2 |
Motor driving circuit and method
A motor driving circuit for driving a direct-current (DC) motor, includes a driving circuit for converting an input voltage into a first and a second output voltages, a Hall sensor for generating a first and a second time sequential control signals according to a working condition of the DC motor, a current sensing unit for comparing the motor current to a reference current to generate a comparison result, and a control unit coupled to the driving circuit, the current sensing unit and the Hall sensor for controlling a working status of the driving circuit according to the first and the second time sequential control signals and the comparison result. |
| US09774282B2 |
Method for controlling three-phase brushless DC motor comprising single hall sensor
A method for controlling a three-phase brushless DC motor including a single hall sensor, the method including: A) measuring a deviation angle θ of a mounting position of the single hall sensor and storing; B) starting the motor: outputting six-path PWM signals by the microprocessor to control the operation of the inverter and allowing the single hall sensor to continuously and stably measure a position signal; C) obtaining a rotating angular velocity ω=360°/T in the last 360° electric angle cycle by the microprocessor; D) calculating a real-time position angle α=ωt+θ of a present 360° electric angle cycle by the microprocessor; and E) outputting the six-path PWM signals by the microprocessor to control the operation of the inverter so as to simultaneously energize the three-phase winding (U, V, and W); and switching a current direction of each winding. |
| US09774280B2 |
Monitoring device for an electric machine, control device and method
The present invention discloses a monitoring device for an electric machine, comprising a first detection apparatus which is configured to detect electrical power supplied to the electric machine, comprising a second detection apparatus which is configured to detect theoretical mechanical power output by the electric machine on the basis of a commutation of the electric machine, and comprising a calculation apparatus which, on the basis of the detected electrical power and of the detected theoretical mechanical power, is configured to calculate an efficiency of the electric machine and to emit an error signal if the calculated efficiency is greater than 1. The present invention further discloses a control device for an electric machine and a method for monitoring an electric machine. |
| US09774277B2 |
Energy harvesting
As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and/or method involves a plurality of transducer elements that convert energy waves conveyed via a multi-directional radiation pattern into electrical charge. A power-accumulation circuit accumulates electrical charges from each of the plurality of transducer elements, with each of the transducer elements being arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to an axis at which the energy is being conveyed. The power-accumulation circuit accumulates energy from each of the individual energy-transduction areas, such that energy received at different respective off-axis angles contributes to the accumulation of electrical charge. |
| US09774275B2 |
Systems and methods for space vector pulse width modulation switching using boot-strap charging circuits
Platforms and techniques are provided for controlling a power inverter using space vector pulse width modulation (PWM) operation. The inverter converts a direct voltage (DC) power source to an alternating voltage (AC) output by controlling a set of three phase switches. A bootstrap capacitor is coupled to each switch. When each switch in the set of three phase switches is in a zero state, the coupled bootstrap capacitor can charge from the current delivered in a corresponding pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The bootstrap capacitor can deliver stored power when a one (high) switch state is entered. Each switch can be maintained at a zero state, and thus charge the bootstrap capacitor, for at least two consecutive segments of the PWM cycle. Pre-charging of the bootstrap capacitor is ensured before power delivery is required. |
| US09774270B2 |
Systems and methods of operation for power converters having series-parallel mode active clamps
Systems and methods for operating improved flyback converters are disclosed, in which leakage energy is returned to the input power source rather than to the output load, while still achieving zero voltage switching (i.e., ZVS) operation. In some embodiments, the improved converters may transfer the energy stored in the leakage inductance to a snubber capacitor(s) at the instant of turning off of the control switch. Further, the improved converter embodiments may also retain the stored energy in the snubber capacitor(s) when the power is being delivered to the load by the secondary circuits. The improved converter embodiments may start the transfer of leakage energy stored in the snubber capacitor(s) to the primary winding once the energy stored in the transformer is delivered to the load. Finally, the improved converter embodiments may intelligently control their active clamp switches such that all leakage inductance energy is returned to the input source. |
| US09774268B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing an unregulated dormant mode with an event counter in a power converter
A method for controlling an output of a power converter includes switching a switching element with drive signals that are generated for switching a switching element during normal operation when an energy requirement of one or more loads at the output are above a low-load threshold. A non-regulated dormant mode of operation is entered when the flow of energy to the output is detected to be less than the low-load threshold value for more than a first period of time. The control circuit is powered down when in the non-regulated dormant mode of operation the control circuit is unresponsive to stop regulating the flow of energy to the output of the power converter. The control circuit remains in the non-regulated dormant mode of operation for a second period of time before powering up again to resume generating the drive signal and regulating the flow of energy. |
| US09774266B2 |
Reducing output voltage undershoot in isolated power converters
A power converter controller controls a power stage to produce a regulated voltage at a converter output node, using an input signal. A circuit uses an opto-coupler circuit that has an input node connected to a compensation circuit, to generate the input signal. The compensation circuit has a shunt regulator having an output that is connected to the opto-coupler circuit through series-connected first and second current limiting elements. An input of the shunt regulator is connected to the converter output node. A feedback element has one end connected between the series-connected current limiting elements and another end connected to the input of the regulator. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US09774261B2 |
Protocol for communication between secondary side and primary side of isolated switching power converters
A power converter system comprises a switching power converter having a primary side and a secondary side that are electrically isolated from each other. A first controller on the primary side of the switching power converter controls a switch in the switching power converter on or off at a switching frequency of the switching power converter to regulate an output voltage of the switching power converter. A second controller on the secondary side of the switching power converter encodes information into one or more pulses such that a first duration between the consecutive pulses corresponds to a first logic level and a second duration between the consecutive pulses corresponds to a second logic level, the second duration being greater than the first duration. |
| US09774257B2 |
Control circuit for a switching regulator driving an LED load with controlled PWM dimming
A switching regulator control circuit includes a circuit configured to generate a control signal to control conduction of the regulator switch in response to a reference signal that is ramped to control a rate of change of the regulated output of the regulator and the control signal is gated in response to a PWM signal. |
| US09774250B2 |
Cold start DC/DC converter
A DC/DC converter comprising a first charge pump circuit including first MOS transistors including first depletion MOS transistors, an oscillating circuit connected to the charge pump circuit only at the gates of some at least of the first MOS transistors, including the first depletion MOS transistors. |
| US09774246B2 |
Three-phase current source rectifier for power supplies
A three-phase current source rectifier (CSR) with three AC inputs may include a controller, a free-wheeling diode with a cathode connected to a positive line and an anode connected to a negative line, three pairs of switches connected in parallel between the positive line and the negative line, and six pairs of diodes, each pair of the diodes connected in series. Each two pairs of the diodes may be connected in parallel with each other and in series with a respective pair of switches. Each AC input may be connected to between each of two pairs of the diodes. |
| US09774245B1 |
PFC switching power conversion circuit providing low total harmonic distortion
A PFC switching power conversion circuit providing low THD, including: a bridge rectifier for providing an input voltage according to an AC voltage; an electromagnetic interference filtering circuit for providing a line voltage according to the input voltage; a switching power converter for converting the line voltage to an output voltage or current under a control of a driving voltage, the driving voltage causing a switching current to flow through a main inductor; and a controller for receiving and processing at least one feedback signal from the switching power converter to generate the driving voltage in a constant on-time manner, the controller including an off-time detector and a timer, the off-time detector being used to detect decreasing periods of the switching current to determine respective off-time periods, and the timer being used to set a minimum limit on the respective off-time periods. |
| US09774244B2 |
Power converter configured for limiting switching overvoltage
The present disclosure relates to a power converter configured for limiting switching overvoltage. The power converter comprises a pair of commutation cells. Each commutation cell includes a power electronic switch and a gate driver connected to a gate of the power electronic switch. A reference of the gate driver of a first commutation cell is connected to a ground of the power converter while a reference of the gate driver of a second commutation cell is connected to a collector of the power electronic switch of the first commutation cell. The gate driver of the second commutation cell has no negative voltage power input, either through using a single voltage power supply or by connecting a negative voltage connection of the dual voltage power supply to ground. |
| US09774242B2 |
Phase sequence switching device for three-phase power supply
A phase sequence switching device for a three-phase power supply is disposed in a power feed path from a three-phase power supply to a load and includes a power-supply side relay including two Form C contact relays connected to two phases of the power supply respectively, a load side relay including two Form C contact relays connected between the power-supply side relay and the load, and a switching circuit connected between the power-supply side relay and the load side relay and wired to be capable of switching by a relay action from a standby state where no power is supplied to the load to either a state where the power supply is connected to a positive phase so that power is supplied to the load side or a state where the power supply is connected to a reverse phase so that power is supplied to the load side. |
| US09774239B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing power
Embodiments of the subject invention are drawn to power supply units and systems for supplying power to loads. Specific embodiments relate to systems incorporating the loads. The power supply units and systems can include a feedback mechanism for monitoring the system and maintaining a parameter of interest at or near a desired value (e.g., for maintaining the frequency of operation at or near resonance). The feedback mechanism is configured such that, if the at least one parameter indicates that the frequency of operation is away from a resonant frequency of the power amplifier, the feedback mechanism adjusts the frequency of operation closer to the resonant frequency of the power amplifier. The at least one load can have a variable impedance, though embodiments are not limited thereto. |
| US09774231B2 |
Brush system for an electric motor
A brush system for an electric motor, having a substantially semiannular resistor housing into which an electric flat resistor is introduced, two resistor terminals which protrude from the resistor housing and can be coupled in an electrically conducting manner to a conductor path of the electric motor, and a substantially semi-circular support plate that includes two bus bars to electroconductively couple the conductor path to the terminals and to two brush elements. The two terminals are arranged on the same narrow side of the resistor housing. |
| US09774230B2 |
Generator set having coupling member between flywheel and generator
A generator set is disclosed. The generator set includes an engine and a flywheel coupled to the engine. The generator set further includes a generator having a housing and a hub portion configured to receive power from the engine. The generator set further includes a coupling member coupled to the flywheel and the hub portion within the housing of the generator. The coupling member includes an outer ring member disposed adjacent to the flywheel. The coupling member further includes an inner ring member disposed within the outer ring member. The coupling member further includes a plurality of blocks disposed within each of plurality of slots. The coupling member is disposed at an axial distance from an inner face of the housing. The housing of the generator includes one or more access openings to access the coupling member from outside the housing. |
| US09774224B2 |
Stator of motor having insulation structure for separation of stator winding groups
Disclosed is a stator of an EPS motor, the stator including a stator core including a plurality of teeth protrusively formed toward a center of an inner circumferential surface, a plurality of coils wound on the teeth at a predetermined counts, an insulator coupled to an upper surface and a bottom surface of the stator core to insulate the coil from the stator core, and an insulation tube situated nearest to a coil wound on an adjacent stator core and inserted into a coil wound on an outmost side of the teeth. |
| US09774223B2 |
Permanent magnet synchronous machine
A permanent magnet synchronous machine includes a rotor including a core body and an overhang protruding further in an axial direction than a core of a stator. An end surface of the core body includes an N-region disposed on a north pole and an S-region disposed on a south pole. The overhang includes first permanent magnets arranged along an outer edge of the end surface with distances therebetween and a plurality of second permanent magnets disposed on the end surface and adjacent to the first permanent magnets. The first permanent magnets include at least one of a permanent magnet comprising a north pole facing the N-region and a permanent magnet comprising a south pole facing the S-region. The second permanent magnets are provided in the configuration which causes the second permanent magnets to generate a magnetic flux extending from the S-region toward the N-region. |
| US09774222B2 |
Rotor and motor
A rotor includes a field member arranged between a first core base of a first rotor core and a second core base of a second rotor core in the axial direction. When magnetized in the axial direction, the field member causes primary claw-shaped magnetic poles to function as primary magnetic poles and secondary claw-shaped magnetic poles to function as secondary magnetic poles. The field member is formed by placing a plurality of members one over another in the axial direction. |
| US09774221B1 |
Magnetic end effector
A magnetic end effector utilizing a switchable Halbach array includes a pair of opposing members that can move towards and away from each other. The switchable Halbach arrays are located on or near the inner surface of the opposing members. A mechanical switching system is used to control the switchable Halbach arrays by moving one or more magnets that make up the switchable Halbach arrays. When manipulated in a certain way, the switchable Halbach arrays cause the opposing members to move towards each other, and when manipulate in a different manner, cause the opposing members to move away from each other. |
| US09774218B2 |
Non-contact power feeding apparatus
A non-contact power feeding apparatus including a power transmitting coil 5 receiving supply of electric power from an AC power supply, a power receiving coil 6 receiving electric power transmitted from the power transmitting coil 5 in a non-contacting manner, switching unit for switching connections with coils 61 to 63, output unit for outputting the electric power received from the power receiving coil 6 to a load 11 through the switching unit, and controller for controlling the switching unit. The power receiving coil 6 includes a plurality of coils 61 to 63 sharing their coil axes, the switching unit is connected to the coils 61 to 63 and switches polarity of the coils 61 to 63 in accordance with interlinkage magnetic flux passes through each of the coils 61 to 63. |
| US09774215B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
A capacitor connected to the battery in parallel; a step-up converter connected to the battery and the first capacitor; another capacitor connected to the step-up converter in parallel; an inverter connected to the step-up converter and the other capacitor in parallel; a potential line connecting a negative-side terminal of the battery to the capacitor, the step-up converter, the other capacitor, and the inverter in the stated order; and a bypass path formed, when a lower arm switching device of the step-up converter has a short-circuit failure, from cutting the reference electric potential line at a position including at least any one of a position between the negative-side terminal and the capacitor and another position between the step-up converter and the other capacitor. The bypass path bypasses the lower arm switching device and connects the negative-side terminal to the inverter. |
| US09774212B2 |
Wireless charging device and wireless charging method for charging electronic device
A wireless charging device includes a base, a motor, a rotating member and a first transmitting coil. The base has a hollow pillar and a ring-shaped groove around the hollow pillar. The motor is movably disposed in the hollow pillar and has a rotating axle. The rotating member is connected to a first end of the rotating axle. The first transmitting coil is disposed on the rotating member. When an electronic device is placed in the ring-shaped groove, the motor drives the first transmitting coil to move and rotate to a position corresponding to a receiving coil of the electronic device, such that the first transmitting coil cooperates with the receiving coil to charge the electronic device. |
| US09774211B2 |
Voltage regulation in wireless power
Techniques for voltage regulation in a system, method, and apparatus are described herein. An apparatus for voltage regulation in a wireless power receiver may include a rectifier having an output voltage. The apparatus may also include voltage compensation logic including at least one capacitor to reduce voltage variation of the output voltage from the rectifier. |
| US09774203B2 |
Smart battery charging to improve the lifespan of batteries
A method for managing a rechargeable battery. The method includes a computer processor identifying a rechargeable battery within a first device. The method further includes a computer processor identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the rechargeable battery. The method further includes a computer processor determining a first set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based on the identified battery maintenance policy and one or more environmental factors corresponding to the first device. The method further includes a computer processor installing the first set of models in the first device. The method further includes a computer processor performing an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the first set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the first device. |
| US09774202B2 |
Master monitoring system for charging of super capacitor
A monitoring system for charging of a super capacitor, comprising three parts, i.e. a power line, monomer super capacitor monitoring subsystems and a master monitoring system, wherein the master monitoring system comprises a charging circuit (2), a power supply unit (7), a master single chip microcomputer (4), a carrier communication module (3), a human-machine interface module (5), a storage unit (6) and an RS-232 module (8); and each of the monomer super capacitor monitoring subsystems comprises a monomer super capacitor (1), a power supply unit (7), a slave single chip microcomputer (11), a carrier communication module (3), a voltage, current and temperature detection unit (9) and a storage unit (6). The master monitoring system charges a super capacitor group through the power line and the charging circuit. The monitoring system can control the charge states of various monomer super capacitors, thereby avoiding the occurrence of an over-charging phenomenon. |
| US09774198B2 |
Wind and solar powered heat trace with homeostatic control
A homeostatic heat trace powered by wind and solar electrical generators for preventing freeze-up of equipment at remote sites. A heat trace system wherein solar power may be used as backup when wind velocities are too low or high. A heat trace with a UPS backup for preventing freeze-up of equipment at remote sites during power failure. A homeostatic control system for maximizing the utilization of energy stored in a bank of batteries. A programmable logic controller with a homeostatic control system for maintaining battery charge. A homeostatic heat trace system powered by wind and backed up by solar power to prevent freeze-up of equipment at remote sites, including oil and gas wells. |
| US09774196B2 |
Battery pack protection device and method
Disclosed are a battery pack protection device and method. The battery pack protection device includes: a sensing unit configured to sense an overcharging state or an overdischarging state of a battery; a plurality of switches installed on a charging path and a discharging path of the battery; a control unit configured to control the plurality of switches so that the battery is both chargeable and dischargeable when the battery is not in the overcharging state or the overdischarging state and control the plurality of switches so that the battery is only dischargeable during overcharging or only chargeable during overdischarging by an output signal of the sensing unit; and a display unit configured to display the charging state or the discharging state of the battery. |
| US09774195B1 |
Systems and methods for providing conductive charging with multiple terminal constellations
A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system and method provides constellation/dots style conductive charging having multiple terminal constellations for one or both of providing redundancy in the case of dirty or non-working contacts and providing a voltage/amperage divide for handling higher voltage and/or increased capacity battery packs. |
| US09774194B2 |
Charge and discharge control circuit and battery device
Provided are a charge and discharge control circuit having a small circuit area and a compact battery device. A constant current circuit and an external resistor are connected to a voltage monitoring terminal so that a terminal voltage is pulled up or pulled down based on an external input. Moreover, output logic of a comparator and overcharge detection and overdischarge detection are switched based on the external input. |
| US09774185B2 |
Secured and regulated continuous power supply system with multiple inputs
A continuous power supply system suitable for input connection to N continuous power supply networks that are distinct and connected to a single ground potential, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Said continuous power supply system comprises means for switching/selecting one of the power supply networks, means for regulating an output voltage established by the power supply system, and a control unit for the means for switching/selecting and for the means for regulating. The means for regulating the output voltage includes N distinct buck-boost converters with shared inductance. A given buck-boost converter is dedicated to each power supply network for regulating the voltage output of the power supply system on the basis of an input voltage established by the corresponding power supply network. |
| US09774181B2 |
Enhanced auto-monitoring circuit and method for an electrical device
A resettable switching apparatus, useful in a GFCI receptacle, has an auto-monitoring circuit for automatically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, establishes a test fault situation on either the positive or negative half-wave of the power cycle and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device appropriately detect the test fault and whether the device would trip in the event of an actual fault. Additional functionality of the auto-monitoring circuit permits automatic verification that the device is properly wired, that is, not miswired, and determines whether the device has reached the end of its useful life. |
| US09774179B1 |
Fused T-splice wiring
A power distributor including a first conductive coupling device electrically coupled to a bare-wire non-terminating section of a first conduit. A second conductive coupling device is electrically coupled to a terminating end of a second conduit. The first conduit is a larger gauge than the second conduit. A fuse electrically connects the first conductive coupling device and the second conductive coupling device. A housing encases the first and second conductive coupling devices and the fuse. |
| US09774169B2 |
Semiconductor laser element and method of manufacturing semiconductor laser element
A semiconductor laser element includes an n-side semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-side semiconductor layer, layered upward in this order, each being made of a nitride semiconductor. The active layer includes one or more well layers, and an n-side barrier layer located lower than the one or more well layers. The n-side semiconductor layer includes a composition-graded layer located in contact with the n-side barrier layer. The composition-graded layer has a band-gap energy that decreases toward an upper side of the composition-graded layer, with a band-gap energy of the upper side being smaller than a band-gap energy of the n-side barrier layer. The composition-graded layer has an n-type dopant concentration greater than 5×1017/cm3 and less than or equal to 2×1018/cm3. The n-side barrier layer has an n-type dopant concentration greater than that of the composition-graded layer and a thickness smaller than that of the composition graded layer. |
| US09774166B2 |
Widely tunable swept source
A high-speed, single-mode, high power, reliable and manufacturable wavelength-tunable light source operative to emit wavelength tunable radiation over a wavelength range contained in a wavelength span between about 950 nm and about 1150 nm, including a vertical cavity laser (VCL), the VCL having a gain region with at least one compressively strained quantum well containing Indium, Gallium, and Arsenic. |
| US09774161B2 |
Fiber delivery of short laser pulses
A method and system for delivering laser pulses achieves the delivery of high quality laser pulses at the location of an application. The method includes the steps of: generating laser pulses, amplifying the laser pulses, temporally stretching the amplified laser pulses, and propagating the amplified laser pulses through an optical delivery fiber of desired length, wherein the laser pulses are temporally compressed in the optical delivery fiber and wherein the laser pulses undergo nonlinear spectral broadening in the optical delivery fiber. |
| US09774157B2 |
Power connector
A power module of an electrical connector is provided which has a dielectric housing and a pair of blade terminals. The housing has a forward face and a support arm projecting forwardly from the face. The support arm has opposing first and second sides. The housing has a cavity. The face has a pair of slots extending therethrough which are in communication with the cavity and which are provided adjacent the sides of the support arm. Each of the blade terminals has a body portion and a blade portion. The body portions are housed in the cavity and the blade portions extend through the slots and are positioned alongside the sides of the support arm. The electrical connector may also have a signal module interconnected to the power module. The electrical connector may also be configured to mate with another electrical connector as part of a connector assembly. |
| US09774148B1 |
Socket which is turned off at a limiting temperature
A socket turned off at a limiting temperature includes a live wire conductive plate, live wire terminals, a neutral wire conductive plate, neutral wire terminals, a seat, protective structures, and a support element. The seat installs the live wire conductive plate, the live wire terminals, the neutral wire conductive plate and the neutral wire terminals. A predetermined gap is between a live wire conductive spring plate and a live wire contact portion as well as between a neutral wire spring plate and a neutral wire contact portion. The protective structure provides a force of constraint, allowing the live wire spring plate to contact with the live wire contact portion as well as the neutral wire spring plate to contact with the neutral wire contact portion. The support element provides a supporting force corresponding to the force of constraint. |
| US09774144B2 |
High speed, high density electrical connector with shielded signal paths
A modular electrical connector with separately shielded signal conductor pairs. The connector may be assembled from modules, each containing a pair of signal conductors with surrounding partially or fully conductive material. Modules of different sizes may be assembled into wafers, which are then assembled into a connector. Wafers may include lossy material. In some embodiments, shielding members of two mating connectors may each have compliant members along their distal portions, such that, the shielding members engage at points of contact at multiple locations, some of which are adjacent the mating edge of each of the mating shielding members. |
| US09774142B1 |
Data cable, connector, and crimping system and method
The present invention relates to data cable and methods of installing/building data cable. The cable disclosed herein is indoor/outdoor and can be configured as 4-twisted pair, or any of the numerous other types of data cable. In one embodiment, we disclose an electrical data cable comprising a plurality of insulated wires wherein the plurality of insulated wires is coupled for a first portion of the length of the data cable so as to form at least one twisted pair of wires; the plurality of insulated wires is configured in a flat, planar arrangement for a second portion of the data cable; and the plurality of insulated wires is coupled for a third portion of the length of the data cable so as to form at least one twisted pair of wires. In an alternate method, we disclose a method of attaching a connector to the electrical data cable comprising the steps of cutting the data cable at the untwisted segment and attaching a connector to the plurality of insulated wires in the untwisted segment. |
| US09774141B2 |
Accommodation confirming structure for electronic component, electrical connection box, and wire harness
A structure includes an accommodation chamber, an accommodation confirming mechanism, and an operation space of the accommodation confirming mechanism. The accommodation confirming mechanism includes a first and second accommodation completion sound generating body. The first accommodation completion sound generating body is a projection body. The second accommodation completion sound generating body is an inclinable body configured to be inclined by being pressed by the inserted electronic component. The second accommodation completion sound generating body includes a receiving portion configured to receive a pressing force from a pressing portion of the electronic component and a leap portion configured to climb over the first accommodation completion sound generating body and generates the accommodation completion sound with the first accommodation completion sound generating body at a time when the electronic component is inserted to the accommodation completion position. |
| US09774135B2 |
Electronic device stand
An electronic device stand is provided in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The electronic device stand includes a first section, a second section connected to the first section and positioned at an acute angle to the first section, and a dock connector extending from a first surface of the first section to attach to an electronic device. The first section of the electronic device is to support the electronic device in a first orientation when a first surface of the second section is in a first plane and is to support the electronic device in a second orientation when a second surface of the second section is in the first plane. |
| US09774128B2 |
Connector
A connector is provided which has terminals able to contact the opposing terminals connected to the terminal ends of electrical wires, and a housing accommodating the mounted terminals. The housing has a terminal accommodating recessed portion in the bottom end portion of the housing. The terminal accommodating recessed portion receives the inserted opposing terminals, and a head portion for sealing the upper end of the terminal accommodating recessed portion. The head portion includes a ceiling panel portion and side panel portions. Each side panel portion includes a water discharging hole communicating with the interior of the terminal accommodating recessed portion and outside of the housing, and a waterproofing rib formed around the water discharging hole and protruding from the outer surface of the side panel portion. |
| US09774120B2 |
Electrical connector assembly
An electrical connector assembly comprises an electrical connector and a circuit board assembly mating with the electrical connector. The electrical connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals retained in the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a mating surface and a mounting surface. Each of the terminal comprises a contacting portion extending out of the mating surface and a connecting portion extending out of the mounting surface. The circuit board assembly comprises a hard circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board fixing on the hard circuit board. The hard circuit board comprises a plurality of conductive portions. When the circuit board assembly mating with the electrical connector, the conductive portions connect with the contacting portion. The electrical connector assembly can not only facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the circuit board assembly, but also prevent the circuit board assembly from being damaged in welding. |
| US09774118B2 |
Substrate terminal and substrate with terminal
A substrate terminal includes at least one substrate abutting portion configured to be made to abut against a substrate, at least one substrate connection portion configured to be inserted into a hole portion in the substrate and be soldered together with the hole portion with the substrate abutting portion and the substrate abutting against each other, a terminal connection portion to which an opposite-side terminal is inserted in a direction same as an insertion direction of the substrate connection portion into the hole portion and connected, and an intermediate portion configured to connect the substrate abutting portion and the substrate connection portion with the terminal connection portion. A slit is provided between the substrate abutting portion and the substrate connection portion adjacent to each other. |
| US09774117B1 |
Resilient miniature mechanical support that can also serve as an electrical connector
An exemplary miniature support has upper and lower spaced-apart engagement surfaces each having at least a portion that are parallel to each other. Two supports each with an end supporting the upper engagement surface and another end supporting the lower engagement surface. The two supports have a spring-like property so that the upper and lower engagement surfaces can repeatedly move between an uncompressed state when not engaged to provide an interconnection and a compressed state when engaged between two opposing boards to provide an interconnection between the boards. The connector is preferably made using 3-D printing and may be integrally made as part of a board also made using the same 3-D printing. The support may have upper and lower engagement surfaces and at least one of the at least two supports that are conductive to establish connectivity between the upper and lower engagement surfaces. |
| US09774116B2 |
Board connector having a fixing member with plate pieces facing each other in a plate thickness direction
A board connector includes a plate-like fixing member (30) to be mounted in a housing (10) and including a board fixing portion (31) to be fixed to a circuit board (100) by solder. At least the board fixing portion (31) of the fixing member includes a plurality of plate pieces (38A, 38B) arranged to face each other in a plate thickness direction. Plating layers (46) are formed on plate surfaces of the plate pieces (38A, 38B) and plating drip layers (43) continuous with the plating layers (46) are formed on end surfaces of the plate pieces (38A, 38B) intersecting with the plate surfaces. |
| US09774105B2 |
Embedded AC mitigation system
An embedded Alternating Current (AC) mitigation system reduces or eliminates induced AC currents on pipelines. When a pipeline runs parallel to power lines, the AC current in the power lines induces AC current in the pipeline. Known coatings applied to the pipelines provides electrical insulation and result in a dangerous or destructive buildup of AC voltage in the pipeline. A combination of the pipeline, a dielectric, and a plate, forms a capacitor. The dielectric may be a coating on the pipe, or a dielectric material deposited on the pipeline and under the plate. The capacitor acts as a decoupler by transmitting AC current to the ground while preserving DC current on the pipeline. The embedded AC mitigation system will further act as grounding system and eliminate the need of adding a grounding system. |
| US09774103B2 |
Radial termination system for a communication connector
A system for radially terminating cabling includes a stuffer cap component surrounding an opening sized and configured for selective passage therethrough of a plurality of conductor pairs; a plurality of slots concentrically arranged on the front end of the stuffer cap component, wherein each wire of each of the plurality of conductor pairs may be selectively pressed into one of the plurality of slots; at least one keying member on the stuffer cap component having a unique keying member geometry; a connector including a receptacle component configured for mating with the stuffer cap component, wherein at least one keying element on the receptacle component is geometrically sized and configured for passage therethrough of a corresponding one of the keying members; a plurality of IDCs each being aligned for engaged abutment with a corresponding one of the wires of the plurality of conductor pairs when the stuffer cap component is axially rotated by a user. |
| US09774100B2 |
Crimp terminal and terminal crimping device
A terminal fitting includes a terminal connecting portion and an electric wire connecting portion. A water stop member is affixed to an inner wall surface of the electric wire connecting portion before crimping process and suppresses entering of water between the electric wire connecting portion and a core wire of the electric wire after the crimping. The electric wire connecting portion is formed into a U-shape by raising the first barrel piece and the second barrel piece from both ends of the bottom. The distal end of the first barrel piece is bent toward the second barrel piece, to form a gap between a slide contact surface on a descending second die and the distal end of the first barrel piece. |
| US09774096B2 |
Electromagnetic field induction for inter-body and transverse body communication
A electromagnetic induction wireless communication system including: a magnetic antenna; an electric antenna; a tuning capacitor coupled to the antenna combination configured to tune the antenna combination; a controller configured to control the operation of the communication system; a signal source coupled to the controller configured to produce a communication signal used to drive the magnetic antenna and the electric antenna; a voltage control unit coupled to the signal source configured to produce one of an amplitude difference, phase difference, and an amplitude and a phase difference between the communication signal used to drive the magnetic antenna and electric antenna. |
| US09774091B2 |
Dielectric slot antenna using capacitive coupling
The present invention concerns a slot antenna for an electronic device, e.g. a set top box. A printed circuit board (210) comprising a dielectric material (310, 320, 330, 340, 350) and electrodes (240, 360) extends into a rectangular slot (120) in the metal enclosure (110) of the device such that the electrodes are coupled with locations on opposite edges of the long dimension of the rectangular slot. The coupling may be capacitively in order to affect the level of coupling or to optimize the driving point return loss. The presence of the dielectric in the slot allows the use of a shorter slot for a given wavelength. |
| US09774090B2 |
Ultra-wide band antenna
Disclosed is an ultra-wide band antenna. An antenna according to the present invention comprises: a radiating body for emitting electromagnetic waves passing through the antenna; a feeder unit for supplying electric signals to the radiating body; and an impedance feeder unit, having a rectangular shape, connecting the radiating body and the feeder unit, and the antenna additionally comprises a slotted part in the interior of the radiating body to increase the effectiveness of the antenna. Additionally, the diameter of the radiating body is 2.0˜3.0 times the length, in the horizontal-direction, of the impedance feeder unit, and the length, in the vertical-direction, of the impedance feeder unit is 1.0˜1.3 times the length thereof in the horizontal direction, and as such, the present invention can be applied to a device utilizing multiple-input and multiple-output and high-speed data, the device having secured an ultra-wide band by means of a single antenna. |
| US09774089B2 |
Impedance helical antenna forming Π-shaped directional diagram
A quadrifilar helix antenna includes a cylindrical support extending along an antenna axis; a plurality of spiral antenna elements wrapped helically on the cylindrical support and along the antenna axis from a feed end to a remote end; a ground plane having a diameter of about 300 mm and perpendicular to the antenna axis; and each of the antenna elements including a plurality of breaks, with the breaks having capacitors between conducting portions of the antenna elements. All capacitors a positioned higher than 60 mm above the ground plane, and capacitance value varies inversely with height. The antenna exhibits a DU(10°)=−20 dB or better at an operating frequency f0=1575 MHz. The diameter of the cylindrical support is 30 +/−5 mm. A total height of the cylindrical support is 300 +/−50 mm. A winding angle of the helix is variable. |
| US09774088B1 |
Antenna system
An embodiment of an antenna system comprising a radio frequency (RF) current-sensing and current injecting antenna device for coupling RF energy, wherein the antenna device comprises an outer conducting non-magnetic housing, a magnetic core having a central aperture, said core insulated from said housing, and a first winding wound about said core, said first winding having a first end receiving said RF energy and a second end, said first winding insulated from said housing between said first end and said second end, wherein a conductor is positioned within said aperture, and said conductor has a length of at least 0.1 wavelength of said RF energy. Wherein, in a transmitting mode said antenna device couples RF energy, created in an RF transmitter, to the conductor. In a receiving mode said antenna device couples RF energy, developed in the conductor intercepting an RF field, to the input of an RF receiver. In the transmitting mode, the first winding functions as a primary winding and the conductor functions as a secondary winding. In the receiving mode, the first winding functions as a secondary winding and the conductor functions as a primary winding. |
| US09774085B2 |
Co-located NFC reader
Systems and techniques are provided for a co-located NFC reader. A top conductive layer may include an inner PCB section, including a circuit for an electronic device, and an outer PCB section, including a near-field communications (NFC) chipset, separated by a gap in which an NFC antenna connected to the NFC chipset may be located. A substrate layer may include an inner PCB section and an outer PCB section separated by the gap. A bridge including a trace may cross the gap. A lower conductive layer may include an inner PCB section, including a circuit for the electronic device electrically connected to the circuit for the electronic device located on the inner PCB section of the top conductive layer, and an outer PCB section, including a circuit for the electronic device, separated by the gap. |
| US09774084B2 |
Omnidirectional broadband antennas
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of omnidirectional broadband antennas. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna generally includes a ground element, an antenna element, and an annular patch element. The antenna element may be electrically isolated from the ground element. The antenna element may include at least one portion that is substantially conical, substantially pyramidal, and/or that tapers in a longitudinal direction. The annular patch element is electrically grounded to the ground element. The annular patch element surrounds at least a portion of the antenna element and is parasitically coupled to the antenna element. |
| US09774083B2 |
Switchable Pi shape antenna
A mobile device including a housing having a distal end, and electronics disposed in the housing configured to operate the mobile device. A connector is coupled to the electronics, and a Pi-shaped antenna has a coupling coupled to the connector to create a resonance using the connector. The Pi-shaped antenna and the connector are configured to wirelessly send and receive the wireless signals. An impedance matching network matches the impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna. In some embodiments, the impedance matching network is switchable by the electronics and is configured to match an impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna in at least two states, over multiple RF bands. |
| US09774082B2 |
Reconfigurable antenna structure
The present invention refers to a reconfigurable antenna structure. The antenna structure comprises a radiating structure comprising one or more first radiating elements and a secondary radiating structure, operationally associated with said primary radiating structure. Said secondary radiating structure comprises a plurality of second radiating elements that can be selectively electrically connected/disconnected to each other to vary the configuration of said secondary radiating structure, so as to vary the radiating properties of the antenna structure. The antenna structure also comprises first reactive loads, electrically connected between said primary and secondary radiating structures, and second reactive loads, electrically connected to said secondary radiating structure. Said first reactive loads, said second reactive loads and said second radiating elements forming one or more circuitry structures that are electrically resonant in the operating frequency band of said antenna structure and that are electrically connected/disconnected to each other in a selective manner in accordance to the configuration selected for said second radiating structure, thereby maintaining constantly equal to zero the overall reactive load that is electrically connected to said primary radiating structure. |
| US09774081B2 |
Switchable antenna
A switchable antenna includes a substrate, a first antenna element, a second antenna element, a first switch element, a second switch element, a first radiating portion on an upper surface of the substrate including a first center, a first bend section and a second bend section, and a second radiating portion on an lower surface of the substrate including a second center, a third bend section and a fourth bend section. The third and the fourth bend sections extending from the second center are respectively disposed corresponding to the first and the second bend sections extending from the first center. The first and the second antenna elements on the upper surface are disposed corresponding to the first and the second bend sections. The first and the second switch elements are respectively configured to switch the first and the second antenna elements between a reflector and a parasitic radiating element. |
| US09774077B2 |
Electromagnetic highly transparent radome for multi-band applications and wideband applications
A radome having a core layer and two cover layers and method of forming the radome. The core layer is arranged between the two cover layers. Each of the two cover layers is composed of a plurality of partial layers which, by their respective dielectric constant, are embodied such that the radome provides a high mechanical stability and a high electromagnetic transparency. The dielectric constant of adjacent partial layers thereby alternates from relatively high to relatively low in the direction towards the core layer, and vice versa. |
| US09774074B2 |
Mobile device and manufacturing method thereof
A mobile device includes a ground element, a radiation element, a first short-circuited element, a second short-circuited element, and a switch element. The radiation element has a feeding point, a fixed grounding point, and a switchable grounding point. The fixed grounding point is coupled through the first short-circuited element to the ground element. The switchable grounding point is coupled through the second short-circuited element and the switch element to the ground element. An antenna structure is formed by the radiation element, the first short-circuited element, the second short-circuited element, and the switch element. |
| US09774071B2 |
Antenna structure
An antenna structure includes a feed portion, a ground portion, a primary antenna, a secondary antenna, and a metal portion connected to the ground portion. The primary antenna includes first and second radiating portions. The first radiating portion and the second radiating portion are both connected to the feed portion and are positioned at opposite sides of the feed portion. The secondary antenna includes third and fourth radiating portions. The third radiating portion and the fourth radiating portion are connected to the ground portion and positioned at two sides of the ground portion. |
| US09774067B2 |
Low power threshold integrated micro-plasma limiter
A plasma power limiter fabricated using wafer-level fabrication techniques with other circuit elements. The power limiter includes a signal substrate having a first side and a second side, an input signal line formed on the first side, a signal transmission line formed on the second side and an output signal line formed on the first side. The power limiter also includes a ground substrate having a first side and a second side, and being bonded to the signal substrate to form a sealed cavity including an ionizable gas therebetween. The ground substrate includes a ground metal layer formed on the second side. A signal propagating on the input signal line at a power level greater than a threshold power level generates a voltage potential across the cavity that ionizes the gas and generates a plasma discharge, and limits power of the output signal coupled to the output signal line. |
| US09774062B2 |
Storage battery, control method of storage battery, control device, and control method
A storage battery (1) including an electric storage unit (10), an auxiliary electric storage unit (11) connected to the electric storage unit (10) in parallel, a temperature measurement unit (13) measuring a temperature, and a charge and discharge control unit (14) controlling charge and discharge of the electric storage unit (10) and the auxiliary electric storage unit (11), in which the charge and discharge control unit (14) changes an SOC (a charge completion SOC) of the electric storage unit (10) and the auxiliary electric storage unit (11) in a charge completion state of not allowing any more charge according to a measurement result of the temperature measurement unit (13), increases the charge completion SOC of the auxiliary electric storage unit (11) when the charge completion SOC of the electric storage unit (10) decreases, and decreases the charge completion SOC of the auxiliary electric storage unit (11) when the charge completion SOC of the electric storage unit (10) increases. |
| US09774061B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack is disclosed. In one aspect, the battery pack includes a battery cell and a protective circuit module electrically connected to the battery cell. The protective circuit module includes a substrate and a protective device mounted on the substrate. The battery pack also includes a lower frame including an accommodation space for the battery cell and the protective circuit module and a cover coupled to the lower frame and covering at least a portion of the protective circuit module. The cover includes a protrusion protruding the lower frame and having an uneven surface and the lower frame includes a groove. The protrusion is placed in the groove and secured therein by interference fitting. |
| US09774060B2 |
Method for manufacturing battery cell of novel structure
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a battery cell having an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure disposed in a battery case made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, the method including (a) anodizing an entire surface of the battery case in a state in which an uncoated margin section having a predetermined length is provided downward from an outer circumference of an upper end of the battery case, (b) mounting the electrode assembly in the battery case and connecting a cap plate to an open upper end of the battery case by laser welding, (c) injecting an electrolyte through an electrolyte injection port of the cap plate and activating the battery cell, and (d) replenishing the electrolyte and sealing the electrolyte injection port. |
| US09774055B2 |
Tubular solid oxide fuel cell assembly and fuel cell device incorporating same
A tubular solid oxide fuel cell assembly includes at least two tubular solid oxide fuel cell units, at least one shared current collector and a retainer for retaining a section of the fuel cell units and shared current collector in close fitting relationship therewith. |
| US09774054B2 |
Electricity storage battery
An electricity storage battery is described, including an anode electrolyte solution 32 that contains a zinc redox material and an amine represented by a general formula (1) below: In the general formula (1), n is one of the integers 0 to 4, and each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently represents hydrogen, methyl or ethyl. |
| US09774052B2 |
Hydrogen producing device and hydrogen producing unit and energy system including the hydrogen producing device and the hydrogen producing unit
In a hydrogen producing device, an electrolyte flow path between a plurality of hydrogen producing cells is disposed in a hydrogen production side and in an oxygen production side, separately. Further, an electrolyte flow path is formed through which the electrolyte flows downward from the top between the plurality of hydrogen producing cells, and on the other hand the electrolyte flows upward from the bottom within each hydrogen producing cell. Moreover, a contact point with a produced gas or an atmosphere is provided in a pathway of the electrolyte flow path. |
| US09774049B2 |
Device and method for controlling starting fuel cell vehicle
A method for controlling starting of a fuel cell vehicle is provided. The method includes measuring a time interval for stopping of a fuel cell and a cell average voltage of the fuel cell when the fuel cell vehicle stops. A starting mode is then switched to a catalyst activating mode when the time interval exceeds a predetermined time or the cell average voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage. The cell average voltage is decreased to be less than the predetermined voltage and the fuel cell is started by supplying air to a cathode of the fuel cell. |
| US09774047B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming a matrix liner for a pressure vessel
A pressure vessel for the storage of pressurized fluids for a fuel cell system, a liner for the pressurized vessel and a method of making. The method of manufacturing a pressure vessel includes forming a lost core assembly, a reinforcement structure around the assembly and removing the core from said assembly to define an internal compartment. The lost core assembly includes a first sacrificial material used to define the shape of the pressure vessel's internal compartment, boss attachable to the first material for the introduction and removal of the fluid into the pressure vessel, and a second material for placement around the first material and at least a portion of the boss such that upon removal of the first material, the second material defines the liner. The reinforcement structure is wound around the liner to give the pressure vessel a unitary, composite structure. |
| US09774045B2 |
Exhaust air guide of a fuel cell stack in a motor vehicle
An exhaust air guide of a fuel cell stack is provided, in particular in a motor vehicle, with a cooling device which belongs to the functional environment of the fuel cell stack and is in the form of a cooler structure through which ambient air flows. At least some of the exhaust air of the fuel cell stack is guided into the cooler structure or behind the cooler structure, as viewed in the direction of flow of the ambient air through the cooler structure, to such an extent that, at the cooler structure, the exhaust air flow brings about an increase in the mass flow of the ambient air through the cooler structure in accordance with the jet pump principle or, at the cooler structure, the exhaust air flow, in accordance with the jet pump principle, brings about a pressure difference conveying at least a portion of the ambient air through the cooler structure. |
| US09774044B2 |
Flow battery stack with an integrated heat exchanger
A flow battery stack includes a plurality of flow battery cells, a manifold and a heat exchanger. Each flow battery cell includes an electrode layer that is wet by an electrolyte solution having a reversible redox couple reactant. The manifold includes a solution passage that exchanges the electrolyte solution with the flow battery cells. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchange fluid passage. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between the electrolyte solution in the solution passage and a heat exchange fluid directed through the heat exchange fluid passage. The flow battery cells, the manifold and the heat exchanger are arranged between first and second ends of the flow battery stack. |
| US09774043B2 |
Magnesium phosphate cement based bipolar plate composite material
This invention provides a composite material for bipolar plates for fuel cells including cemented by a MPC binder and electrically conductive fillers, and a method of manufacturing the same. The resulting bipolar plate achieves low gas permeability, high electrical conductivity, high flexural strength and good corrosion resistance. The flexural strength and corrosion resistance can further be enhanced by the incorporation of macro-reinforcement and a polymer based surface treatment, respectively. |
| US09774042B2 |
Metal phthalocyanine polymer and electrode catalyst produced using the same, and producing methods thereof
The present invention relates to a metal phthalocyanine polymer that includes a repeating structural unit obtained by amide bonding of a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1a) to a structural unit represented by the following general formula (2a): With general formula (1a), L is a divalent or trivalent metal ion belonging to Period 3 to Period 5 on the long-form periodic table. With general formula (2a), M is a divalent or trivalent metal ion belonging to Period 3 to Period 5 on the long-form periodic table. |
| US09774037B2 |
Positive electrode composition for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, method of manufacturing thereof, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A positive electrode composition for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium transition metal composite oxide represented by a formula LiaNi1-x-yCoxMnyMzO2, wherein 1.00≦a≦1.50, 0 |
| US09774036B2 |
Method for producing positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using same
A method for manufacturing a positive active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having both thermal stability and charge-discharge capacity at a high level as well as excellent cycle characteristics. The method for manufacturing a positive active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a step of adding a niobium salt solution and an acid simultaneously to a slurry of a nickel-containing hydroxide, and controlling the pH of the slurry at between 7 and 11 on a 25° C. basis to obtain a nickel-containing hydroxide coated with a niobium compound; a step of mixing the nickel-containing hydroxide coated with the niobium compound with a lithium compound to obtain a lithium mixture; and a step of firing the lithium mixture in an oxidizing atmosphere at 700° C. to 830° C. to obtain a lithium-transition metal composite oxide. |
| US09774029B2 |
Anode for secondary battery, method for producing same, and secondary battery
In this anode for a secondary battery, method for producing same, and secondary battery, an anode active material is laminated on a surface of a metal foil, the anode active material contains at least titanium dioxide, and the titanium dioxide contains a Brookite crystal phase and contains an amorphous phase in a ratio of 1 vol % to 20 vol %. |
| US09774028B2 |
Method for making thin film lithium ion battery
A method for making a thin film lithium ion battery is provided. A cathode material layer and an anode material layer are provided. A first carbon nanotube layer is formed on a surface of the cathode material layer to obtain a cathode electrode. A second carbon nanotube layer is formed on a surface of the anode material layer to obtain an anode electrode. A solid electrolyte layer is applied between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode to form a battery cell. At least one battery cell is then encapsulated in an external encapsulating shell. |
| US09774026B2 |
Apparatus for preventing over-charge for battery of vehicle
An apparatus for preventing over-charge for a vehicle battery includes a switch disposed between an adjacent battery cell and a battery cell and closely contact the battery cells when each of the battery cells swell and to form a contact. An inflator is configured to be exploded when the switch is connected. A cushion configured to be disposed between the adjacent battery cell and the battery cell and swells depending on the explosion of the inflator to cut a lead tab which connects the adjacent battery cell and the battery cell. |
| US09774024B2 |
Preconditioned bus bar interconnect system
A method is provided for interconnecting the batteries in a battery pack in a manner that is designed to minimize damage and contamination of the contact surfaces of the interconnect and the battery terminal, thereby minimizing connection resistance and increasing interconnect reliability. |
| US09774022B2 |
Wiring module
A wiring module includes an insulating protector. The insulating protector includes a main body and a lid. The main body includes a holding portion that holds at least one of an element connecting member and an external connecting member. The lid is attached to the main body. The lid swings between an open position and a closed position. The holding portion is open at the open position and closed at the closed position. The lid includes a shaft for detachable attachment. The main body includes a shaft holder that receives the shaft and holds the shaft such that rotation of the shaft is allowed. The main body includes a restriction portion to hold the lid to the main body such that the swing of the lid is restricted between the open position and the closed position. The lid includes a restriction portion receiving portion that receives the restriction portion. |
| US09774020B2 |
Lithium ion battery module having a compartmentalized housing
A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing. |
| US09774019B2 |
Rechargeable battery unit for a watercraft
The invention relates to a rechargeable battery unit, in particular for a watercraft, having a plurality of rechargeable batteries which are connected to one another by means of a holding arrangement to form a rechargeable battery cell, wherein the holding arrangement has at least one holder which forms receptacles by means of which the rechargeable batteries are held in the region of a pole end, and that at least some of the rechargeable batteries are electrically coupled to one another in the region of their poles by means of a pole connector. A design of this kind allows a powerful rechargeable battery unit to be constructed with a compact installation space, it also being possible for the rechargeable battery cells to be cascaded for the purpose of varying the energy density and/or voltage in said rechargeable battery unit. A rechargeable battery unit of this kind is suitable, in particular, for use in motor-operated watercraft. |
| US09774017B2 |
Electric device body and electric device
An electric device body in which a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of first terminals is detachably mounted includes: a housing; a guide mechanism; and a plurality of second terminals; and a pressed portion. The battery pack is configured to be attached to and detached from the housing along a first direction. The guide mechanism is provided at the housing and configured to define the first direction. The plurality of second terminals is configured to be connected to the plurality of first terminals upon attachment of the battery pack to the housing. The pressed portion is configured to be pressed against the battery pack in a second direction intersecting the first direction when the battery pack has been attached to the housing. |
| US09774016B2 |
Battery pack and electric vehicle
A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells (1); a cell support that holds the plurality of battery cells; a connection part (6) that connects to the plurality of battery cells; and a circuit substrate (8) that is used to mount circuits for the plurality of battery cells. The cell support (2) is integrally formed with battery cell storage units (3) that store the plurality of battery cells, a base unit (4) that supports the battery cell storage units, and impact relaxation ribs (21), and each of the impact relaxation ribs is formed between an outer circumference of the base unit and an exterior surface of each of the battery cell storage units, and is configured in a shape capable of being transformed in a direction to which impact is applied. |
| US09774014B2 |
Array substrate of organic light-emitting diodes and method for packaging the same
An array substrate of organic light-emitting diodes and a method for fabricating the same are provided to narrow an edge frame of product device of organic light-emitting diodes, to shorten the package process time, and to improve the substrate utilization and the production efficiency. The array substrate of organic light-emitting diodes includes a plurality of display panels disposed in an array of rows and columns, wherein at least two adjacent display panels are connected through a frame adhesive, and there is no cutting headroom between at least one side of the at least two adjacent display panels. |
| US09774012B2 |
Organic light-emitting component
An organic light-emitting component (100) is specified, which comprises a carrier (1) and an organic layering sequence (2) arranged on the carrier (1). The organic layering sequence (2) comprises at least two organic layers, wherein at least one of the organic layers is designed as an emitting layer (23). The emitting layer (23) emits light (200) of a first wavelength range, which has an intensity maximum at a first wavelength. Further, the organic light-emitting component (100) comprises an anode (3) and a cathode (4) which provide the electrical contacting of the organic layering sequence (2). Further, the organic light-emitting component (100) has at least one nanoparticle layer (20), wherein one nanoparticle layer (20) is an organic layer of the organic layering sequence (2) provided with first nanoparticles (5). The first nanoparticles (5) have a refractive index (nN) that is smaller than at least one refractive index of an organic material of one of the organic layers. Further, at least one nanoparticle layer (20) is not in direct contact with the anode (3). In addition, the first nanoparticles (5) have a diameter that is smaller than one-fourth of the first wavelength at which the light (200) emitted by the emitting layer (23) has an intensity maximum. |
| US09774011B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes an OLED layer including a plurality of OLEDs that respectively form a plurality of sub-pixels and an encapsulation layer disposed over the OLED layer. The OLED display also includes an optical film disposed over the encapsulation layer and comprising a reflection control layer, a first lens disposed below the reflection control layer, and a second lens disposed over the reflection control layer, wherein the reflection control layer comprises i) a plurality of color filters respectively corresponding to the sub-pixels, and ii) a light shielding portion disposed between the color filters. The OLED display further includes an intermediate layer disposed between the encapsulation layer and the optical film, wherein the first lens is disposed over sides of at least one sub-pixels and wherein the second lens is disposed over center portions of selected sub-pixels. |
| US09774010B2 |
Light reflective material and light-emitting device
A light reflective material of the present disclosure includes a base material having light transmission property; and a porous particle located in the base material, the porous particle comprising a shell defining pores, the base material having a first refractive index, the shell having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index. A light-emitting device of the present disclosure includes a light emitter that emits light; and a reflective layer that covers a portion of a surface of the light emitter, the reflective layer comprising a base material having light transmission property and a porous particle located in the base material, the porous particle comprising a shell defining pores, the base material having a first refractive index, the shell having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index. |
| US09774004B2 |
Light-emitting devices and methods for making and using the same
Provided are light-emitting devices and methods for making and using the same. The light-emitting device comprises: a transparent substrate (101), a light-extracting polymer layer (102) having one or more elevated regions (104) distributed on a surface of the light-extracting polymer layer (102) facing away from the transparent substrate (101), a first electrode layer, wherein the light-extracting polymer layer (102) is disposed between the first electrode layer and the transparent substrate (101), a second electrode layer and a light-emitting layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the light-emitting layer is configured to emit light when voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode layer. |
| US09774002B2 |
Composite film and method for manufacturing the same, and organic light-emitting diode and method for packaging the same
The present disclosure discloses a composite film and a method for manufacturing the same, and an organic light-emitting diode and a method for packaging the same. The composite film comprises: a base membrane; a PDDA layer, which is deposited on a first surface of the base membrane; a graphite oxide layer, which is deposited on the PDDA layer; a monomolecular layer, which is self-assembled on a surface of the graphite oxide layer and is composed of a compound of Formula I. The method for manufacturing the composite film comprises a self-assembling step which includes placing and soaking a base membrane deposited with a graphite oxide layer in a solution of a compound of Formula I, and self-assembling the compound of Formula I on the graphite oxide layer. |
| US09774001B2 |
Display device and method for manufacturing display device
A display device includes a pixel provided in each of a plurality of pixels; a common electrode provided commonly to the plurality of pixels; an organic layer provided between the pixel electrode and the common electrode; a first insulating layer provided on the common electrode; a common potential line provided below the organic layer in an area where the first insulating layer, the common electrode and the organic layer are provided in a stacked manner; a contact electrode provided in an opening running through the first insulating layer, the common electrode and the organic layer, the contact electrode being provided on the common potential line; and a second insulating layer covering the first insulating layer and the contact electrode. |
| US09773996B2 |
Transparent conductive film, and organic light-emitting device comprising same
The present invention relates to a transparent conducting film and an organic light emitting device comprising the same. The transparent conducting film according to the present invention has a low surface resistance value, a high front surface transmittance and a low light absorptance. The light emission efficiency of the organic light emitting device according to the present invention may be enhanced by comprising a transparent conducting film having low light absorptance. In particular, the organic light emitting device according to the present invention may additionally comprise an internal light extraction layer to improve the light extraction efficiency, and the loss of light generated by the difference between refractive indices of a transparent electrode and a substrate may be minimized. |
| US09773994B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display for suppressing organic light-emitting element from being damaged
An organic light-emitting display (OLED) device includes: a lower substrate; an organic light-emitting element disposed on the lower substrate; an anti-oxidation layer covering the organic light-emitting element; an inorganic oxide encapsulation layer covering the anti-oxidation layer; a first organic layer covering the inorganic oxide encapsulation layer; and a first inorganic encapsulation layer covering the first organic layer. The anti-oxidation layer is configured to suppress the organic light-emitting element from being oxidized by oxygen (O2) plasma at least in a pixel area. |
| US09773993B2 |
Electroluminescence element
Disclosed herein is an electroluminescence element that is excellent in color rendering properties and has a long service life as a white light-emitting element, that is, high durability. The electroluminescence element (100) includes: a substrate (1); a first electrode (2); a functional layer (20) including at least one light-emitting layer (5); and a second electrode (8), wherein the at least one light-emitting layer (5) contains a quantum dot material (11), and wherein when a particle size at a cumulative frequency of 10% and a particle size at a cumulative frequency of 90% in a volume-based cumulative particle size distribution of the quantum dot material (11) are defined as d10 (nm) and d90 (nm), respectively, the quantum dot material (11) satisfies d90−d10≧3 nm. |
| US09773992B2 |
Organic EL display device and method of manufacturing an organic EL display device
An organic EL display device includes in order from a substrate side: a metal layer; an insulating layer formed on the metal layer; a first electrode layer formed on the insulating layer; an organic layer formed on the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer formed on the organic layer. The metal layer is for use as a reflective layer configured to reflect, on a surface of the metal layer, light generated from the organic layer by applying a voltage between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. |
| US09773990B1 |
Semiconductor device
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a fourth electrode, an insulating layer, and a nano-heterostructure. The nano-heterostructure comprises a first surface and a second surface. The first metallic carbon nanotube is located on the first surface and extends in a first direction. The semiconducting carbon nanotube is located on the first surface and extends in the first direction. The semiconducting carbon nanotube is parallel and spaced away from the first metallic carbon nanotube. The second metallic carbon nanotube is located on the second surface and extends in a second direction. An angle forms between the first direction and the second direction. |
| US09773988B2 |
Diindenoanthracene and diindenopentacene
A compound having a structure represented by formula I: wherein each R1 is independently H, alkynyl or substituted alkynyl; each R2 is independently H, alkynyl or substituted alkynyl; each R3 is independently alkyl or halogen; each R4 is independently H, alkyl, or halogen; each R5 is independently H or halogen; n is 0 or 1; and m is 0 or 1, provided that if n is 0 then m is 0, and if n is 1 then m is 1. |
| US09773982B2 |
Light-emitting material, organic light-emitting device, and compound
A compound represented by the general formula (1) is useful as a light-emitting material. In the general formula (1), Ar1 to Ar3 each represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, provided that at least one of Ar1 to Ar3 each represent a carbazolyl group having an N-position substituted with a group containing an electron withdrawing group. |
| US09773978B1 |
Optimal device structures for back-end-of-line compatible mixed ionic electronic conductors materials
A mixed ionic electron conductor (MIEC)-based memory cell access device is provided. The MIEC-based memory cell access device includes a MIEC material portion located between a bottom electrode and a top electrode. A contact area between the MIEC material portion and the bottom electrode is substantially the same as a contact area between the MIEC material portion and the top electrode. |
| US09773972B1 |
Magnetic device
A magnetic device includes a free layer; a pinned layer; a tunnel barrier disposed between the free layer and the pinned layer; a polarization enhancement layer disposed between the tunnel barrier and the pinned layer; and a blocking layer disposed between the polarization enhancement layer and the pinned layer, wherein the blocking layer includes a first diffusion trap layer and a second diffusion trap layer disposed on the first diffusion trap layer. |
| US09773967B2 |
Processing method for grain-oriented lead-free piezoelectric Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3—BaTiO3 ceramics exhibiting giant performance
Textured ceramic compositions having improved piezoelectric characteristics as compared with their random counterparts are provided. Methods of making the compositions and devices using them are also included. More particularly, compositions comprising textured ceramic Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3—BaTiO3(NBT-BT) materials synthesized from high aspect ratio NBT seeds exhibit improved characteristics, including an increased longitudinal piezoelectric constant (d33) and magnetoelectric coupling coefficient over randomly oriented NBT-BT. Additionally provided are compositions comprising of nanostructured Na0.5B0.5TiO3—BaTiO3 ferroelectric whiskers having a high aspect ratio. Nanostructured whiskers can be used to improve the piezoelectric properties of the bulk ceramics. The inventive materials are useful in microelectronic devices, with some finding particular application as multilayer actuators and transducers. |
| US09773965B2 |
Piezoelectric vibrating device
Provided is a piezoelectric vibrating device including a case provided with a certain space therein, a piezoelectric vibrating member provided in the case and vibrating according to an applied voltage, a weight member provided in the case and connected to a part of the piezoelectric vibrating member in a vibration direction of the piezoelectric vibrating member, and a limitation member for limiting movement of the weight member. |
| US09773959B2 |
Optical-semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing an optical-semiconductor device, including forming a plurality of first and second electrically conductive members that are disposed separately from each other on a support substrate; providing a base member formed from a light blocking resin between the first and second electrically conductive members; mounting an optical-semiconductor element on the first and/or second electrically conductive member; covering the optical-semiconductor element by a sealing member formed from a translucent resin; and obtaining individual optical-semiconductor devices after removing the support substrate. |
| US09773957B2 |
Light source circuit unit, illuminator, and display
Provided are a light source circuit unit that improves light extraction efficiency, as well as an illuminator and a display that include such a light source circuit unit. The light source circuit unit includes: a circuit substrate having a wiring pattern on a surface thereof, the wiring pattern having light reflectivity, a circular pedestal provided on the circuit substrate, a water-repelling region provided at least from a peripheral edge portion of the pedestal to a part of a side face of the pedestal, and one or two or more light-emitting device chips mounted on the pedestal, and driven by a current that flows through the wiring pattern. |
| US09773955B2 |
Light conversion plate, and light-emitting diode package, backlight unit, and display device including the plate
A light conversion plate including a first glass substrate; a light conversion layer disposed on the first glass substrate and including quantum dots that convert incident light into light having a specific wavelength range; and a second glass substrate disposed on the light conversion layer. Further, a surface of at least one of the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate includes a plurality of protrusion patterns. |
| US09773951B2 |
Optoelectronic module and a process for the production of an optoelectronic module
An optoelectronic module (100) is defined, comprising at least one semiconductor chip (10) provided for emitting electromagnetic radiation and at least one holding device (20) which is adapted to fix in place a device (50) for encoding at least one optical or electronic parameter of the optoelectronic module (100). Furthermore, a process for the production of the optoelectronic module (100) is defined. |
| US09773944B2 |
Light-emitting diode
The disclosure provides a light-emitting diode which includes a first semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, a second semiconductor layer, a reflective layer, a current blocking layer and a current spreading layer. The light-emitting layer is positioned on the first semiconductor layer, and the second semiconductor layer is positioned on the light-emitting layer. The reflective layer is positioned on a part of the second semiconductor layer, so as to expose another part of the second semiconductor layer. The current blocking layer covers the reflective layer, and the current spreading layer covers the exposed second semiconductor layer and current blocking layer. |
| US09773943B1 |
Quantum dot light-emitting diode and manufacturing method thereof
The present disclosure provides a quantum dot light-emitting diode and a manufacturing method thereof. The quantum dot light-emitting diode, comprising a base plate, a hole transport layer, a quantum dot light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer and a cathode stacked on the base plate in sequence. The quantum dot light-emitting diode further comprises a hole planarized layer formed between the hole transport layer and the quantum dot light-emitting layer, the quantum dot light-emitting layer comprises a first quantum dot sublayer, a second quantum dot sublayer and a third quantum dot sublayer stacked in sequence, the first quantum dot sublayer and the third quantum dot sublayer are negatively charged, and the second quantum dot sublayer is positively charged. |
| US09773938B2 |
Manufacturing method of an amorphous-silicon flat-panel X-ray sensor
An embodiment of the present invention provides a manufacturing method of an amorphous-silicon flat-panel X-ray sensor; the method reduces the number of mask plates to be used, simplifies the production processes, saves production costs, while also improving the product yield. The manufacturing method comprises: on a substrate, after a gate scan line is formed, forming a data line, a TFT switch element and a photosensitive element through one patterning process, wherein on the mask plate used in the patterning process, a region corresponding to a channel of the TFT switch element is semi-transmissive, whereas regions respectively corresponding to the data line, the photosensitive element and the portion of the TFT switch element other than the channel thereof are non-transmissive; thereafter, on the substrate formed with the TFT switch element and the photosensitive element, a passivation layer and a bias line are formed. |
| US09773934B2 |
Hybrid Trough solar power system using photovoltaic two-stage light concentration
A solar power method is provided using two-stage light concentration to drive concentrating photovoltaic conversion in conjunction with thermal collection. The method concentrates light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, which is orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus. R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane, which is parallel to the primary linear focus. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is focused by optical elements along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, which are orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary primary focus is focused into a plurality of receiving areas, and translated into electrical energy. |
| US09773931B2 |
Silver nanoparticles on conducting electrode as plasmonic scattering nanomaterial and related photovoltaic cells
A plasmonic scattering nanomaterial comprising a substrate layer, a metal oxide layer in continuous contact with the substrate layer and silver nanoparticles with a diameter of 25-300 nm deposited on the metal oxide layer is disclosed. The silver nanoparticles have a broad size distribution and interparticle distances such that the silver nanoparticles plasmonically scatter light throughout the metal oxide layer with a near electric field strength of 1-30 V/m when excited by a light source having a wavelength in the range of 300-500 nm and/or 1000-1200 nm. In addition, a method for producing the nanomaterial by sputter deposition is disclosed as well as an appropriate thin film plasmonic solar cell comprising the nanomaterial with a solar efficiency of at least 10%. |
| US09773926B2 |
Optical sensor device
An optical sensor device includes a resin sealing portion for sealing an optical sensor element fixed to an element-mounting portion. The resin sealing portion is constituted of a resin having mixed and dispersed therein a glass filler obtained by pulverizing a phosphate-based glass which has spectral luminous efficacy properties by composition adjustment and high heat resistance and weatherability. The optical sensor device is highly reliable and capable of accommodating size and thickness reductions in packages and has stable and hardly changeable spectral luminous efficacy properties. |
| US09773925B2 |
Chip part and method of making the same
A chip part includes a substrate, an element formed on the substrate, and an electrode formed on the substrate. A recess and/or projection expressing information related to the element is formed at a peripheral edge portion of the substrate. |
| US09773924B2 |
Semiconductor device having barrier region and edge termination region enclosing barrier region
A semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type and having a principal surface and a back surface, a silicon carbide semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type and disposed on the principal surface, barrier regions having a second conductivity type and disposed within the silicon carbide semiconductor layer, an edge termination region having the second conductivity type and disposed within the silicon carbide semiconductor layer, the edge termination region enclosing the barrier regions, a first electrode disposed on the silicon carbide semiconductor layer, and a second electrode disposed on the back surface, wherein each of the barrier regions has a polygonal boundary with the silicon carbide semiconductor layer, and each of sides of the polygonal boundary has an angle of 0° to 5° inclusive relative to <11-20> direction of crystal orientations of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09773921B2 |
Combo amorphous and LTPS transistors
The present disclosure generally relates to an improved large area substrate thin film transistor device, and method of fabrication thereof. More specifically, amorphous and LTPS transistors are formed by first forming an amorphous silicon layer, annealing the amorphous silicon layer to form polycrystalline silicon, depositing a masking layer over a first portion of the polycrystalline silicon layer, implanting a second portion of the polycrystalline silicon layer with an amorphizing species, and removing the masking layer. |
| US09773917B2 |
Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof, display substrate and display device
A thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof, a display substrate and a display device are provided. The method of manufacturing the thin film transistor comprises forming an active layer (4) having characteristics of crystal orientation of C-axis on a substrate (1) by using indium gallium zinc oxide (InGaO3(ZnO)m), where m≧2. The active layer fabricated with InGaO3(ZnO)m has a good electron mobility, and the quality of the fabricated active layer is improved. |
| US09773913B1 |
Vertical field effect transistor with wrap around metallic bottom contact to improve contact resistance
Semiconductor devices having vertical field effect transistor (FET) devices with reduced contact resistance are provided, as well as methods for fabricating vertical FET devices with reduced contact resistance. For example, a semiconductor device includes a vertical FET device formed on a substrate. The vertical FET comprises a lower source/drain region disposed on the substrate. The lower source/drain region comprises an upper surface, sidewall surfaces, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the lower source/drain region contacts the substrate. A lower metallic contact is disposed adjacent to, and in contact with, at least one sidewall surface of the lower source/drain region, wherein the lower metallic contact comprises a laterally extended portion which laterally extends from the at least one sidewall surface of the lower source/drain region. A vertical source/drain contact is disposed adjacent to the vertical FET device and contacts the laterally extended portion of the lower metallic contact. |
| US09773910B2 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, at least a semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, and at least a fin structure formed on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor substrate includes a first semiconductor material, the semiconductor layer includes the first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, and the fin structure includes at least the first semiconductor material. A lattice constant of the second semiconductor material is different from a lattice constant of the first semiconductor material. The semiconductor layer includes a first width, the fin structure includes a second width, and the second width is smaller than the first width. |
| US09773901B1 |
Bottom spacer formation for vertical transistor
A bilayer of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride is formed on exposed surfaces of at least one semiconductor fin having a bottom source/drain region located at the footprint, and on each side, of the at least one semiconductor fin. An upper surface of each horizontal portion of the silicon nitride layer is then carbonized, and thereafter non-carbonized vertical portions of the silicon nitride layer are removed. Next, the carbonized portions of the silicon nitride layer are removed, and thereafter the vertical portions of the silicon dioxide layer are removed from sidewalls of the at least one semiconductor fin utilizing each remaining portion of the silicon nitride layer as an etch mask A bottom spacer structure is provided on each bottom source/drain region in which each bottom spacer structure includes a remaining portion of the silicon dioxide layer and the remaining portion of the silicon nitride layer. |
| US09773900B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: an electron transit layer constituted of GaN; an electron supply layer constituted of Inx1Aly1Ga1−x1−y1N (0≦x1<1, 0≦y1<1, 0<1−x1−y1<1) and provided on the electron transit layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode that are provided on the electron supply layer and located apart from each other; a threshold voltage adjustment layer constituted of Inx2Aly2Ga1−x2−y2N (0≦x2<1, 0≦y2<1, 0<1−x2−y2≦1) of a p-type and provided on a part of the electron supply layer located between the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a gate electrode provided on the threshold voltage adjustment layer. A high resistance layer is respectively interposed both between the gate electrode and the threshold voltage adjustment layer, and between the threshold voltage adjustment layer and the electron supply layer. |
| US09773897B2 |
Multichannel devices with gate structures to increase breakdown voltage
A transistor device is provided that includes a base structure and a superlattice structure that overlies the base structure. The superlattice structure comprises a multichannel ridge having sides that extend to the base structure. The multichannel ridge comprises a plurality of heterostructures that each form a channel of the multichannel ridge. A three-sided gate configuration is provided that wraps around and substantially surrounds the top and sides of the multichannel ridge along at least a portion of its depth. The three-sided gate configuration is configured to re-distribute peak electric fields along the three-sided gate configuration to facilitate the increase in breakdown voltage of the transistor device. |
| US09773892B2 |
Isolation structure of fin field effect transistor
A representative fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes a substrate having a major surface; a fin structure protruding from the major surface having a lower portion comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant; an upper portion comprising the first semiconductor material. A bottom portion of the upper portion comprises a dopant with a first peak concentration. A middle portion is disposed between the lower portion and upper portion, where the middle portion comprises a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant different from the first lattice constant. An isolation structure surrounds the fin structure, where a portion of the isolation structure adjacent to the bottom portion of the upper portion comprises the dopant with a second peak concentration equal to or greater than the first peak concentration. |
| US09773890B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a fin shaped structure, agate structure, an epitaxial layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, a first plug and a protection layer. The fin shaped structure is disposed on a substrate, and the gate structure is across the fin shaped structure. The epitaxial layer is disposed in the fin shaped structure, adjacent to the gate structure. The interlayer dielectric layer covers the substrate and the fin shaped structure. The first plug is formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the first plug is electrically connected to the epitaxial layer. The protection layer is disposed between the first plug and the gate structure. |
| US09773888B2 |
Vertical access devices, semiconductor device structures, and related methods
A vertical access device comprises a semiconductive base comprising a first source/drain region, a semiconductive pillar extending vertically from the semiconductive base, and a gate electrode adjacent a sidewall of the semiconductive pillar. The semiconductive pillar comprises a channel region overlying the first source/drain region, and a second source/drain region overlying the channel region. An opposing sidewall of the semiconductive pillar is not adjacent the gate electrode or another gate electrode. Semiconductive device structures, methods of forming a vertical access device, and methods of forming a semiconductive structure are also described. |
| US09773887B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a gate structure thereon, a first spacer around the gate structure, and a contact etch stop layer (CESL) adjacent to the first spacer; forming a cap layer on the gate structure, the first spacer, and the CESL; and removing part of the cap layer for forming a second spacer adjacent to the CESL. |
| US09773884B2 |
III-nitride transistor with engineered substrate
A transistor includes a buffer layer, a channel layer over the buffer layer, a barrier layer over the channel layer, a source electrode electrically connected to the channel layer, a drain electrode electrically connected to the channel layer, a gate electrode on the barrier layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a backside metal layer, a substrate between a first portion of the buffer layer and the backside metal layer; and a dielectric between a second portion of the buffer layer and the backside metal layer. |
| US09773882B1 |
Integrated structures
Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. Recesses extend into the conductive levels. The conductive levels have projections above and below the recesses. The projections have outer edges. An outer periphery of an individual conductive level is defined by a straight-line boundary extending from the outer edge of the projection above the recess in the individual conductive level to the outer edge of the projection below the recess in the individual conductive level. A depth of the recess is defined as a horizontal distance from the straight-line boundary to an innermost periphery of the recess. The recesses have depths of at least about 5 nm. Charge-blocking regions extend within the recesses. Charge-storage structures are along the charge-blocking regions. Gate dielectric material is along the charge-storage structures. Channel material is along the gate dielectric material. |
| US09773878B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first main electrode terminal and second main electrode terminal disposed on the principal surface of a semiconductor substrate so as to be spaced from one another, an insulating film formed on the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a thin film resistance layer. One end side of the thin film resistance layer is connected to the first main electrode terminal and the other end side of the thin film resistance layer is connected to the second main electrode terminal, the thin film resistance layer being spirally formed on the insulating film in such a way as to surround the first main electrode terminal. The thin film resistance layer extends while oscillating in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09773876B2 |
Semiconductor composition containing iron, dysprosium, and terbium
An amorphous semiconductor composition includes 1 to 70 atomic percent iron, 15 to 65 atomic percent dysprosium, 15 to 35 atomic percent terbium, balance X, wherein X is at least one of an oxidizing element and a reducing element. The composition has an essentially amorphous microstructure, an optical transmittance of at least 50% in at least the visible spectrum and semiconductor electrical properties. |
| US09773875B1 |
Fabrication of silicon-germanium fin structure having silicon-rich outer surface
A method includes forming an oxide layer on a silicon-germanium (SiGe) fin formed on a substrate. The first oxide layer comprises a mixture of a germanium oxide compound (GeOx) and a silicon oxide compound (SiOx). The first oxide layer is modified to create a Si-rich outer surface of the SiGe fin. A silicon nitride layer is deposited on the modified first oxide layer. |
| US09773872B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device to prevent occurrence of short-channel characteristics and parasitic capacitance
Occurrence of short-channel characteristics and parasitic capacitance of a MOSFET on a SOI substrate is prevented.A sidewall having a stacked structure obtained by sequentially stacking a silicon oxide film and a nitride film is formed on a side wall of a gate electrode on the SOI substrate. Subsequently, after an epitaxial layer is formed beside the gate electrode, and then, the nitride film is removed. Then, an impurity is implanted into an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate with using the gate electrode and the epitaxial layer as a mask, so that a halo region is formed in only a region of the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate which is right below a vicinity of both ends of the gate electrode. |
| US09773859B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device comprises a memory area including a memory cell, and a peripheral area including a circuit that drives the memory cell. The circuit includes a first resistance element. The first resistance element includes a first conductive layer extending in a first direction, a first insulating layer provided on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer that includes a portion provided on the first insulating layer and an end portion in contact with the first conductive layer. |
| US09773858B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display
An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a plurality of data lines formed in a display area and a plurality of data pad portions formed in a non-display area and including a plurality of data pads and a plurality of dummy pads formed outside of the data pads. The display also includes a plurality of data fan-out portions electrically connected to the data pads and the data lines, and including a plurality of diagonal portions diagonally formed with respect to the data lines. The display also includes a plurality of voltage applying lines electrically connected to the dummy pads and insulated from the data fan-out portions, wherein at least one of the voltage applying lines intersects one or more of the diagonal portions. |
| US09773856B2 |
EL display panel, power supply line drive apparatus, and electronic device
Disclosed herein is an electroluminescence display panel including a pixel circuit, a signal line, a scan line, a drive power supply line, a common power supply line, a power supply line drive circuit, a high-potential power supply line, and a low-potential power supply line. |
| US09773852B2 |
Organic electroluminescence display
An organic electroluminescence display includes a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, at least one first pixel circuit, and at least one second pixel circuit. The scan lines and the data lines cross. Each of the first and second pixel circuits is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines. The first pixel circuit includes at least one first driving transistor having a first channel in a first channel direction. The second pixel circuit includes at least one second driving transistor having a second channel in a second channel direction. The second channel direction is different from that of the first channel direction. |
| US09773848B2 |
Organic EL display panel, production method therefor, and organic EL display device
An organic EL display panel including: a substrate; banks linearly extending along one direction above the substrate; pixel electrodes spaced away from one another along the one direction, in each of first and second spaces among spaces defined by the banks; a light-emitting layer covering each pixel electrode in each of the first and second spaces; and a sub-bank crossing the one direction at least in the first space, and when defining each light-emitting layer portion covering a pixel electrode as a light-emitting portion and defining each area between light-emitting portions adjacent in the one direction as a non-light-emitting portion, a positive integer N exists for which the following holds true: among Nth non-light-emitting portions counting from one side along the one direction, the Nth non-light-emitting portion in the first space has the sub-bank and the Nth non-light-emitting portion in the second space does not have the sub-bank. |
| US09773845B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A connection unit is provided adjacently to the cell array unit and electrically connected to a peripheral circuit unit positioned downwardly of the cell array unit. The cell array unit has a configuration in which a variable resistance layer is provided at intersections of a plurality of word lines extending in a horizontal direction and a plurality of bit lines extending in a vertical direction. The connection unit includes a lower wiring line layer in which a base portion bundling a plurality of the word lines is formed, and a middle wiring line layer and upper wiring line layer formed upwardly thereof. The lower wiring line layer includes: a first penetrating electrode connecting the plurality of word lines and the peripheral circuit unit; and a second penetrating electrode connecting at least one of the middle wiring line layer and upper wiring line layer and the peripheral circuit unit. |
| US09773844B2 |
Memory cell array structures and methods of forming the same
The present disclosure includes memory cell array structures and methods of forming the same. One such array includes a stack structure comprising a memory cell between a first conductive material and a second conductive material. The memory cell can include a select element and a memory element. The array can also include an electrically inactive stack structure located at an edge of the stack structure. |
| US09773841B2 |
Cell pillar structures and integrated flows
Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods, such as a memory stack having a continuous cell pillar. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a source material, a buffer material, a select gate drain (SGD), and a memory stack arranged between the source material and the SGD. The memory stack comprises alternating levels of conductor materials and dielectric materials. A continuous channel-fill material forms a cell pillar that is continuous from the source material to at least a level corresponding to the SGD. |
| US09773836B1 |
Method and functional architecture for inline repair of defective lithographically masked layers
A method of manufacturing an sensor array includes providing a glass substrate; forming a bottom electrode layer over the glass substrate; forming a sensor material layer over the bottom electrode layer; forming a top electrode layer over the sensor material layer; patterning the top electrode layer, the sensor material layer, and the bottom electrode layer using a first photoresist layer to form a plurality of pixels; detecting a defect in the plurality of pixels; and patterning the plurality of pixels using a second photoresist layer. The first photoresist layer includes a plurality of first pixel patterns and the second photoresist layer comprises a plurality of second pixel patterns, and wherein at least one of the second pixel patterns has an area greater than that of a corresponding first pixel pattern. |
| US09773835B2 |
Solid-state image sensor, imaging device, and electronic equipment
The present technology relates to a solid-state image sensor, an imaging device, and electronic equipment configured such that an FD is shared by a plurality of pixels to further miniaturize the pixels at low cost without lowering of sensitivity and a conversion efficiency.In a configuration in which a plurality of pixels are arranged with respect to at least either of one of the OCCFs or one of the OCLs, a floating diffusion (FD) is shared by a sharing unit including a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels including pixels of at least either of different OCCFs or different OCLs. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor. |
| US09773834B2 |
Method for reducing crosstalk in CMOS image sensor
A method of manufacturing a CMOS image sensor includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a back side, forming at least two pixels in the front side, forming a shallow trench isolation in the front side between the at least two pixels, forming a deep trench in the back side at a location above the shallow trench isolation, and depositing a dielectric layer in the deep trench to form a crosstalk reduction element. |
| US09773831B1 |
Stacked type image sensors having a through silicon via structure
An image sensor having a lower device, an upper devise, and a TSV structure is provides. The lower device may include a lower substrate, a lower TSV pad, and a lower interlayer insulating layer. The lower TSV pad may be formed over the lower substrate. The lower interlayer insulating layer may cover the lower TSV pad. The upper device may include an upper substrate, an upper TSV pad, and an upper interlayer insulating layer. The upper TSV pad may be formed over the upper substrate. The upper interlayer insulating layer may cover the upper TSV pad. The TSV structure may vertically pass through the upper device and electrically connect the upper TSV pad to the lower TSV pad. The upper TSV pad may include an upper opening. The lower TSV pad may include a unit pad and a lower opening. The unit pad may be exposed through the upper opening and contacts the TSV structure in a top view. |
| US09773830B2 |
Image pickup device and method for manufacturing the same
An insulating liner layer has an extra-pixel removal region located outside a pixel region in a region of a vertical angle of at least one of four corners of the pixel region and having the insulating liner layer removed therefrom. |
| US09773819B2 |
Array substrate, its manufacturing method, display panel and display device
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a display panel, a display device and a method for manufacturing the array substrate. The array substrate includes: a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines arranged in a crisscross manner on a base substrate, so as to define a plurality of subpixels; and a common electrode arranged opposite to each of the plurality of subpixels. At least one of the subpixels is provided with a common electrode line connected to the common electrode at an identical subpixel region. |
| US09773815B2 |
Semiconductor device, display device including the semiconductor device, display module including the display device, and electronic appliance including the semiconductor device, the display device, and the display module
In a semiconductor device including a transistor, the transistor is provided over a first insulating film, and the transistor includes an oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, a gate electrode over the gate insulating film, a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film and the gate electrode, and a source and a drain electrodes electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film. The first insulating film includes oxygen. The second insulating film includes hydrogen. The oxide semiconductor film includes a first region in contact with the gate insulating film and a second region in contact with the second insulating film. The first insulating film includes a third region overlapping with the first region and a fourth region overlapping with the second region. The impurity element concentration of the fourth region is higher than that of the third region. |
| US09773814B2 |
Semiconductor device
A solid-state image sensor which holds a potential for a long time and includes a thin film transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. When the off-state current of a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is set to 1×10−13 A or less and the thin film transistor is used as a reset transistor and a transfer transistor of the solid-state image sensor, the potential of the signal charge storage portion is kept constant, so that a dynamic range can be improved. When a silicon semiconductor which can be used for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor is used for a peripheral circuit, a high-speed semiconductor device with low power consumption can be manufactured. |
| US09773813B2 |
Thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof, array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, display device
A thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof, an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are disclosed. The manufacturing method of the array substrate includes depositing an amorphous silicon thin film layer on a base substrate; performing a patterning process on the amorphous silicon thin film layer, so as to form a pattern with multiple small pores at a surface of the amorphous silicon thin film layer. With this method, when a laser annealing treatment of amorphous silicon is performed, the molten silicon after melting fills the space of small pores at a surface of the amorphous silicon thin film layer firstly, thereby avoiding forming a protruded grain boundary that is produced because the excess volume of polysilicon is squeezed. |
| US09773809B2 |
Systems and methods for a semiconductor structure having multiple semiconductor-device layers
A multilayer semiconductor device structure comprising a first buried oxide and a first semiconductor device layer fabricated above the first buried oxide is provided. The first semiconductor device layer comprises a patterned top surface. The patterned surface comprises insulator material and conductor material. The surface density of the insulator material is greater than 40 percent. The multilayer semiconductor device structure further comprises a second buried oxide bonded to the patterned surface of the first semiconductor device layer and a second semiconductor device layer fabricated above the second buried oxide. |
| US09773805B1 |
Integrated structures and methods of forming integrated structures
Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a first opening extending through a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. A nitride structure is within the first opening and narrows the first opening to form a second opening. Detectable oxide is between the nitride structure and one or more of the conductive levels. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. A first opening extends through the vertically-stacked levels to the conductive material and has opposing sidewalls along a cross-section. Nitride liners are along the sidewalls of the first opening. Detectable oxide is between at least one of the nitride liners and one or more of the vertically-stacked conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated structures. |
| US09773798B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes channel layers arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; stacked insulating layers surrounding sidewalls of the channel layers; stacked gate electrodes interposed between the insulating layers, the gate electrodes respectively surrounding the channel layers; and stacked gate lines interposed between the insulating layers, the gate lines electrically connecting the gate electrodes to each other. |
| US09773797B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
According to one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes electrodes, an interlayer insulating film, at least one semiconductor layer, conductive layers, first and second insulating films. The electrodes are arranged in a first direction. The interlayer insulating film is provided between the electrodes. The semiconductor layer extends in the first direction in the electrodes and the interlayer insulating film. The conductive layers are provided between each of the electrodes and the semiconductor layer, and separated from each other in the first direction. The first insulating film is provided between the conductive layers and the semiconductor layer. The second insulating film is provided between each of the electrodes and the conductive layers, and extends between each of the electrodes and the interlayer insulating film adjacent to the each of the electrodes. A width of the conductive layers in the first direction is narrower than that of the second insulating film. |
| US09773795B2 |
Semiconductor devices having airgaps and methods of manufacturing the same
Disclosed are non-volatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same. The non-volatile memory device includes device isolation patterns defining active portions in a substrate and gate structures disposed on the substrate. The active portions are spaced apart from each other in a first direction and extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The gate structures are spaced apart from each other in the second direction and extend in the first direction. Each of the device isolation patterns includes a first air gap, and each of a top surface and a bottom surface of the first air gap has a wave-shape in a cross-sectional view taken along the second direction. |
| US09773792B1 |
One-time programming cell
A one-time programming cell includes a first metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) structure and a second transistor having a common gate electrode electrically connected to a word line. The first MOS structure has a first gate dielectric layer and the second MOS structure has a second gate dielectric layer. The second gate dielectric layer is thicker than the first gate dielectric layer. Source nodes of the first MOS structure and the second MOS structure are electrically connected, and a drain node of the second MOS structure is electrically connected to a bit line. |
| US09773783B2 |
Forming metal-insulator-metal capacitor
A semiconductor device comprises a transistor device arranged on a substrate. The transistor device comprises a first metal gate stack arranged over a channel region, a source/drain region arranged adjacent to the metal gate stack, the source/drain region located on a fin, and a capacitor device arranged on the substrate. The capacitor device comprises a second metal gate stack arranged on the substrate, a spacer arranged along a sidewall of the second metal gate stack, and a first conductive contact arranged on the substrate adjacent to the spacer such that the spacer is disposed between the first conductive contact and the second metal gate stack. |
| US09773778B2 |
Semiconductor device, related manufacturing method, and related electronic device
A semiconductor device may include a first doped region, a second doped region, two fin members, and an isolation member. The first doped region may have a first dopant type. The second doped region may have a second dopant type and may be positioned between two portions of the first doped region. The two fin members may overlap at least one of the first doped region and the second doped region. The isolation member may be formed of a dielectric material and may be positioned between the two fin members. The second doped region may be positioned between the isolation member and the first doped region. |
| US09773777B2 |
Low dynamic resistance low capacitance diodes
A low dynamic resistance, low capacitance diode of a semiconductor device includes a heavily-doped n-type substrate. A lightly-doped n-type layer 1 micron to 5 microns thick is disposed on the n-type substrate. A lightly-doped p-type layer 3 microns to 8 microns thick is disposed on the n-type layer. The low dynamic resistance, low capacitance diode, of the semiconductor device includes a p-type buried layer, with a peak dopant density above 1×1017 cm−3, extending from the p-type layer through the n-type layer to the n-type substrate. The low dynamic resistance, low capacitance diode also includes an n-type region disposed in the p-type layer, extending to a top surface of the p-type layer. |
| US09773776B2 |
Lighting module for emitting mixed light
A lighting module for emitting mixed light comprises at least one first semiconductor element which emits unconverted red light, at least one second semiconductor element which emits converted greenish white light having a first conversion percentage, at least one third semiconductor element which emits greenish white light having a second conversion percentage that is smaller than the first conversion percentage, and at least one resistor element having a temperature-dependent electric resistance, the second semiconductor element being connected in parallel to the third semiconductor element. |
| US09773775B1 |
Integrated circuit containing first and second DOEs of standard cell compatible, NCEM-enabled fill cells, with the first DOE including merged-via open configured fill cells, and the second DOE including snake open configured fill cells
An IC includes first and second designs of experiments (DOES), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of merged-via opens, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of snake opens. |
| US09773774B1 |
Process for making and using a semiconductor wafer containing first and second DOEs of standard cell compatible, NCEM-enabled fill cells, with the first DOE including chamfer short configured fill cells, and the second DOE including corner short configured fill cells
A process for making and using a semiconductor wafer includes instantiating first and second designs of experiments (DOEs), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of chamfer shorts, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of corner shorts. The process may further include obtaining NC measurements from the first and/or second DOE(s) and using such measurements, at least in part, to selectively perform additional processing, metrology or inspection steps on the wafer, and/or on other wafer(s) currently being manufactured. |
| US09773773B1 |
Integrated circuit containing standard logic cells and library-compatible, NCEM-enabled fill cells, including at least chamfer-short-configured, AACNT-short-configured, GATE-short-configured, and GATECNT-short-configured, NCEM-enabled fill cells
An IC includes logic cells, selected from a standard cell library, and fill cells, configured for compatibility with the standard logic cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”). The IC includes such NCEM-enabled fill cells configured to enable detection and/or measurement of a variety of short-circuit failure modes, including at least one chamfer-short-related failure mode, one AACNT-short-related failure mode, one GATE-short-related failure mode, and one GATECNT-short-related failure mode. |
| US09773770B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first semiconductor element. The semiconductor substrate has a circuit core area. The first semiconductor element is arranged on the semiconductor substrate and at least partially surrounds the periphery of the circuit core area. A layout area of the first semiconductor element is larger than a layout area of any of the semiconductor elements in the circuit core area. |
| US09773768B2 |
Method and structure of three-dimensional chip stacking
A method includes placing a first plurality of device dies over a first carrier, with the first plurality of device dies and the first carrier in combination forming a first composite wafer. The first composite wafer is bonded to a second wafer, and the first plurality of device dies is bonded to a second plurality of device dies in the second wafer through hybrid bonding. The method further includes de-bonding the first carrier from the first plurality of device dies, encapsulating the first plurality of device dies in an encapsulating material, and forming an interconnect structure over the first plurality of device dies and the encapsulating material. |
| US09773763B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate including an upper surface on which a component pad and a connection pad are formed, an electronic component connected to the component pad, a conductive connection member connected to the connection pad, an encapsulation resin that encapsulates the electronic component and the connection member, and a wiring unit. The wiring unit includes a first pad, which is embedded in the encapsulation resin and electrically connected to the connection member, and a second pad, which includes an external device connection surface located at a higher position than an upper surface of the encapsulation resin. At least one of the first pad and the second pad includes a side surface that is curved so that the curved side surface widens outwardly toward the upper surface of the encapsulation resin. |
| US09773762B2 |
Bonding LED die to lead frame strips
In one embodiment, an LED bulb includes a plurality of metal lead frame strips, including at least a first strip, a second strip, and a third strip. First LED dies have their bottom electrodes electrically and thermally connected to a top surface of the first strip. Second LED dies have their bottom electrodes electrically and thermally connected to a top surface of the second strip. The top electrodes of the first LED dies are wire bonded to the second strip, and the top electrodes of the second LED dies are wire bonded to the third strip to connect the first LED dies and second LED dies in series and parallel. The strips are then bent to cause the LED dies to face different directions to obtain a wide emission pattern in a small space. The strips are then enclosed in a thermally conductive bulb having electrical leads. |
| US09773759B2 |
Electric power converter
An electric power converter includes a semiconductor module, an electronic component, a plurality of cooling tubes, a case, a main pressure member for pressing a stacked semiconductor section in a stacking direction, and a sub-pressure member for pressing a stacked component section in the stacking direction. The stacked semiconductor section and the stacked component section are stacked in line. A pressing force of the main pressure member is greater than a pressure pressing force of the sub-pressure member. The main pressure member is disposed at an end portion of the stacked component section far from the stacked semiconductor section. A supporting portion that supports the stacked semiconductor section from the stacked component section side is disposed in the case so as to prevent the pressing force of the main pressure member from acting on the stacked component section. |
| US09773758B2 |
Semiconductor device with magnetically aligned chips and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip adjacent a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a first surface and a second surface. The second semiconductor chip includes a third surface and a fourth surface. The third surface faces the second surface. A first through-electrode and a second through-electrode are between the first and second surfaces. A third through-electrode is between the third surface and the fourth surface and is connected to the first through-electrode. A fourth through-electrode is between the third surface and the fourth surface and is connected to the second through-electrode. An end of the first through-electrode has a first magnetic polarity on the second surface, and an end of the second through-electrode has a second magnetic polarity opposite to the first magnetic polarity on the second surface. |
| US09773755B2 |
Substrate interconnections having different sizes
A bump structure that may be used to interconnect one substrate to another substrate is provided. A conductive pillar is formed on a first substrate such that the conductive pillar has a width different than a contact surface on a second substrate. In an embodiment the conductive pillar of the first substrate has a trapezoidal shape or a shape having tapered sidewalls, thereby providing a conductive pillar having base portion wider than a tip portion. The substrates may each be an integrated circuit die, an interposer, a printed circuit board, a high-density interconnect, or the like. |
| US09773754B2 |
Input output for an integrated circuit
A three-dimensional integrated circuit including a first layer and a second layer electrically coupled to the first layer and disposed in a stacked relationship relative to the first layer. Logic circuitry is embodied in the first layer and input output circuitry of an input output circuit is embodied in the second layer. |
| US09773746B2 |
Electronic element and manufacturing method
An electronic element for an electronic apparatus includes a substrate; a bump, disposed on the substrate for electrically connecting the electronic apparatus; and at least one under bump metal layer, disposed between the bump and the substrate for the bump to be attached to the substrate; wherein the UBM layer forms a breach structure. |
| US09773745B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a substrate layer, a redistribution layer (RDL) disposed over the substrate layer, a conductive bump disposed over the RDL, and a molding disposed over the RDL and surrounding the conductive bump, wherein the molding includes a protruded portion laterally protruded from a sidewall of the substrate layer and away from the conductive bump. |
| US09773744B2 |
Solder bump cleaning before reflow
Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to methods for forming modern sophisticated semiconductor devices, and more specifically, methods wherein substantially lead-free solder bumps may be formed above a contact layer of a semiconductor chip. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a solder bump above a metallization layer of a semiconductor device, removing an oxide film from a surface of the solder bump, and, after removing the oxide film, performing a solder bump reflow process in a reducing ambient to reflow the solder bump. |
| US09773741B1 |
Bondable device including a hydrophilic layer
An apparatus includes a first component layer. The component layer includes a first semiconductor device. The apparatus further includes a first hydrophilic layer and a first hydrophobic layer. The first hydrophobic layer is positioned between the first component layer and the first hydrophilic layer. The apparatus further includes a first contact extending through the first hydrophobic layer and the first hydrophilic layer. |
| US09773732B2 |
Method and apparatus for packaging pad structure
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing metal contacts under ground-up contact pads within a device. A device may comprise a bottom metal layer with a bottom metal contact, a top metal layer with a top metal contact, and a plurality of middle metal layers. Any given metal layer of the plurality of middle metal layers comprises a metal contact, the metal contact is substantially vertically below the top metal contact, substantially vertically above the bottom metal contact, and substantially vertically above a metal contact in any metal layer that is below the given metal layer. The metal contacts may be of various and different shapes. All the metal contacts in the plurality of middle metal layers and the bottom metal contact may be smaller than the top metal contact, therefore occupying less area and saving more area for other functions such as device routing. |
| US09773731B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a dummy fin structure disposed over a substrate, a dummy gate structure disposed over a part of the dummy fin structure, a first interlayer dielectric layer in which the dummy gate structure is embedded, a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer, and a resistor wire formed of a conductive material and embedded in the second interlayer dielectric layer. The resistor wire overlaps the dummy gate structure in plan view. |
| US09773728B1 |
Memory arrays
Some embodiments include memory arrays having rows of fins. Each fin includes a first pedestal, a second pedestal and a trench between the first and second pedestals. A first source/drain region is within the first pedestal, a second source/drain region is within the second pedestal, and a channel region is along the trench between the first and second pedestals. The rows are subdivided amongst deep-type (D) rows and shallow-type (S) rows, with the deep-type rows having deeper channel regions than the shallow-type rows. Some embodiments include rows of fins in which the channel regions along individual rows are subdivided amongst deep-type (D) channel regions and shallow-type (S) channel regions, with the deep-type channel regions being below the shallow-type channel regions. |
| US09773724B2 |
Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and semiconductor device packages
Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and semiconductor device packages are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an insulating material layer having openings on a surface of a substrate. One or more insertion bumps are disposed over the insulating material layer. The semiconductor device includes signal bumps having portions that are not disposed over the insulating material layer. |
| US09773722B1 |
Semiconductor package with partial plating on contact side surfaces
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a semiconductor package with partial plating on contact surfaces. The semiconductor package includes a top surface, a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, and side surfaces between the top surface and the bottom surface. Each of the side surfaces includes a step such that the area of the bottom surface is smaller than the area of the top surface. The semiconductor package includes a plurality of contacts that is located at peripheral edges of the bottom surface. Each of the plurality of contacts includes a first surface that is flush with the bottom surface, a second surface that is flush with one of the side surfaces, and a curved surface located at a corresponding step. In some embodiments, the first surface and the curved surface are plated, while the second surface is exposed (not plated). |
| US09773721B2 |
Lead-free solder alloy, connecting member and a method for its manufacture, and electronic part
A lead-free solder which can reduce the occurrence of voids and a connecting member which uses the solder and has excellent adhesion, bonding strength, and workability are provided. The lead-free solder alloy contains Sn: 0.1-3% and/or Bi: 0.1-2%, and a remainder of In and unavoidable impurities and has the effect of suppressing the occurrence of voids at the time of soldering. The connecting member is prepared by melting the lead-free solder alloy, immersing a metal substrate in the melt, and applying ultrasonic vibrations to the molten lead-free solder alloy and the metal substrate to form a lead-free solder alloy layer on the surface of the metal substrate. A heat sink and a package are soldered to each other through this connecting member by reflow heating in the presence of flux. |
| US09773717B1 |
Integrated circuits with peltier cooling provided by back-end wiring
A semiconductor structure comprises one or more semiconductor devices, each of the semiconductor devices having two or more electrical connections; one or more first conductors connected to a first electrical connection on the semiconductor device, the first conductor comprising a first material having a positive Seebeck coefficient; and one or more second conductors connected to a second electrical connection on the semiconductor device, the second conductor comprising a second material having a negative Seebeck coefficient. The first conductor and the second conductor conduct electrical current through the semiconductor device and conduct heat away from the semiconductor device. |
| US09773715B2 |
Multi-layer packaging scheme for implant electronics
The present invention provides a micropackaged device comprising: a substrate for securing a device with a corrosion barrier affixed to the substrate, wherein the corrosion barrier comprises a first thin-film layer, a metal film coating the thin-film layer and a second thin-film layer to provide a sandwich layer; and optionally at least one feedthrough disposed in the substrate to permit at least one input and or at least one output line into the micropackaged device, wherein the micropackaged device is encapsulated by the corrosion barrier. Methods of producing the micropackaged device are also disclosed. |
| US09773714B2 |
Semiconductor package resin composition and usage method thereof
A semiconductor package resin composition of the present invention includes an epoxy resin, a curing agent, inorganic particles, nano-particles surface treated with a silane that contains a photopolymerizable functional group, and a photopolymerization initiator. |
| US09773712B2 |
Ion implantation apparatus and semiconductor manufacturing method
An ion implantation apparatus includes an implantation part, a measuring part, and a controller. The ion implantation part implants ions into an implantation region located at a bottom of a concave portion provided on a semiconductor substrate. The measuring part measures an implantation amount of ions corresponding to an aspect ratio of the concave portion based on ions implanted from the implantation part thereinto, at a first position at which the semiconductor substrate is arranged when the ions are implanted into the implantation region or a second position close to the first position. The controller controls the implantation part to stop implantation of the ions into the measuring part when an accumulated amount of the implantation amount has reached a predetermined amount according to a target accumulation amount of the implantation region. |
| US09773711B2 |
Picking-up and placing process for electronic devices and electronic module
A picking-up and placing process for electronic devices includes: forming a plurality of electronic devices arranged in an array on a carrier, wherein a first conductive layer having a conductive pattern is disposed between each of the electronic devices and the carrier, and a width of the electronic device is greater than that of the corresponding conductive pattern; selectively picking-up parts of the electronic devices and corresponding first conductive layers from the carrier via a picking-up and placing module; and placing the parts of the electronic devices and the corresponding first conductive layers on a target substrate by the picking-up and placing module. An electronic module is further provided. |
| US09773705B2 |
FinFET channel on oxide structures and related methods
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a substantially undoped channel region includes forming a plurality of fins extending from a substrate. In various embodiments, each of the plurality of fins includes a portion of a substrate, a portion of a first epitaxial layer on the portion of the substrate, and a portion of a second epitaxial layer on the portion of the first epitaxial layer. The portion of the first epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins is oxidized, and a liner layer is formed over each of the plurality of fins. Recessed isolation regions are then formed adjacent to the liner layer. The liner layer may then be etched to expose a residual material portion (e.g., Ge residue) adjacent to a bottom surface of the portion of the second epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins, and the residual material portion is removed. |
| US09773702B2 |
Device without zero mark layer
Devices and methods for forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having first and second surfaces. At least one through silicon via (TSV) opening is formed in the substrate. The TSV opening extends through the first and second surfaces of the substrate. An alignment trench corresponding to an alignment mark is formed in the substrate. The alignment trench extends from the first surface of the substrate to a depth shallower than a depth of the TSV opening. A dielectric liner layer is provided over the substrate. The dielectric liner layer at least lines sidewalls of the TSV opening. A conductive layer is provided over the substrate. The conductive layer fills at least the TSV opening to form TSV contact. A redistribution layer (RDL) is formed over the substrate. The RDL layer is patterned using a reticle to form at least one opening which corresponds to a TSV contact pad. The reticle is aligned using the alignment mark in the substrate. |
| US09773701B2 |
Methods of making integrated circuits including conductive structures through substrates
A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming at least one opening through a first surface of a substrate. The method further includes forming at least one conductive structure in the at least one opening. The method further includes removing a portion of the substrate to form a processed substrate having the first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and to expose a portion of the at least one conductive structure adjacent to the second surface. The at least one conductive structure continuously extending from the first surface through the processed substrate to the second surface of the processed substrate, at least one sidewall of the at least one conductive structure spaced from a sidewall of the at least one opening by an air gap. |