Document Document Title
US09825398B1 Waterproof connector
In the waterproof connector, a receptacle is provided with a first housing and first contacts, and a plug is provided with a second housing and second contacts. The first housing has a header at one end portion side and a quadrangular shaped waterproof ring mounted to allow close contact with an outer perimeter of the header. The second housing has in its interior a second contact housing chamber into which the header can be introduced, and has a shell which surrounds a periphery of the plurality of second contacts. The waterproof ring has a first pucker, formed with an undulating shape at an outer perimeter of the front portion, and which can closely contact at an inner wall of the shell, and a second pucker, formed with an undulating shape at an outer perimeter of the rear portion, and which can closely contact at an inner wall of a first frame.
US09825396B2 Electrical connector with male blade terminal protector
An electrical connector can include a male blade terminal protector that protects one or more male blade terminals from external objects before, during, and after coupling of the male connector to a female connector. The male blade terminal protector can be slidably disposed within a housing of the male connector and configured to retract when the female connector is coupled to the male connector and extend when the female connector is decoupled from the male connector. The male blade terminal protector is moveable from an extended position to a retracted position when a ledge is disengage from a catch by a ramped surface of a female housing and a retraction tab of the female housing is configured to move the male blade terminal protector from the retracted position to the extended position as the female connector is disengaged from the male connector.
US09825393B1 Electrical contact having contact surfaces in two planes perpendicular to each other
An electrical contact is provided. The electrical contact includes a mating segment configured to engage another contact. The mating segment extends a length to a contact end of the mating segment. The mating segment includes a first mating zone that is located a distance from the contact end along the length of the mating segment. The first mating zone is configured to intimately engage the other contact in a first plane for electrical communication between the electrical contact and the other contact. The mating segment includes a second mating zone that is offset from the first mating zone along the length of the mating segment in a direction toward the contact end. The second mating zone is configured to intimately engage the other contact in a second plane that extends approximately perpendicular to the first plane for electrical communication between the electrical contact and the other contact.
US09825392B1 High speed connector assembly, receptacle connector and receptacle terminal
A high speed connector assembly is disclosed in this invention, which includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. Each differential signal terminal of the receptacle connector has an L-type body, a front mating portion and a bottom mounting portion. The front mating portion includes two L-type arms having unequal length. A front end of each L-type arm disposes a resilient contact finger being perpendicular to a vertical plane. The resilient contact fingers of the two L-type arms can respectively and electrically contact with two opposite sides of one plug terminal of the plug connector, thereby forming double-sided contact. The present invention can suppress the short pile effect and reduce signal crosstalk and signal loss during transmitting the high speed signal by this double contact.
US09825388B2 Layout method, electronic device and connector
A layout method applied to a connector is provided. The connector is electrically connected between a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and a printed circuit board (PCB). The FPC includes M pairs of differential lines and X shield lines. The PCB includes M pairs of differential lines and Z shield lines. The layout method includes following steps. Firstly, M pairs of conductive lines are disposed on the connector. The M conductive lines are correspondingly electrically connected to the M differential lines of the FPC and the M differential lines of the PCB. Then; Y conductive lines are disposed on the connector, wherein Y is smaller than X. Furthermore, at least one of the Y conductive lines is electrically connected to at least one of the X shield lines and at least one of the Z shield lines.
US09825387B2 Linear edge connector with a cable retention mechanism having a body with a groove with an indentation to receive a bolster plate protrusion
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a linear edge connector assembly and corresponding bolster plate features for receiving and securing a linear edge connector assembly. Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a linear edge connector assembly that includes a grooved and indented receiver that can receive a spring loaded ball on the bolster plate. In embodiments, the linear edge connector assembly can include a magnetic element to create a magnetic attraction to magnetic elements on the bolster plate, such as a press-fit ball or a U-shaped hardstop. In some embodiments, the linear edge connector assembly includes a screw or push pin that can be received by a receiver on the bolster plate. The receiver can include a thread or friction fit receiver.
US09825386B2 Board to board male connector and board to board female connector
A board to board male connector includes a male insulator, a first male signal contact set, a second male signal contact set, and a first male holding contact. The male insulator includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a first erect wall, and second erect wall. The first side wall is opposite to the second side wall. The first erect wall is opposite to the second erect wall. The first male signal contact set is disposed on the first erect wall. The second male signal contact set is disposed on the second erect wall. The first male holding contact includes a first male holding body disposed on the first side wall, and at least one first embedding wing extending from at least one side of the first male holding body and embedding into the first side wall.
US09825383B2 Shielded circuit board mounted connector having blade type contacts
A connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) and a plurality of contacts (2) assembled onto the insulative housing (1), the insulative housing (1) defining a mating surface (11), a mounting surface (12) opposite to the mating surface (11) and a plurality of contact grooves (13) passing though the mating surface (11) and the mounting surface (12). The contact (2) assembled onto the insulative housing (1) from the mounting surface (12) of the insulative housing (1), each contact (2) including a contact portion (21) received in the contact grooves (13) and a mounting portion (22) extending out of the insulative housing (1). Wherein the connector (100) further includes a shell (4) assembled to the insulative housing (1), the shell (4) includes a shielding portion (41) shielding the mounting surface (12), thereby preventing the contact (2) shedding from the insulative housing (1) or loosening in the insulative housing (1) to make the combine of the contact (2) and insulative housing (1) reliable.
US09825382B2 Low profile connector and assembly of the same
A connector (100) and assembly of the same, the connector comprises an insulative housing (1) and a plurality of contacts (2) assembled onto the insulative housing (1), the insulative housing (1) defining a mating surface (11) and a mounting surface (12) opposite to the mating surface (11). Each contact (2) including a contact portion (21) arranged in the insulative housing (1) and a mounting portion (22) locating at the mounting surface (12) and protruding sidewardly beyond said insulative housing, the mounting portion (22) defines a soldering surface (222) for being soldered onto to said printed circuit board (200), said soldering surface (222) face toward the mounting surface (12). Therefore, when the connector (100) assembled to the printed circuit board (200), we could make full use of the height space at the up and down direction of the printed circuit board (200), thus greatly reducing the height space occupied by the connector (100).
US09825377B2 Conducting member
A conductive member of the present invention includes: a metallic conductive base material including a joining region to be joined to another conductive member when the conductive member is used; and a conductive-auxiliary-coating-agent layer for imparting conductivity and an oxidation preventing property to a joining section between the joining region and another conductive member when the conductive member is used, the conductive-auxiliary-coating-agent layer being formed by applying a conductive auxiliary coating agent to the joining region of the conductive base material, in which the joining region of the conductive base material has a surface roughness of 0.6 μm or less in terms of an arithmetic mean roughness Ra specified in JISB0601 (1994).
US09825372B1 Dual polarized aperture coupled radiating element for AESA systems
An antenna with an FR-4 dielectric material layer includes at least one metallization layer having metallic dipoles organized into two clusters. Each of the two clusters includes metallic dipoles generally elongated along a common axis to produce signals of specific polarization. Each of the two clusters is oriented orthogonal to the other to produce two separate, orthogonally polarized signals. Each of the two clusters is associated with a dedicated stripline feed, positioned and oriented to maximize gain of the radiating element. Power from each stripline planar feed couples to the metallic dipoles through a dedicated aperture in the stripline ground plane.
US09825371B2 Segmented structure, particularly for satellite antenna reflector, provided with at least one strip-comprising unfurling device
A segmented structure comprising at least two panels, one panel referred to as a main panel and at least one panel referred to as a secondary panel, together with at least one unfurling device able to bring a secondary panel into a storage position or into an unfurled position, the unfurling device comprising at least one strip fixed to the secondary panel and connected to the main panel, the strip being elastically preloaded into the storage position thereof so as to unfurl automatically and autonomously when relative movement between the secondary panel and the main panel becomes possible, so as to move the secondary panel.
US09825370B2 Antenna reflector phase correction film and reflector antenna
The disclosure relates to an antenna reflector phase correction film and a reflector antenna. The antenna reflector phase correction film includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and multiple artificial microstructures disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the artificial microstructures are wires made of electrically conductive materials, and an electromagnetic wave, emergent after being reflected by an antenna reflector attached with the antenna reflector phase correction film, has an equiphase surface. According to the disclosure, the antenna reflector phase correction film has specific refractive index distribution internally, so that a surface emergent phase of a reflector can be corrected after attaching onto a surface of a conventional reflector, a phase error caused due to installation or processing is improved, a complete flat emergent equiphase is obtained, and then a far-field performance (such as a higher gain) is improved.
US09825367B2 Dipole antenna and wireless terminal device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a dipole antenna and a wireless terminal device, which relate to communications technologies and enable an antenna to have a relatively high performance and a relatively low production cost. The dipole antenna includes a first radiation arm, a second radiation arm, and a balun. The first radiation arm and the second radiation arm are both soldered on a dielectric substrate. The first radiation arm and the second radiation arm are separately connected to the balun electrically. The balun is electrically connected to a feeding point and a reference ground separately. The present invention may be applied to a terminal device.
US09825366B2 Printed circuit board antenna and printed circuit board
A printed circuit board antenna and a printed circuit board are disclosed. The printed circuit board antenna includes a feeding part having at least one first branch; a coupling interdigital part having at least one second branch, where a gap is formed between the first branch and the second branch; a grounding part, where a gap is formed between the grounding part and the feeding part, a gap is formed between the grounding part and the coupling interdigital part, an opening is provided on the grounding part, and a feeding point of the feeding part extends out from the opening. The embodiments of the present invention resolve a problem of relatively low efficiency when high-frequency bandwidth of an antenna is relatively wide, implementing that efficiency meets a product requirement in an entire range of bandwidth.
US09825361B2 Antenna with multifrequency capability for miniaturized applications
A circuit arrangement includes a first antenna configured to couple to an electromagnetic field from a first frequency band and a second antenna configured to couple to an electromagnetic field from a second frequency band, the second frequency band being different than the first frequency band. The first antenna is connected in series with the second antenna as an electrical supply line therefor.
US09825360B2 Side lobe modulation system and related techniques
Embodiments for providing side lobe modulation in a radio frequency (RF) transmitting are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an antenna side lobe is modulated to add data to the side lobe for communication with an intended recipient.
US09825359B2 Antenna device having rotatable structure
An architecture for providing a low cost, high performance antenna for small devices In particular, a rotatable antenna that having three antenna elements; a primary element consisting of a radiating element and swiveling cylindrical head, a secondary element that consists of a feeding cylindrical pin attached vertically to an electronic device main board, and a third element that consists of a plastic part over-molding the secondary element to permit electromagnetic coupling accuracy between the primary and secondary elements.
US09825353B2 Antenna device and method of setting resonant frequency of antenna device
In antenna device, a coil conductor of an antenna coil module and a conductor layer at least partially overlap. A current flows in the conductor layer to block a magnetic field generated by a current flowing in the coil conductor. A current flows along the periphery of a slit and around the periphery of the conductor layer due to a cut-edge effect. Since magnetic flux does not pass through the conductor layer, magnetic flux attempts to bypass the conductor layer along a path in which the conductor opening of the conductor layer is on the inside and the outer edge of the conductor layer is on the outside. As a result, the magnetic flux generates large loops that link the inside and the outside of a coil conductor of an antenna on a reader/writer side to couple an antenna device and the antenna on the reader/writer side.
US09825343B2 Battery module passive thermal management features and positioning
The present disclosure includes a battery system with a battery module having electrochemical cells inside of a housing. The housing includes a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The battery module includes a heat sink coupled with the second side of the housing and a thermal interface disposed between, and in contact with, the heat sink and the electrochemical cells. The thermal interface contacts base ends of the electrochemical cells. The system includes a cage disposed about the battery module. The cage includes a cage side positioned next to the second side of the housing and having openings disposed in the cage side. The openings enable air to be drawn into the cage. The air passes over the heat sink of the battery module.
US09825340B2 Electric energy storage device having a radio-controlled switch for discharging energy using an integrated deep discharge device
An electric energy storage device has a housing, a positive pole and a negative pole, and a deep discharge device integrated in the housing. The device further has a discharge load and it is configured such that the two poles can be electrically connected by way of the discharge load. There is enabled targeted and controlled deep discharging of the energy storage device and improved operating reliability.
US09825337B2 Non-aqueous electrolyte battery including an amorphous material
A battery is composed of a positive electrode in which a positive electrode active material layer including a positive electrode active material is formed on a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode in which a negative electrode active material layer including a negative electrode active material is formed on a negative electrode collector, a separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolyte impregnated in the separator. The battery further includes at least one of a heteropoly acid and a heteropoly acid compound as an additive at least in one of the positive electrode, the negative electrode, the separator, and the electrolyte.
US09825335B2 Non-aqueous electrolyte solution and lithium secondary battery including the same
Provided are a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, which includes a non-aqueous organic solvent including propylene carbonate (PC) and ethylene carbonate (EC), and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), and a lithium secondary battery including the non-aqueous electrolyte solution.The lithium secondary battery of the present invention may improve low-temperature and room temperature output characteristics, high-temperature and room temperature cycle characteristics, and capacity characteristics after high-temperature storage by forming a robust solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on an anode during initial charge of the lithium secondary battery.
US09825332B2 Electrolytic solution for lithium ion secondary battery, and lithium ion secondary battery
An electrolytic solution for lithium ion secondary batteries contains: a lithium salt electrolyte; an organic solvent; and an aliphatic compound having three or more carboxylic acid groups in a molecule.A lithium ion secondary battery includes: a cathode including a cathode active material that is capable of absorbing and releasing lithium and contains manganese (Mn) as a major transit metal species; an anode; and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution is the above-described solution. The aliphatic compound has a molecular weight within the range from 50,000 to 500,000.
US09825330B2 Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and battery pack
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode contains a negative electrode active material. A lithium insertion-extraction reaction potential of a negative electrode active material is higher than the oxidation-reduction potential of lithium by a value of 1 V or more. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains an electrolytic salt, a nonaqueous solvent, at least one hydroxyalkylsulfonic acid, and at least one sulfonate.
US09825329B2 Gel electrolyte including additives for rechargeable lithium battery, and rechargeable lithium battery including same
A gel electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a gel polymer including a repeating unit derived from a first monomer represented by A-L-E, a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive. A rechargeable lithium battery includes the gel electrolyte. The additive includes a compound selected from compounds represented by compounds represented by derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
US09825328B2 Ionically conductive compounds and related uses
Articles, compositions, and methods involving ionically conductive compounds are provided. The disclosed ionically conductive compounds may be incorporated into an electrochemical cell (e.g., a lithium-sulfur electrochemical cell, a lithium-ion electrochemical cell, an intercalated-cathode based electrochemical cell) as, for example, a protective layer for an electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and/or any other appropriate component within the electrochemical cell. In certain embodiments, electrode structures and/or methods for making electrode structures including a layer comprising an ionically conductive compound described herein are provided.
US09825327B2 Non-aqueous electrolyte lithium secondary battery
A non-aqueous electrolyte includes (i) an inhibitor against a reaction between an anode and a linear ester; (ii) a mixed organic solvent containing cyclic carbonate and the linear ester; and (iii) an electrolyte salt, wherein the inhibitor is any one compound or a mixture of at least two compounds selected from the group consisting of cyclic carbonate with a vinyl group, fluorinated ethylene carbonate, vinylene carbonate, cyclic acid anhydride, a compound having a cyclic S═O group and an acrylate-based compound. Also, an electrochemical device includes a cathode, an anode and the above non-aqueous electrolyte.
US09825322B2 Grid-scale solid state electrochemical energy storage systems
A method facilitates storing and discharging renewable energy. The method includes applying an electrical potential across a membrane comprising an oxygen ion conducting material during an energy storage cycle, transporting oxygen through the membrane to move oxygen from ambient air to a storage chamber during the energy storage cycle, subsequent to the energy storage cycle, applying an oxygen partial pressure differential across the membrane during an energy discharge cycle, transporting oxygen ions in an opposite direction through the membrane during the energy discharge cycle; and generating an electric current in at least one electrical circuit electrically connected to the membrane during the energy discharge cycle.
US09825321B2 Self-biased and sustainable microbial electrohydrogenesis device
A hybrid photoelectrochemical and microbial fuel cell device is provided that includes a single-chamber photoelectrochemical device having an n-type TiO2 photoanode and a Pt counter electrode in an aqueous electrolyte solution, and a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by a cation exchange membrane, where the anode chamber includes a carbon anode and microorganisms and the cathode chamber includes Pt-loaded carbon cathode, the carbon anode is electrically connected to the Pt counter electrode, the carbon cathode is electrically connected to the TiO2 photoanode, a light source creates photoexcited electron-hole pairs at the photoanode, the holes oxidize water into oxygen, where dissolved oxygen in the cathode chamber is reduced, the microorganisms oxidize and produce bioelectrons, where the bioelectrons are transferred to the Pt electrode and reduce protons to form hydrogen gas.
US09825319B2 Fossil fuel power plant with integrated carbon separation facility
As integrated fossil fuel power plant and a method of operating the power plant is provided. The integrated fossil fuel power plant includes a gas turbine arrangement and a carbonate fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side. The operating method for the integrated fossil fuel power plant includes partially expanding combustion gases in the gas turbine arrangement so that the temperature of the partially expanded combustion gases is optimized for reaction in the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell, and feeding the partially expanded combustion gases at the optimized temperature to the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell for reaction in the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell.
US09825317B2 Fuel cell system and control method of the same
A fuel cell system 10 includes a fuel cell 20, gas supply systems 30, 40, which supply gases to the fuel cell 20, and a controller 60, which controls the gas supply systems 30, 40. During a non-operation period of the fuel cell 20, the controller 60 controls the gas supply systems 30, 40 to carry out the scavenging treatment. If the scavenging treatment is interrupted by an operation performed by a user, then the controller 60 controls the gas supply systems 30, 40 and restarts the scavenging treatment after a predetermined time elapses from the interruption.
US09825316B2 Hydrogen producing fuel cartridge and methods for producing hydrogen
In aspects of the disclosure, a fuel cartridge wherein the fuel is in a powdered form is admixed with inert materials such as alumina or other ceramics to improve thermal conductivity. Said cartridge having fuel zones, heating zones, and controllers to selectively heat fuel zones and thereby generate hydrogen via decomposition of fuel is disclosed.
US09825314B2 Fuel cell and manufacturing method of expanded metal
A cathode-side gas flow path of a cell that forms part of a fuel cell is formed by a first expanded metal arranged on a gas inlet side, and a second expanded metal arranged on a downstream side. The first expanded metal is such that mesh is arranged in a straight line, and gas that flows on a gas diffusion layer side is separated from gas that flows on a separator side. The gas flowrate on the gas inlet side is reduced, so the amount of produced water that is carried away is reduced. As a result, the gas inlet side is inhibited from becoming dry at high temperatures.
US09825308B1 Low platinum catalyst and method of preparation
A low platinum catalyst and method for making same. The catalyst comprises platinum-transition metal bimetallic alloy microcrystallites over a transition metal-nitrogen-carbon composite. A method of making a catalyst comprises preparation of transition metal organic frameworks, infusion of platinum, thermal treatment, and reduction to form the microcrystallites and composite.
US09825301B2 Electrode with improvement of biased movement and secondary battery comprising the same
The present disclosure refers to a secondary battery comprising a reinforcing material in the fore part of an electrode current collector used in a jelly-roll type electrode assembly, thereby making the jelly-roll type electrode assembly wound in the predetermined position and eventually solving the problem an internal short-circuit due to biased movement.
US09825300B2 Aluminum alloy foil for electrode current collector, method for manufacturing same, and electrode material
The present invention provides an aluminum alloy foil, capable of going under thin rolling during its manufacture. The aluminum alloy foil shall also avoid cuts during the active material paste coating process and wrinkles during the press working process, and have suitable strength for the series of manufacturing processes from the manufacture of the aluminum alloy foil to the manufacture of the electrode material. Further, the present invention provides an aluminum alloy foil for electrode current collector, including 0.50 to 1.50 mass % (hereinafter mass % is referred to as %) of Mn, 0.05 to 0.50% of Cu, 0.20 to 1.00% of Fe, 0.01 to 0.60% of Si, with the rest consisting of Al and unavoidable impurities, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electrode material. Here, regarding the aluminum alloy foil, a solid solution amount of Mn is 1500 ppm or more, a solid solution amount of Cu is 40 ppm or more, and a tensile strength after a final cold rolling (T1) is 260 MPa or higher and 350 MPa or lower.
US09825298B2 Apparatus and method for manufacturing an electricity storage material
An apparatus and method for manufacturing an electricity storage material are provided which allow easily measuring the dissolution rate to solubility of a solution of a powder thickener dissolved in a liquid solvent. An apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage material includes: a dissolving device that dissolves in a liquid solvent a thickener as powder that is ionized when dissolved; and a dissolution-rate-to-solubility determining device that measures conductivity of the solution produced by the dissolving device and determines a dissolution rate to solubility of the solution based on the measured conductivity. The dissolution rate to solubility can thus be determined without the need to stop the dissolving device during dissolution of the thickener in the liquid solvent. This can significantly improve production efficiency. Since excessive operation of the dissolving device can be prevented, energy saving can be achieved.
US09825297B2 Negative-electrode active material for sodium-ion secondary battery, method for manufacturing said negative-electrode active material, and sodium-ion secondary battery
A negative-electrode active material for a sodium-ion secondary battery contains a porous carbon material which has a plurality of open pores that extend through to the surface, a plurality of closed pores that do not extend through to the surface, and a solid made of carbon material. The distance between (002) planes of the solid portion is not less than 0.340 nm and not more than 0.410 nm. The plurality of closed pores account for a volume ratio of not less than 0% and not more than 10% with respect to a total volume of the plurality of open pores, the plurality of closed pores, and the solid portion. The plurality of open pores account for a volume ratio of not less than 0% and not more than 50% with respect to a total volume of the plurality of open pores, the plurality of closed pores, and the solid portion.
US09825292B2 Layered and spinel lithium titanates and processes for preparing the same
A process for producing lithium titanate which includes the steps of synthesizing a lithium titanate hydrate intermediate via aqueous chemical processing, and thermally treating the lithium titanate hydrate intermediate to produce the lithium titanate. The lithium titanate hydrate is preferably (Li1.81H0.19)Ti2O<<2H2O. The lithium titanate is preferably Li4Ti5O12 (LTO). Synthesizing the lithium titanate hydrate intermediate may include mixing a titanium-containing compound with a lithium-containing compound in a solvent to produce a lithium-titanium precursor mixture. Preferably the titanium-containing compound includes titanium tetrachloride TiCl4. Also, a lithium titanate obtained according to the process and a lithium battery including the lithium titanate.
US09825288B2 Method for making lithium ion battery anode active material
A method for making a lithium ion battery anode active material comprising: providing silicon particles and a silane coupling agent, wherein the silane coupling agent comprises a hydrolysable functional group and an organic functional group; mixing the silicon particles and the silane coupling agent in water to obtain a first mixture; adding a monomer or oligomer to the first mixture to obtain a second mixture, the surfaces of the silicon particles being coated with a polymer layer by in situ polymerization method to obtain silicon polymer composite material, the monomer or the oligomer reacting with the organic functional group of the silane coupling agent in a polymerization, thereby a generated polymer layer being chemically grafted on the surfaces of the silicon particles; and heating the silicon polymer composite material to carbonize the polymer layer to form a carbon layer coated on the surfaces of the silicon particles.
US09825279B2 Powder supply device for secondary battery and apparatus for manufacturing electrode body
Provided is a powder supply device for a secondary battery which can always supply a fixed amount of powder with high accuracy without being influenced by a state of the powder. In addition, provided is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode body, which includes the powder supply device and can efficiently manufacture an electrode body. The powder supply device includes a rotor which makes powder fall into an opening, and a mesh body which covers the lower end of the opening. Uneven portions or projecting portions are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotor. The rotor is rotatably supported in a storing portion. The gap is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the storing portion so that they are spaced apart. The mesh body is arranged away from the outer circumferential surface of the rotor.
US09825276B2 Battery pack including a protection circuit module for unit batteries
A battery pack includes a plurality of unit batteries arranged side by side in a first direction, each unit battery including a can accommodating an opening including an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the electrode plates, and a cap plate sealing the opening. The plurality of unit batteries may be arranged side by side in the first direction with all the cap plates exposed in the same direction. The battery pack may further include a protection circuit module adjacent to the cap plate with a circuit board extending in the first direction and a protection device coupled to it, wherein each unit battery further includes a first terminal on a first area of the cap plate and a second terminal on a second area of the cap plate, each coupled to the unit battery and the protection circuit module.
US09825275B2 Bi-cell for secondary battery having improved stability and method of preparing the same
Provided are a bi-cell for a secondary battery having improved stability which may reduce shrinkage of a separator, and a method of preparing the bi-cell. The bi-cell for a secondary battery having improved stability according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a cathode and an anode are alternatingly disposed in a state in which the cathode has one more layer than the anode or the anode has one more layer than the cathode, separators having a bigger size than the cathode and the anode and insulating the cathode and the anode are disposed between the cathode and the anode, and edges of an upper separator and edges of a lower separator, which face to each other having the cathode and the anode disposed therebetween, are attached to each other to form fused portions.
US09825268B2 Separator for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery utilizing same, and manufacturing methods of same
The separator of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is characterized by having a composite nanofiber fiber which is a nanosize fiber that contains two or more kinds of aqueous resins whose melting points are different.
US09825266B2 Battery pack
A battery pack includes at least one battery module, a housing accommodating the at least one battery module therein, a controller to control the at least one battery module, a partition positioned between the controller and the at least one battery module, and a connector at least partially passing through the partition, the connector electrically connecting the at least one battery module with the controller.
US09825259B2 Organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode display device, including a flexible substrate; pixels on the flexible substrate, the pixels including an organic emission layer; a pixel definition layer between the pixels, the pixel definition layer including openings; an encapsulation layer covering the pixels; and a conductive light shielding member on the encapsulation layer, the conductive light shielding member not overlapped with the pixels, and overlapped with the pixel definition layer.
US09825258B2 Layered structure for OLED device, method for manufacturing the same, and OLED device having the same
A layered structure for an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device, the layered structure including a light-transmissive substrate and an internal extraction layer formed on one side of the light-transmissive substrate, in which the internal extraction layer includes (1) a scattering area containing scattering elements composed of solid particles and pores, the solid particles having a density that decreases as it goes away from the interface with the light-transmissive substrate, and the pores having a density that increases as it goes away from the interface with the light-transmissive substrate, and (2) a free area where no scattering elements are present, formed from the surface of the internal extraction layer, which is opposite to the interface, to a predetermined depth.
US09825257B2 Light extraction substrate for OLED and method of fabricating the same
A light extraction substrate for an organic light-emitting device (OLED) which can improve the brightness of a display or an illumination system to which an OLED is applied by improving light extraction efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same. The light extraction substrate for an OLED includes an oxide or nitride thin film formed on a substrate body. The oxide or nitride thin film includes a base layer formed on the substrate body, a first texture formed on the base layer, the first texture having a plurality of first protrusions which protrude continuously or discontinuously from the base layer, and a second texture having a plurality of second protrusions which protrude continuously or discontinuously from each outer surface of the first protrusions.
US09825251B2 Display apparatus comprising a seal portion having two different thicknesses
A display apparatus comprises a substrate, an encapsulation panel opposing the substrate, a display unit disposed between the substrate and the encapsulation panel and a seal portion bonding the substrate and the encapsulation panel and surrounding the display unit. The seal portion comprises a first surface facing the substrate and a second surface facing the encapsulation panel. The seal portion has a first thickness that is a distance between the first surface and the second surface measured at a first point and a second thickness that is a distance between the first surface and the second surface measured at a second point. A first virtual line passing a center point of the display area and the first point is substantially perpendicular to a second virtual line passing the center point and the second point. The first thickness is substantially different from the second thickness.
US09825244B2 Organic light-emitting device
Provided is an organic light-emitting device including a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode, an emission layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electron-transporting layer disposed between the emission layer and the second electrode. The electron-transporting layer includes a first electron-transporting material and a second electron-transporting material. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of the first electron-transporting material (EL1) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of the second electron-transporting material (EL2) satisfy the equation 0.1 eV≦|EL1−EL2|≦0.3 eV.
US09825243B2 Methods for fabricating OLEDs on non-uniform substrates and devices made therefrom
Described herein are devices and methods related to fabrication of organic electroluminescent devices and related components. In certain embodiments, devices and methods for fabricating OLED panels on substrates with non-uniform reflection or un-even surfaces require that the non-uniform features are arranged in a way such that they are not presented in the region where photolithography features are needed. In certain embodiments, where precision processing such as photolithography features are needed, the substrate is designed to be flat.
US09825238B2 Heterocyclic compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A novel heterocyclic compound that can be used as a host material in which a light-emitting substance is dispersed. A light-emitting element having a long lifetime. A heterocyclic compound in which a substituted or unsubstituted dibenzo[f,h]quinoxalinyl group is bonded to a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms which is bonded to any one of the 8-11 positions of a substituted or unsubstituted benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]furan skeleton.
US09825229B2 Purification of carbon nanotubes via selective heating
The present invention provides methods for purifying a layer of carbon nanotubes comprising providing a precursor layer of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes supported by a substrate, wherein the precursor layer comprises a mixture of first carbon nanotubes and second carbon nanotubes; selectively heating the first carbon nanotubes; and separating the first carbon nanotubes from the second carbon nanotubes, thereby generating a purified layer of carbon nanotubes. Devices benefiting from enhanced electrical properties enabled by the purified layer of carbon nanotubes are also described.
US09825225B2 Ink for forming functional layer, method of manufacturing ink for forming functional layer, and method of manufacturing organic electro-luminescence element
An ink for forming a functional layer, which is used when any thin film layer among functional layers consisting of a plurality of thin film layers is formed, includes a functional layer forming material and a solvent for dissolving the functional layer forming material, and in which the number of particles of 0.5 μm or more is 7 or less in 10 ml of the ink for forming a functional layer.
US09825223B2 Fin selector with gated RRAM
A method of fabricating a fin selector with a gated RRAM and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a bottom electrode layer and a hardmask on a semiconductor substrate; etching the hardmask, bottom electrode layer, and semiconductor substrate to form a fin-like structure; forming first and second dummy gate stacks on first and second side surfaces of the fin-like structure, respectively; forming spacers on vertical surfaces of the first and second dummy gate stacks; forming an ILD surrounding the spacers; removing the first and second dummy gate stacks, forming first and second cavities on first and second sides of the fin-like structure; forming an RRAM layer on the first and second side surfaces of the fin-like structure in the first and second cavities, respectively; and filling each of the first and second cavities with a top electrode.
US09825215B2 Method of forming a piezoelectric actuator
A piezoelectric actuator of a multilayer design includes outer electrodes that are fastened by means of a bonding layer applied by thermal spraying. For example, the outer electrodes are formed as a woven wire fabric. Furthermore, a method for fastening an outer electrode in a piezoelectric actuator is specified.
US09825214B1 Films and the like produced from particles by processing with electron beams, and a method for production thereof
An article composed of sintered particles is produced by depositing ligand-containing particles on a substrate, then scanning the substrate with an electron beam that generates sufficient surface and subsurface heating to substantially eliminate the ligands and melt or sinter the particles into a cohesive film with superior charge carrier properties. The particles are sintered or melted together to form a polycrystalline layer that is substantially ligand-free to form, for example, a film such as a continuous polycrystalline film. The scanning operation is conducted so as to heat treat a controllably localized region at and below a surface of the particles by selecting a rate of deposited energy at the region to exceed a rate of conduction away from the substrate.
US09825213B2 Piezoelectric element, liquid discharge head, ultrasonic motor, and dust removing device
A piezoelectric element having an improved piezoelectric constant is provided, and a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device, each of which uses the above piezoelectric element, are also provided. A piezoelectric element at least includes a pair of electrodes and a piezoelectric material provided in contact with the pair of electrodes, the piezoelectric material is formed of an aggregate of crystal grains containing barium titanate as a primary component, and among the crystal grains of the aggregate, crystal grains at least in contact with the electrodes have dislocation layers in the grains. A liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device each use the above piezoelectric element.
US09825199B2 Laser-transferred IBC solar cells
A laser processing system can be utilized to produce high-performance interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells. The laser processing system can be utilized to ablate, transfer material, and/or laser-dope or laser fire contacts. Laser ablation can be utilized to remove and pattern openings in a passivated or emitter layer. Laser transferring may then be utilized to transfer dopant and/or contact materials to the patterned openings, thereby forming an interdigitated finger pattern. The laser processing system may also be utilized to plate a conductive material on top of the transferred dopant or contact materials.
US09825196B2 Microcrystalline silicon thin film solar cell and the manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a microcrystalline silicon thin film solar cell and the manufacturing method thereof, using which not only the crystallinity of a microcrystalline silicon thin film that is to be formed by the manufacturing method can be controlled and adjusted at will and the defects in the microcrystalline silicon thin film can be fixed, but also the device characteristic degradation due to chamber contamination happening in the manufacturing process, such as plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), can be eliminated effectively.
US09825184B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, an inter-electrode insulating film interposed between a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode includes a lower layer insulating film disposed on a side closer to the floating gate electrode, an upper layer insulating film disposed on a side closer to the control gate electrode, and an intermediate insulating film interposed between the lower layer insulating film and the upper layer insulating film, wherein the intermediate insulating film contains a first element, and the lower layer insulating film contains the first element and a second element, such that a ratio of the first element relative to the second element is larger on a side closer to the intermediate insulating film than on a side closer to the floating gate electrode.
US09825182B2 Method of intercalating insulating layer between metal and graphene layer and method of fabricating semiconductor device using the intercalation method
A method includes growing a graphene layer on a metal layer, intercalating a first material between the metal layer and the graphene layer by heating the first material at a first pressure and a first temperature, and intercalating a second material between the metal layer and the graphene layer by heating the second material at a second pressure different from the first pressure and a second temperature different from the first temperature. Accordingly, the first material and the second material are chemically bonded to each other to form an insulating layer, and the insulating layer may be between the metal layer and the graphene layer.
US09825180B2 Thin-film transistor and method for manufacturing same
The present invention provides a thin-film transistor in which transistor characteristics such as drain current and threshold voltage are improved, and a method of manufacturing the same. The present invention provides a thin-film transistor provided with a source electrode (108), a drain electrode (109), a semiconductor layer (105), a gate electrode (103), and an insulating layer (104); wherein the semiconductor layer (105) contains a composite metal oxide obtained by adding to a first metal oxide an oxide having an oxygen dissociation energy that is at least 200 kJ/mol greater than the oxygen dissociation energy of the first metal oxide, whereby the amount of oxygen vacancy is controlled; and the insulating layer (104) is provided with an SiO2 layer, a high-permittivity first layer, and a high-permittivity second layer, whereby the dipoles generated at the boundary between the SiO2 layer and the high-permittivity layers are used to control the threshold voltage.
US09825178B2 Metal oxide semiconductor device
In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, a metal oxide film which has a function of preventing electrification and covers a source electrode and a drain electrode is formed in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, and then, heat treatment is performed. Through the heat treatment, impurities such as hydrogen, moisture, a hydroxyl group, or hydride are intentionally removed from the oxide semiconductor film, whereby the oxide semiconductor film is highly purified. By providing the metal oxide film, generation of a parasitic channel on the back channel side of the oxide semiconductor film in the transistor is prevented.
US09825177B2 Manufacturing method of a semiconductor device using multiple etching mask
A semiconductor device which includes a transistor having a miniaturized structure is provided. A first insulator is provided over a stack in which a semiconductor, a first conductor, and a second conductor are stacked in this order. Over the first insulator, an etching mask is formed. Using the etching mask, the first insulator and the second conductor are etched until the first conductor is exposed. After etching the first conductor until the semiconductor is exposed so as to form a groove having a smaller width than the second conductor, a second insulator and a third conductor are formed sequentially.
US09825175B2 Thin film transistor including diffusion blocking layer and fabrication method thereof, array substrate and display device
A thin film transistor and a fabrication method thereof, an array substrate and a display device are provided. The thin film transistor includes: an active layer, a source-drain metal layer and a diffusion blocking layer located between the active layer and the source-drain metal layer, wherein, the source-drain metal layer includes a source electrode and a drain electrode; the diffusion blocking layer includes a source blocking part corresponding to a position of the source electrode and a drain blocking part corresponding to a position of the drain electrode; and the diffusion blocking layer is doped with different concentrations of nitrogen from a side close to the source-drain metal layer to a side close to the active layer.
US09825168B2 Semiconductor device capable of high-voltage operation
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first well region formed in the semiconductor substrate. An insulator is formed in and over a portion of the first well region and a second well region is formed in the first well region at a first side of the insulator. A first doped region is formed in the second well region, and a second doped region is formed in the first well region at a second side opposite the first side of the insulator. A gate structure is formed over the insulator, the first well region between the second well region and the insulator, and the second well region. An isolation element is formed in the semiconductor substrate, surrounding the first well region and the second well region. The first and second doped regions are formed with asymmetric configurations from a top view.
US09825166B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for producing same
Disclosed herein is a technique for realizing a high-performance and high-reliability silicon carbide semiconductor device. A trenched MISFET with a trench formed into the drift through a p-type body layer 105 includes an n-type resistance relaxation layer 109 covering the bottom portion of the trench, and a p-type field relaxation layer 108. The p-type field relaxation layer 108 is separated from the trench bottom portion via the resistance relaxation layer 109, and is wider than the resistance relaxation layer 109. This achieves a low ON resistance, high reliability, and high voltage resistance at the same time. By forming the field relaxation layer beneath the trench, feedback capacitance can be controlled to achieve a high switching rate and high reliability.
US09825161B2 Logical operation element
Provided is a logical operation element that performs logical operations on three or more inputs using a single unique device. The logical operation element 30 is provided with an electrode 5A and the other electrode 5B that are provided to have a nanogap, a metal nanoparticle 7 arranged between the electrode 5A and the other electrode 5B in insulated state, and a plurality of gate electrodes 5C, 5D, 11, 11A, 11B for adjusting a charge of the metal nanoparticle 7. Electric current that flows between the electrode 5A and the other electrode 5B is controlled in accordance with the voltage applied to three or more of the gate electrodes 5C, 5D, 11, 11A, 11B.
US09825160B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a main electrode; a peripheral electrode; an insulating protective film; a surface metallic layer; and a solder layer, wherein the semiconductor substrate includes: a first region of a first conductive-type in contact with the main electrode on a main contact surface; a second region of a first conductive-type in contact with the peripheral electrode on a peripheral contact surface; and a third region of a second conductive-type provided under the first region, under the second region, and circumferentially outward of the second region, and a circumferentially-outward end of the metallic layer and a circumferentially-outward end of the solder layer are located more circumferentially inward than the circumferentially-outward end of the peripheral electrode.
US09825157B1 Heterojunction bipolar transistor with stress component
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a heterojunction bipolar transistor with a stress component and methods of manufacture. The heterojunction bipolar transistor includes a collector region, an emitter region and a base region. Stress material is formed within a trench of a substrate and surrounding at least the collector region and the base region.
US09825151B2 Method for preparing substrate using germanium condensation process and method for manufacturing semiconductor device using same
The present invention suggests a substrate manufacturing method and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device comprising: providing a SOI structure having an insulation layer and a silicon layer laminated on a substrate; laminating to form a silicon germanium layer and a capping silicon layer on the SOI structure; implementing oxidation process at two or more temperatures and heat treatment process at least once during the oxidation process to form a germanium cohesion layer and a silicon dioxide layer; and removing the silicon dioxide layer.
US09825150B2 Method of forming fin field effect transistor having tapered sidewalls
A method of making a Fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming a fin having a first height above a first surface of a substrate, wherein a portion of the fin has first tapered sidewalls, and the fin has a top surface. The method includes forming an insulation region over a portion of the first surface of the substrate, wherein a top of portion of the insulation region defines a second surface. The method further includes covering the first tapered sidewalls and the top surface with a gate dielectric. The method further includes forming a conductive gate strip traversing over the gate dielectric, wherein the conductive gate strip has second tapered sidewalls along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the first height, and a space between the second tapered sidewalls in the longitudinal direction is greater at a location nearest to the substrate than at a location farthest from the substrate.
US09825148B2 Semiconductor device comprising an isolation trench
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The transistor is formed by forming a source region, forming a drain region, forming a channel region, forming a drift zone, and forming a gate electrode adjacent to at least two sides of the channel region. The channel region and the drift zone are disposed along a first direction parallel to the first main surface, between the source region and the drain region. Forming the semiconductor device further includes forming a conductive layer, a portion of the conductive layer being disposed beneath the gate electrode and insulated from the gate electrode.
US09825144B2 Semiconductor device having metal gate structure
A metal gate transistor includes a substrate, a metal gate on the substrate, and a source/drain region in the substrate adjacent to the metal gate. The metal gate includes a high-k dielectric layer, a bottom barrier metal (BBM) layer comprising TiSiN on the high-k dielectric layer, a TiN layer on the BBM layer, a TiAl layer between the BBM layer and the TiN layer, and a low resistance metal layer on the TiN layer.
US09825143B1 Single spacer tunnel on stack nanowire
A method for forming a stacked semiconductor nanowire field effect transistor (FET) having reduced parasitic capacitance is provided. The parasitic capacitance of the stacked semiconductor nanowire FET including vertically stacked and vertically spaced apart semiconductor nanowires can be reduced by forming a tunnel spacer laterally surrounding a gate structure located beneath each of the vertically stacked and vertically spaced apart semiconductor nanowires.
US09825140B2 Metal oxide thin film transistor
A metal oxide thin film transistor (TFT) includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a metal oxide active layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The gate electrode is formed on a substrate. The gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate and covers the gate electrode. The metal oxide active layer is formed on the gate insulating layer. The drain electrode and the source electrode are formed on two opposite ends of the metal oxide active layer in a spaced-apart manner, in which at least one of the orthographic projection of the source electrode and the orthographic projection of the drain electrode on the substrate does not overlap the gate electrode.
US09825139B2 Semiconductor device and method
A semiconductor device includes a device region including a compound semiconductor material and a non-device region at least partially surrounding the device region. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric material in the non-device region and at least one electrode in the device region. The semiconductor device further includes at least one pad electrically coupled to the at least one electrode, wherein the at least one pad is arranged on the dielectric material in the non-device region.
US09825136B2 Semiconductor component and integrated circuit
A semiconductor component includes an element composed of a conductive material, which is arranged above a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The element includes an element region not adjoined by any electrical contacts to an overlying or underlying electrically conductive plane. In this case, a surface of the element facing away from the semiconductor substrate is patterned with elevations or depressions and a surface of the element region facing the semiconductor substrate is patterned to a lesser extent or is not patterned.
US09825130B2 Leakage reduction structures for nanowire transistors
A nanowire device of the present description may include a highly doped underlayer formed between at least one nanowire transistor and the microelectronic substrate on which the nanowire transistors are formed, wherein the highly doped underlayer may reduce or substantially eliminate leakage and high gate capacitance which can occur at a bottom portion of a gate structure of the nanowire transistors. As the formation of the highly doped underlayer may result in gate inducted drain leakage at an interface between source structures and drain structures of the nanowire transistors, a thin layer of undoped or low doped material may be formed between the highly doped underlayer and the nanowire transistors.
US09825124B2 Power device integration on a common substrate
A semiconductor structure for facilitating an integration of power devices on a common substrate includes a first insulating layer formed on the substrate and an active region having a first conductivity type formed on at least a portion of the first insulating layer. A first terminal is formed on an upper surface of the structure and electrically connects with at least one other region having the first conductivity type formed in the active region. A buried well having a second conductivity type is formed in the active region and is coupled with a second terminal formed on the upper surface of the structure. The buried well and the active region form a clamping diode which positions a breakdown avalanche region between the buried well and the first terminal. A breakdown voltage of at least one of the power devices is a function of characteristics of the buried well.
US09825122B1 Multiple work function device using GeOx/TiN cap on work function setting metal
A method is presented for tuning work functions of transistors. The method includes forming a work function stack over a semiconductor substrate, depositing a germanium oxide layer and a barrier layer over the work function stack, and annealing the germanium oxide layer to desorb oxygen therefrom to trigger oxidation of at least one conducting layer of the work function stack. The work function stack includes three layers, that is, a first layer being a TiN layer, a second layer being a titanium aluminum carbon (TiAlC) layer, and a third layer being a second TiN layer.
US09825120B2 Semiconductor device with metal extrusion formation
Embodiments disclose a method of fabrication and a semiconductor structure comprising a Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The method of fabrication includes depositing a first conductive material on a semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric material is deposited on the first conductive material. A second conductive material is deposited on the first dielectric material. The top plate is formed by etching the second conductive material. The bottom plate is formed by etching a portion of the first conductive material. At least one opening is formed in the first dielectric layer down to the first conductive material.
US09825119B2 Semiconductor device with metal extrusion formation
Embodiments disclose a method of fabrication and a semiconductor structure comprising a Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The method of fabrication includes depositing a first conductive material on a semiconductor substrate. A first dielectric material is deposited on the first conductive material. A second conductive material is deposited on the first dielectric material. The top plate is formed by etching the second conductive material. The bottom plate is formed by etching a portion of the first conductive material. At least one opening is formed in the first dielectric layer down to the first conductive material.
US09825116B1 Formation of high-resolution patterns inside deep cavities and applications to RF SI-embedded inductors
A method for fabricating high-resolution features in a deep recess includes etching a cavity in a substrate, fabricating at least one focusing pattern on a bottom of the cavity, wherein fabricating the focusing pattern comprises coating a first photoresist on the bottom of the cavity, patterning the first photoresist to define a focusing etch area using contact lithography, and etching the focusing etch area, coating a second photoresist on the bottom of the cavity, using the focusing pattern to focus a high resolution lithography tool at the bottom of the cavity to pattern the second photoresist to define a microfabrication feature area; and forming a microfabrication feature in the microfabrication feature area.
US09825115B2 Organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode display device comprises a substrate including a pixel region, the pixel region including a first portion and a second portion, a first electrode in the second portion of the pixel region, a bank layer separating the first portion and the second portion of the pixel region, an emitting layer in the second portion of the pixel region but not in the first portion of the pixel region, an emission assisting layer extending in the first portion of the pixel region and in the second portion of the pixel region, the emission assisting layer in the first portion of the pixel region being more conductive than the emission assisting layer in the second portion of the pixel region, and a second electrode on the emission assisting layer in the first portion of the pixel region and in the second portion of the pixel region.
US09825113B2 Double-sided display substrate and manufacturing method thereof and display device
The present invention provides a double-sided display substrate and a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The double-sided display substrate includes several sub-pixel units, the sub-pixel unit includes a front side light-emitting layer provided for front side displaying, a back side light-emitting layer provided for back side displaying, a pixel electrode layer, a common electrode layer, and a driving transistor, and the front side light-emitting layer and the back side light-emitting layer are interposed between a corresponding pixel electrode layer and the common electrode layer, respectively, the common electrode layer corresponding to the back side light-emitting layer and/or the front side light-emitting layer is disposed in the same layer as a gate electrode layer of the driving transistor. According to the double-sided display substrate, quick manufacture and spread of the double-sided display substrate are realized.
US09825107B2 Organic light-emitting device
An organic light-emitting device and a flat panel display apparatus, the device including a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode and including an emission layer, wherein the organic layer includes a hole transport region between the first electrode and the emission layer, the hole transport region including an auxiliary layer and at least one selected from a hole transport layer and a hole injection layer, and an electron transport region between the emission layer and the second electrode, the electron transport region including at least one selected from a hole blocking layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer, wherein the auxiliary layer includes a compound represented by Formula 1 and a compound represented by Formula 2:
US09825103B2 Electronic devices having displays with openings
An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an active region in which display pixels are used to display images. The display may have one or more openings and may be mounted in a housing associated with the electronic device. An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the openings in the display. The electronic component may include a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, status indicator lights, a light-based touch sensor array, a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings, antenna structures, a speaker, a microphone, or other acoustic, electromagnetic, or light-based component. One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object. Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.
US09825097B2 Memory device having electrically insulated reset gate
A memory that includes a memory device having a phase change layer that can be reset by using a reset gate is provided. A memory device includes memory elements arranged in two or more rows and two or more columns. Each memory element includes a pillar-shaped phase change layer, a reset gate insulating film surrounding the pillar-shaped phase change layer, and a reset gate surrounding the reset gate insulating film. The reset gates are connected in a row direction and in a column direction, and are heaters. The pillar-shaped phase change layers are electrically insulated from the reset gates.
US09825096B2 Resistance change memory, method of manufacturing resistance change memory, and FET
According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a first conductive line, a second conductive line provided above the first conductive line, and extending in a first direction, a third conductive line extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a select transistor provided between the first and third conductive lines, and a resistance change layer provided between the second and third conductive lines.
US09825094B2 FinFET PCM access transistor having gate-wrapped source and drain regions
Embodiments are directed to a method of forming portions of a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) device. The method includes forming at least one source region having multiple sides, forming at least one drain region having multiple sides, forming at least one channel region having multiple sides, forming at least one gate region around the multiple sides of the at least one channel region and forming the at least one gate region around the multiple sides of the at least one drain region.
US09825093B2 FinFET PCM access transistor having gate-wrapped source and drain regions
Embodiments are directed to a method of forming portions of a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) device. The method includes forming at least one source region having multiple sides, forming at least one drain region having multiple sides, forming at least one channel region having multiple sides, forming at least one gate region around the multiple sides of the at least one channel region and forming the at least one gate region around the multiple sides of the at least one drain region.
US09825087B2 Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is provided. The light-emitting diode comprises: a first light-emitting structure, comprising: a first area; a second area; a first isolation path having an electrode isolation layer between the first area and the second area; an electrode contact layer covering the first area; and an electrical connecting structure covering the second area; wherein each of the first area and the second area sequentially comprises a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and the electrode contact layer covers a sidewall of the first area.
US09825080B2 Photodiode insulation structure
A structure of insulation between photodiodes formed in a doped semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type extending on a doped semiconductor substrate of the second conductivity type, the insulating structure including a trench crossing the semiconductor layer, the trench walls being coated with an insulating layer, the trench being filled with a conductive material and being surrounded with a P-doped area, more heavily doped than the semiconductor layer.
US09825076B2 Back-side illuminated pixel
A back-side illuminated pixel including a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type coated, on the front side of the pixel, with a three-layer assembly successively including a first layer of the second conductivity type, an insulating layer, and a second semiconductor layer. The three-layer assembly is interrupted in a central portion of the pixel by a transfer region of the first conductivity type laterally delimited by an insulated conductive wall extending from the front surface, Transistors are formed in the second semiconductor layer.
US09825075B2 Image sensor and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating an image sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive concepts may include forming first and second photodiodes within a substrate, forming first and second gate electrodes over the substrate, the first gate electrode vertically partially overlapping the first photodiode and the second gate electrode vertically partially overlapping the second photodiode, forming an impurity injection region comprising first and second type impurities between the first and the second gate electrodes, and performing an annealing process to form a floating diffusion region comprising the first type impurities and a channel region comprising the second type impurities. The channel region surrounds lateral surfaces and a bottom surface of the floating diffusion region.
US09825073B2 Enhanced back side illuminated near infrared image sensor
An image sensor includes a photodiode disposed in semiconductor material to accumulate image charge in response to light directed through a back side of the semiconductor material. A scattering structure is disposed proximate to the front side of the semiconductor material such that the light that is directed into the semiconductor material through the back side is scattered back through the photodiode. A deep trench isolation structure is disposed in the semiconductor material that isolates the photodiode and defines an optical path such that the light that is scattered back through the photodiode in the optical path is totally internally reflected by the DTI. An antireflective coating is disposed on the back side of the semiconductor material and totally internally reflects the light scattered by the scattering structure to confine the light to remain in the optical path until it is absorbed.
US09825068B2 Display device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor device having a configuration hardly generating variations in the current value due to a deteriorated EL element is to be provided. A capacitance element is disposed between the gate and the source of a driving TFT, video signals are inputted to the gate electrode, and then it is in the floating state. Suppose an EL element is deteriorated and the anode potential rises, that is, the source potential of the driving TFT rises, the potential of the gate electrode of the driving TFT, being in the floating state by coupling of the capacitance element, is to rise by the same amount. Accordingly, even when the anode potential rises due to the deteriorated EL element, the rise is added to the gate electrode potential as it is, and the gate-source voltage of the driving TFT is allowed to be constant.
US09825062B2 Array substrate with redundant gate and data line repair structures
The present disclosure provides an array substrate and a method of manufacturing the same, and a display device comprising the array substrate. The array substrate comprises: a substrate; gate lines and data lines arranged to intersect one another on the substrate; a gate line connection conducting wire layer provided between the gate lines and the substrate and below the gate lines; and/or, a data line connection conducting wire layer provided in regions of the array substrate corresponding to the data lines; wherein the gate line connection conducting wire layer is electrically isolated from the data line connection conducting wire layer.
US09825059B2 Semiconductor device and display device
A semiconductor device including a circuit which does not easily deteriorate is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. A first terminal of the first transistor is connected to a first wiring. A second terminal of the first transistor is connected to a second wiring. A gate and a first terminal of the second transistor are connected to the first wiring. A second terminal of the second transistor is connected to a gate of the first transistor. The first switch is connected between the second wiring and a third wiring. The second switch is connected between the second wiring and the third wiring. The third switch is connected between the gate of the first transistor and the third wiring.
US09825054B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
The memory string comprises: a first semiconductor layer; a stacked body in which a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of interlayer insulating layers are stacked along a first direction above the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer having a longitudinal direction along the first direction and provided above the first semiconductor layer. The memory insulating layer includes a charge accumulation layer between the second semiconductor layer and the plurality of the conductive layers. The core insulating layer has a longitudinal direction along the first direction, and is provided in the second semiconductor layer. The oxide film layer is provided between the core insulating layer and the second semiconductor layer.
US09825052B2 Memory device and method of forming the same
Provided is a memory device including a plurality of bit line layers and a plurality of supporting structures. Each bit line layer extends in a plane defined by a first direction and a second direction and has a plurality of bit lines extending along the first direction. Each bit line has a plurality of wide parts and a plurality of narrow parts arranged alternately. The supporting structures are disposed between the wide parts of the corresponding bit lines of adjacent bit line layers. Besides, each narrow part of each bit line substantially has an ellipse-like shape in cross section, and each narrow part has a rounding ratio (RR) of greater than about 30%.
US09825050B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device whose performance is improved is disclosed. In the semiconductor device, an offset spacer formed in a memory cell is formed by a laminated film of a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, and the silicon oxide film is particularly formed to directly contact the sidewall of a memory gate electrode and the side end portion of a charge storage film; on the other hand, an offset spacer formed in a MISFET is formed by a silicon nitride film. Particularly in the MISFET, the silicon nitride film directly contacts both the sidewall of a gate electrode and the side end portion of a high dielectric constant film.
US09825046B2 Flash memory device having high coupling ratio
A flash memory cell structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a pad dielectric layer, a floating gate, a control gate, and a blocking layer. The pad dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The floating gate is disposed over the pad dielectric layer, in which the floating gate has a top surface opposite to the pad dielectric layer, and the top surface includes at least one recess formed thereon. The control gate is disposed over the top surface of the floating gate. The blocking layer is disposed between the floating gate and the control gate.
US09825045B2 Nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate including a device isolation layer defining an active region, a floating gate and a selection gate arranged side by side at intervals of a first gap over the substrate, a coupling plate formed in the device isolation layer and overlapped with the floating gate, and a contact plug suitable for electrically coupling the coupling plate and the selection gate.
US09825023B2 Insulated gate bipolar transistor comprising negative temperature coefficient thermistor
An embodiment of an IGBT comprises an emitter terminal at a first surface of a semiconductor body. The IGBT further comprises a collector terminal at a second surface of the semiconductor body. A first zone of a first conductivity type is in the semiconductor body between the first and second surfaces. A collector injection structure adjoins the second surface, the collector injection structure being of a second conductivity type and comprising a first part and a second part at a first lateral distance from each other. The IGBT further comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor adjoining the first zone in an area between the first and second parts.
US09825021B2 Semiconductor device for electrostatic discharge protection
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate positioned on the substrate, a drain region and a source region formed at respective two sides of the gate in the substrate, at least a first doped region formed in the drain region, and at least a first well having the first doped region formed therein. The source region and the drain region include a first conductivity type, the first doped region and the first well include a second conductivity type, and the first conductivity type and the second conductivity type are complementary to each other.
US09825020B2 Semiconductor device and an integrated circuit comprising an ESD protection device, ESD protection devices and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided which comprises an ESD protection device. The structure of the semiconductor device comprises a p-doped isolated region in which a structure is manufactured which operates as a Silicon Controlled Rectifier which is coupled between an I/O pad and a reference voltage or ground voltage. The semiconductor device also comprises a pnp transistor which is coupled parallel to the Silicon Controlled Rectifier. The base of the transistor is coupled to the gate of the Silicon Controlled Rectifier. In an optional embodiment, the base and gate are also coupled to the I/O pad.
US09825016B1 Light emitting device package
A light emitting device package includes a cell array including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting units, and having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, each of the plurality of semiconductor light emitting units having a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer stacked on each other. The light emitting device package may further include a plurality of wavelength conversion units disposed on the first surface of the cell array to correspond to the plurality of semiconductor light emitting units, respectively, each configured to convert a wavelength of light, emitted by a respective one of the plurality of semiconductor light emitting units, into a different wavelength of light, and a partition structure disposed in a space between the plurality of wavelength conversion units, and a plurality of switching units spaced apart from the plurality of wavelength conversion units within the partition structure, and electrically connected to the plurality of semiconductor light emitting units.
US09825015B2 Light-mixing multichip package structure
A light-mixing multichip package structure includes a circuit substrate, a first light-emitting module, a first package body, a second light-emitting module and a second package body. The first light-emitting module includes a plurality of first light-emitting elements disposed on the circuit substrate and electrically connected to the circuit substrate. The first package body is disposed on the circuit substrate to enclose the first light-emitting elements. The second light-emitting module includes a plurality of second light-emitting elements disposed on the circuit substrate and electrically connected to the circuit substrate, and the first light-emitting module and the first package body are surrounded by the second light-emitting elements. The second package body is disposed on the circuit substrate to enclose the first light-emitting module, the second light-emitting module and the first package body.
US09825014B2 Light source module, display panel, and display apparatus including the same
A light source module includes a circuit board having a plurality of chip mounting regions, the plurality of chip mounting regions respectively having at least one connection pad; at least one alignment component respectively disposed on the plurality of chip mounting regions, and having a convex or concave shape; and a plurality of LED chips respectively mounted on the plurality of chip mounting regions, respectively having at least one electrode electrically connected to the at least one connection pad, and respectively coupled to the at least one alignment component.
US09825012B2 Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device of an embodiment of the present application comprises light-emitting units; a transparent structure having cavities configured to accommodate at least one of the light-emitting units; and a conductive element connecting at least two of the light-emitting units.
US09825011B2 Light emitting element and light emitting element array
A light emitting element includes a semiconductor including an active layer, and a planar shape of the light emitting elements including a concave polygon. The planar shape of the concave polygon has interior angles including at least one acute angle.
US09825008B1 Package-on-package device with supplemental underfill and method for manufacturing the same
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following operations: (i) receiving a precursor package including a precursor substrate and a plurality of semiconductor packages on the precursor substrate, in which a gap is presented between the precursor substrate and each of the semiconductor packages; (ii) forming underfill material filling the gaps; (iii) cutting the precursor substrate along a region between adjacent ones of the semiconductor packages to form a plurality of discrete package-on-package devices; and (iv) applying supplemental underfill material to one of the package-on-package devices.
US09825001B2 Light emitting device with light transmissive member and method for manufacturing thereof
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes: preparing a light-transmissive member including a light reflective sheet that has a through-hole, and a color conversion material layer that is composed of a light-transmissive resin containing a color conversion material and disposed in the through-hole, preparing a light emitting element, fixing the color conversion material layer to the light emitting element, covering a side surface of the light emitting element with a light-reflective member, and cutting the light-reflective member and light-reflective sheet.
US09824998B2 Device packaging facility and method, and device processing apparatus utilizing DEHT
Provided are a device packing facility and method using DEHT and a device processing apparatus utilizing the DEHT. The device packaging facility includes a mounting unit providing bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT) between first and second devices to attach the first and second devices to each other, a processing unit thermally processing the first and second devices that are attached to each other to remove the DEHT and fix the first and second devices to each other, and a transfer unit transferring the first and second devices that are attached to each other from the mounting unit to the processing unit.
US09824997B2 Die package with low electromagnetic interference interconnection
A die package having lead structures connecting to a die that provide for electromagnetic interference reductions. Mixed impedance leads connected to the die have a first lead with a first metal core, a dielectric layer surrounding the first metal core, and first outer metal layer connected to ground; and a second lead with a second metal core, and a second dielectric layer surrounding the second metal core, and a second outer metal layer connected to ground. Each lead reducing susceptibility to EMI and crosstalk.
US09824996B2 Semiconductor device having low on resistance
A semiconductor device includes a header, a semiconductor chip fixed to the header constituting a MOSFET, and a sealing body of insulating resin which covers the semiconductor chip, the header and the like, and further includes a drain lead contiguously formed with the header and projects from one side surface of the sealing body, and a source lead and a gate lead which project in parallel from one side surface of the sealing body, and wires which are positioned in the inside of the sealing body and connect electrodes on an upper surface of the semiconductor chip and the source lead and the gate lead, with a gate electrode pad arranged at a position from the gate lead and the source lead farther than a source electrode pad.
US09824995B2 Flexible circuit leads in packaging for radio frequency devices
A packaged RF device is provided that utilizes flexible circuit leads. The RF device includes at least one integrated circuit (IC) die configured to implement the RF device. The IC die is contained inside a package. In accordance with the embodiments described herein, a flexible circuit is implemented as a lead. Specifically, the flexible circuit lead is coupled to the at least one IC die inside the package and extends to outside the package, the flexible circuit lead thus providing an electrical connection to the at least one IC die inside the package.
US09824993B2 Packaging structure
A packaging structure includes a first substrate including a first metal terminal and a first protruding resin portion formed at a first surface; a second substrate including a second metal terminal and a second protruding resin portion formed at a second surface, the second metal terminal being made of the same kind of metal as the first metal terminal; and a sealing portion filled between the first surface of the first substrate and the second surface of the second substrate, the first metal terminal and the second metal terminal being directly bonded with each other, the first protruding resin portion and the second protruding resin portion being directly bonded with each other, each of the first protruding resin portion and the second protruding resin portion being made of a resin material that does not include fillers, and the sealing portion being made of a resin material including fillers.
US09824991B2 Organic thin film passivation of metal interconnections
Electronic assemblies and their manufacture are described. One embodiment relates to a method including depositing an organic thin film layer on metal bumps on a semiconductor wafer, the organic thin film layer also being formed on a surface adjacent to the metal bumps on the wafer. The wafer is diced into a plurality of semiconductor die structures, the die structures including the organic thin film layer. The semiconductor die structures are attached to substrates, wherein the attaching includes forming a solder bond between the metal bumps on a die structure and bonding pads on a substrate, and wherein the solder bond extends through the organic thin film layer. The organic thin film layer is then exposed to a plasma. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09824989B2 Fan-out package and methods of forming thereof
An embodiment is a package including a molding compound laterally encapsulating a chip with a contact pad. A first dielectric layer is formed overlying the molding compound and the chip and has a first opening exposing the contact pad. A first metallization layer is formed overlying the first dielectric layer, in which the first metallization layer fills the first opening. A second dielectric layer is formed overlying the first metallization layer and the first dielectric layer and has a second opening over the first opening. A second metallization layer is formed overlying the second dielectric layer and formed in the second opening.
US09824987B2 Semiconductor structure with composite barrier layer under redistribution layer and manufacturing method thereof
A mechanism of a semiconductor structure with composite barrier layer under redistribution layer is provided. A semiconductor structure includes a substrate comprising a top metal layer on the substrate; a passivation layer over the top metal layer having an opening therein exposing the top metal layer; a composite barrier layer over the passivation layer and the opening, the composite barrier layer includes a center layer, a bottom layer, and an upper layer, wherein the bottom layer and the upper layer sandwich the center layer; and a redistribution layer (RDL) over the composite barrier layer and electrically connecting the underlying top metal layer.
US09824984B2 Individualised voltage supply of integrated circuits components as protective means against side channel attacks
A semiconductor device, in particular an integrated circuit with protection against side channel attacks, in particular imaging- and probing-based attacks, EMA and reverse engineering, in which a metallic conductive layer of a first (104) and/or a second potential supply line (106) are each connected directly and individually to all the circuit components via respective individual conductor path structures (V1, V2).
US09824983B2 Chip carrier, a device and a method
According to various embodiments, a chip carrier may include: a chip supporting region configured to support a chip; a chip contacting region including at least one contact pad for electrically contacting the chip; wherein the chip carrier is thinned in the chip contacting region such that a first thickness of the chip carrier at the at least one contact pad is smaller than a second thickness of the chip carrier in the chip supporting region.
US09824982B1 Structure and fabrication method for enhanced mechanical strength crack stop
Methods for enhancing mechanical strength of back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectrics to prevent crack propagation within interconnect stacks are provided. After forming interconnect structures in a dielectric material layer, a pore filling material is introduced into pores of a portion of the dielectric material layer that is located in a crack stop region present around a periphery of a chip region. By filling the pores of the portion of the dielectric material layer located in the crack stop region, the mechanical strength of the dielectric material layer is selectively enhanced in the crack stop region.
US09824981B2 Semiconductor device and method of producing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate includes an element region including an element, a moisture-resistant frame surrounding the element region, an insulating layer provided between the moisture-resistant frame and an outer peripheral edge of the semiconductor device and on the semiconductor substrate, a first metal line extending along the outer peripheral edge and provided in the insulating layer, and a groove provided in the insulating layer.
US09824976B1 Single-sided power device package
In some examples, a circuit package further includes an insulating layer and a first transistor extending through the insulating layer, where the first transistor includes a first control terminal on a top side of the insulating layer, a first source terminal on the top side of the insulating layer, and a first drain terminal on a bottom side of the insulating layer. The circuit package includes a second transistor extending through the insulating layer, where the second transistor includes a second control terminal on the top side of the insulating layer, a second source terminal on the bottom side of the insulating layer, and a second drain terminal on the top side of the insulating layer.
US09824973B2 Integrated circuit devices having through-silicon via structures and methods of manufacturing the same
Integrated circuit (IC) devices are provided including a substrate having a first sidewall defining a first through hole that is a portion of a through-silicon via (TSV) space, an interlayer insulating layer having a second sidewall and a protrusion, wherein the second sidewall defines a second through hole providing another portion of the TSV space and communicating with the first through hole, and the protrusion protrudes toward the inside of the TSV space and defines an undercut region in the first through hole, a TSV structure penetrating the substrate and the interlayer insulating layer and extending through the first through hole and the second through hole, and a via insulating layer surrounding the TSV structure in the first through hole and the second through hole.
US09824970B1 Methods that use at least a dual damascene process and, optionally, a single damascene process to form interconnects with hybrid metallization and the resulting structures
Disclosed are methods of forming integrated circuit (IC) structures with hybrid metallization interconnects. A dual damascene process is performed to form trenches in an upper portion of a dielectric layer and contact holes that extend from the trenches to a gate electrode and to contact plugs on source/drain regions. A first metal is deposited into the contact holes by electroless deposition and a second metal is then deposited. Alternatively, a single damascene process is performed to form a first contact hole through a dielectric layer to a gate electrode and a first metal is deposited therein by electroless deposition. Next, a dual damascene process is performed to form trenches in an upper portion of the dielectric layer, including a trench that traverses the first contact hole, and to form second contact holes that extend from the trenches to contact plugs on source/drain regions. A second metal is then deposited.
US09824969B1 Semiconductor structure and methods of forming the same
A semiconductor structure and the method of forming the same are provided. The method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a recess feature in a basal layer, forming a metal layer on the basal layer, exposing the metal layer to a tungsten halide gas to form an oxygen-deficient metal layer, and forming a bulk tungsten layer on the oxygen-deficient metal layer.
US09824962B1 Local dense patch for board assembly utilizing laser structuring metallization process
Methods of forming microelectronic package structures are described. Those methods/structures may include forming a high density region on a board comprising a first plurality of conductive structures disposed on a dielectric material on the board, wherein the first plurality of conductive structures comprises a first pitch between individual ones of the first plurality of conductive structures. A low density region on the board comprises a second plurality of conductive structures disposed on the dielectric material, wherein the second plurality of conductive structures comprises a second pitch between individual ones of the second plurality of conductive structures, wherein the second pitch is more than about twice the magnitude of the first pitch.
US09824960B2 Lead frame and method for manufacturing same
Provided is a lead frame including: one or more solder bonding regions containing copper material or copper plating; and a molding resin adhesion region containing a copper oxide film. The solder bonding regions are exposed on a surface of the lead frame. Further, provided is a lead frame manufacturing method including: forming a resist film in a molding resin adhesion region that is included in a surface of a lead frame member made of copper, or that is included in a surface of a copper-plated lead frame member; forming a plating film by performing a metal plating process on one or more solder bonding regions included in the surface of the lead frame member; removing the resist film; and forming a copper oxide film by oxidizing the molding resin adhesion region.
US09824955B2 Semiconductor device
An ESD protection device including a Si substrate with an ESD protection circuit formed at the surface of the substrate; pads formed on the Si substrate; a rewiring layer opposed to the surface of the Si substrate, which includes terminal electrodes electrically connected to the pads. The rewiring layer includes a SiN protection film formed on the surface of the Si substrate to cover parts of the pads except regions in contact with openings (contact holes) formed in a resin layer, and the resin layer that is lower in dielectric constant than the SiN protection film, and formed between the SiN protection film and the terminal electrodes. Thus, provided is a semiconductor device which can reduce the generation of parasitic capacitance, and eliminates variation in parasitic capacitance generated.
US09824954B2 Semiconductor package comprising stacked integrated circuit chips having connection terminals and through electrodes symmetrically arranged
An integrated circuit device comprises N stacked first integrated circuit chips each of which includes a first circuit and N stacked second integrated circuit chips each of which includes a second circuit. The N stacked second integrated circuit chips are stacked on the N stacked first integrated circuit chips. A first and second integrated circuit chips at symmetric positions with respect to a reference surface are paired. Each of the first and second integrated circuit chips include connection terminals for connecting the first circuit of the first integrated circuit chip and the second circuit of the second integrated circuit chip in the pair, and through electrodes each penetrating an inside of the chip. The connection terminals and through electrodes are arranged to be symmetric with respect to the reference surface.
US09824952B2 Light emitting device package strip
Disclosed herein is a light emitting device package strip capable of being used for a display application or an illumination application. The light emitting device package strip may include: a light emitting device package; and an upper adhesive sheet attached onto an upper surface of the light emitting device package so as to support the light emitting device package, wherein the light emitting device package includes: a flip-chip light emitting device having a first electrode pad and a second electrode pad; and a molding member formed to enclose side surfaces and an upper surface of the light emitting device such that the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad are exposed.
US09824947B2 Through silicon via, scan cell stimulus, response to two switches
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing different types of TSVs in a single die or different types of TSV connections in a stack of die. The testing is facilitated by test circuitry associated with each type of TSV. The test circuitry includes a scan cell adapted for testing TSVs.
US09824943B2 Semiconductor structure and method for forming the same
A semiconductor structure with a stop layer for planarization process therein and a method for forming the same is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a trench in a substrate and between active areas; filling the trench with isolation layer; doping the isolation layer with an element to form a doped isolation region; annealing the doped isolation region; and planarizing the annealed and doped isolation region and measuring a planarization depth thereof. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of the stop layer, the dielectric layer, and the active area are different.
US09824937B1 Flowable CVD quality control in STI loop
A method for semiconductor processing includes forming a first dielectric layer comprising an N-type dopant over a first plurality of fins extending above a first region of a substrate, forming a second dielectric layer comprising a P-type dopant over the first plurality of fins and a second plurality of fins extending above a second region of the substrate, the second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer, and forming an isolation layer between adjacent ones of the first plurality of fins, and between adjacent ones of the second plurality of fins. The method further includes performing an implantation process using a first dopant, the implantation process changing an etching rate of the isolation layer, and recessing the isolation layer, the first dielectric layer, and the second dielectric layer, where after the recessing, the first and the second plurality of fins extend above an upper surface of the isolation layer.
US09824935B2 Methods of forming NMOS and PMOS FinFET devices and the resulting product
A method includes forming an initial strain relaxed buffer layer on a semiconductor substrate. A trench is formed within the initial strain relaxed buffer layer. An epitaxial deposition process is performed to form an in situ carbon-doped strain relaxed buffer layer in the trench. A channel semiconductor material is formed on the initial strain relaxed buffer layer and on the in situ carbon-doped strain relaxed buffer layer in the trench. A plurality of fin-formation trenches that extend into the initial strain relaxed buffer layer is formed so as to thereby form an NMOS fin including the channel semiconductor material and the in situ carbon-doped strain relaxed buffer layer and a PMOS fin including the channel semiconductor material and the initial strain relaxed buffer layer. A recessed layer of insulating material and gate structures are formed around the NMOS fin and the PMOS fin.
US09824931B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a fin-shaped structure thereon; forming a first shallow trench isolation (STI) around the fin-shaped structure; dividing the fin-shaped structure into a first portion and a second portion; and forming a second STI between the first portion and the second portion.
US09824929B2 FinFET gate structure and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a n-type gate structure over a first semiconductor fin, in which the n-type gate structure is fluorine incorporated and includes a n-type work function metal layer overlying the first high-k dielectric layer. The n-type work function metal layer includes a TiAl (titanium aluminum) alloy, in which an atom ratio of Ti (titanium) to Al (aluminum) is in a range substantially from 1 to 3. The semiconductor device further includes a p-type gate structure over a second semiconductor fin, in which the p-type gate structure is fluorine incorporated includes a p-type work function metal layer overlying the second high-k dielectric layer. The p-type work function metal layer includes titanium nitride (TiN), in which an atom ratio of Ti to N (nitrogen) is in a range substantially from 1:0.9 to 1:1.1.
US09824926B1 Wafer processing method
A wafer is transferred to a holding surface of a chuck table by using a transfer unit having a suction pad. The front side of the wafer is held under suction through a protective tape on the holding surface, and the suction pad is removed from the back side of the wafer. A modified layer is formed on the back side of the wafer along division lines. The wafer is transferred by mounting the wafer held by the suction pad on the holding surface and sandwiching the wafer between the suction pad and the holding surface of the chuck table. A suction force is applied to the holding surface of the chuck table to thereby hold the front side of the wafer through the protective tape on the holding surface of the chuck table under suction, and the suction pad is then removed from the back side of the wafer.
US09824924B2 Semiconductor packages having an electric device with a recess
Embodiments are directed to a package that includes an electric device having a recess. In one embodiment, the electric device is a sensor and the recess reduces signal drift of the sensor caused by thermal expansion of the package. In another embodiment, the recess is substantially filled with adhesive material, thus increasing adhesion between the electric device and a substrate of the package while at the same time allowing for lower adhesive fillets.
US09824923B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming conductive pillar having an expanded base
A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die and conductive vias in the first semiconductor die. The conductive vias can be formed by extending the vias partially through a first surface of the first semiconductor die. A portion of a second surface of the first semiconductor die is removed to expose the conductive vias. A plurality of conductive pillars is formed over the first surface the first semiconductor die. The conductive pillars include an expanded base electrically connected to the conductive vias. A width of the expanded base of the conductive pillars is greater than a width of a body of the conductive pillars. A conductive layer is formed over a second surface of the first semiconductor die. The conductive layer is electrically connected to the conductive vias. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the first semiconductor die with a second conductive pillar having an expanded base.
US09824920B2 Methods of forming self-aligned contact structures by work function material layer recessing and the resulting devices
One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a first plurality of gate cavities in a first dielectric layer. A work function material layer is formed in the first plurality of gate cavities. A first conductive material is formed in at least a subset of the first plurality of gate cavities above the work function material layer to define a first plurality of gate structures. A first contact recess is formed in the first dielectric layer between two of the first plurality of gate structures. A second conductive material is formed in the first contact recess. The work function material layer is recessed selectively to the first and second conductive materials to define a plurality of cap recesses. A cap layer is formed in the plurality of cap recesses.
US09824919B2 Recess filling method and processing apparatus
There is provided a method of filling a recess with a germanium-based film composed of germanium or silicon germanium in a substrate to be processed on which an insulating film having the recess formed therein is formed, the method including: forming a silicon film on a surface of the insulating film at a thickness as not to completely fill the recess; subsequently, etching the silicon film such that the silicon film remains only in a bottom portion of the recess; and subsequently, selectively growing the germanium-based film composed of germanium or silicon germanium on the silicon film remaining in the bottom portion of the recess and selectively filling the recess with the germanium-based film.
US09824918B2 Method for electromigration and adhesion using two selective deposition
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate, sequentially forming an etch stop layer and an interlayer dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a copper metal interconnect structure in the interlayer dielectric layer, forming a copper layer in the copper metal interconnect structure, forming a cobalt layer on the copper layer, and forming an aluminum nitride layer on the cobalt layer. The stack of cobalt layer and copper layer effectively suppresses electromigration caused by diffusion of the copper layer into the interlayer dielectric layer, improves the adhesion between the copper layer and the etch stop layer, and prevents delamination.
US09824916B2 Wiring structure and method of forming a wiring structure
A method of forming a mask layout includes forming a layout of a first mask including a lower wiring structure pattern and a dummy lower wiring structure pattern. A layout of a second mask overlapping the first mask and including an upper wiring structure pattern and a dummy upper wiring structure pattern is formed. A layout of a third mask including a first via structure pattern and a first dummy via structure pattern is formed. A layout of a fourth mask including a second via structure pattern and a second dummy via structure pattern is formed. The second via structure pattern may commonly overlap the lower wiring structure pattern and the upper wiring structure pattern, and the second dummy via structure pattern may commonly overlap the dummy lower wiring structure pattern and the dummy upper wiring structure pattern. The fourth mask may overlap the third mask.
US09824913B2 Isolation structure and manufacturing method thereof for high-voltage device in a high-voltage BCD process
The invention provides an isolation structure and a manufacturing method thereof for a high-voltage device in a high-voltage BCD process, the isolation structure comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first type of doping; an epitaxial layer having a second type of doping over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first type of doping is opposite to the second type of doping; an isolation region having the first type of doping, wherein the isolation region extends through the epitaxial layer into the semiconductor substrate, and wherein the isolation region has a doping concentration on the same order as a doping concentration of the epitaxial layer; a field oxide layer over the isolation region. This invention effectively isolates the epitaxial island where the BCD high-voltage device is located, thereby increasing the breakdown voltage of the high-voltage device in the BCD process. Further, with a minimum thickness of the field oxide layer, the parasitical threshold voltage between the aluminum wiring and the silicon surface of the high-voltage device can be higher than 1200V, thereby improving the planarization of oxide layer steps on the silicon surface in the whole high-voltage BCD process, and enhancing the reliability of the product.
US09824909B2 Chuck, in particular for use in a mask aligner
A chuck for aligning a first planar substrate in parallel to a second planar substrate includes a top plate having a top surface for arrangement of the first planar substrate. A bottom plate is at least one distance measuring sensor configured to measure a distance between the top surface of the top plate and a surface of the second planar substrate, and at least three linear actuators in contact with the top plate and the bottom plate. The method for setting a gap between the first and second planar substrate includes measuring the thickness of the first planar substrate and measuring between a surface of the second planar substrate and the top surface of the top plate. The tilt adjusts between a top surface of the first planar substrate or the chuck and the surface of the second planar substrate by using at least three linear actuators of the chuck.
US09824905B2 Semiconductor manufacturing device and semiconductor manufacturing method
A semiconductor manufacturing device has an upper cover configured to be arranged above top surface of unshielded semiconductor device which are mounted on a tray placed on a carrier to go through electromagnetic shielding, and a displacement detector configured to detect an abnormality when the upper cover is raised by at least one of the semiconductor device which is brought into contact with a bottom surface of the upper cover.
US09824900B2 Bonded structure and production method therefor
The deterioration of the resin base materials in the bonded structure is prevented. In a bonded structure containing two base materials at least one of which is a resin, an oxide which contains either P or Ag, V, and Te, and are formed by softening on the two base materials, bond the two base materials. In addition, in a method for producing a bonded structure containing two base materials at least one of which is a resin containing: supplying an oxide containing either P or Ag, V, and Te to the base material; and applying electromagnetic waves to the oxide, whereby the oxide, which soften on the substrates, bond the two base material.
US09824899B2 Etching liquid for oxide containing zinc and tin, and etching method
The present invention provides an etching liquid which has a suitable etching rate for etching of an oxide containing zinc and tin and is suppressed in change of the etching rate due to dissolution of the oxide, while being free from the generation of a precipitate. The corrosiveness of this etching liquid to wiring materials is low enough to be ignored, and this etching liquid has excellent linearity of a pattern shape. The present invention uses an etching liquid which contains (A) one or more substances selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, methanesulfonic acid, perchloric acid and salts of these acids, and (B) oxalic acid or a salt thereof and water, and which has a pH of from −1 to 1.
US09824898B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device using an oxide semiconductor. The semiconductor device includes a first electrode layer; a second electrode layer positioned over the first electrode layer and including a stacked-layer structure of a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer; and an oxide semiconductor film and an insulating film positioned between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in a thickness direction. The first conductive layer and the insulating film have a first opening portion in a region overlapping with the first electrode layer, The oxide semiconductor film has a second opening portion in a region overlapping with the first opening portion. The second conductive layer is in contact with the first electrode layer exposed in the first opening portion and the second opening portion.
US09824897B2 Thermal processing in silicon
A method is provided for the processing of a device having a crystalline silicon region containing an internal hydrogen source. The method comprises: i) applying encapsulating material to each of the front and rear surfaces of the device to form a lamination; ii) applying pressure to the lamination and heating the lamination to bond the encapsulating material to the device; and iii) cooling the device, where the heating step or cooling step or both are completed under illumination.
US09824895B1 Method of integration of ONO stack formation into thick gate oxide CMOS flow
A method of integrating a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) transistor into a complementary metal-oxide-silicon (CMOS) baseline process. The method includes the steps of forming the gate oxide layer of at least one metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) transistor prior to forming a non-volatile (NV) gate stack of the SONOS transistor.
US09824891B1 Method of manufacturing the thin film
The invention disclosed a method of manufacturing the thin film, which belongs to the technological field of SOI wafer manufacture. By growing a layer of dielectric material (silicon oxide) on the provided high-resistivity silicon wafer, then to grow a layer of amorphous silicon on the dielectric material, to transfer a layer of silicon oxide to the amorphous silicon, to make the mono crystalline silicon exist on the oxidation layer, so that a SOI wafer with a layer of amorphous silicon is manufactured. The process above is completed in specific process conditions. The manufactured thin film, e.g. SOI wafer with amorphous silicon layer, is used main for RF apparatus.
US09824890B2 High throughput semiconductor deposition system
A reactor for growing or depositing semiconductor films or devices. The reactor may be designed for inline production of III-V materials grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The operating principles of the HVPE reactor can be used to provide a completely or partially inline reactor for many different materials. An exemplary design of the reactor is shown in the attached drawings. In some instances, all or many of the pieces of the reactor formed of quartz, such as welded quartz tubing, while other reactors are made from metal with appropriate corrosion resistant coatings such as quartz or other materials, e.g., corrosion resistant material, or stainless steel tubing or pipes may be used with a corrosion resistant material useful with HVPE-type reactants and gases. Using HVPE in the reactor allows use of lower-cost precursors at higher deposition rates such as in the range of 1 to 5 μm/minute.
US09824888B2 Oxide semiconductor film and formation method thereof
To provide a crystalline oxide semiconductor film. By collision of ions with a target including a crystalline In—Ga—Zn oxide, a flat-plate-like In—Ga—Zn oxide is separated. In the flat-plate-like In—Ga—Zn oxide, a first layer including a gallium atom, a zinc atom, and an oxygen atom, a second layer including a zinc atom and an oxygen atom, a third layer including an indium atom and an oxygen atom, and a fourth layer including a gallium atom, a zinc atom, and an oxygen atom are stacked in this order. After the flat-plate-like In—Ga—Zn oxide is deposited over a substrate while maintaining the crystallinity, the second layer is gasified and exhausted.
US09824885B2 Method of fabricating double sided Si(Ge)/Sapphire/III-nitride hybrid structure
One aspect of the present invention is a double sided hybrid crystal structure including a trigonal Sapphire wafer containing a (0001) C-plane and having front and rear sides. The Sapphire wafer is substantially transparent to light in the visible and infrared spectra, and also provides insulation with respect to electromagnetic radio frequency noise. A layer of crystalline Si material having a cubic diamond structure aligned with the cubic <111> direction on the (0001) C-plane and strained as rhombohedron to thereby enable continuous integration of a selected (SiGe) device onto the rear side of the Sapphire wafer. The double sided hybrid crystal structure further includes an integrated III-Nitride crystalline layer on the front side of the Sapphire wafer that enables continuous integration of a selected III-Nitride device on the front side of the Sapphire wafer.
US09824881B2 Si precursors for deposition of SiN at low temperatures
Methods and precursors for depositing silicon nitride films by atomic layer deposition (ALD) are provided. In some embodiments the silicon precursors comprise an iodine ligand. The silicon nitride films may have a relatively uniform etch rate for both vertical and the horizontal portions when deposited onto three-dimensional structures such as FinFETS or other types of multiple gate FETs. In some embodiments, various silicon nitride films of the present disclosure have an etch rate of less than half the thermal oxide removal rate with diluted HF (0.5%).
US09824880B2 Method of polishing silicon wafer and method of producing epitaxial wafer
A method of polishing a silicon wafer, including performing a mirror polishing process on the silicon wafer, the mirror polishing process including: performing rough polishing on the silicon wafer; subsequently removing metallic impurities attached on a surface of the silicon wafer by performing both an oxidation process with ozone gas or ozone water and an oxide-film removing process with hydrofluoric acid vapor or hydrofluoric acid solution on the surface of the silicon wafer; and then performing final polishing. The invention provides a method of polishing a silicon wafer and a method of producing an epitaxial wafer that can prevent the occurrence of PID in the silicon wafer due to a mirror-polishing process and the degradation of surface quality of the silicon wafer after the mirror-polishing process and the epitaxial wafer having an epitaxial layer stacked thereon in a subsequent process.
US09824877B2 Fast pushing time of flight mass spectrometer combined with restricted mass to charge ratio range delivery
Ions having a restricted range of mass to charge ratios are transmitted to the acceleration region of a Time of Flight mass analyser. A control system applies a first extraction pulse to an acceleration electrode in order to accelerate a first group of ions into the time of flight region at a first time T1, wherein ions having the lowest mass to charge ratio in the first group of ions have a time of flight ΔT1min through the time of flight region and ions having the highest mass to charge ratio in the first group of ions have a time of flight ΔT1max through the time of flight region. The control system applies a second extraction pulse to the acceleration electrode at a subsequent second time T2, wherein ΔT1max−ΔT1min≦T2−T1<ΔT1max.
US09824874B2 Ion funnel device
An ion funnel device is disclosed. A first pair of electrodes is positioned in a first direction. A second pair of electrodes is positioned in a second direction. The device includes an RF voltage source and a DC voltage source. A RF voltage with a superimposed DC voltage gradient is applied to the first pair of electrodes, and a DC voltage gradient is applied to the second pair of electrodes.
US09824872B2 Systems and methods for high throughput solvent assisted ionization inlet for mass spectrometry
A multiplex system and method for achieving high throughput analysis of samples using solvent assisted ionization inlet includes an ionizing system with a heated inlet channel and a pressure differential across the inlet channel, pipet tips serially aligned with the inlet to a mass spectrometer, and a system of mapping data generated by mass spectrometry.
US09824871B2 Hybrid mass spectrometer and methods of operating a mass spectrometer
A hybrid mass spectrometer design and architecture, and methods of operating mass spectrometers are disclosed. According to one operating method, an analysis time is determined for each one of a plurality of ion species to be analyzed in an ordered sequence, and an injection time is calculated for at least some of the ion species based on an analysis time of a preceding ion species in the ordered list. The method enables more efficient utilization of analyzer time.
US09824867B2 Plasma generation apparatus, deposition apparatus, and plasma generation method
Provided is a plasma generation apparatus capable of generating uniform plasma over a wide range. The plasma generation apparatus includes two oppositely arranged plasma guns each injecting a discharge gas to be ionized, and having a cathode for emitting electrons, and a converging coil for forming a magnetic flux to guide the emitted electrons, and polarities of the converging coils with respect to the cathodes in the two plasma guns are opposite to each other.
US09824864B2 Plasma processing method
In a plasma processing of generating plasma of different processing gases within a processing vessel in sequence, a setting of a high frequency power can be changed at an appropriate time point after the processing gas output from a gas supply system is changed. A power level of a second high frequency power is increased at a time point when a first parameter which reflects impedance of plasma exceeds a first threshold value after the processing gas is changed while a first high frequency power is being supplied to a first electrode or a second electrode. Further, a power level of the first high frequency power is increased at a time point when a second parameter which reflects impedance of plasma exceeds a second threshold value after the processing gas is changed while the second high frequency power is being supplied to the second electrode.
US09824863B2 Plasma stabilization method and plasma apparatus
A plasma technique in which a plasma generation technique frequently used in various fields including a semiconductor manufacturing process is used, and generation of plasma instability (high-speed impedance change of plasma) can efficiently be suppressed and controlled in order to manufacture stable products. An apparatus includes a processing chamber, a surrounding member disposed so as to surround the processing chamber, an RF induction coil disposed above the top surface, a direct-current magnetic field generator for supplying a direct-current magnetic field to the inner space, and an RF cut filter connected to a direct current (DC) power supply and connected to the direct-current magnetic field generator. The RF cut filter includes a first capacitor connected to a positive terminal of the DC power supply and to ground, and a second capacitor connected to a negative terminal of the DC power supply and to ground.
US09824862B2 Symmetric VHF source for a plasma reactor
The disclosure pertains to a capacitively coupled plasma source in which VHF power is applied through an impedance-matching coaxial resonator having a symmetrical power distribution.
US09824860B2 Charged particle beam exposure apparatus and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The invention relates to a charged particle beam exposure apparatus configured to expose cut patterns or via patterns on a substrate having a plurality of line patterns 81a arranged on an upper surface of the substrate at a constant pitch by irradiating the substrate with a plurality of charged particle beams B1 to Bn while moving a one-dimensional array beam A1 in an X direction parallel to the line patterns 81a, the one-dimensional array beam A1 being a beam in which the charged particle beams B1 to Bn are arranged in an Y direction orthogonal to the line patterns 81a.
US09824854B2 Charged particle beam device, image generation method, observation system
Provided is a charged particle beam device capable of observing the interior and the surface of a sample in a simple manner. This charged particle beam device operates in a transmitted charged particle image mode and a secondary charged particle image mode. In the transmitted charged particle image mode, a transmitted charged particle image is produced on the basis of a detection signal (512) associated with light emitted from a light-emitting member (500) that emits light upon being irradiated with transmitted charged particles transmitted through the interior of a sample (6). In the secondary charged particle image mode, a secondary charged particle image is produced on the basis of a detection signal (518) caused by reflected charged particles or secondary charged particles (517) from the sample (6).
US09824852B2 CD-SEM technique for wafers fabrication control
A Critical Dimensions Scanning Electron Microscope (CD-SEM) is described that comprises a unit for performing CD-SEM measurements of a semiconductor wafer, a BSE imaging unit for obtaining a Grey Level image (GL) of the wafer, and a unit for GL analysis and for processing the GL analysis results with reference to results of the CD-measurements.
US09824845B2 Variable field emission device
A field emission device is configured as a heat engine, wherein the configuration of the heat engine is variable.
US09824843B2 Emitter with deep structuring on front and rear surfaces
An emitter has a basic unit with at least one emission surface. Accordingly, the basic unit has deep structuring in a region of the at least one emission surface. More specifically, the basic unit has the deep structuring on both a front side and on a rear side in the region of the emission surface for improving emission properties.
US09824840B2 Mechanical disconnect switch with integrated fuse protection
A circuit protection assembly (CPA) is disposed between a source of power and a circuit to be protected. The CPA comprises a mounting block having a bore extending therethrough and a recess cavity on a first surface of the mounting block. A post having a first end is disposed within the recess cavity and a body portion extends through the bore. The body portion configured to receive a terminal and the second end configured to receive a securing mechanism. A fuse having a centrally disposed aperture is configured to receive the body portion of the post and to receive the terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected. An insulator disposed on the terminal and disposed beneath the securing mechanism. The insulator configured to isolate the post from the terminal and the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque.
US09824838B2 Commutating circuit breaker
A commutating circuit breaker that works by progressively inserting increasing resistance into a circuit. This is done via physical motion of a shuttle that is linked into the circuit by at least one set of sliding electrical contacts on the shuttle (“shuttle electrodes”) that connect the power through the moving shuttle to a sequence of different resistive paths with increasing resistance; the motion of the shuttle can be either linear or rotary. A feature of the commutating circuit breaker is that at no point are the shuttle electrodes separated from the matching stationary stator electrodes so as to generate a powerful arc, which minimizes damage to the electrodes. Instead, the current is commutated from one resistive path to the next with small enough changes in resistance at each step that arcing can be suppressed. The variable resistance can either be within the moving shuttle, or the shuttle can comprise a commutating shuttle that moves the current over a series of stationary resistors. In either case, a “soft” opening of the circuit can be accomplished, with low switching transients, provided that the maximum step change of resistance is limited until the current is nearly extinguished. Commutating circuit breakers work equally well for DC or AC power.
US09824831B2 Detachable keyswitch mechanism and related electronic device
A detachable keyswitch mechanism includes a base and a keyswitch. The base includes a bottom plate and a lateral plate bent from the bottom plate. The base further includes an opening structure disposed on the lateral plate, a first rotating portion disposed between the bottom plate and the lateral plate, and a constraining portion disposed on the bottom plate. The keyswitch includes a body rotatably disposed inside the opening structure, a second rotating portion disposed on an upper side of the body and pivotably connected to the first rotating portion, a recovering portion connected to a low side of the body, and an actuating portion disposed on a surface of the body. An end of the recovering portion opposite to the body contacts against the constraining portion. The actuating portion is adapted to actuate a switch disposed on the base when the keyswitch rotates relative to the base.
US09824828B2 High specific capacitance and high power density of printed flexible micro-supercapacitors
The invention relates to micro supercapacitors and nanocomposite active materials and methods of fabrication thereof.
US09824826B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor containing conductive polymer particles
A solid electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode body, dielectric overlying the anode body, adhesion coating overlying the dielectric, and solid electrolyte overlying the adhesion coating. The solid electrolyte contains an inner conductive polymer layer and outer conductive polymer layer, at least one of which is formed from a plurality of pre-polymerized conductive polymer particles. Furthermore, the adhesion coating contains a discontinuous precoat layer containing a plurality of discrete nanoprojections of a manganese oxide (e.g., manganese dioxide).
US09824825B2 Capacitor of variable capacity, comprising a layer of a phase change material, and method for varying the capacity of a capacitor
The invention relates to a variable-capacitance electrical capacitor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode facing the first electrode and a zone of a dielectric material arranged between said first and second electrodes characterized in that the second electrode is formed at least on one hand of a primary electrode made of an electrically conductive material and, at least on the other, of an additional electrode comprising a state-change material, the primary electrode and the additional electrode facing the first electrode, said state-change material being arranged at least partially in contact with the primary electrode and configured to alternatively adopt a high-resistivity state wherein the additional electrode is electrically insulated from the primary electrode and a low-resistivity state wherein the additional electrode is in electrical conduction with the primary electrode so as to vary the electrically active surface area of the second electrode.
US09824822B2 Three-terminal capacitor including double-side oblique portion
A three-terminal capacitor includes a capacitor element including first through sixth surfaces, first-side and second-side outer electrodes, a center outer electrode between the first-side and second-side outer electrodes, and conductor layers within the capacitor element. A height H2 is greater than a height H3, where the height H2 represents a higher one of a height at a center of a portion of the first-side outer electrode on the fifth surface and a height at a center of a portion of the first-side outer electrode on the sixth surface, and the height H3 represents a height at a center of a portion of the first-side outer electrode on the third surface, wherein the height H2 and the height H3 extend in the thickness direction.
US09824821B2 Thin film capacitor with intermediate electrodes
A thin film capacitor includes: a supporting substrate; a capacitance forming member formed on the supporting substrate and made of at least two thin film electrodes and at least one thin film dielectric layer alternately stacked on one another; intermediate electrodes electrically connected to the respective thin film electrodes; a sealing member that seals the capacitance forming member and the intermediate electrodes on the supporting substrate the sealing member leaving portions of the intermediate electrodes exposed; and external electrodes formed on at least side faces of the sealing member and respectively connected to the exposed portions of the intermediate electrodes.
US09824819B2 Dielectric ceramic composition and multilayer ceramic capacitor including the same
There is provided a dielectric ceramic composition including a base powder, wherein the base powder includes: a first major component represented by BaTiO3, a second major component represented by (Na, K)NbO3, and a third major component represented by (Bi, Na)TiO3. The base powder is represented by xBaTiO3-y(Na, K)NbO3-z(Bi, Na)TiO3, where x+y+z=1, and x, y, and z are represented by mol, and x, y and z satisfy 0.5≦x≦0.97, 0.01≦y≦0.48, and 0.02≦z≦0.2, respectively. In certain embodiments, the base powder is be represented by xBaTiO3-y(Na0.5K0.5)NbO3-z(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3.
US09824818B2 Method of manufacturing wound transformer core
In a single phase transformer core and transformer, thin-strip metal is wound into multiple rings of different widths and arranged to define a ring-like structure having a stepped, substantially circular cross-section without any cuts or gaps in the magnetic path, or the core is wound from a tapered strip that is configured to define a substantially circular cross-section when wound, while in a three phase transformer core and transformer two inner frames, each made of one or more wound rings are arranged side-by-side and an outer frame of one or more rings is wound around the two inner frames, the core being covered with epoxy prior to winding coils on it.
US09824817B2 Wireless power transmission system for transmitting power between a power transmitting device and a power receiving device
A wireless power transmission system that transmits alternating-current power includes a power-transmitting device including first and second electrodes spaced apart and having a total width of λ/2π or less, i.e., a near field range, and a first inductor between the first and second electrodes and a AC power-generating section, and a power-receiving device including third and fourth electrodes spaced apart and having a total width of λ/2π or less, and a second inductor between the third and fourth electrodes and a load. A coupler including the first and second electrodes and the first inductor forms one resonant circuit and a coupler including the third and fourth electrodes and the second inductor forms another resonant circuit. Resonance frequencies of the couplers are substantially equal. The first and second electrodes and the third and fourth electrodes are spaced apart by λ/2π or less.
US09824816B2 Wireless power reception and transmission apparatus
A wireless power receiving device and a wireless power transmission apparatus are provided. The wireless power receiver may include a resonator configured to emit an electromagnetic field, a blocker configured to surround a portion of an exterior of the resonator, and a spacer disposed between the resonator and the blocker.
US09824811B2 Embedded coil assembly and method of making
An embedded coil assembly embodiment includes a ferrite ring having an annular axis. The ferrite ring is positioned on a conductive metal surface. A plurality of separate, spaced apart conductive structures extend over the ferrite ring and are attached to the conductive metal surface in a first region of the conductive surface positioned radially outwardly of the annular axis of the ferrite ring and in a second region of the conductive surface positioned radially inwardly of the annular axis of the ferrite ring. An encapsulation layer covers, the ferrite ring and at least a portion of the plurality of conductive structures.
US09824808B2 Switchable magnetic lock
This document describes techniques using, and apparatuses including, switchable magnetic locks. These techniques and apparatuses can enable low or no power consumption and a seamless design for locking and unlocking of devices one to the other, such as computing devices and peripherals.
US09824807B2 Magnetic thrust generation system
An apparatus comprises multiple electrically conductive loops, an elongated tubular ferromagnetic shield, and an elongated tubular superconductive inner shield. The superconductive inner shield is positioned within the ferromagnetic shield. Each conductive loop includes (i) a thrust segment extending from a first end of the superconductive inner shield outside the ferromagnetic shield to a second end of the superconductive inner shield and (ii) a return segment passing through an interior passage of the superconductive inner shield from the second end of the superconductive inner shield to the first end of the superconductive inner shield. The conductive loops can be spatially arranged relative to a uniform external magnetic field so that interaction between the external magnetic field and electrical current flowing in the conductive loops results in asymmetric magnetic flux density around, and non-zero net force exerted on, the conductive loops.
US09824799B2 Measuring resistor and method for producing a measuring resistor
A measuring resistor for high-current measurements is provided, which has a defined resistance value. The measuring resistor has a resistive layer having a sheet resistivity. The resistance value of the measuring resistor is defined by the resistive layer and is less than the sheet resistivity of the resistive layer.
US09824797B2 Resistive grid elements having a thermosetting polymer
A resistor grid system includes a resistor strip including multiple pins. The resistor grid system also includes an insulation board coupled to the resistor strip through the multiple pins and configured to provide a structural support. The insulation board is made of a composite material. The composite material includes a nitrogen-containing aromatic thermosetting polymeric resin and a filler.
US09824793B2 Noise reduction cable
A noise reduction cable includes a plurality of insulated wires, each including a conductor and an insulator that covers a periphery of the conductor; and one or more drain wires, each including a conductor, an insulator that covers a periphery of the conductor, and a magnetic-material layer provided on a periphery of the insulator.
US09824791B2 Multilayer electronic component and conductive paste composition for internal electrode
A multilayer electronic component may include a multilayer body including a plurality of magnetic material layers, and an internal electrode disposed in the multilayer body. The internal electrode may contain a conductive metal and glass, and the glass contains a vanadium (V) oxide. Also, a conductive paste composition for an internal electrode includes a conductive metal and glass, wherein the glass contains a vanadium (V) oxide.
US09824790B2 Fire through aluminum paste for SiNx and better BSF formation
Paste compositions, methods of making a paste composition, photovoltaic cells, and methods of making a photovoltaic cell contact are disclosed. The paste composition can include a conductive metal component such as aluminum, phosphate glass, phosphorus compounds such as alky! phosphate, and a vehicle. The contact can be formed on a passivation layer on a silicon wafer by applying the paste on the passivation layer and firing the paste. During firing, the metal component can fire through the passivation layer, thereby electrically contacting the silicon substrate.
US09824789B2 Method for producing nanowire-polymer composite electrodes
A method for producing flexible, nanoparticle-polymer composite electrodes is described. Conductive nanoparticles, preferably metal nanowires or nanotubes, are deposited on a smooth surface of a platform to produce a porous conductive layer. A second application of conductive nanoparticles or a mixture of nanoparticles can also be deposited to form a porous conductive layer. The conductive layer is then coated with at least one coating of monomers that is polymerized to form a conductive layer-polymer composite film. Optionally, a protective coating can be applied to the top of the composite film. In one embodiment, the monomer coating includes light transducing particles to reduce the total internal reflection of light through the composite film or pigments that absorb light at one wavelength and re-emit light at a longer wavelength. The resulting composite film has an active side that is smooth with surface height variations of 100 nm or less.
US09824788B2 Metal wire having a copper layer and a barrier layer and display device including the same
Provided is a metal wire. The metal wire includes a copper layer, and at least one barrier layer. The barrier layer is disposed on at least one of an upper part and a lower part of the copper layer. The barrier layer includes an alloy including copper, nickel, and zinc.
US09824787B2 Spark gap x-ray source
In one embodiment, the invention includes an x-ray source having a cathode with an elongated blade oriented substantially transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cathode. The blade can be pointed towards an anode. In another embodiment, the invention includes an x-ray source having a window with an annular-shape, forming a hollow-ring. A convex portion of a half-ball-shape of an anode can extend into a hollow of the annular-shape of the window. In another embodiment, the invention includes an x-ray source having an anode with a dome shape having a concave side facing the electron emitter.
US09824778B2 Nonvolatile memory system and data recovery method thereof
A nonvolatile memory system includes a nonvolatile memory device including a distribution table suitable for storing recovery read level intervals that are set by being changed through multiple stages according to a distribution value of threshold voltage levels of a plurality of memory cells, measured at a reference read level, is changed through the multiple stages; and a memory controller suitable for reading measurement data from the memory cells by additionally using a measurement read level, searching for a difference value between the normal data and the measurement data from the multiple stages of distribution values stored in the distribution table, and recovering the normal data based on a recovery read level interval corresponding to a searched distribution value, when an error occurs in normal data read from the memory cells by using the reference read level.
US09824777B2 Storage system managing run-time bad cells
A storage system is provided which includes: a storage device including a first memory, which may be nonvolatile memory, and a second memory, which may be a device memory, and configured to request a test on at least one of the first and second memories; and a host configured to test the at least one memory in response to the request for the memory test from the storage device and store the test result in the first memory or a third memory.
US09824774B2 Magnetic field programming of electronic devices on a wafer
A system for programming integrated circuit (IC) dies formed on a wafer includes a magnetic field transmitter that outputs a digital test program as a magnetic signal. At least one digital magnetic sensor (e.g., Hall effect sensor) is formed with the IC dies on the wafer. The digital magnetic sensor detects and receives the magnetic signal. A processor formed on the wafer converts the magnetic signal to the digital test program and the digital test program is stored in memory on the wafer in association with one of the IC dies. The magnetic field transmitter does not physically contact the dies, but can flood an entire surface of the wafer with the magnetic signal so that all of the IC dies are concurrently programmed with the digital test program.
US09824769B2 Fusible link cell with dual bit storage
A fuse-programmable register or memory location having a plurality of fusible links of differing electrical characteristics in parallel. In one embodiment, three fusible links with different resistances are provided, such that application of a programming voltage non-uniformly distributes the current among the links, allowing varying voltages to selectively blow one or more of the links. Sensing of the programmed state is performed by applying a voltage across the parallel links and measuring the current in comparison with a plurality of reference currents. Reduction in the overhead chip area per bit and in the serial data communication latency are obtained.
US09824767B1 Methods and apparatus to reduce threshold voltage drift
A disclosed example to reduce a threshold voltage drift of a selector device of a memory cell includes providing an applied voltage to the selector device of the memory cell, the applied voltage being less than a threshold voltage of the selector device, and reducing the threshold voltage drift of the memory cell by maintaining the applied voltage at the selector device for a thresholding duration to activate the selector device.
US09824764B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells that are NAND-connected; and a control circuit that executes a write sequence, the write sequence writing data to the memory cells, the write sequence including a plurality of write stages, one of the write stages applying to the memory cells a plurality of program pulses whose amplitudes increase by a certain increment, the write stages including 1st to Nth, where N is an integer of 2 or more, write stages, and an initial amplitude and the increment of the program pulse applied in the N−1th write stage being the same as an initial amplitude and the increment of the program pulse applied in the Nth write stage.
US09824760B2 Systems and methods of generating shaped random bits
A device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory. The controller is configured to initiate writing of first data to a first portion of a group of storage elements of the non-volatile memory. The controller is further configured to initiate writing of shaped dummy data to a second portion of the group of storage elements.
US09824759B2 Non-volatile memory devices, memory systems, and methods of operating the same
In a method of programming a non-volatile memory device, a first voltage is applied to a selected memory cell for programming, and a second voltage is applied to a non-selected memory cell. Before the second voltage rises to a predetermined voltage level, which is less than a program voltage level, the first voltage is greater than the second voltage or the second voltage is maintained at greater than a ground voltage level. Related non-volatile memory devices and memory systems are also discussed.
US09824757B2 Semiconductor device including TCAM cell arrays capable of skipping TCAM-cell search in response to control signal
The consumption current of a TCAM device is reduced. A semiconductor device includes multiple sub-arrays each including a TCAM cell array. Each sub-array searches the corresponding part of the input search data. Each sub-array outputs the search result indicative of a match for every entry without searching, when the corresponding first control signal is activated.
US09824756B2 Mapping a lookup table to prefabricated TCAMS
Access is obtained to a truth table having a plurality of rows, each including a plurality of input bits and a plurality of output bits. At least some rows include don't-care inputs. At least some of the rows are clustered into a plurality of multi-row clusters. At least some of the multi-row clusters are assigned to ternary content-addressable memory modules of a prefabricated programmable memory array. Instructions for interconnecting the ternary content-addressable memory modules with a plurality of input pins of the prefabricated programmable memory array and a plurality of output pins of the prefabricated programmable memory array are specified in a data structure, in order to implement the truth table.
US09824755B2 Semicondutor memory device and memory system including the same
A semiconductor memory device may include a cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell connected to a word line and a bit line, the cell array divided into a plurality of blocks, each block including a plurality of word lines, the plurality of blocks including at least a first defective block; a nonvolatile storage circuit configured to store address information of the first defective block, and to output the address information to an external device; and a fuse circuit configured to cut off an activation of word lines of the first defective block.
US09824754B2 Techniques for determining victim row addresses in a volatile memory
Examples are disclosed for determining a logical address of one or more victim rows of a volatile memory based on a logical address of an aggressor row and address translation schemes associated with the volatile memory. Other examples are described and claimed.
US09824753B2 Computing device for “big data” applications using memristors
A computing device includes a computation circuit and a data storage circuit. The computation circuit is coupled to the data storage circuit and is arranged for reading and writing data from/to the data storage circuit. The computing device includes a memory array of non-volatile memory elements and controlling circuitry connected to the memory array for reading and writing data from/to selected memory elements in the array. The computation circuit and the data storage circuit are located in the memory array, and the non-volatile memory elements of the memory array are memristor-type elements.
US09824750B2 Memory sensing
Technologies are generally described herein for technologies to sense the threshold voltage for memory cells in one sensing operation. The memory cells may be storage circuits for a flash memory device, such as a multilevel flash memory device. Data may be stored and retrieved in the memory cells of the flash memory without involving the use of hardwired or predetermined thresholds. According to some configurations, the sense time distribution from a set of flash cells (e.g., one row), may be processed to decode the digital state of each memory cell. In some examples, computer-executable instructions may be used to process and decode the digital state of the memory cells.
US09824746B1 Memory device
A memory device may include: a plurality of cell mats arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; a plurality of first drivers, each first driver being disposed on a left side of a corresponding cell mat of the plurality of cell mats and configured to drive a first sub-word line of the corresponding cell mat; and a plurality of second drivers, each second driver being disposed on a right side of the corresponding cell mat of the plurality of cell mats and configured to drive a second sub-word line of the corresponding cell mat, wherein, during an active operation, among the plurality of cell mats, sub-word lines of cell mats disposed in odd-numbered columns or sub-word lines of cell mats disposed in even-numbered columns are selectively activated.
US09824742B1 DRAM access in self-refresh state
Systems and method are directed to accessing a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) system. A DRAM controller is designed to determine that a DRAM bank of a DRAM system is in a self-refresh state and allow one or more commands to access the DRAM bank without exiting the self-refresh state. The DRAM controller may select these one or more commands, based on one or more of a clock frequency, traffic conditions related to requests for accessing the DRAM bank, or a command type. The one or more commands may include at least one of read (RD), write (WR), or precharge (PRE) commands received while the DRAM bank is in the self-refresh state.
US09824741B2 Refresh control device, wireless receiver, and semiconductor integrated circuit
Provided is a refresh control device including: an arbitration operating unit configured to arbitrate (i) a memory access request for accessing a volatile memory that requires a refresh operation for holding data and (ii) a refresh trigger for requesting execution of the refresh operation; and a trigger generating unit configured to generate refresh triggers in a non-constant cycle to satisfy refresh-rate requirements defining the number of refresh operations necessary to be executed per predetermined period for the volatile memory to hold the data.
US09824737B2 Memory circuit and method for operating a first and a second set of memory cells in direct memory access mode with refresh
A memory circuit (100), comprises a first set of memory cells (102a; 202a) configured to operate in a direct access mode or in a refresh mode and a second set of memory cells (102b; 202b) configured to operate in the direct access mode and in the refresh mode. The memory circuit (100) further comprises a controller (104) configured to receive a write request and to execute the write request for a set of memory cells being in direct access mode; and to buffer the write request for later execution for a set of memory cells being in refresh mode.
US09824736B1 Memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a memory cell array; a generation circuit generating a reference current; a sense amplifier comparing a cell current flowing through a memory cell with the reference current; a first clamp transistor connected between the sense amplifier and the memory cell; a second clamp transistor connected between the sense amplifier and the generation circuit; a first interconnect layer connected to a gate of the first clamp transistor; a second interconnect layer connected to a gate of the second clamp transistor and arranged adjacent to the first interconnect layer; and a first shield line arranged adjacent to one of the first interconnect layer and the second interconnect layer, a fixed voltage being applied to the first shield line.
US09824735B1 System and method to generate a random number
An apparatus includes a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) including a free layer. The apparatus includes a spin orbit torque metal layer coupled to the perpendicular MTJ and configured to change a magnetization state of the free layer responsive to flow of a current along the spin orbit torque metal layer. The apparatus includes a random number generator configured to generate a random number at least partially based on a state of the perpendicular MTJ.
US09824734B2 Nonvolatile memory module having backup function
Disclosed is a memory system. The memory system includes a volatile memory device configured to exchange data with a host through a first channel, a nonvolatile memory device, and a memory controller connected with the volatile memory device through a second channel. The memory controller detects a request of the host or a power state and controls the volatile memory device and the nonvolatile memory device based on the detection result such that data stored in the volatile memory device is backed up in the nonvolatile memory device through the second channel. The volatile memory device includes a first interface for communicating with the host through the first channel and a second interface for communicating with the memory controller through the second channel.
US09824726B2 Semiconductor device having air-gap
A semiconductor device includes a bit line structure located on a semiconductor substrate, an outer bit line spacer located on a first side surface of the bit line structure, an inner bit line spacer including a first part located between the bit line structure and the outer bit line spacer and a second part located between the semiconductor substrate and the outer bit line spacer, and a block bit line spacer located between the outer bit line spacer and the second part of the inner bit line spacer. A first air-gap is defined by the outer bit line spacer, the inner bit line spacer, and the block bit line spacer.
US09824725B2 Semiconductor device with single ended main I/O line
Apparatuses included a single-ended main input/output line in a semiconductor device are described. An example apparatus includes: a pair of differential data lines coupled to a sense amplifier; a single-ended data line; a first transistor coupled between the one of the pair of differential data lines and the power line and coupled to the single-ended data line at a control node thereof; a second transistor coupled between the single-ended data line and the power line and coupled to the one of the pair of differential data lines at a control node thereof; and a third transistor coupled between the single-ended data line and the other of the pair of differential data lines.
US09824724B2 Magnetic recording device capable of implementing read after write
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a magnetic recording medium including a plurality of recording tracks, a magnetic head, and a controller. The plurality of recording tracks includes a first track. The controller causes the magnetic head to implement a first recording operation of recording first information in at least two of a plurality of first track recording components included in the first track. The controller causes the magnetic head to implement a first reproduction operation of reproducing the first information from a first information reproducing/recording component of one of the at least two of the plurality of first track recording components.
US09824717B2 Adjusting occupancies of a set of buffers
The respective occupancies of a set of audio buffers are controlled via a common target occupancy value common to all the buffers in the set. This common target may take non-integral values. For each buffer, the difference is taken between the occupancy value of the buffer and the common target occupancy value. A sample is dropped or repeated as the difference exceeds half a sample. A recursive sum is formed of the fractional parts of the difference measures from the set of buffers and the recursive sum is used to adjust the common target occupancy value, within a selected range of values.
US09824715B2 Tape drive with integrated reel hub and motor shaft assembly
An integrated reel hub and motor shaft assembly for a tape drive that limits axial and radial run-out of tape (e.g., magnetic, optical) relative to a read/write head assembly and the various errors (e.g., loading, tension, reading, writing, and the like) associated therewith. In one arrangement, a reel hub of a reel assembly is directly molded (e.g., via an injection molding process) onto and around an end of a drive or motor shaft of a drive assembly. As a result, a more consistent head to tape interface, greater tape tracking performance, increased track density, and the like may be achieved.
US09824712B2 Magnetic storage media and data storage device
A magnetic storage media which has an endurance (durability) characteristics close to an infinite number of writing times of data and a data retention (holding) characteristics close to permanency, and is ultra-high-speed writable and erasable, and a data storage device and an image storage device which apply this magnetic storage media are provided. A magnetic storage media includes a thin layer magnet and a magnetic field generating unit arranged facing a surface of the magnet, and is capable of creating or eliminating a skyrmion by applying heat energy to another surface of the magnet positioned on the opposite side of the surface of the magnet, and a skyrmion memory includes the magnetic storage media.
US09824711B1 Soft underlayer for heat assisted magnetic recording media
A soft underlayer (SUL) and methods for making an SUL are provided, the SUL having characteristics that make it compatible with the high temperature requirements associated with heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media growth and writing, e.g., temperatures greater than 500° C. The SUL may have a high crystallization temperature of greater than 450° C. and a high Curie temperature greater than 300° C., for example. Additionally, the SUL can maintain a saturation magnetization value greater than, e.g., 9 kGauss, at such high temperatures, thereby having the ability to remain amorphous at temperatures up to, e.g., 650° C., and exhibiting a relatively flat integrated noise profile from approximately 300° C. to 650° C. Further still, a spacer layer material is chosen such that inter-diffusion does not occur at these high temperatures.
US09824710B1 Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium with thermal barrier layer in multilayered heat-sink structure
A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium has a multilayered or laminated heat-sink structure. The laminated heat-sink structure includes a first heat-sink layer and a RuAl—X thermal barrier layer between the medium substrate and the first heat-sink layer. The laminated heat-sink structure may include a second heat-sink layer may between the substrate and the RuAl—X thermal barrier layer. In the RuAl—X thermal barrier layer, X is selected from C and one or more oxides of Si, Ti, W, Zr and Hf. The HAMR medium with the laminated heat-sink structure reduces the amount of required laser current as compared to a similar HAMR medium with a conventional single heat-sink layer of the same thickness, while also slightly improving magnetic properties and recording performance.
US09824705B1 Pad sharing for contact sensor and bolometer with temperature compensation in heat-assisted magnetic recording device
A slider of a heat-assisted recording head comprises electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources and a ground pad, an air bearing surface, and a waveguide configured to receive light from a laser source. A contact sensor proximate the air bearing surface is coupled between a first bond pad and a second bond pad. A bolometer is coupled to a reference thermal sensor. The bolometer is situated at a slider location that receives at least some of the light communicated along the waveguide. The reference thermal sensor is situated at a slider location unexposed to the light communicated along the waveguide. The bolometer and reference thermal sensor are coupled between the first and second bond pads and in parallel with the contact sensor. A ground connection is coupled to the ground pad and at a connection between the bolometer and the reference thermal sensor.
US09824703B2 Magnetic recording and reproducing device having magnetic head with first and second reproducing element portions and magnetic reproducing method
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic head, and a processor. The magnetic head includes a first reproducing element portion and a second reproducing element portion. The processor is configured to acquire a first signal and a second signal, and to output an output signal according to either one of the first signal and the second signal. The first signal is obtained by reproducing information recorded on a first recording region by the first reproducing element portion. The second signal is obtained by reproducing the information recorded on the first recording region by the second reproducing element portion.
US09824700B1 Manufacturing method for a magnetic head including a main pole and a write shield
A manufacturing method for a magnetic head forms a leading shield having a top surface. The top surface of the leading shield includes first and second portions. The second portion is located farther from a medium facing surface than is the first portion, and recessed from the first portion. A first gap layer is then formed on the first portion. Then, a magnetic layer including an initial first side shield, an initial second side shield and a coupling section connecting them is formed using a mold. The mold is then removed. The coupling section is then removed by etching the magnetic layer. A second gap layer and a main pole are then formed in this order.
US09824695B2 Enhancing comprehension in voice communications
Embodiments herein include receiving a request to modify an audio characteristic associated with a first user for a voice communication system. One or more suggested modified audio characteristics may be provided for the first user, based on, at least in part, one or more audio preferences established by another user. An input of one or more modified audio characteristics may be received for the first user for the voice communication system. A user-specific audio preference may be associated with the first user for voice communications on the voice communication system, the user-specific audio preference including the one or more modified audio characteristics.
US09824691B1 Automated population of electronic records
A computer-implemented method to populate an electronic record may include generating first transcript data of first audio of a first speaker during a conversation between the first speaker and a second speaker. The method may also include generating second transcript data of second audio of the second speaker during the conversation and identifying one or more words from the first transcript data as being a value for a record field based on the identified words corresponding to the record field and the one or more words being from the first transcript data and not being from the second transcript data. The method may further include providing the identified words to an electronic record database as a value for the record field of a user record of the first speaker.
US09824683B2 Data augmentation method based on stochastic feature mapping for automatic speech recognition
A method of augmenting training data includes converting a feature sequence of a source speaker determined from a plurality of utterances within a transcript to a feature sequence of a target speaker under the same transcript, training a speaker-dependent acoustic model for the target speaker for corresponding speaker-specific acoustic characteristics, estimating a mapping function between the feature sequence of the source speaker and the speaker-dependent acoustic model of the target speaker, and mapping each utterance from each speaker in a training set using the mapping function to multiple selected target speakers in the training set.
US09824681B2 Text-to-speech with emotional content
Techniques for converting text to speech having emotional content. In an aspect, an emotionally neutral acoustic trajectory is predicted for a script using a neutral model, and an emotion-specific acoustic trajectory adjustment is independently predicted using an emotion-specific model. The neutral trajectory and emotion-specific adjustments are combined to generate a transformed speech output having emotional content. In another aspect, state parameters of a statistical parametric model for neutral voice are transformed by emotion-specific factors that vary across contexts and states. The emotion-dependent adjustment factors may be clustered and stored using an emotion-specific decision tree or other clustering scheme distinct from a decision tree used for the neutral voice model.
US09824680B2 Beamforming module, ultrasonic imaging apparatus using the same, beamforming method using the beamforming module, and method of controlling the ultrasonic imaging apparatus using the beamforming module
A beamforming module includes a conversion unit configured to convert an input signal to generate a converted signal using at least one conversion function, a weight calculator configured to calculate a converted signal weight as a weight for the converted signal, and a synthesizer configured to generate a result signal using the converted signal and the converted signal weight.
US09824679B1 Audio enhancing apparatus for electronic media devices
An audio enhancing apparatus for electronic media devices including a support base having a rectangular rear side, an open front side, an open top side, a bottom side perpendicularly disposed to the rear side, and a pair of sidewalls. Each of the pair of sidewalls has a right triangulated bottom portion and an elongated rectangular top portion extended upwards from the bottom portion. Each of a right bracket and a left bracket of a pair of brackets is attached to the top portion of each of a right sidewall and a left sidewall, respectively, of the pair of sidewalls. The pair of brackets is configured to removably secure a bottom section of a portable electronic device within the support base.
US09824676B2 Cabinet structure, electronic equipment, and image forming apparatus
A cabinet structure includes multiple cover members configured to spatially partition an inside from an outside of a cabinet, and a clearance communicating between the inside and the outside of the cabinet is left between two cover members, the two cover members being adjacent to each other, of the cover members, and a passage defined by the clearance and leading from the inside to the outside of the cabinet through the clearance has a shape with multiple bends.
US09824672B2 Modular approach to large string array electronic musical instruments such as specialized harps, zithers, sympathetic string arrays, partch kithara and harmonic cannon
A modular approach to large string array electronic musical instruments such as specialized harps, zithers, sympathetic string arrays, the Harry Partch Kithara, the Harry Partch Harmonic Cannon, and other large string array electronic musical instruments is presented.A mounting frame is used to interchangeably secure a plurality of a plurality of musical instrument modules, each comprising a plurality of strings configured to vibrate and create electronic signals. An electronic interface is configured to transmit electrical signals from the plurality of musical instrument modules to an external system. The electronic interface can be configured to provide a multichannel output. The arrangement can further comprise either or both of at least one audio mixer and at least one signal processor.
US09824668B2 Eye mounted displays and systems, with headpiece
A display device is mounted on and/or inside the eye. The eye mounted display contains multiple sub-displays, each of which projects light to different retinal positions within a portion of the retina corresponding to the sub-display. The projected light propagates through the pupil but does not fill the entire pupil. In this way, multiple sub-displays can project their light onto the relevant portion of the retina. Moving from the pupil to the cornea, the projection of the pupil onto the cornea will be referred to as the corneal aperture. The projected light propagates through less than the full corneal aperture. The sub-displays use spatial multiplexing at the corneal surface. Various electronic devices interface to the eye mounted display.
US09824667B2 Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus is provided including: a plurality of buffers, a first buffer from a among the plurality of buffers storing a first frame; and a controller configured to obtain frame information of a second frame, which includes second object information about a second object added in the second frame and second object location information indicating a second object area that is an area of the second object in the second frame, detect a duplicate area in the first frame, copy the duplicate area stored in the first buffer to a second buffer from among the plurality of buffers, and draw the second object in the second buffer based on the frame information.
US09824664B2 Calibration device, calibration method and display device
A calibration device for a display device having a plurality of image quality adjustment items, the calibration device comprises a storage unit that stores set values of a plurality of parameters which are used respectively in processing of the plurality of image quality adjustment items, a calibration unit that implements calibration to update the set values of the plurality of parameters, by implementing, a plurality of times, processing for displaying a colorimetry image on the display device and determining the value of any of the parameters, using colorimetry results from the colorimetry image, and a display unit that displays, on the display device, a confirmation image for confirming the effects of calibration. The display unit displays the confirmation image at the image quality settings during calibration.
US09824663B2 Waveform-shaping circuit for trimming rising edge of scanning signal, liquid crystal display device having the same, and driving method for the same
A waveform-shaping circuit, a liquid crystal display device having the same, and a driving method for the same are provided. The device includes a pixel unit, a data line for transmitting a data signal to the pixel unit, a clock signal generation chip for generating a first clock signal and a second clock signal, a waveform-shaping circuit connected with the clock signal generation chip for receiving the first clock signal and the second clock signal, outputting a scanning signal having a trimmed rising edge as a chamfered waveform according to the first clock signal and the second clock signal, and a scanning signal for transmitting the scanning signal having the trimmed rising edge to the pixel unit. The present invention can reduce the waveform difference of the scanning signals at two sides and a middle portion of a panel in order to increase the display quality of the device.
US09824661B2 Display apparatus having reduced vertical flickering lines
A display apparatus includes: a plurality of pixel blocks, each pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks including a first pixel electrode connected to a first switching element and a second pixel electrode connected to a second switching element; gate lines which extend along a first direction and include a first gate line connected to the first switching element and a second gate line connected to the second switching element; and data lines which extend along a second direction intersecting the first direction. A gate voltage is applied to the first gate line before the second gate line, and the first pixel electrode of each of the pixel blocks displays a same color.
US09824659B2 Shift register, gate driving circuit and display apparatus
A shift register, a gate driving circuit and a display apparatus are provided. The shift register comprises a pull-up node control unit, a pull-down node control unit, a pull-up output unit, a noise reduction unit, and a touch scanning control unit. Herein, the pull-up node control unit is connected to a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, and a pull-up node (PU); the pull-down node control unit is connected to a high level terminal (VGH), a low level terminal (VGL) and the pull-up node (PU) and a pull-down node (PD); the pull-up output unit is connected to a clock signal input terminal (CLK), the pull-up node (PU), a signal output terminal (Output); the noise reduction unit is connected to the pull-up node (PD) and the low level terminal (VGL); the touch scanning control unit is connected to a control signal input terminal (SW), the pull-up node (PU), the signal output terminal (Output), and the low level terminal (VGL).
US09824658B2 GOA circuit and liquid crystal display device
A GOA circuit and an LCD device. The GOA circuit includes multiple cascaded GOA units, and each includes a transferring circuit, a latch circuit and an output circuit. In a forward scanning, the transferring circuit receives a (N−1)th stage-transfer signal of a (N−1)th stage, and sending to the latch circuit. In a backward scanning, the transferring circuit receives a (N+1)th stage-transfer signal of a (N+1)th stage, and sending to the latch circuit. In the canning period, the latch circuit receives a first clock signal and a second clock signal simultaneously, and outputs an Nth stage-transfer signal the same as the first clock signal and opposite to the second clock signal. The output circuit receives the Nth stage-transfer signal, and outputs an Nth scanning signal the same as the Nth stage-transfer signal. The present invention utilizes two clock signals to commonly drive the GOA circuit to improve the stability.
US09824653B2 Liquid crystal display and method for driving the same
A liquid crystal display includes: a display panel including data lines, scan lines and a plurality of pixels connected to the data lines and the scan lines; a scan driver configured to supply scan signals to the scan lines; a data driver configured to supply data voltages to the data lines; and a timing controller configured to control operation timings of the scan driver and the data driver, where the timing controller is configured to output a plurality of scan output enable signals to the scan driver, and the scan driver is configured to supply odd scan signals to odd scan lines based on a first scan output enable signal of the scan output enable signals and to supply even scan signals to even scan lines based on a second scan output enable signal of the scan output enable signals.
US09824652B2 Display apparatus and operation method thereof
A display apparatus includes: a display panel which displays an image; a data driver which supplies a data voltage to the display panel in response to a polarity control signal, where the polarity control signal controls a polarity of the data voltage; a timing controller which outputs a polarity signal corresponding to a polarity of the data voltage; and a polarity converter which receives a common voltage from a common electrode of the display panel and the polarity signal from the timing controller, where the polarity converter outputs the polarity control signal to the data driver in response to a difference in voltage level between the common voltage from the common electrode and the polarity signal from the timing controller.
US09824650B2 Method of adjusting display unit and electronic device
A method for an electronic device with a display unit and an electronic device are provided. The method may comprise: obtaining an environmental parameter under an environment where the electronic device is disposed when the display unit is in a first display status, the environmental parameter including at least an environmental color temperature parameter of the environment and configured for adjusting the display status of the display unit; determining whether to adjust the display status based on at least the environmental color temperature parameter included in the environmental parameter to get a first determination result; and adjusting the display status from the first display status to a second display status different from the first display status if the first determination result indicates that it is to adjust the display status.
US09824646B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a display area in which pixels are disposed in a matrix with rows and columns. The display area includes first and second configuration columns. The first configuration column is a column where first pixels are aligned. The first pixels each include a pixel electrode including first and second areas. In the first area, electrodes extending in a first direction inclined to the column direction are disposed. In the second area, electrodes extending in a second direction inclined differently from the first direction are disposed. The second configuration column is a column where second and third pixels are alternately aligned. The second pixels each include a pixel electrode including electrodes extending in a third direction inclined to the column direction. The third pixels each include a pixel electrode including electrodes extending in a fourth direction inclined differently from the third direction.
US09824642B2 Rendering techniques for textured displays
Rendering techniques are disclosed for displays capable of adjusting/changing the angle of individual pixels (or pixel groups), referred to herein as textured displays. The textured displays may be capable of creating on demand textures which may be used to simulate the surface of an object in a scene. The rendering techniques may be used to improve upon the realism of rendered scenes/objects and they may provide users with a unique rendering experience whereby the textured display physically changes to mimic textures of the rendered scenes/objects. This can be achieved by sending geometric data, such as surface normal information, to individual pixels of the textured display. Other factors may be considered when adjusting the angle of individual pixels of the textured display, such as whether the user is experiencing too much glare.
US09824637B2 Reducing visual artifacts and reducing power consumption in electrowetting displays
A device, such as an electrowetting display device, includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to the first substrate. A pixel region is on the first substrate. The device includes an input line for applying a driving voltage to a capacitor associated with the pixel region to control a luminance of the pixel region, wherein, after the driving voltage is applied to the capacitor, the pixel region exhibits a reduction in a luminance of the pixel region over time. An illumination device is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the pixel region. A timing controller is configured to modify an output of the illumination device to compensate for the reduction in the luminance of the pixel region over time.
US09824635B2 Control head with electroluminescent panel in land mobile radio
An exemplary land mobile radio control head and method are provided. In one embodiment, the control head has the capability to utilize halo light of the control head to implement a multi-function indicator that communicates a state of the land mobile radio. In another embodiment, the control head has the capability to provide buffer images constructed from data received from the land mobile radio into a video stream for rendering on an electroluminescent display. In another embodiment, the control head provides the capability for a user to modify a configuration stored on the land mobile radio that defines one of several display modes to be utilized in generating data for use in forming images to be rendered on an electroluminescent display.
US09824634B2 OLED display device with variable gamma reference voltage
An OLED display device includes an OLED display panel on which subpixels are disposed, a gamma reference voltage supply circuit supplying gamma reference voltages that are variable during driving and when sensing a threshold voltage, and a data driver supplying data voltages based on the gamma reference voltages to data lines. The data driver senses a voltage of a sensing node within each of the subpixels in sensing mode. A timing controller controls the data driver, and performs a compensation process based on the voltage sensed by the data driver.
US09824631B2 Display device
In a display element such as an organic EL element, deterioration progresses due to light emission, and emission luminance is lowered even if the same voltage is applied to the display element. Therefore, use over time causes variations in luminance of each pixel, thereby a so-called “image burn-in” phenomenon occurs. Given this factor, the invention provides a display device which can reduce the difference in deterioration of a display element in each pixel and suppress variations in light emission of a display element in a pixel. It is prevented that only a specific pixel has a long accumulated lighting time. For that purpose, a gray scale of a display pattern is changed to prevent the difference in deterioration of display element in pixels from increasing. Alternatively, a specific display pattern is prevented from being fixedly displayed in a specific region. Further alternatively, a pixel lagging behind in deterioration is deteriorated so that the accumulated lighting time of pixels is equal to each other.
US09824627B2 Display circuit and display apparatus
A display circuit includes a plurality of pixel circuits and a shared compensation transistor. Each pixel circuit includes a driving transistor to control light emission of a light emitter. The compensation transistor is to compensate the threshold voltages of the driving transistors of the pixel circuits.
US09824625B2 Display device and driving method thereof
Disclosed is a driving method of a display device that includes, for example, setting a luminance increase gain based on a chroma of an RGB data of an input image; modulating the RGB data of the input image based on the luminance increase gain to generate an RGB data of a first image; substituting a W data for common components of the RGB data of the first image and converting the RGB data of the first image to an RGBW data of a second image; and encoding the RGBW data of the second image into an RGBW data of a third image such that a number of bits of the RGBW data of the third image is less than a number of bits of the RGBW data of the second image.
US09824618B2 Display device and method for driving same
When a clock signal pulse number and a compensation-target-line address indicating a compensation-target row match, the following control is carried out with a time point being a starting point of a current measurement period, the time point being one horizontal scanning period after a time point of the match. At a current measurement period starting point and ending point, only the potential of the one of the clock signals applied to a unit circuit corresponding to the compensation-target row is changed. Throughout the current measurement period, the clock operation of the clock signals is stopped. A monitor enable signal, that is applied to a control terminal of an output control transistor for controlling active signal output to a monitor control line, is only set to a high level during the current measurement period.
US09824617B2 Data driver and display device including the same
A data driver electrically connected to data lines includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to sequentially receive data signals respectively corresponding to the data lines and outputting an analog image signal, and a switching output unit configured to sequentially output the analog image signal outputted from the digital-to-analog converter as analog driving signals respectively corresponding to the data lines in synchronization with a clock signal.
US09824616B2 Drive method and drive device of liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a drive method and a drive device of a liquid crystal display, and the drive method comprises: receiving an image to display; implementing high frequency detection to the image pixels of the image to display to determine color differences of the respective image pixels and the adjacent image pixels; implementing the color washout compensation to the image to display according to the high frequency weight; driving the liquid crystal panel to show the image to display after the color washout compensation. With the aforesaid arrangement, the present invention can reduce the color washout under large view angle to promote the display effect of the large view angle.
US09824615B2 Load adaptive power management for a display panel
This application relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for optimizing the operations of a power converter of a display panel based on image data to be output by the display panel. The power converter can include one or more switches that can be activated or deactivated based on the image data in order to shift a power efficiency of the power converter. Power efficiency is shifted as a result of balancing an amount of charge necessary for a load with an amount of resistance created when activating switches of the power converter. Therefore, by dynamically altering a configuration of a power converter based on image data, power efficiency of the power converter can be improved.
US09824614B2 Gate driving method and display device
Disclosure are a display device that provides effective partitive driving using an optimal signal line structure, and provides partial driving that effectively drive a partial area under the signal line structure and partial driving, and a gate driving method thereof.
US09824612B2 Display panel with a timing control unit, method for driving the same and 3D display device
The disclosure provides a display panel, a method for driving the display panel and a 3D display device including the display panel, and relates to the technical field of display. The display panel comprises a display unit and at least one timing control units, wherein the display unit comprises a plurality of display regions and the plurality of display regions are simultaneously scanned. With the present invention, wire impedance in the display panel is reduced, charging time for a single row of pixels can be reduced and charging rate of the pixels can be improved.
US09824607B1 Brain machine interface for extracting user intentions with subliminal decision-related stimuli
A brain-machine interface for extracting user action intentions within a continuous asynchronous interactive environment is presented. A subliminal stimulus module generates contextually appropriate decision-related stimuli that are unobtrusive to a user. An altered perceptual experience module modifies a user's sensation of the interactive environment based on decision-related stimuli generated from the subliminal stimulus module. A brain monitoring module assesses the user's brain activity in response to the decision-related stimuli and to determine whether an action within the asynchronous interactive environment is intended by the user. Finally, an action is taken based on explicit user input, the user's brain activity in response to the decision-related stimuli, or a combination thereof. The decision-related stimuli can be visual stimuli, audio stimuli, tactile stimuli, or olfactory stimuli, any be a repeated signal having a start and a stop, where the start and stop are selected to minimize cognitive load on a user.
US09824606B2 Adaptive system for real-time behavioral coaching and command intermediation
A method, information processing system, and computer readable article of manufacture reinforce behavior in an individual. A behavior associated with an individual is monitored. A determination is made, based on the monitoring, that the behavior substantially matches a behavior in a set of behaviors. A set of interactive actions associated with the behavior are identified. At least one of the interactive actions in the set of interactive actions is selected. The at least one of the interactive actions that has been selected is performed. A response from the individual is monitored in response to the least one of the interactive actions being performed. An indicator is associated with the at least one of the interactive actions based on the reaction from the individual. The indicator indicates a relative degree of success in obtaining a desired response from the individual.
US09824601B2 Symbiotic helper
In one embodiment, a computer-based method includes detecting a state of a user and detecting a stimulus in an environment of the user. The computer-based method then provides a variable level of assistance to the user based on the detected state of the user and the detected stimulus in the environment. In another embodiment, detecting the stimulus in the environment of the user may include detecting a visual stimulus, an auditory stimulus, a physical stimulus, a vibratory stimulus, an electro-magnetic stimulus, an olfactory stimulus, a temperature stimulus, or a movement stimulus. Detecting the state of the user may include detecting natural language spoken by the user. The resulting variable level of assistance utilizes a range of immersive virtual reality, augmented reality and sparsely augmented reality. 3D models of the user's situation (the environment) may be employed in the variable levels of assistance.
US09824597B2 Magnetic navigation methods and systems utilizing power grid and communication network
Methods and configurations are disclosed for exploiting characteristic magnetic signature of electrical power transmission and distribution lines for navigation.
US09824596B2 Unmanned vehicle searches
A method of planning a flight path for a search can include receiving, by a control system, an indication of a search area boundary; receiving, by the control system, an indication of a selected search pattern; determining, by the control system, a flight path based on the search area boundary and the selected search pattern; and transmitting one or more indications of the flight path to an unmanned aerial vehicle.
US09824595B1 Aircraft monitoring and analysis using edge computing
A multi-layered edge computing method for aircraft monitoring and analysis includes providing an aircraft having a plurality of sensors connected to a flight data acquisition unit (FDAU), and providing a processing device having a processor, a non-transitory computer-readable memory, and a transmitter, wherein the processing device is in communication with the FDAU, wherein sensor data stored within the FDAU is communicated to the processing device, wherein, during flight of the aircraft, the processor analyzes the sensor data from the FDAU to detect an occurrence of at least one emergency event. The processing device ranks the at least one emergency event for transmission priority according to sensor type and severity and provides a signal transmitted to a flight control authority upon ranking of the at least one emergency event, wherein the signal has an alert sequence according to the ranking.
US09824593B1 System and method for holistic flight and route management
A distributed system for flight and route management (FARM) of one or more aircraft of the system may include onboard processing devices for combining sensor data local to an aircraft with cloud-based data received through the system from other aircraft or from ground-based processing devices, thereby generating situation models of each aircraft relative to its flight path and in the context of current and predictive conditions (weather, traffic, terrain, threats, etc.). The FARM system may evaluate situation models against prioritized constraint sets of business rules or policies associated with each aircraft's flight plan to determine, crosscheck, and implement possible modifications to the flight plan. Localized aircraft data and flight plan modifications may be propagated through the system via a variety of communications networks to provide synchronized, holistic airspace data portraits to aircraft and ground control alike.
US09824590B2 Lane departure warning system and method for controlling the same
A lane departure warning system includes a front camera generating front image information of a vehicle. A speaker outputs a departure warning message, and a screen displays an image including user interface objects. A touch detector generates touch information by detecting a user's touch on the screen. A controller recognizes lanes at both sides of a current driving road by using the front image information, sets first and second warning lines based on the lanes, and controls the speaker to output the departure warning message if the vehicle reaches one of the first and second warning lines. The controller calculates a touch operation time by using the touch information and changes the first and second warning lines to third and fourth warning liens if the touch operation time is greater than a first reference time. A distance between the third and fourth warning lines is less than a distance between the first and second warning lines.
US09824586B2 Moving object recognition systems, moving object recognition programs, and moving object recognition methods
The moving object recognition system includes: a camera that is installed in a vehicle and captures continuous single-view images; a moving object detecting unit that detects a moving object from the images captured by the camera; a relative approach angle estimating unit that estimates the relative approach angle of the moving object detected by the moving object detecting unit with respect to the camera; a collision risk calculating unit that calculates the risk of the moving object colliding with the vehicle, based on the relationship between the relative approach angle and the moving object direction from the camera toward the moving object; and a reporting unit that reports a danger to the driver of the vehicle in accordance with the risk calculated by the collision risk calculating unit.
US09824584B2 Driving support apparatus for vehicle
A driving support apparatus for a vehicle comprises a first determination part which determines whether a likelihood of a collision between an own vehicle and another vehicle exists based on information acquired by an autonomous sensor and outputs a first notification request when a notification for the likelihood of the collision is required, a second determination part which determinates whether the likelihood of the collision based on information acquired by an inter-vehicle communication device and GPS sensor and outputs a second notification request when the notification for the likelihood of the collision is required, a warning determination part which inhibits the output of the second notification request by the second determination part when a time at which starts outputting the second notification request for a notification device by the second determination part has come until the time period from a time treq1 at which starts outputting the first notification request for the notification by the first determination part. Consequently, the apparatus is less likely to bother and/or confuse a driver, since the notification contents are not switched in a short time.
US09824580B2 Method, computer readable storage medium and system for producing an uncertainty-based traffic congestion index
Provided is a mechanism for producing an uncertainty-based traffic congestion index, wherein the mechanism may comprise: obtaining a plurality of GPS data points; dividing the plurality of GPS data points into a plurality of variable sliding windows, wherein the dividing maximizes an amount of shape information in each of the plurality of variable sliding windows, performing a map matching process on the plurality of GPS data points as the GPS data points had been divided by the dividing; calculating a confidence value indicative of the map matching process; and producing the traffic congestion index, wherein the traffic congestion index is produced by taking into account the calculated confidence value indicative of the map matching process. In various embodiments, such a mechanism may be implemented via systems, methods and/or computer program products.
US09824576B2 Dynamic determination of a geographically dispersed group for alert resolution
Described herein are techniques for receiving an alert associated with an entity and dynamically determining, based on the alert and on substantially real-time attributes for the entity, a geographically dispersed group in which each member of the geographically dispersed group either is a device associated with the entity or shares at least one attribute with the entity. The techniques further include requesting information about the entity from the geographically dispersed group, receiving information from at least a subset of the group, and taking action responsive to the alert based on the received information.
US09824574B2 Contextual fire detection and alarm verification method and system
A number of different approaches are described for minimizing or preventing false alarms. In one case, override panels are used such as locally near or in the protected space or remotely at a security desk, for example. These override panels are used to deactivate or block the generation of a fire alarm signal in the case where the occupants or a management personnel recognizes that the fire alarm signal should not be generated. In this way, an alarm verification step is included. In another aspect, additional, contextual information is used to characterize or adjust when fire alarm signals are generated. This contextual information can be generated from sources that are not typically used in the generation of the fire alarm signal but instead are based on other sources of the information concerning the protected space.
US09824571B2 Alerting on proximity of items
An apparatus alerts on a distance between items. The apparatus includes a radio for communicating with an internet of things (IoT) tag on an item. A locator module determines a distance between two or more items, and an alertor module alerts a user to a violation of a proximity rule.
US09824569B2 Wireless communication for dispenser beacons
A communication system for hygiene compliance monitoring comprising a plurality of hygiene dispensers for dispensing hygiene product, each dispenser having a transmitter for transmitting data indicating the status of dispenser, such as product remaining in the dispenser to a central monitoring station.
US09824565B1 Smoke detector system with expanded capabilities
A smoke detector system functionally integrates several systems into a common housing, including smoke/carbon monoxide detection, motion sensing, camera, lighting and audio systems.
US09824563B2 Fire monitoring system and smoke detector
A fire monitoring system includes a smoke detector, a first correction unit obtaining a first corrected value by multiplying a difference value between a reference value and a detection value by a first correction coefficient, a first conversion unit converting the first corrected value into a first smoke density, and a fire determination unit determining occurrence of a fire event based on the first smoke density. The first correction coefficient is set on an increase side corresponding to an increase in a rate of change of the reference value to an initial reference value, and an upper limit value is set for the first correction coefficient.
US09824562B2 Wireless audio system using smoke detectors with integrated audio systems paired for mobile device output
A system for pairing a smoke detector based audio system with a device for wireless audio. The system has a smoke detector circuit with an integrated audio system. The device is paired to the smoke detector circuit using a communications protocol and used to output audio from a speaker. The system has an alarm circuit and an alarm speaker, that can be separate from the audio speaker. The alarm circuit is connected to one or more detection device for determining hazardous conditions. If a hazardous condition is detected, the audio from the device is overridden and alarm audio is output to warn of the hazardous condition.
US09824561B2 Low power detection and alarm
An alarm apparatus, for detecting radiation and/or pollutants including smoke and carbon monoxide, comprises an alarm circuit including a detector for radiation and/or pollutants and an audible alarm emitting device. A power supply circuit, connectable to an external AC power supply, supplies power to the alarm circuit. A controller operates the power supply circuit in a first mode of operation in which it supplies current to the alarm circuit at a first power level less than that required to energize the audible alarm emitting device and, in response to the detection of radiation and/or pollutants, operates the power supply in a second mode of operation in which it supplies current to the alarm circuit at a second power level sufficient to energize the audible alarm emitting device.
US09824558B2 Automated motion disturbance detection and alerting
Several methods and a system of automated motion disturbance detection and alerting are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes associating a protection device with a movable tangible personal property. The method also includes activating the protection device remotely. The method further includes detecting, through a sensor in the protection device, a motion disturbance of the movable tangible personal property. The method further includes automatically responding based on a set of user-specified preferences when an intensity of the motion disturbance exceeds a minimum threshold of a sensitivity associated with the protection device. The method furthermore includes relaying a confirmed motion disturbance of the movable tangible persona property to a user of the protection device. The method furthermore includes protecting the movable tangible personal property through the automatic response of the protection device. The protection device includes a sensor to detect a motion disturbance associated with a movable tangible personal property.
US09824550B2 Apparatus and method for controlling indicator lights in a device
An apparatus and method for controlling indicator lights in a device is described. The apparatus includes a first visual indicator that indicates a status of a first activity, a second visual indicator that indicate a status of a second activity, and a control circuit adjusting an intensity for the first visual indicator when the first visual indicator is illuminated in response to the status of the first activity and adjusting an intensity for the second visual indicator when the second visual indicator is illuminated in response to the status of the second activity. The method includes providing a first signal to a first indicator light indicating a status for a first activity, providing a second signal to a second indicator light indicating a status for a second activity, and providing a third signal to the first and second indicator lights that adjusts the brightness of the lights.
US09824549B2 Side viewable lighted bezel for a display device
A monitor display unit mounted on a surface and in electronic communication with a system or device to be monitored, comprising a face plate, a back plate having at least a portion of a side edge being translucent or transparent, a logic controller, and at least one light-emitting device in electronic communication with the controller. Actuation of the light-emitting device causes light to pass through the side edge of the back plate, thereby being visible to a viewer at an angle that can be generally parallel to the surface on which the display unit is mounted.
US09824547B2 Cash register system with pivotable arms
A cash register system (10, 100) has an arm (16, 22) for holding a display unit (18, 24). The arm (16) has a first section (24, 30) and a second section (28, 34) pivotable relative thereto. The second section (28, 34) is pivotable relative to the first section (28) between a first position in which the display unit (18, 24) is arranged above a receiving area (36) and a second position in which the display unit (18, 24) is not arranged above this receiving area (36).
US09824543B2 Methods and systems for providing a parlay card sweepstakes opportunity
A parlay card sweepstakes opportunity is presented to a player via a web site hosted by a computer system. The parlay card sweepstakes opportunity may include one or more player-selectable parameters for the selection of previously generated pre-populated parlay cards associated with the sweepstakes opportunity. The pre-populated parlay cards may be stored in a data store that is accessed upon receiving a parameter selection from the player. The pre-populated parlay cards include a plurality of events as well as predicted outcomes for these events. A particular pre-populated parlay card may be selected from the plurality of previously generated pre-populated parlay cards and presented to the player via the web site. Actual outcome information regarding events included in the pre-populated parlay card may then be received and a prize may be presented to the player based a combined actual outcome of the plurality of events included on the pre-populated parlay card.
US09824540B2 Method and system for gaming revenue
A method and system comprises integrating a contest framework into a game. The contest framework at least comprises means for communicating with a transactional server, a plurality of listeners being configured to monitor interactions during a play of the game for communication to the transactional server, and means for displaying notifications from the transactional server. The transactional server is at least configured for processing received interactions in conjunction with a progressive jackpot contest associated with the game and communicating notifications regarding the processing to the contest framework. A communicating with the transactional server at least comprises associating the game with a progressive jackpot contest and setting parameters for the progressive jackpot contest.
US09824535B2 Method and device for conducting a prize game using trackable activity
A user application monitors user activity for trackable user activity. When a trackable user activity occurs, a prize indicium is issued. A prize is awarded based on whether a predetermined collection of prize indicia is obtained.
US09824532B2 Uses of location tracking in mobile devices
In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes: detecting a plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone, and selecting a first of the plurality of wagering game machines with which to establish a connection. The method can also include requesting the connection with the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, and transmitting, from the mobile phone to the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, player account information for configuring a wagering game. The method can also include receiving, from the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, content indicating a result of the wagering game, and presenting, on the mobile phone, the result of the wagering game.
US09824528B2 Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller
A computer implemented method of gaming. The method includes monitoring game outcomes generated for one or more players of a plurality of linked gaming machines, and for each generated game outcome i) identifying instances of one or more special symbols occurring in the generated game outcome, ii) incrementing an accumulating counter for each of the one or more special symbols based on instances of one or more special symbols occurring in the game outcome, and iii) determining whether a trigger condition is met. In response to the trigger condition being met, allocating one or more special symbols to one or more of the linked gaming machines for modifying a game outcome generated for a player of the linked gaming machine, to provide a new game outcome for each of the one or more players of linked gaming machines to which the special symbols are allocated, wherein the number of special symbols allocated to the linked gaming machines is based on a value of the accumulating counter for the special symbol at the time the trigger condition was met, and resetting the accumulating counter for the allocated special symbols.
US09824527B2 Gaming system and method for providing a matching game
A gaming system selects and displays one of a plurality of symbol blocks in each of a plurality of block positions, wherein each of the selected blocks includes at least one partial symbol. Each partial symbol has at least one complementary partial symbol which, when arranged in a designated spatial relationship with one another, form a complete matching symbol. If any of the partial symbols on the selected blocks create a complete matching symbol, the gaming system provides at least one award to the player. Each matching block which includes any portion of a complete matching symbol is then removed, creating an empty block position. The gaming system then fills the empty block position by either shifting a displayed block into the empty block position or by selecting a new block. The gaming system repeats this process until no complete matching symbols are formed.
US09824525B2 3D enhancements to game components in gaming systems as multi-faceted game components
An electronic gaming machine, a system and a method for providing game components with 3D enhancement are disclosed. The machine includes one processor, one persistent data store, one receiver to receive game data, and a display device configured with a user interface to display: a portion of the game data as at least one of a row and a column of game components along a plane in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game; and at least one of the game components as a multi-faceted game component, wherein the multi-faceted game components are displayed in a 3D configuration in relation to the plane of the display device, wherein the at least one processor is configured to associate at least one additional symbol with at least one facet of the multi-faceted game component; and integrate the at least one additional symbol into the given game.
US09824518B2 Information processing system, control information processing device, and program
There is provided an information processing system that includes an information processing terminal equipped with an IC chip capable of non-contact communication with a reader/writer, a data provider device that stores a first data record for creating service data, and a control information processing device that creates the service data and transmits the service data to the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal includes a terminal communication portion that acquires the first data record from the data provider device and transmits the first data record to the control information processing device. The control information processing device includes a control communication portion that receives the first data record, a control storage portion that stores a second data record for creating the service data, and a data creation portion that creates the service data based on the first data record and the second data record.
US09824514B2 Applying geographical limitations to control actions of a security system
Apparatus for applying geographical limitations to control actions of a security system is described. The apparatus receive location data from a user device, determines whether location data has the user device within a predetermined distance range from the security system and cause a message to be sent to the security system to perform the control action specified in the request when the processor determines that the user device is within the predetermined distance range.
US09824510B2 Vehicle operation sensing system, vehicle operation sensing unit, and vehicle operation sensing device
A vehicle operation sensing system includes an operation sensor, a fixture sensor, and a vehicle operation sensing unit. The operation sensor is an acceleration sensor fixed to an operation member, and sensing an acceleration generated in the operation member at least in a gravitational acceleration direction. The operation member has one end fixed to a vehicle and the other end a position of which is displaced in the gravitational acceleration direction when the operation member is operated. The fixture sensor is an acceleration sensor used at a position unchanging part of the vehicle, and sensing an acceleration generated in the vehicle at least in the gravitational acceleration direction. The vehicle operation sensing unit has an operation sensing part sensing an operation of the operation member by using a sensing result of the fixture sensor as an object to be compared with a sensing result of the operation sensor.
US09824507B2 Mobile device based vehicle diagnostic system
A vehicular diagnostic communications system, and components thereof, are provided for an apparatus and technique for communicating vehicular diagnostic information over a cellphone network. The system includes a code reader having a vehicle diagnostic port connector for receiving vehicle diagnostic information from the vehicle diagnostic port. The code reader also has a local connectivity network circuit for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the vehicle diagnostic port connector and a local connectivity circuit. A cellphone is arranged in communication with the local connectivity network for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the code reader and a cellular telephone network.
US09824505B2 Method for triggering a vehicle system monitor
Methods and systems are provided for improving the frequency of attempting and successfully completing one or more on-board diagnostic routines. Engine operating conditions are predicted based on a vehicle operator's driving pattern and routines are initiated if the predicted conditions match the conditions required for performing the routine. If the conditions do not match, entry and/or execution conditions of the routine are adjusted to better match the predicted conditions, so as to enable the routine to be attempted.
US09824504B2 Mobile card processing using multiple wireless devices
A payment transaction between a passenger and a driver may be processed using a mobile device of the passenger and a mobile device of the driver. For example, the mobile device of the passenger and the mobile device of the driver may be associated for processing the payment transaction. Fare data for a ride that is offered by the driver may be received from the mobile device that is associated with the driver and payment data for the passenger may be received from the mobile device that is associated with the passenger. A payment processing server may cause the payment transaction to be processed.
US09824499B2 Mixed-reality image capture
A head-mounted display includes a visible-light camera configured to collect a visible-light image of a physical space, a surface sensor configured to measure one or more surface parameters of the physical space, a see-through display configured to visually present an augmentation image while light from the physical space passes through the see-through display to a user eye, and an augmented-reality engine. The augmented-reality engine may be configured to identify a surface of the physical space from the one or more measured surface parameters, compose a mixed-reality image that includes the augmentation image overlaid on the visible-light image, and visually present, via the see-through display, the mixed-reality image in alignment with the identified surface.
US09824494B2 Hybrid surfaces for mesh repair
Techniques are provided for repairing a polygon mesh that represents a three-dimensional surface, the repaired mesh comprising explicit regions that are preserved from the original mesh and implicit regions that are modified from the mesh repair operation. The explicit and implicit regions that comprise the hybrid surface meet along a “cut path” which can be located by identifying the elements of the volumetric grid where the implicit and explicit surfaces diverge. These elements comprise a path of marching cubes having faces that intersect the polygon elements of the explicit surface along the cut path. In certain embodiments the path between these intersections is selected so as to reduce deviation from the marching cube face and the path length. Once a preferred cut path is selected, the polygons that comprise the explicit surface are subdivided to conform to the cut path.
US09824489B2 Grading and monitoring of a geographical region
A grading and monitoring system that evaluates a quality of index of a neighborhood via satellite images in described. The system utilizes a fuzzy-logic rule based technique in determining the quality of the neighborhood. The crisp input parameters that define the characteristics of a neighborhood are first fuzzified and based on a set of rules that are obtained from an experts knowledge, an output fuzzy set of type-2 is obtained. Further, the output fuzzy set is aggregated and type-reduced to obtain an output crisp value corresponding to the neighborhoods quality. The system also monitors changes in the neighborhood quality in predetermined time intervals.
US09824484B2 Dynamic subroutine linkage optimizing shader performance
Allocation of memory registers for shaders by a processor is described herein. For each shader, registers are allocated based on the shader's level of complexity. Simpler shader instances are restricted to a smaller number of memory registers. More complex shader instances are allotted more registers. To do so, developers' high level shading level (HLSL) language includes template classes of shaders that can later be replaced by complex or simple versions of the shader. The HLSL is converted to bytecode that can be used to rasterize pixels on a computing device.
US09824482B2 Map viewer and method
Techniques for displaying a 3d map view of a 3d geographical map are provided. A database stores data which defines the 3d geographical map in a layered hierarchy comprising data layers which can be individually rendered for the 3d map view. The database comprises a data layer of a digital terrain model which is modelling a terrain surface and a data layer of a 3d road network comprising 3d road elements. A processor is configured for selecting specific data layers of the database in response to a resolution setting of the 3d map view and to render the 3d map view using the selected specific data layer.
US09824481B2 Maintaining heatmaps using tagged visual data
Techniques describe tagging visual data (e.g., image and/or video data) with wireless and sensor measurement information by a mobile device. Tagged visual data may be sent to a server, such as a crowdsourcing server. Techniques further describe receiving visual data from a device, wherein the visual data is tagged with information comprising source identifying information associated with an at least one signal emitting device, identifying at least one visual feature from the visual data, determining a coordinate on a map at which the visual data was acquired based on identifying the at least one visual feature from the visual data, and associating the coordinate on the map with the information associated with the at least one signal emitting device.
US09824480B2 Chaining animations
In applications that display a representation of a user, it may be reasonable to insert a pre-canned animation rather than animating a user's captured motion. For example, in a tennis swing, the ball toss and take back in a serve could be a pre-canned animation, whereas the actual forward swing may be mapped from the user's gestures. An animation of a user's gestures can be chained together into sequences with pre-canned animations, where animation blending techniques can provide for a smoother transition between the animation types. Techniques for blending animations, that may comprise determining boundaries and transition points between pre-canned animations and animations based on captured motion, may improve animation efficiency. Gesture history, including joint position, velocity, and acceleration, can be used to determine user intent, seed parameters for subsequent animations and game control, and determine the subsequent gestures to initiate.
US09824479B2 Method of animating messages
The present invention relates to rendering texts in a natural language, namely to manipulating a text in a natural language to generate an image or animation corresponding to this text. The invention is unique mainly in that a sequence of animations is selected, semantically corresponding to a given text. Given a set of animations and a text, the invention makes it possible to compare the sequence of these animations to this text. It is unique in that text templates are used and an optimum sequence of these templates is determined. The idea of the template-based text rendering consists in that the text is manipulated to generate an image or animation with the aid of searching correspondences to a limited number of predefined templates. An animation according to certain style is selected in compliance with each template. Animations are sequentially combined into a single sequence of video images.
US09824476B2 Method for superposing location information on collage, terminal and server
A method for superposing location information on a collage includes: acquiring a selected image and a collage template identifier corresponding to a selected collage template, and acquiring longitude and latitude information corresponding to the selected image; sending the longitude and latitude information and the collage template identifier to a server; and receiving graphic and textual information returned by the server, and superposing the selected image and the graphic and textual information on the selected collage template.
US09824475B2 Obscuring displayed information
A method can include rendering pixel representations of information to a rectangular display; and rendering pixel representations of perspectival text to the rectangular display where the pixel representations of perspectival text overlay a portion of the pixel representations of information. Various other methods, apparatuses, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US09824473B2 Cross-platform data visualizations using common descriptions
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for cross-platform data visualizations using common descriptions. Embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms for simplifying software development and enhanced code reliability. A user interface, along with interactive and dynamic characteristics, can be described (programmatically and/or declaratively) independently of any specific device platform. User interface qualities can be described using a generic scene graph structure with attached behaviors. The generic scene graph can then be used to drive the user interface on any number of different computing platforms using platform specific (e.g., rendering, gesture recognition, etc.) sub-systems. Platform specific sub-systems can vary based on technologies that are used by the platform specific sub-systems. For example, rendering sub-systems can vary based on the technology used to render graphical data, such as, for example, Open GL, XAML, Direct X, Quartz, etc.
US09824472B2 Determining alternative visualizations for data based on an initial data visualization
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method generates an alternative visualization of a data set based on a specification of a selected first visualization of the data set and parameters comprising information about a data visualization goal and statistical relations between two or more variables in the data set. Embodiments of the present invention further include a system and computer program product for generating an alternative visualization in substantially the same manners described above.
US09824471B2 Automatic generation of hierarchy visualizations
A method, system, and computer program product for presentation of data in enterprise applications. The method form commences by identifying a hierarchy of data maintained by an enterprise application (e.g., in a database). A hierarchy processor or other processor reads the hierarchy of data to configure a graphical representation of the hierarchy of data to be displayed on a display device. The graphical representation includes a graphical display indication corresponding to one or more relationships between items in the displayed hierarchy. Additional display indications include a calculated summary value of aggregated data, such as where the aggregated data is calculated using an aggregation function.
US09824468B2 Dictionary learning based image reconstruction
A computationally efficient dictionary learning-based term is employed in an iterative reconstruction framework to keep more spatial information than two-dimensional dictionary learning and require less computational cost than three-dimensional dictionary learning. In one such implementation, a non-local regularization algorithm is employed in an MBIR context (such as in a low dose CT image reconstruction context) based on dictionary learning in which dictionaries from different directions (e.g., x,y-plane, y,z-plane, x,z-plane) are employed and the sparse coefficients calculated accordingly. In this manner, spatial information from all three directions is retained and computational cost is constrained.
US09824466B2 Colour contrast enhancement of medical images by non-linear colour mapping
An image enhancement system and method for enhancing medical images from a surgical imaging system. Each image pixel has a value in a first three-dimensional color space. A mapping of values in a subset of the first color space is calculated to map each color point in the subset to an enhanced value. The mapping is calculated by selecting a reference point in the subset and, for each color point in the subset, mapping the color point to a modified color value offset from the reference point by the modified color point vector that has the same direction as the color point vector extending from the reference point to the color point, but a greater magnitude. The mapping is applied to the pixel values in the medical image falling in the subset to produce an enhanced image.
US09824463B2 Methods and systems for providing mapping, data management, and analysis
A method for providing mapping, data management and analysis. Creation of a map is initiated with a desired Gaussian aggregation and desired color map parameters. Data is loaded to be utilized in the map. The data is rasterized, then converted to a certain scale. A convolution operation is performed on the data. The convolution results are applied to a color ramp, and the map is created based on the color ramp and the convolution results.
US09824462B2 Method for detecting object and object detecting apparatus
A method for detecting an object includes inputting information of a moving object included in a plurality of images and generating a regression tree. In response to input of a new image, the system communicates information of a moving object included in the newly inputted image into the regression tree, and determines a size of a person included in the new image based on a resultant value of the regression tree.
US09824457B2 Model-based segmentation of an anatomical structure
A system (100) and method is provided for performing a model-based segmentation of an anatomical structure in a medical image of a patient. The medical image (022) is accessed. Moreover, model data (162) is provided which defines a deformable model for segmenting the type of anatomical structure. The model-based segmentation of the anatomical structure is performed by adapting the deformable model to the anatomical structure in the medical image using an adaptation technique. In accordance with the present invention, performing the model based segmentation further comprises determining from patient data (042) medical information which is predictive of an appearance of the anatomical structure in the medical image, and adjusting or setting a segmentation parameter based on the medical information so as to adjust the model-based segmentation to said predicted appearance of the anatomical structure in the medical image, the segmentation parameter being a parameter of i) the deformable model or ii) the adaptation technique. Advantageously, the system and method are enabled to better cope with the inter-patient and inter-disease-stage variability in the appearance of anatomical structures.
US09824456B2 Automatic segmentation of image frames in anatomical scan based on non-rigid registration with manually segmented frame
A time series of image frames in an anatomical scan is segmented. An image frame k in the time series of image frames is manually segmented. A non-rigid registration is then performed between the image frame k and a next image frame k+1 in the time series of image frames. A segmentation on the image frame k+1 is computed based on the non-rigid registration. Each subsequent image frame k+n in the time series of image frames is iteratively segmented using non-rigid registration with the segmented previous image frame k+(n−1) in the time series of image frames.
US09824455B1 Detecting foreground regions in video frames
Various examples are directed to systems and methods for determining foreground regions in video frames. A computing device may select from a first frame of a video, a plurality of scene point locations and divide the first frame into a plurality of sections. For a first section of the first frame, the computing device may generate a first vector subspace, basis vectors of the first vector subspace are trajectories of scene point locations in the first section. The computing device may determine that a projection error for a first scene point location in the first section is greater than a projection error threshold and write an indication of the first pixel value to a listing of foreground pixel values.
US09824451B2 Camera pose estimation
A system for determining a camera pose relative to an object including a unique feature may include a monocular camera configured to produce an image of the object, and a processing unit in operative communication with the monocular camera. The processing unit may be configured to: identify the unique feature of the object in the image produced by the monocular camera, synthesize at least four points along a contour of the object in the image using the identified unique feature as a starting point, synthesize a same number of points as synthesized in the image along a contour of the object in a reference model, the reference model preprogrammed into a memory of the processing unit, correlate the points from the reference model to the image, and determine a pose of the monocular camera based on the correlated points.
US09824446B2 Evaluating electromagnetic imagery by comparing to other individuals' imagery
A computer-based method and system assists users performing medical imaging studies, such as echocardiograms. While the user manipulates the imaging device on an individual, the system automates image processing, relieving the user from the need to simultaneously operate an application and an imaging device. The system assesses an organ system, then through comparison with other imaging data sets, generates an evaluative assessment of the organ system. The system becomes increasingly image-aware and content-aware during an evaluation, and by sequential comparisons against progressive data sets, refines an evaluative assessment.
US09824445B2 Endoscope system
An endoscope system for analyzing, when an endoscope is inserted into a subject, an observed region and an unobserved region of the endoscope using information of a three-dimensional image of the subject obtained in advance, including: one or more processors comprising hardware, for: three-dimensionally changing a display direction for displaying a luminal organ model extracted from a three-dimensional image, and when an identification image provided with identification information is generated on the luminal organ model with the display direction changed, generating the identification image in a direction such that a proportion of the non-angle-of-view region in the identification image is largest.
US09824439B2 Method for indicating a characteristic of bone mineral density
A method of generating an indication of at least one characteristic of a patient's bone mineral density. The method comprises obtaining at least one measurement of a width of a patient's inferior mandibular cortex and generating said indication based upon said at least one measurement. The at least one measurement is obtained at a location along the inferior mandibular cortex between the ante-gonion and a point on the inferior mandibular cortex defined with reference to the mental foramen.
US09824438B2 Method for testing an agricultural spraying device
In a method for testing an agricultural spraying device (1) which comprises a plurality of nozzles (3) that are arranged at a spacing from one other and spray a liquid, which is supplied under pressure, in a defined atomizing cone (8), a region, near the nozzle, of the atomizing cone (8) of each individual nozzle (3) is optically recorded, in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the atomizing cone (8), by means of a recording device (6) having a digital camera (7), and is stored as a digital image file.
US09824435B2 Image analyzing apparatus and program
Proposed are an image analyzing apparatus and program in which the orientation of fiber bundles can be easily analyzed from a three-dimensional image of CMC. Provided is an image analyzing apparatus for analyzing an orientation of a fiber bundle from a three-dimensional image of a fiber-reinforced composite material, comprising an input unit which inputs the three-dimensional image, a binarization processing unit which binarizes the input three-dimensional image and acquires a binary image, an orientation estimation processing unit which estimates each orientation of foreground pixels in the binary image based on an orientation detection filter having a parameter for causing a shape of a detected cross section to have anisotropy, a center extraction processing unit which extracts center pixels showing a center of the fiber bundle from a foreground pixel group, in which the orientation thereof was estimated, based on the orientation detection filter, a fiber bundle connection processing unit which deems center pixels having a same or similar orientation to be a same fiber bundle with regard to the extracted center pixel group, and connects the center pixels indicating the same fiber bundle, and a meander determination processing unit which calculates a meandering amount of the connected center pixel group indicating the same fiber bundle.
US09824433B2 Pipe inspection system camera heads
Camera heads for use in pipe inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a camera head includes a body; an image sensor disposed in the body for generating images of an interior of a pipe or cavity in which the camera head is inserted, and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the image sensor to automatically capture images or video frames by the camera head within the object.
US09824432B2 Peripheral inspection system and method
A method of inspecting two or more sides of an object is provided. The method includes generating one set of image data of two or more sides of the object, such as by using spherical mirror segments that project all sides of the object onto a single image and generating an X by Y array of image data of the single image. The projection of the image data is then compensated for, such as by identifying inspection processes to locate defects of the object in the projected image data or by converting the image data from the projected inspection coordinates to Cartesian coordinates. Predetermined inspection processes are then performed on the compensated image data, such as by using the inspection processes that are optimized for use with the projected image data or by converting the projected image data into a Cartesian format and using Cartesian image data inspection processes.
US09824430B2 Method and apparatus for adjusting image brightness
Provided are a method and an apparatus for adjusting image brightness. The method includes: acquiring an image to be processed, and acquiring a single-channel brightness image based on grayscales of each channel of the image to be processed; performing Gaussian filtering on the single-channel brightness image to acquire a Gaussian filtered image; adjusting grayscales of the Gaussian filtered image based on the grayscales of the Gaussian filtered image and a preset proportion; comparing the Gaussian filtered image after adjustment with the Gaussian filtered image before adjustment to acquire a grayscale change rate of each pixel through adjustment; processing the image to be processed based on the grayscale change rate of each pixel to acquire a processed image; and outputting the processed image.
US09824425B2 Image quality enhancing apparatus, image display apparatus, image quality enhancing method, and computer readable storage medium
An image quality enhancing apparatus, an image display apparatus, an image quality enhancing method, and a computer readable storage medium which make a learning-type image quality enhancing method utilizing a sparse expression practical are provided. The image quality enhancing apparatus calculates, from the feature quantity of an image, coefficients of low-image-quality base vectors expressing a feature quantity with a linear sum and generates the image with the enhanced image quality by calculating a linear sum of high-image-quality base vectors using the calculated coefficient. When calculating the coefficient, T base vectors highly influential on the feature quantity are selected from among a plurality of base vectors and an analytic solution making L2 norm of a coefficient matrix α as small as possible is calculated. A sparse solution of the coefficients can be obtained without using the iteration method and a practical image quality enhancing apparatus can be realized.
US09824423B1 Data overlay for animated map traffic display and method of rapidly loading animated raster data
A data visualization technique rapidly loads images to decrease data transfer time and associated bandwidth cost for animation effects in displays of data, and includes initially loading raster imagery at a coarser zoom level than a current view on the display, and then manipulating the imagery using general-purpose image manipulation algorithms to interpolate data points as a user adjusts the zoom level. In this manner, the data visualization technique intentionally displays a coarser view than that selected, rather than transferring entirely new imagery or datasets, and manipulates the imagery as necessary to avoid loading more data from a remote server to the local client each time the user adjusts the view.
US09824420B2 Determining scaling factors for devices
An image scaling service includes determining an image as a candidate for a scaling process, scanning the image for an initial text value, and scaling the image to a next lower resolution. The image scaling service also includes iteratively performing the scaling process until a threshold value of a readability metric is reached, the scaling process includes scanning the scaled image for a scaled text value, comparing a difference between the initial text value and the scaled text value, the difference indicative of the readability metric, and scaling the scaled image to a next lower resolution. In response to reaching the threshold value of the readability metric, the image scaling service further includes selecting from scaled images an image having a lowest resolution resulting from the scaling process before the threshold value of the readability metric was reached.
US09824417B2 Image signal processor for generating depth map from phase detection pixels and device having the same
An image signal processor including a CPU is provided. The CPU receives image data and positional information of phase detection pixels from an imaging device, extracts first phase detection pixel data and second phase detection pixel data from the image data using the positional information of phase detection pixels, computes first phase graphs from the first phase detection pixel data based upon moving a first window, computes second phase graphs from the second phase detection pixel data based upon moving a second window, computes disparities of the phase detection pixels using the first phase graphs and the second phase graphs, and generates a depth map using the disparities.
US09824415B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus for processing image data by a plurality of pipeline-connected processing modules is provided. The apparatus includes a first pipeline processing unit configured to include a plurality of processing modules including a processing module which processes image data for every first size; and a second pipeline processing unit configured to be branched from the first pipeline processing unit and include a plurality of processing modules including a processing module which processes image data for every second size different from the first size. The second pipeline processing unit includes, at a start, a change unit configured to acquire partial image data of the first size from the first pipeline processing unit and change the partial image data of the first size into partial image data of the second size.
US09824412B2 Position-only shading pipeline
In position-only shading, two geometry pipes exist, a trimmed down version called the Cull Pipe and a full version called the Replay Pipe. Thus, the Cull Pipe executes the position shaders in parallel with the main application, but typically generates the critical results much faster as it fetches and shades only the position attribute of the vertices and avoids the rasterization as well as the rendering of pixels for the frame buffer. Furthermore, the Cull Pipe uses these critical results to compute visibility information for all the triangles whether they are culled or not. On the other hand, the Replay Pipe consumes the visibility information to skip the culled triangles and shades only the visible triangles that are finally passed to the rasterization phase. Together the two pipes can hide the long cull runs of discarded triangles and can complete the work faster in some embodiments.
US09824409B2 Energy management system, server, energy management method, and storage medium
According to an embodiment, energy management system includes client and server. Server includes acquisition unit, estimation unit, calculator and controller. Acquisition unit acquires data concerning electrical equipment in a building including a storage battery from client. Estimation unit estimates energy demand and energy generation amount in building based on the data. Calculator calculates, based on the energy demand and the energy generation amount, operation schedule of the electrical equipment to optimize energy balance in building under a constraint that minimizes dump power to be discarded after storage battery is fully charged. Controller creates control information to control electrical equipment based on operation schedule.
US09824408B2 Browser payment request API
Disclosed is an updated browser having an API for communicating payment data between the browser and a site for processing payments of purchases and to reduce the number of user interactions needed for a purchasing process. The method includes receiving, via the user interface, an interaction by a user with an object associated with a site, the interaction indicating a user intent to make a purchase, receiving, based on the interaction and via an application programming interface, a request from the site for payment data in connection with the purchase and transmitting, to the site and via the application programming interface, the payment data, wherein the payment data confirms the purchase or can be used to process or deliver a product associated with the purchase.
US09824407B2 Calculating unique social networking system users performing an action on a social networking system object
A social networking system generates one or more metrics describing user interactions with objects to describe the popularity of the objects among users. Data describing actions performed by social networking system users on objects stored by the social networking system to identify an action, the user performing the action and the object on which the action was performed. Stored actions performed on a selected object are retrieved and a subset of the actions is generated by sampling the stored actions at a sampling rate. A number of unique users included in the subset is determined and used along with the sampling rate to determine the number of unique users included in the retrieved actions, which is used to derive a metric describing user interaction with the selected object.
US09824403B2 Measuring problems from social media discussions
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product to measure problems from a social media discussion. In exemplary embodiments, a computer extracts one or more problems from the social media discussion. The computer extracts one or more severity indicators and one or more complexity indicators from the social media discussion. The computer clusters the one or more problems into one or more sets of unique problems in a manner that related problems are clustered together into the one or more unique problems. The computer determines an overall severity and an overall complexity of the sets of unique problems.
US09824400B2 Cost item life cycle viewer with configurable document traversal options
A method, system, and computer program product for enterprise accounting software applications. The computer implemented method commences upon receiving a single user-specified indication of a subject cost item. Then, responsive to the single user-specified indication, the method traverses from the subject cost item to at least one of a successor cost item or a predecessor cost item. Then, still responsive to the single user-specified indication of a subject cost item, the method proceeds to automatically retrieve information from the successor cost item or from the predecessor cost item. Then, still responsive to the single user-specified indication, the method invokes operations for displaying a representation of the subject cost item in a juxtaposition to the automatically traversed-to items. A user can configure traversing from a purchase requisition to a purchase order, and/or traversing from a purchase order to a payable invoice, and/or traversing from a payable invoice to a project expenditure.
US09824399B2 Secure data validation system
An automated validation system validates whether a property of a policyholder receiving at least one insurance benefit is currently receiving remote monitoring services, as represented by the policyholder. The system includes an application server, a trusted third party server, and a management computer. The application server requests the trusted third party server to validate whether the property of the policyholder is presently receiving remote monitoring services from a service provider. A management computer can adjust the policyholder's insurance policy based on the received validation results.
US09824393B2 Methods and systems for managing consumer savings with credit card transactions
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for managing consumer savings initiated from a payment card transaction is included. The payment card transaction involves a cardholder and a payment card of the cardholder. The method uses a computer device in communication with an issuing bank. The computer device includes a memory. The method includes receiving, by the computer device, transaction data associated with the payment card transaction. The transaction data separately identifies a payment amount and a savings amount. The savings amount is an amount the cardholder selects to save. The method also includes identifying, by the computer device, a savings account number associated with the cardholder. The method further includes transmitting the savings amount and the savings account number to the issuing bank for recording as a savings accrual for the cardholder. The issuing bank is the issuer of the payment card.
US09824391B2 Virtual reality shopping experience
A solution is provided for a method for a user to shop online in a three dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) setting by receiving a request at a shopping server to view a shopping location, having at least one store, and displaying the shopping location to the user's computer in a 3D interactive simulation view via a web browser to emulate a real-life shopping experience for the user. The server then obtains a request to enter into one of the stores and displays the store website to the user in the same web browser. The store website has one or more enhanced VR features. The server then receives a request to view at least one product and the product is presented in a 3D interactive simulation view to emulate a real-life viewing of the product.
US09824387B2 Systems and methods involving proximity, mapping, indexing, mobile, advertising and/or other features
Systems and methods involving proximity, mapping, indexing, mobile, advertising, and location processing, among others, are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, a method of determining a mobile device location may comprise capturing product information from a product within a facility by a mobile device, retrieving a product location within the facility from a database based on the captured product information, and determining the mobile device location within the facility based on the product location and the product information.
US09824386B2 HTTP parallel processing router
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a router having a first I/O terminal and a second I/O terminal, wherein the first I/O terminal is configured to be in communication with at least one client via a first network, wherein the second I/O terminal is configured to be in communication with a plurality of remote servers via a second network, and wherein the router is configured to receive, at the first I/O terminal via the first network, a web services request from the at least one client, identify, based on the web services request from the at least one client, a group of the plurality of remote servers that are capable of fulfilling the web services request, and transmit, in parallel via the second I/O terminal and the second network, the received web services request to each one of the plurality of remote servers within the group.
US09824373B2 Mobile device cluster advertisement delivery
Methods provide advertisement delivery to a cluster of mobile devices with computer readable program code, when read by a processor, configured for identifying, among a plurality of mobile devices associated with a network, a cluster of two or more mobile devices. The identification may be based at least in part on a relative displacement of the two or more mobile devices during a period of time being less than a maximum relative displacement. The methods may further include displaying an advertising message on each mobile device in the cluster.
US09824372B1 Associating advertisements with videos
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes identifying web pages that embed a selected video, aggregating content derived from the identified web pages, and transmitting one or more advertisements (ads) that are targeted to the aggregated content for presentation with the selected video embedded on the identified web pages.
US09824370B1 Dynamic physical interaction tracking system and method
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a social networking game that enables players to scan QR codes (or other identifying markers) and transmit the items scanned to a server that determines the physical location of the player. Players can play a game where they attempt to find and scan as many QR codes as possible. In an embodiment, the QR codes can also be used for crowd control. People in areas that are overly populated can be incentivized to move to lower traffic areas by offering them incentives for reporting to the low traffic area.
US09824366B2 Customer pre-selected electronic coupons
Embodiments presented herein generally relate to novel systems and methods for managing electronic coupons. In embodiments, the user uploads one or more coupons into a mobile device. While shopping, the mobile device receives communications from one or more NFC sensors/transmitters associated with one or more products in one or more product displays. The mobile device can determine from information in the communication to which product the communication applies. The mobile device can then search for one or more uploaded coupons that apply to the one or more products. In embodiments, the mobile device alerts the user when one or more of the coupons apply.
US09824364B2 Regulatory inventory and regulatory change management framework
A computer implemented method, implemented by an enterprise, of receiving regulatory change data from a feed, identifying a regulatory change, and communicating the regulatory change to an affected regulatory inventory associated with the enterprise. The method may also comprise of providing a questionnaire to a user, receiving questionnaire answers from a user, and creating a compliance action plan to assist the enterprise in managing the regulatory change.
US09824361B1 System and method for discovering and managing remote assets related to distributed offerings
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide for managing a customer asset, which is a hardware or software component of a remote customer device, in a data processing system having an offering platform program. The customer asset's identity and location are received from an offering. The customer asset is located on the remote customer device using the received customer asset's identity and location. A file system is locally implemented for the customer asset. Information is provided to the customer asset via the locally implemented file system.
US09824358B2 Fraudulent transaction detection system for use in identity-based online financial transaction decisioning system
Embodiments of the invention provide for systems to determine potential fraudulent activity associated with online financial transaction identity-based transaction decisioning, to electronically determine decisions for transactions such as account opening, and the like. The embodiments herein described accurately provide a system tool to prevent fraudulent transactions from occurring, such as preventing accounts from being opened by individuals who present an identity risk and efficiently identify such risky applicants early in an automated decisioning process. Specific embodiments provide for electronically determining a transaction decision based on applying business rules to potential fraud indicators. In other embodiments of the invention, a decisioning score is determined that takes into account the application of predetermined business rules to potential fraud indicators.
US09824357B2 Focus-based challenge-response authentication
A method for authenticating an access attempt includes detecting an access attempt by a user device over a network. A challenge-response authentication is provided over the network to the user device. The challenge-response authentication includes an image having a plurality of image objects. The challenge-response authentication is operable to display the image such that at least one of the plurality of image objects is in focus and at least one of the plurality of image objects is not in focus. In response to providing the challenge-response authentication, an authentication response is received from the user device over the network, and it is determined whether the authentication response includes an indication of the at least one of the plurality of image objects that is in focus to determine whether to authenticate or deny the access attempt.
US09824354B1 Method and apparatus for performing transactions over a network using cross-origin communication
A transaction is conducted between a merchant site and a customer's electronic device using a payment processor. The merchant site is associated with a client-side application and a server-side application. The client-side application executes on the customer's electronic device. The client-side application electronically sends payment information retrieved from the customer's electronic device to the payment processor. The client-side application does not send the payment information to the server-side application. The payment processor creates a token from the payment information sent by the client-side application. The token functions as a proxy for the payment information. The payment processor electronically sends the token to the client-side application. The client-side application electronically sends the token to the server-side application for use by the server-side application in conducting the transaction. The payment information can thus be used by the server-side application via the token without the server-side application being exposed to the payment information.
US09824353B2 Key protection method and system
Proposed are a key protection method and system. The method comprises: a: receiving by a mobile terminal a registration instruction, generating a user's public key and private key, and sending the user's public key to a third-party e-business verification server, if the mobile terminal respectively passes identity verifications of the mobile bank server and a comprehensive pre-position bank server; b: performing a verification by the mobile bank server on user's trade information, and performing a trade by the comprehensive pre-position bank server if the verification is successful; c: generating by the mobile terminal an updated parameter for protecting a private key after the trade is performed, sending to the mobile bank server, receiving a successful updating result from the mobile bank server and encrypting and storing the user's private key. The present invention can increase the difficulty of an attack, and improve security.
US09824349B2 Facilitating mobile device payments using product code scanning
Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for facilitating mobile device payments using barcodes displayed on mobile devices and scanned by merchants at checkout counters. When a customer is ready to tender a payment to a merchant, instead of using a credit card, cash, or check, the customer activates an application on his mobile device. The mobile device includes or obtains information about the payment system of this merchant. Furthermore, the mobile device includes or obtains information about the customer/mobile device user and then uses these two pieces of information to generate and display a barcode that encodes customer payment information specific to this merchant. The barcode is scanned at the checkout counter and processed to retrieve customer records from a database of the payment processing system. These records are then used to transfer funds between the merchant and customer, obtain discounts, and/or perform other retail transactions.
US09824347B2 Serialization and database methods for tubulars and oilfield equipment
Methods and apparatus identify downhole equipment and correlate input data with the equipment to improve planning and/or inventory operations. For some embodiments, oilfield equipment or tubular goods such as drill pipe include a shaped recess along an outer circumference for receiving a tag cartridge by shrink fitting. Once tagged, detector system configurations at pipe yards may facilitate logging the presence and location of each drill pipe and correlating specific data, such as inspection data, to each drill pipe. Further, this correlation populates a database utilized to achieve other business functions such as forecasting number of additional drill pipe needed to purchase, invoicing customers according to actual tracked wear/use of the drill pipe being returned, and providing well or job specific drill string population using known history pipe joints.
US09824345B2 Receipt generating device, and control method of a receipt generating device
To appropriately execute a receipt generating process based on whether or not an application is installed on a mobile terminal as the target communication device. A printer driver according to the invention has an installation decision unit that determines if a specific application is installed on a mobile device targeted for communication; a receipt generation decision unit that determines whether or not to generate a paper receipt and/or electronic receipt based on the decision of the installation decision unit; and receipt generating process units that execute paper receipt and/or electronic receipt generating processes according to the decision of the receipt generation decision unit.
US09824344B2 Techniques for automating self-service transactions
Techniques for automated transactions are provided. A customer uses a mobile device to interact with a self-service checkout device (SSCO) to perform a transaction. Initially, a unique barcode for the transaction is generated and displayed to the customer, via an attract screen of the SSCO. The mobile device scans the barcode (can be a QR code); this causes the mobile device to communicate with a remote server that identifies the customer. Preferences for the customer are retrieved and the transaction and features of the SSCO are configured based on the preferences. The transaction proceeds with the configured preferences.
US09824341B2 Object oriented system for managing complex financial instruments
Object oriented design strategies and patterns are applied to financial data processing systems for processing and modeling of financial products (also referred to as financial instruments) with an emphasis being on derivative products. The system employs valuation independent, well-defined financial components (also referred to as financial events) that can be combined to build new financial structures. A general purpose software model is provided for representing the structure and characteristics of these products. A declarative specification language is provided to describe financial instruments in a consistent manner that lends itself to processing in such an object oriented system. A general traversal process is provided that can be applied to the macro structure of a financial instrument to implement various functions that produce results based on such information, such as the stream of financial events associated with the instrument, or the pricing or valuation of the instrument. Techniques including double dispatch and other mechanisms are further provided to provide flexible means of associating the appropriate processing methods with the diverse range of instrument characteristics that are encountered in a typical financial institution's course of business.
US09824337B1 Waste management system implementing receptacle tracking
A system is disclosed for tracking receptacles serviced by a service vehicle. The system may have a locating device located onboard the at least one service vehicle and configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the at least one service vehicle, a receptacle sensor located onboard the at least one service vehicle and configured to generate an identity signal indicative of an identity of a receptacle in a vicinity of the at least one service vehicle, and a display. The system may also have at least one controller in communication with the locating device, the sensor, and the display. The at least one controller may be configured to show on the display an icon representing the receptacle overlaid on a map based on the location and identification signals.
US09824335B1 Integrated calendar and conference application for document management
Techniques presented herein provide techniques for integrating one or more documents for a communication session in a calendar application. In one example, a computing device retrieves a meeting appointment in a calendar application executed by the computing device for a meeting via a communication session, wherein the meeting appointment includes identifying information of one or more invitees and for the communication session, wherein the communication session enables communication between different computing devices. At least one document associated with the communication session is identified. The document is linked with the meeting appointment such that a centralized version of the at least one document is accessible to the one or more invitees via the meeting appointment, wherein authorization is granted to each of the one or more invitees to the communication session defining permission levels for each of the one or more invitees to access the at least one document.
US09824333B2 Collaborative management of activities occurring during the lifecycle of a meeting
Technologies are described herein for collaborative management of activities occurring during the lifecycle of a meeting. A collaboration program includes functionality for collaborative management of activities occurring during the entire lifecycle of a meeting. Using the collaboration program, meeting participants can collaborate on the creation of a meeting agenda prior to the occurrence of a meeting, can independently take and exchange meeting notes during a meeting, and can collaboratively generate a meeting summary following the meeting. The meeting agenda, meeting notes, and meeting summaries can be synchronized to a shared workspace accessible to each of the meeting participants through the collaboration program.
US09824328B2 Arm-detecting overhead sensor for inventory system
Inventory systems may include one or more sensors capable of detecting spatial positioning of inventory holders and an arm of a worker interacting with the inventory holder. Data can be received from a sensor, a gesture of the arm can be determined from the data, and a bin location or other information can be determined based on the gesture.
US09824325B2 Systems and methods for initiating returns over a network
The present invention provides systems and methods for processing return transactions over a network. An embodiment of the invention discloses an online return application that generates an electronic return shipping label that can be delivered to a browser of a customer that wishes to make a return. Also, disclosed is the creation and transmission of label delivery links, which provide for dynamic generation and delivery of shipping labels.
US09824324B2 Automated package relocation from an unmanned kiosk
Automated package deliveries comprises a server at a package delivery system that receives a request for a package delivery, the request comprising an identification of a package and an identification of a first kiosk location. The server associates the package with an aerial delivery device and a user authentication to retrieve the package. The server transmits to the delivery device instructions to deliver the package to the first kiosk. Subsequently, the server receives a request from a user computing device to retrieve the package from the first kiosk and deliver the package to an alternate kiosk. The server transmits to the delivery device instructions to retrieve the package from the first kiosk and instructions to deliver the package to the alternate kiosk. The delivery device retrieves the package from the automated kiosk and delivers the package to the alternate kiosk.
US09824323B1 Gathering in-store employee ratings using triggered feedback solicitations
Embodiments are disclosed to detect whether an interaction has occurred between a customer and one or more store employees. By analyzing a how long a communication device used by the customer was within a threshold range of one or more devices worn by store employees, an interaction between the customer and one or more store employees may be identified. Employees whom the customer interacted with may be identified by processing transmission parameters broadcasted by the devices worn by the store employees. Thus, all employees in which a customer interacted with while visiting a store may be identified. The customer may be asked for feedback via the communication device upon detection that a customer has completed a transaction and/or left the store. Using the solicited feedback provided by the customer, various types of reports may be generated.
US09824319B2 Multi-interval dispatch system tools for enabling dispatchers in power grid control centers to manage changes
A system tool that provides dispatchers in power grid control centers with a capability to manage changes. Included is a user interface and a plurality of scheduler engines. Each scheduler engine is configured to look ahead at different time frames to forecast system conditions and alter generation patterns within the different time frames. A comprehensive operating plan holds schedules generated by the plurality of scheduler engines. A relational database is coupled to the comprehensive operating plan. Input data is initially received from the relational database for each scheduling engine, and thereafter the relational database receives data from the scheduling engines relative to forecast system conditions.
US09824314B2 Grouping email messages into conversations
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems determine that an indication that a received message was sent in response to another message is present in the received message, parse a stored message, in response to the indication being present, for at least a partial match between a subject of the received message and contents of a subject of the stored message, and for at least a partial match between sender and recipient participants of the received message and sender and recipient participants of the stored message, and display the received message as grouped with the stored message. A further exemplary feature includes parsing text of the received message for text that is redundant of text of the stored message, determining that a minimum threshold of consecutive matching characters has been reached, and displaying the received message with the consecutive matching characters at least partially hidden from view.
US09824313B2 Filtering content in an online system based on text and image signals extracted from the content
The disclosure relates (a) a method and computer program product for training a content classifier and (b) a method and computer program product for using the trained content classifier to determine compliance of content items with a content policy of an online system. A content classifier is trained using two training sets, one containing NSFW content items and the other containing SFW content items. Content signals are extracted from each content item and used by the classifier to output a decision, which is compared against its known classification. Parameters used in the classifier are adjusted iteratively to improve accuracy of classification. The trained classifier is then used to classify content items with unknown classifications. Appropriate action is taken for each content item responsive to its classification. In alternative embodiments, multiple classifiers are implemented as part of a two-tier classification system, with text and image content classified separately.
US09824309B2 Mitigating adjacent RFID reader interference
A radio frequency identification (RFID) automatic vehicle identification (AVI) system configured to mitigate signal interference, the system comprising a plurality of RFID readers, comprising a first RFID reader and a second RFID reader; and a plurality of antennas, wherein a first antenna is connected to the first RFID reader and a second antenna is connected to the second RFID reader. Prior to the first RFID reader transmitting a signal through the first antenna, the first RFID reader samples a received radio frequency (RF) signal from the first antenna, and if the received RF signal meets predetermined strength and frequency criteria, the first RFID reader inhibits transmission of the signal through the first antenna.
US09824303B2 Image matching method using feature point matching
An image matching method includes: extracting a plurality of feature points from a reference image; selecting a first feature point from the feature points, and selecting a first reference search area comprising the first feature point; setting a first matching candidate search area corresponding to the first reference search area from a target image, and extracting a plurality of feature points from the first matching candidate search area; selecting a second feature point closest to the first feature point in the first reference search area, and selecting a first straight line connecting the first and second feature points; generating a plurality of segments from the feature points extracted from the first matching candidate search area; and determining a first matching straight line matching a length and an angle of the first straight line, from the segments generated from the feature points extracted from the first matching candidate search area.
US09824297B1 Method and apparatus for medication identification
A system and method for recognizing a medication are provided. The method includes the steps of presenting a medication to a medication identification apparatus, the medication identification apparatus adapted to visually image the presented medication and visually imaging the presented medication. A predetermined transformation may be applied to the visually imaged presented medication, the predetermined transformation adjusting one or more parameters of the visually imaged presented medication along one or more dimensions. Finally, the transformed visually imaged medication is compared to a medication library to determine a closest match therebetween.
US09824295B2 Imaging systems and methods including obscurant characterization
Systems and methods for characterizing an obscurant and imaging a target are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of imaging a target includes characterizing at least one obscurant present in an environment, and determining, based on the at least one characterized obscurant, one or more of the following: one or more wavelengths corresponding to the at least one obscurant, a polarization state corresponding to the at least one obscurant, and a sensor exposure time corresponding to the at least one obscurant. The method further includes adjusting one or more parameters of an imagining system based at least in part on a characterization of the at least one obscurant.
US09824292B2 Metric-based recognition, systems and methods
Apparatus, methods and systems of object recognition are disclosed. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter generates map-altered image data according to an object-specific metric map, derives a metric-based descriptor set by executing an image analysis algorithm on the map-altered image data, and retrieves digital content associated with a target object as a function of the metric-based descriptor set.
US09824289B2 Exploiting color for license plate recognition
Methods and systems for exploiting color for object recognition. A color gradient for each pixel in a gradient image of an object can be calculated. The gradient image can be binarized to produce an image having white walls around characters and other structures. A connected component analysis operation can be performed with respect to black regions in the image to determine bounding boxes for characters and other pictorial elements in the image and thereafter identify character candidates from the image utilizing character metrics. Non-character colors can then be eliminated from the image utilizing an outlier rejection.
US09824285B2 Vehicular control system
A control system for a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera and an image processor operable to process image data captured by the forward-viewing camera. The control system is operable to detect a traffic light and to determine a change in state of the traffic light from red to green. The control system determines that another vehicle is ahead of the stopped equipped vehicle at the traffic light, and determines a change in state of the traffic light from red to green. Responsive to (a) a threshold period of time elapsing during which the other vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle has not moved after the traffic light changes state from red to green and/or (b) the other vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle moving a threshold distance away from the equipped vehicle, the control system (i) generates an alert and/or (ii) controls a vehicle system of the equipped vehicle.
US09824281B2 System and method for tracking moving objects in videos
A system and method are provided for tracking objects in a scene from a sequence of images captured by an imaging device. The method includes processing the sequence of images to generate sequential images at a plurality of hierarchical levels to generate a set of regions of interest; and, at each of the hierarchical levels: examining pairs of sequential images to link pixels into short tracklets; and grouping short tracklets that indicate similar motion patterns to generate representative tracklets. The representative tracklets are grouped to generate a tracking result for at least one object.
US09824273B2 Image processing system, processing method, and storage medium
An image processing system includes: an analysis unit configured to obtain information indicating a degree of curvature of a retina from a tomographic image of an eye to be examined; and an obtaining unit configured to obtain a category of the eye to be examined based on an analysis result.
US09824272B2 Iris recognition camera system for mobile device
An iris recognition camera system for mobile device includes a sensor and associated circuit, a lens and lighting sources including a lighting source element, a displaying light source element and IR LED light source elements, wherein the lighting sources are installed around the center of a camera lens with a certain clearance, and the lighting sources are attached on an FPCB and arranged on the four sides of the center of the camera lens and equipped with an FPCB cover for protection and a guiding mirror so that a user may conveniently acquire an image of his or her iris watching the image of his or her iris so as to identify and process only a living iris.
US09824269B2 Enhanced interpretation of character arrangements
Technologies are described herein for interpreting character arrangements. An image including an arrangement of characters may be received or captured by a computing device. Techniques described herein generate data representative of the characters. Characteristics and other information interpreted from the image may be processed to determine a data type. The data representative of the characters may be arranged into a data structure based on the data type, an arrangement type and/or other information interpreted from the image. The data type may indicate one or more attributes of the arranged data such as a format, font, date, language, or currency. The data type may also indicate how data is used in a process, equation or calculation. In addition, the data type may identify an anchor that may be used to merge data generated from the image with other data generated from another image.
US09824267B2 Writing board detection and correction
A method for image processing, including: obtaining an image including a writing board and a background external to the writing board; detecting a plurality of lines within the image; determining, based on the plurality of lines, a plurality of corners of the writing board within the image; and correcting a perspective of the writing board by applying a transformation to the image based on the plurality of corners.
US09824260B2 Depth image processing
Embodiments described herein can be used to detect holes in a subset of pixels of a depth image that has been specified as corresponding to a user, and to fill such detected holes. Additionally, embodiments described herein can be used to produce a low resolution version of a subset of pixels that has been specified as corresponding to a user, so that when an image including a representation of the user is displayed, the image respects the shape of the user, yet is not a mirror image of the user. Further, embodiments described herein can be used to identify pixels, of a subset of pixels specified as corresponding to the user, that likely correspond to a floor supporting the user. This enables the removal of the pixels, identified as likely corresponding to the floor, from the subset of pixels specified as corresponding to the user.
US09824259B2 Device and method for microscopy on a plurality of samples
The present invention relates to a device and a method for microscopy (100) of a plurality of samples (102), wherein the device comprises:—a first optical detector (106, 108), which is designed to consecutively adopt a plurality of measuring positions and to detect first image data (200) of a sample (104) with a first spatial resolution at each measuring position;—an image data analyser device which is designed to determine for each sample (202) a region (204) of the sample to be examined represented within the first image data (200) in each case;—a second optical detector (110, 112), which is coupled to the first optical detector (106, 108) in such a manner that the second optical detector (110, 112) tracks the first optical detector (106, 108) and therefore the second optical detector (110, 112) adopts measuring positions which the first optical detector (106, 108) had previously adopted. The second optical detector (110, 112) is designed to detect for each sample (202) respective second image data (300) from the region (204) to be examined in the sample (202) concerned, with a spatial resolution that is higher than the first spatial resolution.
US09824257B2 All-flat sensor with exposed colorful member and electronic device using such sensor
An all-flat sensor includes a coupling substrate; a sensing chip, which is disposed on the coupling substrate, has first electrodes arranged in an array and a first dielectric layer covering over the first electrodes, and is electrically connected to the coupling substrate; and a second dielectric layer covering over the sensing chip and providing an outlook color. An electronic device using the all-flat sensor is also provided.
US09824254B1 Biometric sensing device with discrete ultrasonic transducers
A biometric sensing system includes discrete ultrasonic transducers, a first electrode layer disposed over a first surface of the discrete ultrasonic transducers, and a second electrode layer disposed over a second surface of the discrete ultrasonic transducers. The first electrode layer may be a sheet of conductive material that is a common ground connection for the discrete ultrasonic transducers. Alternatively, the first electrode layer can be formed with discrete electrode elements, with a discrete electrode element disposed over the first surface of a discrete ultrasonic transducer. The second electrode layer may be formed with discrete electrode elements, with a discrete electrode element disposed over the second surface of one ultrasonic transducer. At least one integrated circuit can be attached and connected to one of the electrode layers. The integrated circuit includes drive circuits and sense circuits for the discrete ultrasonic transducers.
US09824249B2 Electrical activity sensor device for detecting electrical activity and electrical activity monitoring apparatus
An electrical activity sensor attachable to a power cable of an electrical device for detecting an impulse generated in the power cable in response to a change in electrical power state of the electrical device, the electrical activity sensor comprising an antenna assembly comprising an antenna element operable to magnetically couple with an electrical pulse generated in the power cable to induce an electrical signal in response to a change in electrical power state of the electrical device; and at least one dipole type antenna configured operate as a half wave dipole in the operating frequency range of the antenna element and to magnetically couple to the antenna element wherein the dipole type conductor is operable to wirelessly transmit data representative of the power state change of the electrical device to a remote reader.
US09824248B2 Proximity-based and user-based access control using wearable devices
Methods and apparatuses are described for proximity-based and user-based access control using wearable devices. A short-range frequency reader coupled to a target device detects a plurality of wearable devices in proximity to the reader, each wearable device comprising a short-range frequency antenna. The reader identifies, for each wearable device, a user wearing the wearable device. The reader determines, for each wearable device, a distance from the reader and an orientation in relation to the target device. The reader determines a level of access available to the target device based upon the identity of each user, the distance of each wearable device from the reader, the orientation of each wearable device in relation to the target device, and the distance of the wearable devices from each other in a three-dimensional space.
US09824243B2 Model-based runtime detection of insecure behavior for system on chip with security requirements
A runtime classifier hardware circuit is incorporated into an electronic device for implementing hardware security by storing a support vector model in memory which is derived from pre-silicon verification data to define secure behavior for a first circuit on the electronic device; monitoring input and/or output signals associated with the first circuit using the runtime classifier hardware circuit which compares the input and/or output signals to the support vector model to detect an outlier input signal and/or outlier output signal for the first circuit; and blocking the outlier input and/or output signal from being input to or output from the first circuit.
US09824237B2 Audience-based sensitive information handling for shared collaborative documents
A method for providing audience-based redaction of sensitive information in an electronic document may include receiving a request from a computing device to access an electronic document, retrieving the electronic document, identifying the user(s) associated with the computing device, determining an access level for each user associated with the computing device, determining the lowest access level for the user(s) associated with the computing device, generating a rendering of the electronic document for display on the computing device based on the lowest access level for the user(s) associated with the computing device, and providing the rendering of the electronic document to the computing device for display. When generating the rendering of the electronic document for display, sensitive information in the electronic document is typically redacted based on the lowest access level for the user(s) associated with the computing device.
US09824234B2 Method of protecting care information in a care provider terminal
A method protects care information in a care provider terminal. The method includes detecting if there is a network disconnection between the care provider terminal and an authorized access point (AP), operating the care provider terminal in an offline mode until a first predetermined time is over after the network disconnection is detected, activating an alarm operation when the first predetermined time is over, and deleting the care information when a second predetermined time is over after the alarm operation is activated. The method may further include determining whether or not the care provider terminal is connected to an unauthorized AP while counting the first predetermined time or the second predetermined time, and deleting the care information if it is determined that the care provider terminal is connected to the unauthorized AP.
US09824233B2 Posixly secure open and access files by inode number
A method for secure portable operating system interface (POSIX) directory traversing for opening and accessing files by inode number. The method includes receiving, by a process executed by a processor, a request for a ticket for traversing a file system. The process generates a secure key for a unique handle object based on the request for the ticket. An authentication code is generated for the ticket using a numeric file identifier and the secure key. In response to reading a directory with POSIX x and r permissions according to directory permission bits or an access control list (ACL), the ticket is returned including ticket information including the numeric file identifier, generation information and the authentication code. In response to a request to open a directory, the ticket information is validated based on the secure key. A directory is opened for reading using the validated ticket information and the unique handle.
US09824231B2 Retention management in a facility with multiple trust zones and encryption based secure deletion
A computing facility, including a storage management system belonging to a first trust zone having a first privilege level, a metadata management system belonging to a second trust zone having a second privilege level higher than the first privilege level, and a security management system belonging to a third trust zone having a third privilege level higher than or equal to the second privilege level. The storage management system is and configured to store multiple content entities, and the metadata management system is configured to manage, for each of the multiple content entities, metadata including a respective content encryption key and a respective retention time, each of the content entities being encrypted by its respective content encryption key. The security management system is configured to manage a master encryption key used to create the respective content encryption keys, and to confirm expiration of the respective retention times.
US09824230B2 Remote data access techniques for portable devices
A wide-area network (“WAN”)-based service enables remote data access transactions between participating endpoints within a group of participating endpoints that includes at least one server and at least one portable electronic device. Each participating endpoint is configured for communication via one or more communication networks and stores the same or different data items on behalf of a user. The WAN-based service maintains information about each participating endpoint in the group and its network accessibility, and also maintains one or more catalogs of available data items. The WAN-based service identifies a communication network available to both participating endpoints, and a direct or proxied communication session is established between the portable electronic device and the other participating endpoint via the communication network. Selected data items are downloaded, uploaded, accessed or synchronized via the communication session. The use of digital rights and identity management techniques in combination with the WAN-based service is also discussed.
US09824224B2 Security-minded cloning method, system and program
In order to solve this problem, the first aspect of the present invention is a system for duplicating (cloning) a physical environment in a virtual environment using CMDB, the system comprising: means for setting a level of confidentiality for attributes of configuration items (CI) of CMDB managing the source hardware information and software information, and means for sending CMDB information including CI having the level of confidentiality set to a virtual environment constructing means connected via a network; the virtual environment constructing means having a means for constructing the source environment in a virtual environment based on sent CMDB information; and the sending means having a means for changing the level of confidentiality of CI attributes having the level of confidentiality set in accordance with a default confidentiality policy.
US09824222B1 Method of distributed discovery of vulnerabilities in applications
In one aspect, the disclosure provides: A method comprising: inviting a distributed plurality of researchers to participate in one or more computer vulnerability research projects directed to identifying computer vulnerabilities of one or more networks and/or computers that are owned or operated by a third party; assessing reputation and skills of one or more of the researchers, and accepting a subset of the researchers who have a positive reputation and sufficient skills to perform the investigations of the computer vulnerabilities; assigning a particular computer vulnerability research project, relating to a particular network under test, to a particular researcher from among the subset of the researchers; using a computer that is logically interposed between the particular researcher and the particular network under test, monitoring communications between the particular researcher and the particular network under test, wherein the communications relate to attempting to identify a candidate security vulnerability of the particular network under test; validating a report of the candidate security vulnerability of the particular network under test that is received from the particular researcher; determining and providing an award to the particular researcher in response to successfully validating the report of the candidate security vulnerability of the particular network under test that is received from the particular researcher.
US09824220B2 Secure execution of software modules on a computer
A system and method for executing software modules on a computer, the method comprising: executing (S4) a bootloader (15, 16), at least partly (16) in the computer (101); and upon execution of the bootloader: accessing (S5) requirements as to an initial set (IS) of software modules (SMn); and hardware specifications of the computer; determining (S6) within said initial set, one or more candidate sets (CS1, CS2) of software modules that are compatible (S6a) with said hardware specifications and can (S6b) be stored as a RAM disk; and storing (S9) the software modules of a final set (FS) on a RAM disk (121), the final set (FS) being one of the one or more candidate sets, and instructing to execute the software modules stored on the RAM disk, wherein each of the initial set and the final set of software modules comprises application components and operating system image components, and preferably further comprises hardware component drivers.
US09824218B1 Detecting setting tampering
A computer implemented method includes generating a first cryptographic hash based on at least one setting associated with an operating system at a first time, storing the first cryptographic hash as a first bit string, generating a second cryptographic hash as a second bit string, wherein the second cryptographic hash is based on the at least one setting associated with the operating system at a second time, determining that a setting associated with the operating system has changed and that the setting change was made outside of the operating system based on a comparison of the first and second bit strings, and if the setting change was made outside of the operating system, setting the setting to a default value.
US09824215B2 System, method, and computer program product for monitoring and/or analyzing at least one aspect of an invocation of an interface
A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, execution of a portion of internal code of an interface is identified. Further, in response to the execution of the portion of internal code, at least one aspect of an invocation of the interface is monitored and/or analyzed.
US09824209B1 Framework for efficient security coverage of mobile software applications that is usable to harden in the field code
A method is described that includes receiving an application and creating a representation of the application that describes states and state transitions of the application. The method further includes receiving a description of unwanted behaviors of the application. The method further includes using the description and the representation to determine actions to be added to the application and locations within the application where the actions are to be performed. The method also includes instrumenting the application with the actions in the locations to create an instrumented application that does not perform the unwanted behaviors.
US09824208B2 Cloud-based active password manager
Methods and systems for periodically generating and managing passwords for one or more websites of users are disclosed. The users are provided with the ability to automatically replace their old passwords with new passwords for their one or more website accounts. The users can set a pre-determined frequency at which their passwords are to be updated and replaced with new passwords. The users can further define additional one or more rules based on which their passwords are updated. The methods and systems are further configured to auto log into user's website accounts with the updated passwords.
US09824206B1 Eye gazing passcode generation crossing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices
In one embodiment, a method includes initiating a password selection session on a source augmented reality or virtual reality device (hereafter the source AR/VR device). The method also includes tracking an eye gaze of a source user using the source AR/VR device. In addition, the method includes determining gazed content from the eye gaze of the source user using a password key phrase determination feature. Additionally, the method includes generating a symmetric password key utilizing the gazed content according to a set of password determination rules. Moreover, the method includes performing an operation using the source AR/VR device, the operation being secured by the symmetric password key. The symmetric password key is not exchanged with any other device.
US09824205B2 Mapping process changes
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a request to run a particular process; determining whether the particular process is to be run in isolation on the computer system; selecting a particular permission scheme from among a plurality of permission schemes based, at least in part, on one or more characteristics of the particular process; fetching, according to the particular permission scheme, a copy object that corresponds to an actual object for the particular process, wherein the copy object is instantiated in an isolated environment; running the particular process is isolation on the computer system by executing the copy object in the isolated environment; applying, according to the particular permission scheme, one or more changes to the copy object; and mapping, according to the particular permission scheme, the one or more changes in the copy object to the actual object.
US09824202B2 Electronic access-protection system, method of operating a computer system, chip card and firmware component
An electronic access protection system for a computer system includes an access-protected apparatus having a firmware component and a data processing device that executes program code of the firmware component; a reading device coupled to the apparatus that reads chip cards; and at least one chip card having at least one chip-card-specific access procedure, wherein a predetermined memory area of the at least one chip card stores first information concerning the at least one chip-card-specific access procedure; and the at least one firmware component has executable program code that reads in and evaluates data from the at least one chip card and performs the at least one chip-card-specific access procedure for the at least one chip card on the basis of the first information stored in the first memory area.
US09824200B2 Wakeup strategy using a biometric sensor
Disclosed is a biometric authentication system. The system comprises a biometric image sensor in an operative position with respect to a mechanical switch on a host electronic device and configured to sense biometric characteristics of a biometric object while the biometric object is operating the mechanical switch, the operating of the mechanical switch providing at least one of input and control to the host electronic device; and wake on event logic cooperating with at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device and configured to at least delay any response by the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device that increases power consumption by either the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device, beyond that needed for the performance, by at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device, of a bona fides analysis of an object being sensed while operating the mechanical switch, until a positive completion of the bona fides analysis determines that the object being sensed is an object desired to be sensed to perform a user authentication.
US09824199B2 Multi-factor profile and security fingerprint analysis
A security fingerprint architecture is disclosed. A security fingerprint comprises one or more behavioral factors which store a history of events associated with one or more users. The data in the security fingerprint is exposed by one or more modes, each of which determines the conditions that data in the security fingerprint may be accessed. Security fingerprints support a number of primitive operations that allow set operations to be performed. Security fingerprints may be used in for authentication, advertising, and other operations either alone, or in conjunction with third party data sources. An exemplary platform of security fingerprints built upon a cellular infrastructure is also disclosed.
US09824198B2 System and method for identity and reputation score based on transaction history
Techniques for electronic signature process management are described. Some embodiments provide an electronic signature service (“ESS”) configured to manage electronic identity cards. In some embodiments, the ESS generates and manages an electronic identity card for a user, based on personal information of the user, activity information related to the user's actions with respect to the ESS, and/or social networking information related to the user. The electronic identity card of a signer may be associated with an electronic document signed via the ESS, so that users may obtain information about the signer of the document. The ESS may also generate a trust score for the user based on activity information related to the user's actions with respect to the ESS and/or other factors. The trust score may be used to recommend authentication mechanisms to use with respect to electronic signature transactions.
US09824197B2 Classifier training method and apparatus, identity authentication method and system
Provided is a classifier training method, including: acquiring a training sample set; determining a classification condition at a root node according to a preset classification condition feature, performing classification on training samples in the training sample set according to the classification condition at the root node, and acquiring a classification subset corresponding to a child node of the root node; using the child node of the root node as a current node, circularly implementing the step of determining a classification condition at the current node according to another preset classification condition feature, performing classification on training samples in a classification subset corresponding to the current node according to the classification condition at the current node, and acquiring a classification subset of a child node of the current node, till a leaf node; and determining a user identity classification result at the current node, and obtaining a decision tree classifier.
US09824196B2 Authenticating users requesting access to computing resources
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring access of computing resources. Usage rules may be created and stored that define a usage constraint based on actions available to be performed at the computing resources. An authenticator may verify login credentials received from a user and authorize the user to access a computing resource. A request to perform an action at the computing resource may be received, and a usage monitor may apply a usage rule to the requested action. If the requested action violates the usage constraint of the usage rule, the usage monitor may halt performance of the requested action and notify another user of the usage constraint violation. The authenticator may receive and verify another set of login credentials from that other user. In response to successful verification of the additional set of login credentials, the usage monitor may resume performance of the requested action.
US09824194B2 Application security framework
In accordance with the teaching described herein, systems and methods are provided for providing secure access to a software application on a computing device. The software application may include a security framework having a set of predetermined security requirements. Prior to enabling access to the software application by a user, the computing device may, (i) verify installation of a device security configuration profile on the computing device, wherein the device security configuration profile certifies that the software application includes the set of predetermined security requirements, (ii) receive identifying information from the user via a user interface, (iii) verify the identifying information with an authentication server, and (iv) based on a successful verification of the identifying information, receive and store a security token. Access to the software application on the computing device may be provided for a specified period identified by the security token.
US09824190B2 Systems and methods for creating and selecting models for predicting medical conditions
Systems and methods are provided for selecting one or more models for predicting medical conditions. An exemplary method may include receiving data related to a patient and extracting metadata from the received data. The method may further include selecting the one or more models from a library of models based on the extracted metadata and applying the selected one or more models. The method also may include generating a notification when the application of the selected one or more model indicates an intervention is necessary.
US09824186B2 Medical and personal data retrieval system
A system for confidentially retrieving data from a person, such as by authorized personnel. One embodiment provides a data carrier item such as jewelry, having encrypted data imparted upon the item in manner that only intelligible after being unencrypted. Such data can be encrypted and/or invisibly disposed such that the data is not identifiable by the public, but can be quickly and accurately retrieved by authorized personnel.
US09824185B2 Electronic health records data management systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing and storing electronic health records data. In an embodiment, a database module containing a plurality of databases stores a plurality of different types of patient medical data records. Each patient medical data record is composed of one or more categories of data which may be stored in different databases. A server module configured to respond to requests received from a client is connected to the database module. The server module includes a layer of application logic, a layer of composite services, a layer of domain services, and a layer of foundation services. A request received by the server module is first processed by the application logic, then by the appropriate composite services, domain services and foundation services. Domain services may communicate with the database module, generating a response that may be processed by the composite and application logic layers before sending back to the client.
US09824183B1 Augmentation and processing of digital information sets using proxy data
A proxy data augmentation system and method intelligently augments digital information sets with proxy data using analytical processing technology. The proxy data system and method identifies fields in a digital information set that are candidates for modification using proxy data. After identifying a candidate field, an analytical process is invoked to evaluate a context of the candidate field. In one embodiment, once the context and at least one other parameter associated with the digital information set are evaluated, the proxy data augmentation system and method can determine appropriate proxy data to populate the candidate field and modify the digital information set with the determined proxy data. The modified document can then be sent to a recipient data processing system. Additionally, the digital information set submitting and/or recipient data processing system can be notified of the existence and identification of the proxy data.
US09824179B2 Diagnosis of lymphoid malignancies and minimal residual disease detection
Methods are described for diagnosis of a lymphoid hematological malignancy in a subject prior to treatment, and for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) in the subject after treatment for the malignancy, by high throughput quantitative sequencing (HTS) of multiple unique adaptive immune receptor (TCR or Ig) encoding DNA molecules that have been amplified from DNA isolated from blood samples or other lymphoid cell-containing samples. Amplification employs oligonucleotide primer sets designed to amplify CDR3-encoding sequences within substantially all possible human VDJ or VJ combinations. Disease-characteristic adaptive immune receptor clonotypes occur, prior to treatment, at a relative frequency of at least 15-30% of rearranged receptor CDR3-encoding gene regions. Following treatment, persistence of at least one such clonotype at a detectable frequency of at least 10−6 or at least 10−5 receptor CDR3-encoding regions indicates MRD. Improved quantitative embodiments are provided by inclusion of a template composition for amplification factor determination and related methods.
US09824177B1 Method and apparatus for verifying structural correctness in retimed circuits
A method for designing a system on a target device includes performing register retiming on an original design for the system to generate a retimed design. Register retiming is performed on the retimed design. The retimed design is determined to be structurally correct in response to determining that the performing register retiming on the retimed design results in the original design.
US09824173B1 Software development-based compilation flow for hardware implementation
A software development-based compilation flow for circuit design may include executing, using a processor, a makefile including a plurality of rules for hardware implementation. Responsive to executing a first rule of the plurality of rules, a source file including a kernel specified in a high level programming language may be selected; and, an intermediate file specifying a register transfer level implementation of the kernel may be generated using the processor. Responsive to executing a second rule of the plurality of rules, a configuration bitstream for a target integrated circuit may be generated from the intermediate file using the processor. The configuration bitstream includes a compute unit circuit implementation of the kernel.
US09824169B2 Regression signature for statistical functional coverage
This application discloses a computing system to implement a design verification tool and simulate a circuit design with a regression. The computing system can capture events performed by a circuit design simulated with a regression and identify that one or more combinations of the captured events covers system level functionality of the circuit design. The computing system can determine whether the system level functionality covered by the combinations of the captured events was previously uncovered for the circuit design, and generate a regression efficiency metric configured to quantify newly covered system level functionality prompted by the regression.
US09824165B2 Transformer synthesis and optimization in integrated circuit design
A method for designing a circuit element of an integrated circuit (IC) includes receiving one or more desired characteristics of the circuit element from user input and iteratively determining a design solution through one or more simulations and modifications using a rule-set. The one or more desired characteristics are combined with other preset characteristics of the circuit element or the IC. A first model of the circuit element is defined and simulated to calculate performance. The first and subsequent models are modified by drawing on a rule-set of expert knowledge relating to general dependency of at least one design criterion, such as a physical, geometrical or performance characteristic, with another design criterion.
US09824164B2 System and method of predicting pollutant emissions of a vehicle with simultaneous chemical kinetics and emissions calculations
The invention is a system for predicting emissions of pollutants from a vehicle equipped with an engine using processors (3) to determine emission of pollutants. The processors include a first group of processors (1) for carrying out calculations of chemical kinetics for determining the amounts of chemical compounds present in a chemical reaction in the engine and a second group of processors (2) for carrying out calculations of emission of pollutants simultaneously with the calculation of chemical kinetics, allowing determination of the emission of pollutants from the calculated amounts of chemical compounds. The first group of processors (1) has a global supervisor processor (4) allowing storing data required for the calculations and to distribute the calculations to clusters (5) of processors.
US09824163B2 Method and apparatus for providing a search tool in connection with address management
A method for providing a search tool for use in connection with address book management may include receiving an indication of an address book update event associated with a contact of an address book of a user, causing performance, via a processor, of a search responsive to receipt of the indication, and enabling modification of contact information associated with the contact based on the search results. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.
US09824162B1 Associative memory including multiple cascaded associative memory blocks and its use in forwarding packets in a network
In one embodiment, an associative memory is built using multiple cascaded associative memory blocks, with stored lookup words spanning a same or different numbers of associative memory blocks. A first lookup operation is performed by a first associative memory to generate first matching indications of associative entries of the first associative memory that match both the first lookup word and the first lookup type. A second lookup operation is performed by an end associative memory to generate end matching indications of associative entries of the end associative memory that match both the end lookup word and the end of word lookup type. A final lookup result indicating a matching multi-block spanning associative memory entry based on the first matching indications and the end matching indications is determined and signaled by the associative memory is built using multiple cascaded associative memory blocks.
US09824160B2 Computer implemented method and device for accessing a data set
A computer implemented method of accessing a data set comprising a plurality of records, wherein each record is associated with one or more items of data. The method comprises using the computer to receive a data query on the data set. Each record is assigned to an in-group or to an out-group with respect to the query. Words appearing in records of the in-group are determined and a user interface representative of said words is generated. Words appearing in records of the out-group are determined and a user interface representative of said words is generated.
US09824159B2 Assigning labels to desktop items
A method and system for assigning labels to desktop items is described.
US09824157B2 Information processing device and information processing method
An information processing device including: a storage unit configured to store a first record set including variables of multiple types, and a second record set different from the first record set and including variables of the multiple types; and a processing unit configured to calculate an expected value at which a first variable set representing a combination of variables formed by selecting one variable for each type in the first record set is expected to appear in the second record set, extract the first variable set based on the expected value and the number of records including the first variable set in the second record set, and output at least one of the extracted first variable set and a second variable set, the second variable set representing a combination of variables formed by selecting one or more variables for each type in the second record set.
US09824156B1 Targeting of digital content to geographic regions
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for improving geographic targeting of digital content. In some implementations, a targeting request that identifies a target geographic region is received. Groups of geographic regions that each include the target geographic region and at least another geographic region are identified. Combined targeting accuracies are computed for the groups of geographic regions. One or more of the groups of geographic regions are selected based on their combined targeting accuracies being higher than a targeting accuracy for the target geographic region. Data describing the selected one or more groups of geographic regions is provided for output in response to the targeting request.
US09824151B2 Providing a portion of requested data based upon historical user interaction with the data
The disclosed subject matter relates to providing a portion of data based on historical user interaction with the data. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a webpage corresponding to a search query. The method further includes selecting a portion of the requested webpage based on historical data. The historical data includes user interactions with the webpage subsequent to previous search queries. The method further includes providing the selected portion of the requested webpage, in response to the received request.
US09824147B1 Query language filter for cross-language information retrieval
A method of processing search queries, performed by a search server system, includes receiving, from a client system, a search query and an indicia of an application language associated with an application used at the client system to perform the search query. The search server system responds by identifying a first language and a first probability factor that specifies a likelihood that the search query is in the first language. In response to satisfaction of filter criteria, comprising a determination that the first language corresponds to the application language, the search server system translates the search query to a translated search query in a second language distinct from the application language, obtains search results for the translated search query, and conveys to the client system at least a subset of the search results for the translated search query.
US09824146B1 Using media events to predict time series data
Disclosed are various embodiments for using media reported events to generate predictions for time series data. Information retrieved from a plurality of network content sources is classified into a plurality of categories. A prediction is generated for a time series. The time series is associated with a metric observed in a computing system. The generated prediction takes into account an impact of at least one of instance of the classified information.
US09824138B2 Systems and methods for three-term semantic search
Methods and systems for searching over a large corpus of data to discover relevant information artifacts based on similar content and/or relationships are disclosed. Improvements over simple keyword and phrase based searching over Internet scale data are shown. A search query may be modified or relaxed based on the search terms and a contextual relationship therebetween. The search results may be ranked based on both a data ranking corresponding to the data entries in the corpus and a query ranking corresponding to the search query and/or the modified or relaxed search query. In this manner, the accuracy and relevance of the search results is improved.
US09824137B2 Block zoom on a mobile electronic device
A device, system and method are provided for processing structured documents, such as webpages, for display. Various elements within the structured document are parsed and rendered by an electronic device for outputting to an external or integrated display. In response to a detected scaling instruction, such as a zoom in instruction, a selected region of the displayed document indicated by the instruction is scaled to a first scaled size, including any text content therein. Any text content contained within the region may be reflowed according to the bounds of its containing element or a viewport. A dominant alignment is determined from the element or elements contained within the selected region, and the portion of the scaled region to be output to the display is determined based on the dominant alignment.
US09824136B2 Dynamic application containers
Managing application interaction on a device using dynamic containers. A method includes, for a set of applications on a device, based on certain conditions, determining a plurality of container groups. Each container group defines a set of applications and a set of interactions parameters defining boundaries of interactions between the applications for the applications in the container group. The method further includes identifying one or more changes in the certain conditions. As a result of identifying one or more changes in the certain conditions, the method includes changing membership in the container groups.
US09824135B2 Method for decomposing complex objects into simpler components
Method for decomposing a complexly shaped object in a data set, such as a geobody (31) in a seismic data volume, into component objects more representative of the true connectivity state of the system represented by the data set. The geobody is decomposed using a basis set of eigenvectors (33) of a connectivity matrix (32) describing the state of connectivity between voxels in the geobody. Lineal subspaces of the geobody in eigenvector space are associated with likely component objects (34), either by a human interpreter (342) cross plotting (341) two or more eigenvectors, or in an automated manner in which a computer algorithm (344) detects the lineal sub-spaces and the clusters within them.
US09824134B2 Database system with transaction control block index
A plurality of transactions is handled in a database. Each transaction includes a plurality of operations on at least one record in the database with at least two of the transactions being handled concurrently. Thereafter, a temporary timestamp is assigned to each record. The temporary timestamp are based, at least in part, on the corresponding transaction. Further, a final timestamp is assigned to each record with a commit operation. It can later be determined, using a visibility function and based on the assigned temporary timestamps and final timestamps, which of the records are visible in a consistent view for a first transaction. Based on such determination, access can be provided to those records determined to be visible to be accessed to the first transaction.
US09824128B1 System for performing single query searches of heterogeneous and dispersed databases
The present invention is a distributed computer system of heterogeneous databases joined in an information grid and configured with an Application Programming Interface hardware which includes a search engine component for performing user-structured queries on multiple heterogeneous databases in real time. This invention reduces overhead associated with the impedance mismatch that commonly occurs in heterogeneous database queries.
US09824126B2 Methods and apparatus for a comprehensive searching on a mobile device
A mobile wireless communications device includes a display, and a memory configured to store a plurality of applications and corresponding application data for each application. The mobile wireless communications device also includes at least one input device, and a processor. The processor is configured to search the application data for a search term to thereby determine whether each application of the plurality thereof has search results associated therewith, and present applications having search results associated therewith on an application selection screen, without displaying the search results, on the display. The processor is further configured to receive selection of an application of the plurality thereof via the at least one input device, and execute the selected application to thereby present the search results on the display.
US09824125B2 Methods and apparatus for storing, suggesting, and/or utilizing lighting settings
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for storing, suggesting, and/or utilizing lighting settings. A database of relevant lighting settings for recommendation to lighting users may be managed and at least some of the relevant lighting settings may each be associated with a weighting corresponding to an experience level of a user that created the lighting setting. Relevant lighting settings for a lighting system may also be identified and a creator experience level, lighting systems contextual data, and/or reconstructability of the lighting settings may be used in identifying and/or sorting the relevant lighting settings.
US09824124B2 Method and apparatus for web ad matching
A method and apparatus are provided for better web ad matching by combining relevance with consumer click feedback. In one example, the method includes receiving a query page, extracting features from the query page, re-weighting the query page, evaluating the query page in light of each ad in order to score each ad and pick substantially best ad matches of the indexed ads, and returning the substantially best ad matches to the consumer computer.
US09824115B2 Efficient log information management and analysis
A method for efficiently managing and analyzing log information is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing a community database for a particular product and enabling a user to view a log file associated with the particular product. The method further enables the user to create a category and link a portion of a line of the log file to the category. The category is then submitted to a database administrator to accept or decline the category for admission into the community database. In the event the database administrator accepts the category into the community database, the category is stored in the community database and the portion of the line is linked to the category. Upon opening and viewing future log files, the category may then be used to label lines containing the portion. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09824112B1 Creating event streams from raw data
The disclosure includes a system and method for creating event streams from raw data. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to: receive a first event and a second event associated with a first user from a first user device; receive a third event associated with a second user from a second user device; determine one or more overlapping activities between the first event and the third event; update the first event using the third event to generate a first update event; update the third event using the first event to generate a second update event; generate a first event stream that includes the first update event and the second event for the first user; and generate a second event stream that includes the second update event for the second user.
US09824109B2 Methods and systems for indexing references to documents of a database and for locating documents in the database
Methods and systems allow indexing references to documents of a database according to database reference profiles. Documents may then be located in the database using decoding protocols based on the database reference profiles. To this end, the documents are stored in the database and searchable terms extracted therefrom are associated with posting lists. Each posting list is divided into blocks of M database references. The blocks are encoded according to a pattern that depends on the M database references. A corresponding pointer to a table of encoding patterns is appended to each block. When a query is received for a searchable term, blocks are extracted from a posting list corresponding to the searchable term and a pointer for each block is used to extract a decoding protocol related to an encoding pattern for the block.
US09824105B2 Adaptive probabilistic indexing with skip lists
A method of indexing in a skip list is disclosed. Key/value pairs are randomly inserted at an appropriate page in a skip list. A new page is created at the lowest level in the skip list. When creating the new page, the page is incremented to a higher level with a write probability. Reading the new page during a search. When reading the new page, the page is incremented to a higher level with a read probability. The read probability is not equal to the write probability.
US09824102B2 System, method and computer program product for providing a team object in association with an object
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object. These mechanisms and methods for providing a team object in association with an object can allow for centralized management of a team in association with an object. For example, members of the team may be automatically identified (e.g. without manual intervention) for receiving notifications in association with an object.
US09824096B2 Electronic apparatus, information determining server, information determining method, program, and information determining system
A method is provided for determining a category of a location. The method comprises determining, at a first time, information identifying a first device location of a first device associated with a user; and storing the first device location information and information identifying the first time in a location history. The method further comprises determining, at a second time, information identifying a second device location of the first device; and storing, in the location history, the second device location information and information identifying the second time. The method still further comprises determining, based on the location history, a category of a location.
US09824095B1 Using overlay metadata in a cloud controller to generate incremental snapshots for a distributed filesystem
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that uses overlay metadata in a cloud controller to generate incremental snapshots for a distributed filesystem. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems. More specifically, the cloud controllers cache and ensure data consistency for the data stored in the cloud storage systems, with each cloud controller maintaining a metadata hierarchy that reflects the current state of the distributed filesystem. During operation, a cloud controller receiving new data from a client: (1) stores the new data in the cloud controller; (2) creates a metadata entry for the new data in the locally maintained metadata hierarchy; (3) updates the overlay metadata to point to the metadata entry and the new data stored in the cloud controller; and (4) then uses the overlay metadata to generate an incremental snapshot for the new data.
US09824089B2 Communication apparatus, data control method in said apparatus, and storage medium storing program for data control
A list of addresses indicating communication destinations is acquired. A communication protocol used between a communication apparatus and a communication destination indicated by an address is specified. The notation of the address included in the list is converted.
US09824088B2 Active knowledge guidance based on deep document analysis
An approach is provided for an information handling system to present knowledge-based information. In the approach, a semantic analysis is performed on the document with the analysis resulting in various sets of semantic content. Each of the sets of semantic content corresponds to an area in the document. The areas of the document are visually highlighted using visual indicators that show the availability of the sets of semantic content to a user via a user interface. In response to a user selection, such as a selection using the user interface or a user specified configuration setting, a selected set of semantic content is displayed to the user using the interface.
US09824085B2 Personal language model for input method editor
Some examples include generating a personal language model based on linguistic characteristics of one or more files stored at one or more locations in a file system. Further, some implementations include predicting and presenting a non-Latin character string based at least in part on the personal language model, such as in response to receiving a Latin character string via an input method editor interface.
US09824083B2 System for natural language understanding
A general-purpose apparatus for analyzing natural language text that allows for the implementation of a broad range of natural language understanding applications. The apparatus for natural language understanding analyzes a source text and transforms the source text into a semantically-interpretable syntactic representation (SISR), comprising a syntax template and semantic clause annotations. The general-purpose apparatus for natural language understanding is adaptable to various source text natural languages and is adaptable to various natural language understanding applications, such as query answering, translation, summarization, information extraction, disambiguation, and parsing. A natural language query answering apparatus for answering questions about a source text, whereby the query answering apparatus utilizes the general-purpose apparatus for transforming the natural language query into SISR format.
US09824081B2 Manipulating spreadsheet data using a data flow graph
The present disclosure includes techniques pertaining to computer implemented systems and methods for automatic generation of data transformations. In one embodiment, a user manipulates a spreadsheet of data in a user interface. On a backend, the user's manipulations trigger actions that cause the data to be modified. Actions may automatically cause data flow objects and data flow graphs to be produced. The transformations defined by the data flow graphs are automatically executed by a software engine and the results are displayed to the user. The user may access and manipulate data from a variety of data sources while the underlying complexities of the transformation process are performed in an automated manner.
US09824080B2 Automatic generation of forms for device configuration
The present disclosure discloses a method and network device for automatic generation of forms for device configurations. Specifically, a network device receives a static configuration document from a user. The network device waits for a content creator to parse through the configuration document and tag various dynamic fields with supported dynamic content tags. The network device can then extract the dynamic variables from the processed document and generate forms to present to the user for the requested information. Next, the network device generates static configuration file(s) corresponding to one or more devices for the user based on the user input values.
US09824079B1 Providing actions for mobile onscreen content
Systems and methods identify actionable content in onscreen content and provide at least a default action for the content. For example, a method may include receiving an image of a screen captured from a display of a mobile device, determining areas of actionable content in the image, and determining a respective action for each area of actionable content. The method may also include generating annotation data for the image, the annotation data including a visual cue that corresponds to a first area of actionable content, the visual cue being actionable to initiate the respective action when selected and providing the annotation data for display on the mobile device.
US09824071B2 Viewing messages and message attachments in different languages
Architecture that facilitates language conversion and previewing of a message attachment in multiple different languages. The architecture can be employed in a messaging application or a personal information manager program, for example, such that the message attachment can be selected and designated for conversion into a different language, and then previewed in the different language. For example, a first language can be simplified Chinese and a second language can be traditional Chinese, such that the user can toggle the preview to view the attachment in the simplified or traditional Chinese languages. The attachment can be a word processing document, a spreadsheet document, a presentation document for the presentation of information, and/or a web feed document. Additionally, the attachment can be one of multiple attachments to the message that is selected by the user.
US09824067B2 System and method for forecasting a time series data
Systems and methods for forecasting a time series data are disclosed. The methods include receiving a historical time-series data including a series data and a non-stationary series data. The historical time-series data is processed to obtain a unified time series data. On the unified time series data, a data distribution is plotted and the data distribution is validated based upon a rate function associated with a Large Deviation Theory (LDT). The unified time series data is split validated into vectors based on autocorrelation function (ACF). The unified time series data is further validated. A mixture of Gaussian distribution models is applied and weights are assigned to each of the Gaussian distribution model. By controlling the weights based upon various what-if scenarios, a resultant Gaussian time series data is generated. The resultant Gaussian time series data indicates forecasted time series data of the historical time series data.
US09824055B2 Control method applied to operating-mode finite-state-machine and computer readable media
A control method applied to an Operating-Mode Finite-State-Machine (OPFSM) arranged for deciding a behavior of a first port of an apparatus includes: controlling the OPFSM to enter a second local state from a first local state and controlling the first port to send a signal with a wakeup pattern to a link partner of the first port when the state of the OPFSM is the first local state, and a wakeup request bit is a first local value.
US09824054B2 Firmware updating method
A firmware updating method in just a bunch of disks includes the following blocks. A motherboard is coupled to a first primary storage extension chip or to a second primary storage extension chip. The first primary storage extension chip and the second primary storage extension chip are coupled to each other. At least one secondary storage extension chip is coupled to the first primary storage extension chip. At least one secondary storage extension chip is coupled to the second primary storage extension chip. A signal sent to the first primary storage extension chip or to the second primary storage extension chip by the motherboard causes firmware of each storage extension chip to be updated.
US09824052B2 Backplane bus structure of communication system and board recognition method using same
The present invention relates to the prevention of bus conflicts in the backplane by providing a bus structure which is configured to control the activation of an attached slave board in the backplane to/from which a plurality of slave boards are attached and detached. The backplane according to the present invention can prevent data bus conflicts and improve the stability of a corresponding system by configuring general purpose I/O (GPIO) pins in a 2 bit request/grant scheme between a master board and the plurality of slave boards. Accordingly, the present invention can improve system reliability, maintainability, and competitiveness in various fields such as the fields of communication devices and server devices, remote monitors and control systems, vessel communications, aircraft communications, and wired and wireless communications in which various protocols are combined and implemented.
US09824051B2 Access appliance providing direct display data channel (DDC) interface connection and stored monitor calibration information
A remote access appliance is disclosed which provides electronic display identification data (EDID) information associated with a monitor which is communicating with the appliance, to any one of a plurality of remote computers in communication with the appliance, without requiring rebooting of a selected one of the remote computers. A plurality of multiplexers is controlled by a controller for interfacing a selected one of the computers to a display data channel (DDC) interface associated with the monitor. Memory devices are accessible by each of the computers and by the controller which store the EDID information. The controller controls the multiplexers so that any selected one of the computers can communicate with the monitor, and can access an associated one of the memory devices to obtain the stored EDID information, or such that the EDID information can be loaded into each of the memory devices.
US09824050B2 Shared PCIe end point system including a PCIe switch and method for initializing the switch
A method of accessing a server address space of a shared PCIe end point system includes programming a primary address translation table with a server address of a server address space, setting up a direct memory access (DMA) to access a primary port memory map, the primary port memory map correlating with addresses in the primary address translation table, and re-directing the direct memory accesses to the primary port memory map to the server address space according to the primary address translation table.
US09824049B1 Computer interconnect isolation
Methods and systems are provided routing access requests produced by a function to a physical sharing machine on a computer interconnect fabric. Access requests are routed through a switch that includes an NTB, the NTB using an address-lookup table to ensure that access requests made by multiple physical sharing machines are appropriately isolated from one another.
US09824045B2 USB port controller with automatic transmit retries and receive acknowledgements
Described examples include USB controllers and methods of interfacing a host processor with one or more USB ports with the host processor implementing an upper protocol layer and a policy engine for negotiating USB power delivery parameters, in which the USB controller includes a logic circuit implementing a lower protocol layer to provide automatic outgoing data transmission retries independent of the upper protocol layer of the host processor. The controller logic circuit further implements automatic incoming data packet validity verification and acknowledgment independent of the upper protocol layer of the host processor.
US09824040B2 Signal interrupts in a transactional memory system
In some embodiments, a method includes executing an atomic transaction in a system having a transactional memory. The method includes receiving a signal interrupt during executing of the atomic transaction. The method includes storing a state of the signal interrupt to enable subsequent execution of the signal interrupt. The method includes returning to executing the atomic transaction until the atomic transaction is at least one of completed and aborted. The method includes after executing the atomic transaction is at least one of completed and aborted, determining whether the signal interrupt is received during executing of the atomic transaction. The method includes after determining that the signal interrupt is received during executing of the atomic transaction, retrieving the state of the signal interrupt. The method includes executing an interrupt handler for processing the signal interrupt and returning from executing of the atomic transaction.
US09824036B2 Memory systems with multiple modules supporting simultaneous access responsive to common memory commands
Described are memory systems in which a memory controller issues commands and addresses to multiple memory modules that collectively support each read and write transactions. A common set of control signal lines from the controller communicates the same command and address signals to the modules. For write commands, the controller sends subsets of write data to each module over a respective subset of data lines. For read commands, each module responds with a subset of the requested data over the respective subset of data lines. The memory modules can be width configurable so that a single full-width module can connect to both subsets of data lines to convey full-width data, or two half-width modules can connect one each to the subsets of data lines.
US09824035B2 Memory module with timing-controlled data paths in distributed data buffers
A memory module is operatable in a memory system with a memory controller. The memory module comprises a module control device mounted on the module board to receive command signals from the memory controller and to output module command signals and module control signals, and memory devices mounted on the module board to perform a first memory operation in response to the module command signals. The memory module further comprises a plurality of buffer circuits distributed across a surface of the module board. Each respective buffer circuit is associated with a respective set of the memory devices and includes logic that is configured to obtain timing information based on signals received by the each respective buffer circuit during a second memory operation prior to the first memory operation and to control timing of the data and strobe signals through the each respective buffer circuit in accordance with the timing information.
US09824012B2 Providing coherent merging of committed store queue entries in unordered store queues of block-based computer processors
Providing coherent merging of committed store queue entries in unordered store queues of block-based computer processors is disclosed. In one aspect, a block-based computer processor provides a merging logic circuit communicatively coupled to an unordered store queue and cache memory. The merging logic circuit is configured to select a first store queue entry in the unordered store queue, and read its memory address, an age indicator, and a data value. The age indicator and the data value are stored in merged data bytes within a merged data buffer. The merging logic circuit then locates a remaining store queue entry having a memory address identical to the first selected store queue entry, and reads its age indicator and data value. Based on the age indicator and one or more age indicators of the merged data bytes within the merged data buffer, the data value is merged into the merged data buffer.
US09824011B2 Method and apparatus for processing data and computer system
A method and an apparatus for processing data and a computer system are provided. The method includes copying a shared virtual memory page to which a first process requests access into off-chip memory of a computing node, and using the shared virtual memory page copied into the off-chip memory as a working page of the first process; and before the first process performs a write operation on the working page, creating, in on-chip memory of the computing node, a backup page of the working page, so as to back up original data of the working page. Before a write operation is performed on a working page, page data is backed up in the on-chip memory, so as to ensure data consistency when multiple processes perform an operation on a shared virtual memory page while accessing off-chip memory as less as possible and improving a speed of a program.
US09824006B2 Apparatus and system for object-based storage solid-state device
An object-based storage system comprising a host system capable of executing applications for and with an object-based storage device (OSD). Exemplary configurations include a call interface, a physical layer interface, an object-based storage solid-state device (OSD-SSD), and are further characterized by the presence of a storage processor capable of processing object-based storage device algorithms interleaved with processing of physical storage device management. Embodiments include a storage controller capable of executing recognition, classification and tagging of application files, especially including image, music, and other media. Also disclosed are methods for initializing and configuring an OSD-SSD device.
US09824004B2 Methods and apparatuses for requesting ready status information from a memory
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for requesting ready status information from a memory. One example apparatus includes a memory and a host coupled to the memory. The host is configured to provide a plurality of memory access requests to the memory, to request ready status information regarding whether the memory is ready to execute a memory access request of the plurality of memory access requests, and to request execution of the memory access request responsive to the ready status information.
US09824001B2 System and method for steady state performance testing of a multiple output software system
This disclosure relates generally to software performance testing, and more particularly to a system and method for steady state performance testing of a multiple output software system. According to one exemplary embodiment, a processor-implemented performance test for steady-state determination method is described. The method may include executing, via one or more hardware processors, a performance test of a web-based application, calculating, via the one or more hardware processors, a plurality of output metrics based on the performance test, determining, via the one or more hardware processors, whether each of the output metrics has achieved steady state within micro, macro, and global initial time windows, and providing an overall steadiness indication based on the determination of whether each of the output metrics has achieved steady state within the micro, macro, and global time windows.
US09824000B1 Testing calling code dynamically with random error injection based on user-specified configuration
An apparatus includes a non-volatile storage medium and a processing circuit. The non-volatile storage medium stores code implementing an application program. The processing circuit may be configured to load and execute the code implementing the application program. At least a portion of the code implementing the application program is modified by the processing circuit to inject random errors in responses to requests from at least one calling program while an original definition of a functionality of the modified portion of the code implementing the application program remains unaltered. A particular random error injected is determined in response to configuration information received from a user.
US09823999B2 Program lifecycle testing
In one embodiment, a system for program lifecycle testing includes receiving a request to test a program update at an interface. Using a processor, the system may then execute a validation test associated with the program update, wherein the validation test is conducted in a testing environment comprising a plurality of testing environment systems. The system may then use the processor to capture a current state of the testing environment at a start of the validation test, and confirm that the plurality of testing environment systems are operating according to the validation test. The system may then use the interface to receive testing results from the validation test and compare the testing results to previous test results from a prior program update. The system may then store the validation test results, the current state of the testing environment, and a name of the program update, in a performance database.
US09823998B2 Trace recovery via statistical reasoning
A method (and system) for trace recovery includes retrieving a code listing from a memory and performing a static analysis on the retrieved code listing. Based on the static analysis, profiling instructions are inserted in the code.
US09823992B2 Decoupling dynamic program analysis from execution in virtual environments
Dynamic program analysis is decoupled from execution in virtual computer environments so that program analysis can be performed on a running computer program without affecting or perturbing the workload of the system on which the program is executing. Decoupled dynamic program analysis is enabled by separating execution and analysis into two tasks: (1) recording, where system execution is recorded with minimal interference, and (2) analysis, where the execution is replayed and analyzed.
US09823985B2 Systems and methods to organize a computing system having multiple computers
A computing system having a plurality of computers connected via a computer network to form a computing entity. Each of the computers operates substantially independent of others. Each of the computers is configured to interrogate network infrastructure of the computer network to determine the identity of the computing entity when the computer is connected to the computer network and thus join the computing entity by announcing its presence in the computing entity. Each of the computers is configured to determine an identifier of the computer in the computing entity based on the connectivity configuration in the network infrastructure and assume a role to perform a portion of operations of a computing request directed to the computing entity over the computer network, based on the presence data of the computers in the entity.
US09823983B2 Electronic fault detection unit
An electronic fault detection unit is provided that has a first register, a second register, a comparator circuit, and a timer circuit. The first and second register can be written from a first software portion, and a second software portion, respectively. The comparator circuit is arranged to detect that both the first and second register have been written, verify a relationship between first data written to the first register and second data written to the second register, and signal a fault upon said verification failing. The timer circuit is arranged to signal a fault if said verification of the comparator circuit does not occur within a time limit.
US09823981B2 Backup and restore strategies for data deduplication
Techniques for backup and restore of optimized data streams are described. A chunk store includes each optimized data stream as a plurality of chunks including at least one data chunk and corresponding optimized stream metadata. The chunk store includes data chunks in a deduplicated manner. Optimized data streams stored in the chunk store are identified for backup. At least a portion of the chunk store is stored in backup storage according to an optimized backup technique, an un-optimized backup technique, an item level backup technique, or a data chunk identifier backup technique. Optimized data streams stored in the backup storage may be restored. A file reconstructor includes a callback module that generates calls to a restore application to request optimized stream metadata and any referenced data chunks from the backup storage. The file reconstructor reconstructs the data streams from the referenced data chunks.
US09823972B2 Mobile flash storage boot partition and/or logical unit shadowing
Embodiments of the inventive concept include computer-implemented method for shadowing one or more boot images of a mobile device. The technique can include duplicating boot images to shadow partitions in a user area of a non-volatile memory device such as a flash memory. The technique can include detecting boot image corruption, and causing a mobile device to boot from the shadow partitions. The technique can include dynamically shadowing and releasing blocks used by the shadow partitions. The technique can include boot failure recovery and bad image preservation through firmware flash translation layer (FTL) logical to physical mapping updates. Boot image corruption failures can be recovered from and/or debugged using the shadow partitions.
US09823971B2 Data processing apparatus and data processing method
A data processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store plural data processing programs and a corresponding error processing program for when an error occurs with a first data processing program; and a processor configured to record to memory before executing the first data processing program, information of the error processing program that corresponds to the first data processing program; update and record in the memory after the first data processing program ends, information of a second data processing program scheduled to be executed next; and switch to any one among the first data processing program that corresponds to information recorded in the memory and the error processing program, when program processing is started next.
US09823968B1 Data storage system employing a variable redundancy distributed RAID controller with embedded RAID logic and method for data migration between high-performance computing architectures and data storage devices using the same
Variable Redundancy Distributed (VRD) RAID controller in a data storage environment contains embedded RAID logic permitting to choose and compute a desired redundancy coding scheme from a plurality thereof pre-programmed and embedded in a Compute Engine in the VRD RAID controller. “Write” or “Read” requests which are received from data generating entities, contain information identifying a type of the redundancy coding scheme of interest. The controller decodes the request, and automatically applies the desired computation to the incoming data without burdening the CPU with the computational activity. The variable redundancy computational ability of the subject systems provides an extremely versatile and flexible tool for RAID operations.
US09823967B2 Storage element polymorphism to reduce performance degradation during error recovery
A data storage system includes a plurality of storage devices forming a storage array for storing data and associated error correction codes and a controller coupled to the plurality of storage devices. The controller is configured to, responsive to an error in a data element among the data, rebuild the data element from other data elements and an error correction code in the storage array and overwrite the error correction code with the rebuilt data element.
US09823966B1 Memory component with error-detect-correct code interface
A memory component internally generates and stores the check bits of error detect and correct code (EDC). In a first mode, during a read transaction, the check bits are sent to the memory controller along with the data on the data mask (DM) signal lines. In a second mode, an unmasked write transaction is defined where the check bits are sent to the memory component on the data mask signal lines. In a third mode, a masked write transaction is defined where at least a portion of the check bits are sent from the memory controller on the data signal lines coincident with an asserted data mask signal line. By sending the check bits along with the data, the EDC code can be used to detect and correct errors that occur between the memory component and the memory controller.
US09823960B2 Apparatus and method for parallel CRC units for variably-sized data frames
A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) device configured to support parallel calculation of a CRC value for a data frame comprises a plurality of CRC processing units each configured to accept one of a plurality of data segments of the data frame of a variable size that can be unknown to the CRC device beforehand and generate one of plurality of partial CRC values in parallel with rest of the CRC processing units over multiple clock cycles/iterations. The CRC device further comprises an integration component configured to integrate the plurality of partial CRC values from the plurality of CRC processing units into one final CRC value for the data frame, wherein the final CRC value is attached to the data frame for error checking during storage or transmission of the data frame.
US09823956B2 Data I/O circuits and semiconductor systems including the same
A semiconductor system may include a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device may output an external strobe signal and external data. The second semiconductor device may extract error information from the external data in synchronization with the external strobe signal during a write operation and outputs the external data and the error information through input/output (I/O) lines during the write operation. The second semiconductor device may correct errors of internal data with the error information loaded on the I/O lines to output the corrected internal data as the external data during a read operation.
US09823952B2 Tracking a relative arrival order of events being stored in multiple queues using a counter
An order controller calculates an absolute value of a difference between a first counter value stored with a first next entry set to an active status in a first queue from among at least two queues and a second counter value stored with a second next entry set to the active status in a second queue. The order controller compares the absolute value with a counter midpoint value. The order controller, responsive to the absolute value being less than the counter midpoint value, selects a smaller value of the first counter value of the first counter value and the second counter value as a next event to process. The order controller, responsive to the absolute value being greater than or equal to the counter midpoint value, selects a larger value of the first counter value and the second counter value as the next event to process.
US09823945B2 Method and apparatus for managing application program
A method for managing application programs is provided. The method includes acquiring whether a daemonic application program is running in an operating system, collecting a memory occupancy of the daemonic application program periodically within a time period upon finding a daemonic application program; determining whether the daemonic application program is in a long-term standby status according to the memory occupancy of the daemonic application program, and closing the daemonic application program when the daemonic application program is in a long-term standby status. An application program management system is also provided.
US09823938B2 Providing deterministic, reproducible, and random sampling in a processor
In one embodiment, a processor includes a front end unit to fetch and decode an instruction. The front end unit includes a first random number generator to generate a random value responsive to a profileable event associated with the instruction. The processor further includes a profile logic to collect profile information associated with the instruction responsive to a sample signal, where the sample signal is based on at least a portion of the random value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09823935B2 Techniques for latching input events to display flips
A system including one or more input interface drivers, an input dispatcher, one or more applications, a system compositor and one or more output interface drivers. The input interface driver receives input events. The input dispatcher is modified to dispatch a current input event to a corresponding application after receiving an indication that a display image based upon a previous input event has been posted to an output interface driver. The corresponding application renders a new display image based upon the current input event. The system compositor posts the new display image to the output interface driver. The system compositor is also modified to send an indication to the input dispatcher that the new display image has been posted to the output interface driver. The system iteratively performs the process to latch the dispatching of input events to the display flip.
US09823934B2 Firmware updates during limited time period
When providing a user with native access to at least a portion of device hardware, the user can be prevented from modifying firmware and other configuration information by controlling the mechanisms used to update that information. In some embodiments, an asymmetric keying approach can be used to encrypt or sign the firmware. In other cases access can be controlled by enabling firmware updates only through a channel or port that is not exposed to the customer, or by mapping only those portions of the hardware that are to be accessible to the user. In other embodiments, the user can be prevented from modifying firmware by only provisioning the user on a machine after an initial mutability period wherein firmware can be modified, such that the user never has access to a device when firmware can be updated. Combinations and variations of the above also can be used.
US09823933B2 System and method of reissue parking for a microprocessor
A reissue instruction parking system for a microprocessor including a reservation stations module that dispatches instructions for execution and a reorder buffer that reissues instructions to the reservation stations module during a reissue state, in which the reissue instruction parking system includes at least one first pipeline stage and at least one second pipeline stage, in which the first pipeline stages provide a first reissue instruction from a reissue data path to the reservation stations module during the reissue state and that parks the first reissue instruction once the reservation stations module is determined to be full, and in which the second pipeline stages select a pointer to the reorder buffer which provides a corresponding first reissue instruction onto the reissue data path, in which the second pipeline stages are placed into a hold state when a second full signal is asserted.
US09823932B2 Branch prediction
A tagged geometric length (TAGE) branch predictor incorporates multiple prediction tables. Each of these prediction tables has prediction storage lines which store a common stored TAG value and a plurality of branch predictions in respect of different offset positions within a block of program instructions read in parallel. Each of the branch prediction has an associated validity indicator. Update of predictions stored may be made by a partial allocation mechanism in which a TAG match occurs and a branch storage line is partially overwritten or by full allocation in which no already matching TAG victim storage line can be identified and instead a whole prediction storage line is cleared and the new prediction stored therein.
US09823931B2 Queued instruction re-dispatch after runahead
Various embodiments of microprocessors and methods of operating a microprocessor during runahead operation are disclosed herein. One example method of operating a microprocessor includes identifying a runahead-triggering event associated with a runahead-triggering instruction and, responsive to identification of the runahead-triggering event, entering runahead operation and inserting the runahead-triggering instruction along with one or more additional instructions in a queue. The example method also includes resuming non-runahead operation of the microprocessor in response to resolution of the runahead-triggering event and re-dispatching the runahead-triggering instruction along with the one or more additional instructions from the queue to the execution logic.
US09823929B2 Optimizing performance for context-dependent instructions
A processor includes a queue for storing instructions processed within the context of a current value of a register field, where for some embodiments the instruction is undefined or defined, depending upon the register field at time of processing. After a write instruction (an instruction that writes to the register field) executes, the queue is searched for any entries that contain instructions that depend upon the executed write instruction. Each such entry stores the value of the register field at the time the instruction in the entry was processed. If such an entry is found in the queue and its stored value of the register field does not match the value that the write instruction wrote to the register field, then the processor flushes the pipeline and restarts at a state so as to correctly execute the instruction.
US09823928B2 FIFO load instruction
An instruction identifies a register and a memory location. Upon execution of the instruction by a processor, an item is loaded from the memory location and a shift and insert operation is performed to shift data in the register and to insert the item into the register.
US09823921B2 Selectively hotpatching only a selection of processes of a running instance of an application that match a selection criteria
An application is modified during execution by a hotpatch controller of a kernel receiving one or more new versions of a selection of one or more functions of multiple functions of an application and at least one selection criteria for applying the one or more new versions to the application during execution of the application to update a selection of one or more existing versions of the one or more functions. The hotpatch controller selectively transfers control from the selection of one or more existing versions of the one or more functions to the one or more new versions for only a selection of one or more processes that call the selection of one or more existing versions of the one or more functions from among multiple processes of the application, the selection of one or more processes each comprising one or more attributes matching the at least one selection criteria.
US09823914B2 Web applications having end-user data isolated in the local domain
A session for a Web application can be established between a Web server of a Web domain and a browser of a client of a local domain. The Web application can be constructed so that view and controller functionality are provided by components executing in the Web domain and where model functionality is provided by components executing in the local domain. During the session, an expeditor runtime component can be served from the Web domain to the local domain for the Web application session. At least one widget can be served from the Web domain to the local domain, where the widgets execute within an instance of the expeditor runtime. End-user data utilized by the Web application can be isolated within the local domain so that it is not exposed to the Web domain.
US09823913B2 Method of adding local variables in place of global in JavaScript
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof comprises a computer implemented method of detecting global variables in JavaScript code, and adding local variables in place of the global variables, comprising receiving a JavaScript code containing at least one of a plurality of globally defined functions, identifying at least one of: one or more confined global variables which receive a value within a first JavaScript scope wherein the value is not referenced outside of the first JavaScript scope, and one or more repeating global variables accessed repeatedly within a second JavaScript scope, and adding local variables in place of at least one of the confined global variables and the repeating global variables.
US09823911B2 Method and apparatus for compiling code based on a dependency tree
A compiling apparatus generates a dependency tree representing dependency relations among a plurality of instructions included in first code. The compiling apparatus detects, from the dependency tree, a partial tree including a first instruction, a second instruction, and a third instruction that depends on the operation results of the first and second instructions, and rewrites the instructions corresponding to the partial tree to a set of instructions including a plurality of complex instructions each of which causes a processor to perform a complex operation including a plurality of operations. The compiling apparatus generates second code on the basis of the dependency tree and the set of instructions.
US09823904B2 Managed assertions in an integrated development environment
The present disclosure relates to maintaining assertions in an integrated development environment (IDE) tool. According to one embodiment, the IDE receives a request to add an assertion at a specified location within source code of an application from a user interacting with an integrated development environment (IDE) tool. The source code is stored in a first file associated with a development project. The IDE tool receives a definition for the assertion and stores the definition for the assertion in a second file associated with the development project. The IDE tool creates an association in the development project between the source code of the application and the assertion.
US09823903B2 Debugging software through visual representations mapped to computer code
Debugging tools to allow a developer to debug software at a higher level of abstraction than the source code. These tools may be configured to recognize certain source code, and map it to visual representations that can be shown to the developer. The tools may allow the developer to set breakpoints in those visual representations, and they may allow the debugger to stop at those breakpoints, show the developer the visual representation and indicate the stopped location of the program being debugged, for example, by highlighting a particular component of the visual representation. The tools may also map breakpoints in visual representations to actual source code breakpoints.