Document Document Title
US09812973B2 Method and apparatus for a control circuit with multiple operating modes
A method for controlling a power converter switch to regulate power delivered to an output of a power converter includes operating the power converter switch in first, second, and third duty cycle control modes in response to a feedback signal. The first duty cycle control mode includes modulating a peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed first switching frequency value. The second duty cycle control mode includes modulating the switching frequency in response to the feedback signal, and maintaining the peak switch current substantially at a peak switch current threshold value. The third duty cycle control mode includes modulating the peak switch current of the power converter switch in response to the feedback signal, and switching the power converter switch at a substantially fixed second switching frequency value.
US09812971B1 Transformer flux estimation and limiting in isolated DC-DC voltage converters
A switching voltage converter using an isolated topology includes a transformer for coupling power from an input source to an output load. The transformer must be protected to prevent saturation of its core due to excessive magnetic flux density as the transformer transfers power from its primary side to its secondary side. The magnetic flux is estimated using a voltage measured on the primary or secondary side of the transformer, wherein the secondary-side voltage may be a rectified voltage. If the estimated magnetic flux is detected as approaching a saturation level of the transformer core, any power being input to the transformer is curtailed. This may be accomplished by modifying pulse-width modulated (PWM) waveforms controlling power switches that control the input power transferred to the transformer. Using these techniques, transformer saturation may be avoided without requiring a significantly oversized transformer within the voltage converter.
US09812970B2 Systems and methods for constant current control with primary-side sensing and regulation in various operation modes
System and method for regulating a power converter. The system includes a first signal processing component configured to receive at least a sensed signal and generate a first signal. The sensed signal is associated with a primary current flowing through a primary winding coupled to a secondary winding for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a second signal processing component configured to generate a second signal, an integrator component configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and generate a third signal, and a comparator configured to process information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the third signal and the sensed signal.
US09812966B2 Chopper circuit
A chopper circuit includes a controller that performs control of turning on a second switching device when a short circuit detector detects a short circuit of a first diode, and performs control of turning on a first switching device when the short circuit detector detects a short circuit of a second diode.
US09812965B2 Low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection
The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated.
US09812961B2 Direct current conversion device and operation method of the same
A DC conversion device including a first DC converter and a second DC converter connected in series, a voltage difference adjusting unit, and a first and a second control unit is provided. The first and the second DC converter respectively receive a first and a second input current to generate a first output current and a first output voltage, a second output current and a second output voltage at a first and a second output end connected to a first and a second energy-storing element, respectively. The voltage difference adjusting unit generates a voltage difference adjusting signal. The first control unit generates a first control signal to control the first converter. The second control unit generates a second control signal according to the voltage difference adjusting signal to control the second converter to balance the first and the second input and output voltages.
US09812960B2 Methods and apparatus for a low standby current DC-DC power controller with improved transient response
Methods and apparatus for DC-DC power controller with low standby current and fast transient response. In an example arrangement, an apparatus includes a voltage converter outputting a direct current output voltage, configured to increase the output voltage responsive to an enable control signal; at least one feedback comparator configured to output a first control signal, the feedback comparator being active responsive to an edge at a clock signal input; an adjustable frequency oscillator for outputting a first clock signal; and a fast transient detect circuit configured to output a second signal asynchronously upon detecting a rapid change greater than a voltage threshold in the output voltage; the voltage converter receiving the enable control signal when either the first clock signal is active, or the second signal is active and the output voltage is less than a reference voltage. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.
US09812956B2 Artificial ripple modulation control circuitry
A power supply system has a power switch circuit that switches an input voltage to generate a switched input voltage, an output circuit that generates an output voltage from the switched input voltage, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller that generates a PWM signal to control the power switch circuit. The PWM controller turns OFF the PWM signal based on a ramp signal that emulates a current of an output inductor and a feedback signal that indicates an error between the output voltage and a reference voltage.
US09812955B2 Method for limiting the starting current of a step-up-converter
The disclosure relates to a method for limiting the starting current of a step-up-converter that is supplied by a DC voltage source. The step-up converter has a first capacitor, a coil connected in parallel to the first capacitor, a second capacitor connected to the coil in series, and a switch connected to the second capacitor in parallel and connected to the coil in series. In a first step, an output voltage of the circuit is measured and the step-up converter is connected to the DC voltage source by closing a power switch that is connected in series to the first capacitor. In a second step, the power switch is opened upon the output voltage increasing by more than a predefined threshold and is maintained open for a predefined time. The first and second steps are repeated until the output voltage reaches a predefined final value.
US09812954B1 Secure converter-gating, reconfiguration, and regulation
Dynamic power management techniques and voltage converter architectures are described to provide a secure and efficient on-chip power delivery system. In aspects of the embodiments, converter-gating adaptively turns on and off individual stages of an interleaved switched-capacitor voltage converter based on workload information to improve voltage conversion efficiency. Converter-gating is further utilized as a countermeasure against side channel power analysis attacks by pseudo-randomly controlling converter activity. The embodiments also improve the response time of converters during transient load changes by adaptively configuring the conversion ratio of a switched capacitor (SC) voltage converter.
US09812952B2 Enhanced transient response to supply power from energy harvesters
Systems and methods may provide for a transient response apparatus that includes a single stage conversion module having a power input, a power output, and a control input, and a compensation module including a feedback input. The compensation module may be coupled to the power input, the power output and the control input of the single stage conversion module. Additionally, a feedback module may be coupled to the power output of the single stage conversion module and the feedback input of the compensation module. In one example, the feedback module includes a loop controller having a plurality of programmable inputs and an error output, and a modulus unit coupled to the error output of the loop controller and the feedback input of the compensation module.
US09812950B2 PFC control circuit, digital PFC circuit and the method thereof
A digital PFC circuit with improved power factor is described. The digital PFC circuit uses a compensation current generating unit and a reference current adjust unit to eliminate the effect of a current flowing through an input capacitor to the input current, so that the input current and the input line voltage of the digital PFC circuit are controlled to be in-phase.
US09812944B2 Discharge device
A discharge device includes a switch element connected in parallel to an electrical storage element; a constant current output unit which supplies a constant current to the switch element; and a control unit which gives an on or off instruction to the constant current output unit, wherein a configuration is such that the control unit controls the constant current output unit so as to cause energy with which is charged in the electrical storage element to be discharged while being consumed by the switch element, and within an optional time for which an energization current of the switch element reaches a limiting current of the switch element, turn off the switch element in a region in which the energization current is lower than the limiting current.
US09812943B2 Resonant load power conversion device and time division operation method for resonant load power conversion device
A resonant load power conversion apparatus is provided to lower a switching frequency of each switching device and to reduce the number of main circuit conductors. The conversion apparatus includes a single-phase inverter having a dc input side (Vdc) connected with a dc voltage source and an output side (Vout) connected with a resonant load and outputting a rectangular wave voltage with a resonance frequency. Upper and lower arms on the input side and output side of the single-phase inverter are connected, respective, with switch group circuits 100U, 100V, 100V and 100V each of which includes N series combinations (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) of two switching devices, connected in parallel with each other by main circuit conductors. The switching devices of the switch group circuits are controlled in a time division switching control mode with a control section.
US09812942B2 Distributed driving system
A step down convertor with a distributed driving system. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes an inductor coupled to an output node. The apparatus also includes first and second circuits. The first circuit can transmit current to the output node via the inductor, and the second can transmit current to the output node via the inductor. The apparatus also includes a third circuit for modifying operational aspects of the first circuit or the second circuit based on a magnitude of current flowing through the inductor.
US09812940B2 Offset voltage generator and method for generating an offset voltage of three-phase inverter
In an embodiment, an offset voltage generator includes a first limiter configured to compare a first phase-voltage signal with a maximum limit value and a minimum limit value to output a first limit-voltage signal; a second limiter configured to compare a second phase-voltage signal with the maximum limit value and the minimum limit value to output a second limit-voltage signal; a third limiter configured to compare a third phase-voltage signal with the maximum limit value and the minimum limit value to output a third limit-voltage signal; and a summer configured to add a difference between the first phase-voltage signal and the first limit-voltage signal, a difference between the second phase-voltage signal and the second limit-voltage signal, and a difference between the third phase-voltage signal and the third limit-voltage signal, to output an offset voltage.
US09812937B2 Permanent magnet laminated motor with axial spacer ring vents
A permanent magnet laminated motor includes two end plates (15,16) arranged in parallel; a rotating shaft (1) rotatably arranged between the two end plates (15,16); n+1 rotor units (11, 12, 13, 14) and n spacer rings (8, 9, 10) alternately fixedly sleeved on outer rims of the rotating shaft (1) and axially compacted; two magnetic conductive rings (6, 7) tightly sleeved at the outer rim of the rotating shaft (1) and tightly attached to the outer side of the outermost two rotor units (11, 14); and n stator units (37, 38, 39) respectively sleeved at the outer rims of the spacer rings (8, 9, 10). An axial air gap (40) is provided between each stator unit (37, 38, 39) and the adjacent rotor unit (11, 12, 13, 14), and the n stator units (37, 38, 39) are axially fixedly connected to the two end plates (15, 16) by installation screw rods (74, 75).
US09812925B2 Closed loop data center and organic life ecosystem
Processing units and electrical power generation are integrated with a botanical environment to form a closed loop system whereby the outputs of one component serve as the inputs of another. Additionally, humans can be added to the system while maintaining the closed loop nature. Heat generated by the electrical power generation and processing units aids in the growth of botanicals and in the conversion of waste organic materials into both fertilizer and fuel for the electrical power generation. Additionally, carbon dioxide output by the electrical power generation is consumed by the botanicals, which, in turn, output oxygen consumed by the electrical power generation. Water is obtained by passing the exhaust of the electrical power generation across condenser coils, and is utilized for adiabatic cooling, as well as a heat transfer medium. Water is also consumed by the botanicals, aiding their growth.
US09812922B2 Active magnetic bearing comprising means for damping the radial motion of a shaft of a rotary machine
An active magnetic bearing comprising a plurality of electromagnetic actuators, each actuator receiving for control thereof an input current and being able to exert a radial force on a shaft of a rotary machine, with respect to the rotation axis of said shaft, the shaft being able to be held without contact between the electromagnetic actuators and to undergo radial motion when it is in rotation, means for supplying input current of each actuator, the supply means comprising means for controlling the input current of each actuator, according to the position of the shaft with respect to the actuators. The supply means comprise means for damping the radial motion of the shaft.
US09812916B2 Motor bobbin
Provided is a motor bobbin around which a winding wire is wound, said motor bobbin comprising insulating paper and a resin molded body. The insulating paper and the resin molded body are coupled and fixed together without using an adhesive agent. Surfaces of the insulating paper which are in contact with the resin molded body are configured using aramid paper comprising an aramid fibrid and aramid short fibers. Resin is melt extruded and thermal-fusion bonded upon the aramid paper comprising the aramid fibrid and the aramid short fibers, and the surfaces configured from the aramid paper are surface treated to obtain the insulating paper. The motor bobbin is obtained by bringing melted portions of the resin molded body into contact with the top of the aramid paper.
US09812915B2 Rotor for rotary electric machine having through piece holes and ribs
A rotor for a rotary electric machine includes a rotor core being rotatable around a rotational axis. The rotor core includes a plurality of steel plates stacked in a stacking direction. Each of the plurality of steel plates includes a plurality of magnet insertion piece holes, a plurality of through piece holes, a radially inner side annular ring, a radially outer side annular ring, and a plurality of ribs. The plurality of magnet insertion piece holes are provided at every first circumferential space. The plurality of magnet insertion piece holes constitute a plurality of magnet insertion holes in a state in which the plurality of steel plates are stacked in the stacking direction while the plurality of steel plates are rotated by the first circumferential space at every timing at which a predetermined number of the plurality of steel plates are stacked in the stacking direction.
US09812905B2 Method and system for wireless battery charging utilizing ultrasonic transducer array based beamforming
An ultrasound power transmitter comprising a transmit ultrasonic transducer array has a plurality of transmit ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound power transmitter activates a set of transmit ultrasonic transducers in close proximity of an electronic device to be arranged to beam ultrasound energy to the electronic device. Alignment magnets of the ultrasound power transmitter are aligned with corresponding alignment magnets of the electronic device to manage the ultrasound beaming. The ultrasound energy may be converted into electric power to charge the battery of the electronic device. Feedbacks may be provided by the electronic device to the ultrasound power transmitter to increase power transmission efficiency. The ultrasound power transmitter may pair the electronic device with other different electronic devices utilizing ultrasonic signals. A spacer with good ultrasound power transmission properties may be located between the ultrasound power transmitter and an ultrasound power receiver of an intended electronic device to enhance power transmission.
US09812903B2 System and method for wireless power transfer using a two half-bridge to one full-bridge switchover
A system and method of wireless power transfer using a two half-bridge to one full-bridge switchover includes a wireless power transfer system. The wireless power transfer system includes a controller, first and second transmitters coupled to the controller, the first and second transmitters being coupled to one another by an electrical connection, and a switch coupled between the electrical connection and a voltage rail. When the switch is closed, the controller operates the first and second transmitters in a two half-bridge mode. When the switch is open, the controller operates the first and second transmitters in a one full-bridge mode.
US09812902B2 Wireless electromagnetic receiver and wireless power transfer system
A system and a device for wirelessly transferring power without a cable are provided. A wireless electromagnetic receiver includes a first device configured to be magnetized based on an electromagnetic field. The wireless electromagnetic receiver further includes a second device configured to transform the magnetization of the first device into a power, the second device being not in contact with the first device.
US09812900B2 Switching systems and methods for use in uninterruptible power supplies
An uninterruptible power supply for providing an output power signal to a load has a ferroresonant transformer, a resonant capacitor operatively connected to the ferroresonant transformer, and an inverter operatively connected to the ferroresonant transformer. The inverter is configured to generate the output power signal based on at least one inverter control signal such that the output power signal is a quasi square wave having a first change of phase, an upper limit, and a second change of phase. The at least one inverter control signal is pulse-width modulated between the first change of phase and the upper limit, pulse-width modulated between the upper limit and the second change of phase, and held in an ON state when the output power signal is at the upper limit.
US09812897B2 Apparatus, system, and method for providing power redundancy to a device designed to draw power from a single external power adapter
An apparatus may include a plurality of power inputs configured to receive direct current from a plurality of external power adapters that convert alternating current to direct current. The plurality of external power adapters may include a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter. The apparatus may also include a power output configured to provide direct current to a device. In addition, the apparatus may include a switching mechanism that, when the primary external power adapter is operational, supplies direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output and, when the primary external power adapter fails, supplies direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output. Various additional apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
US09812896B2 Portable solar power station
A portable solar power station is disclosed herein. The power station is contained and configured with sufficient power to support a plurality of industrial devices and appliances. The devices and appliances can be utilized for a variety of professional and recreational activities. The power station is easily transported because it can fit, e.g., into a truck's bed or a van's cargo area and is not so heavy, e.g., that a person of mild to average strength would have difficulty pushing, lifting or otherwise moving the power station.
US09812888B2 Electrochemical cell or battery with reduced impedance and method for producing same
The invention disclosed is a method for decreasing the internal resistance or impedance of a battery or electrochemical cell is described which comprises the step of discharging the battery or cell until it reaches an overdischarge condition and maintaining the battery or cell in the overdischarge condition for a period of time sufficient to effect a diminution of the internal resistance or impedance of a battery or electrochemical cell; and a battery or electrochemical cell having a reduced impedance.
US09812885B2 Battery intelligent management method, battery intelligent management apparatus, and battery
The present invention discloses a battery intelligent management apparatus. A recognizing unit is configured to recognize a specification of a power supply assembly. A storage unit is configured to store management modes of power supply assemblies of various specifications, where the management modes of the power supply assemblies are in one-to-one correspondence with the specifications of the power supply assemblies. A control unit is configured to extract, from the storage unit and according to the specification, recognized by the recognizing unit, of the power supply assembly, a management mode corresponding to the specification of the power supply assembly, and perform charge management on the power supply assembly by using the management mode.
US09812882B2 Internet device and automatic switching method, apparatus and circuit for charging interface of internet device
An internet device and an automatic switching method, apparatus and circuit for a charging interface of an internet device are disclosed. The device includes a device charging interface (20), a dock charging interface (30), a charging loop (40) and an automatic switching apparatus (10) for a charging interface. The method includes: when external power supply is connected into the device (S001), judging whether a dock charging interface a the device is in place (S002), if so, isolating a device charging interface of the device and at the same time, connecting a charging loop of the device through a dock charging interface of the device (S003); otherwise, isolating the dock charging loop of the device and at the same time, connecting the charging loop of the device through the device charging interface of the device (S004). The device is convenient to implement and has the advantages of reliable performance and low cost.
US09812881B2 Hand tool device having at least one charging coil
In a hand tool device having at least one charging coil provided for transmitting energy, the charging coil includes a coil core having at least two core segments which are movable relative to each other.
US09812878B1 Dynamic current redistribution for portable electronic devices
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamic current redistribution. Example methods may include determining that a power source is in communication with a first battery, determining that a second battery is in communication with the first battery, and charging the first battery at a first charging current value. Example methods may include charging the second battery at a second charging current value, determining that an input voltage from the power source is equal to or greater than a voltage threshold, and charging the second battery at a third charging current value that is higher than the second charging current value.
US09812872B2 Method for synchronizing a feed voltage with a network voltage
In a method for synchronizing a feed voltage with a network voltage of an electrical energy supply network, a property of the feed voltage can be determined on the basis of a static characteristic curve. The static characteristic curve is compared to the property of the feed voltage of a feed power received by the electrical energy supply network at the applied feed voltage. The property of the feed voltage is adjusted to a specified value when a limit current of the feed power is reached.
US09812869B2 Rapid shutdown and safety disconnect for hybrid PV systems
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an energy generation system including a rapid shutdown mechanism configured to prevent a flow of power from a photovoltaic (PV) array when activated, a battery pack comprising one or more power storage devices, and an inverter coupled to the rapid shutdown mechanism and the battery pack. The inverter includes anti-islanding relays configured to electrically disconnect the inverter from a utility grid when activated transfer relays configured to electrically disconnect the inverter from a load when activated, and a detection and initiation circuit coupled to the rapid shutdown mechanism, battery pack, anti-islanding relays, and transfer relays, where the detection and initiation circuit is configured to detect a triggering event and to activate the rapid shutdown mechanism, disable the battery pack, activate the anti-islanding relays, and activate the transfer relays in response to the detection of the triggering event.
US09812860B2 Electrical network of an aircraft
An electrical network of an aircraft comprises: several main generators, several high voltage direct current networks powered by one of the generators in normal operation, several low voltage direct current networks powered by one of the high voltage direct current networks, several converters to transfer energy from one of the high voltage direct current networks to one of the low voltage direct current networks, the different converters being independent and isolated from each other, each converter being dedicated to one of the high voltage networks and to the low voltage direct current network, a load designed to be powered in normal operation by the main generators and in backup operation by one of the low voltage direct current networks, the backup operation being put into place when at least one of the high voltage networks is no longer powered by the associated main generator in normal operation.
US09812857B2 Short-circuit protection method and device for a half-bridge resonant converter
Provided are a short-circuit protection method and device for a half-bridge resonance converter. The method includes: a secondary-side current signal of the half-bridge resonance converter is detected, and the detected secondary-side current signal is converted into a corresponding first sampling voltage signal; whether a cycle-by-cycle protection is required in accordance with the first sampling voltage signal is determined; and a driving signal of the half-bridge resonance converter is compulsorily blocked during a preset cycle, if the cycle-by-cycle protection is required. Short-circuit protection may be performed for the half-bridge resonance converter, meanwhile a power density of the half-bridge resonance converter is satisfied.
US09812852B2 Grommet and method for manufacturing same
A grommet is secured to a wire harness inserted in an opening of a panel. The grommet is fitted in the opening and mounted, thereby supporting the wire harness in the panel, The grommet has: partition walls covering the periphery of the wire harness and forming a sound-blocking space around the wire harness; and a sound-insulating wall formed inside the sound-blocking space so as to intersect the longitudinal direction of the wire harness.
US09812846B2 Method and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometry
Exemplary apparatus and method are provided. In particular, an electromagnetic radiation can be emitted with, e.g. a light source arrangement. For example, the light source arrangement can include a cavity and a filter, and a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation can be controlled, e.g., with such cavity and filter, to have a mean frequency that changes (i) at an absolute rate that is greater than about 100 terahertz per millisecond, and (ii) over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz. Additionally or alternatively, the light source arrangement can include a frequency shifting device which can shift the mean frequency of the electromagnetic radiation.
US09812845B1 Fast wavelength-tunable hybrid optical transmitter
An optical transmitter includes: a set of reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers (RSOAs) or other reflective gain media, a set of ring filters, a set of intermediate waveguides, a shared waveguide, a shared loop mirror, and an output waveguide. Each intermediate waveguide channels light from an RSOA in proximity to an associated ring filter to cause optically coupled light to circulate in the associated ring filter. The shared waveguide is coupled to the shared loop mirror, and is located in proximity to the set of ring filters, so that light circulating in each ring filter causes optically coupled light to flow in the shared waveguide. Each RSOA forms a lasing cavity with the shared loop reflector, wherein each lasing cavity has a different wavelength associated with a resonance of its associated ring filter. The output waveguide is optically coupled to the shared loop mirror and includes an electro-optical modulator.
US09812844B2 Edge-emitting semiconductor laser and method for the production thereof
An edge-emitting semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor structure having a waveguide layer with an active layer, the waveguide layer extending in a longitudinal direction between first and second side facets of the semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure has a tapering region adjacent to the first side facet, a thickness of the waveguide layer in the tapering region increases longitudinally, the waveguide layer is arranged between first and second cladding layers, a thickness of the second cladding layer in the tapering region of the semiconductor structure increases longitudinally, the tapering region includes first and second subregions, the first subregion is arranged closer to the first side facet than the second subregion, thickness of the waveguide layer increases longitudinally in the first subregion, thickness of the waveguide layer is constant in the longitudinal direction in the second subregion, and thickness of the second cladding layer increases longitudinally in the second subregion.
US09812837B2 Ultrashort pulse fiber amplifier with rare-earth doped gain fibers
Ultrashort pulse fiber amplifier having a pulse width from 200 ps to 200 fs comprising a rare earth oxide doped multicomponent glass fibers for laser amplification, including a core and a cladding, the core comprising at least 2 weight percent glass network modifier selected from BaO, CaO, MgO, ZnO, PbO, K2O, Na2O, Li2O, Y2O3, or combinations; wherein the mode of the core is guided with step index difference between the core and the cladding, a numerical aperture of the fiber is between 0.01 and 0.04; core diameter is from about 60 microns to about 150 microns, and a length of the gain fiber is shorter than 60 cm.
US09812836B1 Reversible computation with flux solitons
A reversible superconducting circuit includes a plurality of Josephson transmission lines. A first line is configured to transmit a control fluxon when a first input is active. A second line is configured to transmit a target fluxon to one of a third and a fourth line. The circuit is configured to transmit the fluxons at substantially the same time. The second line is configured to transmit the target fluxon to the third line, due to an interaction between the control fluxon and the target fluxon, only if the control fluxon is transmitted at substantially the same time as the target fluxon. The second line is configured to transmit the target fluxon to the fourth line, due to following an adiabatic trajectory, only if no control fluxon is transmitted at substantially the same time as the target fluxon.
US09812834B2 Rotor of rotating electric machine
According to one embodiment, a rotor of a rotating electric machine includes a collector shaft which is fastened to a main shaft of the machine and mounted with paired collector rings on an outer circumferential surface thereof. Longitudinal lead bars extend in electrically insulated state in longitudinal lead grooves provided in an outer circumferential surface of the collector shaft and are connected to ring through studs. Radial lead bars are located at a collector shaft-side end portion of the main shaft and connect at their inner end portions to the bands. And, both ends of conductive longitudinal studs inserted into longitudinal through holes at a main shaft-side end portion of the collector shaft are connected to outer end portions of the radial lead bars and to the longitudinal lead bars.
US09812832B2 Connector holder and electronic device with connector holder
A plugging structure applied to an electronic device for detachably electrically connecting to a main unit is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a housing. The plugging structure comprises a cover and a circuit board. The cover plate has two transfer ports, and two transmitting ports are listed in the cover. The circuit board is disposed between the cover and the housing, and the circuit board connects to these transmitting ports.
US09812829B1 Wiring connector for two wire to two point connection
A small form factor wiring connector provides a two wire to two point connector with separate-hole insertion for two wires, by having two holes on the first casing side of the connector and a terminal connection on the opposite second side of the connector. The design works well for a pluggable or fixed-mounted connector. The separate wire insertion holes and the internal screw-driven clamping means with U-shaped wire clamp and U-shaped fixed terminal surfaces provides positive connections which will not easily loosen.
US09812825B2 Ethernet device
An Ethernet device having an Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals wherein at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts are configured to conduct at least two different magnitudes of DC current flow without interfering with the BaseT Ethernet communication signals.
US09812822B2 Push wire connector having a spring biasing member
An electrical connector includes a housing and a conductive contact assembly disposed in the housing. A first contact member of the contact assembly receives a blade contact of an electrical device. A second contact member receives an electrical wire through a push-in connection. The electrical connector is receivable by an aperture in a rear surface of the electrical device.
US09812818B2 Electrical receptacle connector
An electrical receptacle connector includes a mount member received in a metallic shell. A tongue portion is integrally formed with a front end of the mount member. Accordingly, a grounding plate, first receptacle terminals, and second receptacle terminals that are at the front end of the mount member can be positioned. In addition, the front ends of the first receptacle terminals are held in a first surface of the tongue portion, and the front ends of the second receptacle terminals are held in a second surface of the tongue portion. Since the tongue portion and the mount member are formed integrally with each other, the first receptacle terminals, the second receptacle terminals, and the mount member can be firmly positioned with each other. Accordingly, when the connector is impacted by a foreign force, the components of the connector would not detach from each other easily.
US09812815B2 Combinatorial light string plug and receptacle
A connector having enhanced protection against arcing during live or “hot” connection of a plug assembly to a receptacle assembly. The terminals of the connector, including the connection point of exposed wiring, are electrically isolated from each other with dielectric barriers built in to the connector, such as polymer partitions. Accordingly, protection against arcing is provided in a connector that is assembled fast and inexpensively, without need for a time consuming installation of wire and terminal coatings or sleeves (e.g., “shrink tube”), and with greater reliability. The connector can be used in a modular system for decorative lighting and having a controller module that is not hard wired to a light string. Use of the controller module independent of any of the light strings enables the controller to be used with any light string or with a replacement light string, in the event that the immediately connected light string fails.
US09812814B1 Safety lockout feature for plug
An electrical plug is provided including a plug housing having a hollow interior surrounded by an outer wall, a first plurality of electrical connectors positioned within the hollow interior that are adapted to mate with a second plurality of electrical connectors positioned on a plug housing, a first aperture extending through the outer wall, a locking member extending from within the hollow interior through the first aperture in the outer wall, wherein the locking member includes a retainer that abuts a surface of the outer wall, wherein the locking member includes one a more holes positioned outside of an outer surface of the outer wall, a locking element secured through the one or more holes on the locking member, and wherein the locking member prevents the plug receptacle from being fully engaged with the plug housing.
US09812810B2 Waterproof connector
A waterproof connector includes a housing made of an insulating resin and having a counter connector accommodating section and one or more contacts formed integrally with the housing, the housing having at least one contact adhesion generating recess that is formed in a bottom section of the counter connector accommodating section to communicate with an inside of the counter connector accommodating section and that allows an adhesion force directed to a contact-side fixed section of each of the one or more contacts to be generated at a portion of the housing in contact with the contact-side fixed section by means of water pressure occurring when the inside of the counter connector accommodating section is immersed in water.
US09812807B2 Connector
A connector assembly has a first connector (10) fit into a receptacle (44A) of a second connector (40). An erroneous connection preventing rib (22) and two fitting ribs (21) are provided on an outer surface of a housing (12) of the first connector (10). The erroneous connection preventing rib (22) can enter a groove (47) on an inner surface of the receptacle (44A) during proper connection of the first and second connectors (10, 40), but collides with the receptacle (44A) during erroneous connection. The fitting ribs (21) fit into fitting grooves (48) on the inner surface of the receptacle (44A) both during the proper connection and during the erroneous connection. The fitting ribs (21) fit into the fitting grooves (48) before the collision of the erroneous connection preventing rib (22) with the receptacle (44A) during the erroneous connection.
US09812803B2 Socket
A socket includes power-supply blade receivers and a grounding blade receiver for retaining power-supply plug blades and a grounding plug blade of a plug, respectively. Each of the power-supply blade receivers includes a power-supply retaining portion and a power-supply contact portion. The grounding blade receiver includes a grounding retaining portion and a grounding contact portion which is installed further on the upstream side in the insertion direction of the plug than a position which is spaced away from the power-supply contact portion to the downstream side in the insertion direction by less than the certain distance. The grounding retaining portion is spaced away by the certain distance or more from the power-supply retaining portion to the downstream side in the insertion direction.
US09812790B2 Near-field gradient probe for the suppression of radio interference
An antenna system is provided comprising first, second, and third loop antennas, each antenna having a respective loop area and spaced apart from the other antennas. The first and third antennas are configured and driven to form a first independent balanced feed point that is substantially isolated from the second antenna, which is configured to be driven from a second balanced feed point. A sum of the first and second respective loop areas, at a sum port in operable communication with the first and second balanced feed points, is substantially equivalent to the third respective loop area. An automatic control system is configured to automatically and independently adjust, via the balanced feed points, at least one of amplitude and phase for at least one of the three loop antennas, to help to substantially maximize suppression of RFI for a sum of signals from the first and second balanced feed points.
US09812787B2 Combination of radar sensor and trim component for a motor vehicle
A combination of a radar sensor and a trim component, which are to be mounted on a motor vehicle so that the trim component is penetrated by microwaves of the radar sensor, the trim component including at least one layer, which reflects a portion of the microwaves, the trim component including an additional layer, which is configured based on thickness and dielectric constant to reduce the reflection.
US09812786B2 Metamaterial-based transmitarray for multi-beam antenna array assemblies
A transmitarray, or radio frequency lens, can provide a large variation of time-delay. The transmitarray comprises a number of time-delay unit (TDU) cells that each have a capacitive patch and a rectangular wire loop separated by dielectric material. The rectangular wire loop allows current continuity to be maintained between adjacent TDU cells, even when different sized TDUs are included in the transmitarray.
US09812785B2 Waveguide slot antenna and warning system using same
Provided is a waveguide tube slot antenna (A), including: a waveguide tube (10) having a transverse section having a rectangular shape in each part of a waveguide (2) in an extending direction thereof; and a plurality of radiating slots (3) arranged in the waveguide tube (10) at predetermined intervals, in which: the waveguide tube (10) includes a first waveguide tube forming member (11) and a second waveguide tube forming member (12) each having the transverse section having a shape with an end, the first waveguide tube forming member (11) and the second waveguide tube forming member (12) being configured to define the waveguide (2) by being coupled to each other; and the first waveguide tube forming member (11) is formed to have a flat shape and includes the plurality of radiating slots (3).
US09812783B2 Ceramic patch antenna structure
The invention provides a ceramic patch antenna structure which comprises a composite material base body, a radiation metallic layer, a grounding metallic layer and a signal feeding element. The composite material base body is composed of a high dielectric constant (K) material and a low K material, having a front surface, a rear surface and a through hole. The radiation metallic layer is provided on the front surface of the composite material base body. The grounding metallic layer is provided on the rear surface of the composite material base body. The signal feeding element has a head thereon, the head has a shaft extending from the bottom thereof and the shaft has a projection on a surface thereof. As the signal feeding element is screwed to the through hole, the projection of the shaft destroys an internal wall of the through hole to latch in the through hole.
US09812779B2 Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas
Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas provide desired antenna pattern attributes such as reduced side lobes and reduced grating lobes.
US09812777B2 Load balancing of dual-polarized antennas
There is provided a dual-polarized N/2-column antenna arrangement. The antenna module arrangement comprises a coupler module. The coupler module is arranged to direct a first summation of energy from signals from a first distinct set of power amplifiers of an N-channel radio to a first single output port connected to a first polarization of a first column of the dual-polarized N/2-column antenna arrangement. The coupler module is arranged to direct a second summation of energy from signals from a second distinct set of power amplifiers of the N-channel radio to a second single output port connected to a second polarization of a second column of the dual-polarized N/2-column antenna arrangement.
US09812775B2 Large aperture antenna with narrow angle fast beam steering
A system for rapidly steering a directive beam in an antenna is provided herein. The system includes: an antenna configured to produce a directive beam; means for steering the beam rapidly, along small angles; and means for steering the beam slowly, along large angles. According to one embodiment, the antenna is implemented as a phased array antenna, wherein the means for steering the beam rapidly, along small angles, is implemented as a phased array control, and wherein the means for steering the beam slowly, along large angles, is a mechanical mechanism implemented using gimbals. According to another embodiment, the antenna includes a main reflector and a sub reflector, and wherein the means for steering the beam rapidly, along small angles, mechanically controls the sub reflector, and wherein the means for steering the beam slowly, along large angles, mechanically controls the main reflector.
US09812773B1 Antenna design for reduced specific absorption rate
An antenna for use in portable wireless devices is described for which SAR is significantly reduced relative to conventional antenna designs for the same transmit power. The antenna includes a primary antenna element and one or more parasitic antenna elements. Each parasitic antenna element is electromagnetically coupled to the primary antenna element so as to spread out the RF energy associated with SAR hotspots.
US09812772B2 Antenna device and an adaptor for an antenna device
The antenna device comprises: a magnetic core; one or more windings (W1) wound around the magnetic core; an electrically insulating base (1), on which the magnetic core wound with the one or more windings (W1) is arranged, and which comprises electrically conductive elements (11, 12, 13), which are electrically connected to the one or more one windings (W1); and an adaptor (A) is arranged over the magnetic core and comprising an electrically insulating piece (140) having an upper surface comprising electrically conductive platings (121, 122, 123) following a specific PCB layout and at least part of which are connected to the electrically conductive elements (11, 12, 13) of the electrically insulating base (1). The adaptor is suitable for its use as the adaptor of the antenna device of the present invention.
US09812770B2 Antenna integrated with metal chassis
One aspect provides an antenna. The antenna, in this aspect, includes a grounded segment extending from a metal chassis of an electronic device, and a feed portion coplanar with the grounded segment, the grounded segment and feed portion jointly tuned to cause the antenna to communicate in selected bands of frequencies.
US09812766B2 Antenna device and communication apparatus
A planar conductor including a cutout that penetrates in a thickness direction and extends from an outer edge portion toward an inner side, a coil antenna magnetically coupling with the planar conductor by a magnetic flux passing through the cutout, and a fit-in member filled into at least a portion of the cutout and including a metal oxide film provided on at least a side surface portion thereof which is in contact with the planar conductor, are included. Thus, an antenna device which does not impair appearance while maintaining strength by using a metal casing, and a communication apparatus including the antenna device, are provided.
US09812763B2 Variable angle mount for attaching a mast to a structure
Mounting systems and apparatus are provided for attaching a mast to a structure at a desired orientation. The mounting apparatus includes a base support and a ball mount. The base support can be rigidly attached to a portion of the structure. The ball mount receives a ball associated with the mast to thereby allow the mast to be positioned and maintained at the desired orientation. The mounting apparatus may be used, for example, for attaching a digital broadcast satellite (DBS) antenna to a fascia or other portion of a home or other structure.
US09812761B1 Article, integrated device, apparatus and method for mounting a satellite feed structure to an antenna reflector unit
An article, integrated device, apparatus and a method for mounting a satellite antenna feed structure to an antenna reflector unit. The device comprises, in combination, a housing associated with the feed structure and a cup mounted to the antenna reflector unit. The housing includes a plurality of members projecting radially therefrom, the members being arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the cup, a resilient gasket lining at least a bottom interior surface of the cup. Alternatively, the cup includes a plurality of inwardly projecting members arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the housing. Upon positioning the housing axially relative to, and in mating engagement with, the cup, engaging the members with and sliding them into receiving ports of the slots, rotating the housing such that the members engage with and slide along the slots, and thereby biasing a mating portion of the housing against the gasket lining, the housing is engaged firmly within the cup.
US09812760B2 Antenna-equipped connector
An antenna-equipped connector comprising a plug having separate conductive portions and configured to be received by an audio output jack of an electronic device, a jack configured to connect to the conductive portions of the plug via respective of at least two conductive lines, an antenna connection node that branches from a branching point on one of the at least two conductive lines, and an antenna connected to the antenna connection node.
US09812759B2 Remote units for distributed communication systems and related installation methods and apparatuses
Remote units are mounted in a support structure so that cooling air flow is not impeded by the support structure. The remote units may have RF communications circuitry and other components that generate heat in the provision of wireless services.
US09812758B2 Antenna floor tile for a raised floor system
An antenna floor tile for a raised floor system comprises a frame; an insert supported by the frame, the insert including a top surface; a recess disposed below the top surface; an antenna attached to the insert within the recess; and a protective layer disposed over the antenna.
US09812751B2 Plurality of resonator cavities coupled by inductive apertures which are adjusted by capacitive parts
One or more adjustable resonators (208, 209) of a compensation circuit are arranged so that adjusting the resonators nevertheless results in output of the circuit remaining substantially constant. This has been accomplished by separating resonator cavities that include the adjustable resonators by a partition wall. A coupling aperture (205) provides inductive coupling between the resonator cavities and a capacitive part (206) passes through the intermediate wall and provides a capacitive coupling between the resonator cavities. The capacitive part is conductive and electrically isolated from the partition wall. The capacitive part and the coupling aperture are dimensioned such that effects on the coupling band width of the aperture and capacitive couplings track each other so as to substantially cancel each other out, and that the coupling band width between the resonator cavities remains substantially constant.
US09812748B2 Twist for connecting orthogonal waveguides in a single housing structure
A twist for coupling radiation between orthogonal waveguides is provided. The twist includes at least three cavities opening from at least one of a first X1-Y1 surface and a second X2-Y2 surface of a metal block. A first cavity has a first opening in a first Y-Z plane and a second opening in a second Y-Z plane offset from the first Y-Z plane by a first length. A second cavity shares the second opening with the first cavity and has a third opening in a third Y-Z plane offset from the second Y-Z plane by a second length and has at least two heights and at least two widths. A last cavity shares a next-to-last opening in a next-to-last Y-Z plane with a next-to-last cavity. The last cavity has a last opening in a last Y-Z plane offset from the next-to-last Y-Z plane by a last length.
US09812743B2 Battery state monitoring circuit and battery device
Provided is a battery state monitoring circuit and a battery device capable of predicting a state of charge of a secondary battery with high accuracy. The battery state monitoring circuit includes a pseudo-equivalent circuit of the secondary battery, and causes a current flowing through a sense resistor to flow to the pseudo-equivalent circuit of the secondary battery, to thereby measure a pseudo-open circuit voltage of the secondary battery.
US09812741B2 Method of charging and maintaining lithium ion secondary battery, battery system, vehicle and battery-mounted device
An object is to provide a method of charging and maintaining a lithium ion secondary battery which method is capable of preventing a decrease in the capacity of the battery. Another object is to provide a battery system capable of preventing a decrease in battery capacity, and a vehicle and a battery-mounted device which have such a battery system mounted therein. A method of charging and maintaining lithium ion secondary batteries 101 using positive active material particles 135 made from a two-phase coexistence type positive active material PM in a positive electrode plate 130 includes an overcharge step S7 for charging the lithium ion secondary batteries to bring their SOC (State of Charge) SC into an overcharge SOC not higher than 100% but higher than a target SOC, a return discharge step S8 for discharging, after the overcharge step, the lithium ion secondary batteries to make their SOC equal to the target SOC, and a maintaining step S10.
US09812736B2 Lithium-selenium secondary batteries having non-flammable electrolyte
A rechargeable lithium-selenium cell comprising a cathode having a cathode active material selected from Se or SexSy (x/y ratio=0.01 to 100), an anode having an anode active material, a porous separator electronically separating the anode and the cathode, a non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte in contact with the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte contains a lithium salt dissolved in a first organic liquid solvent with a lithium salt concentration sufficiently high (at least 2.0 M, more preferably >3.0 M) so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure less than 0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than the flash point of the first organic liquid solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no flash point. This battery cell is non-flammable and safe, has a long cycle life, high capacity, and high energy density.
US09812732B2 Dual storage system and method with lithium ion and lead acid battery cells
A battery system may include a plurality of battery cell assemblies electrically coupled in series. A first battery cell assembly of the plurality of battery cell assemblies includes a first lithium ion battery cell and a first lead acid battery cell electrically coupled in parallel with the first lithium ion battery cell such that the first lead acid battery cell is configured to resist overcharging and overdischarging of the first lithium ion battery cell.
US09812730B2 Biocompatible wire battery
A rechargeable electrochemical battery in the form of a single or multi-stranded wire assembly may be utilized as a power source for any number of implantable or non-implantable medical devices. As the wire form battery may be scaled to micro size, it may be utilized to power medical devices that were traditionally non-active devices, but which may be enhanced with active components. The wire form battery may be cut to size for a particular application which provides the same open circuit voltage regardless of how the wire is ultimately configured and the length of the wire utilized. Although the battery is in wire form, various arrangements of the components within the battery are also possible.
US09812729B2 Fuel cell stack compression devices and methods
A spring compression assembly is configured to apply a load to a stack of electrochemical cells. The assembly includes a ceramic leaf spring, a tensioner configured to apply pressure to a first side of the spring and a bottom plate located on a second side of the spring opposite the first side of the spring. The bottom plate is configured to transfer a load from the spring to the stack of electrochemical cells.
US09812724B2 Preventing migration of liquid electrolyte out of a fuel cell
A stack (10) of fuel cells (11) is provided with barriers (32) to prevent migration of a liquid electrolyte (such as phosphoric acid) out of the cells (11). The barrier (32) is secured within a step (34) defined within a land region (28) of a separator plate assembly (18) and extends from an edge (30) of the separator plate assembly (18) all or a portion of a distance between the edge (30) and a flow channel (24) defined within the separator plate assembly (18). The barrier (32) also extends away from the edge (30) a distance of between 0.051 and 2.0 millimeters (2 and 80 mils). The barrier (32) includes a hydrophobic, polymeric film (36), a pressure sensitive adhesive (38), as an assembly aid, and a fluoroelastomer bonding agent (40).
US09812721B2 Dual seal anode drain / purge tube
A device and method for improving cathode catalytic heating by allowing independently for a draining of a liquid and a purging of a gas in a fuel cell at cold starts via a system including an anode drain and a cathode catalytic heating system connected by a purge tube, a sump external to the purge tube, and a pintle having a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position.
US09812720B2 Humidifier, for example for a fuel cell
A humidifier having at least one water-permeable fabric layer, on the opposite sides of which a gas stream with higher and with lower moisture content is guided along. On the side of the gas stream with higher moisture content, a hydrophilic additional layer is positioned upstream of the fabric layer.
US09812719B2 Mixed-reactant fuel cells with selective electrodes
A mixed reactant fuel cell (MRFC) including a MRFC-optimized electrocatalyst utilizing a combination of selective catalysts and selective fuel distributors.
US09812714B2 Anode with remarkable stability under conditions of extreme fuel starvation
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes a cathode electrode, a solid oxide electrolyte, and an anode electrode having a first region located adjacent to a fuel inlet and a second region located adjacent to a fuel outlet. The anode electrode includes a cermet having a nickel containing phase and a ceramic phase. The first region of the anode electrode contains a lower ratio of the nickel containing phase to the ceramic phase than the second region of the anode electrode.
US09812713B2 Rechargeable battery with wafer current collector and assembly method
Apparatus and techniques herein related battery plates. For example, a first battery plate can include a conductive silicon wafer. A first mechanical support can be located on a first side of the conductive silicon wafer. A first active material can be adhered to the first mechanical support and the first side of the conductive silicon wafer, the first active material having a first polarity. In an example, the battery plate can be a bipolar plate, such as having a second mechanical support located on a second side of the conductive silicon wafer opposite the first side, and a second active material adhered to the second mechanical support and the second side of the conductive silicon wafer, the second material having an opposite second polarity.
US09812711B2 Carbonaceous material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and vehicle
To provide a carbonaceous material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode that yields an anode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having excellent input/output characteristics, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high discharge capacity per unit volume, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and a vehicle comprising this non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode.The carbonaceous material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode of the present invention has a number average particle size of from 0.1 to 2.0 μm, a value of a number average particle size divided by a volume average particle size of not greater than 0.3, an average interlayer spacing d002 of an (002) plane determined by X-ray diffraction of from 0.340 to 0.390 nm, and an atomic ratio (H/C) of hydrogen and carbon of not greater than 0.10.
US09812708B2 Cathode active material and lithium secondary battery comprising same
Disclosed is a cathode active material for secondary batteries in which a carboxymethyl cellulose derivative is coated on surfaces of particles of a lithium transition metal oxide having the formula LixMyO2 where M: NiaMnbCoc wherein 0≦a≦0.9, 0≦b≦0.9, 0≦c≦0.5, and 0.85≦a+b+c≦1.05 and x+y=2, wherein 0.95≦x≦1.15.
US09812707B2 Carbon-coated lithium iron phosphate of olivine crystal structure and lithium secondary battery using the same
Disclosed is lithium iron phosphate having an olivine crystal structure, wherein the lithium iron phosphate has a composition represented by the following Formula 1 and carbon (C) is coated on the particle surface of the lithium iron phosphate containing a predetermined amount of sulfur (S). Li1+aFe1−xMx(PO4−b)Xb  (1) (wherein M, X, a, x, and b are the same as defined in the specification).
US09812699B2 Silicon nanostructure active materials for lithium ion batteries and processes, compositions, components and devices related thereto
The present invention relates to nanostructured materials for use in rechargeable energy storage devices such as lithium batteries, particularly rechargeable secondary lithium batteries, or lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The present invention includes materials, components, and devices, including nanostructured materials for use as battery active materials, and lithium ion battery (LIB) electrodes comprising such nanostructured materials, as well as manufacturing methods related thereto. Exemplary nanostructured materials include silicon-based nanostructures such as silicon nanowires and coated silicon nanowires, nanostructures disposed on substrates comprising active materials or current collectors such as silicon nanowires disposed on graphite particles or copper electrode plates, and LIB anode composites comprising high-capacity active material nanostructures formed on a porous copper and/or graphite powder substrate.
US09812694B2 Electrode member and battery block
Collector connected to a terminal of a cell includes: substrate portion made of a conductive plate material; connection portion that is defined by first slit formed in the conductive plate material, and is connected to the terminal of the cell; narrow fuse that is defined by second slits that are formed in the conductive plate material so as to extend from first slit, and whose one end is connected to substrate portion and the other end is connected to connection portion; and insulating film bonded to a region including fuse and second slits defining fuse across substrate portion and connection portion.
US09812692B2 Lithium secondary battery having enhanced safety
Disclosed is a secondary battery, wherein an electrode assembly including at least one positive electrode respectively having positive electrode tabs not coated with a positive electrode active material; at least one negative electrode respectively having negative electrode tabs not coated with a negative electrode active material; and at least one separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is sealed with an electrolyte solution in a battery case, the positive electrode tabs and the negative electrode tabs are respectively connected to positive electrode lead and negative electrode lead protruded to the outside of a battery case, and at least one an electrode terminal selected from the group consisting of the positive electrode tabs, the negative electrode tabs, the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead includes Wood's metal.
US09812689B2 Community energy storage system with battery bank deactivation
A community energy storage system comprises a cabinet, at least one battery bank mounted within the cabinet, the at least one battery bank comprising a plurality of battery modules electrically coupled to one another in series; and processing structure for monitoring at least one parameter of each of the battery modules, and in the event that the at least one parameter is outside of a threshold value, deactivating the at least one battery bank.
US09812681B2 Flexible rechargeable battery
A flexible rechargeable battery includes a protection substrate including a first terminal and a second terminal, a wiring portion including a first wiring portion and a second wiring portion, a first end of each of the first and second wiring portions being connected to the first and second terminals, respectively, and the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion being adjacent to each other and disposed in parallel, first connecting members, portions of the first wiring portion being inserted into the first connecting members to be electrically connected to the first wiring portion, second connecting members, portions of the second wiring portion being inserted into the second connecting members to be electrically connected to the second wiring portion, and battery cells, each battery cell including a first terminal electrically connected to the first connecting member, and a second terminal electrically connected to the second connecting member.
US09812674B2 Electrochemical cells and methods of manufacturing the same
Electrochemical cells and methods of making electrochemical cells are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a multi-layer sheet for encasing an electrode material for an electrochemical cell. The multi-layer sheet including an outer layer, an intermediate layer that includes a conductive substrate, and an inner layer disposed on a portion of the conductive substrate. The intermediate layer is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer. The inner layer defines an opening through which a conductive region of the intermediate layer is exposed such that the electrode material can be electrically connected to the conductive region. Thus, the intermediate layer can serve as a current collector for the electrochemical cell.
US09812670B2 Polarization film, antireflection film, and display device
A polarization film includes a polarization layer including a polymer and a dichroic dye having a maximum absorption wavelength (λmax) at about 380 nm to about 780 nm, and a protective layer disposed on a surface of the polarization layer and having a cross-linking structure.
US09812666B2 Organic light emitting display device and method for manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device includes an organic light-emitting element on a substrate, a metal substrate, and an encapsulation unit configured to seal the organic light-emitting element, and a structure in which a driving film is connected so as not to be protruded further than the substrate. A portion of the encapsulation unit is between the metal substrate and the driving film, and the portion of the encapsulation unit is configured to reduce damage to the driving film caused by the metal substrate. Thus, the organic light-emitting display device may realize a narrow bezel and also reduce a driving defect caused by damage to the driving film.
US09812664B2 Transformable device and method of manufacturing the same
A transformable device is provided. The transformable device includes an electro-active layer. A first electrode is disposed at a lower portion inside the electro-active layer. A second electrode is disposed at an upper portion inside the electro-active layer. In the transformable device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, performance of the electrodes is suppressed from decreasing in spite of repeated operating and a life of the transformable device can be increased as compared with a case of forming electrodes outside an electro-active layer.
US09812660B2 Method for single crystal growth of photovoltaic perovskite material and devices
Systems and methods for perovskite single crystal growth include using a low temperature solution process that employs a temperature gradient in a perovskite solution in a container, also including at least one small perovskite single crystal, and a substrate in the solution upon which substrate a perovskite crystal nucleates and grows, in part due to the temperature gradient in the solution and in part due to a temperature gradient in the substrate. For example, a top portion of the substrate external to the solution may be cooled.
US09812658B2 Porphyrin based sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cell
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) based on a porphyrin core and a π-conjugated linker or acceptor introduced between the porphyrin core and an anchoring group having a high absorption coefficient covering the whole UV-Visible and near-infrared spectral response, and their use as sensitizer or dye and an electrochemical or optoelectronic device including a compound of the invention.
US09812657B2 Organometallic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
An organometallic compound represented by Formula 1: M(L1)n1(L2)n2  Formula 1 wherein in Formula 1, M, L1, L2, n1, and n2 are the same as described in the specification.
US09812652B2 Cyclic azine compound having adamantyl group, production method, and organic electroluminescent device containing it as constituent component
An azine compound represented by the formula (1), a method for its production and an organic electroluminescent device containing it as a constituent component. wherein Ad each independently represents a 1-adamantyl group, etc., p and q are each independently 0 or 1, Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently a single bond (but only when p is 1, or q is 1), or a pyridyl group which may be substituted by a phenyl group, etc., incidentally, Ad groups on Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently bonded to said pyridyl group, etc., Ar2 is each independently a C3-13 heteroaromatic group which may be substituted by a fluorine atom, etc., X1, X2, X3 and X4 are each independently a single bond, etc., m and n are each independently 0, 1 or 2, Z is a nitrogen atom, etc., n+p+q is 1, 2 or 3.
US09812650B2 Organic electroluminescent element, compound and material for organic electroluminescent element, used in the same, and light emitting device, display device and illumination device, using the element
An organic electroluminescent element comprising a substrate, a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode, disposed on the substrate, and at least one organic layer which is arranged between the electrodes and which includes a light emitting layer, wherein the organic layer contains a compound represented by general formula (1) in at least one layer. The organic electroluminescent element has a high luminous efficiency, excellent blue color purity, and little chromaticity change due to drive deterioration. (In the formula, the two Xs either both represent an O atom or both represent an S atom, and R1-R10 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent group).
US09812649B2 Indenotriphenylene-based amine derivative for organic electroluminescent device
The present invention discloses an indenotriphenylene-based amine derivative represented by the following formula (A): wherein R1 to R5, m, n, p, L and Ar are the same definition as described in the present invention. The present invention also discloses an organic EL device employing the indenotriphenylene-based amine derivative as a hole transport material or an electron blocking material, which can lower driving voltage and power consumption and increase efficiency and half-life time.
US09812647B2 Organic light-emitting device and method
Composition which may be useful in an organic light emitting diode, the composition having a fluorescent light-emitting polymer with light-emitting repeat units, and a triplet-accepting unit mixed with the light-emitting polymer.
US09812643B2 Materials for electronic devices
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I), to the use of compounds of the formula (I) in electronic devices, and to electronic devices comprising one or more compounds of the formula (I). The invention furthermore relates to the preparation of the compounds of the formula (I) and to formulations comprising one or more compounds of the formula (I).
US09812641B2 Non-volatile memory device and methods for fabricating the same
The invention provides a non-volatile memory device and methods for fabricating the same. The non-volatile memory device includes a non-volatile memory cell including a first transistor and a second transistor disposed on a substrate. The first and second transistors commonly use a first source region. A first gate of the first transistor and a second gate of the second transistor are different portions of a word line. First and second resistive switching elements are coupled to a first drain region of the first transistor and a second drain region of the second transistor. A first source line is coupled to the source region. First and second bit lines are coupled to the first and second resistive switching elements. The first source line, the first and second bit lines belong to a metal layer and are parallel to each other.
US09812639B2 Non-volatile memory device
According to an embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a first interconnection, a second interconnection closest to the first interconnection in a first direction, rectifying portions arranged in the first direction between the first interconnection and the second interconnection, and a first resistance change portion arranged between adjacent ones of the rectifying portions in the first direction. Each of the rectifying portions includes a first metal oxide layer and a second metal oxide layer.
US09812638B2 Backend of line (BEOL) compatible high current density access device for high density arrays of electronic components
A device has a M8XY6 layer in between a first conductive layer on the top and a second conductive layer on the bottom, wherein (i) M includes at least one element selected from the following: Cu, Ag, Li, and Zn, (ii) X includes at least one Group XIV element, and (iii) Y includes at least one Group XVI element. Another device has MaXbYc material contacted on opposite sides by respective layers of conductive material, wherein: (i) M includes at least one element selected from the following: Cu, Ag, Li, and Zn, (ii) X includes at least one Group XIV element, and (iii) Y includes at least one Group XVI element, and a is in the range of 48-60 atomic percent, b is in the range of 4-10 atomic percent, c is in the range of 30-45 atomic percent, and a+b+c is at least 90 atomic percent.
US09812635B2 Method of manufacturing ultrasound probe
Provided is a method of manufacturing an ultrasound probe. The method includes: preparing a backing layer having first and second surfaces with different heights due to forming a groove in the backing layer, wherein first and second electrodes are exposed on the first and second surfaces, respectively; forming a third electrode that is in contact with the first electrode; forming a base piezoelectric unit on the third electrode, the base piezoelectric unit including a piezoelectric layer; forming a piezoelectric unit by removing an upper region of the base piezoelectric unit; and forming a fourth electrode on the backing layer and the piezoelectric unit.
US09812634B2 Method of making thick film transducer arrays
This disclosure provides methods of fabricating a transducer array. The methods can included creating a lens shaped depression in a backing material, printing an electrode, printing a thick layer of lead zirconate titanate material, printing a ground electrode, and placing a plurality of equally spaced cuts into the depression.
US09812631B2 Piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive (“PE”) actuator includes a PE element including a laminated object having a PE layer and a pair of electrodes arranged respectively on both sides of the PE layer, and having an operating part corresponding to the portion in which the PE layer is sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and a non-operating part corresponding to the portion in which the PE layer is not sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, and a moisture-proof film covering at least the vicinity of a boundary between the operating part and the non-operating part, consisting of a liquid with a saturated moisture content at 25 degree Celsius of 300 ppm or less and a withstand voltage at the saturated moisture content of not less than 6 kV/mm. The liquid contains hydrocarbon system organic compound having a main backbone of carbon-carbon bond and consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.
US09812625B2 Light-emitting device having resin member with conductive particles
A light-emitting device includes a support including a substrate, a pair of electrodes and an insulating reflective member, the pair of electrodes being disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, and the reflective member being disposed on the substrate, a light-emitting element flip-chip mounted on the pair of electrodes, and a resin member disposed at least between the light-emitting element and the reflective member, the resin member including a conductive substance which electrically connects the light-emitting element to the pair of electrodes, the reflective member being disposed at least over an entirety of a surface that is located immediately below the resin member.
US09812624B2 Method for producing conductive material, conductive material obtained by the method, electronic device containing the conductive material, light-emitting device, and method for producing light-emitting device
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a conductive material that allows a low electric resistance to be generated, and that is obtained by using an inexpensive and stable conductive material composition containing no adhesive. The conductive material can be provided by a producing method that includes the step of sintering a first conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm, and a metal oxide, so as to obtain a conductive material. The conductive material can be provided also by a method that includes the step of sintering a second conductive material composition that contains silver particles having an average particle diameter (median diameter) of 0.1 μm to 15 μm in an atmosphere of oxygen or ozone, or ambient atmosphere, at a temperature in a range of 150° C. to 320° C., so as to obtain a conductive material.
US09812620B2 Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a substrate; a first frame located on the substrate; a second frame located on the substrate, the second frame being located inward of and spaced apart from the first frame; at least one first light emitting element located on the substrate in a first region located between the first frame and the second frame; at least one second light emitting element located on the substrate in a second region located inward of the second frame; and a sealing member covering the at least one first light emitting element and the at least one second light emitting element. The second frame includes a light-transmissive portion. A highest portion of the second frame is higher than a highest portion of the first frame.
US09812619B2 Optoelectronic component and method for producing same
The present application relates to a method of producing an optoelectronic component. An optoelectronic is produced by this method. An optoelectronic semiconductor chip has a first surface. A sacrificial layer is deposited on the first surface. The optoelectronic semiconductor chip is at least partially embedded in a mold body and the sacrificial layer is removed.
US09812616B2 Light-emitting diode
The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode having enhanced liability. More particularly, a light-emitting diode has enhanced liability in a high-temperature and/or high humidity environment as well as in a room-temperature environment and can have decrease in light-emitting characteristics prevented. In addition, the present invention relates to a light-emitting diode comprising a structure which enables enhancing of light reflection and having enhanced light extraction efficiency by means of light reflection through the structure.
US09812614B2 Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device is provided, including: a substrate; a reflective layer disposed on the substrate; a patterned contact layer disposed on the reflective layer; a light-emitting unit disposed on the patterned contact layer; a first electrode disposed on a top surface of the light-emitting unit; and a second electrode disposed on a bottom surface of the light-emitting unit; wherein a projection of the first electrode on the substrate and a projection of the patterned contact layer on the substrate are complementary to each other.
US09812613B2 Integrated LED light-emitting device and fabrication method thereof
A light-emitting diode (LED) includes: an epitaxial structure having an upper and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface comprises a light-emitting surface; at least one insulating layer over the lower surface; and an electrode pad layer over the at least one insulating layer; wherein: the electrode pad layer comprises a P electrode region and an N electrode region; and the at least one insulating layer is configured to adjust a distribution of the P and N electrode regions over the electrode pad layer.
US09812608B2 Deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode chip and package structure containing the same
A deep UV LED chip includes a light-emitting unit, an electrode unit, an electron blocking layer, and an optical layer. The electron blocking layer is disposed between a multiple quantum well layer and a p-type aluminum gallium nitride layer of the light-emitting unit. The optical layer is formed on the light-emitting unit and has a refractive index ranging from 1.0 to 2.3. Another deep UV LED chip further includes a light-transmitting substrate. The optical layer is formed on the light-transmitting substrate and has a refractive index ranging from 1.0 to a refractive index of the light-transmitting substrate. A package structure containing the deep UV LED chip is also disclosed.
US09812604B2 Photosensing device with graphene
A photosensing device with a photovoltage sensing mechanism, a graphene layer and a semiconductor layer. The graphene layer is sandwiched between the semiconductor layer and a substrate. The photovoltage sensing mechanism senses the photovoltage created by light impinging on the graphene-semiconductor heterojunction. The strength of the photovoltage is used to indicate the level of illumination of the impinging light.
US09812602B2 Light detection device
A light detection device includes a substrate, a buffer layer disposed on the substrate, a first band gap change layer disposed on a portion of the buffer layer, a light absorption layer disposed on the first band gap change layer, a Schottky layer disposed on a portion of the light absorption layer, and a first electrode layer disposed on a portion of the Schottky layer.
US09812600B2 Use of UV-radiation-hardenable polyurethane resins for producing solar laminates
The present invention relates to the use of a radiation-hardenable resin composition for producing solar laminates, a method for creating a solar laminate using the resin composition according to the invention, and a solar laminate that can be produced using this method.
US09812599B2 Method of stabilizing hydrogenated amorphous silicon and amorphous hydrogenated silicon alloys
A method of forming a semiconductor material of a photovoltaic device that includes providing a surface of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing material, and annealing the hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing material in a deuterium containing atmosphere. Deuterium from the deuterium-containing atmosphere is introduced to the lattice of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing material through the surface of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing material. In some embodiments, the deuterium that is introduced to the lattice of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing material increases the stability of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing material.
US09812598B2 Metal-contact-free photodetector
A Ge-on-Si photodetector constructed without doping or contacting Germanium by metal is described. Despite the simplified fabrication process, the device has responsivity of 1.24 A/W, corresponding to 99.2% quantum efficiency. Dark current is 40 nA at −4 V reverse bias. 3-dB bandwidth is 30 GHz.
US09812597B2 Optical sensor and manufacturing method thereof
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical sensor. The optical sensor includes a semiconductive substrate. A light sensing region is on the semiconductive substrate. A waveguide region is configured to guide light from a wave insert portion through a waveguide portion and to a sample holding portion. The waveguide portion includes a first dielectric layer including a first refractive index. A second dielectric layer includes a second refractive index. The second refractive index is smaller than the first refractive index. A first interconnect portion is positioned in the waveguide portion, configured to transmit electrical signal from the light sensing region to an external circuit. The sample holding portion is over the light sensing region.
US09812595B1 All-wavelength (VIS-LWIR) transparent electrical contacts and interconnects and methods of making them
A method for fabricating an optically transparent conductor including depositing a plurality of metal nanowires on a substrate, annealing or illuminating the plurality of metal nanowires to thermally or optically fuse nanowire junctions between metal nanowires to form a metal nanowire network, disposing a graphene layer over the metal nanowire network to form a nanohybrid layer comprising the graphene layer and the metal nanowire network, depositing a dielectric passivation layer over the nanohybrid layer, patterning the dielectric passivation layer using lithography, printing, or any other method of patterning to define an area for the optically transparent conductor, and etching the patterned dielectric passivation layer to define the optically transparent conductor.
US09812590B2 Bifacial solar cell module with backside reflector
A bifacial solar cell module includes solar cells that are protected by front side packaging components and backside packaging components. The front side packaging components include a transparent top cover on a front portion of the solar cell module. The backside packaging components have a transparent portion that allows light coming from a back portion of the solar cell module to reach the solar cells, and a reflective portion that reflects light coming from the front portion of the solar cell module. The transparent and reflective portions may be integrated with a backsheet, e.g., by printing colored pigments on the backsheet. The reflective portion may also be on a reflective component that is separate from the backsheet. In that case, the reflective component may be placed over a clear backsheet before or after packaging.
US09812580B1 Deep trench active device with backside body contact
An integrated circuit may include a gate, having gate fingers. The integrated circuit may also include a body, having semiconductor pillars interlocking with the gate fingers of the gate. The integrated circuit may also include a backside contact(s) coupled to the body. The integrated circuit may further include a backside metallization. The backside metallization may be coupled to the body through the backside contact(s).
US09812579B2 Thin film transistor, method of fabricating the same, array substrate and display device
A thin film transistor, a method of fabricating the same, an array substrate and a display device are disclosed. The method of fabricating the thin film transistor comprises: forming a semiconductor layer; forming a conductive film that does not react with acid solution on the semiconductor layer to be employed as a protective layer; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the protective layer; and removing a portion of the protective layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode to expose a portion of the semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US09812578B2 Thin film transistor and display device using the same
A thin film transistor includes, an insulating substrate, a gate electrode provided on an upper surface of the insulating substrate, a gate insulating film formed so as to cover the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer provided on the gate insulating film, a channel protective layer provided at least on an upper surface of the oxide semiconductor layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode provided so as to come into contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, wherein the channel protective layer is formed such that the film density of a portion provided so as to come into contact with the oxide semiconductor layer is higher than the film density of a portion distant from the oxide semiconductor layer.
US09812573B1 Semiconductor structure including a transistor having stress creating regions and method for the formation thereof
A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate and a sidewall spacer adjacent the gate structure. The substrate includes a first semiconductor material. A substantially isotropic first etch process removing the first semiconductor material is performed. The first etch process forms an undercut below the sidewall spacer. An anisotropic second etch process removing the first semiconductor material is performed, wherein an etch rate in a thickness direction of the substrate is greater than an etch rate in a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the thickness direction. A crystallographic third etch process removing the first semiconductor material is performed, wherein an etch rate in a first crystal direction is greater than an etch rate in a second crystal direction. The first, second and third etch processes form a source-side recess and a drain-side recess adjacent the gate structure.
US09812572B2 Reacted conductive gate electrodes and methods of making the same
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device involve a semiconductor layer that includes a first material and a second material. The first and second materials can be silicon and germanium. A contact of the device has a portion proximal to the semiconductor layer and a portion distal to the semiconductor layer. The distal portion includes the first material and the second material. A metal layer formed adjacent to the relaxed semiconductor layer and adjacent to the distal portion of the contact is simultaneously reacted with the relaxed semiconductor layer and with the distal portion of the contact to provide metallic contact material.
US09812569B2 Semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate; a source/drain region having a first dopant in the substrate; a barrier layer having a second dopant formed around the source/drain region in the substrate. When a semiconductor device is scaled down, the doped profile in source/drain regions might affect the threshold voltage uniformity, the provided semiconductor device may improve the threshold voltage uniformity by the barrier layer to control the doped profile.
US09812567B1 Precise control of vertical transistor gate length
Transistor and methods of forming the same include forming a channel fin on a bottom source/drain region. A dielectric fill is formed around the channel fin with a gap in an area directly above the channel fin that has a width greater than a width of the channel fin. Spacers are formed in the gap. The dielectric fill is etched away. A gate stack is formed on sidewalls of the channel fin directly underneath the spacers.
US09812564B1 Split-gate MOSFET
A split-gate MOSFET includes first and second epitaxial layers, first, second, and third gates, a gate oxide layer, a trench oxide layer, and a trench implantation region formed on a substrate in order. The second epitaxial layer has a doping concentration greater than that of the first epitaxial layer. A plurality of trenches is in the first and second epitaxial layers. Both the first and second gates are located in each of the trenches in a cell region. The third gates are located in each of the trenches in a terminal region. The third gate closest to the cell region is grounded, and the others are floating. The gate oxide layer is disposed between the first and second gates. The trench oxide layer is located between the first gate and the first epitaxial layer and located between the trench surface and the third gate. The trench implantation region is located in the first epitaxial layer at the bottom of the trench and has a doping concentration less than that of the first epitaxial layer.
US09812560B2 Field effect transistor and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a novel structure of a field effect transistor using a metal-semiconductor junction. The field effect transistor includes a wiring which is provided over a substrate and also functions as a gate electrode; an insulating film which is provided over the wiring, has substantially the same shape as the wiring, and also functions as a gate insulating film; a semiconductor layer which is provided over the insulating film and includes an oxide semiconductor and the like; an oxide insulating layer which is provided over the semiconductor layer and whose thickness is 5 times or more as large as the sum of the thickness of the insulating film and the thickness of the semiconductor layer or 100 nm or more; and wirings which are connected to the semiconductor layer through openings provided in the oxide insulating layer.
US09812557B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an active fin extending longitudinally in a first direction along a surface of a substrate, forming a field insulating layer on the substrate, the field insulating layer covering a part of the active fin, forming a dummy gate electrode on the field insulating layer and the active fin, the dummy gate electrode extending in a second direction different from the first direction, forming a spacer on the sides of the dummy gate electrode, and removing the dummy gate electrode by a wet etching process that includes rinsing the dummy gate electrode intermittently during an etching away of the dummy gate electrode.
US09812551B2 Method of forming the gate electrode of field effect transistor
This description relates to a method of forming the gate electrode of a semiconductor device, the method including providing a substrate comprising a dummy gate electrode (DGE), a source/drain (S/D) region, a spacer on a dummy gate sidewall, and an isolation feature, depositing a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the DGE, the S/D region and the spacer, depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the CESL, performing a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to expose the CESL over the DGE, performing a second CMP to expose the DGE, removing an upper portion of the CESL and the spacer, and performing a third CMP to expose the CESL over the S/D region to produce a structure in which an entire top surface of the CESL over the S/D region and isolation feature is substantially co-planar with a top surface of the DGE.
US09812550B2 Semiconductor structure with multiple transistors having various threshold voltages
A semiconductor structure includes first, second, and third transistor elements each having a first screening region concurrently formed therein. A second screening region is formed in the second and third transistor elements such that there is at least one characteristic of the screening region in the second transistor element that is different than the second screening region in the third transistor element. Different characteristics include doping concentration and depth of implant. In addition, a different characteristic may be achieved by concurrently implanting the second screening region in the second and third transistor element followed by implanting an additional dopant into the second screening region of the third transistor element.
US09812549B2 Formation method of semiconductor device structure
One or more formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor substrate and forming spacer elements over sidewalls of the dummy gate stack. The method also includes removing the dummy gate stack to form a recess between the spacer elements. The method further includes partially removing the spacer elements such that an upper portion of the recess becomes wider. In addition, the method includes forming a metal gate stack in the recess and forming a protection element over the metal gate stack to fill the recess.
US09812548B2 Power device having a polysilicon-filled trench with a tapered oxide thickness
In one embodiment, a power MOSFET vertically conducts current. A bottom electrode may be connected to a positive voltage, and a top electrode may be connected to a low voltage, such as a load connected to ground. A gate and/or a field plate, such as polysilicon, is within a trench. The trench has a tapered oxide layer insulating the polysilicon from the silicon walls. The oxide is much thicker near the bottom of the trench than near the top to increase the breakdown voltage. The tapered oxide is formed by implanting nitrogen into the trench walls to form a tapered nitrogen dopant concentration. This forms a tapered silicon nitride layer after an anneal. The tapered silicon nitride variably inhibits oxide growth in a subsequent oxidation step.
US09812546B2 Tungsten gates for non-planar transistors
The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices having non-planar transistors. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation of gates within non-planar NMOS transistors, wherein an NMOS work-function material, such as a composition of aluminum, titanium, and carbon, may be used in conjunction with a titanium-containing gate fill barrier to facilitate the use of a tungsten-containing conductive material in the formation of a gate electrode of the non-planar NMOS transistor gate.
US09812544B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
To manufacture a transistor whose threshold voltage is controlled without using a backgate electrode, a circuit for controlling the threshold voltage, and an impurity introduction method. To manufacture a semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics, high reliability, and low power consumption using the transistor. A gate electrode including a tungsten oxide film whose composition is controlled is used. The composition or the like is adjusted by a film formation method of the tungsten oxide film, whereby the work function can be controlled. By using the tungsten oxide film whose work function is controlled as part of the gate electrode, the threshold of the transistor can be controlled. Using the transistor whose threshold voltage is controlled, a semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics, high reliability, and low power consumption can be manufactured.
US09812537B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a gate electrode buried in a gate trench of a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a first conductivity-type source region, a second conductivity-type channel region, and a first conductivity-type drain region formed in the semiconductor layer, a second trench selectively formed in a source portion defined in a manner containing the source region in the surface of the semiconductor layer, a trench buried portion buried in the second trench, a second conductivity-type channel contact region selectively disposed at a position higher than that of a bottom portion of the second trench in the source portion, and electrically connected with the channel region, and a surface metal layer disposed on the source portion, and electrically connected to the source region and the channel contact region.
US09812535B1 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and power semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a semiconductor substrate having a first side; forming a trench in the semiconductor substrate, the trench having a bottom and a sidewall extending from the bottom to the first side of the semiconductor substrate; forming an insulation structure including at least a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer on the sidewall and the bottom of the trench; forming a lower conductive structure in the lower portion of the trench; removing the second insulation layer in an upper portion of the trench while leaving the second insulation layer at least partially in a lower portion of the trench; and forming an upper conductive structure in the upper portion of the trench, wherein at least one of the lower conductive structure and the upper conductive structure comprises a metal, a metal alloy, a metal silicide, or a combination thereof.
US09812531B2 Light emitting device having vertical structure and package thereof
A light emitting device package can include a sub-mount having a first surface, a second surface, a bottom surface and a cavity; a first layer on the first surface; a second layer on the second surface; a third layer on the bottom surface; a light emitting device on the first layer and including a supporting layer including an anti-diffusion layer, a first electrode on the supporting layer, a semiconductor light emitting structure electrically connected to the first electrode, and a second electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor light emitting structure, in which the first and second electrodes electrically connect to the first layer and the second layer, respectively, and the semiconductor light emitting structure includes a light extraction structure; an ESD property improving diode on the second surface, electrically connected to the second layer and arranged a distance apart from the light emitting device, and a lens on the sub-mount.
US09812529B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes a SiC layer, a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer provided between the SiC layer and the gate electrode, and a first region provided between the SiC layer and the gate insulating layer and having a peak of nitrogen (N) concentration distribution and a peak of fluorine (F) concentration distribution.
US09812527B2 Growth of semiconductors on hetero-substrates using graphene as an interfacial layer
Graphene is used as an interfacial layer to grow Si and other semiconductors or crystalline materials including two-dimensional Si and other structures on any foreign substrate that can withstand the growth temperature without the limitation matching condition typically required for epitaxial growth.
US09812526B2 Three-dimensional semiconductor devices
A three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor device includes a plurality of gate electrodes stacked on a substrate in a direction normal to a top surface of the substrate, a channel structure passing through the gate electrodes and connected to the substrate, and a void disposed in the substrate and positioned below the channel structure.
US09812523B2 Capacitance structure
A capacitance structure includes a first input terminal configured to input a first input signal, a first output terminal configured to output the first output signal, a second input terminal configured to input a second input signal, a second output terminal configured to output a second output signal, and a plurality of trench cells. Each of the plurality of trench cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrodes of the plurality of trenches are interconnected to form a first electrode of the capacitor structure, the second electrodes of the plurality of trench cells are interconnected to form a second electrode of the capacitor structure, the first electrode of the capacitor structure is connected to the first input signal, and the second electrode of the capacitor structure is connected to the input second signal.
US09812521B2 Embedded passive chip device and method of making the same
An embedded passive chip device includes a chip body and a functional layered structure. The chip body has a circuit-forming surface that is formed with a recess. The functional layered structure is formed on the chip body and includes a conductive layer that has at least a portion which covers at least partially the circuit-forming surface, and a magnetic layer that is disposed within the recess and that is inductively coupled to the conductive layer for generating inductance. A method of making the embedded passive chip device is also disclosed.
US09812517B2 Method for manufacturing display device and method for manufacturing electronic device
A method for manufacturing a display device, which does not easily damage an electrode, is provided. In the first step, a terminal electrode, a wiring, and a functional layer are provided over a first substrate; the terminal electrode, the wiring, and the functional layer are electrically connected to one another; an insulating layer is provided over the terminal electrode; a first layer is provided over the terminal electrode and the insulating layer; an adhesive layer is sandwiched between the first substrate and a second substrate; the second substrate and the adhesive layer include a first opening overlapping with part of the first layer; and the insulating layer includes a second opening inside the first opening in a top view. In the second step, part of the first layer is removed by emitting particles having a high sublimation property to the first layer, so that the terminal electrode is exposed.
US09812508B2 Hybrid bipolar junction transistor
Bipolar junction transistors including inorganic channels and organic emitter junctions are used in some applications for forming high resolution active matrix displays. Arrays of such bipolar junction transistors are electrically connected to thin film switching transistors and provide high drive currents for passive devices such as organic light emitting diodes.
US09812506B1 Nano-imprinted self-aligned multi-level processing method
The present disclosure generally relates to fine geometry electrical circuits and methods of manufacture thereof. More specifically, methods for forming 3D cross-point memory arrays using a single nano-imprint lithography step and no photolithography are disclosed. The method includes imprinting a multilevel topography pattern, transferring the multilevel topography pattern to a substrate, filling the etched multilevel topography pattern with hard mask material, planarizing the hard mask material to expose a first portion of the substrate, etching a first trench in the first portion of the substrate, depositing a first plurality of layers in the first trench, planarizing the hard mask material to expose a second portion of the substrate, etching a second trench in the second portion of the substrate and depositing a second plurality of layers in the second trench. The method is repeated until a 4F2 3D cross-point memory array has been formed.
US09812503B2 Embedded non-volatile memory
The present invention is a method of incorporating a non-volatile memory into a CMOS process that requires four or fewer masks and limited additional processing steps. The present invention is an epi-silicon or poly-silicon process sequence that is introduced into a standard CMOS process (i) after the MOS transistors' gate oxide is formed and the gate poly-silicon is deposited (thereby protecting the delicate surface areas of the MOS transistors) and (ii) before the salicided contacts to those MOS transistors are formed (thereby performing any newly introduced steps having an elevated temperature, such as any epi-silicon or poly-silicon deposition for the formation of diodes, prior to the formation of that salicide). A 4F.sup.2 memory array is achieved with a diode matrix wherein the diodes are formed in the vertical orientation.
US09812501B2 Variable resistance memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A variable resistance memory device includes a plurality of first conductive layer pattern, a plurality of second conductive layer patterns over the first conductive layer patterns, and a plurality of lower cell structures including a switching element and a variable resistance element, the lower cell structures being formed at intersections at which the first conductive layer patterns and the second conductive layer patterns overlap each other. The first conductive layer patterns, the second conductive layer patterns and the lower cell structures serves as one of a memory cell, a first dummy pattern structure and a second dummy pattern structure. The first dummy pattern structure is formed on both edge portions in the first direction, and the second conductive layer pattern of the first dummy pattern structure protrudes in the first direction from a sidewall of the lower cell structure thereunder, and the second dummy pattern structure is formed on both edge portions in the second direction, and the first conductive layer pattern of the second dummy pattern structure protrudes in the second direction from a sidewall of the lower cell structure thereon. Failures of the variable resistance memory device due to the etch residue may decrease.
US09812497B2 Method for manufacturing magnetic storage device, and magnetic storage device
A lower conductive film is formed over a substrate. A first insulating film is formed in the lower conductive film. An opening which reaches the lower conductive film is formed in the first insulating film. An MTJ multilayer film having a magnetization free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a magnetization fixed layer is deposited over the lower conductive film in the opening and over the first insulating film. An upper electrode is formed over the MTJ multilayer film. By removing the portion of the MTJ multilayer film deposited over the first insulating film, an MTJ device composed of the portion of the MTJ multilayer film which has remained in the opening is formed. A lower electrode composed of the lower conductive film is formed under the MTJ device by removing at least a part of the first insulating film, and a part of the lower conductive film.
US09812493B2 Lighting device
In a first aspect of the present invention, a lighting device (100) includes a first light emitter (1) that includes a first light-emitting element (10) with a p-n junction (10g), and a first side cover (11) partly covering a peripheral side surface (10c-10f) of the first light-emitting element (10); a second light emitter (2) that includes a second light-emitting element (20) with a p-n junction (20g) and a second side cover (21) partly covering a peripheral side surface (20c-20f) of the second light-emitting element (20), and the first light emitter (1) and the second light emitter (2) are disposed to face each other at uncovered side portions (10c, 20c) that are uncovered by the first side cover (11) and the second side cover (21). It is disclosed that the first side cover (11) covers a quarter or more area of the peripheral side surface (10c-10f) of the first light-emitting element (10).
US09812491B2 Imaging device
An imaging device including: pixel cells each comprising: a photoelectric converter including two electrodes and a photoelectric conversion layer therebetween; a field effect transistor having a gate and a channel region; and a node between the photoelectric converter and the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor outputs an electric signal corresponding to change in dielectric constant between the electrodes, the change being caused by incident light on the photoelectric conversion layer. Cpd1, Cn1, Cpd2 and Cn2 satisfy a relation of Cpd1/Cn1
US09812488B2 Backside illuminated image sensor and method of manufacturing the same
A backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor comprises a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a photosensitive element in the semiconductor substrate; a gate structure partially over the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a temporary carrier depository in proximity to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate structure has a plug portion extending from the first surface toward the second surface. The plug portion of the gate structure helps to increase the charge transfer efficiency so as to improve quantum efficiency of the BSI image sensor.
US09812482B2 Frontside illuminated (FSI) image sensor with a reflector
A frontside illuminated (FSI) image sensor with a reflector is provided. A photodetector is buried in a sensor substrate. A support substrate is arranged under and bonded to the sensor substrate. The reflector is arranged under the photodetector, between the sensor and support substrates, and is configured to reflect incident radiation towards the photodetector. A method for manufacturing the FSI image sensor and the reflector is also provided.
US09812475B2 Detector arrangement and corresponding operating method wherein the detector is a semi-conductor detector which is switchable between collection states with selected subpixel sensitivity
The invention concerns a detector arrangement for detection of radiation, in particular particle radiation or electromagnetic radiation, with a semi-conductor detector with several pixels for detection of the radiation. It is proposed that the individual pixels each have a first subpixel (1) and a second subpixel (2). The semi-conductor detector can be switched between a first collection state, in which the first subpixel (1) is sensitive and the second subpixel (2) is insensitive so that radiation-generated signal charge carriers are substantially collected only in the first subpixel (1), and a second collection state in which the second subpixel (2) is sensitive and the first subpixel (1) is insensitive so that the radiation-generated signal charge carriers are collected substantially only in the second subpixel (2). The invention furthermore concerns a corresponding operating method and detector arrangements based on the same concept with a higher number of subpixels per pixel.
US09812474B2 Imaging apparatus and imaging system
An imaging apparatus includes a pixel that generates charge; an integral amplifier that integrates charge transferred from the pixel; a low pass filter to which output of the integral amplifier is supplied and whose time constant is variable; first and second sample-and-hold circuits that sample and hold output of the low pass filter before and after the charge is transferred from the pixel to the integral amplifier, respectively; a differential circuit that outputs a difference between signals held by the first and second sample-and-hold circuits; and a control circuit that changes the time constant. The control circuit decreases the time constant after the sampling by the first sample-and-hold circuit ends, and increases the time constant in the middle of the sampling by the second sample-and-hold circuit.
US09812473B2 Image sensor and image capturing apparatus
An image sensor to which is provided an image sensing plane that receives light from a subject whose image has been formed by a lens, the image sensing plane having a flat shape portion and a curved shape portion.
US09812471B2 Laser annealing apparatus and method of manufacturing display apparatus by using the same
A laser annealing apparatus includes a substrate supporter that receives a substrate having an amorphous silicon layer, a laser beam irradiation unit that irradiates a line laser beam onto the substrate disposed on the substrate supporter, and a substrate transport unit that moves the substrate supporter in the first direction and in a second direction crossing the first direction and rotates the substrate supporter within a first plane defined by the first direction and the second direction. The substrate transport unit rotates the substrate supporter by an angle θ less than about 90 degrees within the first plane and moves the substrate supporter both in the first direction and in the second direction at substantially the same time. The laser beam irradiation unit irradiates the line laser beam multiple times onto the substrate disposed on the substrate supporter while the substrate transport unit moves the substrate supporter.
US09812467B2 Semiconductor device comprising an oxide semiconductor
A semiconductor device in which an increase in oxygen vacancies in an oxide semiconductor layer can be suppressed is provided. A semiconductor device with favorable electrical characteristics is provided. A highly reliable semiconductor device is provided. A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer in a channel formation region, and by the use of an oxide insulating film below and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and a gate insulating film over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, oxygen of the oxide insulating film or the gate insulating film is supplied to the oxide semiconductor layer. Further, a conductive nitride is used for metal films of a source electrode layer, a drain electrode layer, and a gate electrode layer, whereby diffusion of oxygen to the metal films is suppressed.
US09812465B2 Display device including transistor and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to provide a display device which operates stably with use of a transistor having stable electric characteristics. In manufacture of a display device using transistors in which an oxide semiconductor layer is used for a channel formation region, a gate electrode is further provided over at least a transistor which is applied to a driver circuit. In manufacture of a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer is used for a channel formation region, the oxide semiconductor layer is subjected to heat treatment so as to be dehydrated or dehydrogenated; thus, impurities such as moisture existing in an interface between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate insulating layer provided below and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and an interface between the oxide semiconductor layer and a protective insulating layer provided on and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer can be reduced.
US09812464B1 Three-dimensional semiconductor device
A three-dimensional semiconductor device may include a lower electrode structure having a plurality of lower electrodes vertically stacked on a substrate and an upper electrode structure having a plurality of upper electrodes stacked on the lower electrode structure. Each of the lower and upper electrodes may include an electrode portion that is parallel to a top surface of the substrate and a vertical pad portion that is inclined with respect to the top surface of the substrate. The vertical pad portions of adjacent lower electrodes may be spaced apart from each other by a first horizontal distance. The vertical pad portions of adjacent lower and upper electrodes may be spaced apart from each other by a second horizontal distance that is greater than the first horizontal distance.
US09812462B1 Memory hole size variation in a 3D stacked memory
Techniques are provided for fabricating a memory device in which the memory cells have a uniform program and erase speed. In one aspect, a memory device is provided with memory holes having diameters which become progressively smaller as a distance between the memory holes and a local interconnect become progressively larger. In another aspect, a fabrication process is provided for such a memory device. The memory holes which are relatively closer to the local interconnect have a relatively thinner blocking oxide layer due to etching used to remove a sacrificial material of the control gate layers. The increased diameter compensates for the thinner blocking oxide layer.
US09812460B1 NVM memory HKMG integration technology
The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a HKMG hybrid non-volatile memory (NVM) device and that provides small scale and high performance, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a memory region having a NVM device with a pair of control gate electrodes separated from a substrate by corresponding floating gates. A pair of select gate electrodes are disposed at opposite sides of the pair of control gate electrodes comprise polysilicon. A logic region is disposed adjacent to the memory region and has a logic device with a metal gate electrode disposed over a logic gate dielectric and having bottom and sidewall surfaces covered by a high-k gate dielectric layer.
US09812459B2 Embedded SRAM and methods of forming the same
A chip includes a semiconductor substrate, and a first N-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (NMOSFET) at a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first NMOSFET includes a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, a source/drain region adjacent to the gate stack, and a dislocation plane having a portion in the source/drain region. The chip further includes a second NMOSFET at the surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the second NMOSFET is free from dislocation planes.
US09812451B2 Field effect transistor contact with reduced contact resistance
The present disclosure provides a method that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a first gate within the first region and a second gate within the second region on the semiconductor substrate; forming first source/drain features of a first semiconductor material with an n-type dopant in the semiconductor substrate within the first region; forming second source/drain features of a second semiconductor material with a p-type dopant in the semiconductor substrate within the second region. The second semiconductor material is different from the first semiconductor material in composition. The method further includes forming first silicide features to the first source/drain features and second silicide features to the second source/drain features; and performing an ion implantation process of a species to both the first and second regions, thereby introducing the species to first silicide features and the second source/drain features.
US09812443B1 Forming vertical transistors and metal-insulator-metal capacitors on the same chip
A device with a vertical transistor and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor on a same substrate includes a vertical transistor including a bottom source/drain, a fin channel extending vertically from the bottom source/drain to a top source/drain, and a gate arranged around the fin channel, and the gate including a dielectric layer, a gate metal, and spacers arranged on opposing sides of the gate; and a MIM capacitor including a gate arranged over the bottom source drain, the gate including a gate metal and a dielectric layer, and a metal arranged in a depression in the bottom source/drain and extending through a channel in the gate to cover the gate, the metal directly contacting the dielectric layer of the gate.
US09812437B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device, and electronic appliance using the same
Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit device including: an output buffer circuit having a P channel transistor connected between a first power supply terminal and a signal terminal; a potential control circuit that supplies potential from the first power supply terminal or the signal terminal to a back gate of the P channel transistor according to the potential of the signal terminal; a first protection diode having an anode connected to the signal terminal; a common discharge line connected to a cathode of the first protection diode; an electrostatic discharge protection circuit connected between the common discharge line and a second power supply terminal; and a second protection diode having an anode connected to the second power supply terminal and a cathode connected to the signal terminal.
US09812435B2 Semiconductor device
An area of a semiconductor device having a FINFET can be reduced. The drain regions of an n-channel FINFET and a p-channel FINFET are extracted by two second local interconnects from a second Y gird between a gate electrode and a dummy gate adjacent thereto, to a third Y grid adjacent to the second Y gird. These second local interconnects are connected by a first local interconnect extending in the X direction in the third Y grid. According to such a cell layout, although the number of grids is increased by one because of the arrangement of the first local interconnect, the length in the X direction can be reduced. As a result, the cell area of the unit cell can be reduced while a space between the first and second local interconnects is secured.
US09812433B2 Batch process fabrication of package-on-package microelectronic assemblies
A microelectronic assembly can be made by joining first and second subassemblies by electrically conductive masses to connect electrically conductive elements on support elements of each subassembly. A patterned layer of photo-imageable material may overlie a surface of one of the support elements and have openings with cross-sectional dimensions which are constant or monotonically increasing with height from the surface of that support element, where the masses extend through the openings and have dimensions defined thereby. An encapsulation can be formed by flowing an encapsulant into a space between the joined first and second subassemblies.
US09812430B2 Package on-package method
A method comprises forming a trench over a top surface of a metal structure of a bottom package, dispersing an epoxy flux material in the trench, mounting a top package on the bottom package, wherein a solder ball of the top package is in direct contact with the top surface of the metal structure and performing a reflow process to form a joint structure, wherein the joint structure comprises the solder ball of the top package coupled to the metal structure in the bottom package and an epoxy protection layer having a first edge in direct contact with a top surface of the bottom package and a second edge surrounding a lower portion of the solder ball.
US09812426B1 Integrated fan-out package, semiconductor device, and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device including an integrated circuit, a protection layer, and a conductive via is provided. The integrated circuit includes at least one conductive pad. The protection layer covers the integrated circuit. The protection layer includes a contact opening, and the conductive pad is exposed by the contact opening of the protection layer. The conductive via is embedded in the contact opening of the protection layer, and the conductive via is electrically connected to the conductive pad through the contact opening. A method of fabricating the above-mentioned semiconductor device and an integrated fan-out package including the above-mentioned semiconductor device are also provided.
US09812425B2 Multi-die semiconductor structure with intermediate vertical side chip and semiconductor package for same
Semiconductor multi-die structures having intermediate vertical side chips, and packages housing such semiconductor multi-die structures, are described. In an example, a multi-die semiconductor structure includes a first main stacked dies (MSD) structure having a first substantially horizontal arrangement of semiconductor dies. A second MSD structure having a second substantially horizontal arrangement of semiconductor dies is also included. An intermediate vertical side chip (i-VSC) is disposed between and electrically coupled to the first and second MSD structures.
US09812421B2 Bonding wire for semiconductor devices
Provided is a bonding wire capable of reducing the occurrence of defective loops. The bonding wire includes: a core material which contains more than 50 mol % of a metal M; an intermediate layer which is formed over the surface of the core material and made of Ni, Pd, the metal M, and unavoidable impurities, and in which the concentration of the Ni is 15 to 80 mol %; and a coating layer formed over the intermediate layer and made of Ni, Pd and unavoidable impurities. The concentration of the Pd in the coating layer is 50 to 100 mol %. The metal M is Cu or Ag, and the concentration of Ni in the coating layer is lower than the concentration of Ni in the intermediate layer.
US09812415B2 Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices
Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for forming a microelectronic device includes attaching a microelectronic die to a support member by forming an attachment feature on at least one of a back side of the microelectronic die and the support member. The attachment feature includes a volume of solder material. The method also includes contacting the attachment feature with the other of the microelectronic die and the support member, and reflowing the solder material to join the back side of the die and the support member via the attachment feature. In several embodiments, the attachment feature is not electrically connected to internal active structures of the die.
US09812414B1 Chip package and a manufacturing method thereof
A chip package includes a first substrate; a first insulation layer disposed over the first substrate; a conductive structure disposed within the first insulation layer; a buffering member embedded into the first insulation layer; a redistribution layer (RDL) electrically connected with the conductive structure and disposed over the conductive structure and the buffering member; and a second insulation layer disposed over the RDL, wherein a portion of the RDL is exposed from the second insulation layer and disposed over the buffering member.
US09812410B2 Lid structure for a semiconductor device package and method for forming the same
A semiconductor device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a die structure formed over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a lid structure formed over the die structure. The lid structure includes a top portion with a top length and a bottom portion with a bottom length, and the top length is greater than the bottom length. The semiconductor device structure also includes a package layer formed between the lid structure and the die structure, and a sidewall of the bottom portion of the lid structure is not aligned with a sidewall of the die structure.
US09812409B2 Seal ring structure with a metal pad
A method includes providing a substrate having a seal ring region and a circuit region, forming a seal ring structure over the seal ring region, forming a first frontside passivation layer above the seal ring structure, etching a frontside aperture in the first frontside passivation layer adjacent to an exterior portion of the seal ring structure, forming a frontside metal pad in the frontside aperture to couple the frontside metal pad to the exterior portion of the seal ring structure, forming a first backside passivation layer below the seal ring structure, etching a backside aperture in the first backside passivation layer adjacent to the exterior portion of the seal ring structure, and forming a backside metal pad in the backside aperture to couple the backside metal pad to the exterior portion of the seal ring structure. Semiconductor devices fabricated by such a method are also provided.
US09812407B2 Self-destructing electronic device
A self destructing device includes: at least one active electronic region and at least one thermal destruction trigger; at least one chamber enclosed by the semiconducting material, wherein the at least one chamber contains an etchant material, wherein in response to activation of the at least one thermal destruction trigger, the self-destructing device is configured to: generate heat to cause decomposition of at least a first portion of the etchant material; decompose at least a first portion of the etchant material; etch at least a second portion of the second oxide layer provided between the semiconducting material and the at least one chamber at a first temperature; expose the etchant material to the semiconducting material to cause an exothermic reaction generating more heat; enable spread of the exothermic reaction to etch at least a third portion of the first oxide layer and to etch the top layer.
US09812404B2 Electrical connection around a crackstop structure
The disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to electrical connections used with crackstop structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a conductive material; a dielectric material formed over the conductive material; a non-corrosive conductive material in at least one opening of the dielectric material and in direct contact with the conductive material; a crackstop structure formed over the dielectric material; and at least one of wiring layer in contact with the non-corrosive conductive material.
US09812402B2 Wire bond wires for interference shielding
Apparatuses relating generally to a microelectronic package having protection from interference are disclosed. In an apparatus thereof, a substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and has a ground plane. A first microelectronic device is coupled to the upper surface of the substrate. Wire bond wires are coupled to the ground plane for conducting the interference thereto and extending away from the upper surface of the substrate. A first portion of the wire bond wires is positioned to provide a shielding region for the first microelectronic device with respect to the interference. A second portion of the wire bond wires is not positioned to provide the shielding region. A second microelectronic device is coupled to the substrate and located outside of the shielding region. A conductive surface is over the first portion of the wire bond wires for covering the shielding region.
US09812399B2 Prevention of premature breakdown of interline porous dielectrics in an integrated circuit
A non-porous dielectric barrier is provided between a porous portion of a dielectric region and an electrically conductive element of an interconnect portion of an integrated circuit. This non-porous dielectric barrier protects the integrated circuit from breakdown of the least one dielectric region caused by electrical conduction assisted by the presence of defects located in the at least one dielectric region.
US09812396B1 Interconnect structure for semiconductor devices with multiple power rails and redundancy
A method includes providing a starting interconnect structure for semiconductor device(s), the starting interconnect structure including a first metallization layer with a first power rail. The method further includes forming a second metallization layer over the first metallization layer with a second power rail, and directly electrically connecting the first power rail and the second power rail, the directly electrically connecting including forming metal-filled vias between the first power rail and the second power rail. The method further includes forming additional metallization layer(s) over the second metallization layer with additional power rail(s), and directly electrically connecting each of the additional power rail(s) to a power rail of a metallization layer directly below.
US09812395B2 Methods of forming an interconnect structure using a self-ending anodic oxidation
A method of forming low-k interconnect structure is disclosed, which comprises: providing at least one protruding structure on a substrate traversing between a first connection region to a second connection region defined thereon; performing anodic oxidation on the substrate having the protruding structure; forming one or more nanowire interconnect in the protruding structure traversing between the first connection region and the second connection region; the nanowire interconnect being surrounded by a dielectric layer formed during the anodic oxidation.
US09812394B2 Faceted structure formed by self-limiting etch
An eFuse device on a substrate is formed on a substrate used for an integrated circuit. A semiconductor structure is created from a semiconductor layer deposited over the substrate. A mask layer is patterned over the semiconductor structure such that a first region of the semiconductor structure is exposed and a second region of the semiconductor structure is protected by the mask layer. Next, a self-limiting etch is performed on the exposed areas in the first region of the semiconductor structure, producing a first faceted region of the semiconductor structure in the first region. The semiconductor in the first faceted region has a minimum, nonzero thickness at a point where two semiconductor facet planes meet which is thinner than a thickness of semiconductor in the second region of the semiconductor structure is protected by the mask layer. The first faceted region is used as a link structure in the eFuse device.
US09812392B2 Inductor system and method
A system and method for providing and manufacturing an inductor is provided. In an embodiment similar masks are reutilized to form differently sized inductors. For example, a two turn inductor and a three turn inductor may share masks for interconnects and coils, while only masks necessary for connections between the interconnects and coils may need to be newly developed.
US09812387B2 Semiconductor substrate, semiconductor module and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor substrate includes: 1) a first dielectric structure having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; 2) a second dielectric structure having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, wherein the fourth surface faces the first surface, the second dielectric structure defining a through hole extending from the third surface to the fourth surface, wherein a cavity is defined by the through hole and the first dielectric structure; 3) a first patterned conductive layer, disposed on the first surface of the first dielectric structure; and 4) a second patterned conductive layer, disposed on the second surface of the first dielectric structure and including at least one conductive trace. The first dielectric structure defines at least one opening to expose a portion of the second patterned conductive layer.
US09812385B2 Electronic component package including electronic component, metal member, and sealing resin
An electronic component package according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a metal pattern layer having a first principal surface and a second principal surface, an electronic component disposed on the first principal surface and electrically connected to the metal pattern layer, at least one metal member disposed on the first principal surface and electrically connected to the metal pattern layer, a sealing resin layer disposed on the first principal surface, the electronic component and the at least one metal member, and an insulating layer disposed on the second principal surface. The at least one metal member is thicker than the electronic component. In plan view, the at least one metal member is disposed on an area of the first principal surface, the area including an end of the first principal surface. The at least a part of the metal pattern layer is exposed from the insulating layer.
US09812384B2 Semiconductor device having compliant and crack-arresting interconnect structure
A power converter (300) has a first transistor chip (310) conductively stacked on top of a second transistor chip (320) attached to a substrate (301). A first metallic clip (360) has a plate portion (360a) and a ridge portion (360c) bent at an angle from the plate portion. The plate portion is attached to the terminal of the first transistor chip opposite the second transistor chip. The ridge portion extends to the substrate is and is configured as a plurality of parallel straight fingers (360d). Each finger is discretely attached to the substrate using attachment material (361), for instance solder, and operable as a spring-line cantilever to accommodate, under a force lying in the plane of the substrate, elastic elongation based upon inherent material characteristics.
US09812381B1 Integrated fan-out package and method of fabricating the same
An integrated fan-out package is described. The integrated fan-out package comprises a first die and a second die arranged adjacent to each other. A molding compound encapsulates the first and second dies. A redistribution structure is disposed over the molding compound and on the first and second dies. The redistribution structure comprises a first connection structure electrically connected to the first die, a second connection structure electrically connected to the second die and an inter-dielectric layer located between the first and second connection structures and separating the first connection structure from the second connection structure. The ball pad is disposed on the redistribution structure and electrically connected with the first die or the second die. The bridge structure is disposed on the first connection structure and on the second connection structure and electrically connects the first die with the second die.
US09812379B1 Semiconductor package and manufacturing method
A semiconductor package includes a die comprising at least a via and a least a hot via; a ground lead, formed directly under a back side of the die, contacting with the back side of the die, and directly connected to the a least a hot via and the at least a via of the die; a buffer layer, formed on the die, configured to absorb a stress applied to the die and prevent the die from damage; and a molding portion, formed on the die buffer layer.
US09812375B2 Composite substrate with alternating pattern of diamond and metal or metal alloy
A composite substrate includes a submount substrate of an alternating pattern of electrically insulative portions, pieces, layers or segments and electrically conductive portions, pieces, layers or segments, and a shaft, back or plate for supporting the alternating pattern of electrically insulative portions and electrically conductive portions. An active device having a P-N junction can be mounted on the submount substrate. The electrically insulative portions, pieces, layers or segments can be formed from diamond while the electrically conductive portions, pieces, layers or segments can be formed from a metal or metal alloy.
US09812372B2 Electrostatic chuck assembly, semiconductor manufacturing apparatus having the same, and method of measuring temperature of electrostatic chuck
An electrostatic chuck assembly includes a reference temperature sensor, a measurement zone temperature sensor, and a measurement zone temperature calculator. The reference temperature sensor measures a reference temperature of the electrostatic chuck. The measurement zone temperature sensor is spaced from the reference temperature sensor on the electrostatic chuck and senses temperature signals of a plurality measurement zones of the electrostatic chuck. The measurement zone temperature calculator calculates a temperature of each of the measurement zones by setting a measurement range within a temperature range, previously determined based on the reference temperature measured by the reference temperature sensor, and measures the temperature signal of each of the measurement zones sensed by the measurement zone temperature sensor within the measurement range.
US09812370B2 III-V, SiGe, or Ge base lateral bipolar transistor and CMOS hybrid technology
In one aspect, a method of fabricating a bipolar transistor device on a wafer includes the following steps. A dummy gate is formed on the wafer, wherein the dummy gate is present over a portion of the wafer that serves as a base of the bipolar transistor. The wafer is doped to form emitter and collector regions on both sides of the dummy gate. A dielectric filler layer is deposited onto the wafer surrounding the dummy gate. The dummy gate is removed selective to the dielectric filler layer, thereby exposing the base. The base is recessed. The base is re-grown from an epitaxial material selected from the group consisting of: SiGe, Ge, and a III-V material. Contacts are formed to the base. Techniques for co-fabricating a bipolar transistor and CMOS FET devices are also provided.
US09812369B2 BiMOS device with a fully self-aligned emitter-silicon and method for manufacturing the same
A method comprises providing a substrate of a first conductive type and a layer stack arranged on the substrate. The layer stack comprises a first isolation layer, a sacrificial layer, and a second isolation layer. The layer stack comprises a window formed in the layer stack through the second isolation layer, the sacrificial layer and the first isolation layer up to a surface region of the substrate. The method comprises providing a collector layer. The method comprises providing a base layer on the collector layer within the window of the layer stack. The method comprises providing an emitter layer or an emitter layer stack comprising the emitter layer on the base layer within the window of the layer stack. The method further comprises selectively removing the emitter layer or the emitter layer stack at least up to the second isolation layer.
US09812368B2 Method to prevent lateral epitaxial growth in semiconductor devices
The method for preventing epitaxial growth in a semiconductor device begins with cutting a set of long fins into a set of fins of a FinFET structure. Each of the set of fins has respective cut faces located at the fin ends of a set of fin ends. A photoresist layer is patterned over the set of fin ends on the set of fins of the FinFET structure. The set of fins are isolated from one another by a first dielectric material. The photoresist is patterned over the set of fin ends so that it differs from the photoresist pattern over other areas of the FinFET structure. A set of dielectric blocks is formed on the set of fin ends using the photoresist pattern. The set of dielectric blocks prevents epitaxial growth at the set of fin ends in a subsequent epitaxial growth step.
US09812364B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor device with an overlay mask pattern
The disclosure relates to methods of fabricating semiconductor devices. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided as follows. A target layer is formed. A hard mask layer is formed on the target layer. The hard mask layer is patterned to form an overlay mask pattern including a first mask pattern and a plateau-shaped mask pattern. The first mask pattern encloses the plateau-shaped mask pattern. The first mask pattern is spaced apart from the plateau-shaped mask pattern. The target layer is patterned using the overlay mask pattern to form a redundant fin and a plateau-shaped overlay mark. The redundant fin is removed.
US09812363B1 FinFET device and method of forming same
A FinFET device and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a fin over a substrate. An isolation region is formed adjacent the fin. A dummy gate structure is formed over the fin. The fin adjacent the dummy gate structure is recessed to form a first recess. The first recess has a U-shaped bottom surface. The U-shaped bottom surface is below a top surface of the isolation region. The first recess is reshaped to form a reshaped first recess. The reshaped first recess has a V-shaped bottom surface. At least a portion of the V-shaped bottom surface comprises one or more steps. A source/drain region is epitaxially grown in the reshaped first recess.
US09812361B2 Combination grinding after laser (GAL) and laser on-off function to increase die strength
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method for preparing integrated circuit (IC) device die from a wafer substrate having a front-side with active devices and a back-side. The method comprises pre-grinding the backside of a wafer substrate to a thickness. The front-side of the wafer is mounted onto a protective foil. A laser is applied to the backside of the wafer, at first focus depth to define a secondary modification zone in saw lanes. To the backside of the wafer, a second laser process is applied, at a second focus depth shallower than that of the first focus depth, in the saw lanes to define a main modification zone, the secondary modification defined at a pre-determined location within active device boundaries, the active device boundaries defining an active device area. The backside of the wafer is ground down to a depth so as to remove the main modification zone. The IC device die are separated from one another by stretching the protective foil.
US09812360B2 Systems and methods for producing flat surfaces in interconnect structures
In interconnect fabrication (e.g. a damascene process), a conductive layer is formed over a substrate with holes, and is polished to provide interconnect features in the holes. To prevent erosion/dishing of the conductive layer at the holes, the conductive layer is covered by a sacrificial layer (possibly conformal) before polishing; then both layers are polished. Initially, before polishing, the conductive layer and the sacrificial layer are recessed over the holes, but the sacrificial layer is polished at a lower rate to result in a protrusion of the conductive layer at a location of each hole. The polishing can continue to remove the protrusions and provide a planar surface.
US09812359B2 Thru-silicon-via structures
Stress generation free thru-silicon-via structures with improved performance and reliability and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming a first conductive diffusion barrier liner on an insulator layer within a thru-silicon-via of a wafer material. The method further includes forming a stress absorption layer on the first conductive diffusion barrier. The method further includes forming a second conductive diffusion barrier on the stress absorption layer. The method further includes forming a copper plate on the second conductive diffusion barrier.
US09812358B1 FinFET structures and methods of forming the same
FinFET structures and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In a method, a recess is formed exposing a plurality of semiconductor fins on a wafer. A dummy contact material is formed in the recess. The dummy contact material contains carbon. The dummy contact material is cured with one or more baking steps. The one or more baking steps harden the dummy contact material. A first portion of the dummy contact material is replaced with an inter-layer dielectric. A second portion of the dummy contact material is replaced with a plurality of contacts. The plurality of contacts are electrically coupled to source/drain regions of the plurality of semiconductor fins.
US09812356B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes generating a layout including a first conductive pattern region and a second conductive pattern region. A first interlayer insulating film is formed on a substrate, the first interlayer insulating film including a first region corresponding to the first conductive pattern region, a second region corresponding to the second conductive pattern region, and a third region spaced apart from the first and second regions and disposed between the first and second regions. First, second and third lower metal wirings are formed to respectively fill the first, second and third recesses of the first interlayer insulating film. A second interlayer insulating film is formed on the first interlayer insulating film. A first dummy via hole is formed in the second interlayer insulating film to expose the third lower metal wiring. The third lower metal wiring is electrically isolated.
US09812351B1 Interconnection cells having variable width metal lines and fully-self aligned continuity cuts
A method includes patterning a 1st mandrel cell into a 1st mandrel layer disposed above a dielectric layer of a semiconductor structure. The 1st mandrel cell has 1st mandrels, 1st mandrel spaces and a mandrel cell pitch. A 2nd mandrel cell is patterned into a 2nd mandrel layer disposed above the 1st mandrel layer. The 2nd mandrel cell has 2nd mandrels, 2nd mandrel spaces, and the mandrel cell pitch. The 1st and 2nd mandrel cells are utilized to form metal line cells into the dielectric layer. The metal line cells have metal lines, spaces between the metal lines and a line cell pitch. The line cell pitch is equal to the mandrel cell pitch when the metal lines of the metal line cells are an even number. The line cell pitch is equal to half the mandrel cell pitch when the metal lines of the metal line cells are an odd number.
US09812343B2 Load station
A substrate loading station including a frame forming a chamber configured to hold a controlled environment, a transfer robot connected to the frame and one or more substrate cassette holding locations each capable of having a substrate cassette holder disposed within the frame. Each of the one or more substrate cassette holding locations being configured to removably support a respective substrate cassette in a predetermined position for communication with the transfer robot to effect substrate transfer between a respective cassette and the transfer robot where the one or more substrate cassette holding locations are configured to effect the interchangeability of one or more substrate cassette holders with other substrate cassette holders for changing a substrate cassette holding capacity of the substrate loading station.
US09812340B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor package having semiconductor element
A method of fabricating a semiconductor package is provided, including: disposing a plurality of semiconductor elements on a carrier through an adhesive layer in a manner that a portion of the carrier is exposed from the adhesive layer; forming an encapsulant to encapsulate the semiconductor elements; removing the adhesive layer and the carrier to expose the semiconductor elements; and forming a build-up structure on the semiconductor elements. Since the adhesive layer is divided into a plurality of separated portions that will not affect each other due to expansion or contraction when temperature changes, the present invention prevents positional deviations of the semiconductor elements during a molding process, thereby increasing the alignment accuracy.
US09812339B1 Method of assembling semiconductor devices of varying thicknesses
A method of packaging a semiconductor die includes the steps of mounting the semiconductor die on a carrier, electrically connecting electrical contact pads of the semiconductor die to external electrical contacts, and encapsulating the die with a mold compound to form a packaged die. The packaged die is then thinned by using a dicing saw blade to trim the mold compound off of the top, non-active side of the package using a series of vertical cuts. This thinning step can be performed at the same time as a normal dicing step so no additional equipment or process steps are needed. Further, packages of varying thicknesses can be assembled simultaneously.
US09812335B2 Method of forming fine pattern of semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method may include forming an target layer on a substrate, forming a mask pattern on a target layer, performing a first process to etch the target layer and form a first sub-trench, and performing a second process to further etch the target layer and form a second sub-trench. First and second sidewall patterns may be formed on a sidewall of the mask pattern to be used as an etch mask in the first and second processes, respectively. Outer sidewalls of the first and second sidewall patterns may be formed to have different angles with respect to a top surface of the substrate.
US09812333B2 Nanoscale patterning method and integrated device for electronic apparatus manufactured therefrom
Provided is a nanoscale patterning method using self-assembly, wherein nanoscale patterns having desirable shapes such as a lamella shape, a cylinder shape, and the like, may be formed by using a self-assembly property of a block copolymer, and low segment interaction caused in a structure of 10 nm or less which is a disadvantage of the block copolymer may be prevented. In addition, even though single photolithography is used, pattern density may double as that of the existing nano patterns, and pitch and cycle of the patterns may be controlled to thereby be largely utilized for electronic apparatuses requiring high integration of circuits such as a semiconductor device, and the like.
US09812331B2 Apparatus for and method of processing substrate
Provided are an apparatus for and a method of processing a substrate. The substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing unit to process a substrate using a processing solution containing a mixture of first and second sources; a source supplying part to supply the first and second sources to the substrate processing unit; at least one analyzer to measure a concentration of the second source in the processing solution or a pH value of the processing solution and adjust a measurement reference value of the second source in the processing solution using a standard solution, in which the first and second sources are mixed to have a predetermined concentration or pH value; and a standard solution supplying part to prepare the standard solution using the first and second sources to be supplied from the source supplying part and to supply the standard solution to the at least one analyzer.
US09812330B2 Formulations for producing indium oxide-containing layers, process for producing them and their use
The present invention relates to liquid formulations which can be produced by dissolving at least one indium alkoxide compound which can be prepared by reacting an indium trihalide InX3 where X=F, Cl, Br, I with a secondary amine of the formula R′2NH where R′=alkyl in a molar ratio of from 8:1 to 20:1 to the indium trihalide in the presence of an alcohol of the generic formula ROH where R=alkyl in at least one solvent, a process for producing them, their use for producing indium oxide-containing or (semi)conducting layers and processes for producing indium oxide-containing layers which use the formulation of the invention.
US09812328B2 Methods for forming low resistivity interconnects
Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods for forming silicide materials. Silicide materials formed according to the embodiments described herein may be utilized as contact and/or interconnect structures and may provide advantages over conventional silicide formation methods. In one embodiment, a one or more transition metal and aluminum layers may be deposited on a silicon containing substrate and a transition metal layer may be deposited on the one or more transition metal and aluminum layers. An annealing process may be performed to form a metal silicide material.
US09812325B2 Method for modifying spacer profile
Techniques herein provide a process to reform or flatten asymmetric spacers to form a square profile which creates symmetric spacers for accurate pattern transfer. Initial spacer formation typically results in spacer profiles with a curved or sloped top surfaces. This asymmetric top surface is isolated while protecting a remaining lower portion of the spacer. The top surface is removed using a plasma processing step resulting in spacers having a squared profile that enables further patterning and/or accurate pattern transfer.
US09812321B2 Method for making nanosheet CMOS device integrating atomic layer deposition process and replacement gate structure
A semiconductor device including a gate structure present on at least two suspended channel structures, and a composite spacer present on sidewalls of the gate structure. The composite spacer may include a cladding spacer present along a cap portion of the gate structure, and an inner spacer along the channel portion of the gate structure between adjacent channel semiconductor layers of the suspended channel structures. The inner spacer may include a crescent shape with a substantially central seam.
US09812313B2 Time-of-flight analysis of a continuous beam of ions by a detector array
Systems and methods are provided for time-of-flight analysis of a continuous beam of ions by a detector array. A sample is ionized using an ion source to produce a continuous beam of ions. An electric field is applied to the continuous beam of ions using an accelerator to produce an accelerated beam of ions. A rotating magnetic and/or electric field is applied to the accelerated beam to separate ions with different mass-to-charge ratios over an area of a two-dimensional detector using a deflector located between the accelerator and the two-dimensional detector. An arrival time and a two-dimensional arrival position of each ion of the accelerated beam are recorded using the two-dimensional detector. Alternatively, an electric field that is periodic with time is applied in order to sweep the accelerated beam over a periodically repeating path on the two-dimensional rectangular detector.
US09812312B2 Systems and methods for bubble based ion sources
The present disclosure describes embodiments directed to a bubble based ion source system comprising an ion source configured to generate a plurality of ions, a heat source positioned above the container, an ion channel comprising an aperture and a plurality of electrodes, and/or any other components. The ion source further comprises a container at least partially comprising a solvent or solution, a bubble generator coupled to the container configured to generate a plurality of bubbles within the solvent, and/or any other component. The heat source can be configured to evaporate at least a portion of the solvent from each of the bubbles leaving a plurality of ions.
US09812311B2 Ion manipulation method and device
An ion manipulation method and device is disclosed. The device includes a pair of substantially parallel surfaces. An array of inner electrodes is contained within, and extends substantially along the length of, each parallel surface. The device includes a first outer array of electrodes and a second outer array of electrodes. Each outer array of electrodes is positioned on either side of the inner electrodes, and is contained within and extends substantially along the length of each parallel surface. A DC voltage is applied to the first and second outer array of electrodes. A RF voltage, with a superimposed electric field, is applied to the inner electrodes by applying the DC voltages to each electrode. Ions either move between the parallel surfaces within an ion confinement area or along paths in the direction of the electric field, or can be trapped in the ion confinement area.
US09812310B2 Ion separation and storage system
Ions provided from an ion source are separated ions into a plurality of different ion groups according to at least one ion property. At least some of the different ion groups are stored in an ion storage array, which comprises a plurality of independently operable storage cells, each storage cell being arranged to receive and store a different ion group. A controller is programmed to cause selective switching of each of the storage cells between an ion receiving mode and an ion storage mode, and between the ion storage mode and an ion release mode. In particular, the switching of each storage cell is controllable independently of the switching of any of the other storage cells. Upon release from a respective storage cell of the array, ions are provided to one or more mass analyzers for subsequent analysis.
US09812308B2 Device for manipulating charged particles
The present invention is concerned with a device for charged particle transportation and manipulation. Embodiments provide a capability of combining positively and negatively charged particles in a single transported packet. Embodiments contain an aggregate of electrodes arranged to form a channel for transportation of charged particles, as well as a source of power supply that provides supply voltage to be applied to the electrodes, the voltage to ensure creation, inside the said channel, of a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which field has one or more local extrema along the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation, at least, within a certain interval of time, whereas, at least one of the said extrema of the pseudopotential is transposed with time, at least within a certain interval of time, at least within a part of the length of the channel used for charged particle transportation.
US09812305B2 Rate enhanced pulsed DC sputtering system
A pulsed direct current sputtering system and method are disclosed. The system has a plasma chamber with two targets, two magnetrons and one anode, a first power source, and a second power source. The first power source is coupled to the first magnetron and the anode, and provides a cyclic first-power-source voltage with a positive potential and a negative potential during each cycle between the anode and the first magnetron. The second power source is coupled to the second magnetron and the anode, and provides a cyclic second-power-source voltage. The controller phase-synchronizes and controls the first-power-source voltage and second-power-source voltage to apply a combined anode voltage, and phase-synchronizes a first magnetron voltage with a second magnetron voltage, wherein the combined anode voltage applied to the anode has a magnitude of at least 80 percent of a magnitude of a sum of the first magnetron voltage and the second magnetron voltage.
US09812302B2 Magnetron sputtering apparatus
In a magnetron sputtering apparatus configured such that a magnetic field pattern on a target surface moves with time by means of a rotary magnet group, it is to solve a problem that the failure rate of substrates to be processed becomes high upon plasma ignition or extinction, thereby providing a magnetron sputtering apparatus in which the failure rate of the substrates is smaller than conventional. In a magnetron sputtering apparatus, a plasma shielding member having a slit is disposed on an opposite side of a target with respect to a rotary magnet group. The distance between the plasma shielding member and the substrate is set shorter than the electron mean free path or the sheath width. Further, the width and the length of the slit are controlled to prevent impingement of plasma on the processing substrate. This makes it possible to reduce the failure rate of the substrates.
US09812300B2 Silicon target for sputtering film formation and method for forming silicon-containing thin film
A silicon target for sputtering film formation which enables formation of a high-quality silicon-containing thin film by inhibiting dust generation during sputtering film formation is provided. An n-type silicon target material 10 and a metallic backing plate 20 are attached to each other via a bonding layer 40. A conductive layer 30 made of a material having a smaller work function than that of the silicon target material 10 is provided on a surface of the silicon target material 10 on the bonding layer 40 side. That is, the silicon target material 10 is attached to the metallic backing plate 20 via the conductive layer 30 and the bonding layer 40. In a case of single-crystal silicon, a work function of n-type silicon is generally 4.05 eV. A work function of a material of the conductive layer 30 needs to be smaller than 4.05 eV.
US09812295B1 Microwave chemical processing
Methods and systems include supplying pulsed microwave radiation through a waveguide, where the microwave radiation propagates in a direction along the waveguide. A pressure within the waveguide is at least 0.1 atmosphere. A supply gas is provided at a first location along a length of the waveguide, a majority of the supply gas flowing in the direction of the microwave radiation propagation. A plasma is generated in the supply gas, and a process gas is added into the waveguide at a second location downstream from the first location. A majority of the process gas flows in the direction of the microwave propagation at a rate greater than 5 slm. An average energy of the plasma is controlled to convert the process gas into separated components, by controlling at least one of a pulsing frequency of the pulsed microwave radiation, and a duty cycle of the pulsed microwave radiation.
US09812293B2 Dielectric window, plasma processing system including the window, and method of fabricating semiconductor device using the system
A plasma process apparatus including a process chamber defined by an outer wall and a dielectric window, the dielectric window including a first dielectric material and covering an upper portion of the outer wall, the dielectric window including a top surface facing outside of the process chamber and a bottom surface facing insider of the process chamber, the dielectric window further including at least one magnetic-field control groove at the top surface of the dielectric window, and a coil antenna over the dielectric window and configured to receive RF power, the coil antenna including an inner coil and an outer coil, the inner coil over a center of the dielectric window, the outer coil over an edge of the dielectric window and surrounding the inner coil may be provided.
US09812291B2 Alternate materials and mixtures to minimize phosphorus buildup in implant applications
Systems and processes for utilizing phosphorus fluoride in place of or in combination with, phosphine as a phosphorus dopant source composition, to reduce buildup of unwanted phosphorus deposits in ion implanter systems. The phosphorus fluoride may comprise PF3 and/or PF5. Phosphorus fluoride and phosphine may be co-flowed to the ion implanter, or each of such phosphorus dopant source materials can be alternatingly and sequentially flowed separately to the ion implanter, to achieve reduction in unwanted buildup of phosphorus solids in the implanter, relative to a corresponding process system utilizing only phosphine as the phosphorus dopant source material.
US09812288B2 Sample holder with light emitting and transferring elements for a charged particle beam apparatus
The objective of the present invention is to simply perform image observation through transmitted charged particles. A sample irradiated by a charged particle beam is disposed directly or via a predetermined member on a light-emitting element (23) whereinto charged particles that have traversed or scattered inside the sample enter, causing a light to be emitted therefrom, which is collected and detected efficiently using a light transmission means (203) to generate a transmission charged particle image of the sample.
US09812281B2 X-ray source and X-ray imaging method
An X-ray imaging method including the following steps is provided. An X-ray source is provided, wherein the X-ray source includes a housing, a cathode, and an anode target. The housing has an end window. The cathode is disposed in the housing, and the anode target is disposed beside the end window. The cathode is caused to provide an electron beam. A portion of the electron beam hits at least a part of areas of the anode target to generate an X-ray and the X-ray is emitted out of the housing through the end window. The X-ray is caused to irradiate an object to generate X-ray image information. An image detector is used to receive the X-ray image information.
US09812277B2 Thermal fuse and printed circuit board with thermal fuse
A thermal fuse having a bow, which has a first end with a first soldering surface for soldering to a first contact surface of a printed circuit board and a second end with a second soldering surface for soldering to a second contact surface of the printed circuit board, a tensioning element, which is secured to the bow between the first and the second end and which is designed to press with a preload against the bow and the printed circuit board once the two soldering surfaces and the contact surfaces of a printed circuit board have been soldered, wherein a portion of the bow, between the two ends thereof, has a measuring resistor connected in series to the two soldering surfaces. A printed circuit board having such a thermal fuse is additionally described.
US09812265B2 Switching module for a switch, switch, method for indicating an actuation of a switch and method for controlling a device
A switching module for a switch includes a housing configured to execute a switching movement when the switch is actuated. The switching module also includes an actuator, which is disposed in the housing and is configured to execute an actuation movement that can be controlled by a control contour. Moreover, the switching module includes an energy converter, which is disposed in the housing and is configured to provide an electrical pulse when powered by the actuation movement of the actuator. Furthermore, the switching module includes a switch unit for emitting a switching signal based on the electrical pulse, for indicating the switching movement of the housing.
US09812259B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor, method of manufacturing the same, and board having the same
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include: an active part including dielectric layers and internal electrodes which are alternately stacked therein; and a cover part disposed on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the active part. The cover part may include an active part protective cover and an exterior cover, and the active part protective cover may be disposed adjacent to the active part.
US09812256B2 Coil assembly
A coil assembly includes a coil part including stamped coils, and a connection substrate having one end thereof disposed inside the coil part and the other end disposed outside the coil part, wherein one end of each of the stamped coils is connected to a first surface of the connection substrate and the other end connected to a second surface of the connection substrate.
US09812249B2 System and method for vehicle power system isolation
A linear optimized isolation transformer may include a magnetic core having a primary side and a secondary side; a primary side winding on the primary side; a primary side terminal electrically coupled to the primary side winding; a secondary side winding on a the secondary side; a secondary side terminal electrically coupled to the secondary side winding; an isolation dielectric placed between the primary side winding and the secondary side winding and having a shape that fills all of the space between the primary side and the secondary side that is not occupied by the core, the isolation dielectric including a permanent high-Q material selected to maintain a high value isolation independent of pressure differences resulting from operation at different altitudes; and wherein the primary side terminal and the secondary side terminal are positioned on opposing ends of a long axis of the magnetic core.
US09812246B1 Apparatus and method for a coiled wire nest and frame for toroidal induction
Provided are claims and disclosure for a toroidal coil apparatus comprising a coiled wire nest further comprising: a top end layer disposed with a center through-layer; a circumferential side wall; a bottom end layer disposed with a center through-layer any one of a top end layer or bottom end layer radially extending through the circumferential side wall to form a vertically stacked coiled wire nest with a center through-nest, wherein the wire length and configuration of each stacked layer is identical and the distance between adjacent coiled wire is identical; at least a single or a plurality of inputs of at least two counter-directional channels in electrical communication with the coiled wire nest and at least a single or plurality of outputs of at least two counter-directional channels; and a coiled wire nest frame, further comprising: a latitudinal center hub with a plurality of slots; a vertical disc with a plurality of slots with staggered teeth; wherein the said vertical disc with staggered teeth is inserted into each slot of the said latitudinal center hub; the said staggered teeth are configured to shape a coiled wire nest with at least two stacked layers of wire with a crossed winding pattern, wherein the wire length and configuration of each stacked layer is identical and the distance between adjacent coiled wire is identical; and a vacuous center in communication with the center through layer of the top end layer and bottom end layer to shape the center through-nest of the coiled wire nest.
US09812245B2 Laminated coil component and matching circuit
In a laminated coil component, first coil conductor patterns define a coil opening that generates a magnetic flux in a first direction, second coil conductor patterns define a first coil opening that generates a magnetic flux in the first direction, and a second coil opening that generates a magnetic flux in a second direction. A difference in area between the first coil opening and the second coil opening determines a degree of coupling of the coil defined by the first coil conductor pattern and the coil defined by the second coil conductor pattern. This provides a close proximal arrangement of a plurality of coils proximally while significantly reducing or preventing unnecessary coupling between the coils.
US09812243B2 Power converters with immersion cooling
A transformer assembly includes a housing with a sealed housing interior, a transformer disposed within the housing interior and having a core with windings wrapped about the core, and a condenser mounted to the housing. The condenser is in fluid communication with the housing interior. A surface of the windings bounds a coolant channel extending between the windings and the condenser to convey coolant of a first phase to the condenser and receive coolant of a second phase from the condenser.
US09812239B2 Core manufacturing device
A manufacturing device for a rotor core includes: a magnetization device that magnetizes magnet raw materials before being magnetized disposed in magnet insertion holes of the rotor core to turn the magnet raw materials before being magnetized into permanent magnets; and a detachment device that detaches the rotor core from the magnetization device. The detachment device also functions as a mounting device that mounts a jig around the rotor core when the rotor core is detached from the magnetization device.
US09812236B2 Temperature sensor and manufacturing method for temperature sensor
A manufacturing method for a temperature sensor includes a disposing step and a fixing step. The disposing step includes disposing a thermistor element so that a distal end portion of a first lead wire extends along a first side surface and passes by the first side surface, and a distal end portion of a second lead wire extends along a second side surface. The fixing step includes electrically connecting and fixing the first lead wire to a first outer electrode, and electrically connecting and fixing the second lead wire to a second outer electrode, in a state in which a first corner and a second corner are respectively supported by the first lead wire and the second lead wire.
US09812234B2 Hermetically sealed electrical penetrator assembly
A penetrator device has an outer housing of non-conductive, insulating material having a through bore, at least one conductive pin formed in one or two parts extending through the housing and having a first end portion and a second end portion extending out of the respective first and second ends of the housing, a first cladding layer bonded over the first end portion of the pin to form a first bonded assembly, a second cladding layer bonded over the second end portion of the pin to form a second bonded assembly, and the material of the first and second cladding layer comprising a corrosion resistant conductive material different from the pin material.
US09812232B2 Electric wire and cable
An electric wire includes a conductor having a cross-sectional area of not less than 180 mm2 and not more than 220 mm2, an insulation provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the conductor, and a wire sheath provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the insulation. The amount of deflection is not less than 180 mm when, at 23° C., one end of the electric wire is fixed to a fixture table so that another end horizontally protrudes 400 mm from the fixture table and a weight of 2 kg is attached to the other end, and cracks and breaks do not occur when wound with a bending diameter of three times the diameter at −40° C.
US09812230B2 Sheath member
A sheath member has a cylindrical and flexible main body to accommodate an electric wire and a deformation restricting portion molded on an outer peripheral side of the main body and extending over a predetermined shape maintaining range such that the main body is maintained in a desired routing shape.
US09812226B2 Arrangement and method for providing an emergency supply to a nuclear installation
A method of providing an emergency supply of services to a nuclear power plant having a cooling water cycle, the method including: situating a container at a remote location from the power plant, wherein the container has permanently integrated therein: a motor comprising a first shaft and a second shaft; a generator driven by the first shaft; a pump driven by the second shaft; a fuel tank connected to the motor, and supplying fuel to the motor; and a transformer connected to the generator; connecting the pump to the cooling water cycle of the nuclear power plant; using the pump to pump water from an external water feed into the cooling water cycle of the nuclear power plant.
US09812224B2 Data storage system, data storage device and RAID controller
Provided are a data storage system, a data storage device and a RAID controller, which can control RAID operation and a RAID operating method of a memory device by transmitting a RAID configuration signal to the memory device. The data storage system includes a memory device that may include m nonvolatile memories, where m is a natural number, and a memory controller that may program data to at least the first to mth pages. The data storage system also includes a RAID controller that may generate a RAID configuration signal, including a RAID operation signal for determining whether to activate or deactivate a RAID operation of the memory device, and that may transmit the data and the RAID configuration signal to the memory controller. The memory controller may generate a RAID parity using first to (m−1)th data from the RAID controller and program the first to (m−1)th data to the first to (m−1)th pages and the RAID parity to the mth page when the RAID operation signal is activated, but program the first to mth data received from the RAID controller to the first to mth pages when the RAID operation signal is deactivated.
US09812223B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells coupled to a word line; and a peripheral circuit configured to read first to kth page data from the memory cells by sequentially applying first to kth test voltages to the word line, where k is a natural number greater than 3, wherein the peripheral circuit is configured to gradually reduce times during which the first to kth test voltages are applied to the word line.
US09812221B1 Multi-core cache coherency built-in test
A system and method for verifying cache coherency in a safety-critical avionics processing environment includes a multi-core processor (MCP) having multiple cores, each core having at least an L1 data cache. The MCP may include a shared L2 cache. The MCP may designate one core as primary and the remainder as secondary. The primary core and secondary cores create valid TLB mappings to a data page in system memory and lock L1 cache lines in their data caches. The primary core locks an L2 cache line in the shared cache and updates its locked L1 cache line. When notified of the update, the secondary cores check the test pattern received from the primary core with the updated test pattern in their own L1 cache lines. If the patterns match, the test passes; the MCP may continue the testing process by updating the primary and secondary statuses of each core.
US09812220B2 Buffered multi-rank memory modules configured to selectively link rank control signals and methods of operating the same
A method of operating a memory module including a plurality of semiconductor memory devices organized into a multi-rank memory on a DIMM and a memory buffer included on the DIMM, operatively coupled to the multi-rank memory, can be provided by mapping an access to the DIMM from a memory controller to semiconductor memory devices included in more than one rank within the multi-rank memory based on a mode register set signal and selectively linking rank control signals during a parallel bit test operation to the more than one rank within the multi-rank memory plurality of semiconductor memory devices.
US09812218B2 Pulse output circuit, shift register and display device
A pulse is inputted to TFTs 101 and 104 so that the TFTs would turn ON and then potential of a node α rises. When the potential of the node α reaches (VDD−VthN), the node α became in a floating state. Accordingly, a TFT 105 then turns ON, and potential of an output node rises as a clock signal reaches the level H. On the other hand, potential of a gate electrode of the TFT 105 further rises due to an operation of capacitance 107 as the potential of the output node rises, so that the potential of the output node would be higher than (VDD+VthN). Thus, the potential of the output node rises to VDD without voltage drop caused by a threshold of the TFT 105.
US09812217B2 Driver circuit, signal processing unit having the driver circuit, method for manufacturing the signal processing unit, and display device
Disclosed is a driver circuit including a latch circuit, a shift register circuit, and a switching circuit, where the latch circuit is provided over the shift register circuit and the switching circuit. The shift register circuit and the switching circuit may have a silicon-based semiconductor, while the latch circuit may have an oxide semiconductor. The latch circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series. The latch circuit may further include a first capacitor and a second capacitor which are electrically connected to the first transistor and the second transistor. A display device using the driver circuit as well as a method for preparing the driver circuit is also disclosed.
US09812216B1 Circuits and methods for generating a clock enable signal using a shift register
A shift register circuit generates a clock enable signal in response to a start signal and in response to a clock signal. The shift register circuit generates multiple pulses in the clock enable signal in response to a single transition in the start signal and in response to control signals having values that indicate to generate more than one pulse in the clock enable signal. A multiplexer circuit provides an output signal for testing an electronic circuit based on an input signal or based on the clock signal in response to the clock enable signal.
US09812214B2 Nonvolatile memory device, storage device including nonvolatile memory device and operating method of nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device may include a memory cell array, an address decoder circuit, a page buffer circuit, and a control logic circuit. An erase operation includes iteratively performing an erase loop which includes an erase section where an erase voltage is applied to the memory cells of the selected memory block and an erase verification section where the memory cells of the selected memory block are verified using an erase verification voltage. If the memory cells of the selected memory block are determined as an erase pass in the erase verification section, the control logic circuit monitors the memory cells of the selected memory block. If the monitored result indicates that the memory cells of the selected memory block are at an abnormal state, the control logic circuit applies an extra erase voltage to the memory cells of the selected memory block.
US09812210B2 Power off period estimating method for solid state storage device
A power-off period estimating method for a solid state storage device is provided. A memory array of a non-volatile memory of the solid state storage device includes plural blocks. Firstly, a first quality parameter of a first block of the plural blocks is calculated before the solid state storage device is powered off. When the first block is corrected at a first time counting value, a first read voltage set of the first block is acquired and the first time counting value is recorded. Then, the first block is corrected after the solid state storage device is powered on, so that a second read voltage set of the first block is acquired. Then, a power-off period is calculated according to the first quality parameter, the first read voltage set, the second read voltage set and the first time counting value.
US09812204B1 Ferroelectric memory cell without a plate line
A ferroelectric static random access memory (FeSRAM) cell includes (a) first and second cross-coupled inverters connected between a power supply voltage signal and a ground reference voltage signal and holding a data signal represented in a complementary manner in first and second common data terminals; (b) first and second select transistors coupled respectively to the first and second common data terminals of the cross-coupled inverters; and (c) first, second, third and fourth ferroelectric capacitors, wherein the first and second ferroelectric capacitors couple the first common data terminal to the power supply voltage signal and the ground reference voltage signal, respectively, and wherein the third and the fourth ferroelectric capacitors couple the second common data terminal to the power supply voltage signal and the ground reference voltage signal, respectively.
US09812195B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a cell array including a plurality of first lines, a plurality of second lines intersecting the plurality of first lines, and a plurality of memory cells arranged in matrix and connected at intersections of the first and second lines between both lines, each memory cell containing a serial circuit of an electrically erasable programmable variable resistive element of which resistance is nonvolatilely stored as data and a non-ohmic element; and a plurality of access circuits operative to simultaneously access the memory cells physically separated from each other in the cell array.
US09812192B1 Superconducting gate memory circuit
One embodiment includes a superconducting gate memory circuit. The circuit includes a Josephson D-gate circuit configured to set a digital state as one of a first data state and a second data state in response to a write enable single flux quantum (SFQ) pulse provided on a write enable input and a respective presence of or absence of a write data SFQ pulse provided on a data write input. The circuit also includes a storage loop coupled to the Josephson D-gate. The storage loop can be configured to store the digital state and to readout the digital state at an output in response to a read enable SFQ pulse provided on a read enable input and a read data SFQ pulse provided on a read data input.
US09812187B2 Termination topology of memory system and associated memory module and control method
A memory system includes a memory controller and a memory module. The memory controller is arranged for selectively generating at least a clock signal and an inverted clock signal. The memory module includes a first termination resistor, a second termination resistor and a switch module, where a first node of the first termination resistor is to receive the clock signal, a second termination resistor, wherein a first node of the second termination resistor is to receive the inverted clock signal, and the switch module is arranged for selectively connecting or disconnecting a second node of the second termination resistor to a second node of the first termination resistor.
US09812183B2 Read latency reduction in a memory device
A memory device can include: a memory array with memory cells arranged as data lines; an interface that receives a read command requesting bytes of data in a consecutively addressed order from an address of a starting byte; a first buffer that stores a first data line from the memory array that includes the starting byte; a second buffer that stores a second data line from the memory array, which is consecutively addressed with respect to the first data line; output circuitry configured to access data from the buffers, and to sequentially output each byte from the starting byte through a highest addressed byte of the first data line, and each byte from a lowest addressed byte of the second data line until the requested data bytes has been output; and a data strobe driver that clocks each byte of data output by a data strobe on the interface.
US09812180B2 Programmable logic accelerator in system on chip
A programmable logic array (PLA) is disclosed employing programming logic tile (PLT), System On Chip (SOC) interface bus, Input Output (IO) blocks and Logic Processing Blocks (LPB). SOC processors using SOC interface bus program PLT successively using different configuration memory bank values to realize a logic not limited by the PLT resource counts. Configuration memory blocks comprising of multiple configuration memory banks and configuration programming control logic remove logic processing penalty due to configuration delays. PLT comprises of Programmable Logic Cells (PLC), Programmable Logic Interface (PLY), Embedded Array Blocks (EAB) and configuration memory block. PLA comprises of PLT, IO blocks, SOC interface bus and LPB. PLA accelerates user functionality in as SOC. IO blocks are used to stream data from other SOC components. LPB use PLT to accelerate user specific functionality.
US09812179B2 Techniques for reducing disturbance in a semiconductor memory device
Techniques for reducing disturbance in a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device having reduced disturbance. The semiconductor memory device may comprise a plurality of memory cells arranged in arrays of rows and columns. The semiconductor memory device may also comprise a plurality of data sense amplifiers, coupled to the plurality of memory cells, configured to perform one or more operations during an operation/access cycle, wherein the operation/access cycle may comprise an operation segment and a disturbance recovery segment.
US09812177B2 Circuit, method of using the circuit and memory macro including the circuit
A circuit includes a first latch for generating a first latched signal; and a first comparator for comparing the first latched signal and a write address, and generating a first comparator signal. The circuit includes a first logic circuit for receiving the first comparator signal and a fourth latched signal, and generating a first logic circuit output signal; and a second latch for receiving the first logic circuit output signal and generating a second latched signal. The circuit includes a third latch for generating a third latched signal; and a second comparator for comparing the third latched signal and a read address, and generating a second comparator signal. The circuit includes a second logic circuit for receiving the second comparator signal and the second latched signal, and generating a second logic circuit signal; and a fourth latch for receiving the second logic circuit signal and generating the fourth latched signal.
US09812174B2 Multimedia visual progress indication system
A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.
US09812170B2 Method for automated television production
A method for updating a control event for controlling at least one device to produce audio visual content includes the steps of analyzing the control event to establish: (1) parameter(s) corresponding to the control event available for modification; and (2) parameter(s) of other control events influenced upon modification of at least one parameter corresponding to the control event, and modifying the parameter of the control event and other control events influenced thereby in response to user input changing at least one parameter of the control event available information.
US09812169B2 Operational system and architectural model for improved manipulation of video and time media data from networked time-based media
The present invention provides a novel operational system and electronic architectural model for organizing and improving viewing and editing of time-based video media and for overcoming the detriments required by the previous film and video industry based editing technologies. The present system enables an operator to manipulate the visual and audio perception of underlying video and audio data without changing the same. A series of metadata modules enable real-time operation and editing of video data and control of a play back module as well as an improved sharing, viewing, searching, and showing of underlying video and audio data.
US09812166B2 Recording and reproducing device for reconstructing user data
A recording/reproducing device and a recording/reproducing method, which are capable of improving reliability of data while securing compatibility with a file format employed in a recording medium are provided. Provided is a reconstruction method of reproduction data acquired from a reproducing device that reproduces data from a recording medium in which the data is recorded, performs error correction using a second error correction code specified in a file format employed in the recording medium, and outputs reproduction data, and the reconstruction method of the reproduction data includes obtaining reproduction data from the reproducing device, reading a first error correction code different from the second error correction code from the reproduction data, and performing error correction on the reproduction data using the first error correction code and reconstructing user data.
US09812164B2 Read head characteristic pre-detection
Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising applying voltage to a read head during an unload state, detecting characteristic read head data, and storing the detected characteristic read head data in a buffer. In another implementation, the method further comprises performing a read retry operation in response to a read failure, reading the detected characteristic read head data from the buffer, determining if the detected characteristic read head data meets a threshold for a first predetermined criterion, performing a correction operation if the threshold for the first the first predetermined criterion is met, determining whether a media sector is read successfully, and ending the read retry operation if the media sector is read successfully.
US09812163B2 Spindle motor including sealing member and disk drive apparatus provided with same
A motor includes a bearing mechanism including a shaft disposed along a center axis extending in a lengthwise direction, a sealing member disposed on a lower side of the bearing mechanism, a stationary portion including a base constituting a part of the housing, and a rotary portion rotating relative to the stationary portion about the center axis via the bearing mechanism. The base has a through hole defined therein so as to have a center aligned with the center axis and pass through the base in an axial direction. The bearing mechanism is fixed to the base in a first fixing region defined between an inner circumferential portion of the base and an outer circumferential portion of the bearing mechanism. The sealing member is fixed to the base in a second fixing region defined between the inner circumferential portion of the base and an outer circumferential portion of the sealing member. At least one of the first fixing region and the second fixing region includes a sealing region.
US09812161B2 Resistive temperature sensors for improved asperity, head-media spacing, and/or head-media contact detection
A sensor supported by a head transducer has a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and a sensor resistance. The sensor operates at a temperature above ambient and is responsive to changes in sensor-medium spacing. Conductive contacts connected to the sensor have a contact resistance and a cross-sectional area adjacent to the sensor larger than that of the sensor, such that the contact resistance is small relative to the sensor resistance and negligibly contributes to a signal generated by the sensor. A multiplicity of head transducers each support a TCR sensor and a power source can supply bias power to each sensor of each head to maintain each sensor at a fixed temperature above an ambient temperature in the presence of heat transfer changes impacting the sensors. A TCR sensor of a head transducer can include a track-oriented TCR sensor wire for sensing one or both of asperities of the medium.
US09812160B2 Low resistance ground joints for dual stage actuation disk drive suspensions
A stainless steel dual stage actuated disk drive head suspension baseplate including a plated electrical contact area having nickel and gold. The baseplate can be heat treated. The nickel and gold can be in a mixture.
US09812159B1 Bond pad sharing between a temporary contact sensor and a multiplicity of readers of a recording head
A slider of a magnetic recording head includes a plurality of electrical bond pads and a plurality of readers comprising at least a first reader and a second reader. Each of the readers is coupled to a different pair of electrical bond pads. A temporary contact sensor is provided on the slider and coupled between a bond pad of the first reader and a bond pad of the second reader. The temporary contact sensor is configured for operation during a certification process of the apparatus and to become inoperable after completion of the certification process.
US09812156B2 Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including a main pole and a plasmon generator
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole and a plasmon generator. The main pole has a front end face located in the medium facing surface. The plasmon generator has a near-field light generating surface located in the medium facing surface. The front end face of the main pole includes a first end face portion and a second end face portion. The second end face portion is located farther from the near-field light generating surface than is the first end face portion, and is greater than the first end face portion in width in the track width direction. The first end face portion and the near-field light generating surface are equal in width.
US09812150B2 Methods and systems for improved signal decomposition
A method for improving decomposition of digital signals using training sequences is presented. A method for improving decomposition of digital signals using initialization is also provided. A method for sorting digital signals using frames based upon energy content in the frame is further presented. A method for utilizing user input for combining parts of a decomposed signal is also presented.
US09812145B1 Mobile voice self service device and method thereof
A Mobile Voice Self Service (MVSS) mobile device and method thereof. A VoiceXML browser that is implemented directly on the MVSS mobile device may request a VoiceXML application and process it. A call data manager may also be implemented on the MVSS mobile device and may provide call data that may authorize access to advanced Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) services, such as Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) or Text-To-Speech (TTS). A media resource gateway may then provide the advanced MRCP services to the VoiceXML application processed by the VoiceXML application browser. Hotkey navigations and bookmarked application points to VoiceXML applications may be created and applied through application analysis and state tracking. Therein, VoiceXML document transitions and user input are stored to maintain application state changes until the user requests creation of an application bookmark.
US09812141B2 Encoding method, decoding method, encoder apparatus, decoder apparatus, and recording medium for processing pitch periods corresponding to time series signals
In encoding, pitch periods for time series signals in a predetermined time interval are calculated, and a code corresponding thereto is output. In that encoding, the resolutions for expressing the pitch periods and/or a pitch period encoding mode are switched according to whether an index indicating a periodicity and/or stationarity level of the time series signals satisfies a condition indicating high or low in periodicity and/or stationarity. In that decoding, according to whether an index indicating a periodicity and/or stationarity level, the index being included in or obtained from an input code corresponding to the predetermined time interval, satisfies a condition indicating high periodicity and/or stationarity, a decoding mode for a code, included in the input code, corresponding to pitch periods is switched to decode the code corresponding to the pitch periods to obtain the pitch periods corresponding to the predetermined time interval.
US09812131B2 Identifying and displaying call participants using voice sample
A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a computer to cause the computer to: receive one or more voice signals from one or more participants of a call, correlate each of the one or more received voice signals with speaker profiles in a database, output speaker identification information from the correlated speaker profiles, and send the speaker identification information at least one of the participants of the call. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
US09812130B1 Apparatus and methods for dynamically changing a language model based on recognized text
The technology of the present application provides a method and apparatus to manage speech resources. The method includes using a text recognizer to detect a change in a speech application that requires the use of different resources. On detection of the change, the method loads the different resources without the user needing to exit the currently executing speech application.
US09812128B2 Device leadership negotiation among voice interface devices
A method at a first electronic device of multiple electronic devices, each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices including one or more microphones and a speaker, includes detecting a voice input; determining a quality score for the detected voice input; communicating the quality score to the other devices of the plurality of electronic devices; receiving quality scores generated by the other devices for detection of the voice input by the other devices; if the quality score generated by the first electronic device is the highest amongst the quality scores, outputting an audible and/or visual response to the detected voice input, where the other devices of the plurality of electronic devices forgo outputting an audible response to the detected voice input; and if the quality score generated by the first electronic device is not the highest amongst the quality scores, forgoing outputting a response to the detected voice input.
US09812121B2 Method of converting a text to a voice and outputting via a communications terminal
A method and system for outputting a text content of text data to a voice, including using a transmitting terminal of a sender to transmit text data to a receiving terminal via a communications network, converting text content of the text data to speech and outputting the speech in the sender's voice characteristics using a voice database.
US09812119B2 Voice selection supporting device, voice selection method, and computer-readable recording medium
A voice selection supporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an acceptance unit that accepts input of a text, an analysis knowledge storage unit that stores therein text analysis knowledge to be used for characteristic analysis for the input text, an analysis unit that analyzes a characteristic of the text by referring to the text analysis knowledge, a voice attribute storage unit that stores therein a voice attribute of each voice dictionary, an evaluation unit that evaluates similarity between the voice attribute of the voice dictionary and the characteristic of the text, and a candidate presentation unit that presents, based on the similarity, a candidate for the voice dictionary suitable for the text.
US09812112B2 Injection molded noise abatement assembly and deployment system
Acoustic resonators are formed by injection molding or other process that allows the shape, size, orientation, and arrangement of each resonator to be customized. Customizing the features of the resonators allows their resonance frequency to be adjusted based on their intended deployment. A non-periodic or non-uniform arrangement of the resonators can increase the level of noise reduction compared to a periodic or uniform arrangement of the resonators. A chain guard includes a recess to receive a chain that supports a plurality of resonator rows or frames. In the stowed configuration, the chain guard pivots towards the row/frame to more compactly stow a panel of resonators.
US09812107B2 Ergonomic electronic musical instrument with pseudo-strings
An ergonomic, portable, electronic, string-like instrument that utilizes a string-like interface. The string-like interface is tactile for sightless playability and capable of advanced input such as force and pressure sensitivity. The string-like interface functions to select a note, trigger a selected note, select and play a note on the instrument or an external peripheral. The instrument is played using the techniques of multiple stringed instruments and the ergonomics allow the user to hold and handle the device consistent with playing techniques familiar to musicians of multiple instruments. It is internally or externally powered and connects directly to industry-standard musical hardware such as MIDI devices, amplifiers and multi-track recorders.
US09812103B2 Drumstick gripping device
A drumstick gripping device is provided for a drumstick comprising tip, shoulder and grip portions. The drumstick gripping device includes a collar defining a collar opening for the insertion and engagement of a drumstick. The diameter of the collar opening is larger than the diameter of the drumstick tip and shoulder portions and smaller than the diameter of at least a portion of a drumstick grip portion. The collar can be engaged to a portion of the drumstick grip portion. A looped finger grip defines a finger grip opening for the insertion of a finger. The finger grip is connected to the collar wherein the finger grip opening is offset from and transverse to the collar opening. A drumstick system and a method of drumming are also disclosed.
US09812100B1 Individually customized musical instrument supports, customized elements, and methods for forming the same
A customized musical instrument support for use in supporting a musical instrument on or against a portion of an instrument player's body, includes a universal component having a standardized configuration and attachable to various sized single-type instruments for use by multiple instrument players, and an individually customized element attachable to the universal component. The individually customized element has an individually customized surface contoured corresponding to an impression to substantially fit to the instrument player's contoured body surface which is in proximity to placement of the customized musical instrument support on the instrument player during playing of the musical instrument.
US09812097B1 Portable accessory pedal and support for a musical instrument
A foot pedal actuator is secured to legs of a portable musical instrument using a first elongate member having an aperture for a leg to pass through on one end, and an aperture for securing to a foot pedal actuator fastener aperture on the opposite end. A second elongate member has an aperture which is secured to the foot pedal actuator aperture on one end, and a rotatable attachment to the first elongate member along the span of the first elongate member. A third member similar to the first member and fourth member similar to the second member secure the four corners of the foot pedal actuator to two feet of the portable musical instrument, which pass through the leg apertures of the elongate members.
US09812094B2 Display device for measuring instrument, measuring instrument, method of analogically displaying measured value, and program of analogically displaying measured value
A display device for a measuring instrument, includes: a display screen of a graphic display module; and a processing unit for drawing on the display screen a figure changed in position or shape in response to change in measured value, the processing unit is configured to: calculate first coordinates on the display screen based on a pre-changed value of the measured value; draw at least a part of the figure on the display screen based on the first coordinate; calculate second coordinates on the display screen based on a post-changed value of the measured value; acquire as a redrawing region a region on the display screen based on the first coordinates and the second coordinates; and redraw the redrawing region based on a redrawing function for redrawing only a specified region on the display screen.
US09812088B2 Display device including gray scale corrector and driving method thereof
A display device includes a signal controller and a data driver. The signal controller processes an input image signal to generate an output image signal. The signal controller processes the input image signal using a correction unit. The correction unit corrects the input image signal to a first gray scale value greater than 0 gray scale value when the gray scale value of the input image signal is 0. The output image signal is based on the corrected input image signal. The data driver converts the output image signal into a data voltage to be applied to a display panel.
US09812085B2 Image display device
A gamut adjusting method fully expresses a dynamic range of a display gamut to display an image more naturally. With respect to a brightness signal of each primary color of an input image signal, a data translation unit executes a matrix calculation based on a translation matrix for conversion into an image signal for display control. A saturation calculating unit calculates saturation of the input image signal. When saturation is smaller than a threshold value, the data translation unit is set with a translation matrix such that a tone on the display corresponds to or approximates a tone of the input image signal. When saturation is greater than the threshold value and smaller than a maximum value, as the saturation increases, a translation matrix is switched such that a vector on a xy chromaticity diagram toward a tone on a display approximates a vector toward a tone for maximum saturation.
US09812082B2 Pixel circuit, driving method, display panel and display device
The application provides a pixel circuit, a driving method, a display panel and a display device. The pixel circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a fifth transistor, a sixth transistor, a driving transistor, a storage capacitor and a light emitting element, and by cooperative driving of the respective transistors and the storage capacitor, the driving current of the driving transistor can be independent of the gate-source voltage and the threshold voltage of the driving transistor.
US09812075B2 Display screen, electronic device and information processing method for the electronic device
A display screen is disclosed. The display screen comprises a light source layer, configured to be in an “on” state for providing a display light source corresponding to a first display mode, when the display screen is in the first display mode, and to be in an “off” state when the display screen is in a second display mode different from the first display mode; a liquid crystal layer, disposed in front of the light source layer; a polarizer, disposed in front of the liquid crystal layer; and a control unit, in connection with the liquid crystal layer and configured to control the liquid crystal layer. An electronic device is also disclosed, including the above described display screen and a method for processing information of the electronic device.
US09812069B2 LCD display, a driving device for driving the LCD display, and a driving method for driving the LCD display
The present invention discloses an LCD display and related driving device and driving method. The driving method includes: obtaining an accumulated working time of the LCD display; obtaining a high reference voltage corresponding to the accumulated working time; utilizing the high reference voltage to drive the LCD display; making a multiplying product of a transmittance and a backlight magnitude of the LCD display remain equal or proximity. The present invention suppresses the backlight magnitude decrease phenomenon due to the long-used term of the LCD display such that the display quality can be improved.
US09812068B2 Method, device and system of detecting uniformity of thickness of a display screen
A method, a device and a system of detecting uniformity of thickness of a display screen are provided. The detecting method includes extracting preset brightness curves for each of moire stripes when the display screen displays a monocolor picture; calculating an average position coordinate in a preset direction for each of the preset brightness curves; calculating a deviation value of a position coordinate in the preset direction of discrete points on each of the preset brightness curves with respect to the average position coordinate; for each of the preset brightness curves, when the deviation value exceeds a preset allowable deviation range, determining a thickness abnormal position of the display screen according to the coordinates of the discrete points corresponding to the deviation values. By this detecting method, a thickness abnormal position of a display screen can be accurately detected, and the controllability of the products can be improved.
US09812061B2 Display apparatus and operation method thereof
A display apparatus includes a display unit, a source driver, a gate driver and a compensation unit. The display unit includes at least a pixel unit. Each pixel unit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first capacitor, a second capacitor and an organic light emitting diode. When the pixel unit is operated in a display mode, the pixel unit outputs a sensing voltage including a first parameter having characteristics of the second transistor and a second parameter having characteristics of the organic light emitting diode. The source driver receives a compensation data and accordingly adjusts the next display data. The compensation unit is disposed between the second capacitor and the source driver and electrically coupled between the second end of the second capacitor and the source driver. The compensation unit receives the sensing voltage and outputs the compensation data according to the received sensing voltage.
US09812053B2 Reducing LCD power consumption by preferentially dimming individual colors
A display device may include a respective backlight controller for each color in a color model. A screen driver for the display device may produce a histogram of brightness values for each color in the pixel data for an image frame, and may reduce the brightness of backlighting elements of the display device for individual colors when the histogram data indicates that maximum brightness is not required. For example, based on a backlight control value or signal sent to the corresponding backlight controller, the intensity of backlighting elements for one color may be turned down, or even off, for a particular image frame while the backlighting elements for other colors remain fully powered. The screen driver may make an adjustment to the pixel data to compensate for the dimming of the backlighting elements by modifying the color values in a color lookup table.
US09812050B2 Display driving device compensating for offset voltage and method thereof
A display driving device includes a data driver having a plurality of output drivers configured to output display driving signals. The display driving device also includes an offset adjusting circuit configured to subtract offset voltages generated in the output drivers from an input image signal to generate a corrected image signal. The offset adjusting circuit transmits the corrected image signal to the data driver, so that the data driver outputs the driving signals based on the corrected image signal.
US09812048B2 Starting method of liquid crystal display
A starting method for a liquid crystal display, which includes: after receiving a control command for starting, reading a checking code of a control code for indicating to perform a predetermined screen processing from a flash memory on a photoelectronic board; comparing the checking code read from the flash memory on the photoelectronic board with the checking code stored in a flash memory on a control board; performing the predetermined screen processing based on the read control code for indicating to perform the predetermined screen processing. By adopting the above starting method of the liquid crystal display, starting time of the liquid crystal display is effectively shortened.
US09812046B2 Mixed reality display accommodation
A mixed reality accommodation system and related methods are provided. In one example, a head-mounted display device includes a plurality of sensors and a display system for presenting holographic objects. A mixed reality safety program is configured to receive a holographic object and associated content provider ID from a source. The program assigns a trust level to the object based on the content provider ID. If the trust level is less than a threshold, the object is displayed according to a first set of safety rules that provide a protective level of display restrictions. If the trust level is greater than or equal to the threshold, the object is displayed according to a second set of safety rules that provide a permissive level of display restrictions that are less than the protective level of display restrictions.
US09812044B1 Programmable LED sign
A LED sign which can be programmed to display a desired message can be made utilizing a sign kit comprising (1) one or more faces, wherein each face is comprised of a plurality light emitting diodes; (2) a receiver having erasable, programmable read-only memory and a USB printer port plug; (3) a power supply; and (4) a USB flash drive which is adapted to connecting to the receiver through the USB printer port plug; wherein the USB flash drive is programmed to reset the erasable, programmable read-only memory of the receiver by erasing any preexisting data which may reside in the read-only memory of the receiver and to program the erasable, programmable read-only memory with auto executing script to set the desired message to be displayed. The LED sign can be mounted on a trailer for display as the sign is moving or for display in a stationary location.
US09812042B2 Lighted trim assembly and perforated member therefor
A lighted assembly includes a perforated member having a plurality of relatively small openings therethrough. The openings are arranged to provide areas forming letters, designs, or the like. A light source may be positioned adjacent the perforated member whereby light from the light source travels through the openings to form illuminated letters, designs or the like. The perforations may be filled with a light-transmitting polymer material. The light source may comprise an LED and a light guide that distributes light along a lower side of the perforated member. The light source may be positioned in a waterproof housing that is sealed to the perforated member.
US09812039B2 Patient wristband
A form having one or more blank detachable wristbands may include a printable face ply capable of accepting printed indicia and a liner ply where the face ply is die cut to form one or more blank detachable wristbands having first and second ends. The printable face ply may be sufficiently soft at hand to remain attached for several days without causing chaffing. The face ply may be adhered to the liner ply by a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion a bottom surface. The pressure sensitive adhesive may be on the face ply around a periphery of one or more wristbands. Means to secure the wristband to the wrist of a patient may be located adjacent the first and second ends of the wristband and each of said first and second ends of each of the wristbands may include tamper evident indicia.
US09812038B2 Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays
Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a shroud including a first shroud panel, a second shroud panel coupled to the first shroud panel, and an interior formed between the first shroud panel and the second shroud panel. A support is disposed in the interior of the shroud, the support including a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second sides edges, the first side edge coupled adjacent the second side edge, and one of the first side edge or the second side edge coupled to one of the first shroud panel or the second shroud panel. A biasing member is coupled to the support such that at least a portion of the biasing member is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support, the biasing member to cause a portion of the first shroud panel to separate from a portion of the second shroud panel.
US09812037B2 CPR training system and method
A training system and training method for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is disclosed. The training system includes a manikin, a chest compression module, a breathing module and a data processing module. The chest compression module and the breathing module are installed on the manikin and connected to the data processing module. During a training session, a student performs CPR on the manikin. The data processing module evaluates and provides feedback regarding the chest compressions and the rescue breathings performed by the student. The training method includes positioning the chest compression module and the breathing module on the manikin, initializing the chest compression module and the breathing module to identify compression and breathing characteristics of the manikin, performing CPR on the manikin, and evaluating the CPR based on the compression and breathing characteristics of the manikin.
US09812035B2 System and method for demonstrating planned autonomous manipulation of an anatomy
Surgical systems and methods of demonstrating planned autonomous manipulation of an anatomy by a tool of a robotic surgical system include generating manipulation parameters representing planned constraints on autonomous manipulation of a volume of the anatomy by the tool in a first mode and generating demonstrative parameters relating to the manipulation parameters and defined in relation to a surface of the anatomy. The demonstrative parameters are less invasive to the anatomy than the manipulation parameters. The tool is moved in accordance with the demonstrative parameters in a second mode thereby demonstrating planned constraints on autonomous manipulation of the anatomy in relation to the surface of the anatomy.
US09812033B2 Tactile graphic display
A tactile graphic display for providing a display representation of a graph or image generated by a graphic device for visually impaired users or other users who wish to access tactile information. The display includes one or more frame assemblies including hollow actuator chambers and hollow shaft chambers, the hollow shaft chambers extending perpendicular to the hollow actuator members. Actuators are received within the plurality of hollow actuator chambers and drive shafts are received with the hollow shaft members. Cams operably connect the actuators to the drive shafts. Each actuator rotates each cam about an axis of the actuator in a first direction from a down position to an up position thereby extending each drive shaft upwardly, and each actuator operably rotates each cam about the axis of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the down position thereby retracting each drive shaft downwardly.
US09812029B1 Evaluating a position of a musical instrument
A system comprises a position analyzer, an output component, and a fastener. The position analyzer is configured to monitor a position of the musical instrument and generate an alert when the position of the musical instrument is outside of an allowed deviation from a reference position. The output component may be configured to present the alert. The alert may be at least one of a set comprising a visual alert, an audio alert, a tactile alert, and an electrical signal. The fastener is configured to couple the position analyzer to the musical instrument.
US09812028B1 Automated generation and presentation of lessons via digital media content extraction
An automated lesson generation learning system extracts text-based content from a digital programming file. The system parses the extracted content to identify a sentence, and key words within the sentences, to use as prompts in the lesson. The system also automatically generates a clip from the digital programming file, so that the clip is the portion of the file in which the sentence is spoken. The system then automatically generates and outputs a lesson containing the prompt and the clip.
US09812027B2 Anti-cheating device for online examination
The present invention discloses an anti-cheating system in online examinations. The system includes a personalized eye recognition device comprising of a monitor and an eye recognition technology connected to a computer, on which a student may take a test. The eye recognition device has a verification module for verify the examinee according to a set of verification data. The eye-monitor would display the answers only if the glass is on the eye of the right person. The eye recognition device comprises of an optical imager that obtains the image of the user's iris, and then compares it with a previously obtained and stored image of the user's iris. The present anti-cheating examination system further comprises a video camera to collect and transmit images of the examinee to an identity recognition system, a computer device to provide questions and answer keys thereon and a microphone for voice recognition and check the background voices and control the examination environment voices.
US09812026B2 Constructed response scoring mechanism
A system, method, and related techniques are disclosed for scoring user responses to constructed response test items. The system includes a scoring engine for receiving a user response to a test question and evaluating the response against a scoring rubric. The scoring rubric may include a binding stage, an assertion stage, and a scoring stage. Furthermore, the system includes a database for referencing elements used by the scoring engine which may comprise objects, object sets, attributes of objects, and transformations of any elements.
US09812022B2 Method and apparatus for providing healthier food purchase suggestions to a shopper
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for providing a healthier food purchase suggestion to a shopper are disclosed. For example, the method receives a selection of a food item that the shopper has selected to purchase, determines one or more healthier food items that have a higher score than a score of the food item that the shopper has selected, selects one of the one or more healthier food items based upon a profile of the shopper, provides the one of the one or more healthier food items that is selected as the healthier food purchase suggestion to the shopper.
US09812020B2 Electronic device and unmanned aerial vehicle control method
An electronic device including a processing unit and a storage device receives digital images of a flight area of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) captured by an image capturing device. Then, the processing unit determines a flight position of the UAV in the flight area based on the digital images, and controls the UAV to move from the flight position to a predetermined position. The processing unit receives a vehicle direction of the UAV from an electronic compass unit of the UAV, and adjusts the vehicle direction of the UAV based on a predetermined direction. The processing unit controls the UAV to perform a predetermined operation when the UAV reaches the predetermined position and the vehicle direction is the same as the predetermined direction.
US09812017B2 Detection device for a motor vehicle and associated methods for detecting an obstacle and for opening a movable panel of the motor vehicle
The invention relates to a detection device (1) for a motor vehicle (VI) comprising at least one optical detector (3). Said at least one optical detector (3) being configured for detecting the approach of a person (U) in a predefined area in the vicinity of the vehicle in order to activate opening command means of a device for opening a movable panel (5, 7) of the vehicle (VI). According to the invention: —said detection device (1) comprises switching means for switching the function of the at least one optical detector (3) to a detecting function of an obstacle (V2) at a predefined distance of the vehicle (VI) when the identifier of an authorized person (U) is detected inside the vehicle (VI) and the vehicle movable panels (5, 7) are closed, and wherein—said detection device (1) comprises processing means configured to react depending on a detection of an obstacle (V2) by the optical sensor (3). The invention also relates to corresponding methods for detecting obstacles and for opening a movable panel of the motor vehicle.
US09812015B1 Systems and methods for determining parking information for a vehicle using vehicle data and external parking data
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for providing parking information. A method for providing parking information comprises obtaining vehicle data from a vehicle, and/or a mobile computing device, and determining whether the vehicle is parked from the vehicle data. Next, using the one or more programmed processors, a parking location of the vehicle can be determined from the vehicle data. Information about the parking location can then be determined, and the information about the parking location can be outputted to the user.
US09812014B2 Driving assistance system for identifying stopping points
A system for assisting vehicle driving includes a processor executing a process of assisting vehicle driving; and a memory. The process includes communicating with vehicles to obtain the travel information, storing the travel information in the memory; estimating a target stop position where the vehicle should stop based on the travel information; transmitting the target stop position to the vehicles-obtaining an index indicating at least one of repeatability of driving behavior of a driver, proximity of the behavior to an average value of others, and fuel consumption, determining a first driver corresponding to the index indicating a value less than a value determined based on the travel information of others; and eliminating a stop position information form the travel information stored in the memory, the stop position information indicating a stop position based on the travel information of the vehicle driven by the first driver.
US09812013B2 Mobile navigation system operating with a remote server
A client navigation system establishes a wireless connection to a navigation server on a computer network. The client requests a route by uploading start and destination specifications. The server calculates an optimal route based on real-time data available on the network. A generic natural language description is used to specify the optimal route downloaded to the client. The natural language description is a plain text description for each link using pre-defined generic terms. The client interprets the route, interfaces with the local mapping data and reconstructs the optimal route. The route is subsequently displayed and highlighted on the client.
US09812011B1 Dangerous driving weather messages
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for providing dangerous driving weather messages in a tile-based system are provided. An example method comprises receiving one or more measurements of one or more weather parameters for a geographic area. The geographic area is represented by a plurality of tiles. The method further comprises processing at least one of the measurements of at least one of the one or more weather parameters to determine a dangerous driving weather score for at least a first tile of the plurality of tiles; identifying a first tile of the plurality of tiles that is experiencing dangerous driving weather based on the dangerous driving weather score for the first tile; generating a dangerous driving weather message; and providing the dangerous driving weather message. The dangerous driving weather message comprises a timestamp, a list of one or more affected tile identifiers, an alert type, and alert information.
US09812008B2 Vehicle detection and tracking based on wheels using radar and vision
A system and method are provided for detecting remote vehicles relative to a host vehicle using wheel detection. The system and method include tracking wheel candidates based on wheel detection data received from a plurality of object detection devices, comparing select parameters relating to the wheel detection data for each of the tracked wheel candidates, and identifying a remote vehicle by determining if a threshold correlation exists between any of the tracked wheel candidates based on the comparison of select parameters.
US09812005B1 Method for creating a rolling code radio control
A method for creating, with an unset radio control provided with a NFC device, an adjunct rolling code radio control controlling a user device, with which an original radio control is already associated having a rolling code based on a variation algorithm unknown by the unset radio control, wherein includes identifying the algorithm via a sniffer provided with a NFC device. If the sniffer possesses the algorithm, then the algorithm is transmitted via NFC from the sniffer to the unset radio control; if instead the sniffer does not possess the algorithm, it acquires the algorithm with an apparatus connectable to the internet and provided with a NFC device, then transmits the algorithm via NFC from the apparatus to the unset radio control. The original and the unset radio control are simultaneously activated such that the original radio control can set up the unset radio control based on the algorithm.
US09812003B2 Segregation of functionality in monitoring and controller devices
A fob device for integrating a one or more monitoring and control devices is provided. The fob device includes a plurality of input modules. The input modules are configured to connect with one of a plurality of monitoring or control devices. The plurality of monitoring and control devices are devices utilizing at least two distinct communication protocols. The fob also has at least one output module that may connect to a remote computing device, and an electronic control unit. The fob device may receive data from the monitoring and control devices communicatively coupled to the fob device and associate the received data with the monitoring or control device from which it was received. The fob outputs the received data that is associated with one of the communicatively coupled monitoring or control devices.
US09812002B2 Wireless communication authentication for medical monitoring device
Methods, systems, and devices for short-range low-power wireless communication of analyte information are provided. In some implementations, short-range low-power wireless communication of analyte information may include receiving an electromagnetic wireless communication signal and harvesting energy from the electromagnetic wireless communication signal. In some implementations, short-range low-power wireless communication of analyte information may include enabling capabilities associated with an external sensor in response to detecting the external sensor. In some implementations, short-range low-power wireless communication of analyte information may include detecting an analyte sample; determining an analyte concentration associated with the detected analyte sample; and transmitting an indication of the analyte concentration to an external device.
US09811998B2 Portable device for indicating emergency events
A portable device including a gesture recognizer module for automatically detecting a specific sequence of gestures is described. The portable device may be used to detect a health, safety, or security related event. The portable device may further include an emergency event module for automatically determining whether the sequence of gestures corresponds to an emergency event. The portable device may further include a proximity detection module for automatically determining whether a mobile device corresponding to a user listed as an emergency contact is in a state of proximity to the portable device. The portable device may further include a notification module for automatically transmitting a message, indicating the emergency event, to the user of the mobile device determined to be in the state of proximity.
US09811997B2 Mobile safety platform
A system for monitoring a safety condition of a user includes: a hero device; a measuring device; and a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor and a memory device, the memory device configured to store a safety mobile application enabling the mobile device to: record a video recording of the user using the measuring device during a measuring period, receive, from the measuring device, user data measured by the measuring device of the user during the measuring period, transmit, to a server, the user data and video recording of the user from the measuring period, and transmit, to the hero device, a status report message comprising the user data and video recording of the user from the measuring period.
US09811996B1 Misplaced key-locating system
The misplaced key-locating system is a bidirectional location system that is adapted for use with a plurality of domestic articles. The misplaced key-locating system comprises a plurality of devices. Each of the plurality of devices is attached to a domestic article selected from the plurality of domestic articles. Each of the plurality of domestic devices is bidirectional in the sense that each device selected from the plurality of devices wirelessly communicates with the each of the devices remaining in the plurality of selected devices. This bidirectional capability allows any first device selected from the plurality of devices to initiate an announcement from any second device selected from the remaining devices in the plurality of devices. The announcement comprises audio and visual signals indicating the location of the selected second device.
US09811992B1 Caregiver monitoring system
A system for providing care to a ward that alerts a caregiver of the caregiver's capacity to deal competently with the ward's needs.
US09811990B2 Virtual enhancement of security monitoring
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on storage devices, for monitoring, security, and surveillance of a property. In one aspect, a system includes a virtual reality headset, a plurality of cameras, a plurality of sensors that includes a first sensor, a control unit, wherein the control unit includes a network interface, a processor, a storage device that includes instructions to perform operations that comprise receiving data from the first sensor that is indicative of an alarm event, determining a location of the first sensor, identifying a set of one or more cameras from the plurality of cameras that are associated with the first sensor, selecting a particular camera from the identified set of one or more cameras; and transmitting one or more instructions to the particular camera that command the particular camera to stream a live video feed to a user interface of the virtual reality headset.
US09811987B2 Detecting object theft using smart textiles
A smart textile garment includes a smart textile pocket, a near field communication (NFC) transmitter, an NFC receiver, an electromyography (EMG) sensor, an event processor, and an alert device. The smart textile pocket has a first pocket side and a second pocket side. The NFC transmitter is embedded in the first pocket side, and the NFC receiver is embedded in the second pocket side. The EMG sensor is embedded in a sleeve of the smart textile garment, and indicates a physical movement of a hand of a wearer of the smart textile garment in real time. Based on readings from the NFC receiver and the EMG sensor, the event processor determines that the object has been removed from the smart textile pocket by someone other than the wearer of the smart textile garment.
US09811982B2 Electronic gaming machine and gaming method
In an aspect, an electronic gaming machine includes an electronic game controller and a display for playing a plurality of games that are selectable for simultaneous play. Where one or more special symbols appear in a first game of the selected games, the electronic game controller applies one or more game enhancing elements that are associated with the special symbols to each of the selected games. In another aspect, the special symbols are associated with numerical values that are applied to each of the selected games. Gaming methods are also provided.
US09811980B1 Blackjack side bet based on poker hand formed from dealer's blackjack hand
A blackjack game provides a side bet that the cards dealt to form the dealer's hand will match one of a predetermined set of winning poker hands. A blackjack hand is dealt to the player and a dealer, wherein each hand comprises a plurality of cards. The outcome of the blackjack hand is determined according to blackjack rules. The cards in the dealer's hand are then arranged to form a poker hand. Furthermore, the dealer's poker hand may be modified using cards selected from the player's hand into the dealer's hand to form the poker hand. Modification can be by substitution or addition of cards from the player's hand. The player wins the side bet if the dealer's poker hand matches one of a set of predetermined poker hands.
US09811977B2 Bingo-type wagering game during play of keno or as a distinct game
A method and system for operating a wagering event includes one to four outcomes on random number correspondence to numbers in a four by four array of predefined numbers. To win any wager, an active random number must appear in a preselected corner frame. The method may be an independent game or may be a side bet/wager in a keno game. Separate wagers may be placed on the one to four outcomes, with progressive correspondence of random numbers to the four by four array of predefined numbers, winning outcomes on any wager are dependent upon sequences of correspondence of the predefined numbers, especially in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal order. Use of an electronic gaming machine with a touchscreen facilitates the method and simplifies the system. It is preferred that the numbers in the array are printed onto a paper or other material sheet.
US09811976B2 Methods and systems for conducting a competition within a gaming environment
Methods and systems for conducting a competition within a gaming environment. Two or more players can be enabled to electronically access a gaming environment over a communication network. The players can be registered to allow access to a competition within the gaming environment. Each player can be enabled to compete against one or more other players by selecting from macro events displayed in the gaming environment one or more micro event outcomes to future micro events, the micro event outcomes randomized to prevent cheating. A selection of the micro outcomes utilizes a number of points or credits, wherein each selection of a micro outcome increases a selecting player's points or credit balance if the micro outcome occurs or decreases the points or credit balance if the micro outcome selected does not occur.
US09811975B2 Methods and apparatuses for electronic gaming including stacks and blocks of symbols
Methods and apparatuses for a wagering game include displaying an electronic reel simulation as a multiple reel array on a display. A game outcome is determined and presented as game symbols on the display. Before a game play and without player input, block arrangements are defined as stacks of a same size within the array, each stack has adjacent positions along a first direction within the array, each stack occupies a different position within the array in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and all of the stacks are aligned in the second direction. Winning combinations of the symbols are determined as two or more matching symbols appearing in the displayed positions in combinations of payout ways predefined before the game play. Winning blocks are determined wherein each of the one or more winning blocks include matching symbols appearing in displayed positions corresponding with the block arrangements.
US09811973B2 Gaming device docking station for authorized game play
In one embodiment, a system to authorize a mobile electronic device to play games of chance includes a gaming system manager and a docking station. The docking station can be configured to: (i) detect whether the mobile electronic device is connected to a receiver of the docking station; (ii) receive device information from the mobile electronic device if it is detected that the mobile electronic device is connected to the receiver; (iii) determine whether a game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device based on the received device information; (iv) authorize the mobile electronic device to play the game of chance; and (v) transmit gaming data to the mobile electronic device if it is determined that the game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device and if the mobile electronic device is authorized.
US09811965B2 Article ejecting device of automatic vending machine
An article ejecting device of an automatic vending machine includes an article storage rack having an article storage passage for storing articles while being laid sideways, a base board forming one side of the article storage passage, a first stopper member movable between a protruding position in which the first stopper member protrudes toward the article storage passage and a retractable position in which the first stopper member is retracted from the article storage passage, a second stopper member movable between a protruding position in which the second stopper member protrudes toward the article storage passage and a retractable position in which the second stopper member is retracted from the article storage passage, and an outlet adjustment member forming another side of the article storage passage. The first stopper member includes an article placement surface having a holding portion holding the first vending article in a rolling manner.
US09811963B2 Conveying money items
A money item conveyor comprising a plurality of money item conveying members configured to convey money items around a looped path, wherein the plurality of conveying members each comprise first and second money item support surfaces configured to simultaneously support a main face of a money item on the conveying member, the support faces being separated by an articulation region to allow relative movement of the support surfaces.
US09811962B2 Monitoring removal and replacement of tools within an inventory control system
An inventory control system is described that includes a tool storage device including a drawer or a tray providing a pallet, wherein the pallet includes storage locations for objects; a sensing device configured to form an image of the storage locations; and a data processor configured to determine presence or absence of the pallet and presence or absence of objects within the storage locations of the pallet using the information from the image.
US09811960B2 Method and system for the configuration of small locking systems
The present invention relates to a method and a system for the configuration of small locking systems with electronic locks, preferably electronic locking cylinders, which can preferably communicate with passive RFID cards. The present invention particularly relates to a method and a system which not only allows the easy configuration of locks/locking cylinders, but also of corresponding RFID cards, preferably by using a smartphone.
US09811959B2 Systems and methods for anticipatory locking and unlocking of a smart-sensor door lock
An electronic device associated with a lock device obtains a number of users detected within a premises, and detects a trigger event related to a lock device and premises. When the trigger event is detected, a target state of the lock device is determined based on: (1) the number of users within the premises, and (2) user security profiles indicating a desired target state of the lock device when a respective user is within the premises. A current state of the lock device is determined, and if the current state and the target state of the lock device are not the same, instructions are provided to the lock device based on the target state.
US09811958B1 Apparatus enabling secure wireless access to an enclosure
An apparatus for more efficiently enabling secure access to an enclosure is described herein. The apparatus may include a wireless transmitter in a selectably opaque container, a wireless transceiver, a GPS receiver, an NFC transmitter and/or receiver, one or more hardware processors, and hardware memory. The hardware memory stores instructions for receiving a current location of the apparatus and comparing that location to a delivery address of the enclosure. As the location is within a certain range of the delivery address the apparatus sends a request to a cloud-based server for a hash digest masking an acceptable input for an access control mechanism associated with the enclosure. The apparatus receives the hash digest and forwards it to the access control mechanism via the wireless transmitter. Computer executable code for handling such tasks, and a cloud-based server for generating the hash digest, are also described herein.
US09811955B2 Wearable RFID devices with manually activated RFID tags
A wearable RFID device may include one or more manually activated RFID tags configured to transmit unique RFID signals in response to a manual activation thereof. Such wearable RFID devices may be worn about any aspect of a user's body, such as a hand, a wrist or an arm of the user, who may contact the manually activated RFID tag and transmit an RFID signal that is consistent with a particular action or instruction associated with a task. The action or the instruction may be executed based on the RFID signal, or upon receiving a confluence or sequence of RFID signals. Additionally, a wearable RFID device may be recognized by one or more discrete systems and configured to operate such systems accordingly.
US09811953B2 System and method for monitoring productivity of a paving machine
A method of monitoring a productivity of a paving machine. The method includes receiving a signal, through a load monitoring device, indicative of a change in a load on a frame of the paving machine. The method also includes determining a sum value of the change in the load on the frame based on the signal received each time when a material is delivered to the paving machine, and when the signal indicates an increase in the load on the frame. The method further includes determining a weight of the material provided to the paving machine based on at least the sum value of the change in the load.
US09811952B2 System and method for monitoring a condition of a paving machine
A system and a method for monitoring a condition of a paving machine. The system includes a screed plate and a heating element for heating the screed plate. The system also includes a controller configured to determine a heat-up time for the screed plate and compare the heat-up time to a predetermined time. The controller is further configured to provide a signal indicating that the screed plate needs to be replaced if the heat-up time is less than or equal to the predetermined time.
US09811951B2 Systems and methods for managing fault codes
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing fault codes triggered by one or more vehicles during operation. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve recording and analyzing fault codes triggered during a particular time period while a vehicle is in operation. As a result of the analysis, various embodiments of the invention may set a state for each of the identified fault codes, the state indicating a level of action to address the identified fault code. In particular embodiments, the states may be one of a caution state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be monitored, a critical state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be repaired, or an environmental state indicating failure or potential failure of one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle may affect one or more environmental conditions.
US09811945B2 On-demand transformation aware shape tessellation
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for tessellating shapes. A computing device that has a display can receive an instruction to draw a shape. The computing device can determine a scale factor for the shape. The computing device can determine a set of polygons that tessellate the shape based on the scale factor. The set of polygons can include at least two polygons. The computing device can display the polygons in the determined set on the display.
US09811944B2 Method for visualizing freeform surfaces by means of ray tracing
The invention relates to visualizing freeform surfaces, like NURBS surfaces, from three-dimensional construction data via Virtual beams from a virtual camera are sent out of a virtual image plane in a scene having at least one object and at least one freeform surface. Lighting values are calculated for each point where a beam intersects the freeform surface. The lighting values are then attributed to the pixels associated with the different points of intersection. The freeform surface is defined by two parameters (u, v), and related equations define all points of the surface of the freeform surface The subdivision of the freeform surface for determining the intersections with the beams based on the two parameters (u, v) is regular, so that the surface fragments form meshes of a two-dimensional grid of the freeform surface in the parameter space.
US09811943B2 Processing device for label information for multi-viewpoint images and processing method for label information
A label-information processing device for a multi-viewpoint image, which contains images by image signals of a subject photographed from multi-viewpoints, assigns label-information to a remarkable-portion common to the images. The device includes: a display unit for displaying a specific image by a specific image signal which depicts the remarkable-portion; and a controller for assigning the label-information to the remarkable-portion depicted in the specific image. The controller has the functions of: acquiring coordinates of the label-information in a three-dimensional space; displaying, on the display unit, the images by the image signals which depict the same remarkable-portions as that in the specific image; transforming the thus-acquired coordinates of the label-information into coordinates at which the label-information on a plane is assigned to the thus-displayed image signals having different viewpoints; and assigning the label information to the image signals having different viewpoints at the positions that are determined from the thus-transformed coordinates.
US09811941B1 High resolution simulation of liquids
Methods, systems and computer program products pertaining to simulating liquid bodies are presented. The subject matter of this document can be embodied in a method that includes obtaining one or more data arrays representing low frequency spatial features of a simulated volume of liquid, and up-sampling the one or more data arrays to produce corresponding high resolution data arrays. The method also includes obtaining procedural data representing high frequency spatial features of a simulated liquid surface, and modifying the one or more high resolution data arrays using the procedural data to produce corresponding modified data arrays that reflect both the high frequency and the low frequency spatial features of the simulated volume of liquid.
US09811940B2 Bandwidth reduction using vertex shader
In graphics rendering, a texture tile is divided into a plurality of partitions, each partition having a plurality of vertices. A map indicates, for each partition, whether each partition comprises a constant color. Then the plurality of vertices are transferred to a vertex shader, which determines that at least one of the partitions comprises a constant color partition. A vertex shader applies a vertex transformation that associates a set of texel coordinates from the texture tile to each of the vertices of the constant color partition to generate a set of associated texel coordinates. A first coordinate of the set of associated texel coordinates is set to zero. A pixel shader interpolates the associated texel coordinates to generate an interpolated value and accesses a single texel in the constant color partition that corresponds to the interpolated value.
US09811938B2 Methods, apparatus and system for analytics replay utilizing random sampling
Methods, systems, and computer program products for visually representing and displaying data are described. The visual representation may be a data animation. A data query may be submitted, a time measurement for processing the query may be obtained, and a sample size of the query may be adjusted based on the time measurement and a frame refresh rate of a data animation. A data animation may be generated based on one or more results of the query.
US09811932B2 Display controller, heads-up image display system and method thereof
The present application relates to a display controller and display system and a method of operating thereof. At a filtering stage display image data are generated on the basis of received pixel-mapped image data. The filtering operation accepts a plurality of pixels out of the received image data as input values to generate a pixel of the display image data as output value. It is further determined whether the plurality of pixels being the input values to the filtering operation are marked. If all pixels thereof are marked, the output pixel being the output value is marked. The marked pixels in the display image data are validated on the basis reference data.
US09811931B2 Recommendations for creation of visualizations
A system includes reception of a selection of a first object from a plurality of measure objects and dimension objects, determination, for each of a plurality of unselected objects of the plurality of measure objects and dimension objects, of a first number of visualizations which are associated with the first object and with the unselected object, determination of a second number of visualizations which are associated with the first object, determination, for each of the plurality of unselected objects, of a third number of visualizations which are associated with the unselected object, determination of a total number of visualizations, and determination, for each of the plurality of unselected objects, of a value associated with the unselected object based on the first number associated with the unselected object, the second number, the third number associated with the unselected object and the total number.
US09811926B2 Touch screen gesture for perfect simple line drawings
A method for drawing shapes includes receiving first input from a touch screen display indicating a first user touch continuing for a first touch time delay, then subsequent to said first touch time delay, receiving second input from the display indicating a second user touch in a pattern on the display. The method includes correlating the first input and the second input with a drawing shape. The drawing shape includes a standard geometric shape. The method includes forming an image on the display that corresponds to the drawing shape.
US09811925B2 Method and apparatus to render lines on a display screen
Disclosed examples include drawing apparatus and methods of rendering lines on a display screen, in which a first angle is determined that corresponds to a hand drawn line created by a user on the display screen, and a new line is rendered on the display screen to represent the hand drawn line created by the user. The new line is selectively rendered parallel or perpendicular to an existing line on the display screen at least partially according to the first angle using the processor.
US09811924B2 Interferometric techniques for magnetic resonance imaging
A method and system for providing a fast image reconstruction of magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) data based on applying, at least in part, interferometric techniques using a single receiver element. The images are reconstructed through temporally cross-correlating spacially incoherent k-space locations.
US09811922B2 Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images
A computerized system including a computer system running image display and analysis software is described. The computer system displays an oblique image, references positional data for the oblique image, creates a ground plane for the oblique image, receives a selection of at least two pixels within the oblique image and calculates a desired measurement using the selection of the at least two pixels and the ground plane, the desired measurement taking into account changes within the topography of the area captured within the oblique image.
US09811917B2 Confidence estimation for optical flow under low light conditions
A confidence map for optical flow gradients is constructed calculating a set of census texture gradients for each pixel of an image, filtering said gradients and extracting confidence values from said gradients using a plurality of decision tree classifiers. A confidence map is then generated from said confidence values.
US09811914B2 Multi-window image processing and motion compensation
An image processing system receives a sequence of frames including a current input frame and a next input frame (the next input frame is captured subsequent in time with respect to capturing of the current input frame). The image processing system stores a previously outputted output frame. The previously outputted output frame is derived from previously processed input frames in the sequence. The image processing modifies the current input frame based on detected first motion and second motion. The first motion is detected based on an analysis of the current input frame with respect to the next input frame. The second motion is detected based on an analysis of the current input frame with respect to the previously outputted output frame. According to one configuration, the image processing system implements multi-sized analyzer windows to more precisely detect the first motion and second motion.
US09811913B2 Method for 2D/3D registration, computational apparatus, and computer program
A method for registering a three-dimensional image data record of a target region of a patient with a two-dimensional x-ray image is provided. The method includes selecting at least one rigid reference structure with an associated contour; establishing a two-dimensional gradient x-ray image and a three-dimensional gradient data record of the image data record; finding a neighborhood in the gradient x-ray image from a plurality of neighborhoods extending about test points for a plurality of contour points; establishing local two-dimensional displacement information by comparison of the contour points with the associated comparison points; establishing movement parameters of a three-dimensional movement model describing a movement of the target region between recording of the image data record and the x-ray image from the local two-dimensional displacement information; and establishing a registration transformation describing the registration by correcting the test transformation based on the movement parameters.
US09811906B1 Method and data processing unit for segmenting an object in a medical image
A method is for segmenting an object in a medical image with a plurality of iteration steps. In an embodiment of the method, each iteration step includes generating a plurality of patches, a portion of the input image and a patch location being assigned to each patch, the patch location being indicative of the location of the portion of the input image relative to the input image. For each patch of the plurality of patches, the method includes determining a vote location based on the portion of the input image assigned to that patch and determining a target location based on the vote location and the patch location assigned to that patch. Finally, in an embodiment the method includes generating a vote map, each patch of the plurality of patches contributing to a pixel value at the target location of the patch in the vote map.
US09811905B2 Anomaly detection in medical imagery
A method comprising using at least one hardware processor for computing a patch distinctiveness score for each of multiple patches of a medical image, computing a shape distinctiveness score for each of multiple regions of the medical image, and computing a saliency map of the medical image, by combining the patch distinctiveness score and the shape distinctiveness score.
US09811901B2 Linear-based Eulerian motion modulation
In one embodiment, a method of amplifying temporal variation in at least two images comprises examining pixel values of the at least two images. The temporal variation of the pixel values between the at least two images can be below a particular threshold. The method can further include applying signal processing to the pixel values.
US09811900B2 Automatic detection of defects in composite structures using NDT methods
A method and an apparatus for automatically collecting and processing nondestructive test (NDT) data to determine the presence, type, location, size, and strength of defects in composite, honeycomb, and grid structures like those found in aircraft, wind blades, boats, cars, building structures. The preferred embodiment is comprised of an uncooled IR mounted on a frame, a conductive heating mat, an IR Ruler with fiducials in a recognizable pattern, a computer, a processor, and output displays. The data collection, processing, and display output can be controlled or reviewed remotely via the internet. The processing, location, and output displays can be applied to any NDT system that collects and processes a two dimensional amplitude image (e.g., x-ray systems).
US09811899B2 Method, image processing system and computer-readable recording medium for item defect inspection
A method, image processing system, and computer-readable recording medium for item defect inspection are provided. The method is as follows. A test image and a reference image of a test item are received. A test block and a corresponding reference block are obtained from the test image and the reference image to generate a test block image and a reference block image. The test block image and the reference block image are respectively partitioned into multiple sub-blocks. All interfering sub-blocks are identified and filtered out from the test block image and the reference block image, and a shift calibration parameter is obtained accordingly. The test block in the test image is calibrated based on the shift calibration parameter to generate a calibrated test block image. The calibrated test block image and the reference block image are compared to obtain defect information of the test item corresponding to the test block.
US09811894B2 Image processing method and apparatus
An image processing method is provided. The method includes obtaining a human facial image and providing a total of n number of source images in a preconfigured file, where n is an integer greater than 2, and each source image corresponds to adjusting parameters for the source image in the preconfigured file. The method also includes generating a synthesized human facial image for the each source image by adjusting the human facial image based on the adjusting parameters corresponding to the source image in the preconfigured file, individually synthesizing the each source image and the synthesized human facial image for the each source image to obtain n number frames of synthesized images, and combining the n number frames of synthesized images into a dynamic image in a time order.
US09811889B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for generating unobstructed object views
A method is provided for generating street-level imagery to provide unobstructed images, such as images of facades of a building, for use in on-line street viewing, three dimensional city rendering, research, or building based localization, among other uses. In particular, example methods may include obtaining a plurality of images of a first side of an object from a plurality of points-of-view, normalizing each of the plurality of images to obtain a plurality of normalized images of the first side of the object, where each of the plurality of normalized images includes a plurality of pixels, each with image location coordinates within a respective image. Method may further generate a merged image of the first side of the object, where the merged image is generated by comparing pixels between the plurality of normalized images with matching image location coordinates.
US09811885B2 Detecting glare in a frame of image data
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for detecting glare in a frame of image data. A frame of image data is preprocessed. A set of connected components in the preprocessed frame is determined. A set of statistics is calculated for one or more connected components in the set of connected components. A decision for the one or more connected components is made, using the calculated set of statistics, if the connected component is a light spot over text. Whether glare is present in the frame is determined.
US09811878B1 Dynamic processing of image borders
Described herein are systems and methods of processing images comprising border features including, but not limited to letterboxing, pillarboxing, or windowboxing. Between the border features is primary content. The processing comprises scaling the primary content to increase prominence during presentation. Space unused during the presentation is filled with a revised border. Supplemental content may be presented in at least a portion of the revised border.
US09811877B2 Image processing device selecting arrangement method for generating arranged image data
An image processing device acquires first and second image data respectively representing first and second images. The first image includes an object image showing a part of an object. The second image shows another part of the object. The first image and the object image respectively include an edge and an object-image edge with respect to a direction. The first image includes first pixels that is located between the edge and the object-image edge and not included in the first object image. The device selects one of arrangement methods according to a condition that the number of first pixels continuously arranged in the direction is larger than a prescribed level. The device determines a relative position between the first and second images using the selected method. The device generates arranged image data representing an arranged image in which the first and second images are arranged according to the relative position.
US09811874B2 Frame times by dynamically adjusting frame buffer resolution
System and method of dynamically adjusting a frame buffer resolution. An average frame rate is dynamically computed based on the frame rates with respect to rendering a sequence of previous frames to a frame buffer. The frame rates may vary with the processing load of an associated graphics processor. A target scaling factor for frame buffer resolution is computed based upon the dynamic average frame rate and a desired frame rate. The current scaling factor of frame buffer resolution for rendering a respective frame data of a sequence of frame data to the frame buffer is adjusted incrementally to reach the target scaling factor. Accordingly, frame resolutions for rendering the sequence of frame data to the frame buffer are incrementally adjusted based on corresponding current scaling factors.
US09811873B2 Scaler circuit for generating various resolution images from single image and devices including the same
A scaler circuit is provided. The scaler circuit includes a first scaler configured to perform a first horizontal scaling operation after a first vertical scaling operation, a second scaler configured to perform a second horizontal scaling operation after a second vertical scaling operation and a line memory which is shared by the first scaler and the second scaler. Each of the first scaler and the second scaler generates a first image and a second image, respectively, having different resolutions from a single image using the line memory.
US09811870B2 Information processing method, apparatus and payment system
A portable electronic device for presenting a recommendation message is described. The device includes display; one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The device detects a trigger event based on a user input, the trigger event initiating a receipt of non-tactile user input; and, in response to detecting the trigger event, receives non-tactile user input. The device generates one or more character strings based on the non-tactile user input and one or more predefined string generation rules. Each character string of the one or more character strings includes multiple characters. The device generates a recommendation message that includes the one or more character strings; and displays the recommendation message on the display. A corresponding method and a computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by the portable electronic device are also described.
US09811869B2 Registry
A system, method, server processing system, and computer program product for operating a registry. In one aspect, the server processing system is configured to: receive, from a user processing system in data communication with the server processing system, document data relating to an entity; receive, from the user processing system, access data indicative of an accessing party to be provided access to the document data if a defined trigger event occurs; store, in a data store associated with the server processing system, a registry for the entity indicative of the document data and the access data; determine that a defined trigger event has occurred; and in response to determining that that a defined trigger event has occurred, provide the accessing party read-only access to the document data via an access processing system in data communication with the server processing system.
US09811865B2 Method and apparatus for measuring perceptible properties of media content
A method and apparatus for measuring perceptible properties of media content. The method comprises displaying media content comprising a plurality of perceptible properties; receiving a selection of an perceptible property from the plurality of perceptible properties; receiving at least one comment related to the selected perceptible property in the plurality of perceptible properties; and calculating a measurement of an overall quality of the media content based on the received at least one comment.
US09811864B1 Automatic invoicing based on business activity
A method for generating a service provider invoice includes obtaining documents from a plurality of sources via a service provider mobile device of a service provider. The documents are generated for customer jobs performed by the service provider at jobsites. Based on a pre-determined criterion, the documents are analyzed to identify a subset of the documents corresponding to a jobsite. The job data is extracted from the subset of the documents, and used to generate the service provider invoice. The job data includes time and material information associated with a customer job of the customer jobs that is performed at the jobsite.
US09811859B2 Trading tools for electronic trading
Tools for trading and monitoring a commodity on an electronic exchange using a graphical user interface and a user input device. The tools will aid the trader in determining the status, trends in the market, and the trader's position in the market.
US09811854B2 3-D immersion technology in a virtual store
A system creates an enhanced virtual shopping experience, and includes means for generating a 3-D mesh model of a person's body contours; means for digitizing the three-dimensional shape of a piece of clothing when worn by the correspondingly sized body; means for measuring surface friction and intensity/frequency of vibrations produced during sliding tactile contact with the material of the clothing, for digitally approximating a material's texture; and a means for obtaining three dimensional visual images of the interior of a store. A 3-D headset is configured to receive the three-dimensional visualization of the store interior, and provide it to a person that may also wear a wired glove and body suit configured to provide tactile feedback or feedback through the use of electrodes. A software algorithm digitally inserts the person's mesh model into the three-dimensional store visualization, and allows manipulation of it therein, including realistic simulated contact of objects therein using reverse-electro-vibrations sent to the body suit.
US09811853B2 Method and system for user based routing
A system and method for providing route information to a user, in which paths provided to the user are automatically selected based on personal information of the user, so that in following the provided paths, the user passes things in which the user may have particular interest.
US09811851B2 Automatic product groupings for merchandising
Disclosed are various embodiments for defining subcategories of items to be used in merchandising. The subcategories may be defined on the basis of item data and/or sales data for the items. Based on a distribution of the items in accordance with one or more of the item and/or sales data, implicit groups or subcategories can be identified and selected for merchandising purposes.
US09811850B2 User task completion via open market of actions and/or providers
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for facilitating the completion of a user task. That is, user intent (e.g., intentions of a user to perform a user task) may be identified. The user intent may comprise an entity (e.g., a movie entity) and/or an action (e.g., an order movie tickets action) that the user wants to perform on the entity. A provider list may be created based upon one or more providers capable of performing the action on the entity (e.g., a movie application may be capable of performing the order movie tickets action on the movie entity). Providers may be dynamically selected for inclusion within the provider list at run-time. For example, an open market of providers may be maintained (e.g., providers may be added, removed, and/or updated over time), such that providers may be selected from the open market to complete user tasks.
US09811849B2 Contextual execution of automated workflows
An enterprise geospatial intelligence service oriented architecture (EGI-SOA) provides a consumer with one or more tailored products in response to either a dynamic request or a standing request by the consumer.
US09811846B2 Mobile payment and queuing using proximity events
A method that provides mobile payment and queuing based on proximity events includes: broadcasting beacon signals from a set of proximity sensors within an establishment, each beacon signal including a unique identifier for identifying multiple locations in the establishment, each proximity sensor associated with a fixed location; determining that a mobile device associated with a consumer is within a first proximity to a first proximity sensor; generating an invoice from the merchant to the particular consumer based on proximity of the mobile device to the first proximity sensor; associating a second proximity sensor with a merchant point of sale, the merchant point of sale associated with a fixed location; determining that the mobile device is within a second proximity to the second proximity sensor; sending the invoice to the mobile device; and processing payment from the consumer based on proximity of the particular consumer to the second proximity sensor.
US09811843B2 System and method for targeting user interests based on mobile call logs
Techniques are provided that include targeting a user of a mobile electronic device with an interest-based advertisement, based at least in part on various call logs on a user device. Techniques are provided in which a set of calls from a user's call log from a mobile device are assigned to one or more categories indicative of potential user interests for the purposed of targeted advertisements. The usage pattern of the user's call log takes into account the time of the day, week, and/or month that the user tends to make particular calls to determine recurring patterns and calculate individual metrics for comparison with other users.
US09811841B2 Correction device, correction method, and storage medium
A correction device includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire an arrangement position of advertisement information within a predetermined page layout when the advertisement information arranged in the predetermined page layout is displayed on a display screen of a terminal and a click rate at the arrangement position. The correction device includes a second acquisition unit configured to acquire a specific position in the predetermined page layout displayed on the display screen and an attention degree index indicating a degree of attention of the specific position as compared to another position. The correction device includes a correction unit configured to correct a click rate of the advertisement information based on the attention degree index of the specific position corresponding to the arrangement position of the advertisement information.
US09811836B2 System and method of a media delivery services platform for targeting consumers in real time
A media targeting system may be configured to coordinate media and manage media conflicts in its delivery to consumers. The media targeting system may in near real-time arbitrate between all offers assigned to a particular consumer or available to the consumer via one or more channels to ensure that a consumer only receives non-conflicting offers during particular time periods. The media targeting system may translate offers into a real-time, in-store loyalty environment including consumer real-time behavior assignment into traits in order to make a real-time offer assignment based on the traits. An application on a mobile device of a consumer may allow the consumer to share offers with other consumers via a bump of the consumers' mobile devices.
US09811835B2 Metadata-enabled dynamic updates of online advertisements
Systems, methods, and computer media for dynamically updating online advertisements and providing updated online advertisements are provided. An object-oriented online advertisement is provided that has properties inherited from an advertisement class. The inherited properties include metadata fields and corresponding metadata values. The metadata fields and values determine the content, appearance, behavior, and other characteristics of the online advertisement when it is published on a web page. Changes to or addition or deletion of metadata fields and values in an advertisement class or subclass are communicated to the online advertisements, and the metadata of the advertisements are updated to reflect the changes.
US09811834B2 System and method for providing digital content
A method of delivering digital content for use on an electronic cutting machine. The method includes displaying at least one themed project in a rich internet application, where the themed project has at least one glyph of a glyph collection. The method further includes providing access to the rich internet application over a network and offering purchased access to the glyph collection. Any glyphs of the glyph collection can be added to the themed project. The themed project is cuttable on an electronic cutting machine in communication with the rich internet application.
US09811830B2 Method, medium, and system for online fraud prevention based on user physical location data
A user conducts activities, such as researching a product online or visiting a store that sells the product. A user then utilizes a risk analysis system to receive and store user activity data for the user's activities. When a purchase attempt is made with the user's financial account, a merchant sends a transaction request to the risk analysis system. The risk analysis system locates a record for the user and determines whether the product is identified in the user activity data. If the product is identified, the risk analysis system provides a risk score to the merchant indicating that the transaction is unlikely fraudulent. Alternatively, identification of the product provides a positive factor among multiple factors considered in a transaction risk analysis. An absence of the product in the activity can be used as a neutral or negative factor among multiple factors considered in a risk analysis of the transaction.
US09811829B2 System and method for guided passcode entry
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating guided entry of a passcode. The exemplary guided passcode entry system provides additional security to traditional secret PIN or passcode entry systems by generating a randomized input sequence (order of entry) and prompting a user to input a passcode according to the randomized input sequence. The system also causes a test of the user's input data against a database of passcodes associated with the particular user for an exact match. The testing step can include comparing characters of the input data to a particular passcode associated with the user which is stored in a database in accordance with the randomized input sequence in regard to the order that the input data was received. Based on the comparison of the received passcode to the stored passcode, the system can advance a transaction with the user.
US09811825B2 Systems, methods, and computer program products for managing contactless transactions
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for managing contactless transactions. A tap notification including at least a first identifier is received. A first counter in a first data set associated with the first identifier is incremented. It is determined if the first counter matches one of a plurality of thresholds. If it is determined that the first counter matches one of a plurality of thresholds, a first status level in the first data set is updated. A first set of benefits from a plurality of benefits stored in a memory based on the first status level is identified. The first set of benefits is associated with the first identifier.
US09811823B2 Mobile device with disabling feature
A method and system for payments for mobile phone payments with a disabling feature is disclosed. The method includes activating a mobile phone containing contactless payment systems, and having a timeout feature disable the contactless payment systems after a set period of time.
US09811822B2 Method and device for execution control for protected internal functions and applications embedded in microcircuit cards for mobile terminals
The invention in particular relates to the execution control of protected internal functions and applications embedded in a mobile terminal microcircuit card. The control of a protected internal function is directly carried out in the microcircuit card. After having detected (400) a command for placing the card on standby, on the basis of an item of information received from a mobile terminal into which is connected the card, at least one indication relative to the execution of the protected internal function is analyzed (415). If the protected internal function is liable to be affected by the execution of the command for placing on standby, the execution of the command for placing on standby is deferred (410).
US09811821B2 Methods and systems for displaying account information
Systems and methods are provided for displaying account information. The systems and methods may include a portable smart display device in short-range communication with a mobile device. The smart display device may be configured to provide a user with quick and easy yet secure access to account information, without the need for multi-step login and verification processes. The smart display device may be sized to fit within a wallet and within quick, easy reach of a user. The smart display device may receive up-to-date account information from the mobile device, and display the account information on-demand upon detecting an activation event, thereby providing an enjoyable user experience and a useful tool for quickly informing the user of their financial situation.
US09811820B2 Data consolidation expert system for facilitating user control over information use
Methods and systems are provided for supporting electronic transactions, including transactions that are provided with per-user, per-device and per-domain security across domains of multiple service providers.
US09811816B2 Commodity identification device and commodity recognition navigation method
To enable registration of a commodity without interrupting the flow of sales registration by an operator, a commodity identification device 2 specifically includes: a camera 27 that takes an image of an object that an operator holds over the camera; and a CPU 211 that is configured to, when the object is recognized from an image taken by the camera 27 and the object recognized is compared with reference images of each commodity in plurality of directions, and when the object is similar to a plurality of commodities, specify reference images having a noticeable difference, and guide the operator to rotate the object so that the object in the direction corresponding to the specified reference images is directed toward the camera 27.
US09811814B2 Chemically heated hot emitter generator system
The technical field includes machine, manufacture, process, and product produced thereby, as well as necessary intermediates, which pertain to power sources, units thereof, computer systems used to facilitate operation of one or more power sources.
US09811811B1 Method and system for allocating deposits over a plurality of depository institutions
Computer system, computer-implemented method, and program product for managing transaction comprising: administering clients' deposits to and withdrawals from client transaction accounts; determining a client available deposit amount, Di, determining, for Di, a value of Ni banks for the respective client transaction account, wherein Ni is a whole number and (X) times (Ni) is equal to or less than 100, where X is a distribution percent value to be distributed to each of the Ni banks; allocating, the percentage, X, multiplied by the client deposit amount, Di, calculating, for the banks a respective net deposit amount; generating instructions to transfer funds; and updating.
US09811808B2 Meeting notifications for offline invitees
A method, computer program product, and system for providing notifications regarding electronic meetings is described. A set of one or more invitees for an online meeting is received, the set including a first invitee. A first status of the first invitee is identified, the first status indicating unavailability with respect to the electronic meeting. A change in status of the first invitee, after the end of the electronic meeting, to a second status indicating availability with respect to the electronic meeting is identified. A notification of the meeting is provided to the first invitee, based upon, at least in part, identifying the change in status.
US09811806B1 Determining license use for composed container services in cloud platforms
Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation including receiving an indication to commit a containerized image to an image repository, wherein the containerized image comprises a plurality of layers, and upon validating the containerized image by determining whether each layer of the containerized image is associated with a respective signature value, generating a first signature value for the containerized image, updating a data store for signature values to reflect the first signature value for the containerized image, and committing the containerized image to the repository.
US09811802B1 Bin content verification apparatus
This disclosure describes a device and system for verifying the content of items in a bin within a materials handling facility. In some implementations, a bin content verification apparatus may pass by one or more bins and capture images of those bins. The images may be processed to determine whether the content included in the bins has changed since the last time images of the bins were captured. A determination may also be made as to whether a change to the bin content was expected and, if so, if the determined change corresponds with the expected change.
US09811799B2 Distributed customer support credits
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for providing distributed customer support, a customer care provider for a first business entity receives a request for customer care and the request may be handled by the customer care provider with a remedy, transaction information involving any number of transactions from a repository is accessed using a customer care credential and the repository comprises transaction information for a second business entity, and a limitation on the customer care provider is determined for providing the remedy using the transaction information.
US09811794B2 Qualitative and quantitative modeling of enterprise risk management and risk registers
The present invention is applicable in the field of corporate finance, corporate capital investments, economics, math, business risk analysis, simulation, decision analysis, qualitative risk analysis, risk management, quantitative risk analysis, and business statistics, and relates to the modeling and valuation of investment decisions under uncertainty and risk within all companies, allowing these firms to properly identify, assess, quantify, value, diversify, and hedge their corporate capital investment decisions and their associated risks. Specifically, the present invention looks at starting from a comprehensive qualitative risk register and moving the analysis into the realms of quantitative risk modeling, simulation, and optimization.
US09811788B2 Food safety management system
Disclosed are various embodiments of a food safety management system, including a web portal for management and reporting and a handheld computing device for checklist completion. A checklist of tasks to be performed in a food service establishment is obtained and displayed on a touchscreen of the handheld computing device. Confirmation is obtained on the touchscreen whether a task has been completed. An identifier at a location in the food service establishment is inputted to verify that a task has been completed. Temperature and humidity readings are obtained from one or more stationary sensors monitoring a food storage environment. Task completion data, temperature data, and humidity data are sent to a server.
US09811785B1 Graphical user interface for displaying tips to hosts providing time expiring listings in a reservation system
This disclosure includes methods for displaying tips to hosts in a reservation system. The reservation system collects viewing data upon receiving viewing requests from potential guests to view a listing in the reservation system. The reservation system associates the viewing data with the listing. The reservations system applies a set of conditional expressions and calculations to the viewing data of the listing to compare the listing to a peer group of similar listings for each time interval in an evaluation time range. In some embodiments, a GUI is presented to the host of the subject listing comprising a histogram of the number of views of the subject listing, an indication of the number of views of the peer group of the subject listing, and region for displaying tips to the host of the subject listing.
US09811779B2 Holographic computer system
A method and apparatus used for general purpose problem solving using entanglement properties of holography. Intelligent point-based entities having spatial and other electromagnetic properties called DROPLETS [Data-Representative-Object-Particle(s)-Liking-EnTanglement] are generated as delegate objects—avatars—connected to data sources representing situations, event or other problems. A DROPLET's properties are controlled by changes in input data, self-state, feedback, and/or changes of other DROPLETS. Coherent rays are introduced and interact with DROPLETS, generating an INTELLIGENCE WAVEFRONT. Interference patterns are recorded and converted to binary machine codes of a near-infinite set, instructing where to store human/machine-readable content within a plurality of associative memories. Said content includes waveforms, harmonics, codes, data, and other holograms, which are dispersed and stored wholistically throughout using spread spectrum techniques. Upon future recognition of like-patterns of situations, events and other problems, the appropriate content components are retrieved and presented as full or partial solutions. Hardware, software, and hybrid embodiments are envisioned.
US09811778B2 Social collaboration in probabilistic prediction
A method, system, and computer program product for social collaboration in probabilistic prediction are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A set of predictions is sent to a user device. A prediction in the set of predictions is a probability of an outcome of an event. The probability is computed using a prediction model trained with training data corresponding to the event. An input is received from the user device. The input comprises a new prediction made at the user device using a new prediction model executing on the user device. A difference is determined between the prediction and the new prediction. The prediction model is revised to produce a revised prediction. A revised difference between the revised prediction and the new prediction is smaller than the difference.
US09811777B2 Rule matching method and apparatus for deep packet inspection
The present invention discloses a rule matching method including: receiving a packet; detecting feature information in content of the packet, and determining whether the detected feature information in the packet conforms to a classification characteristic of one rule group among a plurality of preset rule groups; if yes, determining a state machine corresponding to the one rule group as a first state machine; and determining whether the first state machine is stored in an on-chip memory, and if yes, using the first state machine to match the packet to obtain a matching result; and if no, when an off-chip memory stores the first state machine, loading the first state machine from the off-chip memory into the on-chip memory, and using the first state machine to match the packet to obtain a matching result. Embodiments of the present invention enable a product to achieve better performance.
US09811773B2 Systems and methods for personalizing QR codes
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media configured to select a code. An image on which the code is superimposed is selected. A block of the code is associated with a corresponding part of the image. A desired value of opacity of the block of the code is determined based on the corresponding part of the image. A personalized code is generated based on the desired value of opacity of the block of the code.
US09811762B2 Clothing matching system and method
A system and method for clothing matching is provided. The clothing matching system automatically processes the captured image of the user once the image is captured and identifies a face region, a torso region, and a bottom region of the user from the captured image. The clothing matching system further identifies (i) colour coordination and contrast of the captured image, (ii) a dress colour and a pattern of clothes of the user in the captured image, (iii) a body type of the user, and (iv) a skin tone of the user in the captured image. The clothing matching system communicates information related to the captured image to the server. The server receives and compares the information related to the captured image of the user with the training images/patterns stored in the ML model to compute a score for the captured image of the user for the dress combination.
US09811761B2 System, method, and recording medium for detecting video face clustering with inherent and weak supervision
A face clustering system for video face clustering in a video sequence, the system including an inherent supervision summarization device configured to collect group-level supervision and instance level supervision within a same chunklet based on a user input of face images for a person, a discriminative projection learning device configured to embed group constraints of the group-level supervision into a transformed space, and configured to generate an embedding space from the original image feature space, and a clustering device, in the embedding space, configured to execute pair-wise based clustering to cluster the video images into different clusters with the instance level supervision collected by the inherent supervision summarization device.
US09811757B2 Histogram methods and systems for object recognition
A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications.
US09811756B2 Method for labeling images of street scenes
A method labels an image of a street view by first extracting, for each pixel, an appearance feature for inferring a semantic label, a depth feature for inferring a depth label. Then, a column-wise labeling procedure is applied to the features to jointly determine the semantic label and the depth label for each pixel using the appearance feature and the depth feature, wherein the column-wise labeling procedure is according to a model of the street view, and wherein each column of pixels in the images includes at most four layers.
US09811755B2 Object monitoring system, object monitoring method, and monitoring target extraction program
First imaging means 60 creates a state image by capturing a state occurring in a first range. Second imaging means 70 creates a monitoring target image by capturing a monitoring target present in a second range. Specific state detection means 81 detects a specific state from the state image. Monitoring target analysis means 82 analyzes a status of a monitoring target, using the state image from which the specific state is detected. Monitoring target feature extraction means 85 extracts, from the monitoring target image, a feature used for specifying the monitoring target, based on the status of the monitoring target.
US09811752B2 Wearable smart device and method for redundant object identification
A wearable smart device includes a sensor configured to detect data corresponding to a detected object, a memory configured to store a contact list including contact information for a plurality of contact devices and to store stored data corresponding to a plurality of stored objects, an antenna and a processor. The processor is programmed to determine whether the detected object can be identified by comparing the detected data to the stored data, to transmit the detected data to at least one of the plurality of contact devices via the antenna in response to not being able to identify the detected object by comparing the detected data to the stored data and to receive an identification of the detected object from the at least one of the plurality of contact devices. The wearable smart device also includes an output unit to output the identification of the detected object.
US09811750B2 Character recognition and character input apparatus using touch screen and method thereof
A character input method using a touch screen, in which one or more areas requiring user input is defined in the touch screen, pre-recognized information is defined for each of the defined areas, character information is received by a user in one or more user desired areas among the defined areas, the character information is recognized using a character recognizer, and the recognized character information is updated in the user desired areas.
US09811748B2 Adaptive camera setting modification based on analytics data
The quality at which camera data (e.g., images, video, and/or audio captured by a camera device) is transmitted and/or stored may be adjusted based on the application of analytic techniques. For example, a camera processing device may receive camera data and receive information relating to conditions external to the capturing of the camera data. The camera processing device may control the resolution associated with the camera data based on the information relating to the conditions.
US09811745B2 Approaching-object detection system and vehicle
An approaching-object detection system detects an approaching object based on images captured by an imaging device. The approaching-object detection system comprises an extraction unit, a distortion correction unit, an object detection unit, and an approaching-object classification unit. The extraction unit extracts a partial image of one far side and a partial image of the other far side from each of the images. The distortion correction unit corrects distortion of the partial images. The object detection unit detects an object from the corrected partial images through pattern matching with reference to preinstalled image information on the object. The approaching-object classification unit classifies the detection result of the object detection unit as an approaching object or not.
US09811744B2 Fast and robust stop line detector
A system and method for detecting a stop line on a roadway. The system and method a front view camera that generates images of the roadway. The system and method also include a controller that receives the images generated from the front view camera, including a bird's eye view image, said controller further programmed to provide a composite image that includes an original bird's eye view image and a rotated bird's eye view image. The controller is also programmed to use the composite image to determine if a stop line is present on the roadway.
US09811743B2 Tracking road boundaries
Systems and methods of tracking a road boundary are provided. According to one aspect, a method of tracking a road boundary may include capturing an image from a camera, identifying a pair of regions of interest (ROI) in the image on each side of a candidate boundary position, extracting a color profile from each of the ROIs, generating a weighted color difference score by comparing the color profiles and weighting a difference between the color profiles based on a color similarity between colors in the color profiles, and outputting a determination of a detected boundary based upon the weighted color difference score.
US09811742B2 Vehicle-surroundings recognition device
Provided is a vehicle surroundings recognition apparatus capable of enhancing a calculation accuracy of a relative position and a relative speed with respect to an object such as a pedestrian even in a case where the object cannot be detected accurately in some of the images obtained by performing image-capturing around a vehicle, for example. In a case where a first state in which a first detection unit and a second detection unit detect first position information and second position information about an object and a second state in which only a second detection unit detects second position information about the object occur in a time sequence, first position information interpolation information for interpolating the first position information about the object in the second state is calculated on the basis of the first position information and the second position information in the first state and the second position information in the second state, and a relative distance and a relative speed to the object are measured on the basis of the first position information and the first position information interpolation information.
US09811736B2 Information processing device, information processing method, information processing device program, and recording medium
An information processing method includes: acquiring setting pseudo multipole information on a pseudo multipole (S10), the setting pseudo multipole information being set such that color information on poles p1 and p2 is related to color information on an object 2, the poles corresponding to a plurality of points in an image of a single predetermined frame 20; specifying a position of the pseudo multipole in an initial frame and seeking an image of a single frame in the video for the pseudo multipole (S14), the pseudo multipole having poles whose colors conform to colors in the color information on the poles in the acquired setting pseudo multipole information, a distance between the poles of the pseudo multipole being equal to or less than a predetermined distance; specifying a position of the found pseudo multipole in the image of the single frame of the video (S17); and tracking the object on the basis of the position of the pseudo multipole found from the image of the single frame and the position of the pseudo multipole found from an image of a frame preceding the single frame in a reproduction direction of the video (S18).
US09811727B2 Extracting reading order text and semantic entities
Methods and apparatus provide for an Extractor that receives a collection of strings and a bounding box(es) for each string. Each bounding box describes a position of at least a portion of a corresponding string in a source document. The source document includes multiple sections for presenting portions of the collection of strings in the source document. The Extractor arranges the collection of strings according to a reading order that corresponds to a language associated with the collection of strings. Upon arranging the collection of strings according to the reading order, the Extractor collects semantic entities from a target document that has the collection of strings ordered according to the reading order. For each collected semantic entity, the Extractor tags the collected semantic entity with a tag that describes a category of content that corresponds to a logical section of the target document from which the semantic entity was extracted.
US09811726B2 Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language detection
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for determining that text contains Chinese, Japanese, or Korean characters. One method includes determining a language hypothesis for each text fragment in a plurality of text fragments identified from connected components in a document image. The method further includes selecting a first subset of text fragments from the plurality of text fragments based on ratings for the language hypothesis of each text fragment in the plurality of text fragments. The method further includes verifying, by a processor, the language hypothesis of one or more text fragments in the first subset of text fragments based on optical character recognition of the one or more text fragments. The method further includes determining, by the processor, that Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (CJK) characters are present in the document image based on the verification of the language hypothesis of each of the one or more text fragments.
US09811725B2 Itinerary estimation device and method, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and information classification method
An itinerary estimation device includes a classification unit and an estimation unit. The classification unit classifies multiple pieces of expense data including information related to expenses into one or more expense data groups, according to a chronological order of date information extracted from each of the multiple pieces of expense data. The estimation unit estimates an itinerary that includes at least dates on the basis of information including date information extracted from each piece of classified expense data included in the expense data group.
US09811723B2 Method of authenticating and/or identifying a security article
A method of authenticating and/or identifying a security article including a first image includes superimposing at least partially the first image of the article with a second image. The second image may be produced by an electronic imager. The method further includes performing a relative movement between the first and second images so as to make it possible to observe an item of information relating to authentication and/or identification of the security article during the relative movement between the first and second images.
US09811722B2 Multi-camera spatial sign language recognition method and system
Systems and methods for sign language recognition are described to include circuitry to detect and track at least one hand and at least one finger of the at least one hand from at least two different locations in a room, generate a 3-dimensional (3D) interaction space based on the at least two different locations, acquire 3D data related to the at least one detected and tracked hand and the at least one detected and tracked finger, extract 3D features associated with the at least one detected and tracked hand and the at least one detected and tracked finger, analyze a relevance metric related to the extracted 3D features, classify at least one pattern from each of the at least two different locations based on a fusion of data outputs by the circuitry, and generate a recognized sign language letter based on the fusion of the data outputs.
US09811718B2 Method and a system for face verification
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for face verification. The apparatus comprises a feature extracting unit configured to extract HIFs (Hidden Identity Features) for different regions of faces by using differently trained ConvNets, wherein last hidden layer neuron activations of said ConvNets are considered as the HIFs. The apparatus further comprises a verification unit configured to concatenate the extracted HIFs of each of the faces to form a feature vector, and then compare two of the formed feature vectors to determine if they are from the same identity or not.
US09811716B2 Method for face recognition through facial expression normalization, recording medium and device for performing the method
A method for face recognition through facial expression normalization includes: fitting an input two-dimensional face image into a three-dimensional face model by using a three-dimensional face database; normalizing the three-dimensional face model into a neutral-expression three-dimensional face model by using a neutral-expression parameter learned from the three-dimensional face database; converting the neutral-expression three-dimensional face model into a neutral-expression two-dimensional face image; and recognizing the neutral-expression two-dimensional face image from a two-dimensional face database. Accordingly, face recognition may be performed with high reliability without a loss of information.
US09811713B2 Secure human fingerprint sensor
Devices, systems, and techniques are provided for performing human fingerprint detection and authentication for authenticating a request to access a locked mobile device equipped with a fingerprint detection module. In one aspect, responsive to detecting a contact from an object with the fingerprint detection module, described technique can be used to determines whether the contact from the object is from human skin. When determined that the detected contact from the object is from human skin, a presence of a human fingerprint can be detected from the object making contact. The detected fingerprint data can be obtained from the object and compared against stored fingerprint profiles associated with an authorized user of the locked mobile device. Based on the comparing, the request to access the locked mobile device can be granted.
US09811710B2 Fingerprint identifying device and fingerprint identifying system
A fingerprint identifying device and a fingerprint identifying system are provided. The fingerprint identifying device including: a substrate; a transparent cover plate, located right above the substrate; a detection light source, located on a first side of the transparent cover plate; and a photoelectric sensor, located on a side of a lower surface of the transparent cover plate, wherein, a refractive index of the transparent cover plate is less than a refractive index of a skin of a human fingerprint part, the transparent cover plate has a side surface on the first side, and an angle between the side surface and an upper surface of the transparent cover plate is an acute angle, the detection light source is configured to provide a light beam towards the side surface of the transparent cover plate, so that the light beam is incident to the upper surface of the transparent cover plate through the side surface of the transparent cover plate, and the light beam is totally reflected on the upper surface of the transparent cover plate in a case that the upper surface of the transparent cover plate is in contact with air, the photoelectric sensor is configured to receive a light beam reflected from the upper surface of the transparent cover plate. The fingerprint identifying device is capable of improving the identifying accuracy thereof.
US09811707B2 Fingerprint reader on a portion of a device for changing the configuration of the device
In one aspect, a device includes a first panel at least bearing a keyboard, a second panel at least bearing a display, and a fingerprint reader on at least a portion of at least one of the first and second panels. The portion is engageable by a user to transition the first panel away from the second panel.
US09811703B2 Attachment including a targeting optic system that directs illumination from a white light source towards a target area
An attachment for a smart phone includes a targeting optic system which, when the attachment is secured to the backside of the smart phone, receives illumination emitted by the white light source and directs the illumination towards the target area from a location that is not directly in front of the camera's image sensor. The attachment directs illumination from the white light source in a direction parallel to the backside of the smart phone to a distance farther away from the camera's image sensor than a distance between the white light source and the camera's image sensor, and from that distance farther away from the camera's image sensor, directs the illumination into the target area.
US09811702B2 Optical accessory for attachment to mobile device
An attachment assembly for use with a mobile device with a camera or a case for the mobile device can include one or more of an attachment base and an attachment body. The attachment base can be configured to be secured to at least one of the mobile device and the case. The attachment body can include at least one optical device for use with the camera and can be configured to be removably secured to the attachment base. The attachment base can removably secure the attachment body to the mobile device or the case when the attachment body is removably secured to the attachment base.
US09811701B2 Barcode-reading system
This patent specification describes a barcode-reading enhancement accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability. The accessory may include an outer case and an inner carriage. A mobile device is encased in the inner carriage, and the combination of the inner carriage and the mobile device may be accommodated in the outer case. The inner carriage is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a mobile device of a different size may be accommodated in the outer case using a different inner carriage. The accessory may also include an optic system to fold an optical path of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device and/or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device.
US09811692B2 Security and protection device and methodology
A mobile device includes a security device. The security device determines whether the mobile device is inside or outside security zones defined around a device being carried around by a user and an access point disposed at or near a place where the user regularly visit by detecting presence or absence of the wireless connection therewith. The device further determines whether or not there is an ongoing scheduled event and whether the mobile device is at or near an event location. The device further assesses a risk level of an environment where the mobile device is currently disposed based on determination results, and executes one of preset security action controls in response to the risk level determined to allow the mobile device to perform a security action to alert the user.
US09811688B2 Authentication with battery and host programmed with shared identity key
Systems and methods for providing a battery module 110 with secure identity information and authentication of the identity of the battery 110 by a host 120. In one embodiment, the system for providing a battery module with secure identity information includes: (1) a tamper resistant processing environment 200 located within the battery module 110 and (2) a key generator configured to generate a key based on an identity of the battery module 110 and cause the key to be stored within the tamper resistant processing environment 200.
US09811686B1 Support systems interactions with virtual network functions in a trusted security zone
An apparatus, comprising a network communication interface to communicatively couple the apparatus to a network, a processor coupled to the network communication interface, a memory coupled to the processor and comprising a trusted security zone, and a trusted orchestrator application stored in the trusted security zone of the memory that. When the application is executed by the processor, it receives fully-detailed data from a virtualized network function of a virtual server via a trusted end-to-end communication link, wherein the data comprises a log of events performed by the virtual network function for a customer. The application then sanitizes the data received from the virtualized network function and transmits the sanitized data outside of the trusted security zone.
US09811684B1 Token-based storage service
A token-based storage service may comprise a repository of key-value data. In response to a request to store a data item, the storage service may generate a token comprising a namespace and a unique identifier. The token may be used as a key to store and retrieve the data item from the repository. Requests to access the data may be validated based on ownership information stored with the data item and information indicative of the origin of the request for access. In response to a request to store a new version of the data item, a new token may be generated.
US09811683B2 Context-based security screening for accessing data
A computer system securely accesses a specific data store. A non-contextual data object is associated with a context object to define a first synthetic context-based object. The non-contextual data object ambiguously describes multiple types of persons, and the context object provides a circumstantial context that identifies a specific type of person from the multiple types of persons. The first synthetic context-based object is associated with at least one specific data store in a data structure. A string of binary data that describes a requester of data, including a time window for receipt and security level of the requester, is received by the computer system for generating a new synthetic context-based object. If there is a match between the new synthetic context-based object, the first synthetic context-based object, and the security level of the requester, then the data is returned to the requester by the computer system.
US09811682B2 Security policy for device data
Techniques for providing security policy for device data are described. In implementations, data on a device is stored in an encrypted form. To protect the encrypted data from being decrypted by an unauthorized entity, techniques enable a decryption key to be occluded if an attempt to gain unauthorized access to device data is detected. In implementations, a decryption key can be occluded in a variety of ways, such as by deleting the decryption key, overwriting the encryption key in memory, encrypting the encryption key, and so on. Embodiments enable an occluded decryption key to be recovered via a recovery experience. For example, a recovery experience can include an authentication procedure that requests a recovery password. If a correct recovery password is provided, the occluded decryption key can be provided.
US09811677B2 Secure data replication in a storage grid
A method for securing data in a storage grid is provided. The method includes generating a storage key from key shares of at least two storage clusters of a storage grid having at least three storage clusters and generating a grid key from the storage key and an external secret. The method includes encrypting data with the grid key to yield once encrypted data and encrypting the once encrypted data with the storage key to yield twice encrypted data. The method includes storing the twice encrypted data in a first storage cluster of the storage grid and storing the twice encrypted data in a second storage cluster of the storage grid, wherein at least one method operation is performed by a processor.
US09811675B2 Generation and use of a modified protected file
Generating a modified protected file is disclosed, including: renaming a primary content object of a protected file; and creating a modified protected file based at least in part by inserting into the protected file a replacement object for the renamed primary content object. Using the modified protected file is disclosed, including: determining that a file includes a renamed primary content object; and redirecting a data access operation to the renamed primary content object.
US09811674B2 Data leakage prevention system, method, and computer program product for preventing a predefined type of operation on predetermined data
A data leakage prevention system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing a predefined type of operation on predetermined data. In use, an attempt to perform an operation on predetermined data that is protected using a data leakage prevention system is identified. Additionally, it is determined whether a type of the operation attempted includes a predefined type of operation. Furthermore, the operation on the predetermined data is conditionally prevented based on the determination to prevent circumvention of the protection of the data leakage prevention system.
US09811673B2 Content object encapsulating content items for accessing content and access authorization information
Provided are a method, system, and computer program product for a content object encapsulating content items for accessing content and access authorization information. User input of content items is received, wherein each content item indicates a network address and content type of content at the network address. The content items are added to a content object in a computer readable storage. User input is received of access authorization information indicating a user having authority to access the content object. The access authorization information is added to the content object. A user request is received for the content object from a client computer over a network. The access authorization information is processed to determine whether the user at the client computer initiating the request has authorization to access the content object. The content object is processed to generate a presentation page to return to the client computer in response to determining that the user of the client computer is authorized to access the content object.
US09811670B2 Information processing device, information processing method, and program
An information processing device including: a data processing unit that generates an encryption key of content; and a communication unit that transmits an encryption key generated by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit generates, as the encryption key, individual keys that are different for each new content recording processing on a recording medium in a content recording device, and transmits the individual keys through the communication unit.
US09811668B2 Multi-context exploit test management
An input handler receives an exploit test request specifying at least one exploit to be tested against at least one application in at least one execution environment. A deployment engine deploys the at least one execution environment including instantiating a container providing a virtual machine image and configured based on the exploit test request, the instantiated container including the at least one application. A scheduler schedules execution of the at least one execution environment within at least one execution engine, including scheduling an injection of the at least one exploit as specified in the exploit test request. A report generator generates an exploit test report characterizing a result of the at least one exploit being injected into the at least one execution environment of the at least one execution engine.
US09811667B2 System and method for grouping computer vulnerabilities
A system and method in one embodiment includes modules for creating a vulnerability set including one or more vulnerabilities, adding the vulnerability set to a program, and updating the program by adding a new vulnerability to the vulnerability set. More specific embodiments include a program that includes a scan, creating the vulnerability set by generating a query including one or more conditions associated with the vulnerabilities, and creating the vulnerability set by selecting one or more vulnerabilities from a plurality of vulnerabilities. Other embodiments include a program that includes a report template, adding a vulnerability set to the report template by generating a query to include a condition associated with the vulnerability set, running a scan, and generating a report including one or more results from the scan meeting the condition associated with the vulnerability set.
US09811665B1 Static and dynamic security analysis of apps for mobile devices
Techniques for performing static and dynamic analysis on a mobile device application are disclosed. Static analysis is performed on a mobile device application using a static analysis engine. A static analysis report is generated. Dynamic analysis of the application is performed using a dynamic analysis engine. The dynamic analysis performed is customized based on results of the static analysis. A determination of whether the application is malicious is made based at least on the dynamic analysis.
US09811663B2 Generic unpacking of applications for malware detection
A technique for detecting malware in an executable allows unpacking of a packed executable before determining whether the executable is malware. In systems with hardware assisted virtualization, hardware virtualization features may be used to iteratively unpack a packed executable in a controlled manner without needing knowledge of a packing technique. Once the executable is completely unpacked, malware detection techniques, such as signature scanning, may be employed to determine whether the executable contains malware. Hardware assisted virtualization may be used to facilitate the scanning of the run-time executable in memory.
US09811660B2 Securing a shared serial bus
A method for securing a serial bus shared by a control module and one or more subordinate electronic devices, the serial bus having a protocol specifying that messages on the serial bus have a source address and a destination address. The method comprises examining, by one or more processors of the control module, each message appearing on the serial bus that was not originated by the control module; identifying, by one or more processors of the control module, a suspect message that satisfies one or more suspect message criteria. The method includes updating, by one or more processors of the control module, an event metric, and testing to determine whether a threshold has been exceeded; and in the event the threshold has not been exceeded, initiating, by one or more processors of the control module, a co-transmission sufficient to disrupt consumption of the suspect message by a subordinate device.
US09811657B2 Security information for software parts
A system and method of identifying a security policy for a software part. Security information for the software part is signed with a security information digital signature to form signed security information. The security information identifies a security policy for the software part. The signed security information is associated with the software part.
US09811656B1 MRCP resource access control mechanism for mobile devices
A system and method for Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) access control for a mobile device. An entity requesting to utilize MRCP resources establishes a relationship with a MRCP resource provider. The MRCP resource provider maintains account information for the entity, and the entity receives a unique account number for identification purposes. The entity requests from the MRCP resource provider generation of at least one MRCP access PIN associated with the account information, and provides a data string associated with the MRCP access PIN to the MRCP resource provider.
US09811655B2 Method, apparatus, and system for managing user accounts
Embodiments of the present application relate to a method and system for managing user accounts. The method includes receiving a registration request from a current user, wherein the registration request comprises a login name main part, determining, in a database, whether a conflicting old user exists, wherein a conflicting old user corresponds to another user that has a conflicting login name main part that is the same as the login name main part received in connection with the registration request, in the event that a conflicting old user exists, executing a login password differentiation process that requires a user to register a different login password that is different from a login password associated with the conflicting old user, and storing the different login password to the database in connection with a registration of the current user.
US09811653B1 Location specific image based authentication
Embodiments are described for logging in to a location-specific user account on a host system. An example method includes sending, by a user device, as part of a login request, an authentication image. The method further includes receiving an authentication response from the host system based on determining whether the login request is sent from an authorized login-location, which is based on a comparison of the authentication image with a reference image captured at the authorized login-location. The method further includes, in response to the authentication image matching the reference image within a predetermined threshold range, receiving access to the user account based on the authentication response.
US09811652B2 Image decoloring apparatus and method of controlling security in image decoloring apparatus
According to an embodiment, an image erasing apparatus includes an accessory information acquiring unit and an execution availability determining unit. The accessory information acquiring unit acquires accessory information related to security of the sheet based on attribute data of a sheet on which an erasable image is formed. The execution availability determining unit each determines execution availability of erase processing for the image on the sheet and execution availability of preservation processing for the image data generated by the readout unit, based on the accessory information.
US09811651B2 System and method for controlling user access to an electronic device
A method and system for authenticating a user to access a computer system. The method comprises communicating security information to the computer system, and providing the computer system with an implicit input. The method further comprises determining whether the security information and implicit input match corresponding information associated with the user. The method further comprises granting the user access to the computer system in the event of a satisfactory match. When authenticating the user, the method and system consider the possibility of the user being legitimate but subject to duress or force by a computer hacker.
US09811649B2 System and method for feature-based authentication
A system and method for capturing an image of a user. An image is captured with a camera, wherein the image includes a user's image. A first avatar is displayed in a display, wherein displaying includes positioning an avatar in at least some of the user's image. The user is then encouraged to move so the first avatar moves to a second position in the display.
US09811646B2 Method, secure device, system and computer program product for securely managing files
A method, a secure device and a computer program product for securely managing files. The method includes providing a secure device, where the secure device is protected by design against malicious software or malware and adapted to establish a connection to a server via a host, the host connected to the server through a telecommunication network, upon receiving a request for using a file stored on the secure device, processing the request at the secure device according to an updated use permission associated to the file, where the updated use permission is obtained by instructing at the secure device to establish a connection between the secure device and the server via the host and updating at the device the use permission associated to the file, according to permission data sent from the server through the established connection.
US09811643B2 Method, system, server and terminal for implementing secure transmission of data
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a server divides data into multiple data segments, directly stores some of the data segments without encryption, and encrypts and stores the other data segments; the server receives, from the terminal, a download request of downloading the data, and sends the unencrypted data segments to the terminal; and the server receives an identity authentication request sent by the terminal, performs identity authentication on the terminal, and sends the encrypted data segments to the terminal after the identity authentication succeeds.
US09811641B2 Modifying a cosmetic product based on a microbe profile
Systems and methods are described for modifying a cosmetic product based on a microbe profile including an ingredient-microbe interaction dataset including information associated with interactions between reference cosmetic ingredients and types of reference microbes; and a computing device including circuitry configured to receive information associated with the microbe profile of an individual, receive information associated with an ingredient list of the cosmetic product, compare the microbe profile of the individual and the ingredient list of the cosmetic product to the ingredient-microbe interaction dataset, identify an interaction between at least one cosmetic ingredient in the ingredient list of the cosmetic product and at least one of the one or more types of microbes in the microbe profile of the individual, recommend a modification to the ingredient list in response to an identified interaction, and report to a user the recommended modification.
US09811637B2 Medical pill dispensing system
Systems and methods are disclosed for a medical pill dispensing system. A method involves accessing a plan. The plan indicates a first pill distribution for a first period of time, and a second pill distribution for a second period of time. The method also involves receiving an input, where the input indicates a change to the plan. The input indicates at least one pill to be distributed in the first period of time. The method also involves determining whether to modify one or more of the first pill distribution or the second pill distribution. The method involves, in response to a determination that the second pill distribution is to be modified, modifying the plan to indicate a change in the second pill distribution.
US09811631B2 Automated cloud image processing and routing
Example systems, methods and computer program products for cloud-based, anatomy-specific identification, processing and routing of image data in a cloud infrastructure are disclosed. An example method includes evaluating, automatically by a particularly programmed processor in a cloud infrastructure, image data to identify an anatomy in the image data. The example method includes processing, automatically by the processor, the image data based on a processing algorithm determined by the processor based on the anatomy identified in the image data. The example method also includes routing, automatically by the processor, the image data to a data consumer based on a routing strategy determined by the processor based on the anatomy identified in the image data. The example method includes generating, automatically by the processor based on the processing and routing, at least one of a push of the image data and a notification of availability of the image data.
US09811630B2 Multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools and methods
Various downhole drilling tools designed and manufactured at least in part on evaluating respective forces acting on respective groups and sets of cutting elements during simulated engagement with the downhole end of a wellbore and drilling from a first downhole formation into a second downhole formation. Simulating forces acting on each cutting element as the cutting element contacts a downhole formation may be used to force balance downhole drilling tools during transition drilling or non-uniform downhole drilling conditions. Multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools may be designed using five respective simulations, cutter group level, neighbor cutter group level, cutter set level, group of N (N=3 or N=4) consecutive cutters level and all cutters level. Various cutter layout procedures and algorithms may also be used to design multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools which may drill faster with higher lateral stability, especially during downhole transiting drilling conditions.
US09811629B2 Circuit information generating apparatus and circuit information generating system
A circuit information generating apparatus includes a switching section that switches wiring between a base module and an extension module, an address acquisition section acquiring identification information of the extension module, a wiring information acquisition section, a firmware acquisition section acquiring firmware that operates the extension module, a wiring information rewriting section identifying circuit configuration information of each extension module based on the identification information, and rewrites a part of the wiring information based on the circuit configuration information, a circuit information generating section generating circuit information based on the circuit configuration information of the extension module and the rewritten wiring information, and a firmware generating section rewrites definition information of the wiring included in the firmware, based on the rewritten wiring information, and generates information indicating a circuit configuration of an electronic circuit configured using the extension module connected with the base module and serving a specific function.
US09811627B2 Method of component partitions on system on chip and device thereof
A partition method includes sorting the plurality of components into a plurality of partitions according to a set of partition criteria and sorting the plurality of components of each partition into a first stack and a second stack according to a set of stack criteria, and the first stack includes a plurality of higher pitch metal layers and the second stack includes a plurality of lower pitch metal layers. The partition criteria include size, power and speed of the component, and the stack criteria include a pitch of a metal layer.
US09811622B2 Optimized network node selection
A device receives Internet protocol (IP) addresses and metrics associated with network nodes of a network, and stores the IP addresses and the metrics in a route table. The device receives, from a user equipment, a request to connect to the network, and determines a particular network node, of the network nodes, to which to forward a communication session of the user equipment, based on the request and based on the metrics stored in the route table. The device forwards the communication session of the user equipment to the particular network node, and the particular network node enables the user equipment to connect to the network.
US09811620B2 Lattice structure interfacing
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for designing three dimensional lattice structures include, in one aspect, a method including: obtaining a lattice within a 3D lattice design space for a 3D model being created with a 3D modeling program; identifying junctions in the lattice that are potential sources of particle traps at an interface between the 3D lattice design space and a surface present in the 3D model; and removing the potential sources of particle traps by modifying cell space defined between the identified junctions and the surface. In addition, the surface can be a surface of a solid region defined in the 3D model, and the method can include: identifying beams in the lattice having junctions lying on the surface; and extending each of the identified beams by a length amount to cause overlap between the identified beams and the solid region.
US09811609B2 Device for placing bore channels when attaching artificial ligaments to the bone and method for producing a corresponding device
A device for the patient-specific, individual anatomic placement of bore channels when attaching artificial ligaments to bones, namely for use in placing boreholes on the thigh and lower leg during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, is provided with a probe (1) to be introduced into a joint via an arthroscopy portal and with a targeting head (2) disposed on the distal end of the probe. The targeting head (2) comprises a targeting template (3) which is produced individually using a 3-D imaging method, in particular 3-D magnetic resonance tomography (3-D-MRT) or 3-D computer tomography (3-D-CT), and which is a negative imprint of the osseous surface relief in the region where the torn ligament attaches to the bone in question, in particular where the cruciate ligament attaches to the thigh or lower leg. The targeting template (3) comprises at least one passage (4) for marking the bore channel that is to be produced on the bone, and a hand grip (7) is provided on the proximal end of the probe (1) for holding and positioning. The invention also relates to a method for producing a corresponding device.
US09811607B2 System and method to extract unique elements from sorted list
A device includes an input array register, a determining component and a computing component. The input array register stores a sorted list of n elements as an input array having size n, n being an integer greater than or equal to two. The determining component creates a list of m elements as a mask array having a size m, m being an integer greater than or equal to one, one of the m elements being based on two adjacent of the n elements of the input array. The computing component performs a mathematical operation between the input array and the mask array to generate a list of p elements as an output array having a size p, p being an integer greater than or equal to 0, the p elements identifying unique elements within the n elements.
US09811606B2 Search system and method of providing vertical service connection
A search system for providing a vertical service connection includes a search word completing unit configured to determine, upon receiving a search word from a user terminal, at least one auto-complete search word corresponding to a currently input search word; a search word matching unit configured to match the at least one auto-complete search word with a vertical service; a display unit configured to cause the display of the at least one auto-complete search word and a vertical service icon; and a vertical service searching unit configured to provide, upon receiving a selection signal indicating selection of the vertical service icon, results of searching content included in the matched vertical service for the at least one auto-complete search word.
US09811600B2 Exchange of newly-added information over the internet
System and method for collecting and supplying ranked (270), indexed information as a premium service to users and advertisers. An information exchange is operated so as to aggregate, publish and subscribe Really Simple Syndication (RSS) and web services based information from different web based (110) and proprietary network sources. Recently published news or inventory information, new services or products are published into the system. Upon entry of the information, it is processed and distributed by the system to people, related parties or other systems that have expressed an interest in being notified of the type of published information as it becomes available.
US09811597B2 Computer implemented methods and apparatus for identifying topical influence in an online social network
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable storage media for identifying topical influence in an online social network. In some implementations, an entity associated with a feed item is identified. A topic associated with the entity or with the feed item is also identified. The entity can be determined to be a topical influencer regarding the topic in the online social network based on one or more factors, such as a factor indicating dissemination of information associated with the identified topic to other entities. A display device can be configured to display information indicating the determination that the entity is a topical influencer of the identified topic.
US09811596B2 System, method, and computer readable storage media for managing and processing golf data
A system, method and non-transitory storage medium to manage and process golf game data, golf player data, handicap data, golf team data, and golf course data so as to organize and manage team-based groups or golf leagues of extended duration where asynchronous golf game play during some periods and synchronous game play during other periods on real golf courses and potentially different golf courses is possible. Extensive grouping, scoring, and ranking of golf teams as well as qualification-based tournaments are provided so as to create previously unseen effects of creating a strong community of interest in golfing and increasing the enjoyment and frequency of golf play.
US09811594B2 Automatic explanation of presented abbreviations
An abbreviation definition database is generated by analyzing online collaborative session participant content. An unexplained abbreviation is located in content currently being presented in an online collaborative session system. A definition for the unexplained abbreviation is determined from content of the abbreviation definition database. The determined definition is presented with the currently presented content through the online collaborative session system.
US09811592B1 Query modification based on textual resource context
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for modifying a query based on textual resource content. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, from a user device, a query including a plurality of terms; determining an active textual resource displayed in an application environment on the user device; determining to modify the query received from the user device, and in response: determining, based on the textual resource, modification data for the query, generating a set of modified queries based on the query and the modification data, scoring the modified queries according to one or more scoring criteria, selecting one of the modified queries based on the scoring, and providing, to the user device, search results responsive to the selected modified query.
US09811591B2 International search engine optimization analytics
A system and method for generating search engine analytics data to be displayed on a display. A processor may send search queries to a first country search engine and to a second country search engine and receive first and second ranked result sets in response. The processor may generate search engine data for a domain based on the search queries, the first ranked result set, and the second ranked result set. The processor may further generate report data to be displayed on the display based on the search engine data. The report data may include data effective to display first analytics for the domain for the first country search engine and second analytics for the domain for the second country search engine. Analytics may represent trends of ranks over a time interval.
US09811590B1 Managing cached data in a network environment
Techniques are described for managing cached data in a network environment. In one example, the techniques include receiving a client request for a data group, determining that a cached copy of the requested data group that is stored in the persistent cache storage is no longer valid relative to a current copy of the data group stored at a remote data source system, obtaining from the remote data source system information about differences between the cached copy and the current copy and instructions associated with the identified differences, modifying, by the configured server computing system, the cached copy to include the identified differences in accordance with the received instructions, and providing, by the configured server computing system, the modified cached copy of the requested data group to the client in response to the client request.
US09811588B1 Methods and apparatus for generating causality matrix and impacts using graph processing
Methods and apparatus for generating a causality matrix using vertex-centric processing framework to be used by a codebook correlation engine to determine a set of problems to explain active symptoms in a system. Methods and apparatus for calculating impacts of problems using vertex-centric processing framework.
US09811587B1 Contextual content distribution
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for distributing content based on context are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes identifying, in a single resource, multiple different content item slots that are available for presentation of multiple different content items. A determination is made that a first content item slot is located in a first portion of the single resource, and that a second content item slot is located in a second different portion of the resource. A first content item is selected for presentation in the first content item slot based on terms that correspond to a first topic of the first portion of the resource. A second content item is selected for presentation in the second content item slot based on terms that correspond to a second topic of the second portion of the resource.
US09811586B2 Systems and methods for processing and organizing electronic content
The present disclosure generally relates to processing and organizing electronic content. In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided that comprises receiving source data from at least one content server, the source data being associated with electronic content. The method also includes generating local data based on at least one of an analysis of the received source data or an extraction from the received source data. Additionally, the method includes classifying the electronic content as being associated with one or more content stacks. Further, the method includes generating representations of the electronic content based on the local data and generating instructions to display at least one content stack on a user interface, each displayed contact stack being operable to display one or more of the representations of the electronic content associated with the content stack based on the classification.
US09811585B2 Adaptive system
The invention relates to forming a prediction using an experience matrix, a matrix based on sparse vectors such as random index vectors. At least a part of a first experience matrix and at least a part of at least a second experience matrix are caused to be combined (1410) to obtain a combined experience matrix. The experience matrices comprise sparse vectors or essentially similar vectors in nature, and said experience matrices comprise information of at least one system, for example contexts of a system. At least a part of at least one sparse vector of the combined experience matrix is accessed to form a prediction output (1420), and a system is controlled (1430) in response to said prediction output.
US09811582B2 Method and system for information query
A method and system for information query include: receiving and saving shared information released by users (101); receiving a query request sent by a user and searching for a trusted user corresponding to the user (102); searching for shared information meeting a query condition in the query request among shared information released by the trusted user, and returning a query result to the user requesting for query (103). The method and system may provide a more credible query result to the querying user.
US09811581B2 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.
US09811577B2 Asynchronous data replication using an external buffer table
Embodiments of the present invention provide, systems, methods, and computer program products for asynchronously replicating data from source tables of a source computer system to target tables of a target computer system. Embodiments of the present invention implement an external buffer table (EBT) from which changed data statements can be selectively applied to target tables, which can reduce the number of statements applied to the target tables of the target computer system.
US09811576B2 Digital asset management system (DAMS)
A digital asset management system (DAMS) provides an integrated user experience for the rapid and facile manipulation of a users digital assets in an online environment. Spanning the spectrum of digital assets, the DAMS system set forth herein enables users to tag, filter, collect, and show such digital assets in a manner which requires preferably minimal user interaction in order to achieve digital asset management and exhibition. Sharing among friends and family becomes much easier and incoming digital assets may be automatically segregated according to user choices or history to enable easier management of such assets. Recognition of relationships, characteristics, features, and the like between different assets may occur automatically and develop an ongoing fashion to enable association of such similar assets into “collections” or the like.
US09811574B2 Extract Transform Load (ETL) applications for job matching
Various of the disclosed embodiments present systems and methods for generating consolidated job postings from disparate originating sources and formats. Applying an Extraction Transform Load (ETL) framework to the incoming data, a parallel and asynchronous as well as scalable approach to distributing job posting information is presented. “Extraction” may involve the recognition of salient information in the disparate formats (e.g., in employment listings on company webpages). During “transformation”, the information may be reformatted into a universal format or into a format suitable for use at a given destination system. During “loading”, the reformatted data may be supplied to a suitable destination system, e.g., the Application Programming Interface (APIs) of a job board system. Applications in related domains and various optimizations are also discussed.
US09811572B2 Multi-axis expand/collapse for relational databases
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for expanding a row or column in an existing report, sourced from a relational database, where a column or row, respectively, of an opposite axis has already been expanded. Such a need often arises in reports sourced from a SQL database, and overcomes the storage-draining need to precompute all possible arrangements of data from the database prior to displaying the report. In some embodiments, a client can make a request for a multi-axis expansion, and a server can create filters for use in sub queries, one for each level of expansion in an axis of the report opposite to the axis where expansion is requested, the sub queries can be executed, results sets can be combined/formatted to form a new report, and the new report can be returned to the client for stitching into the existing report.
US09811569B2 Suggesting candidate profiles similar to a reference profile
Techniques for identifying and presenting member profiles similar to a source member profile are described. With some embodiments, a general recommendation engine is used to extract features from member profiles, and then store the extracted features, including any computed, derived or retrieved profile features, in an enhanced member profile. In real-time, the general recommendation engine processes client requests to identify member profiles similar to a source member profile by comparing select profile features stored in the enhanced member profile with corresponding profile features of the source member profile, where the comparison results in several similarity sub-scores that are then combined in accordance with directives set forth in a configuration file. Finally, the member profiles with the highest similarity scores corresponding with the user-selected member profile are selected, and in some instances, presented to a user.
US09811566B1 Modifying search result ranking based on implicit user feedback
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to ranking search results of a search query. In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes determining a measure of relevance for a document result within a context of a search query for which the document result is returned, the determining being based on a first number in relation to a second number, the first number corresponding to longer views of the document result, and the second number corresponding to at least shorter views of the document result; and outputting the measure of relevance to a ranking engine for ranking of search results, including the document result, for a new search corresponding to the search query. The subject matter described in this specification can also be embodied in various corresponding computer program products, apparatus and systems.
US09811561B2 Executing database queries using multiple processors
A system and a method are disclosed for efficiently executing database queries using a computing device that includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a processing unit based on single instruction multiple thread (SIMT) architecture, for example, a GPU. A query engine determines a target processing unit to execute a database query based on factors including the type and amount of data processed by the query, the complexity of the query, and the current load on the processing units. An intermediate executable representation generator generates an intermediate executable representation for executing a query on a database virtual machine. If the query engine determines that the database query should be executed on an SIMT based processing unit, a native code generator generates native code from the intermediate executable representation. The native code is optimized for execution using a particular processing unit.
US09811560B2 Version control based on a dual-range validity model
Techniques related to version control based on a dual-range validity model are disclosed. In an embodiment, an online analytical processing (OLAP) server stores a plurality of version records describing versions of a data item. A version record may describe any open transactions for a version of the data item. The version record may specify a commit timestamp for the data item at a database and a valid timestamp at least as great as the commit timestamp. The commit timestamp and the valid timestamp may specify a validity range. The version record may also specify an expiration timestamp, which along with the valid timestamp may specify an unresolved range. The OLAP server may also identify a valid version of the data item for a query timestamp that corresponds to a query for particular data in the data item and that falls within either the validity range or the unresolved range.
US09811556B2 Source code search engine
A source code search comprises a two-pass search. The first pass comprises a topological measure of similarity. The second pass comprises a semantic measure of similarity. The query source code is a user-selected portion of source code. The results may be ranked and output to an I/O device.
US09811551B1 Utilizing multiple fingerprint tables in a deduplicating storage system
A system and method for managing fingerprint tables in deduplicating storage systems. A computer system includes a storage device and a data storage controller coupled to the storage device. The controller is configured to for each of a plurality of data objects stored in a storage device, determine, based on one or more attributes corresponding to usage of the data object, a probability of the data object being deduplicated; store within a first fingerprint table, fingerprints of data objects with the highest probability of being deduplicated; store within a second fingerprint table, fingerprints of data objects with a lower probability of being deduplicated than the data objects having fingerprints stored in the first fingerprint table; and search fingerprints of the first fingerprint table to determine whether a fingerprint for a data object associated with a write request matches a fingerprint for any of the data objects in the first fingerprint table.
US09811545B1 Storage of sparse files using parallel log-structured file system
A sparse file is stored without holes by storing a data portion of the sparse file using a parallel log-structured file system; and generating an index entry for the data portion, the index entry comprising a logical offset, physical offset and length of the data portion. The holes can be restored to the sparse file upon a reading of the sparse file. The data portion can be stored at a logical end of the sparse file. Additional storage efficiency can optionally be achieved by (i) detecting a write pattern for a plurality of the data portions and generating a single patterned index entry for the plurality of the patterned data portions; and/or (ii) storing the patterned index entries for a plurality of the sparse files in a single directory, wherein each entry in the single directory comprises an identifier of a corresponding sparse file.
US09811541B2 System and method for supporting lazy deserialization of session information in a server cluster
A system and method can support in-memory session replication in a server cluster using a lazy deserialization approach. The server cluster can include a primary application server and a secondary application server. The primary application server operates to receive a request associated with a session from a client and maintains session information associated with the session. Based on the session information, the primary application server can responds to the client. The secondary application server operates to receive and maintain serialized session information from the primary application server. The secondary application server operates to update the serialized session information based on one or more session updates received from the primary application server. When the primary application server fails, the secondary application server can generate deserialized session information based on the updated serialized session information and responds to the client.
US09811538B2 Search engine for video and graphics
A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.
US09811536B2 Categorizing captured images for subsequent search
Systems and methods are described to identify in the images text, people, landmarks, objects, or any combination thereof and to store and search for images based on extracted data. A portable computing device, such as a wireless phone or tablet computer, may capture an image, determine context data associated with the image, and send the image and context data to an analyzer. The analyzer may extract data from the image and send the extracted data to the portable computing device. For example, the analyzer may determine if the image includes alphanumeric characters and perform character recognition (e.g., using optical character recognition (OCR) or similar technology). A format of the characters that are recognized in the image may be analyzed to determine additional information, such as whether the characters are a phone number, a uniform resource locator (URL), a name of a person, a name of a location, or the like. The analyzer may determine if the image includes a person, a landmark, an object, etc. by comparing at least a portion of the image with other images. The analyzer may send the extracted data to the portable computing device for storage. The portable computing device may associate the context data and the extracted data with a downsampled (e.g., thumbnail) version of the image to enable a user to query the context data and extracted data.
US09811524B2 Distributed data set storage and retrieval
An apparatus comprising a processor component to: provide, to a control device, an indication of availability to perform a processing task with one or more data set portions as a node device; perform a processing task specified by the control device with the one or more data set portions; and request a pointer to a location at which to store the one or more data set portions as a data block within a data file. In response to the data set including partitioned data, for each data set portion, include a data sub-block size of the data set portion and a hashed identifier derived from a partition label of a partition in the request; receive, from the control device, the requested pointer to the location; and store each data set portion as a data sub-block within the data block starting at the location within the data file.
US09811522B2 System and method for transforming a source virtual machine without copying of payload data
System and method for conversion of virtual machine files without requiring copying of the virtual machine payload (data) from one location to another location. By eliminating this step, applicant's invention significantly enhances the efficiency of the conversion process. In one embodiment, a file system or storage system provides indirections to locations of data elements stored on a persistent storage media. A source virtual machine file includes hypervisor metadata (HM) data elements in one hypervisor file format, and virtual machine payload (VMP) data elements. The source virtual machine file is converted by transforming the HM data elements of the source file to create destination HM data elements in a destination hypervisor format different from the source hypervisor format; maintaining the locations of the VMP data elements stored on the persistent storage media constant during the conversion from source to destination file formats without reading or writing the VMP data elements; and creating indirections to reference the destination HM data elements in the destination hypervisor format and the existing stored VMP data elements.
US09811518B2 Systems, methods, and software for questionbased sentiment analysis and summarization
Exemplary systems for processing a corpus of documents, such as legal contracts or agreements, are disclosed. The systems include a phrase discovery engine which derives statistics and phrase equivalence classes, groups of phrase equivalence classes, and uberphrases (clauses) bounded by phrases. These can be used to determine origins of phrases or clauses within given legal contract or to suggest alternative phrases and clauses.
US09811516B2 Location aware spreadsheet actions
Location information is integrated with spreadsheet formulas and operations. Location information may be used in filtering data, detecting data sources, performing calculations, and the like. The data may be filtered by location, individuals, places, and other location based information. The location information may be integrated into native spreadsheet formulas to perform calculations, trigger alerts, or drive other spreadsheet business logic. The location information may also be used to detect and use nearby data sources that are published near the spreadsheet user.
US09811515B2 Annotating posts in a forum thread with improved data
An approach is provided to analyze posts included in threads of one or more threaded discussions. The analysis identifies child posts that refer to a parent post that was selected a user of a user interface. A statement in the parent post is identified and that statement is analyzed using agreement data found in the child posts that refer to the parent post. The parent post and the analysis of the statement is displayed to the user at the user interface.