| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09813134B1 |
Base station and antenna calibration method
A first FFT operator converts, with respect to each of analog circuits, a feedback signal x(t) in the time domain that is obtained after a transmission signal d(t) passes through the analog circuit into a feedback signal X(f) in the frequency domain. A second FFT operator converts the transmission signal in the time domain into a transmission signal D(f) in the frequency domain. A phase error calculator calculates, with respect to each of the analog circuits, a phase error C(f) in the frequency domain based on the feedback signal X(f) and the transmission signal D(f). An IFFT operator calculates, with respect to each of the analog circuits, a tap coefficient c(t) of an FIR filter based on the phase error C(f). The FIR filter 21 filters, with respect to each of the analog circuits, the transmission signal d(t) based on the tap coefficient c(t). |
| US09813131B2 |
Method and system for beam alignment on directional wireless links
Embodiments of a system and method for simultaneous high-speed multi-user beam tracking in a Wireless Network are generally described herein. A transmitting station (STA) may be configured to support directional wireless links with multiple receiving STAs in a high-mobility millimeter-wave (mm Wave) wireless network. The transmitting STA may include hardware processing circuitry configured to, for each of the multiple receiving STAs, transmit a packet over a directional wireless link between the transmitting STA and the receiving STA and receive transmit antenna performance metrics from the receiving STA. The packet may include a data portion, a receive training sequence, and a transmit training sequence that occupy different portions of the packet, and the transmission of the packet over the directional wireless link may include transmission of the data portion of the packet according to a current transmit antenna direction associated with the directional wireless link. |
| US09813124B2 |
Methods for codeword level interference cancellation with network assistance
A method for a receiver to cancel or suppress co-channel interference with network assistance is provided. The method comprises deriving a first set of parameters related to interfering signals in a mobile communication network; receiving a second set of parameters related to the interfering signals from the network; and cancelling the contribution of interfering signals from the received signal based on the combination of the first set and second set of parameters. In one embodiment, scrambling rules and resource block allocation information are signaled to the victim UE to facilitate Codeword-Level Interference Cancellation (CWIC). While the scrambling rule for control channel is based on UE-specific identity, the scrambling rule for data channel is based on cell-specific identity or other network-configurable identity to facilitate CWIC. In addition, RA-allocation information are signaled to the victim UE in an efficient way. |
| US09813123B2 |
Multi-input and multi-output communication method in large-scale antenna system
The present invention relates to a multi-input and multi-output communication method in a large-scale antenna system. An MIMO transmission method according to the present invention includes: obtaining statistical channel information on at least one terminal, dividing terminals into a plurality of classes and a plurality of groups based on the statistical channel information, wherein the groups depend on the classes; determining a group beam-forming matrix for each of the divided groups; performing a group beamforming transmission by group based on the group beam-forming matrix to obtain instantaneous channel information; and scheduling terminals based on the instantaneous channel information. Thus, it is possible to decrease the complexity in a scheduling and precoding calculation without an increase in the amount of wireless resources that are required for providing feedback for a reference signal and channel status information. |
| US09813121B1 |
Massive MIMO multi-user beamforming and single channel full duplex for wireless networks
This invention presents a method and apparatuses for wireless networking comprising one or more BS with Nbs antennas; two or more SCs in the range of a BS where a SC has Nsc antennas, uses Nsc1≦Nsc antennas for communication with a BS and uses Nsc2≦Nsc antennas for communication with one or more UEs; at the same time a BS transmitting DL signals to K SCs using multi-user transmit BF in a frequency channel, a SC simultaneously transmitting DL signals to one or more UEs in its range using the same frequency channel; and, at the same time a BS receiving UL signals from K SCs using multi-user receive BF in a frequency channel, a SC simultaneously receiving UL signals from one or more UEs in its range using the same frequency channel. Furthermore, beamforming using antennas on the SCs is performed to reduce the inter-SC interferences. |
| US09813118B2 |
Method and apparatus for network communication in wireless power transmission system
A method of configuring a network of a power transmitting unit (PTU) includes determining whether a neighboring PTU is operating in a master mode; determining an operation mode of a PTU based on a result of the determining; and setting a network between the PTU and the neighboring PTU based on the operation mode of the PTU. |
| US09813114B2 |
Sheet for shielding electromagnetic waves for wireless charging element
A sheet for shielding electromagnetic waves includes a magnetic sheet formed of a metal ribbon. The magnetic sheet includes fractures disposed in a plurality of cracked portions comprising a plurality of metal ribbon fragments. |
| US09813113B2 |
System and method for controlling radio base station, and related device
In a system for controlling a radio base station, an out-of-band emergency channel based on a power cable is established between a baseband unit (BBU) and a remote radio unit (RRU) such that even when a unique communications interface common public radio interface (CPRI) between the BBU and the RRU is abnormal, the BBU can still effectively control the RRU using the out-of-band emergency channel. In another system for controlling a radio base station, out-of-band emergency channels based on power cables are established among multiple RRUs such that even when a unique communications interface CPRI between a BBU and a target RRU is abnormal, the BBU can still effectively control the target RRU using an out-of-band emergency channel between any RRU (a unique communications interface CPRI of the RRU is normal) and the target RRU, and the BBU can effectively control the RRU. |
| US09813112B2 |
Power control method, device, and system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a power control method, device, and system, and relate to the field of communications technologies. The method is applied to a vectoring system, where the vectoring system includes multiple lines, each line includes multiple subcarriers, and for each subcarrier, a crosstalk channel is formed between the multiple lines, and the method includes: obtaining a closed subcarrier set of the multiple lines according to line crosstalk channel information corresponding to each subcarrier of the multiple subcarriers, where the closed subcarrier set includes a subcarrier set required to be closed on the multiple lines; and sending the closed subcarrier set of the multiple lines to a transceiver, and closing, by the transceiver, a transmit signal on a subcarrier required to be closed on each line. |
| US09813109B2 |
Communication system and communication method
A communication system constructs a communication network using a hopping pattern designated in a router advertisement between a wireless communication device that transmits the router advertisement designating the hopping pattern of channel hopping and an opposite party communication device that receives the router advertisement. The wireless communication device comprises a receiver configured to receive a router advertisement transmitted from another wireless communication device, a generator configured to generate the hopping pattern that does not use the same channel at the same time with respect to a hopping pattern that is designated by the router advertisement received by the receiver, and a transmitter configured to transmit the router advertisement that designates the hopping pattern generated by the generator. |
| US09813108B2 |
Method of generating binary offset carrier correlation function based on partial correlation functions, apparatus for tracking binary offset carrier signal, and spread spectrum signal receiver system using the same
A method of generating a BOC correlation function based on partial correlation functions, an apparatus for tracking a BOC signal, and a spread spectrum signal receiver system using the same are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a frequency offset compensation unit, a local code generation unit, a mixer, a delay lock loop (DLL), a phase lock loop (PLL), and a data extraction unit. The frequency offset compensation unit outputs a compensated received signal with respect to a received signal. The local code generation unit generates a delay-compensated local code based on a code delay value. The mixer mixes the delay-compensated local code with the frequency offset-compensated received signal. The DLL repeatedly tracks and calculates a code delay value. The PLL repeatedly calculates a carrier frequency compensation value. The data extraction unit extracts spreading data from a mixture of the delay-compensated local code and the compensated received signal. |
| US09813101B1 |
Electronic privacy apparatus and related methods
An apparatus for enveloping a portable communication or storage device includes a plurality of walls configured to at least partially enclose the portable communication or storage device. The apparatus also includes a processor, and a first shutter that is associated with one or more of the walls. The first shutter is operatively coupled to the processor, and is disposed so as to overlie a first camera lens of the portable communication or storage device. The first shutter has a first condition in which the taking of digital impressions with the first camera lens is unobstructed, and a second condition in which the taking of digital impressions with the first camera lens is hindered. The processor is configured to verify that a plurality of conditions is met before allowing the first shutter to toggle between the first and second conditions of that first shutter. |
| US09813094B2 |
Wideband receiver
A receiver and method for identifying the frequency of an RF component in an RF signal are disclosed. The receiver includes a first mixer that receives an RF signal and mixes that RF signal with a first multi-tone LO signal that includes a plurality of tones to generate a mixed signal. The output of the first mixer is filtered by a first filter that removes signals outside of a predetermined band to generate a first IF signal. A processor determines the RF frequency of the component utilizing the first IF signal and a second IF signal generated using a second multi-tone LO signal having a different plurality of tones from said first multi-tone signal. The first and second multi-tone LO signals can be generated by clocking suitable digital sequences into the mixer either by using different sequences or by using the same sequence clocked at a different rate. |
| US09813091B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communicating with a receiving unit
In some embodiments, techniques are provided for extending the functionality of a receiving unit which is configured to express a state during an event. In some embodiments, a receiving unit configured to receive a first set of transmissions during an event from one or more transmitting units and express a state in response may also be configured to receive a second set of transmissions from other components at a time other than during the event and express a state in response to receiving the second set of transmissions. |
| US09813090B2 |
Transmission device and transmission method
In order to realize a power-saving power amplifier compatible with Carrier Aggregation technology using a plurality of bands, with a small size and low cost, while improving the amplitude accuracy and power efficiency, a transmission device of the present invention comprises: a modulation means that generates, from a baseband signal corresponding to each of the plurality of bands, a first and a second constant-envelope signals having different phases; a power amplification means that amplifies respective ones of the first and second constant-envelope signals generated by the modulation means; and a combining means that combines together the first and second constant-envelope signals amplified by the power amplification means and thereby generating an RF signal in which amplitude information contained in each of the baseband signals corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of bands is restored. |
| US09813087B2 |
Clock tone power boosting
A digital signal processing apparatus and method is described for a transmitter of a communication link. The digital signal processing apparatus comprises a pre-compensation filter for boosting power of a signal to be transmitted within two predetermined frequency bands. One of the predetermined frequency bands is centered around a clock tone frequency of fbaud/2, and the other one of the predetermined frequency bands is centered around a clock tone frequency of −fbaud/2, fbaud being a baud rate of the transmitted signal. |
| US09813082B2 |
Heat spreader with thermally coductive foam core
A heat spreader and a method for making a heat spreader are disclosed. In an embodiment the heat spreader includes an enclosure with a hollow core and a foam core located in the hollow core. |
| US09813078B2 |
Systems and methods for automated electrical element addressing
The present disclosure relates generally to automating the task of assignment of labels to identify electrical elements (e.g., electrode contacts, electrodes including a plurality of electrode contacts, and/or non-addressable electrical elements, like wires). A system that can automate the task of assignment of labels can include an electrical element, a microelectronic circuit associated with the electrical element, and an acquisition system. The microelectronic circuit can transmit a sequence comprising a label corresponding to the electrical element. The acquisition system can assign the label corresponding to the electrical element to a recording channel after decoding the sequence. |
| US09813077B2 |
Asynchronous electrical circuitry techniques for producing stationary carrier signal to encode input signal amplitude into output signal time-sequence information
Asynchronous electrical circuitry produces a stationary carrier signal and encodes a system input signal amplitude into output signal time-sequence information by establishing at a digitizer an operating point value as an average amplitude of the system input signal. It applies to the digitizer a multicomponent digitizer-input signal corresponding to a sum of a passband signal component and a feedback signal component to produce a pulse-width modulated digitizer output signal representing the system input signal. An asynchronous time delay is introduced to produce the pulse-width modulated system output signal. The circuitry performs digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) to the pulse-width modulated system output signal to produce a DAC output signal. The DAC output signal or its summation with the passband signal component is integrated to produce the feedback signal component. Additional, multiple-order embodiments include sequential feedback paths or carrier-shaping functions. |
| US09813076B1 |
Analog to digital converter and a method for analog to digital conversion
An ADC that may include a sampler that generates a series of current pulses; a group of charge memory units; a de-multiplexor for providing charge packets that reflect the series of current pulses to the group; at least one controller that causes different charge memory units of the group to receive charge packets from different current pulses during reception periods that start and end at points of tome outside the current pulses, a group of PWM modulators that are configured to generate PWM pulses that represent the charge packets stored by the group of charge memory units; and a processor that is configured to generate an output digital signal that represents the input analog signal based on the PWM pulses. |
| US09813074B2 |
Calibration of interpolating string digital-to-analog converters
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to calibrate interpolating string digital-to-analog converters are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to calibrate a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) include determining a first calibration codeword based on a first nonlinearity error value measured at an output of the DAC when a most-significant-bit (MSB) portion of an input codeword is applied to an input of the DAC. Such disclosed example methods also include determining a second calibration codeword based on a second measured nonlinearity error value measured at the output of the DAC when a least-significant-bit (LSB) portion of the input codeword is applied to the input of the DAC. Such disclosed example methods further include combining the first calibration codeword and the second calibration codeword to determine a third calibration codeword to be accessed by the DAC to calibrate the output of the DAC when the input codeword is applied to the DAC. |
| US09813071B1 |
Scaling apparatus and method for compensating nonlinearity due to the finite output impedance of current sources in current-steering digital-to-analog converters
A scaling apparatus and method for compensating nonlinearity due to the finite output impedance of current sources in current-steering digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are disclosed herein. In an example, a DAC may receive a digital input signal. The DAC may determine an output current weight for each of a plurality of unit cells, based on an output impedance of the unit cell. Further, the DAC may generate an analog output signal by applying the plurality of output current weights to the digital input signal. Then, the DAC may output the analog output signal. The analog output signal may be a high frequency analog output signal, which may be an optical high frequency analog output signal. In an example, a transfer curve of the analog output signal may be linear in terms of analog output signal voltage versus digital input code. The output current weights may include one or more polynomial terms. |
| US09813069B1 |
Half-rate bang-bang phase detector
A clock and data recovery circuit includes a phase detector, an adder, and an oscillator circuit. The phase detector includes a sampling circuit, a comparison circuit, and a resampling circuit. The sampling circuit includes first through fourth flip-flops for receiving a data signal and first through fourth clock signals, and generating first through fourth sampling signals. The comparison circuit includes first through fourth logic gates for receiving the first through fourth sampling signals and generating first through fourth comparison signals, respectively. The resampling circuit includes fifth through eighth flip-flops for receiving the first through fourth comparison signals and the first through fourth clock signals, and generating first through fourth control signals, respectively. The adder receives the first through fourth control signals, and generates a frequency control signal. The oscillator circuit receives the frequency control signal, generates the first through fourth clock signals. |
| US09813063B2 |
Method of using a field-effect transistor as a current sensing device
An apparatus may include one or more registers configured to store a plurality of values, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Each value of the plurality of values may correspond to a characteristic of a transistor at a respective temperature value. The ADC may be configured to generate a digital value corresponding to a difference in voltage levels between a first terminal and a second terminal of the transistor. The apparatus may further include a sensor configured to measure a temperature, and control logic configured to generate a first voltage level at a control terminal of the transistor and receive the digital value from the ADC. The control logic may be further configured to determine, during a first operational mode, a current passing through the transistor dependent upon the digital value, at least one value of the plurality of values, and the temperature. |
| US09813062B2 |
Finfet based driver circuit
Disclosed herein is a driver circuit including a first group of transistors provided between first and second nodes and including n of the transistor(s) where n is equal to or greater than one, and a second group of transistors provided in parallel with the first group of transistors and including m of the transistor(s) where m is equal to or greater than one and not equal to n, the m transistors being connected together in series. The n-channel transistor in the first group and at least one of the two n-channel transistors in the second group have their gate connected to an input node. |
| US09813054B2 |
Semiconductor switching string
A semiconductor switching string includes a plurality of series-connected semiconductor switching assemblies, each having a main semiconductor switching element that includes first and second connection terminals. The main semiconductor switching element also has an auxiliary semiconductor switching element electrically connected between the first and second connection terminals. Each semiconductor switching assembly also includes a control unit configured to switch on a respective auxiliary semiconductor switching element to selectively create an alternative current path between the first and second connection terminals whereby current is diverted to flow through the alternative current path to reduce the voltage across the corresponding main semiconductor switching element. The or each control unit is further configured to switch on the auxiliary semiconductor switching element when the voltage across the corresponding main semiconductor switching element differs from a voltage reference derived from the voltage across all of the main semiconductor switching elements. |
| US09813053B2 |
Gate capacitance control in a load switch
A switch for controlling a power supply and a method of operating the switch are disclosed. The switch includes a first transistor having a drain and a source connected between VIN and VOUT and a gate connected to be driven to a first voltage that is greater than VIN, an external capacitor operable, when connected to the gate of the first transistor, to control a rise time of VOUT, and a circuit coupled to the gate of the first transistor and to the external capacitor, the circuit connected to couple the external capacitor to the gate of the first transistor responsive to an enable signal turning on and to uncouple the external capacitor from the gate of the first transistor responsive to the voltage on the gate reaching the first voltage. |
| US09813052B2 |
Method and system for reliable bootstrapping switches
Methods and systems for reliable bootstrapping switches may comprise sampling a received signal with a bootstrapping switch, where the bootstrapping switch comprises a switching metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a pull-down path coupled to a gate terminal of the switching MOS transistor, wherein: source terminals of both a diode-connected transistor and a second MOS transistor are coupled to the gate terminal of the switching MOS transistor; drain terminals of both the diode-connected transistor and the second MOS transistor are coupled to a source terminal of a third MOS transistor, the third MOS transistor coupled in series with a fourth MOS transistor; and a drain terminal of the fourth MOS transistor is coupled to ground. The third and fourth MOS transistors may be in series with the second MOS transistor. A gate terminal of the fourth transistor may be switched from ground to a supply voltage to activate the pull-down path. |
| US09813051B2 |
Driving circuit for power switch
An electronic circuit is for switching a power transistor having a drain coupled to a drain node, a source coupled to a lower voltage supply, and a gate coupled to a gate node. The electronic circuit includes first current generation circuitry to generate a first current to flow into the gate node in response to assertion off an ON signal, the first current being substantially constant. Second current generation circuitry generates a second current to flow into the gate node in response to deassertion of an OFF signal, the second current being inversely proportional to a gate to source voltage of the power transistor. First comparison circuitry compares a drain voltage at the drain node to a reference voltage, and activates third current generation circuitry to generate a third current to flow into the gate node when the drain voltage is less than the reference voltage. |
| US09813049B2 |
Comparator including a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device and a transistor
A particular apparatus includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device and a transistor. The MTJ device and the transistor are included in a comparator that has a hysteresis property associated with multiple transition points that correspond to magnetic switching points of the MTJ device. |
| US09813044B2 |
High gain filter circuit with an accurate transfer function
An active high gain filter includes high value resistances in feedback implemented using a negative resistance circuit configuration. The high value resistance is implemented using two or smaller resistances connected in the negative resistance circuit configuration. This implementation permits integration of the filter circuit using less occupied area while still providing an accurate transfer function response. |
| US09813042B2 |
Converting a single-ended signal to a differential signal
A single-ended signal can be converted to a differential signal or reverse. A printed circuit board component can comprise a bottom metal layer and a top metal layer, wherein the bottom metal layer is connected to the top metal layer by an array of metal posts, and wherein the array of metal posts is arranged to form a substrate integrated waveguide network configured to transmit a set of electromagnetic waves corresponding to a single-ended signal represented according to a bandwidth. Furthermore, in an aspect, the device can comprise a coaxial to waveguide adaptor component comprising a coaxial cable port portion and a waveguide port portion, wherein the waveguide port portion guides the set of electromagnetic waves to the substrate integrated waveguide network. |
| US09813037B2 |
Detection device, sensor, electronic apparatus, and moving object
A detection device includes a driving circuit which drives a vibrator, and a detection circuit which detects a desired signal. The driving circuit includes a current-voltage conversion circuit which receives a feedback signal, and performs a current-voltage conversion, a drive signal output circuit which amplifies an input voltage signal after being subjected to the current-voltage conversion, and outputs a drive signal of a sine wave, and a gain control circuit which controls a gain of amplification of the drive signal in the drive signal output circuit. When a resistance for a current-voltage conversion is set to RI, the gain of the amplification of the drive signal in the drive signal output circuit is set to K, and an equivalent series resistance in a fundamental wave mode of the vibrator is set to R, the gain control circuit performs a gain control such that K×RI=R is satisfied. |
| US09813034B2 |
Amplification circuit and method of compensating for voltage offset of inputs
Aspects of the disclosure provide an amplification circuit. The amplification circuit includes an amplifier and a first variable resistive device. The amplifier includes first and second input nodes configured to receive the first and second input electrical signals and first and second output nodes configured to output first and second output electrical signals having amplified voltages relative to the first and second input electrical signals. The first variable resistive device is electrically coupled to the second input node of the amplifier. The first variable resistive device being configured to have a selected resistance value to compensate for a direct current (DC) voltage difference between the first and second input electrical signals based on a DC voltage difference between first and second output electrical signals that are output from the first and second output nodes of the amplifier. |
| US09813031B2 |
Linear row array integrated power combiner for RF power amplifiers
A novel and useful radio frequency (RF) front end module (FEM) circuit that provides high linearity and power efficiency and meets the requirements of modern wireless communication standards such as 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN), third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) cellular standards, BLUETOOTH™, ZIGBEE™, etc. The configuration of the FEM circuit permits the use of common, relatively low cost semiconductor fabrication techniques such as standard Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes. The FEM circuit includes a power amplifier made up of one or more sub-amplifiers having high and low power circuits and whose outputs are combined to yield the total desired power gain. An integrated multi-tap transformer having primary and secondary windings arranged in a novel configuration provide efficient power combining and transfer to the antenna of the power generated by the individual sub-amplifiers. |
| US09813025B2 |
Apparatus and method for power supply modulation
Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for amplifying a radio frequency transmission signal, comprising: an envelope signal obtaining unit (210) configured to obtain a slow envelope signal indicating a time averaging amplitude component of the radio frequency signal and a fast envelope signal indicating an instant amplitude component of the radio frequency signal; a supply voltage modulating unit (230) configured to provide an output modulated supply voltage to the power amplifying unit by modulating a direct current supply voltage based on both the slow envelope signal and the fast envelope signal; and a power amplifying unit (220) configured to amplify power of the radio frequency transmission signal according to the output modulated supply voltage. |
| US09813019B2 |
Photovoltaic connection box and photovoltaic assembly
A photovoltaic connection box is disclosed. The photovoltaic connection box has a box, a conductive terminal received in the box and having a first lateral wall perpendicular to a bottom of the box, and a diode connected to the first lateral wall. |
| US09813018B2 |
Solar cell apparatus
Disclosed is a solar cell apparatus. The solar cell apparatus includes a first substrate including a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region, a plurality of solar cells in the first region, and a second substrate provided in the first region to expose the second region and provided on the solar cells. |
| US09813011B2 |
Device for generating photovoltaic energy with blocks of cells
Photovoltaic energy generation device, characterized in that it comprises at least one brick (120) comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are arranged two cells (111), each comprising a photovoltaic cell (7), comprising one or more elementary photovoltaic cell(s), and a storage element (8) connected to the terminals of the photovoltaic cell, and at least three cell switchs (113), so as to be able to dispose the said two cells (111) in series or in parallel. |
| US09813010B2 |
Motor control apparatus having a function of detecting miswiring
A motor control apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to be connected to a motor by a wiring line, and includes: a motor driving unit for driving a motor; a current command unit for commanding supply of current to the motor driving unit; and, a miswiring detecting unit for detecting miswiring of lines connected to motors by acquiring via wiring lines a signal indicating the motor temperature detected by a motor temperature detector provided for the motor, wherein the miswiring detecting unit detects presence or absence of miswiring of the wiring lines, based on the change of the motor temperature when the current command unit commands supply of reactive current to the motor driving unit. |
| US09813007B2 |
Control system for an electric motor
A control system for an electric motor, the control system comprising a first control device arranged to control an operation of a first component of the electric motor; a second control device arranged to control an operation of a second component of the electric motor, wherein the first control device is arranged to transmit to the second control device a first signal for indicating the transmission of data over a first communication link to the second control device, wherein the second control device is arranged to use the timing of the first signal to synchronize the operation of the second component with the operation of the first component. |
| US09813002B2 |
Motor controller and turbo-molecular pump
A motor controller comprises: a rotation angle estimation unit for estimating and computing a rotation angle of a motor repeatedly based on the current and voltage of the motor without using a motor rotation angle detector; a speed calculation unit for calculating the period of the signal waveform of the rotation angle that is repeatedly estimated and calculated by the rotation angle estimation unit and for calculating an actual rotational speed of the motor based on the period; a drive signal generating unit for generating a drive signal to drive and control the motor based on at least a deviation between the actual rotational speed and a target rotational speed and the rotation angle; and a switching circuit that is switched based on the drive signal to provide drive power to the motor. |
| US09813001B2 |
Control device for rotating electric machine
A control device capable of suppressing electromagnetic force applied to a motor has a harmonic current calculation section and an operation section. The harmonic current calculation section calculates amplitude and phase of each of harmonic currents to be superimposed over a fundamental current which flows in phase windings of a stator of the motor based on conditions relating to load change of the motor. The operation section generates and transmits instruction signals to an inverter so that the calculated superimposed harmonic currents flow in the phase windings of the stator. |
| US09813000B2 |
Method and system for enhanced accuracy of chemical injection pumps
A method and system for maintaining consistent output for a pump powered by an electric motor, is provided, including: sending electrical measurements regarding power applied to the motor to a controller; determining if the electrical measurements indicate a power variation; changing the parameters of output from the motor to compensate for the variation. The system uses a controller configured to receive electrical measurements regarding power input to the motor, to determine if the electrical measurements indicate a power variation; and to change the parameters of output from the motor to compensate for the variation. |
| US09812999B2 |
AC and DC brushless motor for fan
AC and DC brushless motor for the fan, comprising a brushless motor; and an active power adjustment mechanism, disposed within the brushless motor and comprising an EMI filtering and rectifying unit, a prior driving unit connected to the EMI filtering and rectifying unit, a motor driving unit connected to the brushless motor, a constant current unit connected to the EMI filtering and rectifying unit and the prior driving unit, a protective compensation unit connected to the prior driving unit and the constant current unit, a motor controlling unit connected to the motor driving unit, and a sensing unit connected to the motor controlling unit. |
| US09812997B2 |
Opening control device in a vehicle door
In an opening control device in a vehicle door, in order to stop the door at a desired position, a control unit stops power supply to a motor, and a short circuit is made in an electric circuit between a first terminal and a second terminal of the motor. In the electric circuit, there is formed a regenerative brake circuit in which regenerative braking can be applied to rotation of the motor. When the door is positioned within a fully-open-position-adjacent range that is adjacent to a fully-open position of the door, regenerative braking is applied to normal rotation of the motor for opening the door and is not applied to reverse rotation of the motor for closing the door. |
| US09812994B2 |
Ultrasonic motor and lens driving apparatus
An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator configured to generate a vibration, a relatively movable member configured to be movable by the vibrator, wherein the relatively movable member is movable relatively according to the vibration of the vibrator, a holding unit configured to hold the vibrator, wherein the holding unit includes a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator and a second holding member; and a damping member provided between the vibrator and the second holding member and configured to reduce a vibration transmitted to the second holding member, a pressure unit configured to press the vibrator against the relatively movable member, wherein the second holding member is configured to press the vibrator against the relatively movable member, and wherein the first holding member is made of a material having a higher damping capability against the vibrator than a material of the second holding member. |
| US09812987B2 |
Topology for controlled power switch module
The present topology for controlled power switch module is concerned with a module where the parasitic inductance of the emitter of the top power switch is optimized to allow the injection of a sample of the overvoltage across this parasitic inductance in the gate drive circuit of the top power switch as a feedback to slow down the slope of the falling gate voltage during an overvoltage that is above a predetermined value. |
| US09812980B2 |
Power conditioning units
We describe a power conditioning unit with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for a dc power source, in particular a photovoltaic panel. A power injection control block has a sense input coupled to an energy storage capacitor on a dc link and controls a dc-to-ac converter to control the injected mains power. The power injection control block tracks the maximum power point by measuring a signal on the dc link which depends on the power drawn from the dc power source, and thus there is no need to measure the dc voltage and current from the dc source. In embodiments the signal is a ripple voltage level and the power injection control block controls an amplitude of an ac current output such that an amount of power transferred to the grid mains is dependent on an amplitude of a sinusoidal voltage component on the energy storage capacitor. |
| US09812978B2 |
Circuit and method for driving synchronous rectifiers for high-frequency flyback converters
A voltage waveform similar to a waveform of a magnetizing current of an isolation transformer and immune to high frequency oscillatory resonant behavior is developed across a capacitor of a series resistor and capacitor connection connected in parallel with a synchronous rectifier. A simple logic circuit produces a waveform for controlling the synchronous rectifier which is not subject to significant turn on delay or early turn off caused by oscillatory resonances among parasitic inductances and capacitances. Improved timing accuracy of a synchronous converter provides improved power converter accuracy, particularly for flyback converters which are commonly used in converters for supplying power to offline electrical devices but are subject to oscillatory resonant behaviors that cannot be adequately damped at switching frequencies sufficiently high to support miniaturization of adapters. |
| US09812975B2 |
Resonant converter with capacitive mode control and associated control method
A control circuit used for controlling a resonant converter. The control circuit has a setting capacitor, N up thresholds and N low thresholds. If the resonant converter operates in the inductive mode, a setting voltage signal across the setting capacitor is respectively compared with the largest one of the N up thresholds and the smallest one of the N low thresholds in each operation cycle to generate a high-side control signal and a low-side control signal for controlling a high-side switch and a low-side switch of the resonant converter. If the resonant converter enters into the capacitive mode, the setting voltage signal is respectively compared with each of the N up thresholds and each of the N low thresholds operation cycle by operation cycle to generate the high-side control signal and the low-side control signal. |
| US09812972B2 |
Wake up management circuit for a switching converter and related wake up method
A switching converter converts an input signal to a regulated output signal using a switch and a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding. A wake up management circuit receives a transformer demagnetization signal and forces by wake up pulses the switch on when the switching converter operates in a burst mode. Sampled values of the transformer demagnetization signal are received. A setting circuit sets a first peak value of the current of the primary winding. A comparison circuit compare the sampled values with a voltage threshold and the preceding sampled value. In response thereto, the first peak value of the primary winding current is either maintained or a new peak value is set. |
| US09812968B2 |
Zero voltage switching detection apparatus and method
A converter comprises a switch network coupled to a power source, wherein the switch network comprises a plurality of power switches, a magnetic device coupled to the switch network, a detector coupled to the magnetic device through a magnetic coupling and a control circuit configured to receive a zero voltage switching signal from the detector and adjust gate drive signals of the power switches based upon the zero voltage switching signal. |
| US09812967B2 |
Inrush current limiting method based on buck+boost topology
A cascaded buck+boost inrush limiter is claimed where the buck converter is only allowed to switch for very short times and stays turned on, or off, during steady state operation. The inrush limiter has a control system having a digital controller and an analog comparator for controlling the buck and boost converters. The system utilizes a single loop current feedback. |
| US09812959B2 |
Step up/down switching regulator
A step up/down switching regulator converts an input voltage of an input terminal into a predetermined setting voltage in a step up/down manner and outputs the setting voltage as an output voltage from an output terminal. The step up/down switching regulator includes a bypass mode in which the input voltage is directly bypassed to the output terminal without performing a step up/down switching, and a step up/down switching mode in which the step up/down switching is performed. The step up/down switching regulator includes a step up/down output unit, a step up/down control unit, and a mode select terminal. |
| US09812958B2 |
Voltage regulator with improved overshoot and undershoot voltage compensation
A voltage regulator includes an error amplifier; an output transistor; and a first transistor including a gate for inputting a reference voltage and a source for inputting an output voltage. The first transistor is configured to cause a current to flow when the output voltage becomes an irregular voltage, and a current of the output transistor is controlled based on the current flowing through the first transistor. The voltage regulator capable of improving the overshoot or undershoot of the output voltage in a wide temperature range and to reduce a delay in detection of the overshoot or undershoot. |
| US09812957B2 |
DC/DC converter and method of driving DC/DC converter
A DC/DC converter (100) includes a voltage conversion unit (20) having an input node to receive an input voltage and an output node to output an output voltage and configured to convert the input voltage to the output voltage to output the output voltage from the output node, and an electrical energy storage unit (GC2) including a first electrode to be a positive electrode and a second electrode to be a negative electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected to the input node of the voltage conversion converter. The DC/DC converter (100) further includes a switching unit (S1) configured to electrically connect the second electrode of the electrical energy storage unit to one of ground and the output node of the voltage conversion unit alternatively. The switching unit (S1) connects the second electrode of the electrical storage unit (GC2) to the output node when the input voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage. |
| US09812949B2 |
Poly-phase inverter with independent phase control
A converter system and inverter system are disclosed with individual real and reactive power control for each phase of a poly-phase system. The converter system includes a controller, bidirectional single-phase inverters with AC sides coupled to an AC line filter and DC sides connected in parallel to a link capacitor coupled to DC/DC converters. Each inverter handles a separate AC phase. The controller controls the inverters and DC/DC converters so the current amplitude of each AC phase is independent, and the phase difference of each AC phase is independent. The inverters can be galvanically isolated between the DC and AC sides. The inverters can be non-isolated inverters having line and neutral connectors coupled to an isolated transformer winding, and the output windings of the transformer can be wired in a Wye configuration. The inverters can have local controllers. |
| US09812948B2 |
Dynamic brown-out threshold voltage for power control
A method of operating a power up circuit is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input voltage and creating a plurality of sample voltages from the input voltage. One of the sample voltages is selected and compared to a reference voltage. The power up circuit produces a brown-out signal in response to the step of comparing. |
| US09812946B2 |
Power converter and operating method thereof
A power converter and a method are disclosed. The power converter includes a plurality of converting modules and a plurality of switching circuits. Each of the converting modules includes a bypass element configured to be shorted when a fault occurs. The switching circuits are electrically coupled in series to each other and electrically coupled in parallel to the converting modules respectively. Any one of the switching circuits is configured to be shorted when the bypass element of the corresponding converting module is shorted. |
| US09812945B2 |
Circuit structure for enhancing EFT immunity of primary side converter
The present disclosure relates to a circuit structure for enhancing EFT immunity of primary side converter, including a power ground and a feedback voltage detecting block, a feedback current detecting block, a controller, a PWM driving block, a high voltage starting block, a starting unit, a circuit for enhancing EFT immunity of primary side converter, a power MOS transistor, and an OR gate configured to perform a logical OR of an off-time calculated theoretically and an off-time output by an off-time control block. The present disclosure enhances EFT immunity effectively and improves the dynamic characteristics of the primary side converter. |
| US09812941B2 |
High power driver having multiple turn off modes
A transistor circuit includes a transistor having a control electrode, a first current electrode, and a second current electrode. A turn off mode change circuit has a signal input that receives a series of pulses, an output coupled to the control electrode of the transistor, and a control input. The turn off mode change circuit has a fast turn off mode and a slow turn off mode. A turn off mode detection circuit is coupled between the first current electrode and the second current electrode. The turn off mode change circuit detects when a transition from the fast turn off mode to the slow turn off mode is desired and when a transition from the slow turn off mode to the fast transition mode may be performed. |
| US09812935B2 |
Electric machine, conductor guide and associated method
An electric machine is provided. The electric machine includes a rotor and a stator. The stator includes a plurality of teeth and a plurality of windings. Each of the plurality of windings is positioned around at least one of the plurality of teeth. The electric machine further includes a leakage current shielding system. The leakage current shielding system includes a plurality of leakage current shields. Each of the current shields includes a body portion thereof which is positioned between the plurality of teeth and the plurality of windings. Each of the leakage current shields also includes a connecting portion that extends from the body portion. The leakage current shielding system also includes a plurality of connectors. Each of the plurality of connectors is adapted for receiving the connection portion of the leakage current shield. The leakage current shielding system also includes a connecting ring for securing the plurality of connectors. |
| US09812934B2 |
Inverter device and inverter-integrated electric motor
An inverter device is formed of the two systems of inverters stored inside a cylindrical metal casing. Each inverter converts DC power to three-phase AC power. The inverters are formed of power semiconductor elements, DC bus bars through which DC power supplied to the respective power semiconductor elements, capacitors connected to the DC bus bars, and switches connected between the respective DC bus bars and the DC input terminals. High-impedance switches are disposed in the vicinity of the DC input terminals. Hence, electromagnetic noises generated by switching actions of the power semiconductor elements are circulated within the inverters by way of the capacitors and eventually attenuated. |
| US09812932B2 |
Motor
A motor includes a rotating portion including a shaft and a rotor, and a stationary portion including a stator and a magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor is located above the rotor to detect the rotational position of the rotor. The rotor includes a tubular rotor core defined by laminated steel sheets; a rotor magnet including an upper end surface at an axial level higher than an axial level of an upper end surface of the rotor core; and a rotor holder including a ferromagnetic body, and above the rotor core and radially inside of the rotor magnet. Each of the rotor core and an outer cylindrical portion of the rotor holder is in contact with the rotor magnet or opposite to the rotor magnet with a gap intervening therebetween. |
| US09812931B2 |
Apparatus for switching between wye and delta configurations in an electric motor
An electric motor, including a motor assembly having a rotor and a stator, and a switching assembly adapted to switch the motor assembly between a wye configuration, a delta configuration, and a neutral configuration. The switching assembly may include a plurality of actuators configured to move at least two movable contact members so as to select which configuration of the motor assembly is active. |
| US09812930B2 |
Control unit for a power tool
A power tool is provided including a housing; a brushless DC motor housed inside an upper body of the housing; a control unit housed inside a handle of the housing, the control unit comprising a micro-controller mounted over a control circuit board; and a variable-speed switch assembly including a main body mounted directly on a surface of the control circuit board, a trigger, a plunger linearly movable with the trigger with respect to the main body, a speed-sensing mechanism housed inside the main body and coupled to the plunger to generate a variable-speed voltage signal based on the position of the plunger, and at least one output pin connecting the speed-sensing mechanism of the variable-speed switch assembly directly to at least one conductive track on the control circuit board to provide the variable-speed voltage signal to the micro-controller via the at least one conductive track. |
| US09812928B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating power using inertia
The invention is an apparatus for generating power using inertia of a load in a moving vehicle. The apparatus includes a vessel having a volume that is capable of an expansion and a contraction, and containing a fluid under a pressure. The fluid is released from the vessel as a force is exerted by the load of the vehicle against the vessel. The apparatus includes a reservoir, operably connected to the vessel by fluid conduit. The reservoir contains the fluid under pressure until an optimum pressure is reached at which point the reservoir releases the fluid to a power generator. The power generator then generates electrical power. Excess fluid released from the power generator then returns to the vessel. |
| US09812923B2 |
Gear motor
A gear motor includes an electric motor, a high ratio hypoid ring and pinion coupled to the motor, and one set of spur gears to couple to and work with the spiroid gear set to transfer power to an output shaft. |
| US09812919B2 |
Inverter-integrated electrically driven compressor
The purpose is to provide an inverter-integrated electrically driven compressor by which the danger of contacting an inverter device while power is being applied can be overcome in a reliable manner, without the need to provide any extra components, such as safety devices or the like. In this inverter-integrated electrically driven compressor, the inverter device is arranged housed within an inverter housing part hermetically sealed by a cover, and power and communication lines from an external power supply and a control device are connectable to the inverter device through connectors. The connector on the compressor side is furnished to the cover side, and at least one bolt of a fastening means for fastening the cover to the inverter housing part is furnished at location covered by the connector on the power line side, making access impossible, when the connector on the power line side has been coupled to the connector on the compressor side. |
| US09812912B2 |
Rotor for permanent magnet motor having a magnetic pole portion and a field portion
A rotor for a permanent magnet motor, includes a magnetic pole portion that includes a magnetic body formed in an annular shape; and a field portion that is disposed adjacent to the magnetic pole portion in an axial direction, that includes a permanent magnet formed in an annular shape and having a multipole structure or a plurality of permanent magnets formed in an annular shape and having a monopole structure and a magnetic body, and that causes a magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet to flow in the axial direction so as to generate magnetic poles on an outer circumferential surface of the magnetic pole portion. |
| US09812911B2 |
DC motor
A DC motor includes a core, two bifurcated branching portions, an inner coil, and an outer coil. The core includes teeth. Each tooth includes a distal end and a basal end. The branching portions are located at the distal end. The inner coil is wound around the basal end. The outer coil is wound around each of the branching portions of the tooth and a branching portion of an adjacent one of the teeth. The inner coil and the outer coil each have a number of turns that is adjusted so that an inductance of the inner coil conforms to an inductance of the outer coil. |
| US09812910B2 |
Method for mounting stator core on generator assembly using the same
Provided is a method for mounting a stator core on a generator, the generator having key bars and spring bars disposed between the key bars and a frame body, the method including pre-laminating stator core sheets to form a stator core bundle in a given unit; conveying the stator core bundle laminated in the given unit; and mounting the stator core bundle on the inner peripheral surface of the frame body. |
| US09812908B2 |
Magnetically isolated phase interior permanent magnet electrical rotating machine
A magnetically isolated phase stator includes a stator phase section with two sides and a magnetically inactive isolation region on each side that prevents a permanent magnetic field from being shared from the stator phase section and another stator phase section of the stator. A magnetically isolated phase interior permanent magnet electrical rotating machine includes a magnetically isolated phase stator, a rotor, and an air gap between the stator and rotor defining a rotor-stator interface, the rotor having two or multiples of two permanent magnets arranged in parallel with opposing magnetic poles to direct magnetic flux through a pole of the rotor, through the air gap of the rotor-stator interface, and through a pole of the stator. |
| US09812893B2 |
Wireless power receiver
A wireless power receiver for wirelessly receiving driving power from a wireless power transmitter and a method for wirelessly receiving charging power at a wireless power receiver from a wireless power transmitter are provided. The wireless power receiver includes a power reception unit configured to wirelessly receive the charging power from the wireless power transmitter; a rectifier configured to rectify the charging power from the power reception unit; a load unit configured to store the rectified charging power from the rectifier; and a controller configured to detect a change of a charging mode for the load unit, and control to adjust an impedance in the power reception unit according to the change of the charging mode. |
| US09812892B2 |
Portable power charger with wireless and direct charging connectivity
A portable power charger unit is provided for charging one or more electronic devices. The portable charger unit includes a charger housing storing a rechargeable battery, and wireless power transmission components, such as a transmitter and a receiver for recharging the charger as well as electronic devices via wireless power transmission methods. The portable charger unit also includes at least one power connection for connecting the charger with an external power source, or at least one electronic device, or both, for direct charge connectivity. The power connection can be a power connection port or a power connector cable, attached to the charger housing, each of them capable of acting as a power input, a power output, or both. A processing unit controls operation of the portable charger unit for wireless and direct charging. |
| US09812891B2 |
Method for transferring wireless power
This invention defines management protocols for wireless power transfer to multiple devices in Multi-device Wireless Power Management System. Various functions of Multi-device Wireless Power Management System are justified from this invention. The WPT frames and messages which work between the management block of a charger and the management block or the coupler block of a device, or the coupler block of a charger are defined as well to execute various functions. Also the procedures for each functionality are described based on its frames and messages. |
| US09812889B2 |
Battery charging system
There is provided a planar inductive battery charging system designed to enable electronic devices to be recharged. The system includes a planar charging module having a charging surface on which a device to be recharged is placed. Within the charging module and parallel to the charging surface is at least one and preferably an array of primary windings that couple energy inductively to a secondary winding formed in the device to be recharged. The invention also provides secondary modules that allow the system to be used with conventional electronic devices not formed with secondary windings. |
| US09812887B2 |
Secondary-battery monitoring device and battery pack
A secondary-battery monitoring device capable of realizing highly reliable overcurrent detection and a battery pack having it are provided. When an overcurrent flowing to a secondary battery is to be detected by utilizing a current detection voltage generated via on-resistance of a discharge-control switch and a charge-control switch, a voltage correction circuit that generates a correction voltage having a characteristic varied by positive slope or negative slope along with increase in a power supply voltage is provided, and the correction voltage is added to the detection voltage or a reference power supply voltage with the polarity that cancels out the slope of voltage variation caused in the detection voltage, and then the voltage is input to a comparator circuit. In this manner, variation in the overcurrent determination current is reduced. |
| US09812884B2 |
Management of power delivered over a port
The present application describes power management devices, systems and methods. In an embodiment, a power management controller is configured to: determine that a secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds a default power threshold defined in a default power scheme; monitor internal power requirements associated with on-board functions of an electronic device and determine that internal power requirements satisfy predetermined criteria; and in response to determining that the secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold and that the internal power requirements satisfy the predetermined criteria, adjust a power scheme associated with the port and implemented by the power limiter to provide, to the secondary electronic device, an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold. |
| US09812880B2 |
Cradle for rechargeable lighting devices
A charger cradle for recharging a rechargeable lighting device is described. The cradle may include two prongs that flex outwards to allow a lighting device to be inserted into the cradle. After the lighting device is fully inserted, the prongs resume a normal position to exert an inward force on the lighting device to secure it in place. The cradle may also include two moveable cradle arms, in lieu of two prongs, to allow a spring mechanism within the device to motivate the moveable cradle arms to grasp a lighting device when the lighting device is inserted into the rechargeable lighting device. |
| US09812879B2 |
Battery thermal monitoring system
A battery thermal monitoring system prevents thermal runaway during battery charging. A temperature sensor and relay may be connected to each battery. The temperature at each battery may be compared to the ambient temperature in the charging system. When the temperature difference between the battery charging temperature and the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined difference, the relay may disconnect the battery from the charging source. |
| US09812877B2 |
Charge redistribution method for cell arrays
Cell balancing aims to prolong the battery operating life by equalizing the Electro Motive Force (or Open Circuit Voltage) of the participating cells. Even perfectly balanced cells though will exhibit different output voltages because of differences in their internal impedances. The difference in voltage will depend on the load current frequency and intensity. A method is described for re-distributing charge in such a way so when the worst (from the point of view of voltage spread) possible load conditions occur, cells will have similar outputs and none will cross the under-voltage threshold causing a premature shut down of the battery. |
| US09812870B2 |
Microgrid reactive power management for voltage regulation during and subsequent to islanding
Methods and systems for power management include determining a voltage level of a grid; if the voltage level is below a lower voltage threshold, setting power outputs for one or more distributed generators on the grid to maximum; and if the voltage level is above the lower voltage threshold and below an upper voltage threshold, determining power outputs for one or more distributed generators on the grid using sensitivity-based distributed Q compensation. |
| US09812868B2 |
Smart junction box for photovoltaic solar power modules with safe mode and related method of operation
The invention comprises: a smart junction box with a safe mode for photovoltaic solar power modules; and the related method of operation. Power MOSFETs are used as active bypass diodes during the normal operation of the smart junction box, but in safe mode the power MOSFETs are turned on continuously, thereby reducing the output voltage to a safe level of approximately 200 mV. A Non Volatile Memory (NVM) keeps the module in the safe mode after power from the PV cells is interrupted by momentary shading or night. The smart junction box includes transmitter and receiver circuits for wirelessly communicating with other smart junction boxes. The smart junction box enters safe mode in response to receiving a shut-down signal, and exits safe mode in response to receiving a restart signal. The smart junction box acts as a signal repeater, thereby ensuring that the shut-down and restart signals propagate to all junction boxes in the solar array. Some embodiments of the smart junction box include at least one detection circuit for detecting the interruption of current flowing through the junction box, and the receiver circuit typically interprets the detected interruption of current as a shut-down signal. |
| US09812867B2 |
Capacitor enhanced multi-element photovoltaic cell
A multi-element photovoltaic cell having two or more photovoltaic elements with an isolation layer interposed between all contiguous photovoltaic elements. Each photovoltaic element has an element front conductor and an element rear conductor which are in electrical contact with the photovoltaic layer of the photovoltaic element. The current from a respective photovoltaic element which is generated as incident solar radiation irradiates the photovoltaic cell, flows independently of the other photovoltaic elements to one or more capacitor banks controlled by a photovoltaic controller. The photovoltaic controller controls charging and discharging of element capacitors of the capacitor banks so as to optimize the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell. |
| US09812866B2 |
Energy storage system
Systems and methods for controlling power flow to and from an energy storage system are provided. One energy storage system includes an energy storage device and a bidirectional inverter configured to control a flow of power into or out of the energy storage device. The energy storage system further includes a controller configured to control the bidirectional inverter based on one or more signals received from the generator set coupled to the inverter via an AC bus. The controller is configured to, based on the one or more signals, control the bidirectional inverter to store power generated by the generator set in the energy storage device and transmit power from the energy storage device to a load driven by the generator set to maintain the generator set within a range of one or more operating conditions. |
| US09812862B2 |
Paralleling of active filters with independent controls
A parallel filter arrangement with at least two filters supplying current in line side sensing configuration and a number of sensors for measuring current. The sensors are used to determine the amount of current being supplied by the filters and the amount of current being supplied by a source. The filters adjust their supplied current in order to reduce or eliminate the amount of reactive or harmonic current being supplied by a source. |
| US09812861B2 |
Power adapter and method of adapting power for electronic devices
A power adapter and a method of adapting power for electronic devices. Two or more input ports are connectable to electrical power sources. An output port is connectable to an electronic device. A controller is in parallel power-receiving communication with the input ports, in power-providing communication with the output port, and in data-carrying communication between the output port and a first one of the input ports. The method includes checking for electrical power at the first input port and at least one other input port, and when electrical power is present at both, coupling the power from the input ports in parallel to the output port and enabling data communication between the first input port and the output port. |
| US09812859B2 |
Distributed maximum power point tracking system, structure and process
Distributed maximum power point tracking systems, structures, and processes are provided for power generation structures, such as for but not limited to a solar panel arrays. In an exemplary solar panel string structure, distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) modules are provided, such as integrated into or retrofitted for each solar panel. The DMPPT modules provide panel level control for startup, operation, monitoring, and shutdown, and further provide flexible design and operation for strings of multiple panels. The strings are typically linked in parallel to a combiner box, and then toward and enhanced inverter module, which is typically connected to a power grid. Enhanced inverters are controllable either locally or remotely, wherein system status is readily determined, and operation of one or more sections of the system are readily controlled. The system provides increased operation time, and increased power production and efficiency, over a wide range of operating conditions. |
| US09812855B2 |
Resonant converter and driving method thereof
A resonant converter includes a first switch on the primary side and a second switch coupled to the first switch, a synchronization rectification switch on a secondary side configured to conduct during a conduction period in response to a switching operation of the first switch, and a switch control circuit configured to determine an operating region of the resonant converter to be below resonance based on a result of a comparison between the conduction period and an on period of the first switch. |
| US09812854B2 |
Power supply device and high potential test method thereof
A power supply device is disclosed. A circuit board is disposed inside a conductive housing. A rectifying module is disposed on the circuit board and has primary and secondary sides. The grounding module includes a first grounding element, a second grounding element, and a fastening element. Two terminals of the first surge protection module are respectively electrically connected to the primary side and the first grounding element. Two terminals of the second surge protection module are respectively electrically connected to the secondary side and the second grounding element. The second grounding element and the first grounding element are not directly connected. The fastening element passes through the conductive housing, the circuit board, the first grounding element, and the second grounding element so that the conductive housing, the first grounding element, and the second grounding element are electrically connected to one another. |
| US09812853B2 |
Intelligent switchable device
Disclosed herein is an intelligent switchable device for selectively conducting electricity based on the condition of a branch circuit. The device contains at least one sensor for producing a signal indicative of a condition. The device is capable of transmitting data and communications as well as receiving data, including remote instructions and rules. The device is capable of storing rules for determining whether to render the switch conductive or non-conductive. An optical prong detector is provided to determine whether both the hot and neutral prongs of a plug have been inserted into the receptacle. The receptacle provides conductance upon determination of insertion of a plug into the receptacle. Additional features include GFI detection, current detection, heat detection, warning lights and an audible alarm. The receptacle includes communication abilities with remote devices to transmit data indicative of the state of the device. |
| US09812848B2 |
Fixed vertical distribution bus bar
The detrimental effects of environmental hazards on units having withdrawable stabs or contacts may be overcome by using fixed feed units in compartments in a manner akin to withdrawable units. In particular, multiple fixed feed units may be provided in a single section or column by implementing vertical bus bars providing multiple connection points particular to fixed feed units. As a result, fixed feed units may be mounted to the vertical bus bars, as opposed to horizontal main bus bars or requiring complex wiring, thereby allowing multiple fixed feed units to be efficiently provided to maximize space. An electrically insulating bus support, which may be supplemented with bracing, may provide improved short-circuit protection. Electrically insulating covers over fixed feed unit connections may also provide electrical isolation in the system in accordance with industry standards. Moreover, in one aspect, fixed feed units and withdrawable units may be intermixed. |
| US09812847B2 |
Ionizer
An ionizer includes: a positive-side transformer, and a negative-side transformer; a positive-side high-voltage output circuit that has a first input terminal and a second input terminal that are respectively connected to a ground terminal and a power supply terminal, the ground terminal and power supply terminal being provided on the secondary of the positive-side transformer, and also has a first output terminal from which a direct-current positive high voltage is output; a negative-side high-voltage output circuit that has a third input terminal and a fourth input terminal that are respectively connected to a ground terminal and a power supply terminal, the ground terminal and power supply terminal being provided on the secondary of the negative-side transformer, and also has a second output terminal from which a direct-current negative high voltage is output; and a discharge electrode connected to the first output terminal. The ground terminal in the positive-side transformer and the first input terminal in the positive-side high-voltage output circuit are mutually connected through an attenuating capacitor. |
| US09812842B2 |
Hybrid optical source with optical proximity coupling provided by an external reflector
A hybrid optical source comprises an optical gain chip containing an optical gain material that provides an optical signal, and an optical reflector chip including an optical reflector. It also includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) chip, which comprises a semiconductor layer having a planarized surface facing the semiconductor reflector. The semiconductor layer includes: an optical coupler to redirect the optical signal to and from the planarized surface; and an optical waveguide to convey the optical signal from the optical coupler. While assembling these chips, a height of the optical gain material is referenced against the planarized surface of the semiconductor layer, a height of the optical reflector is referenced against the planarized surface of the semiconductor layer, and the optical reflector is aligned with the optical coupler, so that the optical signal emanating from the optical gain material is reflected by the optical reflector and into the optical coupler. |
| US09812841B2 |
Lasersystem
There is provided a laser system that may include a Raman cell, a pumping light generator, and a Raman cell laser unit. The pumping light generator may include one or more optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs), and may be configured to output first Raman-cell pumping light and second Raman-cell pumping light to the Raman cell. The Raman cell laser unit may be configured to output probing light as a target of wavelength conversion to the Raman cell. |
| US09812838B2 |
Pulsed laser for lidar system
A lidar system with a seed laser to produce seed pulses with wavelengths between approximately 1400 nm and 2050 nm. A first amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). An optical filter removes at least a portion of the ASE. A second amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce output pulses having a repetition frequency less than or equal to 100 MHz, a duration less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds, a duty cycle less than or equal to 1%, an energy greater than or equal to 10 nanojoules, a peak power greater than or equal to 1 watt, and an average power less than or equal to 50 watts, the ASE comprising less than or equal to 25% of the average power. A sensor head directs the output pulses into a field of view and detects reflected light therefrom. |
| US09812835B2 |
Method for establishing an electrically conductive connection between an electrical line and an electrical conductive component
In order to provide a method for establishing an electrically conductive connection between an electrical line which includes a plurality of individual conductors and an electrically conductive component which is easily realizable but nevertheless leads to a corrosion resistant connection between the individual conductors of the electrical line and the electrically conductive component, it is proposed that the method includes producing a crimping element that surrounds the individual conductors sectionally from a crimping element preform by means of a crimping tool, and connecting at least a portion of the individual conductors to the electrically conductive component by an ultrasonic welding process by means of a sonotrode. |
| US09812833B2 |
SFP socket connector
An SFP socket connector is disclosed in this invention. In a socket housing of the SFP socket connector, one row of upper terminal-receiving grooves are located on an inner side of a top wall and extend to a mounting space, and some of the other row thereof are formed between upper support bars and extend to the mounting space. One row of lower terminal-receiving grooves are located on an inner side of a bottom wall and extend to the mounting space, and some of the other row thereof are formed between lower support bars. The shielding case has an upper port aligned with two rows of upper terminal-receiving grooves and a lower port aligned with two rows of lower terminal-receiving grooves. Multiple terminal assemblies are mounted in the socket housing and are arranged side by side in the order of ground-signal-signal. |
| US09812828B1 |
Wedge shaped power station and related methods
A power station includes a wedge-shaped body including first and second surfaces extending between respective first and second ends. The respective first ends meet with the respective second ends being spaced apart in a rest position. The first and second surfaces are biased apart from each other such that an outward force is generated thereby when urged together from the rest position. At least one power socket is located on the wedge-shaped body and configured for connection to an electrical power source. |
| US09812827B2 |
Connector having tongue portion with peripheral support unitarily formed with metallic shell
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing, and a metallic shield enclosing the housing. The contacts includes a row of first contacts and another row of second contacts. The insulative housing includes a main base and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the body. The metallic shield includes a main body, a tubular section extending forwardly from the main body, an inner part forwardly extending from the main body and inside said tubular section. The inner part forms a receiving space in which the tongue portion is received. |
| US09812821B2 |
Connection module with light display
The disclosure relates to a connection module, including a plurality of connections for functional elements and a plurality of operating indicators. At least one of the operating indicators has a display element, and the display element has a base, which is disposed as a light guide and which has a light in-coupling surface and a light out-coupling surface. |
| US09812817B1 |
Electrical connector having a mating connector interface
An electrical connector includes a housing having a base with signal and ground contact openings therethrough and contact modules coupled to the base. Each contact module includes a dielectric holder holding signal contacts having mating portions received in corresponding signal contact openings and extending into a chamber for mating with a mating electrical connector. A ground shield is coupled to the dielectric holder having a plurality of rails. At least two of the rails have ground hoods extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder along the mating portions of the signal contacts. The ground hoods are received in corresponding ground contact openings and extend into the chamber for mating with the mating electrical connector. |
| US09812811B1 |
Connector housing mounted on a wall socket by means of an adaper plate
A retractable wall mounted electrical connector assembly is mounted to an existing electrical wall socket for charging a battery of a hand held device, and includes an adapter plate with adapter openings for alignment with the support openings of the wall socket, and a perimeter support rim. The cord housing includes a perimeter mating rim that fits with the perimeter support rim of the adapter plate, and a lock for connecting the perimeter mating rim of the cord housing to the perimeter support rim of the adapter plate. |
| US09812808B2 |
Molded printed circuit board
Described herein is a molded printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may be placed inside of a mold and a material is injected therein. The material hardens in the mold around the printed circuit board thereby forming an overmolded printed circuit board. The overmolded material may have apertures in it to allow access to the leads on the printed circuit board so that components to be connected to it. The overmolded printed circuit boards may allow a plurality of electrical components to selectively and removably attach to it. Further, the printed circuit board may be attached in a housing which may itself removably and selectively connect to components. |
| US09812806B2 |
Terminal fitting and connector
A terminal fitting includes a wire connecting portion (11) to be connected to an end part of a wire. A terminal body (12) is provided in front of the wire connecting portion (11) and has a square cross-section. A projection (30) projects in a direction intersecting with a front-back direction from the terminal body (12). The projection (30) includes a standing wall portion (35) standing along a side surface of the terminal body (12) from a corner part of the terminal body (12), a front surface of the projection (30) is inclined to gradually reduce a projecting dimension toward front and a rear surface of the projection (30) is open in the front-back direction. |
| US09812805B2 |
Abutting type connector
A butting surface (21) of a first butting terminal fitting (20) held by a first terminal accommodating member (40) is formed in a curved-surface configuration protruding toward a second butting terminal fitting (30) side held by a second terminal accommodating member (50). A plurality of contact spring pieces (33a and 33b) of the second butting terminal fitting (30) which are butted against the butting surface (21) and resiliently deformed are flat plate type leaf springs arranged on the same plane. |
| US09812798B2 |
Electrical connector with heat dissipating path
An electrical connector mounted to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) includes an insulating housing having a mating face, a mounting face and a rear wall positioned between the mating face and the mounting face. The housing defines a number of contact-receiving passageways and a number of heat dissipating slots communicating with the contact-receiving passageways. a number of conductive contacts are respectively received in the passageways. Each contact includes a contacting portion, a termination portion and an intermediate portion. The insulating housing has a heat dissipating section defined between the mounting face and the rear wall. The heat dissipating section communicates with the heat dissipating slots to thereby defining a heat dissipating path therebetween. |
| US09812797B2 |
Connection structure and connection method for terminal fitting
A connection structure of a terminal fitting includes the terminal fitting including a terminal body, and a plurality of terminal connection portions extending from the terminal body and connection terminals connected to end portions of electric wires. Each of the connection terminals includes a pair of fastening caulking pieces which erects on opposite side portions of a terminal bottom portion. The pair of the fastening caulking pieces are caulked with opposite side portions of a corresponding one of the terminal connection portions from outside so that the connection terminal is caulked and fastened to the terminal fitting. Concave-convex engagement portions are provided in opposed surfaces in which the terminal connection portion and the terminal bottom portion abut against each other. The terminal fitting is connected to the electric wires through the connection terminals. |
| US09812793B2 |
Electrical connector with a sheath clamp
An electrical connector for electrically contacting an electrical conductor includes a sheath clamp configured for insertion of the electrical conductor, a plug contact pin for fitting onto a socket, and a contact bridge on which the sheath clamp and the plug contact pin are secured. A connection device includes an electrical connector and a contact support. The electrical connector includes a sheath clamp and a plug contact pin. The contact support is configured to receive the electrical connector and includes a sheath clamp aperture and a plug aperture. |
| US09812792B2 |
Pressing element, electrical/electronic component
A pressing element is configured for an electrical component which needs to be pressed against another element for contact. The electrical component includes at least one electrically conductive touch contact. The pressing element has an annular pressing surface for the electrical component. An outer contour of the pressing surface is greater than an outer contour of the electrical component which needs to be pressed. The pressing surface has an annular elevation which forms a bearing surface for the electrical component. |
| US09812791B2 |
Single band dual concurrent network device
A network device comprising, a first radio module configured to transmit and receive first radio signals in a first frequency band, a first antenna array configured to transmit and receive the first radio signals for the first radio module in the first frequency band, a second radio module configured to transmit and receive second radio signals in the first frequency band, a second antenna array configured to transmit and receive the second radio signals for the second radio module in the first frequency band, wherein, in operation, the first radio module and the second radio modules function concurrently using the first frequency band while at least 40 dB of antenna isolation is maintained between the first antenna array and the second antenna array. |
| US09812789B2 |
Array antenna apparatus for implementing predetermined beam width using predetermined number of antenna elements
The present invention relates to an array antenna apparatus, comprising: a first antenna element arranged in the center of the outermost concentric circle having a radius determined according to the beam width of a beam to transmit; and antenna element sets arranged on the circumference of each of concentric circles arranged to have a predetermined interval within the outermost concentric circle, wherein each of the antenna element sets comprises an odd number of second antenna elements, and only one antenna element exists on a straight line corresponding to the radius. |
| US09812784B2 |
Planar horn array antenna
Provided is a planar horn array antenna includes: a waveguide part; a horn part having one side connected to the waveguide part and the other side formed with an opening for guiding a radio wave incident or emitted thereto; and a radio wave guide part having a dividing member coupled with the opening and consisting of circular dividing holes arranged in a matrix of n×n. |
| US09812782B2 |
Coupling frames for RFID devices
A transponder chip module (TCM) comprises an RFID chip (CM, IC), optionally contact pads (CP), a module antenna (MA), and a coupling frame (CF), all on a common substrate or module tape (MT). The coupling frame (CF) may be in the form of a conductive layer having an outer edge (OE) and a slit (S) or non-conductive stripe (NCS) extending from the outer edge to an inner position thereof which may be a central opening (OP). The coupling frame (CF) may be arranged so that the slit (S) or non-conductive strips (NCS) overlaps at least a portion of the module antenna (MA). Methods and apparatus are disclosed. |
| US09812778B2 |
Integrated circuit apparatus with switched antennas
An apparatus that includes three or more antennas and an integrated circuit selects antennas for use, i.e., for transmission and reception of electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus selects, at a first time, from the three or more antennas, two antennas having approximately the same feed line length so that the two antennas operate at the same phase and at a first angle. The apparatus selects, at a second time that is different than the first time, from the three or more antennas, two antennas having different feed line lengths so that the two antennas selected for use at the second time operate at different phases and at a second angle that is different than the first angle. In this manner the apparatus may change the pattern and/or shape of electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the apparatus by selecting for use particular antennas having different feed line lengths. |
| US09812771B2 |
Antenna apparatus for mobile terminal
A mobile terminal with an antenna apparatus is provided. The mobile terminal in one embodiment includes an antenna radiator disposed at a first end of the mobile terminal; at least one antenna modifying element disposed at a second, opposing end of the mobile terminal; and a coupling unit for fastening the first and second ends and electrically connecting the at least one antenna modifying element with the antenna device when the first and second ends are fastened. In another embodiment, a deformation detector detects at least one deformation of the mobile terminal, an antenna matching unit is electrically connectable to the first antenna radiator; and a controller is coupled to the deformation detector, for controlling an electrical connection between the antenna matching unit and the first antenna radiator when the at least one deformation is detected. The antenna matching unit may include a second antenna radiator. |
| US09812765B2 |
Antenna assembly and mobile terminal using same
An embodiment of the present invention provides an antenna assembly and a mobile terminal. The antenna assembly includes an antenna body provided with a grounding plate and a feeding portion. The antenna body includes a radiating portion provided with an unclosed loop structure. The antenna assembly further has a metal frame. The metal frame is provided with a closed first loop portion surrounding an outer periphery of the radiating portion. An annular gap is formed between the first loop portion and the radiating portion. The antenna assembly of the present disclosure improves the product performance and makes the product appearance more aesthetic. |
| US09812762B2 |
Antenna mount
A mount for an antenna includes: first and second generally C-shaped arms, each with upper and lower free ends; equipment face mounting brackets mounted on the first and second arms; and lower and upper plates mounted to a post. The upper free ends of the first and second arms are pivotally mounted to the upper plate, and the lower free ends of the first and second arms are pivotally mounted to the lower plate, such that the first and second arms are movable between retracted and extended positions. The first and second arms are fixed in the extended position relative to the upper and lower plate via fasteners inserted through holes in the upper and lower free ends of the arms and in the upper plate, the pivotal mounts and the holes defining a desired angle between the first and second arms in the extended position. |
| US09812757B2 |
RF coupler having coupled line with adjustable length
Aspects of this disclosure relate to a radio frequency coupler with a multi-section coupled line. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a radio frequency coupler that includes a power input port, a power output port, a coupled port, a multi-section coupled line, and a switch configured to adjust an effective length of the multi-section coupled line electrically connected to the coupled port. |
| US09812753B2 |
Radiofrequency and other electronic devices formed from enhanced resonant frequency hexaferrite materials
Radiofrequency and other electronic devices can be formed from textured hexaferrite materials, such as Z-phase barium cobalt ferrite Ba3Co2Fe24O41 (Co2Z) having enhanced resonant frequency. The textured hexaferrite material can be formed by sintering fine grain hexaferrite powder at a lower temperature than conventional firing temperatures to inhibit reduction of iron. The textured hexaferrite material can be used in radiofrequency devices such as circulators or telecommunications systems. |
| US09812752B2 |
Flip-chip employing integrated cavity filter, and related components, systems, and methods
A flip-chip employing an integrated cavity filter is disclosed comprising an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising a semiconductor die and a plurality of conductive bumps. The plurality of conductive bumps is interconnected to at least one metal layer of the semiconductor die to provide a conductive “fence” that defines an interior resonator cavity for providing an integrated cavity filter in the flip-chip. The interior resonator cavity is configured to receive an input RF signal from an input transmission line through an input signal transmission aperture provided in an internal layer in the semiconductor die. The interior resonator cavity resonates the input RF signal to generate the output RF signal comprising a filtered RF signal of the input RF signal, and couples the output RF signal on an output signal transmission line in the flip-chip through an output transmission aperture provided in the aperture layer. |
| US09812747B2 |
Gas-shield-electrode and composite bifunctional air-electrode using the same for use in metal-air batteries
Method of operating a secondary Metal-Air electrochemical cell with a metal anode and an air cathode including the steps of (a) at start of a charging session, creating in less than 2 seconds an oxygen gas-shield on the electrolyte side of the air-electrode obstructing ion passage between the bulk of the electrolyte and the air-electrode; (b) charging the cell without anodic polarization of the air-electrode with the help of (i) electric conductive material placed between the electrolyte side of air-electrode and the bulk of electrolyte, and, (ii) the oxygen gas-shield obstructing passage of ions of the electrolyte between the electrolyte side of air-electrode and the bulk of electrolyte; (c) removing the oxygen gas-shield at start of a discharging session. |
| US09812744B2 |
Battery pack and battery pack apparatus
The battery pack includes battery cells, bus bars provided for electrical connection among the battery cells, a fluid device that passes a heat transfer medium for exchanging heat with the bus bars or the battery cells, and a control device that obtains data on the bus bars or the battery cells and controls the fluid device based on the obtained data. |
| US09812740B2 |
Battery unit
The battery unit (1) includes a flat battery (2) having a cylindrical positive electrode can (10) with a bottom and a cylindrical negative electrode can (20) with a bottom that covers an opening side of the positive electrode can and having a side wall of the positive electrode can on the opening side fitted to an outer circumferential surface of a side wall of the negative electrode can and a substrate (61) provided on a flat surface of one of the negative electrode can and the positive electrode can and mounted with circuit components (62) thereon. The other of the negative electrode can and the positive electrode can that has a flat surface on an opposite side to the substrate in a thickness-wise direction of the flat battery serves as an external terminal for one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. |
| US09812739B2 |
Electrolyte additive and use thereof in lithium-ion battery
The present disclosure discloses an electrolyte additive and its use in a lithium-ion battery. The lithium-ion battery may include an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution may include an organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an electrolyte additive. The electrolyte additive may comprise a multi-nitrile compound and a sulfur-oxygen double bond-containing compound. The use of the electrolyte additive in a lithium-ion battery enables the lithium-ion battery to maintain a good cycle life, low-temperature discharge characteristics, and high-temperature storage characteristics even at a high voltage. |
| US09812738B2 |
Battery
Disclosed is a battery comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte; the cathode comprises a cathode material, the cathode material comprises a cathode active material which is capable of reversibly intercalating and deintercalating a first metal ions; the electrolyte comprises at least a solvent capable of dissolving solute, the solute being ionized to a second metal ions that can be reduced to a metallic state during a charge cycle and be oxidized from the metallic state to the second metal ions during a discharge cycle and the first metal ions that can deintercalate from the cathode active material during the charge cycle and intercalate into the cathode active material during the discharge cycle; and the anode and/or the electrolyte further comprise an additive which is a bismuth compound. The gas production amount could be effectively reduced when the battery is being used. |
| US09812737B2 |
Plant and process for the electrochemical formation of lead-acid batteries
Plant for the electrochemical formation of lead-acid batteries, which comprises an external circuit (5) in which an electrolytic solution flows with controlled temperature; such solution traverses the single cells (2) provided with metering caps (17) provided with an inlet duct (18) connected with a first connector to a distribution manifold (9) of the circuit and with an outlet duct connected with a second connector to return means (7) of the circuit. The plant also comprises suction means connected to the distribution manifold (9) and actuatable to suck, with the feeding to the distribution manifold (9) interrupted, the electrolytic solution contained in the distribution manifold (9) as well as possible lumps therewith that have stopped in the inlet ducts and/or in the first connectors for feeding the cells (2). |
| US09812735B2 |
Lithium ion secondary battery
A lithium ion secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode comprising a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode comprised mainly of a material capable of storing and releasing lithium ions; and an electrolytic liquid, the positive electrode active material being a lithium-iron-manganese complex oxide having a layered rock salt structure and represented by a chemical formula: LixFesM1(z-s)M2yO2-δ wherein 1.05≦x≦1.32, 0.06≦s≦0.50, 0.06≦z≦0.50, 0.33≦y≦0.63, and 0≦δ≦0.80; M1 represents a metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Mn and a mixture thereof; and M2 represents a metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ti, Zr and a mixture thereof, the electrolytic liquid comprising 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl difluoromethyl ether represented by the following formula (1): |
| US09812728B2 |
Fuel-cell single cell
A fuel-cell single cell has a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between a pair of separators, and a sealing member that seals a gas channel formed between the membrane electrode assembly and the separators. An uneven portion is formed in a part of the membrane electrode assembly where the sealing member is disposed. A sealing member sump to trap the sealing member is provided at a side exposed to reactant gas pressure and a holder part for the sealing member are provided within a part of the separators where the sealing member is disposed. The uneven portion is opposed to the holder part. |
| US09812726B2 |
Solid oxide fuel cell, fuel cell module, and fuel cell device
A solid oxide fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte layer, a fuel electrode layer that is disposed on one surface of the solid electrolyte layer, an oxygen electrode layer that is disposed on the other surface of the solid electrolyte layer, and an intermediate layer that is disposed between the solid electrolyte layer and the oxygen electrode layer and that includes ceria-based particles containing rare earth elements other than cerium and ceramic particles consisting of oxide of a metallic element different from that of the ceria-based particles. The ceramic particles having a smaller average particle diameter than that of the ceria-based particles exist in grain boundaries of the ceria-based particles of the intermediate layer. |
| US09812723B2 |
Power producing gas separation system and method
A power producing system adapted to be integrated with a flue gas generating assembly, the flue gas generating assembly including one or more of a fossil fueled installation, a fossil fueled facility, a fossil fueled device, a fossil fueled power plant, a boiler, a combustor, a furnace and a kiln in a cement factory, and the power producing system utilizing flue gas containing carbon dioxide and oxygen output by the flue gas generating assembly and comprising: a fuel cell comprising an anode section and a cathode section, wherein inlet oxidant gas to the cathode section of the fuel cell contains the flue gas output from the flue gas generating assembly; and a gas separation assembly receiving anode exhaust output from the anode section of the fuel cell and including a chiller assembly for cooling the anode exhaust to a predetermined temperature so as to liquefy carbon dioxide in the anode exhaust, wherein waste heat produced by the fuel cell is utilized to drive the chiller assembly. |
| US09812722B2 |
Fuel cell system and control method for fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes an auxiliary machine to be connected to a fuel cell, warm-up power control means for controlling generated power of the fuel cell by adjusting power supplied to the auxiliary machine during the warm-up of the fuel cell, and IV characteristic estimation means for temporarily reducing the power supplied to the auxiliary machine and estimating an IV characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of at least two pairs of current values and voltage values at that time during the warm-up of the fuel cell. |
| US09812712B2 |
Highly dispersible graphene composition, preparation method thereof, and electrode for lithium ion secondary battery containing highly dispersible graphene composition
In order to prepare highly conductive and highly dispersible graphene and obtain an electrode for a lithium ion battery with good output characteristics and cycle characteristics, there is provided a graphene composition containing thiourea, the element ratio of sulfur to carbon being 0.04 or more and 0.12 or less in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement. |
| US09812710B2 |
Copper doped SVO compounds as high rate cathode materials
The present invention related to an electrochemical cell comprising an anode of a Group IA metal and a cathode of a composite material prepared from a combination of vanadium oxide and either a copper or a silver oxide and the other of a copper or a silver nitrate. The cathode material of the present invention provides an increased gravimetric energy density over the cathode active materials of the prior art along with an increased pulse voltage delivery capacity. This makes the cathode material of the present invention particularly useful for implantable medical applications. |
| US09812704B2 |
Active material, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and battery pack
According to one embodiment, an active material is provided. This active material includes a mixed phase of a phase of titanium-including composite oxide and a phase of titanium oxide. The titanium-including composite oxide has a crystal structure belonging to a space group Cmca or a space group Fmmm. |
| US09812703B2 |
Electrode and electrical storage device for lead-acid system
The present invention generally relates to electrodes for use in lead-acid battery systems, batteries and electrical storage devices thereof, and methods for producing the electrodes, batteries and electrical storage devices. In particular, the electrodes comprise active battery material for a lead-acid storage battery, wherein the surface of the electrode is provided with a coating layer comprising a carbon mixture containing composite carbon particles, wherein each of the composite carbon particles comprises a particle of a first capacitor carbon material combined with particles of a second electrically conductive carbon material. The electrical storage devices and batteries comprising the electrodes are, for example, particularly suitable for use in hybrid electric vehicles requiring a repeated rapid charge/discharge operation in the PSOC, idling-stop system vehicles, and in industrial applications such as wind power generation, and photovoltaic power generation. |
| US09812702B2 |
Lithium ion secondary battery having positive electrode that comprises thermal run-away suppressing layer on positive electrode active material layer
To provide a lithium ion secondary battery capable of suppressing thermal run-away when internal short circuiting occurs. The lithium ion secondary battery includes: a positive electrode including a current collector, a positive electrode active material layer that is formed on the current collector and that contains a lithium-containing complex oxide having a layered rock salt structure and being represented by general formula: LiaNibCocMndDeOf (0.2≦a≦1; b+c+d+e=1; 0≦e<1; D is at least one element selected from Li, Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, S, Si, Na, K, and Al; 1.7≦f≦2.1), and a thermal run-away suppressing layer formed on the positive electrode active material layer and containing a lithium transition metal silicate; and a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material. A ratio of the mass of the lithium-containing complex oxide with respect to the mass of the lithium transition metal silicate in the positive electrode is not lower than 1.5. |
| US09812701B2 |
Rechargeable lithium battery
A rechargeable lithium battery includes a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode has a positive electrode coating region and a positive electrode uncoated region. A positive active material is coated to a positive electrode current collector in the positive electrode coating region, and the positive active material is not coated in the positive electrode uncoated region. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode coating region and a negative uncoated region. A negative active material is coated to a negative electrode current collector in the negative electrode coating region, and the negative active material is not coated and a lithium source is in the negative uncoated region. The negative electrode coating region includes an active region corresponding to the positive electrode coating region. The lithium source is at the negative electrode and separated from an end of the active region by a predetermined interval. |
| US09812700B2 |
Method for producing porous aluminum foil, porous aluminum foil, positive electrode current collector for electrical storage devices, electrode for electrical storage devices, and electrical storage device
A method for producing a porous aluminum foil of the present invention is characterized in that a porous aluminum film is formed on a surface of a substrate by electrolysis using a plating solution containing at least (1) a dialkyl sulfone, (2) an aluminum halide, and (3) a nitrogen-containing compound, and having a water content of 100 to 2000 ppm, and then the film is separated from the substrate. The nitrogen-containing compound is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of an ammonium halide, a hydrogen halide salt of a primary amine, a hydrogen halide salt of a secondary amine, a hydrogen halide salt of a tertiary amine, and a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the general formula: R1R2R3R4N.X (R1 to R4 independently represent an alkyl group and are the same as or different from one another, and X represents a counteranion for the quaternary ammonium cation). |
| US09812695B2 |
Secondary battery
The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate sealing the case and including an inversion plate, and a terminal assembly. The terminal assembly includes an insulation plate coupled to a top surface of the cap plate and having a short-circuit hole corresponding to the inversion plate and an air hole spaced apart from the short-circuit hole, a terminal plate coupled to a top surface of the insulation plate and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and a sealing member coupled to a bottom surface of the insulation plate and opening or closing the air hole. |
| US09812688B2 |
Separator and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
Disclosed are porous substrate and a coating layer positioned on one side or both sides of the porous substrate, wherein the coating layer includes a filler (A) having an average particle diameter of about 0.3 μm to about 2 μm; and a binder (B) including an organic polymer and an inorganic particle, an organic particle, or a combination thereof, wherein an average particle diameter of each of the inorganic particle and the organic particle is about 5 nm to about 200 nm, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the separator. |
| US09812686B2 |
Manufacturing method of secondary battery, secondary battery, and assembled battery
A secondary battery includes an opening portion provided to a case. A first sealing body is provided to the opening portion, the first sealing body being displaced or deformed by a pressure difference between an inside and an outside of the case in such manners that the first sealing body is pressed by internal pressure to allow outflow of inside air from the opening portion when the internal pressure in the case is higher than external pressure and that the first sealing body is pressed by the external pressure to prevent entry of outside air from the opening portion when the internal pressure in the case is lower than the external pressure. Pressure in a space surrounded with the case and the first sealing body is set to be lower than pressure outside the space. |
| US09812675B2 |
Battery and production method thereof
According to one embodiment, there is provided a battery having a plurality of current collector tabs extended from a plurality of points of a current collector of at least one electrode of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The battery further has a lid and a lead. The lead has a current collector tab junctional part connected with the current collector tabs, a lid junctional part fixed to the lid, and a vibration absorber part linking the current collector tab junctional part to the lid junctional part. |
| US09812673B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack includes a case including a first main wall, a second main wall facing the first main wall, and an uneven portion formed in at least one of the first main wall and the second main wall; and an electrode assembly received in an internal space of the case. The uneven portion may include a plurality of first uneven portions formed in a central portion of the first main wall, and a plurality of second uneven portions formed in a central portion of the second main wall. |
| US09812672B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for quality monitoring of deposited films in the formation of light emitting devices
This disclosure provides techniques for assessing quality of a deposited film layer of an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) device. An image is captured and filtered to identify a deposited layer that is to be analyzed. Image data representing this layer can be optionally converted to brightness (grayscale) data. A gradient function is then applied to emphasize discontinuities in the deposited layer. Discontinuities are then compared to one or more thresholds and used to ascertain quality of the deposited layer, with optional remedial measures then being applied. The disclosed techniques can be applied in situ, to quickly identify potential defects such as delamination before ensuing manufacturing steps are applied. In optional embodiments, remedial measures can be taken dependent on whether defects are determined to exist. |
| US09812669B2 |
OLED with a flattening layer between two barrier layers
According to one embodiment, an organic semiconductor device includes a supporting substrate, a plurality of organic EL light emitting elements, a first barrier layer, a flattening layer, and a second barrier layer. The flattening layer exists sporadically and makes gentle in inclination steep elevation change present in the surface of the first barrier layer. The first barrier layer and the second barrier layer are made of moisture penetration preventive material. |
| US09812667B2 |
Patterning of OLED display stacks
A display includes a substrate, a plurality of planar emission structures supported by the substrate, an encapsulation layer extending across the plurality of planar emission structures to encapsulate the plurality of planar emission structures, and an optical component layer supported by the substrate. The optical component layer extends across the plurality of planar emission structures. The optical component layer is positioned relative to the plurality of planar emission structures such that light emitted by the plurality of planar emission structures encounters the optical component layer. The optical component layer includes a plurality of discontinuities. Each discontinuity of the plurality of discontinuities is laterally positioned between a respective pair of adjacent planar emission structures of the plurality of planar emission structures. |
| US09812665B2 |
Display apparatus, and apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A display apparatus includes an emission portion disposed on a substrate and comprising an intermediate layer; and an encapsulation portion sealing the emission portion by overlapping the emission portion, wherein the intermediate layer comprises at least two organic materials, the organic materials having different phase transition temperatures at a first saturated vapor pressure in a range from 5×10−4 Torr to 3×10−2 Torr, and the difference between the phase transition temperatures being less than or equal to 5° C. |
| US09812661B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescence device including at least an anode, an emitting layer, an electron-transporting region and a cathode in sequential order, wherein the emitting layer contains a host and a dopant which gives fluorescent emission of which the main peak wavelength is 550 nm or less; the affinity Ad of the dopant is equal to or larger than the affinity Ah of the host; the triplet energy ETd of the dopant is larger than the triplet energy ETh of the host; and a blocking layer is provided within the electron-transporting region such that it is adjacent to the emitting layer, and the triplet energy ETb of the blocking layer is larger than ETh. |
| US09812656B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
Novel heteroleptic iridium carbene complexes are provided. The complexes have lower-than expected sublimation temperatures, which is beneficial for the processing of these materials in solid state applications. Selective substitution of the ligands provides for phosphorescent compounds that are suitable for use in a variety of OLED devices. The carbene complexes can also be used as materials in a hole blocking layer and/or an electron transport layer to improve device performance. |
| US09812654B2 |
Phosphorescent materials for organic electroluminescent devices
The present invention provides a high triplet energy compound of Formula 1 for an organic electroluminescent device: In Formula 1, X represents an oxygen or a sulfur atom, and represents a substituted or unsubstituted hetero-aromatic ring containing at least two nitrogens or an alkyl group with C2 to C6. The organic electroluminescent device including the compound used in an emissive layer or an electron transporting layer enhances the efficiency and the stability of the device. |
| US09812653B2 |
Carbazole compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
A carbazole compound represented by Formula 1: wherein in Formula 1, groups and variables are the same as defined in the specification. |
| US09812651B2 |
Condensed-cyclic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
A condensed cyclic compound is represented by Formula 1 below: wherein X3 is a carbon atom that is one of X7 and X8 in Formula A below, X4 is a carbon atom that is the other of X7 and X8 in Formula A, or ii) X5 is a carbon atom that is one of X7 and X8 in Formula A, X6 is a carbon atom that is the other of X7 and X8 in Formula A, |
| US09812640B2 |
Complementary resistance switch, contact-connected polycrystalline piezo- or ferroelectric thin-film layer, method for encrypting a bit sequence
Disclosed is a complementary resistor switch (3) comprising two outer contacts, between which two piezo- or ferroelectric layers (11a and 11b) having an inner common contact are situated. At least one region (11′, 11″) of the layers is modified, either the outer contacts are rectifying (S) and the inner contact is non-rectifying (0), or vice versa, the modified regions are formed at the rectifying contacts, the layers have different strain-dependent structural phases with different band gaps and/or different polarization charges, and the electrical conductivity of the layers is different. Also disclosed are a connectable resistor structure having at least one Schottky contact at two adjoining piezo- or ferroelectric layers, a polycrystalline piezo- or ferroelectric layer comprising modified crystallites, and a method and circuits for encrypting and decrypting a bit sequence. |
| US09812633B2 |
Piezoelectric composition and method for producing same, piezoelectric element/non-lead piezoelectric element and method for producing same, ultrasonic probe and diagnostic imaging device
The present invention is a piezoelectric composition and a piezoelectric element using the piezoelectric composition, the composition being characterized by: having a Perovskite structure represented by general formula ABO3; being represented by composition formula x(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-yBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3-zBiFeO3, x+y+z=1 in the composition formula above; and in a triangular coordinate using x, y and z in the composition formula above, having a composition represented by a region which is surrounded by a pentagon ABCDE with apexes of point A (1, 0, 0), point B (0.7, 0.3, 0), point C (0.1, 0.3, 0.6), point D (0.1, 0.1, 0.8) and point E (0.2, 0, 0.8) and which does not include the line segment AE that connects point A (1, 0, 0) and point E (0.2, 0, 0.8). |
| US09812627B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a resin package including a first lead and a second lead. A light emitting element includes a first electrode disposed to face the first lead and having a first post electrode projecting toward the first lead in a first projecting direction with a height equal to or larger than 50 μm and equal to or smaller than 150 μm in the first projecting direction and a second electrode disposed to face the second lead and having a second post electrode projecting toward the second lead in a second projecting direction with a height equal to or larger than 50 μm and equal to or smaller than 150 μm in the second projecting direction. A first electrically conductive bonding member connects the first lead and the first post electrode. A second electrically conductive bonding member connects the second lead and the second post electrode. |
| US09812618B2 |
Epoxy resin composition and light-emitting apparatus using the same
An epoxy resin composition provided according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a triazine derivative epoxy compound; a siloxane compound including a cycloaliphatic epoxy group and a siloxane group; and a curing agent, where the epoxy resin composition includes 10 to 70 parts by weight of the siloxane group with respect to 100 parts by weight of the siloxane compound, thereby providing a composition excellent in heat resistance, light resistance, and excess moisture tolerance, with good shear adhesion to silicone, and capable of semi-solidification. |
| US09812617B2 |
Light-emitting device and image display apparatus
A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element configured to emit blue light, a first wavelength conversion member containing a Mn4+-activated fluorine complex phosphor, and a second wavelength conversion member containing a quantum-dot phosphor, in which the first wavelength conversion member and the second wavelength conversion member are spatially separated from each other. |
| US09812615B2 |
Method of optimizing the quantum efficiency of a photodiode
A photodiode has an active portion formed in a silicon substrate and covered with a stack of insulating layers successively including at least one first silicon oxide layer, an antireflection layer, and a second silicon oxide layer. The quantum efficiency of the photodiode is optimized by: determining, for the infrared wavelength, first thicknesses of the second layer corresponding to maximum absorptions of the photodiode, and selecting, from among the first thicknesses, a desired thickness, eoxD, so that a maximum manufacturing dispersion is smaller than a half of a pseudo-period separating two successive maximum absorption values. |
| US09812612B2 |
Solid state light emitting device and method of manufacturing a solid state light emitting device
A solid state light emitting device includes a light emitting stack (20), a metallization (30), comprising a guard layer (36) of metal, and a dielectric layer (50) over the guard layer (36) of the metallization. During subsequent processing delamination and/or cracking may occur at the edges of the devices, sometimes referred to as die edge defects. To address these defects a plurality of stress-relief elements (62, 64) and/or anchor elements may be provided in an edge region of the metallization and/or dielectric layer for reducing delamination. The stress-relief elements (62, 64) are formed by regions of reduced thickness or increased thickness in the guard layer (36). |
| US09812609B1 |
Semiconductor device including oxide current aperture
Embodiments regard a semiconductor device including an oxide current aperture. An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes an N-type semiconductor layer; an active region on the N-type semiconductor layer, the N-type semiconductor layer located on a first side of the active layer; a P-type semiconductor layer located on a second, opposite side of the active layer; and one or more oxide current apertures including a first oxide current apertures in close proximity to the active region, wherein each oxide current aperture includes a non-oxidized region surrounded by an oxidized region. |
| US09812606B2 |
Solid-state transducer devices with optically-transmissive carrier substrates and related systems, methods, and devices
Semiconductor device assemblies having solid-state transducer (SST) devices and associated semiconductor devices, systems, and are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device assembly includes forming a support substrate, a transfer structure, and a plurality semiconductor structures between the support substrate and the transfer structure. The method further includes removing the support substrate to expose an active surface of the individual semiconductor structures and a trench between the individual semiconductor structures. The semiconductor structures can be attached to a carrier substrate that is optically transmissive such that the active surface can emit and/or receive the light through the carrier substrate. The individual semiconductor structures can then be processed on the carrier substrate with the support substrate removed. In some embodiments, the individual semiconductor structures are simulated from the semiconductor device assembly and include a section of the carrier substrate attached to each of the individual semiconductor structures. |
| US09812601B2 |
Solar celll
A device, system, and method for a multi junction solar cell are described herein. An exemplary multi-solar cell structure can have a substrate having a first surface having a (111) crystalline etched surface. A dielectric layer can be deposited on the first surface of the substrate. A graded buffer layer can be grown on a second surface of the substrate with the second surface having a (100) crystalline surface. A first solar subcell within or on top of the graded buffer layer and a second solar subcell grown on top of the first solar subcell. |
| US09812594B2 |
Solar cell and method of manufacture thereof, and solar cell module
Disclosed is a solar cell having a collecting electrode on one main surface of a photoelectric conversion section. The collecting electrode includes a first electroconductive layer and a second electroconductive layer in this order from the photoelectric conversion section side, and further includes an insulating layer between the first electroconductive layer and the second electroconductive layer. The first electroconductive layer includes a low-melting-point material, and a part of the second electroconductive layer is conductively connected with the first electroconductive layer through, for example, an opening in the insulating layer. The second electrode layer is preferably formed by a plating method. In addition, it is preferable that before forming the second electroconductive layer, annealing by heating is carried out to generate the opening section in the insulating layer. |
| US09812593B2 |
Solar cell and preparing method of the same
Disclosed are a solar cell and preparing method of the same. The solar cell includes a back electrode layer on a support substrate, a molybdenum oxide layer on the back electrode layer, a light absorbing layer on the molybdenum oxide layer, and a front electrode layer on the light absorbing layer. |
| US09812592B2 |
Metal-foil-assisted fabrication of thin-silicon solar cell
One embodiment relates to a method of fabricating a solar cell. A silicon lamina is cleaved from the silicon substrate. The backside of the silicon lamina includes the P-type and N-type doped regions. A metal foil is attached to the backside of the silicon lamina. The metal foil may be used advantageously as a built-in carrier for handling the silicon lamina during processing of a frontside of the silicon lamina. Another embodiment relates to a solar cell that includes a silicon lamina having P-type and N-type doped regions on the backside. A metal foil is adhered to the backside of the lamina, and there are contacts formed between the metal foil and the doped regions. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US09812591B2 |
Self-balancing position sensitive detector
A self-balancing optical position sensitive detector includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending doped regions on a first surface on a front side of a substrate 16 of opposite doping type with contact pads on the front side at respective ends of a first doped region of the pair. A voltage source applies a potential difference between the contact pads of the first doped region. On the front side, a contact pad of the second doped region of the pair provides an analog output signal representative of a longitudinal position of a center of gravity of an incident light pattern along the doped regions without external circuitry processing the output signal to obtain a readout of the longitudinal position. A resistive line may directly overly, abut and be in contact with at least a portion of the first doped region. A conductive line may directly overly, abut and be in contact with at least a portion of the second doped region. No backside contact or processing of the substrate is required or employed. |
| US09812589B2 |
Semiconductor device with schottky barrier diode
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, an n-type first SiC region provided between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and having an n-type impurity concentration of 1×1018 cm−3 or less, and a conductive layer provided between the first SiC region and the first metal layer and containing titanium (Ti), oxygen (O), and at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta). |
| US09812587B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A miniaturized transistor is provided. A transistor with low parasitic capacitance is provided. A transistor with high frequency characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. A miniaturized semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor, the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, the first insulator, and the second insulator. The first conductor is embedded in a region between the second conductor and the third conductor with the first insulator positioned between the first conductor and the region. |
| US09812586B2 |
Transistor with curved active layer
In a cross section in a channel width direction, a semiconductor layer includes a first region of which one end portion is in contact with an insulating layer and which is positioned at one side portion of the semiconductor layer; a second region of which one end portion is in contact with the other end portion of the first region and which is positioned at an upper portion of the semiconductor layer; and a third region of which one end portion is in contact with the other end portion of the second region and the other end portion is in contact with the insulating layer and which is positioned at the other side portion of the semiconductor layer. In the second region, an interface with a gate insulating film is convex and has three regions respectively having curvature radii R1, R2, and R3 that are connected in this order from the one end portion side toward the other. R2 is larger than R1 and R3. |
| US09812584B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to provide a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electric characteristics and high reliability. In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, the oxide semiconductor film is subjected to dehydration or dehydrogenation performed by heat treatment. In addition, as a gate insulating film in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, an insulating film containing oxygen, preferably, a gate insulating film including a region containing oxygen with a higher proportion than the stoichiometric composition is used. Thus, oxygen is supplied from the gate insulating film to the oxide semiconductor film. Further, a metal oxide film is used as part of the gate insulating film, whereby reincorporation of an impurity such as hydrogen or water into the oxide semiconductor is suppressed. |
| US09812583B2 |
Semiconductor device
A transistor includes a multilayer film in which an oxide semiconductor film and an oxide film are stacked, a gate electrode, and a gate insulating film. The multilayer film overlaps with the gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The multilayer film has a shape having a first angle between a bottom surface of the oxide semiconductor film and a side surface of the oxide semiconductor film and a second angle between a bottom surface of the oxide film and a side surface of the oxide film. The first angle is acute and smaller than the second angle. Further, a semiconductor device including such a transistor is manufactured. |
| US09812582B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device in which a first oxide film, a second oxide film, and a third oxide film are stacked over an insulating surface is provided. In the semiconductor device, each of the first oxide film, the second oxide film, and the third oxide film comprises indium, gallium, and zinc. The third oxide film is in contact with a side surface of the second oxide film. A gallium content is higher than an indium content in the third oxide film. The gallium content is higher than a zinc content in the third oxide film. An indium content in the second oxide film is higher than the indium content in the third oxide film. |
| US09812581B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A semiconductor device (1001) includes an oxide semiconductor layer (7) and a conductor layer (13a, 13b, 13c, 13s) supported on a substrate (1). The oxide semiconductor layer (7) contains a first metallic element. The conductor layer (13a, 13b, 13c, 13s) has a multilayer structure including a first metal oxide layer (m1) containing the first metallic element, a second metal oxide layer (m2) on the first metal oxide layer, the second metal oxide layer (m2) containing an oxide of a second metallic element, and a metal layer (M) on the second metal oxide layer, the metal layer (M) containing the second metallic element. The first metal oxide layer (m1) and the oxide semiconductor layer (7) are made of the same oxide film. When viewed from the normal direction of the substrate 1, the first metal oxide layer (m1) and the oxide semiconductor layer (7) do not overlap. |
| US09812575B1 |
Contact formation for stacked FinFETs
FinFET structures include a stacked fin architecture formed on a semiconductor substrate. The stacked fin architecture includes a template semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate beneath the semiconductor fins that is used as an etch stop during fin formation and to form a laterally-extending epitaxial layer for contacting the bottom tier of fins within the stack. |
| US09812574B2 |
Techniques and configurations for stacking transistors of an integrated circuit device
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations for stacking transistors of a memory device. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of fin structures formed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein an individual fin structure of the plurality of fin structures includes a first isolation layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first channel layer disposed on the first isolation layer, a second isolation layer disposed on the first channel layer, and a second channel layer disposed on the second isolation layer, and a gate terminal capacitively coupled with the first channel layer to control flow of electrical current through the first channel layer for a first transistor and capacitively coupled with the second channel layer to control flow of electrical current through the second channel layer for a second transistor. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09812571B2 |
Tensile strained high percentage silicon germanium alloy FinFETs
A thermal mixing process is employed to convert a portion of a silicon germanium alloy fin having a first germanium content and an overlying non-doped epitaxial silicon source material into a silicon germanium alloy source structure having a second germanium content that is less than the first germanium content, to convert another portion of the silicon germanium alloy fin and an overlying non-doped epitaxial silicon drain material into a silicon germanium alloy drain structure having the second germanium content, and to provide a tensile strained silicon germanium alloy fin portion having the first germanium content. A dopant is then introduced into the silicon germanium alloy source structure and into the silicon germanium alloy drain structure. |
| US09812568B2 |
Ionic barristor
A Schottky barrier device is provided herein that includes a TMD layer on a substrate, a graphene layer on the TMD layer, an electrolyte layer on the TMD layer, and a source gate contact on the electrolyte layer. A drain contact can be provided on the TMD layer and a source contact can be provided on the graphene layer. As ionic gating from the source gate contact and electrolyte layer is used to adjust the Schottky barrier height this Schottky barrier device can be referred to as an ionic control barrier transistor or “ionic barristor”. |
| US09812566B1 |
LDMOS device having a low angle sloped oxide
A laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device that may include an oxide region that comprises a bottom surface; a drain that is positioned between a left drift region and a right drift region and below the bottom surface; wherein the oxide region further comprises a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface; wherein a first angle between the first sloped surface and the bottom surface does not exceed twenty degrees; and wherein a second angle between the second sloped surface and the bottom surface of the oxide region does not exceed twenty degrees. |
| US09812563B2 |
Transistor with field electrodes and improved avalanche breakdown behavior
A transistor cell includes, in a semiconductor body, a drift region of a first doping type, a source region of the first doping type, a body region of a second doping type, and a drain region of the first doping type. The body region is arranged between the source and drift regions. The drift region is arranged between the body and drain regions. A gate electrode is adjacent the body region and dielectrically insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric, and a field electrode is dielectrically insulated from the drift region by a field electrode dielectric. The drift region includes an avalanche region having a higher doping concentration than sections of the drift region adjacent the avalanche region and which is spaced apart from the field electrode dielectric in a direction perpendicular to the current flow direction. The field electrode is arranged in a needle-shaped trench. |
| US09812562B1 |
Semiconductor structure, HEMT structure and method of forming the same
A semiconductor structure includes: a channel layer; an active layer over the channel layer, wherein the active layer is configured to form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) to be formed in the channel layer along an interface between the channel layer and the active layer; a gate electrode over a top surface of the active layer; and a source/drain electrode over the top surface of the active layer; wherein the active layer includes a first layer and a second layer sequentially disposed therein from the top surface to a bottom surface of the active layer, and the first layer possesses a higher aluminum (Al) atom concentration compared to the second layer. An HEMT structure and an associated method are also disclosed. |
| US09812561B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method, including substrate thinning and ion implanting
In some aspects of the invention, an n-type field-stop layer can have a total impurity of such an extent that a depletion layer spreading in response to an application of a rated voltage stops inside the n-type field-stop layer together with the total impurity of an n− type drift layer. Also, the n-type field-stop layer can have a concentration gradient such that the impurity concentration of the n-type field-stop layer decreases from a p+ type collector layer toward a p-type base layer, and the diffusion depth is 20 μm or more. Furthermore, an n+ type buffer layer of which the peak impurity concentration can be higher than that of the n-type field-stop layer at 6×1015 cm−3 or more, and one-tenth or less of the peak impurity concentration of the p+ type collector layer, can be included between the n-type field-stop layer and p+ type collector layer. |
| US09812558B2 |
Three-dimensional transistor and methods of manufacturing thereof
A method includes providing a substrate having a mesa, forming a first opening in the mesa, the first opening being surrounded by first inner sidewalls of the mesa exposed by the first opening. The method further includes etching from a first one of the first inner sidewalls of the mesa to form a first vertical recess, the first vertical recess having a wide end and a narrow end, with the narrow end defining a first vertically recessed channel region, and forming a first gate structure over the first vertically recessed channel region. |
| US09812555B2 |
Bottom-gate thin-body transistors for stacked wafer integrated circuits
An integrated circuit die may include bottom-gate thin-body transistors. The bottom-gate thin-body transistors may be formed in a thinned-down substrate having a thickness that is defined by shallow trench isolation structures that provide complete well isolation for the transistors. The transistors may include gate terminal contacts formed through the shallow trench isolation structures, bulk terminal contacts that are formed through the thinned substrate and that overlap with the gate contacts, and source-drain terminal contacts with in-situ salicide. Additional metallization layers may be formed over the gate/bulk/source-drain contacts after bonding. |
| US09812553B1 |
Unipolar spacer formation for finFETs
A method for forming a spacer for a semiconductor device includes patterning gate material in a transverse orientation relative to semiconductor fins formed on a substrate and conformally depositing a dummy spacer layer over surfaces of gate structures and the fins. A dielectric fill formed over the gate structures and the fins is planarized to remove a portion of the dummy spacer layer formed on tops of the gate structures and expose the dummy spacer layer at tops of the sidewalls of the gate structures. Channels are formed by removing the dummy spacer layer along the sidewalls of the gate structures. The fins are protected by the dielectric fill. A spacer is formed by filling the channels with a spacer material. The dielectric fill and the dummy spacer layer are removed to expose the fins. Source and drain regions are formed between the gate structures on the fins. |
| US09812552B2 |
Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices
Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. The methods may include forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming a first sacrificial pattern and a second sacrificial pattern on opposing sides of the gate structure respectively and partially replacing the first sacrificial pattern with a first insulating pattern such that a portion of the first sacrificial pattern remains in the first insulating pattern and replacing the second sacrificial pattern with a second insulating pattern. The methods may also include replacing at least some of the portion of the first sacrificial pattern that remains in the first insulating pattern with a conductive pattern. |
| US09812547B2 |
Semiconductor device having fin-shaped semiconductor layer
An SGT production method includes a first step of forming a fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate and forming a first insulating film; a second step of forming a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a first dummy gate, and a first hard mask formed from a third insulating film; a third step of forming a second hard mask on a side wall of the first hard mask, and forming a second dummy gate; a fourth step of forming a sidewall and forming a second diffusion layer; a fifth step of depositing an interlayer insulating film, exposing upper portions of the second dummy gate and the first dummy gate, removing the second dummy gate and the first dummy gate, forming a first gate insulating film, and forming a gate electrode and a gate line; and a sixth step of forming a first contact and a second contact. |
| US09812543B2 |
Common metal contact regions having different Schottky barrier heights and methods of manufacturing same
Methods for forming a semiconductor device having dual Schottky barrier heights using a single metal and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include providing a substrate having an n-FET region and a p-FET region, each region including a gate between source/drain regions; applying a mask over the n-FET region; selectively amorphizing a surface of the p-FET region source/drain regions while the n-FET region is masked; removing the mask; depositing a titanium-based metal over the n-FET and p-FET region source/drain regions; and microwave annealing. |
| US09812541B2 |
Array substrate, method for fabricating the same and display device
A method for fabricating an array substrate is disclosed, the array substrate includes a first TFT and a pixel electrode. The method includes: forming a buffer layer (322) on the substrate (321); depositing an active layer film (323, 324) and a transparent electrode layer (326) on the substrate (321) having the buffer layer (322) formed thereon, and forming patterns of an active layer (171), a source/drain electrode (151, 152) and a pixel electrode of the first TFT through a single patterning process. An array substrate and a display device fabricated by the above method are also disclosed. By means of the fabrication method, it significantly reduces the fabrication cycle of the TFT, improves the stability of the TFT, such that threshold voltage of the TFT will not drift severely. Meanwhile, the product yield is improved and the lifetime of the device is extended. |
| US09812534B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is disclosed, comprising: a substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode disposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode; a dielectric layer disposed on at least a part of the surface of the semiconductor layer which is between the gate electrode and the drain electrode, the dielectric layer having at least a recess therein; and a source field plate disposed on the dielectric layer and at least partially covering the recess, the source field plate being electrically connected to the source electrode through at least a conductive path. A method of manufacturing such a semiconductor device is also disclosed. |
| US09812533B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
One object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first insulating film is formed; source and drain electrodes and an oxide semiconductor film electrically connected to the source and drain electrodes are formed over the first insulating film; heat treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor film so that a hydrogen atom in the oxide semiconductor film is removed; oxygen doping treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor film, so that an oxygen atom is supplied into the oxide semiconductor film; a second insulating film is formed over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode is formed over the second insulating film so as to overlap with the oxide semiconductor film. |
| US09812530B2 |
High germanium content silicon germanium fins
Thermal condensation is employed to obtain a finned structure including strained silicon germanium fins having vertical side walls and a germanium content that may be high relative to silicon. A hard mask is used directly on a low-germanium content silicon germanium layer. The hard mask is patterned and fins are formed beneath the hard mask from the silicon germanium layer. Thermal condensation in an oxidizing ambient causes the formation of regions beneath the hard mask that have a high germanium content. The hard mask is trimmed to a target critical dimension. The regions beneath the hard mask and adjoining oxide material are subjected to reactive ion etch, resulting in the formation of high-germanium content fins with planar, vertically extending sidewalls. |
| US09812528B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a cell region, a gate connection region, and a cell end region between the cell region and the gate connection region. The cell region includes, an n-type first SiC region, a p-type second SiC region, a n-type third SiC region, a p-type fourth SiC region, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, a first electrode contacting with the first and fourth SiC regions, a second electrode. The gate connection region includes a p-type fifth SiC region between the third SiC region and a field insulating film and having a peak p-type impurity concentration of 1×1018 cm−3 or more. The cell end region includes a p-type sixth SiC region connected to the fifth SiC region, a p-type seventh SiC region having a higher p-type impurity concentration than the sixth SiC region, the first electrode contacting with the sixth and seventh SiC regions. |
| US09812525B2 |
Universal methodology to synthesize diverse two-dimensional heterostructures
A two-dimensional heterostructure is synthesized by producing a patterned first two-dimensional material on a growth substrate. The first two-dimensional material is patterned to define at least one void through which an exposed region of the growth substrate is exposed. Seed molecules are selectively deposited either on the exposed region of the growth substrate or on the patterned first two-dimensional material. A second two-dimensional material that is distinct from the first two-dimensional material is then grown from the deposited seed molecules. |
| US09812524B2 |
Nanowire transistor devices and forming techniques
Techniques are disclosed for customization of nanowire transistor devices to provide a diverse range of channel configurations and/or material systems within the same integrated circuit die. In accordance with one example embodiment, sacrificial fins are removed and replaced with custom material stacks of arbitrary composition and strain suitable for a given application. In one such case, each of a first set of the sacrificial fins is recessed or otherwise removed and replaced with a p-type layer stack, and each of a second set of the sacrificial fins is recessed or otherwise removed and replaced with an n-type layer stack. The p-type layer stack can be completely independent of the process for the n-type layer stack, and vice-versa. Numerous other circuit configurations and device variations are enabled using the techniques provided herein. |
| US09812522B2 |
Metal-insulator-metal capacitor fabrication with unitary sputtering process
A metal-insulator-metal capacitor includes a bottom electrode comprising a nitride of a metal, an insulator disposed on the bottom electrode and comprising an oxide of the metal, and a top electrode disposed on the insulator and comprising a nitride of the metal. Optionally, the insulator further includes an oxynitride of the metal, at least a portion of the oxynitride being characterized by a progressive change in the ratio of oxygen to nitrogen over thickness. |
| US09812518B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate and organic light-emitting display apparatus including the same
Provided is a thin film transistor array substrate. The thin film transistor array substrate includes a first sub-pixel region and a second sub-pixel region; a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor disposed in the first sub-pixel region and the second sub-pixel region on the substrate, respectively; and a first insulating layer including at least one first dummy hole formed above or adjacent to the first thin film transistor, and a plurality of second dummy holes formed in a greater number than the at least one first dummy hole, formed above or adjacent to the second thin film transistor. |
| US09812515B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate including a light transmitting area which is at a display area for displaying an image, and an emission area which is adjacent the light transmitting area, an organic light emitting diode on the substrate at a location corresponding to the emission area; and a light control unit on the substrate at a location corresponding to the light transmitting area and configured to control transmission of light. |
| US09812512B2 |
Pixel structure and display apparatus
The pixel structure includes a plurality of pixel units each including a first sub-pixel with a first color, having a first adjoining edge of a first length and a second adjoining edge of a second length; a second sub-pixel with a second color, having a first adjoining edge of the first length and a second adjoining edge of a third length; and a third sub-pixel with a third color, having a first adjoining edge of the second length and a second adjoining edge of the third length. In each pixel unit, the first adjoining edge of the first sub-pixel is adjoined to the first adjoining edge of the second sub-pixel, the second adjoining edge of the first sub-pixel is adjoined to the first adjoining edge of the third sub-pixel, and the second adjoining edge of the second sub-pixel is adjoined to the second adjoining edge of the third sub-pixel. |
| US09812511B2 |
Local seal for encapsulation of electro-optical element on a flexible substrate
An electroluminescent display or lighting product incorporates a panel including a collection of distinct light-emitting elements formed on a substrate. A plurality of distinct local seals are formed below respective individual light-emitting elements or groups of light-emitting elements. Some embodiments combine a metal foil substrate and glass local seals in a flexible bottom-emitting product. The local seal may be used in conjunction with a continuous thin film encapsulation structure. Optical functions can be provided by each local seal, including refraction, filtering, color shifting, and scattering. Each local seal is formed by depositing a low melting temperature glass powder suspension or paste using inkjet technology, and fusing the glass powder using a scanning laser beam having a tailored beam profile. In other embodiments, a lower encapsulation substrate incorporating local window seals is wholly or partially pre-formed. |
| US09812510B1 |
Packaging organic photodetectors
A method for packaging an organic photodetector includes providing a multilayer structure disposed on a portion of a substrate to form the organic photodetector; providing a casing having at least one wall and an open end, wherein the casing includes at least one aperture in at least one wall; sealing the open end of the casing with the substrate to enclose the multilayer structure in a volume such that the least one aperture is located in a path of radiation to an inactive region of the organic photodetector; evacuating the volume through the at least one aperture; and closing the at least one aperture after evacuating the volume to form a detector package. The multilayer structure includes a thin film transistor (TFT) array, an organic photodiode disposed on the TFT array, and a scintillator layer disposed on the organic photodiode. An imaging system including the detector package is also presented. |
| US09812509B2 |
Sensor
According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a light emitter and a light sensor. The light emitter includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first light emitting layer. The second electrode is light-transmissive. The first light emitting layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The light sensor includes a third electrode, a fourth electrode, a fifth electrode, a first photoelectric conversion layer, and a second photoelectric conversion layer. the fourth electrode is light-transmissive. The fifth electrode is provided between the third electrode and the fourth electrode. The fifth electrode is light-transmissive. The first photoelectric conversion layer is provided between the third electrode and the fifth electrode. The second photoelectric conversion layer is provided between the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode. |
| US09812505B2 |
Non-volatile memory device containing oxygen-scavenging material portions and method of making thereof
A middle electrode can be inserted at each intersection between a non-volatile memory element layer located on an electrically conductive word line and a non-linear element located on an electrically conductive bit line in a three-dimensional memory device. An oxygen-scavenging material portion can be provided between each electrically conductive word line and an adjoining insulator layer to scavenge oxygen from contacting portions of the non-volatile memory element layer, thereby forming an oxygen-scavenged non-volatile memory element portion that facilitates programming. The middle electrode and the oxygen-scavenged non-linear memory element portion can alter the programming characteristics of the non-volatile memory cells to provide easier and more reliable programming. |
| US09812502B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having variable resistance elements provided at intersections of wiring lines
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises first wiring lines, second wiring lines, and first variable resistance elements. The first wiring lines are arranged in a first direction and have as their longitudinal direction a second direction intersecting the first direction. The second wiring lines are arranged in the second direction and have the first direction as their longitudinal direction. The first variable resistance elements are respectively provided at intersections of the first wiring lines and the second wiring lines. In addition, this semiconductor memory device comprises a first contact extending in a third direction that intersects the first direction and second direction and having one end thereof connected to the second wiring line. The other end and a surface intersecting the first direction of this first contact are covered by a first conductive layer. |
| US09812500B2 |
Negative differential resistance circuit element
A circuit component that exhibits a region of negative differential resistance includes: a first layer of material; and a second layer of material in contact with the first layer of material, the contact forming a first self-heating interface. The first self-heating interface is structured such that an electrical current flowing from the first layer of material to the second layer of material encounters an electrical impedance occurring at the first interface that is greater than any electrical impedance occurring in the first and second layers of material, wherein heating occurring at the first interface is dominated by Joule heating caused by the electrical impedance occurring at the first interface, and wherein the electrical impedance occurring at the first interface decreases with increasing temperature to induce a region of negative differential resistance. |
| US09812496B2 |
Magnetoresistive sensor module and method for manufacturing the same
In the method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor module, at first a composite arrangement out of a semiconductor substrate and a metal-insulator arrangement is provided, wherein a semiconductor circuit arrangement is integrated adjacent to a main surface of the semiconductor substrate into the same, wherein the metal-insulator arrangement is arranged on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and comprises a structured metal sheet and insulation material at least partially surrounding the structured metal sheet, wherein the structured metal sheet is electrically connected to the semiconductor circuit arrangement. Then, a magnetoresistive sensor structure is applied onto a surface of the insulation material of the composite arrangement, and finally an electrical connection between the magnetoresistive sensor structure and the structured metal sheet is established, so that the magnetoresistive sensor structure is connected to the integrated circuit arrangement. |
| US09812495B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting apparatus
A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device includes a substrate and a plurality of light emitting elements disposed on a major surface of the substrate. The substrate includes a reflector recessed in the major surface and surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of light emitting elements. |
| US09812494B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improving micro-LED devices
A μLED device comprising: a substrate and an epitaxial layer grown on the substrate and comprising a semiconductor material, wherein at least a portion of the substrate and the epitaxial layer define a mesa; an active layer within the mesa and configured, on application of an electrical current, to generate light for emission through a light emitting surface of the substrate opposite the mesa, wherein the crystal lattice structure of the substrate and the epitaxial layer is arranged such that a c-plane of the crystal lattice structure is misaligned with respect to the light emitting surface. |
| US09812492B2 |
Metal shield structure and methods for BSI image sensors
A backside illumination image sensor structure comprises an image sensor formed adjacent to a first side of a semiconductor substrate, wherein an interconnect layer is formed over the first side of the semiconductor substrate, a backside illumination film formed over a second side of the semiconductor substrate, a metal shielding layer formed over the backside illumination film and a via embedded in the backside illumination film and coupled between the metal shielding layer and the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09812490B2 |
Semiconductor device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor device, which is configured as a backside illuminated solid-state imaging device, includes a stacked semiconductor chip which is formed by bonding two or more semiconductor chip units to each other and in which, at least, a pixel array and a multi-layer wiring layer are formed in a first semiconductor chip unit and a logic circuit and a multi-layer wiring layer are formed in a second semiconductor chip unit; a semiconductor-removed region in which a semiconductor section of a part of the first semiconductor chip unit is completely removed; and a plurality of connection wirings which is formed in the semiconductor-removed region and connects the first and second semiconductor chip units to each other. |
| US09812486B2 |
Time-of-flight image sensor and light source driver having simulated distance capability
An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object. |
| US09812481B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and manufacturing method of the same, and electronic apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and a manufacturing method of the same, and an electronic apparatus, capable of more reliably suppressing occurrence of color mixing. A trench is formed between PDs so as to be opened to a light receiving surface side of a semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of the PDs, each of which receives light to generate charges, are formed, an insulating film is embedded in the trench and the insulating film is laminated on a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. Then, a light shielding portion is formed so as to be laminated on the insulating film and to have a convex shape protruding to the semiconductor substrate at a location corresponding to the trench. The present technology can be applied to a back surface irradiation type CMOS solid-state imaging device. |
| US09812477B2 |
Photodiode gate dielectric protection layer
The present disclosure relates to a method the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having an active pixel sensor with a gate dielectric protection layer that reduces damage to an underlying gate dielectric layer during fabrication, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated chip has a photodetector disposed within a substrate, and a gate structure located over the substrate. A gate dielectric protection layer is disposed over the substrate and extends from along a sidewall of the gate structure to a location overlying the photodetector. The gate dielectric protection layer has an upper surface that is vertically below an upper surface of the gate structure. |
| US09812476B2 |
Photoelectric transducer and imaging system
A photoelectric transducer includes a wiring structure and a photoelectric conversion section provided on a substrate. The photoelectric conversion section includes a first electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer provided on the first electrode. The wiring structure includes a first wiring layer including a wiring pattern. The distance between the bottom face of the first electrode and the substrate is shorter than the distance between the bottom face of the wiring pattern and the substrate. |
| US09812472B2 |
Preparation method of oxide thin-film transistor
A preparation method of an oxide thin-film transistor is disclosed, and this method includes: forming a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode; forming of the active layer, the source electrode and the drain electrode includes: sequentially forming an oxide semiconductor thin film and a source-drain electrode metal thin film on a base substrate, an entire surface of the oxide semiconductor thin film being in direct contact with the source-drain electrode metal thin film; and patterning the oxide semiconductor thin film and the source-drain electrode metal thin film with a dual-tone mask so as to form the active layer, the source electrode and the drain electrode by a single patterning process. |
| US09812468B2 |
Display device including wider gate lead-out lines
Provided is a display device, including: a plurality of gate lines extending in a first direction; a plurality of source lines extending in a second direction; a gate driver configured to output a gate signal; and a plurality of gate lead-out lines extending in the second direction and being configured to transmit the gate signal to the plurality of gate lines, in which each of the plurality of gate lines is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of gate lead-out lines, and at least one of the plurality of gate lines is electrically connected to at least two of the plurality of gate lead-out lines. |
| US09812463B2 |
Three-dimensional memory device containing vertically isolated charge storage regions and method of making thereof
A memory opening can be formed through an alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers provided over a substrate. Annular etch stop material portions are provided at each level of the sacrificial material layers around the memory opening. The annular etch stop material portions can be formed by conversion of surface portions of the sacrificial material layers into dielectric material portion, or by recessing the sacrificial material layers around the memory opening and filling indentations around the memory opening. After formation of a memory stack structure, the sacrificial material layers are removed from the backside. The annular etch stop material portions are at least partially converted to form charge trapping material portions. Vertical isolation of the charge trapping material portions among one another around the memory stack structure minimizes leakage between the charge trapping material portions located at different word line levels. |
| US09812461B2 |
Honeycomb cell structure three-dimensional non-volatile memory device
A monolithic three-dimensional memory device includes a plurality of memory stack structures arranged in a hexagonal lattice and located over a substrate. The hexagonal lattice structure is defined by hexagons each having a pair of sides that are parallel to a first horizontal direction and perpendicular to a second horizontal direction, the memory stack structures are located at vertices of the hexagonal lattice, and each memory stack structure includes vertically spaced memory elements and a vertical semiconductor channel. Source contact via structures are located at each center of a subset of the hexagons that forms a one-dimensional array that extends along the second horizontal direction, each source contact via structure being electrically shorted to a respective source region over, or within, the substrate. |
| US09812457B1 |
Ultra high density integrated composite capacitor
Capacitors that can be formed fully on an integrated circuit (IC) chip are described in this disclosure. An IC chip includes a metal-oxide-silicone (MOS) capacitor formed from a MOS transistor having a drain terminal, a source terminal, a gate terminal, and a body terminal. The drain terminal and the source terminal are not electrically connected to any other node, and the gate terminal and the body terminal form respective first and second terminals of the MOS capacitor. The IC chip also includes an electrical conductor coupled to one of the gate terminal or the body terminal of the MOS transistor and configured to deliver a voltage to operate the MOS capacitor in an accumulation mode. |
| US09812454B2 |
Methods and systems for reducing electrical disturb effects between thyristor memory cells using buried metal cathode lines
Methods and systems for reducing electrical disturb effects between thyristor memory cells in a memory array are provided. Electrical disturb effects between cells are reduced by using a material having a reduced minority carrier lifetime as a cathode line that is embedded within the array. Disturb effects are also reduced by forming a potential well within a cathode line, or a one-sided potential barrier in a cathode line. |
| US09812453B1 |
Self-aligned sacrificial epitaxial capping for trench silicide
A method for forming a self-aligned sacrificial epitaxial cap for trench silicide and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a Si fin in a PFET region and a pair of Si fins in a NFET region; forming epitaxial S/D regions; forming a spacer over the S/D region in the PFET region; forming a sacrificial cap over the S/D regions in the NFET region, merging the pair of Si fins; removing the spacer from the S/D region in the PFET region; forming silicide trenches over the S/D regions in the PFET and NEFT regions; implanting dopant into the S/D region in the PFET region while the sacrificial cap protects the S/D regions in the NFET region; removing the sacrificial cap; and forming a metal layer over top surfaces of the S/D region in the PFET region and top and bottom surfaces of the S/D regions in the NFET region. |
| US09812452B2 |
Method to form silicide and contact at embedded epitaxial facet
An integrated circuit with an MOS transistor abutting field oxide and a gate structure on the field oxide adjacent to the MOS transistor and a gap between an epitaxial source/drain and the field oxide is formed with a silicon dioxide-based gap filler in the gap. Metal silicide is formed on the exposed epitaxial source/drain region. A CESL is formed over the integrated circuit and a PMD layer is formed over the CESL. A contact is formed through the PMD layer and CESL to make an electrical connection to the metal silicide on the epitaxial source/drain region. |
| US09812450B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of wiring structures spaced apart from each other, and an insulating interlayer structure. Each of the wiring structures includes a metal pattern and a barrier pattern covering a sidewall, a bottom surface, and an edge portion of a top surface of the metal pattern and not covering a central portion of the top surface of the metal pattern. The insulating interlayer structure contains the wiring structures therein, and has an air gap between the wiring structures. |
| US09812449B2 |
Multi-VT gate stack for III-V nanosheet devices with reduced parasitic capacitance
A nanosheet field effect transistor design in which the threshold voltage is adjustable by adjusting the composition of the gate. The channel of the nanosheet field effect transistor may be composed of a III-V semiconductor material, and the gate, which may be separated from the channel by a high dielectric constant dielectric layer, may also be composed of a III-V semiconductor material. Adjusting the composition of the gate may result in a change in the affinity of the gate, in turn resulting in a change in the threshold voltage. In some embodiments the channel is composed, for example, of InxGa1-xAs, with x between 0.23 and 0.53, and the gate is composed of InAs1-yNy with y between 0.0 and 0.4, and the values of x and y may be adjusted to adjust the threshold voltage. |
| US09812447B2 |
Bipolar junction transistors with extrinsic device regions free of trench isolation
Device structures and fabrication methods for a device structure. One or more trench isolation regions are formed in a substrate to surround a device region. A base layer is formed on the device region. First and second emitter fingers are formed on the base layer. A portion of the device region extending from the first emitter finger to the second emitter finger is free of dielectric material. |
| US09812446B2 |
Electronic apparatus with pocket of low permittivity material to reduce electromagnetic interference
An electronics apparatus including a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a first switch connected to a second switch and soldered in series on the first surface of the first substrate creating a connection to allow switching between the first switch and the second switch at high frequency, an insulation having a third surface attached to the second surface of the first substrate, and a second substrate having a pocket of low permittivity located between the first switch and the second switch on a fourth surface of the insulation, the fourth surface being opposite to the third surface where the first switch and the second switch are located. |
| US09812441B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a plurality of electrode pads for external connection are arranged in a zigzag pattern. Some electrode pads of the electrode pads of the plurality of I/O cells which are closer to a side of the semiconductor chip, each have an end portion closer to the side of the semiconductor chip, the end portion being set at the same position as that of an end portion of the corresponding I/O cell. A power source-side protective circuit and a ground-side protective circuit against discharge of static electricity are provided with the power source-side protective circuit being closer to the scribe region. A distance between a center position of one of the electrode pads and the ground-side protective circuit of the corresponding I/O cell and a distance between a center position of the other one electrode pad and the ground-side protective circuit of the corresponding I/O cell are both short and are substantially equal between each I/O cell. |
| US09812439B2 |
Bi-directional ESD protection circuit
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device for protecting an input/output terminal of a circuit, the device comprising a first transistor with an integrated silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) coupled between the input/output (I/O) terminal of the circuit and a node and a second transistor with an integrated silicon-controlled rectifier coupled between the node and a negative terminal of a supply voltage, wherein the silicon-controlled rectifier of the first transistor triggers in response to a negative ESD voltage and the silicon-controlled rectifier of the second transistor triggers in response to a positive ESD voltage. |
| US09812438B2 |
Avalanche diode having an enhanced defect concentration level and method of making the same
The invention relates to an avalanche diode that can be employed as an ESD protection device. An avalanche ignition region is formed at the p-n junction of the diode and includes an enhanced defect concentration level to provide rapid onset of avalanche current. The avalanche ignition region is preferably formed wider than the diode depletion zone, and is preferably created by placement, preferably by ion implantation, of an atomic specie different from that of the principal device structure. The doping concentration of the placed atomic specie should be sufficiently high to ensure substantially immediate onset of avalanche current when the diode breakdown voltage is exceeded. The new atomic specie preferably comprises argon or nitrogen, but other atomic species can be employed. However, other means of increasing a defect concentration level in the diode depletion zone, such as an altered annealing program, are also contemplated. |
| US09812423B2 |
Semiconductor device having wire formed with loop portion and method for producing the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a connection terminal; a semiconductor chip having an electrode pad on one surface; a wire that connects the connection terminal and the electrode pad of the semiconductor chip; and transparent resin that covers the one surface of the semiconductor chip, and that seals the connection terminal and the wire, wherein: the wire includes a first bonded portion that is joined to the electrode pad, a second bonded portion that is joined to the connection terminal, and a loop portion that is formed so as to be continuous with the first bonded portion and has a turned back portion on a side opposite to the second bonded portion; and predetermined clearances are provided between the loop portion and the first bonded portion, and between the loop portion and other portions of the wire. |
| US09812420B2 |
Die packaging with fully or partially fused dielectric leads
A die interconnect system having a first die with a plurality of connection pads, and a ribbon lead extending from the first die, the ribbon lead having a plurality of metal cores with a core diameter, and a dielectric layer surrounding the metal core with a dielectric thickness, with at least a portion of dielectric being fused between adjacent metal cores along the length of the plurality of metal cores, and an outer metal layer attached to ground. |
| US09812417B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufacturing method
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device including: a substrate including, in a central portion the substrate, n first element formation regions having a rectangular shape and are arrayed along a first direction, and n+m second element formation regions arrayed along the first direction adjacent to the first element formation regions; plural projecting electrodes formed at each of the first and the second element formation regions; and plural dummy projecting electrodes formed, at a peripheral portion, overlapping a triangle defined by a first edge of the first element formation region that forms a boundary between the first element formation region and the peripheral portion, and a second edge of the second element formation region that is adjacent to a corner of the first edge and that forms a boundary between the second element formation region and the peripheral portion. |
| US09812411B2 |
Semiconductor device, inverter circuit, and drive device
A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, an alternating-current electrode, a first switching element provided between the first electrode and the alternating-current electrode, and a second switching element provided between the second electrode and the alternating-current electrode. The first switching element and the second switching element are electrically connected in series between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the alternating-current electrode is electrically connected between the first switching element and the second switching element. |
| US09812406B2 |
Microelectronic assemblies with cavities, and methods of fabrication
Die (110) are attached to an interposer (420), and the interposer/die assembly is placed into a lid cavity (510). The lid (210) is attached to the top of the assembly, possibly to the encapsulant (474) at the top. The lid's legs (520) surround the cavity and extend down below the top surface of the interposer's substrate (420S), possibly to the level of the bottom surface of the substrate or lower. The legs (520) may or may not be attached to the interposer/die assembly. In fabrication, the interposer wafer (420SW) has trenches (478) which receive the lid's legs during the lid placement. The interposer wafer is later thinned to remove the interposer wafer portion below the legs and to dice the interposer wafer. The thinning process also exposes, on the bottom, conductive vias (450) passing through the interposer substrate. Other features are also provided. |
| US09812403B2 |
Reducing wafer warpage during wafer processing
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that can reduce warpage during wafer processing. The method includes forming a first guard ring around a first chip region on a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming a second guard ring around a second chip region on the semiconductor wafer. The method includes mechanically connecting the first guard ring with the second guard ring through a joist structure. |
| US09812398B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having memory cells provided in a height direction
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory string comprising a plurality of memory cells connected in series therein; and a contact electrically connected to one end of the memory string. The memory string comprises a plurality of control gate electrodes, and a semiconductor layer. The contact comprises a contact layer, the contact layer having a plate-like shape whose longer direction is a first direction parallel to the substrate, and the contact layer having its lower surface electrically connected to the one end of the semiconductor layer. Moreover, the contact layer includes a metal layer, a silicon based layer, and a second conductive layer. The metal layer includes tungsten. The silicon based layer includes a material including silicon. The second conductive layer covers side surfaces of the metal layer and the silicon based layer. |
| US09812397B2 |
Method of forming hybrid diffusion barrier layer and semiconductor device thereof
In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, an opening is formed inside a dielectric layer above a semiconductor substrate. The opening has a wall. At least one diffusion barrier material is then formed over the wall of the opening by at least two alternating steps, which are selected from the group consisting of a process of physical vapor deposition (PVD) and a process of atomic layer deposition (ALD). A liner layer is formed over the at least one diffusion barrier material. |
| US09812393B2 |
Programmable via devices with metal/semiconductor via links and fabrication methods thereof
Programmable via devices and fabrication methods thereof are presented. The programmable via devices include, for instance, a first metal layer and a second metal layer electrically connected by a via link. The via link includes a semiconductor portion and a metal portion, where the via link facilitates programming of the programmable via device by applying a programming current through the via link to migrate materials between the semiconductor portion and the metal portion to facilitate a change of an electrical resistance of the via link. In one embodiment, the programming current facilitates formation of at least one gap region within the via link, the at least one gap region facilitating the change of the electrical resistance of the via link. |
| US09812390B2 |
Semiconductor devices including conductive features with capping layers and methods of forming the same
Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming conductive features thereof are disclosed. A semiconductor device includes an insulating material layer disposed over a workpiece. The insulating material layer includes a silicon-containing material comprising about 13% or greater of carbon (C). A conductive feature is disposed within the insulating material layer. The conductive feature includes a capping layer disposed on a top surface thereof. |
| US09812388B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a die pad, a semiconductor chip with a bonding pad being formed, a lead one end of which is located in the vicinity of the semiconductor chip, a coupling wire that connects an electrode and the lead, and a sealing body that seals the semiconductor chip, the coupling wire, a part of the lead, and a part of the die pad. A lower surface of the die pad is exposed from a lower surface of the sealing body, the die pad and the coupling wire are comprised of copper, and a thickness of the semiconductor chip is larger than the sum of a thickness of the die pad and a thickness from an upper surface of the semiconductor chip to an upper surface of the sealing body. |
| US09812380B2 |
Bumps bonds formed as metal line interconnects in a semiconductor device
A semiconductor power chip has a semiconductor power device formed on a semiconductor die; wherein the semiconductor power device comprises an array of conductive contact elements; a passivation layer formed over the plurality of conductive contact elements, the passivation layer comprising passivation openings over a plurality of the conductive contact elements; and an array of conductive bumps including one or more interconnection bumps, wherein each interconnection bump is formed over the passivation layer and extends into at least two of the passivation openings and into contact with at least two underlying conductive contact elements to thereby provide a conductive coupling between the at least two underlying conductive contact elements. |
| US09812377B2 |
Semiconductor module and inverter device
In a semiconductor module of the invention, a heat sink has a convex portion in which a convex plane has an area smaller than a joint area to the joint layer, a first stepped portion provided to an edge of the convex portion, a thickness of the heat sink in a portion corresponding to the first stepped portion being smaller than a thickness of the heat sink in a portion corresponding to the convex portion, and a second stepped portion provided to an edge of the first stepped portion, a thickness of the heat sink in a portion corresponding to the second stepped portion being further smaller than the thickness of the heat sink in the portion corresponding to the first stepped portion. The joint layer is joined by the convex portion and the first stepped portion of the heat sink. |
| US09812376B2 |
Electrically conductive element, power semiconductor device having an electrically conductive element and method of manufacturing a power semiconductor device
An electrically conductive element includes an electrically conductive material and a plurality of inclusions of a phase change material. The phase change material has a phase transition temperature Tc between 150° C. and 400° C. The inclusions are separated from each other and are embedded in the electrically conductive material. |
| US09812374B1 |
Thermal management device with textured surface for extended cooling limit
Methods and apparatus are described for heat management in an integrated circuit (IC) package using a device with a textured surface having multiple grooves in an otherwise relatively flat surface. The textured surface of the heat management device is designed, in conjunction with a thermal interface material (TIM), to push gas bubbles out of the flat areas such that the gas bubbles are trapped in the grooves or driven out of the interface between the device and the TIM altogether. The area of the grooves is small relative to the ungrooved areas (i.e., the flat areas), such that when the gas bubbles are trapped in the grooved areas, the ungrooved areas work even better for heat transfer. With the area of the regions for the flat portions being substantially greater than the area of the regions for the grooves, the textured heat management device is designed to lower thermal resistance, increase thermal conductivity, and increase heat transfer from one or more IC dies to a heat sink assembly in an IC package. |
| US09812367B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device including replacement process of forming at least one metal gate structure
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an inter-metal dielectric layer including a first trench and a second trench which are spaced from each other on a substrate, forming a first dielectric layer along the sides and bottom of the first trench, forming a second dielectric layer along the sides and bottom of the second trench, forming first and second lower conductive layers on the first and second dielectric layers, respectively, forming first and second capping layers on the first and second lower conductive layer, respectively, performing a heat treatment after the first and second capping layers have been formed, removing the first and second capping layers and the first and second lower conductive layers after performing the heat treatment, and forming first and second metal gate structures on the first and second dielectric layers, respectively. |
| US09812366B2 |
Method of tuning work function for a semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method includes forming pre-tuned-work-function (preTWF) layer over a substrate, applying an angular-doping process to the preTWF layer to change a work function of the preTWF layer (referred to as a tuned work function (TWF) layer). The angular-doping process includes injecting a doping species beam to the preTWF layer with a distribution of injecting angle and forming a metal fill layer over the TWF layer. |
| US09812365B1 |
Methods of cutting gate structures on transistor devices
One illustrative method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a plurality of gates above a substrate, each of the gates comprising a gate structure and a first layer of a first insulating material positioned on an upper surface of the gate structure, and forming a second layer of a second insulating material above insulating material positioned above the substrate between the laterally spaced apart gates, wherein the first insulating material and the second insulating material are selectively etchable relative to one another. The method may also include selectively removing a portion of the first layer to thereby expose a portion of the gate structure of at least one of the gates, selectively removing the exposed portion of the gate structure so as to thereby define a gate-cut cavity, and forming an insulating gate-cut structure in the gate-cut cavity. |
| US09812362B2 |
Wafer processing method
Disclosed herein is a wafer processing method including a cover plate providing step of providing a cover plate on the front side of a wafer to thereby form a composite wafer, a welding step of applying a laser beam along each division line formed on the front side of the wafer in the condition where the focal point of the laser beam is set at the interface between the wafer and the cover plate on opposite sides of the lateral center of each division line, thereby forming two parallel welded lines for joining the wafer and the cover plate along each division line, and a dividing step of forming a cut line between the two parallel welded lines formed along each division line, thereby cutting the composite wafer along each division line to obtain individual device chips each covered with the cover plate. |
| US09812355B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having an insulating film and a plurality of conductive films on a surface; reducing the substrate by supplying a first reducing gas to the substrate so that at least one of a plurality of process conditions of the first reducing gas is controlled so that a product of a plurality of process conditions becomes a predetermined value, wherein the process conditions of the first reducing gas include a partial pressure of the first reducing gas in a region where the substrate exists and a time taken to supply the first reducing gas to the substrate corresponding to a temperature of the first reducing gas; and selectively forming a metal film on the plurality of the reduced conductive films by supplying a second reducing gas and a metal-containing gas to the substrate. |
| US09812354B2 |
Process of forming an electronic device including a material defining a void
An electronic device can include one or more trenches that include a material that defines one or more voids. In an embodiment, the substrate defines a first trench having a first portion and a second portion laterally adjacent to the first portion, wherein the first portion has with a first width, the second portion has a second width, and the first width is wider than the second width. The material defines a first void at a predetermined location within the first portion of the first trench and has a seam within the second portion of the first trench. In another embodiment, the substrate defining a trench, and the material that defines spaced-apart voids at predetermined locations within the trench. A process of forming the electronic device can include patterning a substrate to define a trench, and depositing a material within the trench, wherein the deposited material defines a void. |
| US09812353B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming grooves in a first dielectric layer on a substrate, the first dielectric layer including a first part between the grooves, forming a first barrier layer and an interconnect layer in each groove, recessing the interconnect layer and the first barrier layer, forming a capping pattern on the recessed interconnect layer, etching at least a portion of the first part by a first etching process, sequentially etching the capping pattern and the at least a portion of the IMD part by a second etching process to form a trench, conformally forming a second barrier layer in the trench and on the recessed interconnection layer, and forming a second dielectric layer on the second barrier layer not to fill the trench such that an air gap is formed in the trench. |
| US09812350B2 |
Method of manufacture for a silicon-on-plastic semiconductor device with interfacial adhesion layer
A semiconductor device and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a polymer substrate and an interfacial layer over the polymer substrate. A buried oxide layer resides over the interfacial layer, and a device layer with at least a portion of a field effect device resides over the buried oxide layer. The polymer substrate is molded over the interfacial adhesion layer and has a thermal conductivity greater than 2 watts per meter Kelvin (W/mK) and an electrical resistivity greater than 1012 Ohm-cm. Methods of manufacture for the semiconductor device include removing a wafer handle to expose a first surface of the buried oxide layer, disposing the interfacial adhesion layer onto the first surface of the buried oxide layer, and molding the polymer substrate onto the interfacial adhesion layer. |
| US09812348B2 |
Member peeling method, member processing method, and method for manufacturing semiconductor chip
A member peeling method includes a step for preparing a first member having a first main face and an outer edge thereof and a second member having a second main face and an outer edge thereon, a step for disposing a photothermal conversion layer on at least one portion of the outer edge on the first main face, a step for mutually joining the first main face and the second main face via an adhesive layer, a step for irradiating a laser light to the photothermal conversion layer, and a step for at least partially peeling the first member from the second member by applying a force to an outer peripheral portion of either of the first member or the second member in a direction away from the other member. |
| US09812347B2 |
Semiconductor device and method
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor die and a substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The substrate includes a conductive circuit and an insulative material over the conductive circuit. The semiconductor die is attached to the second surface. The semiconductor device further includes an interconnect joint structure in the substrate creating a capture pad including a middle copper layer, an adjacent top nickel layer, and an adjacent bottom nickel layer. A method for making a semiconductor device is further disclosed. |
| US09812345B2 |
Composite substrate, semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A composite substrate 10 includes a semiconductor substrate 12 and an insulating support substrate 14 that are laminated together. The support substrate 14 includes first and second substrates 14a and 14b made of the same material and bonded together with a strength that allows the first and second substrates 14a and 14b to be separated from each other with a blade. The semiconductor substrate 12 is laminated on a surface of the first substrate 14a opposite a surface thereof bonded to the second substrate 14b. |
| US09812344B2 |
Wafer processing system with chuck assembly maintenance module
A wafer processing system has a ring maintenance module for loading wafers into a chuck assembly, and for cleaning and inspecting the chuck assembly used in electroplating processors of the system. A shaft is attached to a rotor plate. A rotation motor rotates the shaft and a rotor plate on the shaft. A chuck clamp on an upper end of the shaft holds the chuck assembly onto the rotor plate. A lift motor raises and lowers the rotor plate and the shaft, to move open the chuck assembly for wafer loading and unloading, and to move the chuck assembly into different process positions. A swing arm having spray nozzles may be provided for cleaning the chuck assembly. |
| US09812341B2 |
Rare-earth oxide based coatings based on ion assisted deposition
A component for a semiconductor processing chamber includes a ceramic body having at least one surface with a first average surface roughness of approximately 8-16 micro-inches. The component further includes a conformal protective layer on at least one surface of the ceramic body, wherein the conformal protective layer is a plasma resistant rare earth oxide film having a substantially uniform thickness of less than 300 μm over the at least one surface and having a second average surface roughness of below 10 micro-inches, wherein the second average surface roughness is equal to or less than the first average surface roughness. |
| US09812338B2 |
Encapsulation of advanced devices using novel PECVD and ALD schemes
Embodiments of a multi-layer environmental barrier for a semiconductor device and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is formed on a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a semiconductor body and a passivation structure on the semiconductor body. A multi-level environmental barrier is provided on the passivation structure. The multi-layer environmental barrier is a low-defect multi-layer dielectric film that hermetically seals the semiconductor device from the environment. In one embodiment, the multi-layer environmental barrier has a defect density of less than 10 defects per square centimeter (cm2). By having a low defect density, the multi-layer environmental barrier serves as a robust barrier to the environment. |
| US09812337B2 |
Integrated circuit package pad and methods of forming
A semiconductor device and method for forming the semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit having through vias adjacent to the integrated circuit die, wherein a molding compound is interposed between the integrated circuit die and the through vias. The through vias have a projection extending through a patterned layer, and the through vias may be offset from a surface of the patterned layer. The recess may be formed by selectively removing a seed layer used to form the through vias. |
| US09812327B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
Provided is a memory device including a first gate, a second gate and an inter-gate dielectric layer. The first gate is buried in a substrate. The second gate includes metal and is disposed on the substrate. The inter-gate dielectric layer is disposed between the first and second gates. A method of forming a memory device is further provided. |
| US09812326B2 |
Semiconductor device, related manufacturing method, and related electronic device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device may include the following steps: preparing a first substrate; providing a first conductor, which is configured to electrically connect two elements associated with the first substrate; providing a second conductor on the first substrate, wherein the second conductor is electrically connected to the first conductor; preparing a second substrate; providing a third conductor, which is configured to electrically connect two elements associated with the second substrate; providing a fourth conductor on the second substrate, wherein the fourth conductor is electrically connected to the third conductor; providing a fifth conductor on the fourth conductor; and combining the fifth conductor with the second conductor through eutectic bonding. |
| US09812322B2 |
Sapphire substrate with patterned structure
A sapphire substrate with patterned structure includes a sapphire base; a plurality of the cavities formed on a surface of the sapphire base; and a template layer. The plurality of the cavities are periodically arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, and each of the plurality of the cavities has a bottom surface and a top opening. Each of the plurality of the cavities comprises at least a first and a second inclined surfaces, and the first and the second inclined surfaces are inclined by a first and a second angles respectively with respect to the bottom surface of the plurality of the cavities. |
| US09812319B1 |
Method for forming film filled in trench without seam or void
A method for forming a film filled in a trench of a substrate without seam or void includes: depositing a conformal SiN film in a trench of a substrate placed in a reaction space, using a halide compound as a precursor, until the trench is filled with the conformal SiN film serving as a filled film which has a seam and/or void; and then oxidizing the filled film without deposition of film to make the filled film expand until the seam and/or void of the filled film are/is diminished. |
| US09812318B2 |
Low temperature molecular layer deposition of SiCON
Methods for the deposition of a SiCON film by molecular layer deposition using a multi-functional amine and a silicon containing precursor having a reactive moiety. |
| US09812317B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In an LCD driver, in a high voltage resistant MISFET, end portions of a gate electrode run onto electric field relaxing insulation regions. Wires to become source wires or drain wires are formed on an interlayer insulation film of the first layer over the high voltage resistant MISFET. At this moment, when a distance from an interface between a semiconductor substrate and a gate insulation film to an upper portion of the gate electrode is defined as “a”, and a distance from the upper portion of the gate electrode to an upper portion of the interlayer insulation film on which the wires are formed is defined as “b”, a relation of a>b is established. In such a high voltage resistant MISFET structured in this manner, the wires are arranged so as not to be overlapped planarly with the gate electrode of the high voltage resistant MISFET. |
| US09812316B2 |
Mixed material, method for producing same, and organic element using same
A mixed material for vapor deposition of lithium contains lithium oxide M1 in an amount of 90% or more, sodium chloride (at least one material selected from oxides, sulfides, chlorides, and fluorides of alkali metals) M2 having a melting point lower than the melting point of lithium oxide M1, and magnesium oxide (at least one material selected from oxides and sulfides of alkaline-earth metals) M3 having a melting point higher than the melting point of lithium oxide M1. |
| US09812315B2 |
Treating solution for electronic parts, and process for producing electronic parts
The invention provides an aqueous solution capable of selectively protecting a nitrogen-containing silicon compound from corrosion by a treating solution for etching, cleaning or the like, etching oxygen-containing, carbon-containing silicon in particular, and making a large etch rate difference between a nitrogen-containing silicon compound and an oxygen-containing silicon compound, and a process for producing electronic parts as well.The invention is embodied by a treating solution for electronic parts that is an aqueous solution containing one or two or more of anionic surface active agents represented by the following formulae (1), (2) and (3), and a process for producing an electronic part. wherein R1, R2, and R3 stands for hydrogen or an alkyl or alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X1 stands for a functional group capable of becoming an anionic ion. wherein R4 stands for hydrogen or an alkyl or alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, X2 stands for a functional group capable of becoming an anionic ion, and n stands for a natural number of greater than 2. wherein R5 stands for hydrogen or an alkyl or alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X3, and X4 stands for a functional group capable of becoming an anionic ion. |
| US09812307B2 |
Targeted mass analysis
A mass spectrometer comprises: an ion source that generates ions having an initial range of mass-to-charge ratios; an auxiliary ion detector, downstream from the ion source that receives a plurality of first ion samples derived from the ions generated by the ion source and determines a respective ion current measurement for each of the plurality of first ion samples; a mass analyzer, downstream from the ion source that receives a second ion sample derived from the ions generated by the ion source and to generate mass spectral data by mass analysis of the second ion sample; and an output stage that establishes an abundance measurement associated with at least some of the ions generated by the ion source based on the ion current measurements determined by the auxiliary ion detector. |
| US09812306B2 |
Shift correction for spectral analysis
Techniques are described for resolving and identifying peaks of signal intensity in mass chromatograms so that the peaks may be associated with components (e.g., chemical and/or ionic species) representative of an analysis sample to identify the components. The techniques facilitate correction of shift errors in the peaks of signal intensity of the mass chromatograms. |
| US09812304B2 |
Method of fine tuning a magnetron sputtering electrode in a rotatable cylindrical magnetron sputtering device
A magnetron sputtering electrode for use in a rotatable cylindrical magnetron sputtering device, the electrode including a cathode body defining a magnet receiving chamber and a cylindrical target surrounding the cathode body. The target is rotatable about the cathode body. A magnet arrangement is received within the magnet receiving chamber, the magnet arrangement including a plurality of magnets. A shunt is secured to the cathode body and proximate to a side of the magnet arrangement, the shunt extending in a plane substantially parallel to the side of the magnet arrangement. A method of fine-tuning a magnetron sputtering electrode in a rotatable cylindrical magnetron sputtering device is also disclosed. |
| US09812301B2 |
Tungsten sintered compact sputtering target and method for producing same
Provided is a tungsten sintered compact sputtering target containing iron as an impurity in an amount of 0.8 wtppm or less, and remainder being tungsten and other unavoidable impurities, wherein a range of iron concentration in a target structure is within a range of ±0.1 wtppm of an average concentration. Additionally provided is a tungsten sintered compact sputtering target, wherein a relative density of the target is 99% or higher, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or less, and a crystal grain size range is 5 to 200 μm. The present invention aims to inhibit abnormal grain growth in the tungsten target by reducing the amount of iron in the tungsten sintered compact sputtering target. |
| US09812299B2 |
Apparatus and method for pretreating and coating bodies
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for pretreating and coating bodies by means of magnetron sputtering. In a vacuum chamber having a metallic chamber wall (26), magnetrons with sputter targets are arranged, at least one of which is an HPPMS magnetron to which electric pulses are fed by connecting a capacitive element (6) with the sputter target of the HPPMS magnetron via a switching element (5). To achieve effective pretreatment and coating of substrates it is provided according to a first aspect to arrange the switching element on the chamber wall. According to a second aspect, an electrode pair is provided, wherein a first electrode is an HPPMS magnetron (1) and the first and second electrodes are arranged in such a manner that a body (11) supported on a substrate table (4) is arranged between the active surfaces of the electrode pair or is moved through the space between the active surfaces of the electrode pair. In a third aspect, a method is provided, wherein, in an etch step, a negative bias voltage is applied to the body and the body is etched by means of metal ion bombardment, and subsequently the bias voltage is continuously lowered so that material sputtered-off from the sputter targets results in a layer build-up on the body. |
| US09812298B2 |
Cleaning device and cleaning process for a plasma reactor
The invention concerns a device and a process, the device being a cleaning device utilizing a dry chemical means assisted by plasma from a reactor (10) containing an unwanted deposit on its walls and at least one other polarizable surface (12), characterized in that it comprises means (13, 14) for positively polarizing one or each of the polarizable surfaces relative to the reactor walls maintained at a reference potential. |
| US09812297B2 |
Method of affixing heat transfer sheet
A heat transfer sheet affixing method where a focus ring is pressed by a pressing part to a heat transfer sheet placed on a heat transfer sheet mounting part of a plasma processing apparatus to affix the heat transfer sheet to the focus ring. The method includes reducing a pressure to place the heat transfer sheet in a reduced-pressure atmosphere, heating the heat transfer sheet, and pressing the focus ring by the pressing part to the heat transfer sheet. The reducing, the heating, and the pressing are performed concurrently at least for a predetermined period of time. |
| US09812290B2 |
Microscopy imaging method and system
Notches or chevrons with known angles relative to each other are formed on a surface of the sample, where each branch of a chevron appears in a cross-sectional face of the sample as a distinct structure. Therefore, when imaging the cross-section face during the cross-sectioning operation, the distance between the identified structures allows unique identification of the position of the cross-section plane along the Z axis. Then a direct measurement of the actual position of each slice can be calculated, allowing for dynamic repositioning to account for drift in the plane of the sample and also dynamic adjustment of the forward advancement rate of the FIB to account for variations in the sample, microscope, microscope environment, etc. that contributes to drift. An additional result of this approach is the ability to dynamically calculate the actual thickness of each acquired slice as it is acquired. |
| US09812287B2 |
Charged particle microscope with improved spectroscopic functionality
An improved spectroscopic analysis apparatus and method are disclosed, comprising directing a beam of radiation onto a measurement location on a specimen, thereby causing a flux of X-rays to emanate from this location; examining the X-ray flux using a detector arrangement, thus acquiring a spectrum; choosing a set of different measurement directions originating from the location; recording outputs from the detector arrangement for different measurement directions; adopting a spectral model that is a convoluted mix of terms B and Lp, where B is the Bremsstrahlung background spectrum and Lp comprises spectral lines corresponding to the specimen composition at the measurement location; and then automatically deconvolving the set of measurements on the basis of the spectral model to calculate Lp to determine the chemical composition of the specimen at the measurement location. The method includes corrections for differential X-ray absorption within the specimen along the different measurement directions. |
| US09812285B2 |
Holder assembly for cooperating with a nanoreactor and an electron microscope
Presented is a holder assembly for cooperating with a nanoreactor and an electron microscope. The holder assembly has a distal end for holding the nanoreactor. The volume has a fluid inlet and outlet. The holder assembly has fluid supply and outlet tubes which in working are connected to the fluid inlet and outlet of the nanoreactor. In working, the connection between the fluid inlet and outlet and the respective supply and outlet tubes are sealed by sealing elements. The holder assembly has a recess which, when the nanoreactor is attached and the holder is inserted into the evacuated portion of an electron microscope, forms a sealed pre-vacuum volume between the holder and the nanoreactor, with the pre-vacuum volume being evacuated via a pre-vacuum channel such that any fluid leakage is pumped away and does not enter the evacuated part of the electron microscope. |
| US09812280B2 |
Manufacturing method of high-pressure discharge lamp and sealed part structure for high-pressure discharge lamp
A method of manufacturing a high-pressure discharge lamp, comprising the steps of: inserting a mount into an interior of a glass tube having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of an end part of a sealed container; radially constricting the glass tube at a first position located away from a metallic foil toward a tip of an electrode; sealing the mount by a region of the glass tube that ranges from the first position to at least the other end of the metallic foil; protruding the electrode out of the glass tube located away from the first position toward the tip of the electrode to form a glass-tube air-tightly sealed mount; inserting the sealed mount into the end part of the sealed container; and radially constricting the end part of the sealed container to sealing the glass tube of the sealed mount by the end part. |
| US09812278B2 |
Complex type fusible link, fuse box, and manufacturing method thereof
A complex type fusible link which includes an insulative block base including a plurality of cavities; a conductive connecting plate which is integrally embedded in the insulative block base, a part of the conductive connecting plate being exposed to at least one of the cavities; a plurality of fusible elements each of which is accommodated in corresponding one of the cavities and includes a first end which is connected to the part of the conductive connecting plate and a second end; and a plurality of terminals each of which is integrally embedded in the insulative block base and includes a first end which is connected to the second end of corresponding one of the fusible elements and a second end which is exposed from the insulative block base, at least one of the fusible elements includes a fastening portion to which another fusible element is fastened. |
| US09812274B2 |
Arrangement for an electrical switch element with a seal configuration
An electrical switch element is disclosed. The electrical switch element has a switch chamber having contacts and an opening, a propulsion element extending through the opening in the switch chamber and having an annular flange, and a seal configuration having an annular protrusion surrounding the opening. The propulsion element is movable within the opening to open or close the contacts, and in an end position of the propulsion element, the annular flange abuts the annular protrusion. |
| US09812273B2 |
Command selector with rotary scroll wheel
A command selector includes a scroll wheel mounted in a support and free to rotate about a main axis, a fixed printed circuit board, a detection wheel rotating about a secondary axis, a means of transmission rotationally connecting the scroll wheel to the detection wheel of which the rotations are detected by a rotation sensor arranged on the printed circuit board. The main axis and the secondary axis are non-parallel, the means of transmission defines an angle, and the detection wheel rotating in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board, the secondary axis being perpendicular to the printed circuit board, so as to minimize the circumscribed volume of the selector. |
| US09812272B1 |
Operator control device for a vehicle, in particular a passenger motor vehicle
A base element and at least one switching element are included in an operator control device which may be disposed in a vehicle. By closing at least one electrical contact, the switching element is moveable from a first position into a second position relative to the base element. The operator control device can also include at least one pushbutton switch moveable relative to the base element between a position of rest and at least one activation position. The operator control device can further include at least one restoring element, formed of silicone and supported on the base element and on the pushbutton switch, which can be elastically deformed by moving the pushbutton switch from the position of rest into the activation position. Using the restoring element, the pushbutton switch can be moved from the activation position into the position of rest by relaxing the restoring element. |
| US09812268B2 |
Systems and methods for locking a circuit breaker
A circuit breaker includes an accessory pocket, an accessory cover and a locking device to lock the circuit breaker such that an unauthorized switching of the circuit breaker from OFF to ON or from ON to OFF states is prevented. The locking device includes a first subassembly including a pocket housing. The first subassembly is configured to be installed in the accessory pocket. The locking device further includes a second subassembly including a cylinder lock. The second subassembly is configured to be mounted to the accessory cover. The first subassembly and the second subassembly are configured to self align upon final assembly of the circuit breaker to perform a locking function of the circuit breaker. In this way, the locking device prevents circumvention of a locking feature and selectively provides an ability to lock in an ON state of the circuit breaker. |
| US09812263B2 |
Compound and photoelectric conversion device
Disclosed is a novel compound represented by formula (1) below. In the formula, A represents an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring or aromatic heterocyclic group, B represents a group including a chain of one to four pieces of one or more groups selected from groups represented by specific formulae (B-1) to (B-13) (such as —C═C— or —N═N—, specifically see the description), R1 to R3 each represent an optionally substituted hydrocarbon or hydrocarbonoxy group, at least one of R1 to R3 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbonoxy group, R4 and R5 each represent an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, R4 and R5 may be linked together to form a ring, and R4 and R5 may be each independently linked with A to form a ring |
| US09812262B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer body includes an inner layer portion having a dimension in a stacking direction greater than a dimension of the inner layer portion in a width direction, a second outer layer portion including an outer portion including a second principle surface and an inner portion disposed adjacent to both of the outer portion and the inner layer portion, a dimension of the outer portion in the stacking direction being greater than a dimension of the inner portion, and a composition ratio of Si relative to Ti in the outer portion is greater than that in the inner portion. |
| US09812261B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body and external electrodes provided on opposite end surfaces of the ceramic body. The ceramic body includes an inner layer portion including a plurality of ceramic layers defining inner layers and a plurality of first and second internal electrodes each disposed at an interface of adjacent ones of the ceramic layers defining the inner layers, outer layer portions sandwiching the inner layer portion in a direction in which the layers are stacked, and side margin portions sandwiching the inner layer portion and the outer layer portions in a widthwise direction. The side margin portion includes pores that decrease in number along a direction from inside to outside of the ceramic body. |
| US09812258B2 |
Ceramic electronic component
A ceramic electronic component wherein outer electrode is placed over both end portions of a ceramic body. A first coating mainly containing Ni and a second coating containing Sn, solder, or the like are placed on a surface of the outer electrode. The outer electrode includes an end-surface portion and a side-surface turnover portion. The outer electrode includes a glass layer which is placed in a region within at least 5 μm in linear distance L from a covering end portion of the side-surface turnover portion in a direction toward the end-surface portion so as to be in contact with the ceramic body and which contains, at least, Si. The average thickness t of the glass layer is 3 μm to 10 μm. The content of a Si component is 11% by weight or more (preferably 40% by weight or less). |
| US09812255B2 |
Contactless power and data transfer
Assemblies and systems for contactless power and/or data transfer. The power transfer system includes at least a pair of opposing magnetic cores, each core having an L-shaped cross section. The data transfer system includes at least a pair of opposing stripline and/or microstrip conductors. Components for the power and/or data transfer system are preferably supported by a supporting surface in the rotor and/or stator. In some embodiments, the power and/or data transfer system is provided in a rotor flange and/or a stator flange for modularity. |
| US09812251B2 |
Varainductor and operation method thereof based on mutual capacitance
A varainductor includes a spiral inductor, a ground ring, and a floating ring. The floating ring is disposed between the ground ring and the spiral inductor and surrounds a ring portion of the spiral inductor. A switching element, controlled by a switch control signal, selectively electrically connects the ground ring to the floating ring. The switching element includes one or more switches. The one or more switches are controlled by one or more signals of the switch control signal to adjust the inductance level of the varainductor. |
| US09812244B2 |
Multilayer inductor device
A multilayer inductor device (10) includes a magnetic multilayer body (100) in which magnetic layers (110, 120, 130, 140) are laminated in this order. Coil conductors (211, 212) having winding forms are formed on the magnetic layers (110, 130), respectively. The coil conductors (211, 212) are coupled to each other with via conductors (311, 312, 313) to compose a first inductor (L1). Coil conductors (221, 222) having winding forms are formed on the magnetic layers (120, 140), respectively. The coil conductors (221, 222) are coupled to each other with via conductors (321, 322, 323) to compose a second inductor (L2). |
| US09812242B1 |
Systems and methods for liquid heat exchange for transformers
Systems and methods for liquid heat exchange for transformers are described. One embodiment of a fluid heat exchanger includes a transformer inlet port that is coupled to a transformer chamber and receives a dielectric fluid from the transformer chamber. Also included are a cooling fluid inlet for receiving a cooling fluid and a finned heat sink that includes a fluid communicator. The fluid communicator may receive, at a first chamber, the dielectric fluid from the transformer inlet port and directs the dielectric fluid across a first plurality of cooling fins. The fluid communicator may receive, at a second chamber, the cooling fluid from the cooling fluid inlet and may direct the cooling fluid across a second plurality of fins, where the fluid communicator separates the first chamber from the second chamber with a solid divider. |
| US09812241B2 |
Transformer security enclosure
A security enclosure for a transformer includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom at least partially enclosing an interior. The bottom has an aperture configured to receive a transformer tank. A front opening provides access to an interior having a first panel. At least one terminal block is connected to the first panel. A door pivots between an open position spaced from the front opening and a closed position covering the front opening. |
| US09812238B2 |
Electromagnetic coil system and methods
Methods and systems are provided for operating an electromagnetic coil assembly. As one example, a method comprises responsive to energization of an electromagnetic coil of an electromagnetic coil assembly, translating the electromagnetic coil along a central axis of the electromagnetic coil assembly toward a magnetic armature while maintaining the armature fixed along the central axis. The electromagnetic coil assembly may be utilized within various clutching, braking, or lever applications. |
| US09812237B2 |
Soft magnetic core with position-dependent permeability
Soft magnetic core, in which permeabilities that occur at least two different locations of the core are different. |
| US09812235B2 |
Nonlinear resistive coating material, bus, and stator coil
A nonlinear resistive coating material 20 in an embodiment includes: a matrix resin 22 made of an epoxy resin which is cured by adding a curing agent thereto; ZnO-containing particles 21 dispersedly contained in the matrix resin 22 and made of a sintered compact containing ZnO as a main component; and semiconductive surface-treated whiskers 10 dispersedly contained in the matrix resin 22 and made of ZnO subjected to titanate coupling surface modification treatment. |
| US09812231B2 |
Jacket composition for riser and plenum cables
The present invention relates to materials for making cable jackets, particularly for riser and plenum cables. The materials provide low flammability and allow the cable to meet UL 910 or NFPA-262 or UL 1666 specifications. The composition contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, a plasticizer, ammonium octamolybdate, a molybdate compound, a stabilizer, a lubricant, aluminum trihydrate, and either i) metal oxide particles, ii) a polytetrafluoroehtylene (PTFE), iii) an intumescent compound, or iv) combinations thereof. |
| US09812227B2 |
Method for the construction of a secure nuclear reactor plant, and corresponding reactor plant
Disclosed is a method for building a nuclear reactor installation including a containment chamber surrounded by a protective casing. The method is characterised by the following essential construction phases: finding or preparing a cavern (2) in rocky ground or a mountain (3) which is connected to the outside world via a tunnel or shaft (4), constructing or introducing a sealed protective casing (5) made of steel which delimits the containment chamber (1) forming an enveloping intermediate chamber volume (6) between the protective casing (5) and the cavern walls (2′), and, filling the intermediate chamber (6) with concrete or cement (6′), with the exception of the tunnel or shaft (4). |
| US09812225B2 |
Compact integral pressurized water nuclear reactor
A pressurized water reactor (PWR) includes a cylindrical pressure vessel defining a sealed volume, a nuclear reactor core disposed in a lower portion of the cylindrical pressure vessel, one or more control rod drive mechanisms (CRDMs) disposed in the cylindrical pressure vessel above the nuclear reactor core, and an annular steam generator surrounding the nuclear reactor core and the CRDM. In some such PWR, a cylindrical riser is disposed coaxially inside the pressure vessel and inside the annular steam generator and surrounds the nuclear reactor core and the CRDM, and the steam generator is disposed coaxially inside the cylindrical pressure vessel in an annular volume defined by the cylindrical pressure vessel and the cylindrical riser. In other such PWR, the steam generator is disposed coaxially outside of and secured with the cylindrical pressure vessel. |
| US09812219B2 |
Automatic test-pattern generation for memory-shadow-logic testing
An embodiment of a method for automated test pattern generation (ATPG), a system for ATPG, and a memory configured for ATPG. For example, an embodiment of a memory includes a first test memory cell, a data-storage memory cell, and a test circuit configured to enable the test cell and to disable the data-storage cell during a test mode. |
| US09812212B2 |
Memory cell with low reading voltages
A memory cell includes a program select transistor, a program element, a read select transistor, a read element, and an erase element. The program select transistor is coupled to a program source line, a program select line, and a program control line. The program element is coupled to the second terminal of the program select transistor, a program bit line, and the program control line. The read select transistor is coupled to a read source line, a read select line, and a bias control line. The read element is coupled to the second terminal of the read select transistor, a read bit line, and the bias control line. The erase element is coupled to an erase control line. A floating gate is coupled to the erase element, the program element and the read element. |
| US09812211B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells (1). Each of the nonvolatile memory cells comprises a MOS type first transistor section (3) used for information storage, and a MOS type second transistor section (4) which selects the first transistor section. The second transistor section has a bit line electrode (16) connected to a bit line, and a control gate electrode (18) connected to a control gate control line. The first transistor section has a source line electrode (10) connected to a source line, a memory gate electrode (14) connected to a memory gate control line, and a charge storage region (11) disposed directly below the memory gate electrode. A gate withstand voltage of the second transistor section is lower than that of the first transistor section. Assuming that the thickness of a gate insulating film of the second transistor section is defined as tc and the thickness of a gate insulating film of the first transistor section is defined as tm, they have a relationship of tc |
| US09812209B2 |
System and method for memory integrated circuit chip write abort indication
Systems and methods for detecting a command execution abort are disclosed. Power failure may abort the writing of data in a memory device prematurely, resulting in potential data corruption. A memory device controller in the memory device sends commands, such as write or erase commands, to one or more memory integrated circuit chips. Along with executing the commands, the memory integrated circuit chips track execution of the commands by storing the address at which the command is being executed along with flag(s) indicative of the progress executing the command (e.g., command has begun and/or completed execution). When a power failure occurs, the memory device controller may poll the memory integrated circuit chips for the address/flags information to determine whether (or where) the command abort occurred. Thus, relying on the address/flag(s), the memory device controller may more quickly or easily determine whether a command abort has occurred. |
| US09812208B2 |
System and method for employing secure non-volatile storage devices in gaming machines
A write-protection system and method for use with a gaming machine. The system having a non-volatile data storage device, an interface device and an electrically conductive connector. The storage device having electronic data storage and a write-protection controller providing a write-protected state and a write-permitting state, the electronic data storage being blocked from receiving electronic write commands in the write-protected state and being able to receive write commands in the write-permitting state. The interface device electrically connecting the data storage device to a power supply and control circuitry of the gaming machine. The interface device connected to the electronic data storage through the controller and the connector. |
| US09812206B2 |
3D flash memory device having different dummy word lines and data storage devices including same
A three-dimensional (3D) flash memory includes a first dummy word line disposed between a ground select line and a lowermost main word line, and a second dummy word line of different word line configuration disposed between a string select line and an upper most main word line. |
| US09812203B2 |
Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile functionality including resistance change material and method of operating
Semiconductor memory is provided wherein a memory cell includes a capacitorless transistor having a floating body configured to store data as charge therein when power is applied to the cell. The cell further includes a nonvolatile memory comprising a resistance change element configured to store data stored in the floating body under any one of a plurality of predetermined conditions. A method of operating semiconductor memory to function as volatile memory, while having the ability to retain stored data when power is discontinued to the semiconductor memory is described. |
| US09812202B2 |
Three dimensional opto-magnetic data storage system and method
The present invention relates to a data storage system and a method which has high storing capacity and high data access rate and low power consumption. The said data storage system essentially includes at least two optical layers, and which have at least one active layer in which the light is generated, at least one lower electric contact enabling the electric energy to be transferred to the active layer and at least one upper electric contact, at least two reflecting layers reflecting the light generated in the active layer; at least one thermal insulator; at least one magnetic layer, which has at least one storage bit, at least one lower buffer bit, at least one upper buffer bit enabling the data to be transferred up; at least one transparent layer and transfers the light generated by the optical unit to the magnetic layer. |
| US09812200B2 |
Concurrent read and write operations in a serial flash device
A method of controlling an NVM device can include: (i) receiving, by an interface, a write command from a host; (ii) beginning execution of a write operation on a first array plane of a memory array in response to the write command, where the memory array includes a plurality of NVM cells arranged in a plurality of array planes; (iii) receiving, by the interface, a read command from the host; (iv) suspending the write operation in response to detection of the read command during execution of the write operation; (v) beginning execution of a read operation on a second array plane in response to the read command; and (vi) resuming the write operation after the read operation has at least partially been executed. |
| US09812199B2 |
Electronic device with semiconductor memory having variable resistance elements for storing data and associated driving circuitry
Provided are, among others, memory circuits or devices and their applications in electronic devices or systems and various implementations of an electronic device which includes a semiconductor memory unit including one or more column, a data line, and a data line bar connected with a column selected among the one or more columns. Each of the one or more columns may include a plurality of storage cells each configured to store 1-bit data, each storage cell including a first and a second variable resistance elements; a bit line connected to one end of the first variable resistance element; a bit line bar connected to one end of the second variable resistance element; a source line connected to the other ends of the first and second variable resistance elements; and a driving block configured to latch data of the data line and the data line bar. |
| US09812197B2 |
Clamp circuit
One example provides a device including a first transistor having a source-drain path electrically coupled between a first node and a second node. The device includes an operational amplifier having an output electrically coupled to a gate of the first transistor. The operational amplifier controls the first transistor to maintain a predetermined voltage on the first node. A first current source adds a current at the first node and a second current source subtracts the current at the second node. |
| US09812188B2 |
Static random-access memory (SRAM) sensor for bias temperature instability
An apparatus includes a static random-access memory and circuitry configured to initiate a corrective action associated with the static random-access memory. The corrective action may be initiated based on a number of static random-access memory cells that have a particular state responsive to a power-up of the static random-access memory. |
| US09812185B2 |
DRAM adjacent row disturb mitigation
The invention pertains to data disturb vulnerabilities in Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) integrated circuits. In particular, it pertains to mitigating attacks on a computational system by deliberate inducement of disturbs on a targeted row (also known as “row hammering”) in the system's DRAM memory. The stream of row addresses accompanying ACTIVE commands is monitored and filtered to only track addresses that occur at a dangerous rate and reject addresses that occur at less than a dangerous rate. When a tracked address poses a danger of causing a memory disturb, each row adjacent to the tracked address row is refreshed thus mitigating the danger. |
| US09812184B2 |
Current induced spin-momentum transfer stack with dual insulating layers
A high speed, low power method to control and switch the magnetization direction of a magnetic region in a magnetic device for memory cells using spin polarized electrical current. The magnetic device comprises a pinned magnetic layer, a reference magnetic layer with a fixed magnetization direction and a free magnetic layer with a changeable magnetization direction. The magnetic layers are separated by insulating non-magnetic layers. A current can be applied to the device to induce a torque that alters the magnetic state of the device so that it can act as a magnetic memory for writing information. The resistance, which depends on the magnetic state of the device, can be measured to read out the information stored in the device. |
| US09812182B2 |
Memory devices with improved refreshing operation
A method and a system for memory cell programming and erasing with refreshing operation are disclosed. The system includes a selecting module, a processing module and a refresh module. In the method, at first, a target memory cell from a plurality of memory cells in a memory device is selected. Thereafter, the target memory cell belonging to a line of the matrix is programmed or erased by applying a selecting voltage on the target memory cell and a location-related memory cell belonging to the line of the matrix. Then, a refreshing operation to refresh the location-related cell is performed. |
| US09812181B2 |
Memory circuit with transistors having different threshold voltages and method of operating the memory circuit
A memory circuit includes a memory cell, a data line configured to be coupled with the memory cell, a node, a precharge circuit, a first transistor of a first type, and a second transistor of the first type. The precharge circuit is configured to charge the node toward a predetermined voltage level. The first transistor of the first type has a drain coupled with the node and a source coupled with the data line, and the first transistor has a first threshold voltage. The second transistor of the first type has a drain coupled with the node and a source coupled with the data line, and the second transistor having a second threshold voltage different from the first threshold voltage. |
| US09812178B2 |
Semiconductor device
To provide a semiconductor device including a plurality of circuit blocks each of which is capable of performing power gating by setting off periods appropriate to temperatures of the respective circuit blocks. Specifically, the semiconductor device includes an arithmetic circuit, a memory circuit configured to hold data obtained by the arithmetic circuit, a power supply control switch configured to control supply of the power supply voltage to the arithmetic circuit, a temperature detection circuit configured to detect the temperature of the memory circuit and to estimate overhead from the temperature, and a controller configured to set a period during which supply of the power supply voltage is stopped in the case where a power consumption of the arithmetic circuit during the period is larger than the overhead period and to control the power supply control switch. |
| US09812175B2 |
Systems and methods for annotating a video
A video may be presented on a touchscreen display. Reception of annotation input may be determined based on user's engagement with the touchscreen display. Annotation input may define an in-frame visual annotation for the video. In-frame visual annotation may be associated with a visual portion of the video and one or more points within a duration of the video such that a subsequent presentation of the video includes the in-frame visual annotation positioned at the visual portion of the video at the one or more points. A graphical user interface may be presented on the touchscreen display. The graphical user interface may include one or more animation fields that provide options for selection by the user. The options may define different properties of a moving visual element added to the video. The options may define visual characteristics, presentation periods, and motions of the moving visual element. |
| US09812172B2 |
Video-processing apparatus, video-processing system, and video-processing method
According to the present disclosure, a master decoder acquires a generator synchronization signal for synchronization of video data based on a reference signal supplied from a synchronization signal generator, selects the generator synchronization signal as a selected synchronization signal to transmit the selected synchronization signal to the slave decoder via an internal bus, and outputs the video data based on the selected synchronization signal, and the slave decoder outputs the video data based on the selected synchronization signal transmitted from the master decoder. |
| US09812162B2 |
Opening and closing device of rotating cage type jukebox disc tray
An opening and closing device comprises a disc tray, a mounting shaft and a jukebox manipulator. The disc tray is mounted on the mounting shaft. A positioning structure is provided between the disc tray and the mounting shaft. The mounting shaft is mounted on an outer circumference of a jukebox rotating cage. The jukebox manipulator is mounted on a manipulator driving unit. A side of the manipulator driving unit is provided with an optical drive, the jukebox manipulator is provided with a driving plate structure and the disc tray is provided with a driving lever. When the jukebox rotating cage rotates, the disc tray can revolve around the rotating shaft of jukebox rotating cage and can rotate around the mounting shaft. With the assistance of in-place bumping post which is provided by a side of the jukebox rotating cage, the positioning structure can locate the rotation of disc tray at a fixed static angle. |
| US09812157B1 |
Lateral spin valve reader and fabrication method thereof
A lateral spin valve reader and fabrication method thereof. The method includes forming an injector, a detector and a common channel layer that extends from the injector to the detector. The method also includes forming a first channel layer between the common channel layer and at least one of the injector or the detector with the first channel layer in contact with the common channel layer, thereby providing an interface between the first channel layer and the common channel layer. |
| US09812155B1 |
Method and system for fabricating high junction angle read sensors
A method provides a magnetic read apparatus. A sensor stack is deposited. The read sensor is defined from the stack such that the sensor has sides forming a junction angle of 75 degrees-105 degrees from a sensor bottom. Defining the sensor includes performing a first ion mill at a first angle and a first energy and performing a second ion mill at a second angle greater than the first angle and at a second energy less than the first energy. The first angle is 5 degrees-30 degrees from normal to the top surface. After the first ion mill, less than half of the stack's bottom layer depth remains unmilled. Magnetic bias structure(s) adjacent to the sides may be formed. The magnetic bias structure(s) include a side shielding material having at least one of the saturation magnetization greater than 800 emu/cm3 and an exchange length less than five nanometers. |
| US09812153B2 |
Image and audio reproduction device and method
An image and audio reproduction device obtains an image captured by an image capturing device and a plurality of acoustic signals whose arrival directions are respectively a plurality of locations in an image capturing scope of the image capturing device, and sets, as one group, arrival directions of acoustic signals with a high degree of similarity of amounts of characteristics on the basis of a degree of similarity of the amounts of characteristics between the acoustic signals that are from the arrival directions adjacent to each other. The image and audio reproduction device adds information to the image captured by the image capturing device so as to reproduce the image, the information representing a position of the group in an image capturing scope of the image capturing device. |
| US09812151B1 |
Generating communicative behaviors for anthropomorphic virtual agents based on user's affect
Systems and methods for automatically generating at least one of facial expressions, body gestures, vocal expressions, or verbal expressions for a virtual agent based on emotion, mood and/or personality of a user and/or the virtual agent are provided. Systems and method for determining a user's emotion, mood and/or personality are also provided. |
| US09812148B2 |
Estimation of noise characteristics
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for estimating characteristics of noise included in one-dimensional data. For example, a number of data points associated with noise below each of a plurality of thresholds may be determined to calculate a cumulative distribution function. A probability density function may be derived from the cumulative distribution function. A variance may be calculated from the cumulative distribution function and/or the probability density function. The noise may be modeled using the variance and other characteristics determined from the cumulative distribution function and/or the probability density function. |
| US09812144B2 |
Speech transcoding in packet networks
Speech transcoding in packet networks may be useful when both incoming and outgoing speech streams of the transcoding entity are packet based. This can be any transcoding entity having packet interfaces. A method can include omitting jitter buffering before decoding in a transcoder and omitting bad frame handling in a decoding stage of a transcoder. The method can also include freezing a decoder and the encoder when a packet is not received. The method can also include sending packet loss information from the decoder to the encoder as side information when the packet is not received. The method can further include setting an outgoing packet stream to permit detection of missing packets by a downstream decoder upon receiving a valid packet after the packet is not received. |
| US09812143B2 |
Audio coding method and apparatus
An audio coding method and apparatus, where the method includes, for each audio frame in audio, when a signal characteristic of the audio frame and a signal characteristic of a previous audio frame meet a preset modification condition, determining a first modification weight according to linear spectral frequency (LSF) differences of the audio frame and LSF differences of the previous audio frame, modifying a linear predictive parameter of the audio frame according to the determined first modification weight, and coding the audio frame according to a modified linear predictive parameter of the audio frame. According to the present disclosure, audio having a wider bandwidth can be coded while a bit rate remains unchanged or a bit rate slightly changes and a spectrum between audio frames is steadier. |
| US09812142B2 |
High frequency regeneration of an audio signal with synthetic sinusoid addition
A method performed in an audio decoder for reconstructing an original audio signal having a lowband portion and a highband portion is disclosed. The method includes receiving an encoded audio signal and extracting reconstruction parameters from the encoded audio signal. The method further includes decoding the encoded audio signal with a core audio decoder to obtain a decoded lowband portion and regenerating the highband portion based at least in part on a cross over frequency and the decoded lowband portion to obtain a regenerated highband portion. The method also includes creating a synthetic sinusoid with a level based at least in part on a spectral envelope value for the particular subband and a noise floor value for the particular subband and adding the synthetic sinusoid to the regenerated highband portion in the particular frequency band specified by the location information. Finally, the method includes combining the lowband portion and the regenerated highband portion to obtain a full bandwidth audio signal. |
| US09812139B2 |
Method, terminal, system for audio encoding/decoding/codec
Audio encoding methods/terminals, audio decoding methods/terminals, and audio codec systems are provided. A plurality of audio signals that are continuous is obtained. It is determined whether each audio signal of the plurality of audio signals includes a designated signal type, according to an audio parameter of each audio signal. A marked audio encoding stream is obtained by performing a marking to each audio signal as having or not having the designated signal type. The marking is used, at a decoding terminal, to perform an enhancement-process to one or more audio signals having the designated signal type. The enhancement-process is not performed to audio signals that do not have the designated signal type. |
| US09812137B2 |
Data communication using audio patterns systems and methods
Systems and methods for data communication using audio patterns are described. The methods include encoding a message into an audio pattern, mixing the audio pattern with an audio content to obtain a mixed audio content, wherein the audio pattern is inaudible in the mixed audio content, and transmitting the mixed audio content. |
| US09812136B2 |
Audio processing system
An audio processing system (100) comprises a front-end component (102, 103), which receives quantized spectral components and performs an inverse quantization, yielding a time-domain representation of an intermediate signal. The audio processing system further comprises a frequency-domain processing stage (104, 105, 106, 107, 108), configured to provide a time-domain representation of a processed audio signal, and a sample rate converter (109), providing a reconstructed audio signal sampled at a target sampling frequency. The respective internal sampling rates of the time-domain representation of the intermediate audio signal and of the time-domain representation of the processed audio signal are equal. In particular embodiments, the processing stage comprises a parametric upmix stage which is operable in at least two different modes and is associated with a delay stage that ensures constant total delay. |
| US09812134B2 |
Using bandwidth allocation data to determine a breakdown of VoLTE calls by AMR coding mode
A breakdown of voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) calls by adaptive multi-rate (AMR) speech coding mode may be determined by accessing a plurality of call detail records (CDRs) containing information associated with a plurality of corresponding communication sessions established over a mobile telephony network, and filtering the plurality of CDRs to obtain a subset of CDRs that are associated with communication sessions that used VoLTE services. A data structure containing correlations between AMR speech coding modes and bandwidth values may be referenced in order to classify the CDRs of the subset of CDRs into groups of different AMR speech coding modes. In some embodiments, a capacity planning metric or a resource allocation metric may be recommended based at least in part on numbers of the CDRs in the subset of CDRs within each of the groups of the different AMR speech coding modes. |
| US09812133B2 |
System and method for detecting synthetic speaker verification
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and tangible computer readable-media for detecting synthetic speaker verification. The method comprises receiving a plurality of speech samples of the same word or phrase for verification, comparing each of the plurality of speech samples to each other, denying verification if the plurality of speech samples demonstrate little variance over time or are the same, and verifying the plurality of speech samples if the plurality of speech samples demonstrates sufficient variance over time. One embodiment further adds that each of the plurality of speech samples is collected at different times or in different contexts. In other embodiments, variance is based on a pre-determined threshold or the threshold for variance is adjusted based on a need for authentication certainty. In another embodiment, if the initial comparison is inconclusive, additional speech samples are received. |
| US09812129B2 |
Motor vehicle device operation with operating correction
A method for operating a motor vehicle operating device to carry out with voice control two operating steps. A first vocabulary is set, which is provided for the first operating step, to a speech recognition device. Based on the first set vocabulary, a first recognition result is generated and the first operating step is carried out. A second vocabulary, which is provided for the second operating step, is then set to the speech recognition device and a second speech input is received. A repetition recognition device recognizes during or after the second speech input a correction request of the user. The first operating step is then reversed for the device and the first vocabulary is reinstalled again for the speech recognition device. The first operating step is repeated based on a second recognition result that is detected in dependence on a part of the second speech input. |
| US09812125B2 |
Speech recognition device, vehicle having the same, and speech recognition method
A speech recognition device is configured to increase usability by retrying speech recognition without returning to a previous operation or a re-input of speech when a user's speech is misrecognized. The speech recognition device is further configured increase accuracy of recognition by changing a search environment when the user's speech is misrecognized or when re-recognition is performed since the recognized speech is rejected due to a low confidence. A vehicle includes a speech input device configured to receive speech; and a speech recognition device configured to recognize the received speech and output a recognition result of the received speech. The speech recognition device resets a recognition environment applied to speech recognition and re-recognizes the received speech when a re-recognition instruction is input by a user, and resets the reset recognition environment to an initial value when the re-recognition is completed. |
| US09812120B2 |
Speech synthesis apparatus, speech synthesis method, speech synthesis program, portable information terminal, and speech synthesis system
A speech synthesis apparatus includes a content selection unit that selects a text content item to be converted into speech; a related information selection unit that selects related information which can be at least converted into text and which is related to the text content item selected by the content selection unit; a data addition unit that converts the related information selected by the related information selection unit into text and adds text data of the text to text data of the text content item selected by the content selection unit; a text-to-speech conversion unit that converts the text data supplied from the data addition unit into a speech signal; and a speech output unit that outputs the speech signal supplied from the text-to-speech conversion unit. |
| US09812117B1 |
Coherent acoustic wave generation
An acoustic wave generator including a stack having a plurality of first layers configured to receive electrical and/or magnetic energy and a plurality of second layers configured in contact with the plurality of first layers, the plurality of second layers comprising one or more materials configured to change mechanical properties when electrical and/or magnetic energy is applied thereto. The generator further having at least one source configured in operational communication with the plurality of first layers and configured to supply at least one of phased electrical and/or magnetic energy to the plurality of first layers, wherein the stack is configured to (i) generate phased acoustic energy and (ii) at least one of amplify and store the generated phased acoustic energy in a first state and release said generator acoustic energy in a second state. |
| US09812115B2 |
Active noise-cancellation feedback signal transmission
A noise-cancelling system includes headset for generating a feedback signal for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset. An encoded microphone signal is generated in response to the first feedback signal. An audio generator can be used to generate a noise-cancellation signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and to generate an electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and a first output audio signal. An audio connector is provided to couple the encoded microphone signal from the headset to the audio generator and to couple the first electronic audio signal to the headset. |
| US09812114B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling adaptive noise control gain
A method may include adaptively generating an anti-noise signal for countering the effects of ambient audio sounds at an acoustic output of the transducer by adapting a response of an adaptive filter that filters a reference microphone signal in conformity with an error microphone signal and the reference microphone signal to minimize the ambient audio sounds in the error microphone, generating a scaled anti-noise signal by applying a scaling factor to the anti-noise signal, further adjusting the response of the adaptive filter independent of a source audio signal by altering an input to the coefficient control block of the adaptive filter to compensate for the scaling factor, and combining the scaled anti-noise signal with the source audio signal to generate an audio signal provided to the transducer. |
| US09812113B2 |
Vehicle engine harmonic sound control
A method that is accomplished in a vehicle engine harmonic modification system. A non-zero target engine harmonic signal that is representative of a target engine harmonic sound level in the vehicle cabin is provided. The target engine harmonic signal is used in an operation of the engine harmonic modification system so as to modify the level of engine harmonic sound in the vehicle cabin, to bring the engine harmonic sound level in the vehicle cabin closer to the target engine harmonic sound level. |
| US09812111B1 |
Sound insulation panels having high interlayer thickness factors
A multiple layer panel having improved sound insulation is disclosed. The multiple layer panel comprises a first rigid substrate having a first thickness H3, a second rigid substrate having a second thickness H1, wherein H3≦H1, and a multiple layer acoustic interlayer having a thickness H2 between the first and second rigid substrates. |
| US09812108B2 |
Support assembly and keyboard apparatus
A support assembly including a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a repetition lever hinge mounted to the support, and a repetition lever supported by the repetition lever hinge and rotatably disposed with respect to the support, wherein the repetition lever has a contact surface and the contact surface contacts a hammer shank roller provided to a hammer shank for rotating a hammer, and the repetition lever hinge is mounted to the support in a mounting direction that crosses with a tangent-line direction of a line tangent to the hammer shank roller at the contact between the hammer shank roller and the contact surface. |
| US09812105B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium for compensating for latency in musical collaboration
An apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium that compensate for latency in a musical collaboration. The method includes setting a tempo for a first client device to follow, receiving a musical piece from the first client device, transmitting the musical piece to a second client device, and instructing the second client device, via an instruction transmitted along with the musical piece, to delay playback of the musical piece a predetermined amount of time to compensate for latency in the musical collaboration, the predetermined amount of time being associated with a measure or a fraction of a measure. |
| US09812104B2 |
Sound providing method and electronic device for performing the same
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display; a memory for storing at least one audio signal; a communication circuit configured to establish wireless communication with an external device; and a processor electrically connected with the display, the memory, and the communication circuit, wherein the memory stores instructions for, when executed, causing the processor to: produce the at least one audio signal, receive data associated with a gesture through the communication circuit from the external device apply a sound effect, selected based at least in part on the data associated with the gesture, to the produced at least one audio source, and output or store a resulting audio signal, wherein the resulting audio signal represents application of the sound effect to the produced at least one audio signal. |
| US09812101B1 |
Cymbal attachment and hi-hat stand
A cymbal attachment includes an attachment body having a fixing hole to which a rod is fixed and a stopper assembly adapted to be mounted onto the attachment body. The stopper assembly includes a stopper holder and a stopper slider, which is accommodated in the stopper holder. The stopper slider has a round hole and a continuous hole, which is located above the round hole. An engagement surface by which the stopper slider is engaged with the attachment body is arranged in both the attachment body and the stopper slider. |
| US09812092B2 |
Display apparatus and display method
A display apparatus includes: a display unit configured to be able to be curved in an almost cylindrical shape with a surface being oriented outwards and display information in a region of one of an entire periphery and a part of the surface; a viewing intention detector configured to detect viewing intention of a user for the information displayed on the display unit, the user wearing the display unit on a part of a body; a display region determiner configured to determine, according to the viewing intention of the user, a region of the display unit, which is viewable by the user, as a display region for displaying the information; and a display control unit configured to control display of the information in the display region. |
| US09812089B2 |
Method of raising contrast of OLED display panel and system
A method of raising contrast of an OLED display panel converts an original RGB signal into a HSI color space constructed by a hue component, a saturation component and an intensity component, and implements histogram statistics to the intensity component to obtain a histogram of the intensity component, and obtains a conversion parameter according to the histogram of the intensity component, and obtains the new low driving voltage with calculation of the conversion parameter in combination with the original low driving voltage, and meanwhile, keeps the hue component and the saturation component unchanged, and implements enhancement treatment to the intensity component to obtain a new intensity component, and then, converts the hue component, the saturation component and the new intensity component into a RGB color space to obtain a new R′G′B′ signal supplied to a pixel driving circuit. |
| US09812087B2 |
Display device
A display device in which an image with a wide color reproduction range and bright red can be displayed is provided. The display device is a display device such as, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a cathode ray tube, an organic electroluminescent display device, a plasma display panel, and a field emission display. The display device includes a display surface including a pixel having red, green, blue, and yellow sub-pixels, wherein the red sub-pixel preferably has the largest aperture area. |
| US09812086B2 |
Method for displaying by determined color result image of area extraction result
A method for displaying a result of area extraction processing of dividing a target image into a foreground area and a background area includes a result acquisition step of acquiring a result of the area extraction processing on the target image, an extraction result image generation step of acquiring an extraction result image representing an estimated foreground area or an estimated background area estimated by the area extraction processing or a boundary between the estimated foreground area and the estimated background area, based on the acquired result, and a display step of generating a composite image by combining the extraction result image with the target image, and displaying the composite image on a display device. The extraction result image generation step includes a color extraction step and a color determination step. |
| US09812081B2 |
Liquid-crystal display device and method for driving same
Based on a REF/NREF signal coming from a REF/NREF determination circuit, a polarity bias calculation circuit updates a polarity bias count value Nb indicating a degree of a polarity bias of an applied voltage to a liquid crystal layer, and based on this polarity bias count value Nb, a bias movement determination circuit determines a moving direction of the polarity bias. Upon receiving an OFF signal Soff instructing OFF of the power supply, a balance control circuit controls a drive unit based on a result of the determination of the polarity bias moving direction and on the polarity bias count value Nb at a point of time when the OFF signal Soff is inputted so that the polarity bias can be resolved before a power supply is turned off. |
| US09812076B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display including: a liquid crystal display including: a first polarizer, a second polarizer, a gate line, a data line, a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, a first light blocking member, a second light blocking member, a liquid crystal layer, and a common electrode; a color conversion panel including a third light blocking member and a color conversion media layer, the color conversion panel being disposed on the liquid crystal panel; and a backlight assembly configured to supply light to the liquid crystal panel and the color conversion panel, wherein the first light blocking member overlaps the data line, wherein the second light blocking member is disposed between the first light blocking member and the third light blocking member, the third light blocking member overlapping the first light blocking member, and wherein the third light blocking member overlaps the second light blocking member. |
| US09812074B2 |
System and method for foldable display
As described herein, there is provided methods, apparatus and computer program products to display visual information on a foldable display device. Display control signals are altered or modified to avoid display of or compensate for impairment in the display of visual information on fold deformations introduced in a display unit of the display device in response to folding of the display unit, or to reverse any alterations or modifications in the event that the fold deformations are eliminated by unfolding of the display unit. |
| US09812073B2 |
Color display device
The present invention provides driving methods for a color display device in which each pixel can display four high-quality color states. More specifically, an electrophoretic fluid is provided which comprises four types of particles, dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture. |
| US09812067B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and driving method thereof
An organic light-emitting display device, including a display unit including a plurality of pixels each having an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a controller configured to accumulate image data of each frame and to generate compensated image data using a degradation compensation method determined, based on the accumulated image data, to compensate for the degradation of the OLED of each of the pixels, and a data driver configured to generate a data voltage according to the compensated image data and to provide the data voltage to the pixels. |
| US09812066B2 |
Organic light emitting display and driving method of the same
An organic light emitting display includes a plurality of pixel row groups, a scan driver, a data driver, and a data distributor. Each pixel group includes the same number of pixel rows, and the pixel row groups are sequentially driven. The data distributor demultiplexes data signals for input into the pixels. The data signals are input to the pixels after threshold voltage compensation is performed at substantially a same time for pixels in each of the pixel row groups. Data signals are to be input to pixels in one pixel row group while threshold voltage compensation is performed for pixels in another pixel row group adjacent to the one pixel row group. |
| US09812064B2 |
Organic light-emitting display panel and method for compensating voltage drop thereof
Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display panel and a method for compensating voltage drop thereof. The organic light-emitting display panel is added with a voltage drop compensation unit, which is connected to a data driving unit, and used for calculating, as per a data voltage output by the data driving unit and inbuilt iterative algorithm, a voltage at a junction between a power wiring and each of a plurality of pixel units. Subsequently, the data voltage output by the data driving unit is compensated based on a voltage difference between the voltage as calculated and a supply voltage. |
| US09812063B2 |
Display apparatus, method and apparatus for controlling the same
A display control method of controlling a display operation of a display panel which includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a column direction and a row direction. A plurality of pixels include a plurality of sensing pixels, of which electrical values are sensed, and a non-sensing pixel that is not a sensing pixel. The display control method includes accumulating image data values respectively input to the plurality of pixels to obtain deterioration information for each pixel, obtaining an electrical value of each of the plurality of sensing pixels, determining an electrical value of the non-sensing pixel, based on the deterioration information and an electrical value of each sensing pixel, and controlling the display operation of the display panel, based on electrical values of the plurality of pixels. |
| US09812062B2 |
Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A display apparatus includes pixels connected to scan lines, data lines, and emission control lines. Each include includes an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a first transistor to transfer driving current to the OLED based on a data signal, a second transistor to transfer the data signal to the first transistor based on a first scan signal having a gate-on voltage level during a data writing period, a first capacitor connected between a gate electrode of the first transistor and a first power source, and a second capacitor connected between a drain electrode of the first transistor and the first power source. |
| US09812056B2 |
Display resolution negotiation
In a projected architecture system, a mobile device may be responsible for providing the video that is displayed on a vehicle's infotainment system's display. The resolution and/or aspect ratio of the remote display may not be supported by the mobile device. An encoder, based on the display resolution, may render one or more video frames that a decoder coupled to the infotainment system can scale to a resolution compatible with the remote display. |
| US09812055B2 |
Display device and a method for driving the same
A display device includes: a common electrode and a pixel electrode that includes a horizontal stem, a vertical stem, and a branch. A pixel of the branch includes a first branch that extends in a first diagonal direction from the horizontal stem and the vertical stem, and a second branch that extends in a second diagonal direction from the horizontal stem and the vertical stem. |
| US09812054B2 |
Display driver and display apparatus using sub-pixel rendering method
A display driver configured to drive a display panel is provided. The display panel displays an image frame in a first display mode or a second display mode. The display driver includes a first display driving channel and a second display driving channel. The first and the second display driving channels are configured to drive the display panel to display the image frame by using a sub-pixel rendering method. In the second display mode, the second display driving channel drives sub-pixels on the display panel to display corresponding grayscales by using a plurality of gamma voltages. A voltage value of at least one gamma voltage among the gamma voltages is determined according to an arrangement of the sub-pixels on the display panel. Furthermore, a display apparatus is also provided. |
| US09812052B2 |
2D/3D image displaying apparatus
A 2D/3D image displaying apparatus includes a sub-pixel, a first and second data lines and a gamma circuit. The sub-pixel includes a first portion and a second portion. The first and second data lines are coupled to the first and second portion of the sub-pixel, respectively. The gamma circuit transmits correlated gamma signals to a driving circuit for driving the first and second part of the sub-pixel via the first and second data lines when 2D image is to be displayed, and transmits a single gamma signal to the driving circuit for driving the first and second portion of the sub-pixel via the first and second data lines when 3D image is to be displayed. |
| US09812051B2 |
Video processing circuit, processing method thereof, liquid crystal display apparatus and electronics device
A video processing circuit for specifying an applied voltage that is applied to a liquid crystal included in each pixel on the basis of a video signal, the video processing circuit includes a correction unit configured to, if the applied voltage specified by the video signal is a voltage of a level lower than a voltage level that is sufficient to an extent that can provide liquid crystal molecules with initial inclination angles, perform correction so that the applied voltage has a voltage level that is sufficient to an extent that can provide the liquid crystal molecules with initial inclination angles. |
| US09812047B2 |
System and method for remotely monitoring the operating life of electronic displays
A system for remotely monitoring and controlling one or more electronic displays containing several hardware components. The components may electronically communicate with a network connection which can be used to establish communication with a local area network and/or the internet. A personal computing device can be used to run a user interface which allows the user to access a wealth of information from the electronic display as well as change controlling software, operating parameters, and check for downtime incidents or failures. Various sensors and measurement devices can be installed within the display to provide the information which may be stored locally or stored remotely for real-time access or on-demand access. |
| US09812045B2 |
Large projection screen image device with seesaw structure for virtual reality
A large projection image screen device having a seesaw structure for virtual reality where a chair is provided on one side of a lever and an image system is provided on the other side of the lever. Several rotation shafts are provided below the lever for up down rotation, left right rotation and front rear rotation, where when the chair and the screen are rotated up and downward, left and rightward, and front and rearward, a user on the chair views the images at the same view angle as the rotation angle of the screen through a location tracing device. |
| US09812034B2 |
Educational kit for practicing electronic circuit design
An educational kit for teaching kids/beginners about designing electronic circuit is provided. The educational kit according to the current application comprises of; 1) a square hard board comprised of a stiff non- conductive material, 2) a steel plate encasing back side of the square board, 3) pluralities of various kinds of electronic components which have wire type leads/terminals for connection, 4) pluralities of small permanent magnets of circular shape, and 5) a separate manual wherein various electronic circuits are printed thereon. Pluralities of dents of circular shape and square shape are developed on the front side of the board to receive magnets and electronic components, respectively. Another embodiment of the hard board has pluralities of circular or square dents spaced with same intervals. The educational kit of the current application renders easy set up and change of the configuration of electronic circuits even for beginners and kids. |
| US09812030B2 |
Makeup application assistance device, makeup application assistance method, and makeup application assistance program
To appropriately assist with the application of makeup involving referencing a makeup technique of another person, this makeup application assistance device includes: first face part acquisition unit that acquires face part regions of a first face from a first image obtained by capturing the first face; second face part acquisition unit that acquires face part regions of a second face to which makeup has been applied, from a second image obtained by capturing the second face; reference makeup technique acquisition unit that acquires, for each face part of the second face, a makeup technique, which is a makeup application method, from the second image on the basis of the face part regions of the second face; and makeup technique presentation unit that associates the acquired makeup techniques with the corresponding face part regions of the first face, and presents the makeup techniques to a user. |
| US09812025B2 |
Video management system for interactive online instruction
A system for interactive online instruction includes an instructional subscription website and video management system configured to process video recordings. The video recordings may include (i) student videos uploaded by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos. A method of interactive online instruction is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing prerecorded course materials on an instructional subscription website including video lessons accessible by subscribing students, and providing a video management system configured to process video recordings including (i) student videos submitted by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos. |
| US09812024B2 |
Collaborative and interactive learning
The present invention helps generate connected communities of students and educators through access to an increased pool of granular learning resources that benefit from standardization of formats for creating and utilizing individual discussions on individual topics. The present invention also circumvents the complexity of existing repository systems by creating a standard platform format. Because this format is de facto implemented for any educator using the platform, standardized question types (e.g., discussion types or topic types) become functionally interchangeable notwithstanding any particular individuals utilizing the invention. The interchangeability of individual topics allows for creation of a global “topic library,” which may be made available to any educator using the system. This global topic library contains the standardized questions or discussion topics thereby allowing for quick review, selection, and incorporation into the individual teaching environment of any teacher utilizing the invention. |
| US09812023B2 |
Audible metadata
This disclosure describes systems and methods for audibly presenting metadata. Audibly presentable metadata is referred to as audible metadata. Audible metadata may be associated with one or more media objects. In one embodiment, audible metadata is pre-recorded requiring little or no processing before it can be rendered. In another embodiment, audible metadata is text, and a text-to-speech conversion device may be used to convert the text into renderable audible metadata. Audible metadata may be rendered at any point before or after rendering of a media object, or may be rendered during rendering of a media object via a dynamic user request. |
| US09812019B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting if a datalink application is available at an airport
Embodiments for detecting when a datalink application is available at an airport are disclosed. In one embodiment, an avionics computer installed onboard an aircraft comprises: a processing device; and a memory device communicatively coupled to the processing device and including instructions which, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to: send a request to a datalink applications database, wherein the request includes a query as to whether an airport is equipped with at least one datalink application; receive a response from the datalink applications database, wherein the response indicates whether the airport is equipped with the at least one datalink application; and send a message via datalink if the response indicates the airport is equipped with the at least one datalink application. |
| US09812018B2 |
Optical based pose detection for multiple unmanned underwater vehicles
A system and method for optical communication between multiple UUVs, more specifically, for leader-follower formations between UUVs. The system focuses on the characterization and modeling of a 1-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional light field produced from a light source mounted on a Leader UUV, which is detected by one or more follower UUVs. Communication algorithms are used to monitor the UUV's motion and orientation utilizing simulators, look up tables, and the like. A variety of detectors arrays can be used in a variety of wavelengths depending on the desired application. |
| US09812016B2 |
Device and method for assessing accident risks to a moving vehicle
A method for assessing accident risks to a moving vehicle (100; 110) includes continuously monitoring (s410) a surroundings configuration while the vehicle (100; 110) is in motion, continuously determining (s420) running characteristics for the vehicle (100; 110), continuously registering (s430) the surroundings configuration in order to create and provide an idea about chosen characteristics of the surroundings passed by the vehicle using the running characteristics and the idea as a basis for assessing (s440) accident risks related to the surroundings passed by the vehicle (100; 110). Also a computer program product includes program code (P) for a computer (200; 210) for implementing the method. Also the device and a vehicle equipped with the device. |
| US09812012B2 |
Message processing method, in-vehicle terminal, and base station
The present disclosure provides a message processing method, an in-vehicle terminal, and a base station. The method executed by a first in-vehicle terminal includes: first, generating a safety message, where the safety message includes message content and a message type; then, determining, according to the message content and the message type, a priority value corresponding to the safety message; finally, sending, according to the priority value corresponding to the safety message, the safety message by using a vehicle direct communication physical VDC PHY layer or separately by using a cellular physical cellular PHY layer and a VDC PHY layer, so that a base station and/or a second in-vehicle terminal receive/receives the safety message, and the first in-vehicle terminal can send, under a preset delay requirement, the safety message to another in-vehicle terminal in a distance range that needs to be covered by the safety message. |
| US09812007B2 |
Map generation system, map generation device, map generation method, and program
A map generation system includes: an extraction unit that collects vehicle speed information, which includes at least a speed, acceleration, and deceleration, from a vehicle and that extracts rapid deceleration information, which includes a first location where a rapid deceleration event satisfying predetermined conditions has occurred, and a traveling direction of the vehicle at the time when the rapid deceleration event has occurred from the collected vehicle speed information; a storage unit that stores map data; a division unit that generates mesh map data by dividing the map data stored in the storage unit into a plurality of meshes in a predetermined size and a predetermined number of divisions; and an estimation unit that estimates a location that requires caution when the vehicle travels therethrough, as a caution-required place, based on the rapid deceleration information extracted by the extraction unit and the mesh map data generated by the division unit. |
| US09812004B1 |
Control system for a terminal device and a switch
The control system for a terminal device and a switch can be operated by gestures and incorporate existing infrastructure. The control system includes the wall, wiring, electricity source to the wall, the switch with a control module, and the terminal device connected to the switch. The system also includes a housing and a sensor within the housing. The control module receives gesture data from the sensor to actuate the switch corresponding to desired activity of the terminal device. The range of activities of the terminal device corresponds to the different modes of the switch. The system can retrofit a terminal device and a switch in an existing installation so that the terminal device can be controlled by gestures. The control system can also have power source based on the existing infrastructure or a battery. |
| US09811999B2 |
Methods for automated response to distress signals
A system for facilitating automated response to a distress signal includes an attachment for a multifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the attachment removably articulates to a sensor location coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the system includes a computer program product in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the program instructions are computer-executable by the multifunction mobile computing device to implement detecting a disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, and, responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, transmitting to a distress signal response receiver over a radio-frequency network from a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the distress signal. |
| US09811995B2 |
Baby on board reminder
An instrument panel interaction system for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes an alerting device configured to produce an alert. A controller is controllably coupled to the alerting device, the controller being operable to activate the alerting device to produce the alert. An inquiring device is communicatively coupled to the controller. The inquiring device is configured to ask the driver whether a child is present. The controller is configured to activate the alerting device to produce the alert when a predetermined condition is met and an affirmative response has been received that a child is present. A method of reminding a driver of the presence of a child within a motor vehicle is also provided. |
| US09811993B2 |
Vehicle operator impairment detection system and method
An operator impairment detection system comprising a wearable mobile device including a frame for supporting the wearable mobile device on an operator's face, an accelerometer for sensing acceleration of the wearable mobile device, a proximity sensor configured to be aimed at an eye area of the operator when the operator is wearing the wearable mobile device for sensing the operator's eye closing and opening, and a processor configured to receive acceleration vector data and proximity vector data and run an application for determining when the operator's head nods or rotates and when the operator's eye blinks and for determining when the nod, rotation, and/or blink or combination of nods, rotations, and/or blinks constitutes an operator impairment event, the processor being configured to instruct the wearable mobile device to alert the operator when an impairment event is detected. |
| US09811991B2 |
Do-not-disturb system and apparatus
A product for detecting people approaching an isolated user, discouraging the detected people from disturbing the user, and for taking messages from the approaching people. The product may be embodied in noise-canceling headphones that the user is wearing, for example. The product can include a camera and a microphone that can detect approaching people. The product can also include an externally-facing speaker that can play an audio message to the approaching person to attempt to discourage the person from disturbing the user. The product can also prompt the person to leave a message for the user and then record the subsequent message. The user can review the message at a later time. |
| US09811989B2 |
Event detection system
A method and apparatus for detecting an occurrence of an event of interest. The apparatus comprises a surveillance system, a detector, and an analyzer. The surveillance system monitors subjects within an environment to generate monitoring data. The detector detects a number of indicator instances exhibited by at least a portion of the subjects using the monitoring data. Each of the number of indicator instances is an instance of a corresponding event indicator in a set of pre-selected event indicators. The analyzer evaluates the number of indicator instances and additional information to determine whether at least a portion of the number of indicator instances meets an event detection threshold, thereby indicating a detection of an occurrence of an event of interest. |
| US09811984B2 |
Sensing module for monitoring conditions of a pump or pump assembly
A sensing module for configuring on a vibrating machine or structure, such as a pump or pump assembly is provided. The sensing module includes an outer shell configured with a recessed portion, and encapsulated electronics having a multicolored light array arranged inside the outer shell. The multicolored light array responds to signaling containing information about a condition being sensed or monitored by the sensing module and provides along a projection axis at least one beam of light containing information about the condition. The signaling is received from one or more of the other encapsulated electronics, including an accelerometer or temperature sensing device. The sensing module includes a domed lens configured in the recessed portion of the outer shell, and configured to project the at least one beam of light along the projection axis with a visibility of 360° for viewing from afar, by an observer visually monitoring the sensing module. |
| US09811981B2 |
Games of chance
Games of chance are disclosed. In a general embodiment, collections of objects used in the game are defined. The values of objects of the collection are ranked according to a predefined hierarchy. A first object collection is assigned to a Player party. The Dealer accepts a wager from the Player on certain outcomes of random selections of a subset of the collection of objects corresponding to high value objects. A random selection of a subset of objects is made. The subset is compared to predefined high value objects. If there is no matching relationship between the subset and the high value objects, the wager is retained by the Dealer. If there is a matching relationship but not reaching a threshold level of matching, the Dealer pays funds to the Player. If the matching exceeds a threshold level, the Player may accept the payout or wager further. |
| US09811978B2 |
Indexing methods and apparatus with competitive performance parameters
Some embodiments may include a poker indexing service. For example, a multi dimensional vector of player performance and/or other data may be determined based on gaming related activity that is input or otherwise captured. Such a vector may be used in various forms to generate a metric or to facilitate wagering and/or other gaming activity. Other methods and apparatus are described. |
| US09811972B2 |
System and method for authenticating storage media within an electronic gaming system
A computer-implemented method of authenticating a memory of a gaming machine is provided. The method uses a computing device having a processor communicatively coupled to a memory. The method includes identifying a first area of the memory including one or more operational data components associated with operating the gaming machine. The first area further includes a public key associated with an original memory area. The method also includes authenticating, by the processor, the first area using at least the public key from the first area. |
| US09811969B2 |
Removable fan assembly providing multi-directional air flow for a wagering game machine
A gaming system internally secures a modular, critical-electronics central processing unit (CPU) box enclosure having various security features, a power source, a power regulator module, a removable fan assembly, and a backplane providing connection between all the other elements contained within the housing. The removable fan assembly is a modular, hot-swappable, encased unit that provides air flow in a plurality of directions using a corresponding plurality of individually sensed and controlled fans. The fan assembly can be removed during operation of the wagering game machine without interfering with the operations of any other electronic component and without breaking one or more validated seals of the enclosure, the validated seals enabling the gaming system to perform a wagering game having regulatory approval in a given jurisdiction. The removable fan assembly is coupled to one or more processing units that detects, monitors, and controls the operation of the individual fans the fan assembly. |
| US09811968B1 |
System and device for conducting wagering games with a continuously modified map
A system and electronic game machine that store a map of game event outcomes correlated to possible signals received at a logic controller. Multiple sequential game event outcomes are generated using the map, with the map modified so that previously produced game event outcomes are unavailable in the modified map. The logic controller monitors for a triggering element and, upon detecting a triggering element, the map is restored by re-mapping the unavailable game event outcomes back into the map. |
| US09811967B2 |
Product discharging device
A product dispensing system includes: a first product discharging device that is applied to a first product storage passage storing an input product in a vertical direction, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the first product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the first product storage passage downward in an activated state; and a second product discharging device that is applied to a second product storage passage being adjacent to the first product storage passage and storing an input product in the vertical direction thereof, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the second product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the second product storage passage downward in an activated state. The first product discharging device and the second product discharging device are coupled to each other back to back. |
| US09811966B2 |
Dispensing assembly in vending machine
A dispensing assembly includes a mounting plate with a plurality of openings, a rotatable shaft located adjacent to the mounting plate, a plurality of blocking plates pivotably attached to the mounting plate, and a plurality of jacking members attached to the rotatable shaft. Lengths of the plurality of jacking members are different from each other. When the shaft is rotated to an initial position, the plurality of jacking members disengages away from the plurality of blocking plates, and the plurality of blocking plates are received in the plurality of openings. When the shaft is rotated to a working position, the plurality of blocking plates is rotated out of the plurality of openings to positions slanted relative to the mounting plate by the plurality of jacking members. Slanting angles of the plurality of blocking plates relative to the mounting plate are different from each other. |
| US09811957B2 |
Gate apparatus, communication apparatus, communication system, gate control method, and program
Provided is a gate apparatus including a sensor that detects a pedestrian; multiple human body communication electrodes for performing human body communication; and a control unit that determines a position of the pedestrian according to information on the pedestrian detected by the sensor, performs outputting of a connection confirmation request packet through a human body communication electrode corresponding to the determined position, receives a connection confirmation response packet transmitted from a human body communication terminal and performs analysis processing on the received connection confirmation response packet, and performs opening and closing control of a gate opening and closing unit, in which the control unit stores in the connection confirmation request packet an output electrode identifier of a communication electrode that performs packet outputting, and determines whether or not the output electrode identifier and an electrode identifier of the electrode that receives the connection confirmation response packet agree with each other. |
| US09811948B2 |
3D modeled visualisation of a patient interface device fitted to a patient's face
An electronic apparatus (1) includes a display generation unit (110) configured to generate a display area (210) in a user interface (200-4,200-5), the display area being configured to display a 3-D model of a patient's face and a 3-D model of a patient interface device fitted to the 3-D model of the patient's face; and a transparency adjustment unit (150) configured to generate a transparency adjustment tool (250) in the user interface, the transparency adjustment tool being operable to adjust the transparency of a subset of components of the 3-D model of the patient interface device displayed in the 3-D display area of the user interface. |
| US09811946B1 |
High resolution (HR) panorama generation without ghosting artifacts using multiple HR images mapped to a low resolution 360-degree image
A hybrid-resolution panoramic VR generator places High-Resolution (HR) patches from a ring of HR cameras onto a 360-degree Low-Resolution (LR) image from a LR camera pointing upward from the ring into a panoramic mirror that captures the combined field of view of all the multiple HR cameras, but at a lower resolution. Ghosting artifacts caused by parallax errors between adjacent HR cameras are eliminated because object placement is determined by the 360-degree LR image. Each HR image is homographicly projected into 3 projections by grouping objects of different depths to obtain homographic matrixes. The 360-degree LR image is upscaled to HR and a query patch is searched in search windows in the three projections for up to two adjacent HR images. Best-matching patches are weighted by similarity with the query patch and blended to generate a reconstructed patch placed at the query patch location in a reconstructed HR panorama image. |
| US09811937B2 |
Coordinated gesture and locomotion for virtual pedestrians
Techniques for rendering realistic depictions of conversational gestures are provided. Embodiments include generating a data model for a first conversational gesture type, by analyzing captured video data to determine motion attribute data for a plurality of conversational gestures. Additionally, upon receiving a request to splice a gesture of the first conversational gesture type into a first animation, embodiments determine a locomotion of a first virtual character, while the first virtual character is interacting with a second virtual character within the first animation. A gesture of the first conversational gesture type is then stylized, using the generated data model and based on the determined locomotion of the first virtual character within the animation. Embodiments splice the stylized gesture into the locomotion of the first virtual character within the received animation data. |
| US09811935B2 |
Emotive advisory system and method
Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to. |
| US09811933B2 |
Image editing using selective editing tools
Implementations relate to editing images with selective editing tools. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method for an image editing program causes a display of an image and receives user input from a user to the image editing program, the user input indicative of selection of a selective editing tool. The method restores the image to a previous state in which a first modification to one or more pixel values of the image is omitted, where the first modification resulted from previous application of a first edit operation to the image. The method applies a second edit operation to one or more local areas of the image as indicated by selection of the selective editing tool by the user input, and the applying causes a second modification to the image. |
| US09811930B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for spine group generation and arrangement
A computer-implemented system and method for spine group generation and arrangement are provided. A set of spine groups each having one or more spines of clusters and at least one singleton cluster is obtained. A set of concentric rings are designated in a display and at least a portion of the spine groups are placed within the concentric rings. An innermost ring includes one or more of the spine groups that are unique from the other spine groups. A primary ring includes a majority of the spine groups placed within the display and an outermost ring delineates placement of descriptive labels for the placed spine groups. |
| US09811928B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying pulse sequence of magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
A pulse display apparatus includes a display configured to display a pulse sequence schematic diagram that shows an MRI pulse sequence along a timeline that is divided into a plurality of time sections, a user input unit configured to receive a user input for selecting a first point on the pulse sequence schematic diagram, and a controller configured to control the display such that an image that is usable for identifying a first area is displayed on the first area, wherein the first point is located in the first area from among a plurality of areas that correspond to the plurality of time sections. |
| US09811927B2 |
Universal actor correlator
Precorrelation of data applied to use cases by a module intermediate to the data and use cases provides normalized data across multiple sources for more effective analysis. For example, network sensors provide network telemetry to a precorrelation core, which extracts and normalizes the data to correlate actors to events. Universal actor correlation improves visualizations by creating a mesh of events tied to each other through a common actor. |
| US09811921B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing a depth image
Embodiments of the present invention disclose method and apparatus for processing a depth image. The method comprises: obtaining the depth image and a captured image corresponding to the depth image; segmenting the depth image to obtain a plurality of segmentation units; calculating a corresponding depth reference value for each segmentation unit; determining a standard range of depth value for the each segmentation unit based on the corresponding depth reference value; and adjusting a depth value of each pixel of the depth image to the standard range of depth value corresponding to the segmentation unit in which the each pixel is located. The method and the apparatus of embodiments of the present invention can improve the quality of the depth image and cause the depth image to be easily identified. |
| US09811919B2 |
Photo tagging system and method
A system for matching one or more participants of an event to a digital photograph they appear in. An image processing module analyzes a digital photograph of the event where one more participants appear and identifies one or more barcodes worn by the participants. Each barcode comprises a matrix with a unique value associated with a participant ID. A matrix analysis module reads the identified matrix, calculates its value and matches the participant with said digital photograph the participant appears in. |
| US09811918B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating image optical flow
An apparatus and method of estimating an image optical flow are provided. The method includes receiving temporally-consecutive first and second images; calculating rates of change of brightness values of pixels in the received temporally-consecutive first and second images; calculating a first optical flow estimation result value of a first pixel within the first image and a second optical flow estimation result value of a second pixel within the second image by using the calculated rates of change; comparing the first optical flow estimation result value with the second optical flow estimation result value; and correcting the first optical flow estimation result value and the second optical flow estimation result value by using a result of the comparison. |
| US09811916B1 |
Approaches for head tracking
The location of a user's head, for purposes such as head tracking or motion input, can be determined using a two-step process. In a first step, at least one image is captured including a representation of at least a portion of the user, with distance information also being obtained. The distance information can be used to segment the at least one image into a foreground portion, which then can be analyzed to recognize a head and shoulder signature of a user. In a second step, a contour of the foreground portion can be determined, and a center point of that contour determined. The distances from the center point to locations along the contour can be used to locate transition points associated with the head and shoulders. A center point of the portion of the contour between the transition points gives an approximation of the relative head position. |
| US09811912B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and medical imaging device
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a slice image generating unit, a region extracting unit and a tubular structure extracting unit. The storage unit stores a volume image of a three-dimensional region of a subject. The slice image generating unit generates a plurality of slice images corresponding to a plurality of slices each substantially perpendicular to a predetermined reference axis from the volume image. The region extracting unit extracts a target region from the plurality of slice images. The tubular structure extracting unit detects an end point from the extracted region, and extracts a tubular structure based on the end point. |
| US09811910B1 |
Cloud-based image improvement
Approaches are described for managing the processing of image or video data captured by a portable computing device. The device provides a set of images to a remote server executing “in the cloud”. The set of images can include a reference image and at least one other image captured subsequent or prior to the reference. Upon receiving the set of images at the remote server operating, the remote server can process the images to determine a similarity between the reference image and each of the other images. Thereafter, each image having a similarity value above a similarity value threshold can be aligned with the reference image, and the pixel values for corresponding locations in each of the images can be combined to create a processed image. The processed images can be provided to the computing device from the remote server, where the user can decide to accept or discard the image. |
| US09811909B2 |
Image processing apparatus, distance measuring apparatus, imaging apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus comprises a corresponding point determining unit configured to, for a plurality of points contained in a first image, search a second image for corresponding points; a transformation coefficient calculating unit configured to divide the plurality of corresponding points into groups, based on amounts of misalignment between the images at the corresponding points, and configured to calculates a coordinate transformation coefficient for each of the groups; and an image synthesizing unit configured to generate a synthesis image, using a plurality of the coordinate transformation coefficients and the second image. |
| US09811902B2 |
Determining a value of a recording parameter by use of an anatomic landmark
A method and an imaging system are disclosed. The method, for determining at least one value of at least one recording parameter for a recording of an X-ray image of a patient positioned on an examination table, uses contactless scanning of at least part of the surface of the patient via at least one electromagnetic sensor, to calculate the three-dimensional contour of the scanned surface without additional exposure to radiation. At least one anatomic landmark of the patient can be identified using the three-dimensional contour, and the position of the anatomic landmark is determinable in the coordinate system of the table. The value of the recording parameter is determinable using the position of the anatomic landmark. The value of the recording parameter is determinable quickly and easily since contactless scanning of surfaces can be achieved quickly and easily in terms of technology. |
| US09811898B2 |
Image analyzing apparatus and program
An image analyzing apparatus, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program, and a method are provided for extracting voids from a three-dimensional image of a fiber-reinforced composite material. The image analyzing apparatus includes a processor which executes image processing to the three-dimensional image. The processor binarizes the three-dimensional image and creates a binary image, transforms the binary image into a distance and creates a distance image, executes closing processing to the binary image by using the distance image, extracts voids from differences between images before and after the closing processing, among the extracted voids, classifies voids that are adjacent to a background voxel as open voids, and classifies voids that are not adjacent to a background voxel as closed voids, and executes opening processing to the open voids in order to eliminate fake voids. |
| US09811886B2 |
Image processing apparatus, medical imaging apparatus, and image processing method
Disclosed herein are an image processing apparatus, a medical imaging apparatus, and an image processing method, which may intuitively and easily set an image processing parameter used to process a medical image to a user-preferred optimal value. The image processing apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a plurality of sample images to which at least one image processing parameter has been variably applied; an input unit configured to receive a selection of one from among the displayed plurality of sample images from a user; and an image processing unit configured to generate a plurality of new sample images to which the at least one image processing parameter has been variably applied based on an image processing parameter to be applied to the selected sample image when the user is not satisfied with the selected sample image. |
| US09811884B2 |
Methods and systems for suppressing atmospheric turbulence in images
Various techniques are disclosed to suppress distortion in images (e.g., video or still images), such as distortion caused by atmospheric turbulence. For example, similar image blocks from a sequence of images may be identified and tracked along motion trajectories to construct spatiotemporal volumes. The motion trajectories are smoothed to estimate the true positions of the image blocks without random displacements/shifts due to the distortion, and the smoothed trajectories are used to aggregate the image blocks in their new estimated positions to reconstruct the sequence of images with the random displacements/shifts suppressed. Blurring that may remain within each image block of the spatiotemporal volumes may be suppressed by modifying the spatiotemporal volumes in a collaborative fashion. For example, a decorrelating transform may be applied to the spatiotemporal volumes to suppress the blurring in a transform domain, such as by alpha-rooting or other suitable operations on the coefficients of the spectral volumes. |
| US09811883B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus
An image processing method includes acquiring a feature defining a distribution of similar forms in a first image; and restoring a hole included in a second image based on the feature. The feature may include structure information on a background included in the first image. The restoring may include determining, based on the feature, candidate blocks corresponding to a restoration block and restoring the restoration block based on the candidate blocks. The restoration block may include at least a portion of the hole. |
| US09811882B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing super resolution image using adaptive preprocessing filtering and/or postprocessing filtering
A method of processing a super resolution image using adaptive preprocessing filtering and/or postprocessing filtering is provided. A provided image processing apparatus may determine a preprocessing filter and a postprocessing filter based on frames included in a reference interval among a plurality of intervals in an input video, may perform filtering on the frames in the reference interval based on the preprocessing filter, may reconstruct a high frequency signal of each of the frames on which the filtering is performed, and may perform filtering on the frames, each having the reconstructed high frequency signal, based on the postprocessing filter. |
| US09811881B2 |
Off-band resolution emhancement
A method of enhancing an image includes increasing sampling rate of a first image to a target sampling rate to form an interpolated image. The method also includes processing a second image through a high pass filter to form a high pass features image, wherein the second image is at the target sampling rate. The method also includes extracting detail from the high pass features image relevant to the first image, merging the detail from the high pass features image with the interpolated image to form a prediction image at the target sampling rate, and outputting the prediction image. |
| US09811880B2 |
Backfilling points in a point cloud
An apparatus, system, and method for increasing points in a point cloud. In one illustrative embodiment, a two-dimensional image of a scene and the point cloud of the scene are received. At least a portion of the points in the point cloud are mapped to the two-dimensional image to form transformed points. A fused data array is created using the two-dimensional image and the transformed points. New points for the point cloud are identified using the fused data array. The new points are added to the point cloud to form a new point cloud. |
| US09811875B2 |
Texture state cache
Techniques are disclosed relating to a cache configured to store state information for texture mapping. In one embodiment, a texture state cache includes a plurality of entries configured to store state information relating to one or more stored textures. In this embodiment, the texture state cache also includes texture processing circuitry configured to retrieve state information for one of the stored textures from one of the entries in the texture state cache and determine pixel attributes based on the texture and the retrieved state information. The state information may include texture state information and sampler state information, in some embodiments. The texture state cache may allow for reduced rending times and power consumption, in some embodiments. |
| US09811872B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating image data in a region including a plurality of partial regions based on synchronization signals
An apparatus includes a first processor and a second processor, the first processor generates a first instruction, based on a first synchronization signal, the first instruction instructing that first partial image data regarding N partial regions of the plurality of partial regions are to be generated, the second processor generates the first partial image data based on the first instruction, the first processor is configured to determine a natural number M based on a time when the generation of the first partial image data is completed and a time when a second synchronization signal is generated, and generates, based on the second synchronization signal, a second instruction instructing that second image data regarding M partial regions of the plurality of partial regions are to be generated, and the second processor generates the second partial image data based on the second instruction. |
| US09811857B2 |
Document calculator
A customer may desire to enroll in a transaction, such as a product or a service, offered, managed, and/or owned by an institution, such as a financial institution. The customer may attempt to directly enroll in the product or service or may enroll in the product or service through an agent of the institution. The customer and/or agent may select the product or service (e.g., via a workstation or other device), and a computing device may determine which documents the product or service uses, which documents the customer has on file already, and/or which documents the customer is missing. The computing device may cause the customer and/or agent to be notified of the missing documents. When the customer and/or agent provides all of the documents for the product or service (or an exception applies to one or more missing documents), the computing system may enroll the customer in the selected product or service. |
| US09811855B1 |
Electronic extension requests to extend electronic bidding for qualified bidders for computer-based auctioning of basic generation services
A system and method of conducting a computer-based, simultaneous, multiple round, descending clock auction for basic generation services (BGS) includes receiving bids by an application server host application for processing bids according to auction rules, for tranche units of BGS products, calculating next round prices, and sending round results to bidders, the subsequent round prices and a notice of the number of tranches bid during the previous round and/or the amount of excess supply offered. When available to a bidder, an extension request may be automatically granted extending the duration of the round and allowing all qualified bidders to submit new bids, and thereafter deducting the number of extensions available to the bidder. When the number of tranches bid are equal to or less than a certain threshold for each of the products, the auction may end and bidders are awarded an ending price for each of the products won. |
| US09811848B2 |
Verifying purchasers of restricted gifts
A social networking system provides verification of gift orders placed for restricted gifts. The restricted gift is subject to limitations on the giving and receiving of the gift, such as minimum age thresholds. A user purchasing the gift is directed from a social network to a landing page of a gifting system. At the landing page, the user provides login credentials to verify the user's identity within the purchase flow and prior to gift purchase. The social networking system verifies whether the login credentials match the user and determines whether the user may be permitted to purchase the restricted gift by comparing limitations of the restricted gift with profile information of the verified user. An order for the gift is provided to a gift delivery location where the recipient can receive the gift. |
| US09811847B2 |
System, method and computer program product for tracking and correlating online user activities with sales of physical goods
A vehicle sales matching system may include a vehicle sales lead data database, a vehicle sales information database, and a sales matching system embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and communicatively connected to the vehicle sales lead data database and the vehicle sales information database. The vehicle sales lead data may include validated customer data and third party customer data. The vehicle sales information may include sales data from vehicle dealers, third party data extract services, and third party sales data sources. The sales matching system may be configured for applying one or more matching rules for matching a vehicle sales lead from the vehicle sales lead database to a vehicle sale from the vehicle sales information database. |
| US09811844B2 |
Systems and methods for determining digital degrees of separation for digital program implementation
This disclosure relates generally to enterprise software management, and more particularly to systems and methods for determining digital degrees of separation for digital program implementation. In one embodiment, a digital degrees of separation determination system is disclosed, comprising a hardware processor, and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor for obtaining user credentials, and determining a user classification based on the user credentials. The processor may execute the instructions for identifying a user digital need based on the user classification, and querying a database for market-available software applications related to the user digital need. Further, the processor may execute the instructions for obtaining a list of user-accessible software applications related to the user digital need, and comparing characteristics of the market-available software applications to the user-accessible software applications. Also, the processor may execute the instructions for calculating a digital degrees of separation based on the comparison. |
| US09811842B2 |
System and method for sending advertising data
A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program useful for performing a method for sending advertising data, the computer program comprising instructions to send a video data stream comprising advertising data from an IPTV server to a first end user device, instructions to receive at the IPTV server selection data from the first end user device selecting the advertising data and a second end user device and instructions to send from the IPTV server a data associated with the advertising data to the second end user device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use by the system and method. |
| US09811838B1 |
Utilizing a computing system to batch deliveries for logistical efficiency
Techniques and arrangements for combining orders for items to be delivered to multiple buyers. Based on an indication of interest in a merchant by a first consumer, the first consumer and a nearby second consumer can be offered incentives to order from a same or nearby merchant in order to combine orders for delivery, thereby increasing the logistical efficiency of the deliveries. The indication of interest can be a commencement of an order, an indication that the first buyer “likes” a merchant, a search for the merchant, or other way to indicate an interest in the particular merchant. The incentives can include discounted delivery fees, discounted orders, and the like. |
| US09811837B2 |
System and method for setting a product watch on transaction data
A system and a method for determining at least one of availability and price of a product includes an electronic storage device having a database of merchant transactions stored therein; an access path for allowing access to information concerning the transactions, including when a given product has been sold and the price at which the product was sold, and a processor for assembling the information concerning at least one of sales of the given product and the price at which it was sold, to provide at least one of locations where the product is available, and the price at which the product was sold at the location or locations. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium stores instructions of a computer program which, when executed by a computer system, results in performance of steps of the method for determining at least one of availability and price of a product. |
| US09811833B1 |
Gift ordering subject to rules defined by a gift giver
An order setup module receives a plurality of gift rules from a first person. A gift order is generated that includes the gift rules. The gift order is associated with credentials for use by a second person to complete the gift order. A selected product and the credentials are received from the second person. A determination is made whether the selected product satisfies the gift rules. The selected product is used to complete the gift order in response to determining that the selected product satisfies the gift rules. |
| US09811831B2 |
System for structured encryption of payment card track data
A system may include a point-of-sale system that gathers payment card track data from a payment card and a payment card gateway that processes the track data to authorize purchase transactions. The point-of-sale system may remove sensitive data such as a portion of a primary account number from the track data and may compress the removed data. The compressed version of the data may be appended to a discretionary field in the track data. The discretionary field may be encrypted following insertion of the compressed data. Track data that has been modified in this way may be conveyed to the payment gateway for processing. |
| US09811827B2 |
System and method for providing transaction verification
A transaction verification process performed by a transaction network operator in communication with a client computing device and a third party provider. A computing device may be equipped with an integrity verification module for verifying the system integrity of the computing device, and a cryptographic module for digitally signing transaction requests. The transaction network operator may verify that transaction requests processed by the third party provider are properly associated with a valid computing device by verifying signatures from the cryptographic module and the integrity verification module. In response to a request from the third party provider, the transaction network operator may verify that the computing device is authorized to complete the transaction by challenging the computing device for proper credentials. The transaction network operator may verify the credentials provided by the client device and indicate to the third party provider that the transaction is valid. |
| US09811824B2 |
Method and apparatus for version independent point of sale activation (POSA) product download
A computer implemented method and apparatus for version independent Point of Sale Activation (POSA) product download. The method comprises accessing a database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of entries associated with a plurality of Point of Sale Activation (POSA) cards available for purchase at a retail store; retrieving, from the database, a plurality of entries associated with a previous version of a software product, wherein the previous version of the software product has not been redeemed; generating a serial number for each retrieved entry, wherein each serial number is associated with a current version of the software product; and updating, in the database, each retrieved entry with the generated serial number. |
| US09811819B2 |
System and method for enabling a mobile communication device to operate as a financial presentation device
A provisioning system for enabling a mobile communication device to operate as a financial presentation device (FPD) presentable to providers of goods or service is provided. The provisioning system relies on a transaction processing system that normally routes authorization requests from merchants to issuers of FPDs for purposes of authorizing FPD transactions. The transaction processing system already stores security keys of all issuers to validate transaction data being sent from the merchants. The provisioning system monitors authorization requests being routed through the transaction processing system and retrieves an authorization request of a financial transaction that was initiated with a particular FPD. The provisioning system then transmits the FPD data contained in the retrieved authorization request and the security key stored in the transaction processing system to a secure memory element of the mobile communication device so as to enable the mobile communication device to operate as a FPD. |
| US09811817B2 |
Invoiceless trading and settlement method and system
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention overcome the shortcomings of existing trading systems by providing an invoiceless trading system that creates incentives for customers to pay suppliers within a predetermined period of time, such as a settlement period. Specifically, the invoiceless trading system enables a customer to obtain a discount on orders placed with suppliers in return for an immediate payment (e.g., within 24 hours) by the customer. The supplier receives payment within the predetermined period of time, and the customer receives additional cash benefits by providing an early payment to the supplier. To communicate with and transfer funds between customers and suppliers, the invoiceless trading system may use an electronic gateway and a settlement bank. In addition to creating an incentive to embrace e-commerce, both customers and suppliers avoid the need to manually process orders and use invoices to complete transactions. |
| US09811815B2 |
Dynamic replacement of self-service terminal (SST) states flow and screens handling
A state-driven Self-Service Terminal (SST) has its existing state table dynamically and transparently replaced. The states flow, the screens rendered during the flows, and the state transitions are handled by an enhanced module processing on the SST. The enhanced module references existing state code on the SST so that the SST continues to operate in a manner expected, but enhanced functionality and features are provided to the SST through the enhanced module and the replaced state table. |
| US09811813B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting accounts and offers in payment transactions
Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct payment transactions at merchant locations including brick and mortar locations and remote locations as well as for person to person transactions. |
| US09811810B1 |
Purchase data transmission and analysis system
A system may perform steps such as receiving a bank card transaction authorization stream including a URL originating from the merchant computing system, the URL received in a discretionary field in the authorization stream for a bank card purchase. The system further perform the step of retrieving information at a location referenced by the URL, wherein the information includes at least a merchant identifier and line item data related to a purchase. The system may additionally attaching the retrieved data to the transaction to create a complete description of the transaction analyze the complete description of the transaction for creating at least one customer interface for the customer and at least one merchant interface for the merchant based on the analysis. |
| US09811809B2 |
Belt management system and method
A belt management system of the present invention is formed by a management server (1) that manages belts that are used in a belt conveyor, a terminal (2) that is provided in a location where the belt conveyor is installed, and a data server (3) that is provided in a company that manufactures and sells belts, wherein the management server is provided with: a transceiver unit (10) that receives in time series belt remaining thickness data that shows the thickness of the belt and that is supplied from the terminal at each one of predetermined periods; and a belt lifespan prediction unit (11) that, by writing the belt remaining thickness data in the management database in time series, and reading from the management database the belt remaining thickness data that has been stored in time series, and dividing the difference between the predetermined periods by the usage amount of the belt at each of the predetermined periods, and determining a unit amount of change in the usage amount units, and subtracting from the most recent belt remaining thickness data a management threshold value which shows the thickness of the belt and which is to be used as an indicator for replacement, and dividing the result of this subtraction by the unit amount of change, determines a remaining lifespan that shows the future amount of use until the belt needs to be replaced. |
| US09811807B2 |
Sharing recruiting data across business units of an organization
A method of sharing recruiting data between business units of an organization is disclosed. It is determined that a first business unit has a contract to use a first set of resources of a social-networking system to manage a first set of profiles. It is determined that a second business unit has a contract to use a second set of resources to manage a second set of profiles. It is determined that the first entity used the first set of resources to create a private data item and to associate the private data item with a profile of the first set of profiles. It is determined that the profile of the first set of profiles and a profile of the second set of profiles correspond to the same person. The second entity is provided with access to the private data item, but not control of the first set of resources. |
| US09811805B2 |
Automated work-flow management system with dynamic interface
The present invention is a method and apparatus for the dynamic and customizable display of information pertaining to a work-flow management and document generation system. More particularly the invention utilizes a data driven interface, where at least one table within a database associated with the system is used to generate the customizable interface and dynamic display of information therein. The interface is preferably a browser-based interface where the code for creation of the interface is generated, at least partially, as a function of the information stored within the table. Such a system may be employed, for example, for the display of information relating to the automated processing of a transaction, including a real estate closing process. |
| US09811804B1 |
System and method for tracking staple fiber throughout a textile supply chain
A system and method for tracking fiber along a textile supply chain aids in product tracking and can verify fiber source/origin. However, verifying the fiber origin and type in a textile product purchased at a retail location back to the bale is complicated by the nature of textile processes along the supply chain. The system as described in the present application addresses complications, such as contamination/cross-contamination, and is used to track fiber from bales of fiber processed into a textile product throughout a sequence of textile operations. The system captures, for each textile operation, a) input information, b) output information, and c) equipment information related to the equipment used in the textile operation. The output information is associated with the input information of a subsequent textile operation, thereby associating the input information and output information, for each textile operation, with the fiber information for the bales of fiber. |
| US09811797B2 |
Transportation connection cache for dynamic network and route determination
A transportation management system may include a connection cache configured to store connection-relevant transportation information for transportation objects. The connection-relevant transportation information may have been replicated from at least one of a plurality of transportation object sources including at least a first database storing schedules, a second database storing freight bookings, and a third database storing freight orders. The transportation management system may also include a connection cache access engine configured to receive transportation parameters including at least a first location and a second location, and query the connection cache to dynamically select one or more transportation objects from the connection cache related to at least one of the schedules, the freight bookings, and the freight orders, that are relevant for the first location and the second location. |
| US09811795B1 |
Real-time adaptive operations performance management system using event clusters and trained models
Embodiments are directed to managing operations. If Operations events are provided, event clusters may be associated with one or more Operations events, such that the Operations events may be associated with the event clusters based on characteristics of the Operations events. Metrics including resolution metrics, root cause analysis, notes, and other remediation information may be associated with the event clusters. Then a modeling engine may be employed to train models based on the Operations events, the event clusters, and the resolution metrics, such that the trained model may be trained to correlate and predict the resolution metrics from real-time Operations events. If real-time Operations events may be provided, the trained models may be employed to predict the resolution metrics that are associated with the real-time Operations events. If model performance degrades beyond accuracy requirements, new observations may be added to the training set and the model re-trained. |
| US09811793B1 |
System and method linking use case documents to business process documents
A system for information technology (IT) process management. The system comprises a processor, one or more memory storage devices coupled to the processor, and a document composer tool comprising a plurality of enterprise use case documents to locate an enterprise use case document relevant to an IT project based on input keywords and to link an enterprise use case document to at least one relevant enterprise business process document when an enterprise use case document is updated, wherein an enterprise use case document comprises a link referring to at least one enterprise business process document. The system further comprises an enterprise business process repository stored in at least one of the memory storage devices comprising a plurality of enterprise business process documents, wherein an enterprise business process document comprises a set of steps to accomplish a specific organizational goal. |
| US09811790B2 |
E-business value web
A method and system is provided to manage and track changes in enterprise architectures. The invention provides a hierarchical visual management tool to manage and update relational information within an enterprise in a controlled fashion. The relationship may be maintained in a database and displayed via graphical user interface. Enterprise assets are categorized into such categories as goals, customer values or requirements, capabilities, resources, and the like. A hierarchy is constructed so that relationships between these various categories are identified and captured using the invention. Weights may be assigned to each element of the categories so that any proposed change to an enterprise architecture may be viewed so that a value can be ascertained and compared between other values of other proposed changes. In this manner, tracking and management of evolutionary changes to an architecture may be accomplished using relational information. |
| US09811789B2 |
Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same
Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. An example system includes a content server to encrypt content according to an encryption key, and to transfer the encrypted content, the encryption key and a license to a client that supports a digital rights management technology. The example system further includes a broadcast system headend to determine the encryption key, wherein the broadcast system headend is physically separate from the content server, and a digital rights management license server to provide the license. |
| US09811787B2 |
System and method for sports group administration
A system for sports group management, including a sports group management server, a plurality of databases accessible by the server including at least one of a player database, a substitute database, and a schedule database, an Internet accessible user interface, software for receiving group data via the user interface, the group data including information concerning at least some of a plurality of players in a sports group, schedule software executing on the server for generating a schedule of group events for each of the plurality of players based on the group data, the schedule accessible via the user interface, and substitute software executing on the server for receiving a substitute request for at least one of the group events and determining at least one substitute player for the group event. |
| US09811783B2 |
Method and system for channel optimization
A method for selecting a communication channel. The method includes identifying a job, identifying a target for the job, determining a characteristic of the target, obtaining analytic information using the characteristic, identifying, using the analytic information, a first communication channel of a plurality of communication channels over which to send a first job message for the job to the target, wherein a conversion rate associated with the first communication channel is higher than any conversion rate associated with any other of the plurality of communication channels and wherein the conversion rates are determined using the analytic information, and generating the first job message, wherein the first job message is associated with a first URL, and wherein the first URL is associated with the job, a sender, the target, and the first communication channel, and sending the first job message over the first communication channel to the target. |
| US09811782B1 |
Method of self-contained recycling of pharmaceutical containers
Disclosed herein is a system and method of recycling of a pharmaceutical container system, which can include the container and closure for the container. The disclosure teaches a self-contained recycling system wherein the pharmaceutical containers that are made for consumer use are returned for processing and remanufacturing as new unused pharmaceutical containers to facilitate the ease of recycling of the same and the future use as unused pharmaceutical containers and viable consumer products. |
| US09811780B1 |
Identifying subjective attributes by analysis of curation signals
A system and method for identifying and predicting subjective attributes for entities (e.g., media clips, images, newspaper articles, blog entries, persons, organizations, commercial businesses, etc.) are disclosed. In one aspect, a first set of subjective attributes for a first entity is identified based on a reaction to the first entity. A classifier is trained on a set of input-output mappings, wherein the set of input-output mappings comprises an input-output mapping whose input is based on a feature vector for the first entity and whose output is based on the first set of subjective attributes. A feature vector for a second entity is then provided to the trained classifier to obtain a second set of subjective attributes for the second entity. |
| US09811775B2 |
Parallelizing neural networks during training
A parallel convolutional neural network is provided. The CNN is implemented by a plurality of convolutional neural networks each on a respective processing node. Each CNN has a plurality of layers. A subset of the layers are interconnected between processing nodes such that activations are fed forward across nodes. The remaining subset is not so interconnected. |
| US09811772B2 |
Suspending and resuming transactions through wireless beacon communications
There are provided systems and methods for suspending and resuming transactions through wireless beacon communications. A merchant may set up a wireless beacon with employee devices. The beacons may connect to a user's device and assist the employee with determining and suspending a transaction for the user. Based on the connections between the user's device and a wireless beacon attached to an employee device, the employee device may receive an identifier for the user. The identifier may also be received from a previous check-in by the user. The employee or a user may scan one or more items that the user may wish to purchase. A transaction may be generated using the scan and may be associated with the user's identifier. Later the transaction may be recalled using the user's identifier or a transaction code identifying the transaction. Payment information for the user may also be associated with the transaction. |
| US09811770B2 |
Image forming apparatus for improving power saving effect, and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus dynamically determines the next communication timing with a server to thereby increase a power saving effect by preventing unnecessary release of the power saving state. The image forming apparatus having a first power state and a second power state in which power is saved more than in the first power state, and having a plurality of functions of periodically communicating with an external apparatus. A remaining time before the image forming apparatus next communicates with the external apparatus is calculated for each of the plurality of functions of periodically communicating with the external apparatus. There is set, in a timer, the shortest one from among the calculated plurality of remaining times. A power state of the image forming apparatus transits from the second power state to the first power state according to the remaining time set in the timer. |
| US09811768B2 |
Profile creation method and computer readable recording medium stored with profile creation program
The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including patch images having colors corresponding to combinations of values of a plurality of basic colors. The method includes acquiring colorimetric values of the patch images included in the color chart output from the printer; creating a color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to a degree of variation in a color of each patch image obtained from data of colorimetric values accumulated regarding the each patch image; and when the data of the colorimetric values increases by a predetermined amount, creating a new color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to the degree of the variation obtained from the data after the increase. |
| US09811765B2 |
Image captioning with weak supervision
Techniques for image captioning with weak supervision are described herein. In implementations, weak supervision data regarding a target image is obtained and utilized to provide detail information that supplements global image concepts derived for image captioning. Weak supervision data refers to noisy data that is not closely curated and may include errors. Given a target image, weak supervision data for visually similar images may be collected from sources of weakly annotated images, such as online social networks. Generally, images posted online include “weak” annotations in the form of tags, titles, labels, and short descriptions added by users. Weak supervision data for the target image is generated by extracting keywords for visually similar images discovered in the different sources. The keywords included in the weak supervision data are then employed to modulate weights applied for probabilistic classifications during image captioning analysis. |
| US09811763B2 |
Methods and systems for building a media clip
A method of building a media clip based on at least Internet content includes extracting relevant text content from the Internet content, and relevant media content from the Internet content and/or from other sources of content, wherein the extraction of the relevant media content is based on at least the extracted text content, and/or the extraction of the relevant text content is based on at least the extracted media content, and building a media clip representing the Internet content based on at least part of the relevant text content and the relevant media content. A method of training a system for building a media clip based on at least Internet content takes into account the user input. |
| US09811759B2 |
NC program searching method, NC program searching unit, NC program creating method, and NC program creating unit
In the invention, there are included a first image generating that generates image data corresponding to a shape data of a machining target as machining target image data, a second image generating that generates, based on NC programs created in the past, image data of a machining finish shape as finish shape image data, a storing that stores the finish shape image data associating with an NC program corresponding thereto, a similarity calculating that compares the machining target image data and the finish shape image data to calculate similarity of both the image data, a searching that searches, based on the similarity, candidates of finish shape image data similar to or matching the machining target image data and displays the candidates, and a first program displaying that displays, out of the candidates of the finish shape image data, an NC program for designated finish shape image data. |
| US09811754B2 |
Realogram scene analysis of images: shelf and label finding
The techniques include an image recognition system to receive a realogram image including a plurality of organized objects and to detect and identify objects in the realogram image of one or more items on a retail shelf, identify shelf fronts and labels on the shelf fronts, identify empty space under shelves, identify areas where unidentified products may be, and identify areas where products are “out of stock”. |
| US09811753B2 |
Systems and methods for encoding light field image files
Systems and methods configured to store images synthesized from light field image data and metadata describing the images in electronic files and render images using the stored image and the metadata in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a processor and memory containing an encoding application and light field image data, where the light field image data comprises a plurality of low resolution images of a scene captured from different viewpoints. In addition, the encoding application configures the processor to synthesize a higher resolution image of the scene from a reference viewpoint using the low resolution images, where synthesizing the higher resolution image involves creating a depth map that specifies depths from the reference viewpoint for pixels in the higher resolution image; encode the higher resolution image; and create a light field image file including the encoded image and metadata including the depth map. |
| US09811749B2 |
Detecting a label from an image
Determining a label from an image is disclosed, including: obtaining an image; determining a first portion of the image associated with a special mark; determining a second portion of the image associated with a label based at least in part on the first portion of the image associated with the special mark; and applying character recognition to the second portion of the image associated with the label to determine a value associated with the label. |
| US09811746B2 |
Method and system for detecting traffic lights
A method for detecting traffic lights is provided. The method includes: obtaining a color image captured by a camera; converting the color image into a first monochrome scale image; converting the first monochrome scale image into a first binary image; identifying a first set of candidate blobs in the first binary image based on at least one predetermined geometric parameter; and determine whether a first region in the color image, which first region corresponds to one of the first set of candidate blobs, is a green traffic light using a green traffic light classifier. The accuracy and efficiency may be improved. |
| US09811741B2 |
Object detector
An object detection circuit detects an object moving in a periphery of a vehicle by use of a shot image. A state judgment part changes a parameter relevant to a detection function so as to change whether the detection function of the object detection circuit is to be enabled or disabled while the object detection circuit is kept activated. Thus, even when the detection function of the object detection circuit is disabled, the object detection circuit is kept activated. Therefore, since there is no need to restart the object detection circuit in order to enable the detection function of the object detection circuit, a detection result by the object detection circuit is promptly obtained. |
| US09811739B2 |
Surveillance system and surveillance method
A surveillance system including at least one image capture device and a processor, and a surveillance method are provided. The image capture device is coupled to the processor and captures surveillance images. The processor analyzes the correlation between multiple on site data corresponding to the surveillance images and event information. Each on site data includes time information and detail information. Therefore, the processor determines that the event information is more relevant to the surveillance image corresponding to the detail information having a higher occurrence frequency in the duration of the event information. |
| US09811738B2 |
Appearance presentation system, method, and program
An appearance presentation system is provided. The appearance presentation system can present the appearance of an object to be monitored at a position that the user designates in an image such that the user can previously grasp the extent to which the image to be captured with a camera is suitable for an image recognition process. A display control unit 10 displays, on a display device, an image obtained by superimposing an object indicator indicating the object to be monitored on an image to be captured when the camera of which position and posture are determined shoots a predetermined region to be monitored. A position designation reception unit 4 receives the designation of the position of the object indicator in the image. An image generation unit 3 generates an image to be captured when the camera shoots a state in which the object to be monitored is placed at a position that is in the region to be monitored and that corresponds to the position designated in the image. Then, the display control unit 10 extracts a part corresponding to the object to be monitored from the image generated in the image generation unit 3, and displays the part on the display device. |
| US09811737B2 |
Methods and systems enabling access by portable wireless handheld devices to data associated with programming rendering on flat panel displays
Flat panel displays can broadcast their identity for discovery by handheld devices interested in obtaining data associated with video programming displayed on the displays. An application can be downloaded and activated on smartphones that will enable them to capture an image of the video programming and recognize is with the help of a remote server, or wirelessly obtain a list of available (discovered) flat panel displays (multiple screens, depending on venue) that allow wireless access to data associated with video programming displayed (or previously displayed and stored in a queue) on flat panels. Video programming rendering on a flat panel of interest can be identified via the smartphone and the smartphone can access additional data either directly from the flat panel or from a remote server once the data has been identified and/or engage in an interactive session in association with the displayed programming or data. |
| US09811733B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for selecting a frame
A method of selecting a frame from a plurality of video frames captured by a camera (120). The method determines features to which map points in a three dimensional space are projected. A histogram of the determined features for a plurality of regions in the frame is created. One of the regions may be determined as being an unmapped region based on the created histogram. The frame is selected based on the size of the unmapped region. |
| US09811731B2 |
Dynamic extension of map data for object detection and tracking
A computer-implemented method of tracking a target object in an object recognition system includes acquiring a plurality of images with a camera and simultaneously tracking the target object and dynamically building online map data from the plurality of images. Tracking of the target object is based on the online map data and the offline map data. In one aspect, tracking the target object includes enabling only one of the online map data and offline map data for tracking based on whether tracking is successful. In another aspect, tracking the target object includes fusing the online map data with the offline map data to generate a fused online model. |
| US09811730B2 |
Person identification using ocular biometrics with liveness detection
A method of assessing the identity of a person by one or more of: internal non-visible anatomical structure of an eye represented by the Oculomotor Plant Characteristics (OPC), brain performance represented by the Complex Eye Movement patterns (CEM), iris patterns, and periocular information. In some embodiments, a method of making a biometric assessment includes measuring eye movement of a subject, making an assessment of whether the subject is alive based on the measured eye movement, and assessing a person's identity based at least in part on the assessment of whether the subject is alive. In some embodiments, a method of making a biometric assessment includes measuring eye movement of a subject, assessing characteristics from the measured eye movement, and assessing a state of the subject based on the assessed characteristics. |
| US09811728B2 |
Adding value to a rendered document
A system for processing data captured from rendered documents is described. The system provides a way for authors and publishers to add value to printed documents using associated supplemental material. The system can use text scanned from a document and context to identify an electronic document that corresponds to the scanned document. A user can then access supplemental material associated with the digital document. |
| US09811720B2 |
Mobile device based gait biometrics
A system and method for identifying an individual based, at least in part, on their gait is presented. First, acceleration data is received from an accelerometer carried by a person. The acceleration data corresponds to a gait of the person. Rotational invariant values that are independent of a rotational position of the accelerometer are calculated based, at least in part, on the acceleration data. A gait dynamics image (GDI) is calculated based, at least in part, on the rotational invariant values. The GDI is matched to one of a set predetermined GDIs to identify the person. |
| US09811717B2 |
Systems and methods of robotic application of cosmetics
Systems and methods for applying cosmetics are provided using an area light projector shining light on the face, capturing the reflected light using a camera and using a depth processor, and communicating with the camera(s) and the projector(s) to generate a depth image output. A control device communicates with the depth processor to receive the output, to receive the face profiles and generate motion trajectory commands, and a robot communicates with the control device to receive the commands to apply the cosmetics to the face in accordance with the face profiles. Methods for applying the cosmetics include receiving a face profile, receiving a depth processor input representing a face, extracting face features, receiving an initial robot position or extracting a robot position from input, matching the face profile to the face features, and generating and outputting robot trajectory to the robot to apply the cosmetics. |
| US09811709B2 |
Capacitor sensor structure, circuit board structure with capacitor sensor, and package structure of capacitive sensor
A capacitive sensor structure includes: a substrate; a multilayer wire structure, disposed on the substrate to form a passive sensing circuit; and a semiconductor chip, formed thereon a control circuit, fixedly mounted on a surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the multilayer wire structure. |
| US09811708B2 |
Method and fingerprint sensing device with finger lost detection
The present invention relates to a fingerprint sensing device comprising an array of sensing elements; readout circuitry connected to the array of sensing elements; and finger detecting circuitry for detecting if a finger candidate is touching the sensing surface of the fingerprint sensing device. The fingerprint sensing device is controllable between an active state and an inactive state. When the fingerprint sensing device is in the inactive state, the finger detecting circuitry is configured to provide a finger lost signal for indicating when the finger candidate no longer touches the sensing surface of the fingerprint sensing device. |
| US09811706B2 |
System for anonymous communication from a user to the publisher of a scannable label
“Publishers” generate individual QR codes which may be either displayed on a smartphone or printed on a physical label, and “consumers” scan and decode those codes for secure and private communication with the publishers, without either party knowing the phone number or email address of the other party. At least one profile associated with the publisher is an anonymous profile that permits the disclosure of only a specified subset of the otherwise available information about that publisher, and that information is not directly embodied in the displayed code, but rather is stored on a secure remote server which is selectively accessible by the consumer. If both parties have not authorized the release of their respective names and phone numbers (or other public contact information) to the other party by exchanging respective public profiles within a predetermined time period, any associated temporary contact numbers are disabled and all anonymous contact information is deleted from the remote server. A remote app on the publisher's smartphone may be used to generate the QR code and upload the associated contact information and permissions to the secure server, and a local app on the consumer's smartphone may be used to scan and process the QR code and commence secure and private communication with that publisher via the secure server. |
| US09811697B2 |
Object tracking using enhanced video surveillance through a distributed network
Tracking a tagged object may include receiving, using a first processor, a first video of an object tagged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and first metadata read from the RFID tag. The first metadata may be stored in association with the first video using the first processor. First updated metadata may be written to the RFID tag using the first processor. The first updated metadata may specify at least one of a time the first video is received or a location of the first processor. |
| US09811696B2 |
Method for operating a field device of process automation technology
Method for operating a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device includes a main circuit, which serves in a first operating mode for evaluation and for output of process data, which preferably come from a measuring transducer, wherein the field device includes a first interface, which serves in the first operating mode to supply the field device, especially the main circuit, with electrical energy, wherein the field device includes a second, preferably wireless, interface, which serves for transmission of data and/or electrical energy to the field device, wherein the field device, preferably the main circuit, is supplied in a second operating mode with electrical energy, preferably exclusively with electrical energy, obtained via the second interface. |
| US09811693B2 |
Wiring board and method for recognizing code information thereof
A wiring board of the present invention includes an insulating board including a core insulating plate and an insulating layer laminated on at least one surface of the insulating plate. A plurality of code information reading pads formed of a conductor layer are disposed on a surface of the insulating layer formed uppermost. A common conductor is disposed oppositely to the code information reading pads by interposing therebetween the insulating layer formed uppermost. At least one of the code information reading pads and the common conductor are electrically connected to each other through a via conductor penetrating through the insulating layer formed uppermost. |
| US09811690B2 |
Protecting hidden content in integrated circuits
Various integrated circuits protect hidden content e.g., embedded instruments, keys, data, etc.) using scan cell circuit(s). For example, a first scan cell circuit is connected to the hidden content, and a second scan cell circuit is connected to the first scan cell circuit forming all or part of a serial data path. The first scan cell circuit provides access to the hidden content whenever the first scan cell circuit is in a first specified state and prevents access whenever the first scan cell circuit is in a different state. The first scan cell circuit does not interrupt the serial data path when the first scan cell circuit is in the different state. The second scan cell circuit changes an operational characteristic of the first scan cell circuit whenever the second scan cell circuit is in a second specified state. In some cases, the second scan cell circuit can be eliminated. |
| US09811689B1 |
Chip ID generation using physical unclonable function
A method for generating a data set on an integrated circuit including programmable resistance memory cells includes applying a forming pulse to all members of a set of the programmable resistance memory cells. The forming pulse has a forming pulse level characterized by inducing a change in resistance in a first subset of the set from an initial resistance range to an intermediate resistance range, while after the forming pulse a second subset of the set has a resistance outside the intermediate range. The method includes applying a programming pulse to the first and second subsets. The programming pulse has a programming pulse level characterized by inducing a change in resistance of the first subset from the intermediate range to a first final range, while after the programming pulse the second subset has a resistance in a second final range, whereby the first and second subsets store said data set. |
| US09811680B2 |
Secure storage and sharing of data by hybrid encryption using predefined schema
The claimed subject matter includes techniques for storing, retrieving and sharing files. An example system includes a key generator module to generate a secret key. The example system also includes a symmetric encryption module to encrypt raw data by symmetric encryption using the secret key. The example system further includes an asymmetric encryption module to encrypt the secret key and symmetric encryption information by asymmetric encryption using a public key to produce a key block. The examples system also further includes a schema module to generate a ciphertext file with predefined schema including asymmetric encryption information, the key-block, and the encrypted raw data. The example system also includes a storage module to send the ciphertext file including the encrypted raw data to a server for storage. |
| US09811672B2 |
Systems and methods for provisioning and using multiple trusted security zones on an electronic device
A method of provisioning a subordinate trusted security zone in a processor having a trusted security zone. The method comprises receiving by a master trusted application executing in a master trusted security zone of the processor a request to provision a subordinate trusted security zone in the processor, wherein the request comprises a master trusted security zone key, wherein the request designates the subordinate trusted security zone, and wherein the request defines an independent key. The method further comprises provisioning by the master trusted application the subordinate trusted security zone to be accessible based on the independent key. |
| US09811669B1 |
Method and apparatus for privacy audit support via provenance-aware systems
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for privacy audit support via provenance-aware systems. The method includes associating a first identifier with a first data object and associating a second identifier with a second data object derived from the first data object according to a control object. Metadata for the second data object identifying the first data object and identifying the control object then may be stored. |
| US09811650B2 |
User authentication system and method
A user authentication system includes an augmented reality device with a gesture analyzer configured for recognizing a user's gestures. The augmented reality device also includes an object renderer in communication with the gesture analyzer. The object renderer is configured for (i) rendering a virtual three-dimensional object for display to the user (ii) modifying the shape of the virtual three-dimensional object based upon the recognized gestures. |
| US09811642B2 |
Methods for shape comparison between drug molecules
The invention relates to a calculating method for molecular volume and shape comparison of two molecules. The method includes steps of loading in three-dimensional structure information of a first molecule, the three-dimensional structure information comprising type and coordinate values of each atom contained in the first molecule; obtaining respective van der Waals radius based on the type of respective atom contained in the first molecule, converting the three-dimensional structure information into a group of Gaussian spheres representing atoms in the first molecule; calculating overlap volume for each pair of Gaussian spheres; calculating the weight of each Gaussian sphere; calculating self-overlap volume of the first molecule, the self-overlap volume being used as a volume of the first molecule. The present invention is useful mathematical expression of molecular shape, shape comparison of drug molecules, and pharmacophore comparison of drug molecules, which comparisons, in turn, useful for virtual screening of drug molecules. |
| US09811639B2 |
User interface and fitness meters for remote joint workout session
Example embodiments relate to a system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media configured to generate a multiple renditions of a user interface that is updated based upon athletic movements of two or more users remotely located from each other. The UI may be configured to simultaneously display energy expenditure values in real-time. In further embodiments, a joint energy expenditure values determined from multiple remote users may be simultaneously displayed. |
| US09811638B2 |
Means and method for improved glycemic control for diabetic patients
A glycemic control system includes a physician processor, remote processor, and a portable telephone having a data input mechanism, a display, and an internal processor for bi-directional communication with the physician's processor and the remote processor. A patient inputs data to the internal processor responsive to input from the physician's processor and then transmits the information to the remote processor where an optimized number of units to be administered is sent back and displayed on the portable telephone. |
| US09811636B2 |
Connected health care system
A connected health care system is provided with various devices for tracking and monitoring health statistics and behaviors including oral health, fitness, heart health, bone health, salivary diagnostics, diabetes, and further options that will be explored in the subsequent sections. The connected health care system is comprised of various devices, a data transfer medium (i.e. “smartphone”), and the Cloud, which allows for data transfer between multiple platforms and devices. Some devices comprised in the connected health care system include a toothbrush, a connected surface with sensors, a salivary diagnostic system, a breath analysis system, and further devices that will be explored in the subsequent sections. The connected health care system further provides a user identification system utilizing capacitive coupling of the human body between devices. |
| US09811633B2 |
Medical software download to mobile phone
A method for monitoring medical data is disclosed, the method being applicable to a system comprising a portable medical device, a mobile communications device, and, optionally, a medical care server. The portable medical device and the mobile communications device each comprise at least one interface for data transfer. The method comprises a step of establishing a download link between the mobile communications device and a download server. The method comprises a step of selecting an appropriate communication software package from a plurality of communication software packages for controlling data transfer between the mobile communications device and the portable medical device from the download server. Further, the method comprises a download step for downloading communication software packages from the download server to the mobile communications device and a step of installation of the communication software package on the mobile communications device. |
| US09811628B1 |
Metal configurable register file
Embodiments of the invention relate to a configurable register file for inclusion in ASIC and other integrated circuit designs such as those based on metal configurable standard cell (MCSC) technology. According to certain general aspects, configurable register files provided by the present embodiments improve area, power and routing efficiencies and flexibility over conventional approaches such as hard memory macros and RTL designs. In embodiments, a configurable register file is implemented as a soft macro constructed from metal configurable standard cell (MCSC) base cells. According to certain aspects, unlike a hard memory macro, width and depth are not fixed and can be configured or programmed to any desired dimension or configuration. In some embodiments, a bit array of a configurable register file is comprised of register file bit cells. In other embodiments, a bit array of a configurable register file is comprised of ROM bit cells. In these and other embodiments, a configurable register file is constructed with a bit-line sharing approach that improves the routing and logic resource usage as compared to RTL based memory. |
| US09811626B2 |
Method of designing layout of semiconductor device
A method of designing a layout of a semiconductor device includes receiving information on a size of a target chip and a unit placement width for forming a gate line through a self-align double patterning process by a layout design system. The method also includes allocating an input and output area, a hard macro area, and a standard cell area at the target chip, and adjusting a width of the standard cell area by applying a gate generation rule for setting a width of at least one cell row located in the standard cell area to an odd number multiple of the unit placement width. The unit placement width corresponds to a width between centers of a pair of gate lines in the self-align double patterning process. |
| US09811621B2 |
Implementing integrated circuit designs using depopulation and repopulation operations
Circuit design computing equipment may perform depopulation operations, constraint generation, and repopulation operations in a circuit design in anticipation of register retiming operations. A depopulation operation before placement and/or before routing operations may prevent the respective placement and/or routing operations from placing and/or routing registers from the circuit design. Constraint generation may create constraints for placement and/or routing operations that allow for the reinsertion of registers after routing operations. Repopulation operations may reinsert registers in the circuit design after routing operations according to the constraints. If desired, the circuit design computing equipment may perform register retiming operations to further improve the performance of the circuit design. |
| US09811618B1 |
Simulation of system designs
A method is provided for simulating a program executable by a processor and a circuit design configured to communicate with the processor. A processor on a programmable IC is configured to execute the program. Programmable resources on the programmable IC are configured to implement a plurality of interface circuits. Each of the interface circuits is configured to communicate data between the processor and a simulation environment using a respective communication protocol. The interface circuits that uses a communication protocol used by the circuit design is enabled and other ones of the interface circuits are disabled. The circuit design is simulated in a simulation environment coupled to the programmable IC. During the simulating, the program is executed on the processor and data is communicated between the processor and the computing platform using the determined one of the plurality of interface circuits. |
| US09811613B2 |
Fenestration template for endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms
To provide simple yet accurate stent graft fenestration, a patient-specific fenestration template is used as a guide for graft fenestration. To generate the fenestration template, a patient's medical imaging data such as CT scan data may be used to generate a 3-D digital model of an aorta lumen of the patient. The aorta lumen may encompass one or more branch vessels, which may be indicated on the 3-D digital model. Based on the 3-D digital model or a segment thereof, the fenestration template may be generated, for example, using 3-D printing technology. The fenestration template may include one or more holes or openings that correspond to the one or more branch vessels. To fenestrate a stent graft, the fenestration template is coupled to the stent graft so that the holes or openings on the fenestration template indicate the fenestration locations. |
| US09811612B2 |
Multi condition takeoff in construction project software programs
A method and system for simultaneously performing takeoff of multiple building conditions in a construction project software program is disclosed. The method comprises selecting two or more building conditions and moving a pointer to a construction drawing to select an area to perform takeoff of the multiple building conditions on. Once the area has been selected, the method and system automatically creates one or more live objects on the selected area for each of the selected building conditions and simultaneously quantifies each of the selected building conditions based on the size of the selected area. |
| US09811611B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating curved surface model
A method and an apparatus for creating a curved surface model are provided, where the method includes acquiring an already input section line of a target object; dividing three-dimensional space into zones by using a plane on which the already input section line of the target object is located; generating, according to a shape of each zone and a section line included in each zone, a geometry located within each zone, where the section line included in each zone is interpolated into the surface of the geometry, and extracting the surface of the geometry located within each zone to generate a sub-curved surface located within each zone, where a section line included in the zone is interpolated into the sub-curved surface; and splicing the sub-curved surfaces to obtain a curved surface model of the target object. |
| US09811610B2 |
Systems and methods for bevel feature recognition and bevel profile generation
Methods to automatically recognize bevel features and bevel chains in inner bounding loops and outer bounding loops of walls and bends in sheet metal models or on solid models are disclosed, which may be used for computer aided design, manufacturing, DFX, costing, etc. Recognition methods of various types of bevels and classification of bevels as V-bevel, inverted V-bevel, Y-bevel, inverted Y-bevel, X-bevel, K-bevel, generic bevels and different types of vertex bevels are disclosed. Bevel chain recognition methods that assemble the same type of bevels into bevel chains and identify the bevel chains as tangential bevel chains, non-tangential bevel chains and mixed bevel chains based on the connectivity between the bevels are disclosed. Methods to generate bevel profiles that may be used for feature recreation, feature suppression, or tool path generation for cutting features for manufacturing are disclosed. |
| US09811605B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for automated learning of data models
An apparatus includes a processor and memory storing executable computer program code causing the apparatus to at least receive requests from communication devices or applications, a request of the requests associated with requester credentials; analyze instances of data of the requests based at least in part on a comparison of the requester credentials and credentials of a creator of the instances of data; generate an index based at least in part on the analysis of the instances of data of the requests, wherein the index comprises an instance of type access control determined based at least in part on the comparison; and automatically generate a data model, in a development environment, based at least in part on data in the index, the data model comprises definitions defining access control for instances of data designated for validation of received instances of data. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. |
| US09811598B2 |
Endless search result page
Example embodiments of the present disclosure include a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a computer-implemented method for providing an endless search result page. In example embodiments, search results from a current level of a search are presented on the search result page displayed on a client device. A scroll indication applied to the presentation of the search results from the current level is detected. Based on a direction of the scroll indication, the search results from the current level are scrolled on the search result page. A determination that an end of the presentation of the search results from the current level is reached in response to the scrolling is made. In response, search results from a previous level are appended to the end of the presentation of the search results of the current level to cause continuous presentation of the search result page. |
| US09811584B2 |
Information retrieval system, method, and program
An information retrieval method for retrieving documents relevant to a user's search inquiry from documents stored in the storage device using an arithmetic operation. The method includes receiving from a user a search query including a plurality of keywords, calculating relevance to a plurality of documents on the basis of the plurality of keywords and the influence set for each keyword, and displaying on the display device documents in the order of relevance. The method also includes displaying on the display device the influence set for each keyword, receiving changes to the displayed influence by the user, and recalculating the relevance on the basis of a change to the influence and displaying on the display device documents in the order of relevance. |
| US09811583B2 |
Systems and methods for selection-based contextual help retrieval
Described herein are systems and methods for selection-based contextual help retrieval. One example method involves (a) receiving first-query data including contextual data, the contextual data indicating a user-interface element type, a user-interface element location, and user-interface element text; (b) determining at least one first-query response based on at least the contextual data; and (c) causing an indication of the determined at least one first-query response to be provided via an output device. |
| US09811580B2 |
Policy based automatic physical schema management
Provided are techniques for cyclic based data partitioning policy with automatic physical schema management. A data partitioning policy for data is received, wherein the data partitioning policy identifies a condition for automatically implementing the data partitioning policy and criteria for modifying a set of partitions. In response to the condition occurring, the data partitioning policy is automatically applied to select at least one partition from the set of partitions based on the criteria. An operation is performed on the at least one partition to modify the set of partitions. |
| US09811579B1 |
Document relational mapping
Described is technology to translate between tree-structured documents and electronic storage such as a relational data store. A document may be composed from the data store or decomposed to a data store using a document mapping command. The document mapping command includes follow commands that associate the columns in one table with columns in another table and resolve these associations during composition or decomposition. These follow commands allow for the retrieval of data from the data store and for inserting and/or modifying the data store by way of applying deltas to the data store. |
| US09811575B2 |
Dynamic distributed generation of data representations from highly condensed data
An apparatus includes a processor and storage storing instructions causing the processor to store, at a node device of a grid of node devices, a data block of a data blob, receive data blob metadata indicative of an organization of data items within the data blob, receive a command to generate, from the data block, at least one row of a representation portion of a plurality of representation portions from which a 2D representation of the data blob is to be generated, use the data blob metadata and a node block map indicative of which data items of the data block are required to generate the representation portion to derive one or more transforms to be performed with the data block to generate the at least one row of the representation portion, and perform the one or more transforms with the data block to generate the at least one row. |
| US09811570B2 |
Managing storage of data for range-based searching
In general, a value of a numerical attribute of a record stored in a data structure is received. A numerical range is generated that includes the value of the numerical attribute. An entry is stored, in an index associated with the data structure, that specifies a location of the record within the data structure and that includes a first index key and a second index key. The first index key corresponds to a value of an attribute of the record different from the numerical attribute, and the second index key corresponds to the generated numerical range. |
| US09811564B2 |
POI information providing system, POI information providing device, POI information output device, POI information providing method, and program therefor
Provided is a technology that allows use of a trend rating acquired more objectively. A POI information providing device includes: a storage unit which stores POI data including a POI name; a posted data acquisition unit which acquires posted data through a network; a trend rating acquisition unit which obtains a matching degree between a word included in the posted data and the POI name for each piece of the posted data, and uses a predetermined calculation expression for the matching degree to calculate and acquire a trend rating indicating an attention degree of a POI; a trend rating identification unit which identifies, when a request for the trend rating is received from another device connected through the network, the trend rating corresponding to the request; and a transmission unit which transmits the trend rating identified by the trend rating identification unit to the another device. |