| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09842602B2 |
Method for siren detection based on audio samples
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses that enable an apparatus to identify sounds from short samples of audio. The apparatus may capture an audio sample and create several audio signals of different lengths, each containing audio from the captured audio sample. The apparatus my process the several audio signals in an attempt to identify features of the audio signal that indicate an identification of the captured sound. Because shorter audio samples can be analyzed more quickly, the system may first process the shortest audio samples in order to quickly identify features of the audio signal. Because longer audio samples contain more information, the system may be able to more accurately identify features in the audio signal in longer audio samples. However, analyzing longer audio signals takes more buffered audio than identifying features in shorter signals. Therefore, the present system attempts to identify features in the shortest audio signals first. |
| US09842600B2 |
Method for reduction of aliasing introduced by spectral envelope adjustment in real-valued filterbanks
The present invention proposes a new method for improving the performance of a real-valued filterbank based spectral envelope adjuster. By adaptively locking the gain values for adjacent channels dependent on the sign of the channels, as defined in the application, reduced aliasing is achieved. Furthermore, the grouping of the channels during gain-calculation, gives an improved energy estimate of the real valued subband signals in the filterbank. |
| US09842598B2 |
Systems and methods for mitigating potential frame instability
A method for mitigating potential frame instability by an electronic device is described. The method includes obtaining a frame subsequent in time to an erased frame. The method also includes determining whether the frame is potentially unstable. The method further includes applying a substitute weighting value to generate a stable frame parameter if the frame is potentially unstable. |
| US09842597B2 |
Binaural rendering method and apparatus for decoding multi channel audio
Disclosed is a binaural rendering method and apparatus for decoding a multichannel audio signal. The binaural rendering method may include: extracting an early reflection component and a late reverberation component from a binaural filter; generating a stereo audio signal by performing binaural rendering of a multichannel audio signal base on the early reflection component; and applying the late reverberation component to the generated stereo audio signal. |
| US09842594B2 |
Frequency band table design for high frequency reconstruction algorithms
The present document relates to audio encoding and decoding. In particular, the present document relates to audio coding schemes which make use of high frequency reconstruction (HFR) methods. A system configured to determine a master scale factor band table of a highband signal (105) of an audio signal is described. The highband signal (105) is to be generated from a lowband signal (101) of the audio signal using a high frequency reconstruction (HFR) scheme. The master scale factor band table is indicative of a frequency resolution of a spectral envelope of the highband signal (105). |
| US09842593B2 |
Multi-level content analysis and response
Predetermined services are provided using preset instructions. A transcript of audible content provided over an electronic network and received at a communications device is analyzed to determine whether a trigger is present in the audible content. When the trigger is present in the audible content, preset instructions correlated with the trigger and instructing how to provide a predetermined service are identified. The predetermined service is provided by following the preset instructions. |
| US09842589B2 |
Voice input device, voice input method and program
A voice input device provided with an input section for inputting a voice of a user, a recognition section for recognizing the voice of the user inputted by the input section, a generation section for generating characters or a command based on a recognition result of the recognition section, a detection section for detecting a device's own posture, and an instruction section for instructing the generation section to generate the command when a detection result of the detection section represents a specific posture as compared to instructing the generation section to generate the characters when the detection result of the detection section represents a posture other than the specific posture. Accordingly, character input and command input during dictation is correctly distinguished, or more specifically unexpected character input during dictation is avoided. |
| US09842586B2 |
System and method for semantically exploring concepts
A method for detecting and categorizing topics in a plurality of interactions includes: extracting, by a processor, a plurality of fragments from the plurality of interactions; filtering, by the processor, the plurality of fragments to generate a filtered plurality of fragments; clustering, by the processor, the filtered fragments into a plurality of base clusters; and clustering, by the processor, the plurality of base clusters into a plurality of hyper clusters. |
| US09842583B2 |
Ultrasound probe with acoustical lens
The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe (60) comprising: an ultrasound transducer (12) having an emission surface (24) for generating ultrasound waves, and an acoustical lens (12) with a first part (64) having an inner surface (66) facing the emission surface (24), wherein the inner surface (64) comprises a plurality of protrusions (74) and/or recesses (76) for scattering reflections of ultrasound waves. |
| US09842582B2 |
Self-organized acoustic signal cancellation over a network
A system for self-organized acoustic signal cancellation over a network is disclosed. The system may transmit an acoustic sounding signal to an interfering device so that a channel measurement may be performed for a channel between the interfering device and an interferee device. The system may receive the channel measurement for the channel from the interfering device and also receive a digitized version of an audio interference signal associated with the interfering device. Based on the channel measurement and the digital version of the interference signal, the system may calculate a cancellation signal prior to the arrival of the original over-the-air audio interference signal that corresponds to the digital version of audio interference signal. The system may then apply the cancellation signal to an audio signal associated with the interferee device to remove the interference signal from the audio signal. |
| US09842580B1 |
Humbucker pickup device for active and passive guitars
A humbucker pickup device for active and passive guitars including a matched pair of elongated coil assemblies with two sets of ferrous pole pieces also includes two elongated, transversely polarized permanent magnets positioned between and parallel to the coils. The magnets are beside each other with opposite poles facing each other. The magnets and said two sets of pole pieces create two narrow magnetic fields under each string to interact with it at two points. The humbucker device includes an improved differential amplifier built from two or three operational amplifiers. Alternatively, the device may include a steel plate positioned between the magnets and extending to the strings for weakening a wide magnetic field between pole pieces of the different sets. Both embodiments, with and without the plate, are described. |
| US09842578B2 |
Electronic musical instruments
Electronic musical instruments as disclosed, include sensors to digitize and alter the sound using FSR sensors in the mouthpieces and other elements of the instrument to mimic the variations available in analog instruments. |
| US09842577B2 |
Improvised guitar simulation
The present disclosure is directed at methods, apparatus and systems for implementing an improvised guitar playing feature on a rhythm-action game. The improvised guitar playing feature allows players to manipulate a guitar controller to produce a pleasing, musical-sounding improvised play even if the players have little experience or skill at improvising music. This feature uses quantized 8th and 16th note musical phrases, or “licks”, strung together to form authentic, melodic, and rhythmically musical and impressive guitar lines, regardless of the player's ability. The improvised guitar playing feature can also display cues directing the player to improvise in a certain manner, while still providing players a degree of musical freedom in selecting how to play. In some embodiments, the present disclosure is also directed at scoring mechanisms for evaluating improvised guitar play. |
| US09842574B2 |
Compressive cymbal mount
Cymbal mounting apparatuses, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a cymbal mounting apparatus for mounting a cymbal to a mounting post of a cymbal stand is provided. The apparatus comprises a cymbal mount that comprises an elongated flexible sleeve portion defining an inner cavity with a second diameter that is less than a first diameter of the mounting post such that the sleeve portion applies a compressive force thereto when installed thereon. The cymbal mount further comprises a cymbal support rim portion extend outwardly from the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion and the rim portion may be integral. The mounting post may define a first length extending between a shoulder portion and a free end thereof, and the sleeve portion may define a second length that is at least one half the first length such that the sleeve portions extends past the free end when installed thereon. |
| US09842573B2 |
Apparatus and method for gaussian filtering
An apparatus for Gaussian filtering includes an image buffer for generating mask region data which includes pixel values of pixels located on a mask in an input image, and a Gaussian filter core for arranging the mask region data to generate pixel array values referring to an index array corresponding to a size of the mask, and applying Gaussian filtering to the pixel array values to generate Gaussian filtering values. |
| US09842571B2 |
Context awareness-based screen scroll method, machine-readable storage medium and terminal therefor
A context awareness-based screen scroll method is provided. The method includes detecting information about surrounding circumstances of a terminal, setting a screen scroll mode based on the surrounding circumstances, detecting occurrence of an event corresponding to the set screen scroll mode, and executing screen scroll according to the occurred event. |
| US09842569B2 |
Display device capable of gradually changing luminance and gamma
A display device is disclosed. The display device comprises a display panel whose luminance changes from a start luminance to a target luminance lower than the start luminance and which displays an image, wherein the image comprises a start frame having the start luminance and a start gamma, a target frame having the target luminance and a target gamma, and a plurality of intermediate frames sequentially placed between the start frame and the target frame, where a difference in the luminance of the display panel between adjacent frames is reduced. |
| US09842567B2 |
Electronic chart display device and method of displaying information relating to electronic chart
An electronic map display device is provided. The device acquires electronic maps and displays the electronic maps, each electronic map being acquired per acquisition unit. The electronic map display device may include a map information display determiner for determining whether the electronic map is currently available per acquisition unit, and a map information display interface for displaying information relating to the electronic map per the acquisition unit depending on whether the electronic map is currently available. The map information display interface varies the exterior edge of each of the electronic maps depending on the status of the electronic map. |
| US09842566B2 |
Shift register and display device using the same
Discussed is a shift register capable of reducing a circuit area through simplification of a logic circuit configuration. The shift register according to an embodiment includes stages each selectively executing a forward scan and a backward scan. Each stage includes a pull-up transistor for generating a first clock under control of a control node, as an output thereof, a pull-down transistor for generating a gate-off voltage under control of a third clock, as an output thereof, a first transistor for setting and resetting the control node during the forward scan while resetting the control node during the backward scan, under control of a fourth clock, using output signals from a previous stage, and a second transistor for setting and resetting the control node during the backward scan while resetting the control node during the forward scan, under control of a second clock, using output signals from a next stage. |
| US09842563B2 |
Programmable, interactive display receptacle with use monitoring and independent activation, deactivation, and change capabilities
A receptacle having a programmable, interactive visual display affixed to a surface of the receptacle. The receptacle includes the visual display, a programmable memory, and a controller. The memory stores data corresponding to one or more display images and/or text, and the controller controls the display for displaying the image/text data from the memory. The receptacle may further include an input mechanism for receiving at least one input, and the controller may control the display of images/text data in response to the input. The memory can also store at least one game or other program, and the controller can execute the game or other program from the memory, operate the game or other in response to one or more inputs received via the input mechanism, and control the display based on the requirements of the game or other programs. The display may include an audio component for producing audible sound. |
| US09842562B2 |
Dynamic zone plate augmented vision eyeglasses
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for modulating optics in a display are provided. An apparatus forms a plurality of zone plates in a liquid crystal using electric fields. Each zone plate has a center, and the centers are aligned along a first axis of the display. The apparatus moves the plurality of zone plates in a first direction along a second axis of the display different from the first axis of the display, while maintaining alignment of the centers of the plurality of zone plates along the first axis. Such movement is provided through repositioning of electric fields through the liquid crystal. |
| US09842558B2 |
Display device
A driving circuit of a display device includes first to third output signal lines which are continuously arranged, a first transistor that has a source connected to the second output signal line and a drain connected to a first clock signal line, and a second transistor that provides a non-active potential to a gate of the first transistor when a second clock signal becomes the active potential, wherein a circuit that outputs the active potential to the first output signal line and the third output signal line is disposed at an opposite side to a circuit that outputs the active potential to the second output signal line with a display region interposed therebetween, and wherein the gate of the first transistor is connected to the first output signal line and the third output signal line via rectifying circuits. |
| US09842555B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
According to one embodiment, a lateral electric-field type of liquid crystal display device includes a display panel and a controller, wherein a frame frequency falls within a range of 1 Hz to 10 Hz, an off-leak current of each of the TFTs has a value of 1×10−15 A or less, a resistivity of a liquid crystal and a resistivity of an alignment film both fall within one of a first range and a second range, the first range being 1×1013 to 5×1013 Ω·cm, the second range being 5×1013 to 5×1014 Ω·cm, and a relationship of “R1× C1≈R2×C2” is satisfied, where R1 is a resistance and C1 is a capacity with respect to each pixel, R2 is a resistance and C2 is a capacity with respect to each pixel. |
| US09842551B2 |
Display driver circuitry with balanced stress
A touch screen display may include gate line driver circuitry coupled to a display pixel array. The display may be provided with intra-frame pausing (IFP) capabilities, where touch or other operations may be performed during one or more intra-frame blanking intervals. In one suitable arrangement, a gate driver circuit may include multiple gate line driver segments each of which is activated by a separate gate start pulse is that received through a demultiplexing circuit. In another suitable embodiment, the gate driver circuit may include analog or digital gate driver units that include control circuits for selectively (dis)charging internal nodes in the gate driver circuit so as to balance the amount of stress that is experienced by a drive transistor in gate driver units at or near an IFP row and the amount of stress that is experienced by the remaining gate driver units. |
| US09842550B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a backlight unit, a display panel, and a controller. The backlight unit comprises a plurality of first light sources in a first direction and a plurality of second light sources in the first direction. The display panel is spaced apart from the backlight unit in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and comprising an edge portion defined along at least one side thereof and a plurality of pixels. The controller generates an edge image data corresponding to a plurality of edge pixels disposed in the edge portion among the pixels, the edge image data is generated on the basis of a first angle between the third direction and a first imaginary line connecting the edge pixels and the first light sources and a second angle between the third direction and a second imaginary line connecting the edge pixels and the second light sources. |
| US09842543B2 |
OLED pixel compensation circuit
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) pixel compensation circuit includes a driving module, a compensation module, an OLED lighting module, and a precharging module. The compensation module is connected to the driving module and is configured to receive a voltage of an external first power for compensating a turn-on voltage of the driving module. The precharging module is connected to the OLED lighting module and is configured to receive a voltage of an external second power for precharging the OLED lighting module. The driving module is connected to the OLED lighting module and is configured to remain on under compensation by the compensation module for receiving the voltage of the external first power to obtain a driving voltage for driving the OLED lighting module to emit light, thereby driving the OLED lighting module to emit light. |
| US09842541B2 |
Organic light-emitting display panel, organic light-emitting display apparatus, and voltage drop compensating method
An organic light-emitting display panel includes a power input line, a power transfer line, and first and second power wires. The power input line extends in a first direction of a display area and applies a first source voltage. The power transfer line extends in the first direction, is connected to a center point of the power input line, and transfers the first source voltage to the power input line. The first power wire and second power wire extends in a second direction outside the display area and supply the first source voltage to the power input line and the power transfer line. A plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix in the display area and are connected to the power input line to receive the first source voltage through the power input line. |
| US09842538B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method for driving the same
An organic light emitting display device includes a display panel including data lines, scan lines, initialization lines, and a plurality of pixels, wherein a pixel of the pixels includes: a driving transistor including a gate electrode coupled to a first node, a first electrode coupled to a second node, and a second electrode coupled to a third node, the driving transistor configured to control an amount of a drain-to-source current of the driving transistor according to a voltage applied to the first node; an organic light emitting diode configured to emit light depending on the drain-to-source current of the driving transistor; a first transistor coupled between the second node and a data line of the data lines, the first transistor configured to be turned on by a scan signal applied to a scan line of the scan lines; a second transistor configured to initialize the first node by being turned on; and a first capacitor coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode of the second transistor. |
| US09842536B2 |
Display panel driver and display device having the same
A display device includes a data driver, line selectors, and a controller. The data driver provides data signals to output lines. The line selectors control connections between the output lines and data lines. The controller selects a normal driving mode or a low frequency driving mode as a panel driving mode and controls a scan driver, the data driver, and the line selectors based on the panel driving mode. Each line selector respectively connects the output lines to the data lines when the panel driving mode is the normal driving mode, and progressively connects one of the output lines to some of the data lines when the panel driving mode is the low frequency driving mode. |
| US09842534B2 |
Display device and display system including the same
A display device includes a controller, an image processor, and a pixel array. The controller generates an image control signal and a position control signal. The image processor generates a frame image based on an image signal and the image control signal. The position control signal includes position information where the frame image is located. The pixel array includes base pixels and addition pixels. The pixel array displays the frame image in the base pixels and the addition pixels based on the position control signal. A number of the base pixels corresponds to a resolution of the frame image. The addition pixels are different from the base pixels. |
| US09842533B2 |
Device and method for gamma compensation and display device
The present disclosure provides a display device, a device and a method for gamma compensation. The device for gamma compensation includes: a flexure recording module, provided in a flexible display panel, and configured to acquire a flexure count of the flexible display panel; a parameter inquiring module, connected to the flexure recording module, and configured to inquire a corresponding gamma correction value from a comparison table involving a correspondence between flexure counts of the flexible display panel and gamma correction values according to the flexure count of the flexible display panel; and a voltage output module, connected to the parameter inquiring module, and configured to provide a gamma compensation voltage to the flexible display panel according to the gamma correction value. |
| US09842530B2 |
Dynamically established white balance in video display device based on ambient light
The white balance of a display device such as an LCD TV is automatically adjusted based on the color temperature of ambient light. |
| US09842529B2 |
Display device having improved pixel pre-charging capability and driving method thereof
A gate-on voltage applied to a third gate line connected to the current stage pixel is configured to be applied during any one or more of a first pre-charge period, a second pre-charge period, and a main-charge period. Data voltages are applied, in order, to a before-previous stage pixel, a previous stage pixel, and a current stage pixel, and the signal controller is configured to control the gate driver to selectively apply the gate-on voltage to the gate line connected to the current stage pixel during at least one of the first pre-charge period while the before-previous stage pixel is being charged and the second pre-charge period while the previous stage pixel is charged, so as to at least partially pre-charge the current stage pixel. |
| US09842522B2 |
Stretchable display apparatus with compensating screen shape
A display includes a stretchable display panel, an optical unit that transmits an image displayed on the display panel for image formation, a mechanical unit that changes a physical shape of the display panel in order to compensate a distortion aberration due to the optical unit, and a control unit that drives the display panel in response to an image source signal. |
| US09842517B1 |
Identification bracelet
An identification bracelet is provided. The identification bracelet includes an elongated body, and an end of the body includes a securement portion, which includes an adhesive. A cover having a release section and a gripping section is disposed at the end of the body such that, in an initial configuration, the release section of the cover is engaged with the adhesive of the securement portion. The gripping section is connected to the release section and can be utilized to disengage the cover from the adhesive of the securement portion. When the cover is disengaged, the securement portion is narrower than the rest of the body, resulting in the identification bracelet having a tapered closure. |
| US09842516B2 |
Article with removable three-dimensional object
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a greeting card is disclosed that includes a plurality of panels connected such that the greeting card is reconfigurable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, at least one object positioned between the plurality of panels that is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and an attachment member connecting the at least one object to the plurality of panels such that the at least one object can be detached from the plurality of panels. In various embodiments, the greeting card may further include a locking member that is configured and dimensioned to maintain the expanded configuration of the at least one object. |
| US09842515B1 |
Apparatus for surgical training
An apparatus for simulating an animal body cavity for training surgical techniques therein comprises a housing defining an internal cavity with an externally-facing opening therein for access by a trainee to the internal cavity. A cover made of a flexible material which is penetrable by a surgical instrument conceals the opening. At least one internal anatomy and at least one camera are positioned within the internal cavity. |
| US09842513B2 |
Food content detector
A system may include utensil means for portioning a foodstuff into a first portion and a second portion, a means for detecting a first portion size for the first portion with the utensil means, a means for detecting a second portion size for the second portion with the utensil means, and a means for determining a cumulative amount of portioned foodstuff based upon the first portion size and the second portion size. |
| US09842512B2 |
Device and method for tapering medications in post-operative patients
A device and method of tapering medication in a post-operative patient is provided. The system includes a stationary base having indicia thereon representative of a defined period of time; a first circular wheel concentrically positioned on the stationary base, the first circular wheel representative of a first medication being taken by a patient; and a pin coupling the substantially circular wheel to said stationary base to permit the wheel to rotate 360 degrees about said base. The method of tapering medication includes gradually increasing the time intervals that medication is administered to a post-operative patient. |
| US09842511B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating attention to a task
A method and apparatus for facilitating attention to a task are disclosed. The method may include: detecting, with a sensor, one or more movements, estimating the task attention state based on the one or more movements, determining the workload based on the estimated attention state, and determining based on the workload, the optimal format for the relay of operational information that best facilitates attention to the task for increased ease of task performance. |
| US09842510B2 |
Music practice feedback system, method, and recording medium
A music practice feedback method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium including a displaying device configured to display sheet music, a collecting device configured to collect information related to a playing of the sheet music by a plurality of players, and a display changing device configured to change a display of the sheet music based on said collected information. |
| US09842509B2 |
Six-degree-of-freedom motion simulator assembly
The invention is directed to a 6 degree-of-freedom motion hexapod simulator assembly comprising of a fixed base, a displaceable simulator platform comprising of a load bearing structure, and 6 linear actuators having upper ends thereof interconnected with the load bearing structure by three pairs of two-degree of freedom joints and lower ends thereof interconnected with the fixed base by means of three pairs of two-degree of freedom joints. The two degree of freedom joint comprises of two rotatable pivot means which are oriented 90° with respect to each other. One pivot means runs through the other pivot means. At the connection with the load bearing structure the center of one joint of a pair of joints is separated by part of the load bearing structure from the center of the other joint of the pair of joints. |
| US09842507B1 |
Video filming and discovery system
A system and method for filming and discovering videos for users may include receiving an instructional video of an event from a content provider. The instructional video includes portions of a first video stream with images at an eye level of an instructor and portions of a second video stream with close-up shots related to a concept being taught during the event. It is determined whether the instructional video includes a title sequence, an introduction, a lesson, a recap, and a conclusion. If the instructional video fails to contain the title sequence, the introduction, the lesson, the recap, and the conclusion, a rejection of the instructional video is provided that includes an explanation. If the instructional video contains the title sequence, the introduction, the lesson, the recap, and the conclusion, the instructional video is stored in a video database. |
| US09842505B2 |
Flight control for flight-restricted regions
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for providing flight response to flight-restricted regions. The location of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be compared with a location of a flight-restricted region. If needed a flight-response measure may be taken by the UAV to prevent the UAV from flying in a no-fly zone. Different flight-response measures may be taken based on the distance between the UAV and the flight-restricted region and the rules of a jurisdiction within which the UAV falls. |
| US09842504B2 |
Systems and methods for vessel position reporting and monitoring
Systems and methods for vessel position reporting and monitoring. Methods and systems for augmenting e-Navigation messages to provide ancillary information, such as a history of previous vessel positions. A compact representation is provided, in which transmitters may select among a plurality of possible position layouts to provide a compact representation. Transmitted messages are received by a satellite or other surveillance platform employing a compatible radio frequency receiver to collect message signals over a large area or great distance. |
| US09842503B2 |
Driving support apparatus and driving support method
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique which can enhance a possibility of giving notice of only a detected object in a dead angle area which is significant for a user. A controller causes a notification unit, in a first vehicle, to give notice of a detected object, which is determined to have an influence on a traveling of the first vehicle in a dead angle point which the first vehicle travels from among the detected object which is not detected by the first vehicle but detected by the second vehicle, as a travel influencing object based on a route information of the first vehicle, a current position information of the first vehicle, and a detected object information of the first vehicle and a second vehicle which are obtained by the information receiver. |
| US09842502B2 |
Systems and methods for maintaining interlockings of transportation networks
A system includes a detection module, a control module, an input module, and a determination module. The detection module is configured to obtain information from one or more detectors corresponding to a condition of a transportation network. The control module is configured to issue control messages using the information obtained. The input module is configured to receive a request for the control module to enter a test mode corresponding to an alteration of at least one of an input or an output of the control module from an operational mode. The determination module is configured to determine if an authorization condition corresponding to a physical state of one or more functional activity module of the transportation network is satisfied. The control module is transferred to the test mode if the authorization condition is satisfied and maintained in the operational mode if the authorization condition is not satisfied. |
| US09842500B1 |
Warning system for an automated vehicle
A warning system for an automated vehicle includes an object-detector, a location-detector, a transceiver, and a controller. The object-detector is used to determine a separation-distance to a target-vehicle from a host-vehicle. The location-detector is used to provide global-positioning-system-coordinates (GPS-coordinates) of the target-vehicle. The transceiver is used to transmit a proximity-warning to the target-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector, the location-detector, and the transceiver. The controller is configured to operate the transceiver to transmit the proximity-warning when the separation-distance between the host-vehicle and the target-vehicle is less than a distance-threshold. The proximity-warning includes the GPS-coordinates of the target-vehicle and the separation-distance. |
| US09842499B2 |
Device enabling exchange of abnormal signal among vehicles via Wi-Fi direct network, and control method therefor
A method of controlling a Wi-Fi device in a vehicle, which includes determining, via a controller of the Wi-Fi device, an abnormal state of the vehicle; adding, via the controller, vendor specific data in a management frame to be transmitted to a different Wi-Fi device in a different vehicle via Wi-Fi Direct based on the determined abnormal state; transmitting, via a wireless communication unit of the Wi-Fi device, the generated vendor specific data to the different Wi-Fi device, wherein the management frame comprises at least one of a probe request frame, a probe response frame, a service request frame and a service response frame, and wherein the management frame is transmitted before an authenticated connection is established between the Wi-Fi device and the different Wi-Fi device. |
| US09842495B2 |
Traffic analysis system using wireless networking devices
A traffic monitoring system (400) includes a network of geographically distributed sensors (401-403). The sensors (401-403) provide raw or preprocessed data to a processing system (405) based on received long range wireless signals (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, or 5.9 GHz spectrum). The processing system (405) can then implement any of various algorithms to calculate traffic parameters taking into account the range of communication between the source and the sensor. The inputs to these algorithms include a first contacts, last contacts, maximum range, minimum range, median of contacts, average of contacts, maximum strength, and combinations thereof. |
| US09842494B1 |
Method for electrical energy meter correction in customer-distribution grid
A device, method, and computer-readable medium for correcting at least one error in readings of electricity meters, the method including receiving first readings of regular meters measuring electric energy delivered in each of a group of cables fed from a same distribution node in an electric grid during a period of time, receiving second readings of check meters measuring electric energy delivered in each of combinations of cables in the group of cables during the period of time, the combinations of cables being formed based on a redundant matrix in a generator matrix of a linear systematic block code, and correcting, in response to determining that at least one error been detected, the at least one error in the first readings of the regular meters and the second readings of the check meters. |
| US09842493B2 |
Employing a preview image on a preview screen to control lamp or curtain
A control apparatus and method and an electronic device. Wherein, the apparatus includes: a communicating unit configured to establish communication connection with a controlled object; an image acquiring unit configured to obtain a preview image containing the controlled object; and a controlling unit configured to receive a control instruction inputted according to the preview image, and control the controlled object according to the control instruction. Controlling the controlled object according to the preview image containing the controlled object may realize control of the controlled object in a simple and convenient manner, thereby improving user experiences. |
| US09842492B2 |
System and method for optimized appliance control
In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state. |
| US09842487B2 |
Smoke detector test device
A device for testing smoke detectors comprises a barrel, an end-piece coupled to one end of the barrel and which is capable of covering at least a sensing area of a smoke detector, and a device body coupled to the opposite end of the barrel and which is capable of carrying a pressurized dispensing container having a smoke-simulating substance. |
| US09842486B2 |
User interface configuration for alarm systems
System and method for establishing configuration parameters for a comprehensive user interface of an alarm system. An exemplary embodiment of a configuration system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a plurality of alarm system workstations, each alarm system workstation having a set of configuration parameters associated therewith, a client workstation, and a user interface broker operatively connected to each of the alarm system workstations and the client workstation, wherein the user interface broker is configured to aggregate data from the alarm system workstations and to present such aggregated data at the client workstation using the comprehensive user interface. The user interface broker is further configured to facilitate designation of one of the alarm system workstations as a main workstation, whereupon the configuration parameters of the designated main workstation are applied to the comprehensive user interface. |
| US09842482B2 |
Signal detecting device
A signal detecting device includes a visualization device including a plural connectors to which a communication cable is connected, a plural detecting circuits that are provided for each of the connectors to be detected, branch and extract a part of a signal transmitted through the communication cable connected to the connectors, and indicate an existence of an data communication based on the extracted signal, and a detecting card that is insertable into and detachable from a card connector arranged in the visualization device and mounts at least a part of the detecting circuit. |
| US09842480B2 |
Alarm processing circuit
An alarm processing circuit includes a plurality of abnormality detection circuits for detecting different abnormalities and outputting alarm signals respectively; a signal conversion circuit for converting the alarm signals outputted from the plurality of abnormality detection circuits into time signals with time widths corresponding to types of the abnormalities respectively; and a determination circuit for determining the types of the abnormalities respectively based on the time widths of the time signals outputted from the signal conversion circuit. |
| US09842475B2 |
Illuminated cash drawer
An illuminated cash drawer with the illumination mounted on the inside surface of the top of the case in which the drawer is located. |
| US09842472B2 |
Lottery rewards system and interactive displays
A consumer gaming loyalty system, which can include: an electronic data processing system operated by a loyalty program operator, the electronic data processing system being independent of a state lottery and a lottery retailer; and a user account defined within the data processing system, the user account configured to store a lottery transaction history provided by at least one of a consumer, the state lottery, the lottery retailer, and the loyalty program operator; and wherein the electronic data processing system is configured to provide least one contest to the consumer through the user account, and the contest is provided by the loyalty program operator independently of the state lottery and a lottery retailer contest. |
| US09842468B2 |
Methods of receiving electronic wagers in a wagering game via a handheld electronic wager input device
A gaming system includes a gaming device and one or more controllers. The gaming device has a surface configured to display a wagering game. The controller is configured to display on the surface a designated area including indicia indicating where an electronic device held by a player should be placed in the designated area. In response to the electronic device being placed in proximity to the surface in the designated area, an illuminating flashing pattern representing an electronic identification code is caused to occur between the surface and the electronic device in the designated area. In response to causing the flashing pattern, a session associating play of the wagering game with a player account of the player is established. |
| US09842466B2 |
Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods with volatility control games
Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value. |
| US09842465B2 |
Fungible object award interleaved wagering system
A fungible object award interleaved wagering system is disclosed. The system includes an interactive controller operatively connected to an application controller by a network, the interactive controller configured to: communicate, to an application controller, application telemetry; and receive, from the application controller, an object based on the application telemetry. The system also includes a wager controller operatively connected to the application controller, the wager controller constructed to: receive a wager request; generate a wager outcome based on the wager request; communicate, to an object controller, the wager outcome. The system also includes the application controller operatively connected to the interactive controller and the wager controller, the application controller constructed to: receive; communicate, to the wager controller, the wager request based on the received application telemetry; receive an object, wherein the object is generated by the object controller based on the wager outcome; communicate, to the interactive controller, the object. |
| US09842461B2 |
Player information delivery
A console is described, having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which one or more symbols are randomly selected as a combination of symbols and displayed on the display means. If a winning combination results, the machine awards a prize. In some circumstances, the console will display an animated character to communicate information to the player. The character is independent of and appears asynchronously with respect to the game being played and is arranged to appear super imposed over any game screen currently displayed at the time the character is displayed. |
| US09842459B2 |
Hybrid bingo server and method
A method and apparatus for providing hybrid bingo games to online players. A bingo server receives electronic indications of actual bingo balls drawn by a person or a ball drawing machine from a set of actual bingo balls and eliminates electronic bingo ball values from an electronic set of bingo ball values corresponding to the actual bingo balls stored in a memory. The game server further randomly selects electronic bingo ball values from the electronic set of bingo ball values stored in memory, less any electronic ball values corresponding to actual bingo balls already drawn by the person or ball drawing machine. Finally, electronic bingo ball values not already drawn by the live person or ball drawing machine are provided to the online players. |
| US09842454B2 |
Analytics based climate control in vending machines
A climate-controlled vending machine is monitored using data analytics. The climate-controlled vending machine includes a primary storage unit for storing two or more items. A first slot of an item is determined to be available within a secondary storage unit of the climate-controlled vending machine. The secondary storage unit is a climate-controlled unit. A first item, of the two or more items within the primary storage unit, is transferred to the first slot of the secondary storage unit. The first item within the first slot of the secondary storage unit is altered to a first condition. A selection from a first user is received. In response to the reception of the selection of the first item, the first item is dispensed to the user from a dispensary unit, wherein the item is being of the first condition. The first slot is replenished with a replacement item from the primary storage. |
| US09842446B2 |
Systems and methods for lock access management using wireless signals
A system for access management is disclosed. 100 A server (100) can receive a request for access to a locking device (140) from a mobile device (110). The server (100) can transmit access credentials to the mobile device (110). The mobile device (110) can transmit, via wireless signal, the access credentials and a lock command for the locking device (140) to a wireless access point (130) capable of communicating with the locking device (140). The wireless access point (130) can transmit the lock command to the locking device (140). |
| US09842442B2 |
Realtime, location-based cell phone enhancements, uses, and applications
Enhancements of and to cell phone operations are based in whole or in part on determining the location of the cell phone. Systems and methods select and determine locations or areas of importance or relevance, and based on that information and other programmed factors affect or alter the operations of the cell phone. While the systems and methods are illustrated by use of cell phone embodiments and applications, they are equally applicable to virtually any portable or mobile communication device, including for example, wireless laptop computers and PDAs. |
| US09842441B1 |
System and method for determining entry into a secured facility at a checkpoint
A system and method for determining entry into a secured facility at a checkpoint, wherein the method can comprise the steps of receiving by an Access Control Operations Center (ACOC) server from a checkpoint computer a request for entry and identification data, and requesting records from one or more public records databases. The method can also comprise the steps of receiving by the ACOC server the records from the one or more public records databases, and determining an initial adjudication result using an automated vetting process. Moreover, the method can comprise placing the records in a manual review queue if the adjudication result represents that the entrant failed the automated vetting report but is not actively wanted. Lastly, the method can comprise receiving a subsequent adjudication based on the manual review, and transmitting the subsequent adjudication to the checkpoint computer. |
| US09842434B2 |
System and method for reproducing objects in 3D scene
The present disclosure discloses a system and a method for reproducing an object in a 3D scene. The system comprises an object acquiring unit configured to simultaneously acquire at least two channels of video stream data in real time at different angles for an object to be displayed; an object recognizing unit configured to recognize a shape of the object varying in real time from the at least two channels of video stream data; an object tracking unit configured to obtain corresponding object motion trajectory according to the shape of the object varying in real time; and an object projecting unit configured to process the shape of the object varying in real time and the corresponding object motion trajectory into a 3D image and superposition-project the 3D image into the 3D scene in real time. The technical solutions of the present disclosure can reproduce the object in the 3D scene, and achieve the purpose of displaying the real object in the 3D scene. |
| US09842428B2 |
Dynamically optimized deferred rendering pipeline
A method for dynamically configuring a graphics pipeline system. The method includes determining an optimal pipeline based on: estimating one or more of memory power consumption and computation power consumption of storing and regenerating intermediate results based on graphics state information and one or more factors; determining granularity for the optimal graphics pipeline configuration based on the graphics state information and the one or more factors; collecting runtime information for primitives from graphics pipeline hardware including factors from tessellation or using graphics state information for determining geometry expansion at an output of one or more shader stages; and determining intermediate results to save from a previous processing pass by comparing memory power consumption needed to save the intermediate results with computation power as well as memory power needed for regenerating the intermediate results in one or more later tile rendering passes. |
| US09842423B2 |
Systems and methods for producing a three-dimensional face model
A method for three-dimensional face generation is described. An inverse depth map is calculated based on a depth map and an inverted first matrix. The inverted first matrix is generated from two images in which pixels are aligned vertically and differ horizontally. The inverse depth map is normalized to correct for distortions in the depth map caused by image rectification. A three-dimensional face model is generated based on the inverse depth map and one of the two images. |
| US09842414B2 |
Monochromatic attenuation contrast image generation by using phase contrast CT
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for X-ray phase contrast imaging. The method comprises the following steps: from the measured phase gradient and overall attenuation information, an electron density is computed; the contribution pc of the Compton scattering to the overall attenuation is estimated from the electron density; the contribution pp of the photo-electric absorption to the overall attenuation is estimated from the overall attenuation and the contribution pc; the values pc and pp are used to reconstruct a Compton image and a photo-electric image; by linear combination of these two images, a monochromatic image at a desired energy is obtained. |
| US09842411B2 |
Geometric multigrid on incomplete linear octrees for simulating deformable animated characters
A method and system for simulation of deformation of elastic materials are disclosed herein. A matrix-free geometric multigrid method utilizing a direct coarse grid discretization is presented for the solution of linear systems resulting from an octree discretization of the equations of corotational linear elasticity. The diagonal component of the stiffness matrix needed for the multigrid smoother is calculated without generating the stiffness matrix. The use of an incomplete linear octree data structure supports the efficient simulation of objects with complicated boundaries. Furthermore, the method is robust to large deformations, making it suitable for character skinning applications in computer animation. |
| US09842407B2 |
Method and system for generating light pattern using polygons
A method and system for generating light pattern using reflective polygons are provided herein. The method may include: rotating at least one polygon having a plurality of reflective facets along a rotation axis parallel to the facets; transmitting a light beam on the facets of the polygon; tilting the light beam relative to the polygon in parallel to the rotation axis so that the light beam hits each of the facets at a different tilt angle, thereby producing a light pattern comprising a plurality of lines; and controlling at least one of: the light intensity, the rotating, and the tilting, so as to produce an adjustable light pattern transmitted at a scene. |
| US09842405B2 |
Visual target tracking
A method of tracking a target includes classifying a pixel having a pixel address with one or more pixel cases. The pixel is classified based on one or more observed or synthesized values. An example of an observed value for a pixel address includes an observed depth value obtained from a depth camera. Examples of synthesized values for a pixel address include a synthesized depth value calculated by rasterizing a model of the target; one or more body-part indices estimating a body part corresponding to that pixel address; and one or more player indices estimating a target corresponding to that pixel address. One or more force vectors are calculated for the pixel based on the pixel case, and the force vector is mapped to one or more force-receiving locations of the model representing the target to adjust the model representing the target into an adjusted pose. |
| US09842404B2 |
Methods and apparatus for refractive flow measurement with three dimensions and uncertainty
An imaging method and corresponding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention enables measurement and visualization of fluid flow. An embodiment method includes obtaining video captured by a video camera with an imaging plane. Representations of motions in the video are correlated. A textured background of the scene can be modeled as stationary, with a refractive field translating between background and video camera. This approach offers multiple advantages over conventional fluid flow visualization, including an ability to use ordinary video equipment outside a laboratory without particle injection. Even natural backgrounds can be used, and fluid motion can be distinguished from refraction changes. Depth and three-dimensional information can be recovered using stereo video, and uncertainty methods can enhance measurement robustness where backgrounds are less textured. Example applications can include avionics and hydrocarbon leak detection. |
| US09842397B2 |
Method of providing adjustment feedback for aligning an image capture device and devices thereof
A system and method for the measurement of distances related to an object depicted in an image. One aspect including delivery of supplemental materials for fenestration and for constructing insulating materials for fenestration. A digital image containing a primary object dimension and a reference object dimension in substantially the same plane undergoes digital image processing to provide improved measurement capability. Information regarding a primary object is provided to an automated measurement process, design and manufacturing system to provide customized parts to end users. A digital image is obtained having an observable constraint dimension to which a customized part is to conform wherein the digital image contains a reference object having a reference dimension and a constraint dimension is calculated from the digital image based on a reference dimension. The custom part is designed and manufactured based on the calculated constraint dimension. |
| US09842396B2 |
System and method for calibrating camera
There is provided a system for calibrating a camera including: a memory storing centering calibration data reflecting a deviation of an optical axis of a lens; and an image signal processor determining an image recognition region of an image sensor based on the centering calibration data to process an image signal input from the image sensor. |
| US09842393B2 |
Cell evaluation method
A cell evaluation method includes: a labeling step of labeling at least some of cells constituting a cell clump with a chemical substance; an image-capturing step of acquiring a plurality of slice images of the labeled cells, for at least part of the cell clump; an evaluating step of evaluating the characteristics of the cells on the basis of the plurality of slice images; a 3D-image creating step of creating a 3D image of at least part of the cell clump by subjecting the plurality of slice images to image processing; a center-of-gravity determining step of determining, from the 3D image, a center-of-gravity position of the cell clump; and an organizing step of organizing evaluation results obtained in the evaluating step, with respect to the distance from the center-of-gravity position. |
| US09842390B2 |
Automatic ground truth generation for medical image collections
Methods and arrangements for automatic ground truth generation of medical image collections. Aspects include receiving a plurality of imaging studies, wherein each imaging study includes one or more images and a textual report associated with the one or more images. Aspects also include selecting a key image from each of the one or more images from each of the plurality of imaging studies and extracting one or more discriminating image features from a region of interest within the key image. Aspects further include processing the textual report associated with the one or more images to detect one or more concept labels, assigning an initial label from the one or more concept labels to the one or more discriminating image features, and learning an association between each of the one or more discriminating image features and the one or more concept labels. |
| US09842383B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device is constituted by a device for detecting motion of the subject, with the entire effective pixel region as a range; a device for successively setting each of the pixels in the effective pixel region as a pixel of interest; a device for detecting motion of the subject, with a local pixel region that includes the successively set pixel of interest as a range; a device for, for each of the pixels of interest, determining a mixing ratio for the pixel signal of the current imaging period and the pixel signal of one imaging period earlier based on the two detection results; and a device for, for each of the pixels of interest, correcting the pixel signal of the current imaging period based on the determined mixing ratio. |
| US09842381B2 |
Global tone mapping
A system accesses an image with each pixel of the image having luminance values each representative of a color component of the pixel. The system generates a first histogram for aggregate luminance values of the image, and accesses a target histogram for the image representative of a desired global image contrast. The system computes a transfer function based on the first histogram and the target histogram such that when the transfer function is applied, a histogram of the modified aggregate luminance values is within a threshold similarity of the target histogram. The system modifies the image by applying the transfer function to the luminance values of the image to produce a tone mapped image, and outputs the modified image. |
| US09842380B2 |
Digital mapping system
Various methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system are disclosed. One such method includes sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and displaying the result as a map image. Direction control or zoom control objects may be included as interactive overlays on the displayed map image. The displayed map image may also include route or location overlays. |
| US09842378B2 |
System and method for pre-loading flyer image tiles and managing memory for same
In the present disclosure, there is disclosed a communication device including a pre-loading module configured to retrieve a first and a second set of flyer image tiles from a flyer image tile set stored in memory, the first set of flyer image tiles being associated with the most zoomedout state and the second set of flyer image tiles being associated with a zoom level of a current viewport. The pre-loading module is further configured to associate the first set of flyer image tiles with an underlay viewport. The communication device further includes a display configured to display the first set of flyer image tiles in the underlay viewport that are visible in the current viewport and overlay the second set of flyer image tiles visible in the current viewport onto the first set of flyer image tiles. |
| US09842368B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for a high density financial asset information display
The disclosure details the implementation of an APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A HIGH DENSITY FINANCIAL ASSET INFORMATION DISPLAY. The disclosure teaches a High Density Financial Asset Information Display which provides a high density, straightforward, unified, compact, dynamic and comprehensive display interface that presents users with a high volume of easy to understand financial asset information including the current buy and sell prices, the current price direction, the amount of time the asset pair is traded at each price, and the change in price over multiple time frames. The High Density Financial Asset Information Display is dynamically updated with the latest financial information and is formatted to convey relevant changes in the information of interest in a way that is easily understood by users. |
| US09842367B2 |
Centralized financial account migration system
Systems and methods for migration of financial account settings are disclosed. One system includes a migration server. The migration server includes a database for tracking account settings migration including one or more switch tracking numbers associated with account migrations. The migration server further includes a web interface configured to receive from a user a switch tracking number, identification and login information associated with one or more existing financial accounts, and login information associated with a target financial account. The migration server also includes a transaction analysis module configured to parse transaction histories associated with each of the existing financial accounts to determine one or more likely automated funds transfers associated with each of the one or more existing financial accounts. The migration server further includes a migration module configured to initiate a migration of one or more likely automated funds transfers associated with each of the existing financial accounts. |
| US09842366B2 |
Market data recovery
Networks, systems and methods for recovering data messages from a market data stream and for building a book for a financial instrument are disclosed. An out-of-band data stream related to an as-of state of the market for one or more financial instruments is distributed parallel to a stream of market data for the financial instrument. The as-of data stream is referenced to the financial according to a unique identifier of the messages of the market data stream. The as-of data for a financial instrument may be provided at periodic rate that may be varied according to one or more factors. |
| US09842364B2 |
Determining transaction status information corresponding to instant messaging contact persons
Determining transaction status information is disclosed, including: sending a transaction status information query request corresponding to a contact person associated with an instant messaging client, wherein the transaction status information query request is associated with a user with respect to the contact person, wherein the user is associated with the instant messaging client; and receiving transaction status information determined based at least in part on the transaction status information query request corresponding to the contact person, wherein the transaction status information describes a current stage in a fulfillment process of an order. |
| US09842362B2 |
Home appliance and method for shopping for goods using the same
A home appliance includes an input unit arranged on one side of a main body of the home appliance and to receive a designation command for at least one product, a communication unit to transmit information to a server related to a purchase site or receive information from the server related to the purchase site, an output unit to display, on a display screen, a purchase list according to the designation command, and a control unit to control the output unit to display on the display screen. |
| US09842360B2 |
System and apparatus for managing tasks
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a plurality of selectable commodity items, detect one or more selections from the plurality of commodity items, generate a list from the one or more commodity items selected, and transmit the list to a system. The system can be adapted to receive the list from the communication device, determine a selection order for the items in the list based on a location of each item in a store and at least one characteristic of at least one of the items, update the list according to the selection order, and transmit the updated list to a device for conducting commodity shopping according to the adjusted list. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09842359B2 |
Method and system for providing merchant referrals to consumers
A method for processing a consumer referral includes: storing, a plurality of location data entries, each entry including data related to a geographic location including a location identifier and location data; storing a plurality of referral data entries, each entry including data related to a referral including a referral identifier and one or more specific location identifiers; receiving a referral request, the request including a specific referral identifier encoded in a machine-readable code displayed at a specific geographic location associated with the specific referral identifier; identifying a specific referral data entry where the included referral identifier corresponds to the specific referral identifier; identifying a specific location data entry where the included location identifier corresponds to one of the one or more specific location identifiers included in the identified specific referral data entry; and transmitting the location data included in the identified specific location data entry in response to the request. |
| US09842348B2 |
Technologies for presenting indications of content features in invitational content
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for providing a marker with an item of invitational content. A marker provided with an initial view of invitational content communicates features associated with a subsequent view, including the specifications or content of the invitational content, user terminal, or content provider. The marker is determined from input gathered from numerous data sources and according to a set of rules specifying what features and where and how the features are communicated. The rules can dictate that certain variants be selected based on gathered input concerning the user terminal or a user profile. The marker can be determined and changed based on real time status changes of the user terminal. A marker can receive input from the user which can be used to select a variant or change a setting. Marker data is stored and used to create reports and optimize future campaigns. |
| US09842337B2 |
Service provider system and method for marketing programs
To assist in patent searching a description includes a consumer purchasing behavior profiling system having aspects including consumer profiles formed and updated based on a variety of data. Advertisers access to send targeted advertising messages to the consumers. Aspects include advertising information together with incentive level and mix being correlated with the consumer profile to produce a measure of the applicability of the ad to that consumer and the probability of converting that consumer. Other aspects include determining the mix of ad information, incentive level and type, and product offering that will be required to convert an ad viewer to a buyer. Aspects focus on using wireless devices with consumers. Other aspects reside in methods of using electronic coupons distribution and redemption to collect additional data points necessary to understand the consumer's purchasing decision process and factors that influence the purchasing decision. |
| US09842336B2 |
Risk assessment rule set application for fraud prevention
Rules, applied to deny authorization of likely fraudulent transactions, are derived from a modified Patient Rule Induction Method algorithm that uses a target variable and a data set of past transactions each associated with a plurality of input variables and a hyper-rectangle enclosing a multi-dimensional space defined by a representation of the input variable values as points within the multi-dimensional space. While a count of the points within the hyper-rectangle is greater than a minimum support parameter, a first plurality of points proximal to edges of the hyper-rectangle are removed, where each such removing maximizes a mean value of the target variable, and then, while the mean value remains maximized, a second plurality of points proximal to the edges is added, where each adding maximizes or maintains the mean value. The hyper-rectangle is bounded within a minimum bounding box that defines the rules. |
| US09842335B2 |
System and method for authenticating a payment terminal
A method of authenticating a payment terminal, involves the terminal generating a terminal activation request from a private encryption key and from at least one terminal credential that is uniquely associated with the terminal. The terminal activation request includes a public encryption key. The public encryption key and the private encryption key comprise an asymmetric encryption key pair. The terminal transmits the terminal activation request to a certificate server, and receives an activation response from the certificate server in response. The activation response includes a digital authentication certificate that includes the public encryption key. The terminal authenticates to a computer server, that is distinct from the certificate server, using the digital authentication certificate. |
| US09842332B2 |
Systems and methods for processing a financial transaction
Systems and methods for processing a financial transaction are provided. A representative system of processing a financial transaction comprises a product dispensing device that encodes and outputs public transaction data related to a purchasable item. A portable computing device receives the public transaction data and encodes a payment data with the received public transaction data. A payment processing server receives and processes the encoded data, and determines whether a transaction can be completed based on the encoded data. Responsive to determining that the transaction is completed, the payment processing server generates and transmits an authentication data based on the encoded data. The portable computing device receives and outputs the authentication data. The product dispensing device receives the authentication data, verifies payment based on the received authentication data, and provides the purchasable item to a customer who is operating the portable computing device. |
| US09842328B2 |
Monitor tracking of payment compliance
A system includes a transaction-processing kiosk located in a predefined retail space. The kiosk is configured to enable a first human user to execute a current purchase transaction involving at least one of a set of retail items selected from the predefined retail space. The current purchase transaction is executed without participation by a second human, such as a cashier. The system further includes at least one display device having a screen and in signal communication with the kiosk. The at least one display device is configured such that the screen simultaneously displays a predetermined number of descriptions of retail items the subject of purchase transactions with the kiosk that were executed prior to execution of the current purchase transaction by a plurality of different human users. The at least one display device is positioned such that the screen is viewable by all parties present in the retail space. |
| US09842326B2 |
Information providing system and information providing method using an automatic transaction apparatus
An information providing system includes: a processor that executes a process including: receiving an identifier to uniquely identify an automatic transaction apparatus in which transaction is performed, and an input of a financial institution code read from a card inserted into the automatic transaction apparatus; determining information to be output in the automatic transaction apparatus, based on a relation between the financial institution code and the identifier of the automatic transaction apparatus; and displaying the determined information on a screen of the automatic transaction apparatus or an external display device controlled by the automatic transaction apparatus. |
| US09842324B2 |
Banknote processing device, and banknote processing method
A banknote processing device includes a first pay-out port and a second pay-out port in which banknotes for pay-out are stacked, a conveyance section that conveys banknotes to the first pay-out port or to the second pay-out port, a first opening-closing member capable of opening and closing the first pay-out port by moving, a second opening-closing member capable of opening and closing the second pay-out port by moving, and a controller that controls conveyance of the banknotes by the conveyance section, and that controls opening and closing operations of the first and second opening-closing members. When the number of banknotes stacked in the first pay-out port has reached a maximum stacking number in pay-out processing, the controller performs a switching operation to switch a conveyance destination of the banknotes from the first pay-out port to the second pay-out port, and performs an opening operation to open the first opening-closing member. |
| US09842321B2 |
Centralized financial account migration system
Systems and methods for migration of financial account settings are disclosed. One system includes a migration server. The migration server includes a third-party interface directory, including notification data associated with notifying one or more third parties of an account migration. The migration server further includes a transaction analysis module configured to parse transaction histories associated with an existing financial account to identify a third party that has initiated at least one transaction with the existing financial account. The migration server also includes a notification module configured to generate a notification for the identified third party based on notification data associated with the identified third party stored in the third-party interface directory and information associated with a target financial account. |
| US09842320B1 |
Systems and methods for providing leads and appointments
Methods disclosed for lead generation relate to matching prospective applicants with educational institutions. Prospective applicants provide personal information and educational background information which are used to find matching educational institutions. Methods include enhancing connections between education institutions and prospective applicants by setting up mutually agree appointments. Systems and apparatuses are also disclosed to implement the disclosed methods. |
| US09842310B2 |
Inventorying items using image data
A method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for generating and maintaining a catalog of belongings for a user. The method includes the steps of receiving image data from a user, the image data containing images of one or more items of belonging; identifying one or more items from the image data, determining information regarding the identified one or more items, and adding at least one of the identified one or more items and information regarding the at least one of the identified one or more items to a catalog of belonging for the user. |
| US09842307B2 |
Methods and systems for creating tasks
Methods and systems for creating one or more tasks. One or more electronic documents are clustered in one or more first groups based on a similarity of handwriting in the one or more electronic documents. Each electronic document of each of the one or more first groups is partitioned into one or more partitions. Each of the one or more partitions is assigned an area identification number. The one or more tasks are created such that each task of the one or more tasks includes a partition, from each electronic document of the one or more electronic documents, having same area identification number. |
| US09842305B2 |
Task prioritization and optimization using interconnected data sources
A computer identifies a location that is associated with a task, included in a first list of tasks, based on a first information. The computer determines a first travel time from a second location that is associated with a mobile device to the first location based on a second information. The second information indicates an amount of travel time that is associated with a route from the second location to the first location. The computer generates a plurality of permutations of the tasks included in the first list of tasks. The computer selects a permutation from the plurality of permutations based on the first travel time. The computer generates a second list of tasks using the selected permutation. The organization of the tasks included in the second list of tasks reduces the travel time that is required to complete those tasks. |
| US09842303B2 |
Method for coupling quality control data of a subassembly of components to a main product assembly
A method and apparatus couples quality control data generated during the manufacture of a subassembly of components with at least a unique main product assembly identification number and the quality control data of the main product at the time of installation of a subassembly to the main product assembly. The subassembly quality control data and the main product assembly quality control data and unique product identification are stored. |
| US09842296B2 |
Using cohorts in a question answering system
A cohort analysis mechanism analyzes cohorts with similar attributes to extrapolate additional knowledge and answer a question in a question answering system. The cohort analysis mechanism identifies cohorts for an entity of the question and extracts relevant data concerning the cohorts. The cohort analysis mechanism aggregates the relevant information for evidence scoring and answer scoring to answer a question posed to the question answering system. The aggregating of the data includes combining and ranking answers from the cohorts, gathering evidence and then answering the question with the gathered evidence. |
| US09842295B2 |
Technical support agent and technical support service delivery platform
An embodiment of a method for providing technical support service includes generating a plurality of problem resolutions that are determined to resolve an identified technical problem; attributing weights to each of said plurality of problem resolutions according to frequency of use; and in response to a request to resolve said identified problem, selecting a problem resolution from among said plurality of problem resolutions based at least in part on said attributed weights. |
| US09842292B1 |
Receptacle with can counter
A receptacle that counts empty beverage cans for recycling frames an opening of a waste receptacle such as a trash can or recycling bin. The apparatus includes an actuation arm located inside the opening. The arm is pressed to the side whenever a can is inserted into the waste receptacle. The arm is connected to a mechanical counter located on an outside of a lid. After each can is added, the counter increments by one (1) to indicate the number of beverage cans inside of the container. The counter can be reset when the container is emptied or the bag changed. |
| US09842288B1 |
RFID-based hand sensory apparatus for monitoring handled inventory
In aspects of a RFID-based hand sensory apparatus for monitoring handled inventory, a wearable article is worn by a user who moves items, or a container of items, and each of the items has an RFID tag. A tracking system implemented in the wearable article includes force sensors to register a force on an item or the container, and includes a motion sensor to sense motion of the wearable article. Tracking logic of the tracking system initiates an RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of the items based on the registered force on the item or the container, and based on the motion of the wearable article. The RFID reader may be integrated in a wearable article, may be an external device, and/or may be affixed to the container of items and initiated when the container is moved. |
| US09842286B1 |
Overflow panel system for pharmaceutical container
Methods for producing a label for a prescription container having non-prescription specific information pre-printed off-site from the pharmacy by a label supplier. The methods optimize prescription container size by providing the pharmacy with the ability to efficiently print and apply a label to the prescription container with the pre-printed non-prescription specific information for most prescriptions with shorter prescription specific information or to print and apply a label without the non-prescription specific information for prescriptions with longer prescription specific information. |
| US09842285B2 |
Collation/retrieval system, collation/retrieval server, image feature extraction apparatus, collation/retrieval method, and program
The present invention is a collation/retrieval system collating a product manufactured by or delivered from a producer or a distributor with a product to be collated comprising: a storage unit that stores an image feature of a predetermined collation area of the product determined in advance at a position relative to a reference section common in every product; a to-be-collated product feature extraction unit that receives an image of the product to be collated and detecting the reference section of the product from the received image to extract an image feature of the collation area determined by reference to the reference section; and a collation unit that collates the stored image feature with the image feature of the collation area of the product to be collated. |
| US09842277B2 |
System and method for estimating age of a live animal
The system and method of the invention utilizes computer software to determine an estimation of the age of an animal by measuring, analyzing, comparing, calculating, and presenting age features and the age of animals such as deer, moose, elk, bovids, pronghorns and the like from digital data and/or photographs of the animals. |
| US09842276B2 |
System and method for analyzing personalized characteristics
A system and method for analyzing a personalized characteristic are provided. The system includes an analysis range calculator configured to calculate a plurality of analysis ranges having different analysis times from positioning data according to a lapse of time of an analysis target; an image analyzer configured to identify one or more objects from the image data corresponding to each of the analysis ranges, and analyze one or more visual characteristics from each of the identified objects; and a characteristic analyzer configured to generate personalized characteristic information of the analysis target using a characteristic analysis result of each of the analysis ranges. |
| US09842271B2 |
Corner detection
The present application provides a method of corner detection and an image processing system for detecting corners in an image. The preferred implementation is in software using enabling and reusable hardware features in the underlying vector processor architecture. The advantage of this combined software and programmable processor datapath hardware is that the same hardware used for the FAST algorithm can also be readily applied to a variety of other computational tasks, not limited to image processing. |
| US09842270B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing additional information for each region of interest
An apparatus and method for providing additional information for region of interest. The apparatus includes a region of interest extractor configured to extract regions of interest from a first medical image and at least one second medical image, a region of interest merger configured to merge a region of interest of the at least one second medical image into the first medical image, an additional information determiner configured to determine additional information required for each region of interest, and an additional information provider configured to provide the determined additional information for the each region of interest. |
| US09842269B2 |
Video processing apparatus, video processing method, and recording medium
A video processing apparatus includes: a first detection unit configured to detect a moving object from a movie; a second detection unit configured to detect an object having a predetermined shape from the movie; an extraction unit configured to extract a partial region of a region in which the second detection unit has detected the object having the predetermined shape in the movie; and a discrimination unit configured to discriminate whether the object detected by the second detection unit is a certain object depending on a ratio of a size of an overlapping region to a size of an extracted region extracted by the extraction unit, the overlapping region being a region where a region in which the first detection unit has detected the moving object in the movie and the extracted region overlap with each other. |
| US09842266B2 |
Method for detecting driver cell phone usage from side-view images
A system and method for detecting electronic device use by a driver of a vehicle including acquiring an image including a vehicle from an associated image capture device positioned to view oncoming traffic, locating a windshield region of the vehicle in the captured image, processing pixels of the windshield region of the image for computing a feature vector describing the windshield region of the vehicle, applying the feature vector to a classifier for classifying the image into respective classes including at least classes for candidate electronic device use and candidate electronic device non-use, and outputting the classification. |
| US09842260B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method of performing image segmentation
A clustering processing unit sets representative data to be used in first clustering, for each of temporally continuous images, and repeats clustering of pixels based on the representative data. A representative data updating unit updates the representative data whenever clustering is repeated. As the representative data to be used in first clustering of each image, an initial value or representative data used in last clustering of an immediately preceding image is set based on predetermined input information. An example of the predetermined input information is operation information for an image capturing unit for capturing an image. If a dead cluster predictively forms due to an image change, the initial value is set as the representative data. This makes it possible to restrict accumulation of dead clusters, and suppress the decrease in segmentation accuracy. |
| US09842259B2 |
Captured image recognition device, captured image recognition system, and captured image recognition method
Provided is a captured image recognition device that enables the performance of an image recognition function to be sufficiently evinced. A field-of-view splitting estimation unit (31) estimates the splitting of the field of view of a camera unit (20) using a captured image (S1). On the basis of the estimated splitting of the field of view, a candidate application selection unit (32) selects, from among a plurality of image recognition applications, candidates for an image recognition application that is favorable or able to execute processing with respect to a current captured image. An image recognition processing unit (40) executes the image recognition application selected by a user from among the candidate applications. As a result, the performance of an image recognition function can be sufficiently evinced as a result of it being possible to execute an image recognition application that is suitable to the current captured image. |
| US09842255B2 |
Calculation device and calculation method
A calculation device includes a processor configured to identify a person in a plurality of images captured in time series respectively, obtain gaze information indicating a direction of a line of sight of the person, identify at least one of a time period in which the person directs the line of sight to a certain object and a number of times that the person directs the line of sight to the certain object, based on the gaze information and a position at which the certain object is placed, estimate a relationship of two or more persons who are identified in one image from among the plurality of images, based on a distance between the two or more persons, and calculate an index value indicating probability that the certain object is utilized, based on the relationship, and at least one of the time period and the number of times. |
| US09842251B2 |
Bulleted lists
A method for image processing by: obtaining an original image including a bulleted list; determining a list bounding box enclosing the bulleted list; determining line bounding boxes nested within the list bounding box enclosing lines of the bulleted list; identifying bullets based on the line bounding boxes; identifying indentations based on the bullets; and generating a bulleted list object for the bulleted list in the original image based on the indentations. |
| US09842250B2 |
Systems and methods for authenticating a user based on captured image data
Systems and methods are provided for authenticating a user of a computing device. The system comprises one or more memory devices storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to provide, to a computing device associated with a user, an indication of a prescribed authentication parameter. The system also receives image data including an image of the user of the computing device captured using an image sensor of the computing device. The system determines an identity of the user based on an analysis of the received image data, determines whether the received image data includes a feature corresponding to the prescribed authentication parameter, and authenticates the user based at least in part on whether the received image data includes the feature corresponding to the prescribed authentication parameter. |
| US09842249B2 |
Gesture recognition method and apparatus with improved background suppression
A gesture recognition method with improved background suppression includes the following steps. First, a plurality of images are sequentially captured. Next, a position of at least one object in each of the images is calculated to respectively obtain a moving vector of the object at different times. Then, an average brightness of the object in each of the images is calculated. Finally, magnitudes of the moving vectors of the object at different times are respectively adjusted according to the average brightness of the object in each of the images. There is further provided a gesture recognition apparatus using the method mentioned above. |
| US09842247B2 |
Eye location method and device
An eye location method and device includes: receiving a face image; locating a position of a nose and positions of eyes in the face image; determining a facial symmetry axis according to the position of the nose; and regulating the positions of the eyes by the facial symmetry axis to obtain target positions of the eyes. By the method and the device, the problem of poorer eye location accuracy in the conventional art is solved, and the effect of improving eye location accuracy is further achieved. |
| US09842246B2 |
Fitting glasses frames to a user
Processing a set of images is disclosed, including: determining a set of user head measurements from a set of images; and determining a fit score corresponding to a glasses frames based at least in part on comparing the set of user head measurements to glasses frame measurements associated with the glasses frames. |
| US09842242B1 |
Method and fingerprint sensing system for determining finger movement event
The present invention relates to a method for determining a finger movement event on a fingerprint sensor. The method comprises to acquire signals indicative of the portion of finger detecting structures that may be touched by a finger. Based on the ratio between the signals and a total signal level, the position of the finger on the fingerprint sensing device can be determined at two different time instances. Based on the positions which may be the same, a finger movement event may be determined. The invention also relates to a corresponding fingerprint sensing device. |
| US09842236B2 |
Scanner including a switchable mirror and method for using same
A scanner for scanning an item positioned in a scan volume can include: an electronically switchable mirror configured to switch between a reflective state and a transmissive state, a plurality of mirrors, and a camera having a sensor. In a method for scanning the item, the scanner can repeatedly: switch the switchable mirror from the reflective state to the transmissive state, image a first field of view of the item onto the sensor with light that reflects from at least one mirror and transmits through the switchable mirror, switch the switchable mirror from the transmissive state to the reflective state, and image a second field of view of the item onto the sensor with light that reflects from at least one mirror and reflects from the switchable mirror. In some examples, the scanner can synchronize the switching of the switchable mirror to a frame rate of the sensor. |
| US09842232B2 |
Wireless tag communication device and wireless tag communication program
A wireless tag communication device for communicating with a wireless tag through a directional antenna includes a wireless tag communication section configured to communicate with the wireless tag, a calculation section configured to estimate a direction range for communicating with the wireless tag based on transmission output power of the wireless tag communication device and an estimated reading distance to the wireless tag, and a display section configured to display the estimated direction range. |
| US09842230B1 |
System and method for automatically detecting and then self-repairing corrupt, modified or non-existent files via a communication medium
A system and method of guaranteeing the presence of secure and tamper-proof remote files over a distributed communication medium, such as the Internet, is provided. The system and method automatically detects, and then self-repairs corrupt, modified or non-existent remote files. The method first performs an integrity check on a remote file and then determines whether the integrity check passed. If the integrity check passed, then the user goes through the authentication process as normal. If the integrity check fails, then the present invention redirects to an install module in order to prepare to reinstall the remote file. Via the install module, the present invention then reinstalls the remote file and the user is then taken through the authentication process as normal. |
| US09842221B2 |
Role analyzer and optimizer in database systems
Particular embodiments provide a system that analyzes and optimizes roles and authorizations for users of a customer. The system determines which executables have been used by users in the system over a certain time period. Thereafter, the system analyzes and optimizes authorizations within the assigned roles for the users. The authorizations for the roles assigned to the user are then analyzed. The vendor roles typically have redundant authorizations, some of which may be used and some not used. The system can then generate a new customer role for the user with the used authorizations combined into the new role. For example, the authorizations used by the user are combined into the new customer role. This reduces the number of roles the user has assigned to him/her, and also the number of authorizations. Also, the new customer role may be added to other users with the same role at the customer. |
| US09842220B1 |
Systems and methods of secure self-service access to content
In one embodiment, a method is performed by a computer system. The method includes receiving a request from a user to access particular content. The method further includes determining a trust measure of the user, wherein the trust measure is based, at least in part, on an analysis of logged user-initiated communication events of the user on a plurality of communications platforms. In addition, the method includes accessing a self-service access policy applicable to the particular content. Further, the method includes ascertaining, from the self-service access policy, a trust threshold applicable to the particular content. Moreover, the method includes, responsive to a determination that the trust measure fails to satisfy the trust threshold, automatically denying access by the user to the particular content. |
| US09842213B2 |
Mechanisms for locking computing devices
Various systems and methods for locking computing devices are described herein. In an example, a portable device comprises an electro-mechanical lock; and a firmware module coupled to the electro-mechanical lock, the firmware module configured to: receive an unlock code; validate the unlock code; and unlock the electro-mechanical lock when the unlock code is validated. In another example, device for managing BIOS authentication, the device comprising an NFC module, the NFC module comprising an NFC antenna; and a firmware module, wherein the firmware module is configured to: receive an unlock code from an NFC device via the NFC antenna; validate the unlock code; and unlock a BIOS of the device when the unlock code is validated. |
| US09842210B2 |
Universal extensible firmware interface module identification and analysis
The present disclosure provides a network architecture and verification platform for analyzing the various modules of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware image. In one embodiment, the disclosed network architecture and verification platform obtains various UEFI firmware images, such as UEFI firmware image residing on a client device or a UEFI firmware image hosted by a hardware manufacturer. The network architecture and verification platform may then segregate the various UEFI firmware modules that make up the UEFI firmware image, and subject the modules to different types of analysis. By analyzing the UEFI firmware modules individually, the network architecture and verification platform builds a repository of Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs) referenced by a given UEFI firmware module, which may then be referenced in future analyses to determine whether any changes, and the extent of such changes, have been made to an updated version of the given UEFI firmware module. |
| US09842207B2 |
Mobile device with multiple security domains
Included within a shared housing are at least one user interface element; a first isolated computational entity; a second isolated computational entity; and a switching arrangement. The switching arrangement is configured to, in a first mode, connect the first isolated computational entity to the at least one user interface element; and, in a second mode, connect the second isolated computational entity to the at least one user interface element. |
| US09842202B2 |
Device proximity
A method of determining the proximity of a first device to a second device, the method comprising, at the second device: receiving a first packet having a first payload and a first lifetime value, the first lifetime value being such so as to cause a device receiving the first packet to not retransmit the first payload; and generating, in dependence on the first packet, a second packet having a second payload and a second lifetime value, the second payload being indicative of the proximity of the first device to the second device and the second lifetime value being such as to cause a device receiving the second packet to retransmit the second payload. |
| US09842192B2 |
Tele-presence robot system with multi-cast features
A graphical user interface for a remote controlled robot system that includes a robot view field that displays information provided by a robot and an observer view field that display observer information about one or more observers that can receive the robot information. The interface has various features that allow a master user to control the observation and participation of the observers. |
| US09842190B2 |
Displaying a set of interrelated objects
A system for displaying a set of interrelated objects comprises an initializer (1) for identifying a plurality of interrelated objects, a first information filter (2) for selecting a first subset of the plurality of interrelated objects for display based on a first information filter setting, a first displayer (3) for displaying the first subset of the plurality of interrelated objects on a first display area, a user interface (7) for enabling a user to select a region of the first display area for enlargement by visually indicating the region in the first display area, wherein the user can select the region independently of locations of the displayed objects in the first display area, a second information filter (4) for selecting a second subset of the plurality of interrelated objects for display based on a second information filter setting, wherein the second information filter is arranged for selecting objects corresponding to the selected region with an increased level of information detail compared to the first information filter, and a second displayer (5) for displaying the second subset of the plurality of interrelated objects on a second display area. |
| US09842189B2 |
System and method to monitor inventory of storage container
A system and method for monitoring the inventory of a medical storage container that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and take an inventory of a tray or other container of medical articles each of which has an RFID tag. The enclosure having a size smaller than the size needed for a resonant frequency at the RFID frequency of operation of the tags. An injection device is used to create a robust electromagnetic field standing wave of constructive interference in the enclosure and a program compares the scanned present inventory of the tray to the required inventory database and indicates any differences. Expired and recalled articles are identified. |
| US09842187B1 |
Representation of complex timing characteristics of startpoint-endpoint pairs in a circuit design
Approaches for processing a circuit design include determining pin slack values for pins of the circuit elements in the circuit design. A processor selects a subset of endpoints based on pin slack values of the endpoints being in a critical slack range and determines startpoints of the circuit design that are in respective critical fanin cones. For each endpoint of the subset, the processor determines an arrival time from each startpoint in the respective critical fanin cone and determines for each startpoint-endpoint pair, a respective set of constraint values as a function of the respective arrival time from the startpoint. The processor generates a graph in the memory circuit from the startpoint-endpoint pairs. First nodes in the graph represent the startpoints and second nodes in the graph represent the endpoints, and values in the respective set of constraint values are associated with edges that connect the nodes. |
| US09842186B2 |
Process window identifier
Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented method for determining an overlapping process window (OPW) of an area of interest on a portion of a design layout for a device manufacturing process for imaging the portion onto a substrate, the method comprising: obtaining a plurality of features in the area of interest; obtaining a plurality of values of one or more processing parameters of the device manufacturing process; determining existence of defects, probability of the existence of defects, or both in imaging the plurality of features by the device manufacturing process under each of the plurality of values; and determining the OPW of the area of interest from the existence of defects, the probability of the existence of defects, or both. |
| US09842184B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for using hybrid library track design for SOI technology
At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed involves providing a design for manufacturing a semiconductor device. A first functional cell having a first width is placed on a circuit layout. A determination is made as to whether at least one transistor of the first functional cell is to be forward biased or reversed biased. A second functional cell having a second width is placed adjacent to the first functional cell on the circuit layout for providing a first biasing well within the total width of the first and second functional cells in response to determining that the at least one transistor is to be forward biased or reversed biased. |
| US09842182B2 |
Method and system for designing semiconductor device
A method of designing a semiconductor device and system for designing a semiconductor device are provided. The method of designing a semiconductor device includes providing a standard cell layout which includes an active region and a dummy region; determining a first fin pitch between a first active fin and a second active fin in the active region and a second fin pitch between a first dummy fin and a second dummy fin in the dummy region; placing the first and second active fins in the active region and the first and second dummy fins in the dummy region using the first and second fin pitches; and verifying the standard cell layout. |
| US09842180B2 |
NoC timing power estimating device and method thereof
A NoC timing power estimating method includes: estimating a plurality of transmission timing of a plurality of transmission units of at least a packet, the transmission timing indicating respective time points at which the transmission units enter/leave a plurality of passing elements of the NoC; based on the transmission timing of the transmission units, estimating respective circuit states and respective power states of the passing elements of the NoC, the circuit state indicating an operation state of the passing element and the power state being related to the circuit state; and based on the power states of the passing elements of the NoC, estimating power consumption of the NoC. |
| US09842175B2 |
Methods and systems for automatic selection of classification and regression trees
The present invention provides a method and system for automatically identifying and selecting preferred classification and regression trees. The invention is used to identify a specific decision tree or group of trees that are consistent across train and test samples in node-specific details that are often important to decision makers. Specifically, for a tree to be identified as preferred by this system, the train and test samples must both agree on key measures for every terminal node of the tree. In addition to this node-by-node criterion, an additional tree selection method may be imposed. Accordingly, the train and test samples rank order the nodes on a relevant measure in the same way. Both consistency criteria may be applied in a fuzzy manner in which agreement must be close but need not be exact. |
| US09842174B2 |
Using document templates to assemble a collection of documents
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to assemble a collection of documents according to a document list. The document list represents documents to be included in the collection, and includes multiple entries that identify document templates. Each document template includes instructions that a web server can execute to generate a web document based on one or more parameters. A web document corresponding to each of the multiple entries is requested; the requested web documents are received and stored in the collection of documents. Links in the received web documents can be identified and updated. The collection of documents can be accessed as part of a web site. |
| US09842167B2 |
Search suggestion and display environment
Methods, systems, and apparatus for processing image content items. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a set of search query suggestions for a query, each search query suggestion being based on the search query; for each search query suggestion, receiving data identifying a respective set of resources determined to be responsive to the search query suggestion; for each respective set of resources, generating a representative resource set depicting a subset of the respective set of resources; providing to the user device, in response the search query, a search results page resource including instructions that cause the user device to render a search results page that includes: a set of search results that identify resources that are determined to be responsive to the search query; for each search query suggestion, a search query suggestion grouping including: data describing the search query suggestion, and data depicting the representative resource set. |
| US09842164B2 |
Avatar service system and method for animating avatar on a terminal on a network
Provided is an avatar service system and method that are provided through a network. The avatar service system may include a request receiving unit to receive a request for an avatar to perform an action, a data extracting unit to extract metadata and image data corresponding to the request from the database storing the metadata with respect to the action of the avatar and the image data for a plurality of layers forming the avatar, and an avatar action processing unit to generate and provide action data for applying, to the avatar, the action of the avatar corresponding to the request using the extracted metadata and the extracted image data. |
| US09842162B1 |
Navigating a taxonomy using search queries
Disclosed are various embodiments for navigating a taxonomy using search queries. An unstructured search query is parsed in order to identify one or more categories of a taxonomy of a collection of items. Each one of the one or more categories is associated with a confidence score. When the confidence score meets a threshold, a pool of items is selected from a respective one of the one or more categories. When no confidence score meets the threshold, the pool of items is selected from the collection of items. |
| US09842161B2 |
Discrepancy curator for documents in a corpus of a cognitive computing system
Curation of a corpus of a cognitive computing system is performed interactively by reporting on user interface device to a user a parse tree illustration of discrepancies and corresponding assigned confidence factors detected between at least a portion of a first document and a second or more documents in the corpus. Responsive to a user selection of an illustrated discrepancy in the parse tree, a drill-down dialog is prepared and displayed which shows at least a text string for the portion of the first document and at least one conflicting text string from the second or more documents, and which provides at least one user-selectable administrative action option for handling the detected discrepancy. Responsive to receipt of user selection of an administrative action option, the computing system performs the action to handle the detected discrepancy. |
| US09842160B2 |
Defining fields from particular occurences of field labels in events
First one or more values are extracted from a plurality of events using a first extraction rule. The extracted first one or more values are assigned to a first field of the plurality of events as a first set of field-data item pairs and a field label is assigned to the first field. Second one or more values and a field label corresponding to the second one or more values are extracted from the plurality of the events using a second extraction rule, where the extracted field label corresponds to the assigned field label of the first field. The extracted second one or more values are assigned to a second field of the plurality of events as a second set of field-data item pairs, thereby distinguishing the extracted second one or more values from the extracted first one or more values. |
| US09842159B2 |
Data analysis apparatus and method
The present invention relates to a heterogeneous data cluster generation apparatus and method and a data clustering method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a data clustering method and apparatus which cluster data measured by different sensors into a number of groups. Aspects of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for generating clusters by putting together heterogeneous data which are values measured by different types of sensors. Aspects of the present invention also provide an apparatus and method for generating clusters by setting indices in order to effectively cluster multi-dimensional data, massive data, or scattered data. |
| US09842157B2 |
Systems and methods for classifying computing devices based on device attributes
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can acquire a set of attributes for each computing device of a plurality of computing devices. The set of attributes can be associated with device performance. Each computing device of the plurality of computing devices can be classified into a device class year of a plurality of class years based at least in part on the set of attributes. The device class year can correspond to a level of device performance associated with the set of attributes. At least one feature to be provided on the computing device can be enabled based at least in part on the device class year. |
| US09842154B2 |
Secure data replication
One or more techniques and/or computing devices are provided for secure data replication. For example, a first storage controller may host first storage within which storage resources (e.g., files, logical unit numbers (LUNs), volumes, etc.) are stored. The first storage controller may establish an access policy with a001 second storage controller to which data is to be replicated from the first storage. The access policy may define an authentication mechanism for the first storage controller to authenticate the second storage controller, an authorization mechanism specifying a type of access that the second storage controller has for a storage resource, and an access control mechanism specifying how the second storage controller's access to data of the storage resource is to be controlled. In this way, data replication requests may be authenticated and authorized so that data may be provided, according to the access control mechanism, in a secure manner. |
| US09842153B2 |
Usage and bandwidth utilization collection mechanism for a distributed storage system
A technique is introduced that enables one or more mechanisms to collect storage and transfer utilization metrics for an account in a distributed data storage system that are more scalable and robust than conventional ways. The technique includes a method comprising, for each of the nodes, of collecting storage utilization data for a one account. The method further includes, for each proxy server, collecting transfer utilization data for the one account. The method further includes, at the controller, generating a cluster account interval (CAI) data based on a raw storage data file and an aggregated transfer data file. The CAI data include storage and transfer utilization data over a predetermined time span. |
| US09842148B2 |
Method for failure-resilient data placement in a distributed query processing system
Herein is described a data placement scheme for a distributed query processing systems that achieves load balance amongst the nodes of the system. To identify a node on which to place particular data, a supervisor node performs a placement algorithm over the particular data's identifier, where the placement algorithm utilizes two or more hash functions. The supervisor node runs the placement algorithm until a destination node is identified that is available to store the data, or the supervisor node has run the placement algorithm an established number of times. If no available node is identified using the placement algorithm, then an available destination node is identified for the particular data and information identifying the data and the selected destination node is included in an exception map. Most data may be located by any node in the system based on the node performing the placement algorithm for the required data. |
| US09842144B2 |
Presenting suggestions for user input based on client device characteristics
A computer implemented method includes: receiving an incomplete input from a user; presenting a plurality of suggestions to the user for completion of the input, wherein the suggestions are presented in a ranked order based on a characteristic associated with the user terminal; receiving a selection by the user of a suggestion from the suggestions; and completing the input with the suggestion. |
| US09842143B2 |
Information delivery system and method for mobile appliances
Information delivery systems and methods are disclosed. In a system according to the invention, there is a database system, a user appliance, a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The database system may have records that are alterable by a service provider. The user appliance may have an input device with polysemous keys. Further, the user appliance may also have a monitor, which is able to provide the user with information corresponding to records of the database system. |
| US09842142B2 |
Self-guided verification of an item
A method of providing a level of certification of an attribute of an item is disclosed. A requirement is determined for a level of certification for an attribute of an item. A notification is provided of an evidence item that is to be submitted to evaluate the level of certification of the attribute of the item. The evidence item is received. The level of certification of the attribute of the item is determined based on the received evidence item. |
| US09842136B2 |
Database management system, computer, and database management method
A database management system (DBMS) generates a query execution plan including information indicating one or more database (DB) operations necessary to execute the query. The DBMS dynamically generates a task for executing the DB operation in execution of the query. The DBMS performs a determination processing of simultaneous-task-generation number when newly creating a task. The determination processing of simultaneous-task-generation number is to calculate the number of simultaneous task generation, which is the number of tasks that can be generated simultaneously, based on the number of tasks which can be newly generated, a first memory resource amount which is the amount of memory resources necessary to be allocated per task newly generated, and a second memory resource amount which is the number of memory resources that can be newly allocated. The number of tasks generated dynamically and simultaneously is equal to or smaller than the calculated number of simultaneously generatable tasks. |
| US09842134B2 |
Data query interface system in an event historian
An event historian system receives and responds to queries for event data from a client device over a network connection. The queries comprise parameters indicating a date range and filter limitations defining the desired event data. The system selects storage blocks based on the date range and filters event data in the storage blocks based on the filter limitations. The filtered event data is grouped into a results message and sent to the client system via the network connection. |
| US09842133B2 |
Auditing of web-based video
A method for auditing a web-based video can comprise receiving validation information associated with one or more video files that are accessible on a webpage. The validation information can comprise one or more time intervals associated with at least one video file. Additionally, the validation information can comprise tag data relating a tag that are associated with the at least one video files. The method can also request through a network connection the at least one video files. The method can then execute the at least one video files. Executing the at least one video file can cause a tag to fire. Additionally, the method can validate the tag by determining whether the tag conforms to the received tag data. |
| US09842128B2 |
Systems and methods for atomic storage operations
An atomic storage module may be configured to implement atomic storage operation directed to a first set of identifiers in reference to a second, different set of identifiers. In response to completing the atomic storage operation, the atomic storage module may move the corresponding data to the first, target set of identifiers. The move operation may comprise modifying a logical interface of the data. The move operation may further include storing persistent metadata configured to bind the data to the first set of identifiers. |
| US09842127B2 |
Database diagnostics interface system
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are provided for database diagnostics. A specification of a target database system may be processed. A diagnostic tool, corresponding to a plug-in for transmission to the target database system, may be created. A script may be selected to conditionally execute on the target database system when detected values of a monitored parameter satisfy conditional criteria. A plug-in structure that encapsulates modules of the plug-in may be defined. The diagnostic tool may be transmitted via a network to the target database system to cause the diagnostic tool to be executed on the target database system. The execution of the diagnostic tool may include executing a first iteration of the plug-in based on a first threshold specified by conditional criteria, and executing a subsequent iteration of the plug-in based on a subsequent threshold specified by the conditional criteria after the conditional criteria has been adjusted. |
| US09842121B2 |
Medical information processing apparatus to apply image processing to received medical images
A medical information processing apparatus includes an exam reservation information receiver and an image processor. The exam reservation information receiver receives exam reservation information for multiple image generating apparatuses, from an exam reservation apparatus. The image processor determines a type of image processing based on the received exam reservation information, and applies the determined type of image processing to original images as medical images generated by the multiple image generating apparatuses to generate a processing result image as the medical image. |
| US09842115B2 |
Media asset proxies
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for creating and using media asset proxies. The media asset proxies represent a digital media asset and are created by filtering and modifying elements from the digital media asset. The media asset proxies can be queried in the same manner as their corresponding digital media asset. |
| US09842114B2 |
Peer to peer network write deduplication
A technique described herein performs peer to peer network write deduplication. A host system generates a fingerprint for data associated with a write request. The host system may then determine whether the generated fingerprint matches a local fingerprint stored in a local data structure or whether the generated fingerprint matches a global fingerprint associated with a global data structure, wherein the local fingerprint is associated with data previously written to the storage system by the host and wherein the global fingerprint is associated with data previously written to the storage system by a different host. If a match is found, the host system constructs a deduplication command utilizing a logical address corresponding to a storage location that stores the data. If a match is not found, a write command for the data of the write request is constructed and sent to the storage system. |
| US09842113B1 |
Context-based file selection
A context related to user experience with a computing device is acquired. When a user performs a file selection activity on the computing device, the computing device consults the stored context and displays a list of file names based on the context at the time of access. The context can include file name, file creator, last access date and information regarding the file's contents. Using context to display file names can provide enhanced user experience by displaying file names for files most likely to be opened by a user while omitting file names for files not likely to be opened. In the event that no file names belonging to files desired by a user are among the file names displayed, the system can revert to a default file open dialog. |
| US09842110B2 |
Content based similarity detection
Content Based Similarity Detection. A computer implemented method includes computing a hash of each word in a collection of books to produce a numerical integer token using a reduced representation and computing an Inverse Document Frequency (IDF) vector comprising the number of books the token appears in, for every token in the collection of books. The method also includes creating a token occurrence count vector for each book in the collection and normalizing the token occurrence count vector using the IDF vector to create a Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) vector. Further, the method includes reducing each TF-IDF vector by using random projections to obtain a final signature representing each book in the collection, reducing each TF-IDF vector by using random projections to obtain a final signature representing each book in the collection and using a trained machine learning algorithm, determining whether each of the list of candidate books is similar to the target book. |
| US09842106B2 |
Method and system for role dependent context sensitive spoken and textual language understanding with neural networks
A method and system processes utterances that are acquired either from an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system or text. The utterances have associated identities of each party, such as role A utterances and role B utterances. The information corresponding to utterances, such as word sequence and identity, are converted to features. Each feature is received in an input layer of a neural network (NN). A dimensionality of each feature is reduced, in a projection layer of the NN, to produce a reduced dimensional feature. The reduced dimensional feature is processed to provide probabilities of labels for the utterances. |
| US09842105B2 |
Parsimonious continuous-space phrase representations for natural language processing
Systems and processes for natural language processing are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at a first electronic device with one or more processors and memory, receiving a plurality of words, mapping each of the plurality of words to a word representation, and associating the mapped words to provide a plurality of phrases. In some examples, each of the plurality of phrases has a representation of a first type. The method further includes encoding each of the plurality of phrases to provide a respective plurality of encoded phrases. In some examples, each of the plurality of encoded phrases has a representation of a second type different than the first type. The method further includes determining a value of each of the plurality of encoded phrases and identifying one or more phrases of the plurality of encoded phrases having a value exceeding a threshold. |
| US09842102B2 |
Automatic ontology generation for natural-language processing applications
A method of generating ontologies for a Virtual Assistant across different languages may include extracting a plurality of tokens in a first language from a plurality of web resources in a web domain that includes the Virtual Assistant. The web resources may be made available in a first language and a second language. The method may also include determining a first part-of-speech (POS) for each of the plurality of tokens, where the first POS may be specific to the first language. The method may additionally include mapping the first POS to a second POS from a standardized set of POS's that are general across the first language and the second language, and generating a plurality of lemmas from the plurality of tokens. The method may further include displaying a network representing the ontology. |
| US09842096B2 |
Pre-processing for identifying nonsense passages in documents being ingested into a corpus of a natural language processing system
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for identifying nonsense passages in documents being ingested into a corpus. A natural language processing pipeline configured to execute in the data processing system receives an input document to be ingested into a corpus. The natural language processing pipeline divides the input document into a plurality of input passages. A filter component of the natural language processing pipeline identifies whether each input passage is a nonsense passage based on a value of a metric determined according to a set of feature counts. The natural language processing pipeline filters each input passage in the plurality of input passages based on whether the input passage is identified as a nonsense passage or not identified as a nonsense passage to form a filtered plurality of input passages. The natural language processing pipeline adds the filtered plurality of input passages into the corpus. |
| US09842095B2 |
Cross-device document transactions
Systems and methods provide for optimizing transactions on digital documents between remote client devices. A digital document having one or more electronically annotatable objects resides on a host client device. A request is received to enable the digital document for cross-device transactions. Based on the request, a piece of metadata associated with the digital document is sent to a remote server device configured to host, among other things, the metadata associated with the digital document residing on the host client device. The metadata includes information about the digital document, some corresponding to electronically annotatable objects provided therein. A remote client device accessing the remote server device can view, among other things, the metadata associated with the digital document residing on the host client device. The remote client device obtains, in accordance with the metadata, one or more electronic annotations for transmission to the remote server device. The remote server device relays the one or more electronic annotations to the host client device, such that the one or more electronic annotations are associated with the digital document residing thereon. |
| US09842094B2 |
Undo, redo, and state switching using content-addressable data structures
Systems and methods for switching to different states of electronic content being developed in a content creation application. This involves storing different states of the electronic content using a content-addressable data store, where individual states are represented by identifiers that identify items of respective states stored in the content-addressable data store. Identical items that are included in multiple states are stored once in the content-addressable data store and referenced by common identifiers. Input is received to change the electronic content to a selected state of the different states and the electronic content is displayed in the selected state based on identifiers for the selected state. In this way, undo, redo, and other commands to switch to different states of electronic content being developed are provided. |
| US09842087B2 |
Multi-sensor measuring method and system
The measurement system having multiple sensors for sensing the same physical magnitude comprises at least one set of n redundant sensors or of models representing the same physical magnitude in order to deliver n measurement signals, a fusion unit for performing fusion that is the result of multiplexing the n measurement signals in order to deliver a single multiplexed output signal resulting from the fusion of the n measurement signals, and a reconditioned UKF receiving the multiplexed output signal to output a signal constituting the best estimate of the measurement of the physical magnitude after rejecting signals representative of a sensor failure. |
| US09842086B2 |
Calculation device, calculation method, and program
A first calculation unit is capable of calculating f(x)bx1 and sets a calculation result of f(x)bx1 to u, and a second calculation unit is capable of calculating f(x)ax2, and sets a calculation result of f(x)ax2 to v. A final calculation unit outputs (ub′va′)1/d for d=a′a+b′b when the calculation result u and the calculation result v satisfy ua=vb. Here, G and H are groups, f is a function for mapping an element x of the group H to the group G, X1 and X2 are random variables values of which are in the group G, a realization of the random variable X1 is x1, a realization of the random variable X2 is x2, and a, b, a′, and b′ are integers. |
| US09842085B2 |
Adder capable of supporting addition and subtraction of up to n-bit data and method of supporting addition and subtraction of a plurality of data type using the adder
An adder for supporting multiple data types by controlling a carry propagation is provided. The adder includes a plurality of first addition areas configured to receive pieces of incoming operand data, wherein each of the plurality of first addition areas includes a predetermined unit number of bits, and a plurality of second addition areas configured to receive pieces of control data based on a type of the operand data and an operation type, wherein the plurality of second addition areas are alternately arranged between the plurality of first addition areas. |
| US09842081B2 |
Implementing modal selection of bimodal coherent accelerator
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing modal selection of a bimodal coherent accelerator in a computer system. Implementing modal selection of a bimodal coherent accelerator using a PCI-Express standard Vendor Specific Extended Capability (VSEC) structure or CAPI VSEC data in the configuration space of a CAPI-capable PCIE adapter and procedures defined in the Coherent Accelerator Interface Architecture (CAIA) to enable and control a coherent coprocessor adapter over PCIE. A CAPI-capable PCIE adapter is enabled to be bimodal and operate in conventional PCI-Express (PCIE) transaction modes or CAPI modes that utilize CAIA coherence and programming interface capabilities. |
| US09842076B2 |
Switchless USB C-connector hub
A USB hub integrated circuit device, comprising USB hub logic comprising a plurality USB ports, wherein at least one port comprises a pair of bi-directional transmission channels, wherein for the at least one port two physical layers are provided in parallel, each physical layer being associated with one bidirectional transmission channel, wherein the USB hub logic is further configured to select one of said physical layers for each port depending on a logic condition. |
| US09842075B1 |
Presenting multiple endpoints from an enhanced PCI express endpoint device
A system that provides virtualized computing resources to clients or subscribers may include an enhanced PCIe endpoint device on which an emulation processor emulates PCIe compliant hardware devices in software. In response to receiving a transaction layer packet that includes a transaction directed to an emulated device, the endpoint device may process the transaction, which may include emulating the target emulated device. The endpoint device may include multiple PCIe controllers and may expose multiple PCIe endpoints to a host computing system. For example, each PCIe controller may be physically coupled to one of multiple host processor sockets or host server SOCs on the host computing system, each of which exposes its own root complex. Traffic received by the PCIe controllers may be merged on the endpoint device for subsequent processing. Traffic originating at one host processor socket may be steered to the PCIe controller to which it is directly attached. |
| US09842072B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing a user mode virtual serial communications port emulator
Systems and methods for implementing a user mode virtual serial communications port emulator are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method for a virtual serial communications port emulator includes using at least one processor and memory for creating a virtual serial communication port (VCP) driver in a user mode of an operating system. The method further includes emulating a physical serial communication port using the VCP driver. In addition, the method includes converting outgoing data from an application executed on the at least one processor and memory via the VCP driver into a format complying with a protocol associated with a VCP device server. The method also includes converting incoming data from the VCP device server complying with the protocol into a second format understood by the application, wherein the VCP driver is communicated with using an unpublished universally unique identifier (UUID). |
| US09842060B1 |
Cache over-provisioning in a data storage device
A hybrid data storage device disclosed herein includes a main data store, one or more data storage caches, and a data storage cache management sub-system. The data storage cache may be divided into an over-provisioned portion and an advertised space portion. Clusters of data on the data storage cache corresponding to the over-provisioned portion are marked as pending eviction rather than actually evicted when the data storage cache management sub-system receives a write request, thereby increasing the effective capacity and reducing write amplification of the data storage cache. |
| US09842059B2 |
Wear leveling in storage devices
A system may include a plurality of memory cells and a processor. The plurality of memory cells may include a plurality of physical locations at which data is stored. The processor may be configured to determine whether to swap physical locations of data stored at logical block addresses in the first logical block address collection and physical locations of data stored at logical block addresses in the second logical block address collection. The processor may be further configured to, in response to determining to swap the physical locations of the data, swap the physical locations of the data stored at the logical block addresses in the first logical block address collection and the physical locations of the data stored at the logical block addresses in the second logical block address collection. |
| US09842056B2 |
Systems and methods for non-blocking implementation of cache flush instructions
Systems and methods for non-blocking implementation of cache flush instructions are disclosed. As a part of a method, data is accessed that is received in a write-back data holding buffer from a cache flushing operation, the data is flagged with a processor identifier and a serialization flag, and responsive to the flagging, the cache is notified that the cache flush is completed. Subsequent to the notifying, access is provided to data then present in the write-back data holding buffer to determine if data then present in the write-back data holding buffer is flagged. |
| US09842055B2 |
Address translation cache that supports simultaneous invalidation of common context entries
A processor includes a mapping module that maps architectural virtual processor identifiers to non-architectural global identifiers and maps architectural process context identifiers to non-architectural local identifiers. The processor also includes a translation-lookaside buffer (TLB) having a plurality of address translations. For each address translation of the plurality of address translations: when the address translation is a global address translation, the address translation is tagged with a representation of one of the non-architectural global identifiers to which the mapping module has mapped one of the virtual processor identifiers; and when the address translation is a local address translation, the address translation is tagged with a representation of one of the non-architectural local identifiers to which the mapping module has mapped one of the process context identifiers. |
| US09842054B2 |
Computing device and method for processing data in cache memory of the computing device
In a method for processing cache data of a computing device, a storage space of the storage device is divided into sections, and a section number of each data block in the storage device is determined according one of the sections in the storage device which each data block belongs to. A field is added for each data block in the storage device to record a section number of each data block in the storage device. When the cache data in the cache memory requires to be written back to the storage device, cache data with the section number is searched from all of the cache data in the cache memory to be written back to a corresponding section in the storage device. |
| US09842053B2 |
Systems and methods for persistent cache logging
A cache log module stores an ordered log of cache storage operations sequentially within the physical address space of a non-volatile storage device. The log may be divided into segments, each comprising a set of log entries. Data admitted into the cache may be associated with respective log segments. Cache data may be associated with the log segment that corresponds to the cache storage operation in which the cache data was written into the cache. The backing store of the data may be synchronized to a particular log segment by identifying the cache data pertaining to the segment (using the associations), and writing the identified data to the backing store. Data lost from the cache may be recovered from the log by, inter alia, committing entries in the log after the last synchronization time of the backing store. |
| US09842048B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for digital radio broadcast receiver memory and power reduction
A method of block deinterleaving data received at a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. The method includes providing a block of memory having a n×k addresses, wherein the block comprises a single table, receiving a digital radio broadcast signal at the receiver, and demodulating the digital radio broadcast signal into a plurality of interleaved data units. For at least one series of n×k data units a pointer step size is determined, and for each data unit in the series, an address in the block is calculated based on the pointer step size, and an output data unit is read from the block at the address, such that said output data units represent block deinterleaved data units. An input data unit from the plurality of interleaved data units is then written to the block at the address. Associated systems and computer readable storage media are presented. |
| US09842047B2 |
Non-sequential write for sequential read back
A storage device controller addresses consecutively-addressed portions of incoming data to consecutive data tracks on a storage medium and writes the consecutively-addressed portions to the consecutive data tracks in a non-consecutive track order. In one implementation, the storage device controller reads the data back from the consecutive data tracks in a consecutive address order in a single sequential read operation. |
| US09842046B2 |
Processing memory access instructions that have duplicate memory indices
A method of an aspect includes receiving an instruction indicating a first source packed memory indices, a second source packed data operation mask, and a destination storage location. Memory indices of the packed memory indices are compared with one another. One or more sets of duplicate memory indices are identified. Data corresponding to each set of duplicate memory indices is loaded only once. The loaded data corresponding to each set of duplicate memory indices is replicated for each of the duplicate memory indices in the set. A packed data result in the destination storage location in response to the instruction. The packed data result includes data elements from memory locations that are indicated by corresponding memory indices of the packed memory indices when not blocked by corresponding elements of the packed data operation mask. |
| US09842040B2 |
Tracking core-level instruction set capabilities in a chip multiprocessor
Techniques described herein generally relate to a task management system for a chip multiprocessor having multiple processor cores. The task management system tracks the changing instruction set capabilities of each processor core and selects processor cores for use based on the tracked capabilities. In this way, a processor core with one or more failed processing elements can still be used effectively, since the processor core may be selected to process instruction sets that do not use the failed processing elements. |
| US09842038B2 |
Method and system for advanced fail data transfer mechanisms
Embodiments of the present invention utilize a dual buffer size threshold system for raising interrupts that allows DUT testing systems to perform real-time buffer memory allocation procedures in an on demand basis. Using dual interrupt threshold systems in the manner described by embodiments of the present invention, DUT testing systems can reduce the need to decide on a single buffer size threshold when testing a set of DUTs that separately provide different amounts of fail data relative to each other. As such, embodiments of the present invention can minimize the overhead processing spent on interrupt handling while also reducing the amount wait time needed for the data processing module to process fail data for each DUT. Thus, embodiments of the present invention can increase the use of tester resources more efficiently while decrease the amount of time a tester system spends collecting and/or analyzing fail data for a set of DUTs during a testing session. |
| US09842036B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlled recovery of error information between independently operable processors
Methods and apparatus for controlled recovery of error information between two (or more) independently operable processors. The present disclosure provides solutions that preserve error information in the event of a fatal error, coordinate reset conditions between independently operable processors, and implement consistent frameworks for error information recovery across a range of potential fatal errors. In one exemplary embodiment, an applications processor (AP) and baseband processor (BB) implement an abort handler and power down handler sequence which enables error recovery over a wide range of crash scenarios. In one variant, assertion of signals between the AP and the BB enables the AP to reset the BB only after error recovery procedures have successfully completed. |
| US09842034B2 |
Mesh network routing based on availability of assets
Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods related to assets and predictive models and corresponding workflows that are related to updating a routing table. In particular, examples involve based on a predictive model, determining that a given asset of a plurality of assets in a mesh network is likely to be unavailable within a given period of time in the future and in response to the determining, causing a routing configuration for at least one other asset in the mesh network to be updated. |
| US09842033B2 |
Storage cluster failure detection
Direct monitoring of a plurality of storage nodes in a primary cluster is performed based on connectivity with the storage nodes. Indirect monitoring of a first storage node is performed, in response to direct monitoring of the first storage node indicating failure of the connectivity with the first storage node, wherein a second storage node of the plurality of nodes is a backup node for the first storage node. The indirect monitor of the first storage node indicates failure of the first storage node in response to performance of storage access operations by the second storage node that were previously performed by the first storage node. A cluster-switch operation is initiated to switch to from the primary cluster to a backup cluster based on an occurrence of at least one cluster-failure condition that comprises the indirect monitor of the first storage node indicating failure of the first storage node. |
| US09842030B2 |
Data storage device and flash memory control method
The data storage device included a flash memory, divided into a plurality of blocks with each block comprising a plurality of physical pages, and a control unit, coupling the flash memory to a host and comprising a microcontroller and a random access memory. The microcontroller maintains a plurality of logical-to-physical address mapping tables and a link table on the flash memory to record mapping information between the host and the flash memory and records a link table indicator on the flash memory to indicate a position of the link table. The link table indicates positions of the plurality of logical-to-physical address mapping tables, and each entry in the link table corresponds to one logical-to-physical address mapping table. Further, the microcontroller erases user of logical addresses corresponding to N logical-to-physical address mapping tables. |
| US09842028B1 |
Performing storage object recovery
There is disclosed a computer-implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for use in storage object recovery. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining that a storage object requires recovery, wherein the storage object comprises a dedicated recovery area at a fixed location. The method further comprises taking offline the storage object in response to determining that the storage object requires recovery. The method still further comprises performing a recovery procedure to recover the storage object, the recovery procedure utilizing the dedicated recovery area to support storage object recovery. |
| US09842027B1 |
Intelligent application optimized backups
A method by a backup application server for data backup. The method includes profiling a performance capability of a host that is to execute backup of data, profiling a property of the data, and sending the performance capability of the host and the property of the data to a rule engine module to determine a backup configuration parameter. The rule engine module includes pre-defined rules for determining a backup configuration parameter based on host performance capability and data property. The method further includes receiving the determined backup configuration parameter from the rule engine module and instructing the host to execute backup of the data to a backup storage using the determined backup configuration parameter. |
| US09842025B2 |
Efficient state tracking for clusters
Exemplary system and computer program product embodiments for efficient state tracking for clusters are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, in a distributed shared memory architecture, an asynchronous calculation of deltas and the views is performed while concurrently receiving client requests and concurrently tracking the client requests times. The results of the asynchronous calculation may be applied to each of the client requests that are competing for data of the same concurrency during a certain period with currently executing client requests. Additional system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages. |
| US09842023B2 |
Generating soft read values using multiple reads and/or bins
A starting read threshold is received. A first offset and a second offset is determined. A first read is performed at the starting read threshold offset by the first offset to obtain a first hard read value and a second read is performed at the starting read threshold offset by the second offset to obtain a second hard read value. A soft read value is generated based at least in part on the first hard read value and the second hard read value. |
| US09842022B2 |
Technologies for reducing latency in read operations
Technologies for reducing latency in read operations include an apparatus to perform a read attempt of a target data set from a memory, to obtain a candidate data set. A controller performs the read attempt using an initial read parameter, such as an initial read reference voltage. The controller is also to determine a candidate ratio of instances of data values in a portion of the candidate data set, compare the candidate ratio to a predefined reference ratio, determine whether the candidate ratio is within a predefined range of the predefined reference ratio, and, in response to a determination that the candidate ratio is not within the predefined range, adjust the read parameter and perform a subsequent read attempt of the target data set with the adjusted read parameter. |
| US09842021B2 |
Memory device check bit read mode
A check bit read mode enables a memory device to provide internal check bits to an associated host. A memory controller of a memory subsystem can generate one or more read commands for memory devices of the memory subsystem. The read command can include address location information. The memory devices include memory arrays with memory locations addressable with the address location information. The memory locations have associated data and internal check bits, where the check bits are generated internally by the memory for error correction. If the memory device is configured for check bit read mode, in response to the read command, it sends the internal check bits associated with the identified address location. If the memory device is not configured check bit read mode, it returns the data in response to the read command without exposing the internal check bits. |
| US09842019B2 |
Proactive and adaptive cloud monitoring
Processes, computer-readable media, and machines are disclosed for reducing a likelihood that active functional components fail in a computing system. An active monitoring component receives metrics associated with different active functional components of a computing system. The different active functional components contribute to different functionalities of the system. Based at least in part on the metrics associated with a particular active functional component, the active monitoring component determines that the particular active functional component has reached a likelihood of failure but has not failed. In response to determining that the particular active functional component has reached the likelihood of failure but has not failed, the active monitoring component causes a set of actions that are predicted to reduce the likelihood of failure. |
| US09842016B2 |
Multiple path error data collection in a storage management system
In one aspect, multiple data path error collection is provided in a storage management system. In one embodiment, an error condition in a main data path between the storage controller and at least one of a host and a storage unit is detected, and in response, a sequence of error data collection operations to collect error data through a main path is initiated. In response to a failure to collect error data at a level of the sequential error data collection operations, error data is collected through an alternate data path as a function of the error data collection level at which the failure occurred. Other aspects are described. |
| US09842015B2 |
Instruction and logic for machine checking communication
A processor includes a logic to determine an error condition reported in an error bank. The error bank is communicatively coupled to the processor and is associated with logical processors of the processor. The processor includes another logic to generate an interrupt indicating the error condition. The processor includes yet another logic to selectively send the interrupt to a single one of the logical processors associated with the error bank. |
| US09842014B2 |
Data processing device, method of execution error detection and integrated circuit
A data processing device provided with an error detection unit includes a processor arranged to support execution of an operation including a first sequence of instructions and execution of a second sequence of instructions implementing the operation, the first and second sequences of instructions generating, when in use, a first result and a second result, respectively. Configurable circuitry is also provided and arranged to support a repository to receive the first result and the second result following generation thereof. The configurable circuitry is configured as a function comparator unit arranged to compare the first and second results for consistency and to control further execution of the first implementation and the second implementation in response to a result of the comparison. |
| US09842012B1 |
Business rule engine message processing system and related methods
An enterprise service bus (ESB) business activity monitoring system and related methods. Specific implementations include a message box server, an itinerary server, a business activity monitoring (BAM) server, a message box database, an itinerary database, a BAM database, a web server and a caching server all operatively coupled together. A developer computer and user computer may be coupled with the web server through a telecommunication channel. The first user computer may include a first computer interface and a second computer interface. The first computer interface may be configured to display a real-time status of the selected itinerary process using the web server, the caching server, the BAM server, and the message box server. The data resubmit button may be configured to resubmit the selected itinerary process for processing by the message box server beginning at the error step. |
| US09842009B2 |
Method and device for detecting a race condition and a computer program product
A method is provided for detecting a race condition of a parallel task when accessing a shared resource in a multi-core processing system. The method requires that a core requires only a read access to the data set of another core, thereby ensuring better decoupling of the tasks. In an initialisation phase, initial values of global variables are assigned, in an activation phase, each core determines if the other core has written new values to the variables and if so, detects a race condition. Initial values are restored for each variable in a deactivation phase. |
| US09842008B2 |
Cache affinity and processor utilization technique
A cache affinity and processor utilization technique efficiently load balances work in a storage input/output (I/O) stack among a plurality of processors and associated processor cores of a node. The storage I/O stack employs one or more non-blocking messaging kernel (MK) threads that execute non-blocking message handlers (i.e., non-blocking services). The technique load balances work between the processor cores sharing a last level cache (LLC) (i.e., intra-LLC processor load balancing), and load balances work between the processors having separate LLCs (i.e., inter-LLC processor load balancing). The technique may allocate a predetermined number of logical processors for use by an MK scheduler to schedule the non-blocking services within the storage I/O stack, as well as allocate a remaining number of logical processors for use by blocking services, e.g., scheduled by an operating system kernel scheduler. |
| US09842007B2 |
Computing device, method, and program for distributing computational load
Embodiments of the present invention provide a computing device configured to operate as a particular computing device among a plurality of interconnected computing devices, comprising: a load information obtaining unit configured to obtain, from the particular computing device and from the or each of a group of one or more other computing devices from among the plurality of interconnected computing devices, load information representing the current computational load of the computing device from which the information is obtained; and a load redistribution determination unit configured, in dependence upon the obtained load information, to determine whether or not to redistribute computational load among the particular computing device and the group, and if it is determined to redistribute computational load, to determine the redistribution and to instruct the determined redistribution. |
| US09842005B2 |
Register file segments for supporting code block execution by using virtual cores instantiated by partitionable engines
A system for executing instructions using a plurality of register file segments for a processor. The system includes a global front end scheduler for receiving an incoming instruction sequence, wherein the global front end scheduler partitions the incoming instruction sequence into a plurality of code blocks of instructions and generates a plurality of inheritance vectors describing interdependencies between instructions of the code blocks. The system further includes a plurality of virtual cores of the processor coupled to receive code blocks allocated by the global front end scheduler, wherein each virtual core comprises a respective subset of resources of a plurality of partitionable engines, wherein the code blocks are executed by using the partitionable engines in accordance with a virtual core mode and in accordance with the respective inheritance vectors. A plurality register file segments are coupled to the partitionable engines for providing data storage. |
| US09842002B2 |
Node selection for a new application in a multi-tenant cloud hosting environment
A mechanism for node selection for a new application in a multi-tenant cloud hosting environment is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a request to host a software application on one of a plurality of nodes of a cloud computing infrastructure, each node configured to host multiple software applications. A set of available nodes from the plurality of nodes can be identified on which the software application can be hosted and the capacity of each identified node to host additional software applications can be determined. Then, a node is selected to host the software application using the determined capacities. |
| US09842001B2 |
System level acceleration server
A method for system level acceleration includes managing, by a system level acceleration server, an accelerator program running on an accelerator machine on behalf of a client, receiving, by the system level acceleration server, a communication from the client, interacting, by the system level acceleration server, with the accelerator program on behalf of the client according to the communication from the client, and generating, by the accelerator machine, a deliverable for provision to the client based upon an output of the accelerator program. |
| US09842000B2 |
Managing processing of long tail task sequences in a stream processing framework
The technology disclosed relates to managing processing of long tail task sequences in a stream processing framework. In particular, it relates to operating a computing grid that includes a plurality of physical threads which processes data from one or more near real-time (NRT) data streams for multiple task sequences, and queuing data from the NRT data streams as batches in multiple pipelines using a grid-coordinator that controls dispatch of the batches to the physical threads. The method also includes assigning a priority-level to each of the pipelines using a grid-scheduler, wherein the grid-scheduler initiates execution of a first number of batches from a first pipeline before execution of a second number of batches from a second pipeline, responsive to respective priority levels of the first and second pipelines. |
| US09841997B2 |
Method and apparatus for execution mode selection
An apparatus and method for performing high performance instruction emulation. One embodiment of the invention includes a processor to process an instruction set including high-power and standard instructions comprising: an analysis module to determine whether a number of high-power instructions within a specified window are above or below a specified threshold; an execution mode selection module to select a native execution of the high-power instructions if the number of high-power instructions are above the specified threshold or to select an emulated execution of the high-power instructions if the number of high-power instructions are below the specified threshold. |
| US09841996B2 |
Multi-thread processor with rescheduling when threads are nondispatchable
The scheduler performs thread scheduling of repeating processings of specifying each hardware thread included in a first group among the multiple hardware threads for the number of times set up in advance for the hardware thread, and of specifying any one of the hardware threads in a second group for the number of times set up in advance for the second group that includes other hardware threads. A thread waste counter is provided for each hardware thread in the first group and counts up each time a nondispatchable state occurs when the hardware thread is specified by the thread scheduling. When the hardware thread in the first group specified by the thread scheduling is nondispatchable, the scheduler performs rescheduling of respecifying the hardware thread in the second group instead of the hardware thread in the first group. |
| US09841992B2 |
Information processing device, information processing system, and interrupt device control method
Information processing device includes: a first storage unit for storing processing information indicative of predetermined processing and for sequentially outputting the stored processing information; a second storage unit for storing the processing information; a request management unit operative to receive and to store the received processing information in the first storage unit when available, and to store the received processing information in the second storage unit when the first storage unit is unavailable; a request acquisition unit operative to sequentially acquire the processing information output by the first storage unit when the processing information is present in the first storage unit, and search the second storage unit so as to detect and acquire the processing information when the processing information is absent in the first storage unit; and a processing execution unit to perform the predetermined processing according to the acquired processing information. |
| US09841991B2 |
Techniques for virtual machine migration
Techniques for virtual machine migration are described. An apparatus may comprise a script generation component operative to generate a first script, the first script to migrate a guest operating system running on a first virtual machine to run on a second virtual machine. The first script may be operative to collect configuration information of the guest operating system, generate a second script based on the collected configuration information, and configure the guest operating system to execute the second script, the configuration information collected while the guest operating system is running on the first virtual machine, the guest operating system configured for the execution of the second script to occur while the guest operating system is running on the second virtual machine. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09841990B2 |
Encoding of a schedule into a binary structure
A method determines a schedule indicator value for each of a plurality of schedule data entries based on whether each of a set of recorded tasks has been allocated to one or more identifier data names in one or more of a set of time periods in accordance with the first schedule data to generate schedule portion data. A hard constraint indicator value is determined for each of a plurality of hard constraint data entries based on whether at least one hard constraint has been violated by the allocation of the set of recorded tasks to one or more of the identifier data names in one or more of the time periods in accordance with the schedule data to generate hard constraint portion data. The data structure is generated based on the determined schedule portion and hard constraint portion data encoding the schedule data into a data structure. |
| US09841987B2 |
Transparent secure interception handling
A method and system for transparent secure interception handling is provided. The method and system include deploying a virtual machine (VM) in an environment comprising a hypervisor and a firmware. The method and system include providing buffers in response to deploying the VM, and include executing VM instructions. The method and system include intercepting VM instructions which require access to instruction data and copying the VM state into a shadow VM state. Furthermore, the instruction data is copied to buffers, and the intercepted VM instruction is executed using the buffer. The method and system also include updating the shadow VM state buffer and the VM data in the VM memory using result data in the buffer in response to the executing of the intercepted VM instruction results. Furthermore execution of the VM instructions is resumed based on a state stored in the shadow VM state buffer. |
| US09841983B2 |
Single click host maintenance
Techniques to facilitate virtual machine (VM) host maintenance are disclosed. A host requiring maintenance is converted to a VM running on another host which satisfies certain requirements, such as having sufficient resources and the same network connectivity as the host requiring maintenance. As part of this physical-to-virtual conversion, or after said conversion, the VM may be synchronized to the host requiring maintenance, such that the CPU state and memory contents of the VM and host are identical. Active control may then be passed to the VM, and the host powered down for the maintenance. After maintenance is completed and the host powered back on, virtual-to-physical conversion may be applied to convert the VM back to the host. The host may then be synchronized to the VM, and active control passed back to the host. |
| US09841982B2 |
Locating import class files at alternate locations than specified in classpath information
An automatic runtime dependency lookup method may load a class, while executing a computer application program. A class loader determines if the class is found at a first location specified by classpath information. If the class is not found at the first location, the class loader automatically reads repository information to determine an alternate location for the class and locates the class at the alternate location. |
| US09841981B2 |
System and/or method for enforcing software compliance and selectively modifying software deemed non-compliant
Techniques for enforcing a compliance requirement for a software application executing in a virtualized computing environment are disclosed. An identifier identifies a resource instantiated for the application's execution. A retriever retrieves a compliance characteristic for the application. The compliance characteristic is retrieved based on the identified resource and has an associated compliance criterion based on a formal parameter. The compliance criterion defines compliant resource states. A selector selects a software component for providing an actual parameter corresponding to the formal parameter . An evaluator evaluates the compliance criterion using the actual parameter. An application modifier, responsive to the resource lacking a compliant resource state, modifies the software application to have a resource with a compliant state. The identifier, selector, and evaluator respond to resource changes. The selector selects the software component based on an identification of one or more data items that the software component can provide. |
| US09841978B2 |
Processor with a program counter increment based on decoding of predecode bits
A processor includes: an instruction fetch portion configured to fetch simultaneously a plurality of fixed-length instructions in accordance with a program counter; an instruction predecoder configured to predecode specific fields in a part of the plurality of fixed-length instructions; and a program counter management portion configured to control an increment of the program counter in accordance with a result of the predecoding. |
| US09841977B2 |
Processor core arrangement, computing system and methods for designing and operating a processor core arrangement
The invention relates to a method of designing a processor core arrangement which comprises a first processor core for operation at a first operation frequency and having an associated first leakage and a second processor core for operation at a second operation frequency lower than the first operation frequency and having an associated second leakage lower than the associated first leakage. The processor core arrangement is capable of switching from the first processor core to the second processor core and vice versa. |
| US09841975B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing register allocation
A method is provided of performing register allocation for at least one program code module. The method includes constructing a restriction graph for program variables within at least one program instruction, and determining whether the constructed restriction graph is colorable. If it is determined that the constructed restriction graph is not colorable, then the method determines whether at least one alternative form of the at least one program instruction is available, and modifies the at least one program instruction to comprise an alternative form if it is determined that at least one alternative form is available. |
| US09841972B2 |
Securing secret information in source code verification and at runtime
Source code verification, including receiving a declaration of a variable as a secret type, determining if any source code is configured to use the variable as a type other than secret, and if it is determined that there is source code that will use the variable as a type other than secret, creating an exception in the source code verification process. |
| US09841968B1 |
Integrated development tool with preview functionality for an internet of things (IoT) system
A system and method are described for generating an interactive preview for an IoT device. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) development application comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) through which a user is to specify a configuration for a new IoT device, the development application including a preview GUI component to allow a user to render a mobile UI preview on a mobile client; an IoT service including virtual device generation logic to generate a virtual device responsive to the configuration specified for the new IoT device, the virtual device comprising a virtualized representation of the new IoT device; and the virtual device to establish a communication channel with a mobile app executed on a client, the virtual device to dynamically communicate updates to the mobile app as the user makes changes to IoT device attributes and/or presentation definitions from the preview GUI. |
| US09841965B2 |
Centralized system for software updating vehicle components
A centralized system for real-time monitoring widely distributed software updates of vehicle components, comprises: an arbitration server; a distributed network comprising a plurality of communication servers; a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle of said plurality of vehicles comprising a telematics control unit (TCU) operable to communicate with one communication server of said plurality of communication servers, each TCU is adapted to receive and deploy software updates to electronic control units (ECUs) within its corresponding vehicle, and said TCU is operable to generate status updates for software updates and communicate the status updates to the corresponding communication server; and each communication server is operable to simultaneously receive data messages comprising status updates from the plurality of vehicles and to generate a data stream comprising the data messages, the data stream being sent to a log file. |
| US09841963B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing application
A method of managing an application having a background module is provided. The method includes operations of determining a first background stop time and stopping the execution of the background module of the application during the first background stop time, wherein the first background stop time is a time period between a point of time when execution of the application was stopped and a first point of time. |
| US09841961B1 |
Method and system for providing elastic federation as a service
A system and method manages communications between applications and multiple user computing systems, according to one embodiment. The method and system includes establishing one or more virtual assets in an asset computing environment and installing an application onto the one or more virtual assets in the asset computing environment, according to one embodiment. The system and method receives a first request from a first user computing system and a second request from a second user computing system and delivers the first request and the second request to the application, according to one embodiment. The system and method receives a first result from the application for the first request and a second result from the application for the second request and distributes the first result to the first user computing system and the second result to the second computing system, according to one embodiment. |
| US09841959B2 |
Fine-grained demand driven IPO infrastructure
Provided are methods and systems for inter-procedural optimization (IPO). A new IPO architecture (referred to as “ThinLTO”) is designed to address the weaknesses and limitations of existing IPO approaches, such as traditional Link Time Optimization (LTO) and Lightweight Inter-Procedural Optimization (LIPO), and become a new link-time-optimization standard. With ThinLTO, demand-driven and summary-based fine grain importing maximizes the potential of Cross-Module Optimization (CMO), which enables as much useful CMO as possible ThinLTO also provides for global indexing, which enables fast function importing; parallelizes some performance-critical but expensive inter-procedural analyses and transformations; utilizes demand-driven, lazy importing of debug information that minimizes memory consumption for the debug build; and allows easy integration of third-party distributed build systems. In addition, ThinLTO may also be implemented using an IPO server, thereby removing the need for the serial step. |
| US09841958B2 |
Extensible data parallel semantics
A high level programming language provides extensible data parallel semantics. User code specifies hardware and software resources for executing data parallel code using a compute device object and a resource view object. The user code uses the objects and semantic metadata to allow execution by new and/or updated types of compute nodes and new and/or updated types of runtime libraries. The extensible data parallel semantics allow the user code to be executed by the new and/or updated types of compute nodes and runtime libraries. |
| US09841956B2 |
User interface style guide compliance reporting
This disclosure provides various embodiments for generating reports relating to UI models' compliance with a set of UI style guide rules. A digital UI model is parsed to determine whether a user interface, in a plurality of user interfaces within a software environment, satisfies at least one UI style guide rule in a plurality of UI style guide rules associated with the software environment. The digital UI model defines a plurality of attributes of the user interface. At least one statistical measure is calculated relating to compliance with UI style guide rules. The calculation of the statistical measure is based at least in part on the determination of whether the user interface satisfies the at least one UI style guide rule. A report is then generated identifying the at least one statistical measure, the report configured for presentation on a user interface of a computing device. |
| US09841954B1 |
Method and system for automatic code generation
A method for generating production code from a block diagram in a technical computing environment on a host computer. A first block receives a first input signal that has a plurality of elements. A size of a first required signal of the external function is determined and compared to a size of the first input signal. When the size of the first required signal corresponds to the size of an element in the first input signal a production code is generated enclosing a call of the external function by a loop consecutively addressing each of the plurality of elements in the first input signal. When the size of the first required signal corresponds to the size of the first input signal a production code is generated having a call of the external function without enclosing loop over the elements in the first input signal. |
| US09841953B2 |
Pluggable components for runtime-image generation
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates controlling and customizing the process of generating a software program image. During operation, the system receives a set of files for building a software program, wherein at least one of the files in the set is an intermediate code file that was at least partially compiled from a source code file of the software program. The system then applies a plurality of pluggable transforms to a plurality of states of the set of files to produce a particular subsequent state of the set of files. The system then produces a runtime-image of the software program from at least the particular subsequent state of the set of files, the runtime-image including one or more files for execution by a virtual machine and one or more output resources to be accessed by the one or more executed files. |
| US09841951B2 |
Management of SOA service model
An apparatus, system, and method to facilitate the creation and management of service composition candidates in a service-oriented architecture (SOA). In one embodiment, the method includes receiving user input pertaining to a composition candidate associated with service candidates in a SOA service model, and updating the SOA service model based on the user input. |
| US09841948B2 |
Microarchitecture for floating point fused multiply-add with exponent scaling
Systems and methods for implementing a floating point fused multiply and accumulate with scaling (FMASc) operation. A floating point unit receives input multiplier, multiplicand, addend, and scaling factor operands. A multiplier block is configured to multiply mantissas of the multiplier and multiplicand to generate an intermediate product. Alignment logic is configured to pre-align the addend with the intermediate product based on the scaling factor and exponents of the addend, multiplier, and multiplicand, and accumulation logic is configured to add or subtract a mantissa of the pre-aligned addend with the intermediate product to obtain a result of the floating point unit. Normalization and rounding are performed on the result, avoiding rounding during intermediate stages. |
| US09841941B2 |
System and method for optimizing loudness and dynamic range across different playback devices
Embodiments are directed to a method and system for receiving, in a bitstream, metadata associated with the audio data, and analyzing the metadata to determine whether a loudness parameter for a first group of audio playback devices are available in the bitstream. Responsive to determining that the parameters are present for the first group, the system uses the parameters and audio data to render audio. Responsive to determining that the loudness parameters are not present for the first group, the system analyzes one or more characteristics of the first group, and determines the parameter based on the one or more characteristics. |
| US09841939B2 |
Methods, systems, and media for presenting requested content on public display devices
Methods, systems, and media for presenting requested content on public display devices are provided. In some implementations a method for presenting content on a display device is provided, the method comprising: receiving a request from a mobile device to present content, including image data, on a display device; receiving a graphical representation associated with a user; receiving location information associated with the mobile device; receiving display device information associated with display devices, including location information associated with that display device; selecting, without user input, a first display device on which to present the content based on the location information associated with the mobile device and the location information associated with each of the plurality of display devices; and in response to selecting the first display device, causing both the graphical representation associated with the user of the mobile device and the content to be presented by the first display device. |
| US09841938B2 |
Pixel density normalization for viewing images across dissimilar displays
A monitor display system includes a computing device that is coupled to a collection of dissimilar monitors and a display manager that is coupled to the computing device. The display manager has an image generator that generates an image for the collection of dissimilar monitors and also has a pixel density normalizer that is coupled to the image generator and provides an alignment of the image across the collection of dissimilar monitors. A method of managing a display image is also included. |
| US09841935B2 |
Wireless television or controller wire connectable to a television for receiving and rendering digital content
A controller for transmitting digital content to a television is herein disclosed and enabled. The controller may be included in a television or externally connectable to a television. The controller may be wirelessly managed via a Bluetooth-enabled device or by using a smart phone. To setup the controller, the controller may wirelessly obtain setup information (e.g., ID, security, or authentication information) from either the Bluetooth-enabled device or from the smart phone via wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11), then the controller uses the wirelessly obtained information to access a wireless local area network (LAN) for establishing services. The controller includes chips or chipsets that is compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for accessing the Wireless LAN. After connecting to the Wireless LAN, the controller may further wirelessly receive digital content from a mobile device for playing or outputting the digital content at the television. |
| US09841931B2 |
Systems and methods of disk storage allocation for virtual machines
A method for allocating storage for a virtual machine includes receiving a request to allocate a block of disk storage on a physical disk to a virtual disk associated with the virtual machine. The method also includes identifying a plurality of available blocks on the physical disk, each of the plurality of available blocks defining a radial distance from a center axis of a platter of the physical disk. The method further includes determining which of the plurality of available blocks has a greatest radial distance from the center axis of the platter and, based on the determining, selecting an allocation block from the plurality of available blocks, the allocation block having the greatest radial distance from the center axis of the platter. The method also includes allocating the allocation block to the virtual machine. |
| US09841930B2 |
Storage control apparatus and storage control method
A storage control apparatus includes a processor. The processor is configured to store, during a normal operation mode, first data as a first logical volume in a storage section of a first virtual storage device. The first data is transmitted and received between a first host device and a physical storage device. The physical storage device stores data in a physical volume. The first virtual storage device is connected to the physical storage device during the normal operation mode. The processor is configured to serve, during a data migration mode, as a pseudo host device connected to a second virtual storage device. The pseudo host device accesses the second virtual storage device to read out second data of a second logical volume stored in the second virtual storage device. The first virtual storage device is connected to the second virtual storage device during the data migration mode. |
| US09841926B2 |
On-chip traffic prioritization in memory
According to one embodiment, a method for traffic prioritization in a memory device includes sending a memory access request including a priority value from a processing element in the memory device to a crossbar interconnect in the memory device. The memory access request is routed through the crossbar interconnect to a memory controller in the memory device associated with the memory access request. The memory access request is received at the memory controller. The priority value of the memory access request is compared to priority values of a plurality of memory access requests stored in a queue of the memory controller to determine a highest priority memory access request. A next memory access request is performed by the memory controller based on the highest priority memory access request. |
| US09841925B2 |
Adjusting timing of storing data in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) unit of a plurality of DSN units sending a write request to DSN memory, where the write request includes a range of DSN addresses. The method continues with the DSN unit receiving an error message indicating that another DSN unit of the plurality of DSN units has current write permission to the DSN memory to the range of DSN addresses. The method continues with the DSN unit performing a scoring function using one or more properties of the range of DSN addresses and one or more properties of each of at least some of the plurality of DSN units to produce a scoring resultant, interpreting the scoring resultant to determine a re-write requesting protocol for resending the write request to the DSN memory, and resending the write request in accordance with the re-write requesting protocol. |
| US09841924B2 |
Synchronization storage solution
A system of replicating data stored on a source node. Replication can be configured between two controllers, the source node on the one hand, and a target node on the other. A synchronization relationship between the source node and the target node is established and maintained. The synchronization relationship can be quickly and easily created for disaster recovery, real-time backup and failover, thereby ensuring that data on the source node is fully-protected at an off-site location or on another server or VM, for example, at another data center, a different building or elsewhere in the cloud. Processes described herein streamline the entire replication setup process, thereby significantly reducing error rates in conventional systems and making the replication process more user friendly than in conventional systems. |
| US09841923B2 |
Storage apparatus and storage system
While in active state, a first storage apparatus including first and second storage areas copies data stored in the first storage area to the second storage area, copies data stored in the first storage area to a third storage area so that data is synchronized between the first and third storage areas, and copies data stored in the second storage area to a fourth storage area so that data is synchronized between the second and fourth storage areas. When a second storage apparatus including the third and fourth storage areas has transitioned from standby to active state and thereby gets to receive access to the third storage area, instead of to the first storage area, from an external information processing apparatus, the second storage apparatus copies data stored in the third storage area to the fourth storage area, based on setting information stored in a storage unit. |
| US09841921B2 |
Migrating data in a storage array that includes a plurality of storage devices
Migrating data in a storage array that includes a plurality of storage devices, including: detecting, by the storage array, an occurrence of a storage device evacuation event associated with one or more source storage devices; responsive to detecting the occurrence of the storage device evacuation event, identifying, by the storage array, one or more target storage devices for receiving data stored on the one or more source storage devices; reducing, by the storage array, write access to the one or more source storage devices; and migrating the data stored on the one or more source storage devices to the one or more target storage devices. |
| US09841918B2 |
Flash memory device including deduplication, and related methods
A flash memory device includes physical pages that store data sectors therein. The method of operating the flash memory device includes receiving write data sectors to be stored in the flash memory device, pairing the write data sectors with write data sectors and with written data sectors previously stored in physical pages of the flash memory device based upon a matching and deduplication operation to define data sector pairs and a difference therebetween, and rewriting to the physical pages of the flash memory device, in a partial-page writing mode, to store the difference between the write data sector and its respective paired data sector. The partial-page writing mode is performed on a respective physical page after a previous programming and before erasing. The written data sectors included in the data sector pairs only partially occupy the corresponding physical page of the flash memory device. The difference between the write data sector and its respective paired data sector is stored in an unoccupied portion of the corresponding physical page of the flash memory device. |
| US09841909B2 |
Continuous data backup using real time delta storage
A continuous data backup using real time delta storage has been presented. A backup appliance receives a backup request from a backup agent running on a computing machine to backup data on the computing machine. The computing machine is communicatively coupled to the backup appliance. Then the backup appliance performs block-based real-time backup of the data on the computing machine. The backup appliance stores backup data of the computing machine in a computer-readable storage device in the backup appliance. |
| US09841908B1 |
Declustered array of storage devices with chunk groups and support for multiple erasure schemes
Embodiments of a declustered, fault-tolerant array of storage devices for use with computer, networked, cloud-based, and other data storage applications are described. In some embodiments, the array generates a chunk group mapping with a high utilization of storage device space, provides evenly distributed hot spares, supports multiple erasure schemes including Reed-Solomon codes and Local Reconstruction Codes, and provides high storage device rebuild speed after storage device failure. Embodiments of methods of generating chunk group mappings are also disclosed. In some embodiments, chunk group mappings are determined based on the desired erasure scheme, the number of storage devices connected to the declustered, fault-tolerant array of storage devices, and a generated balanced incomplete block design or a generated partial balanced incomplete block design. Chunk group mappings are stored as a multi-level lookup table which includes at least a first erasure scheme pattern table and at least a second chunk group lookup table. |
| US09841907B2 |
Processing input/output requests using proxy and owner storage systems
A first storage system is configured as a proxy for a logical volume stored on a second storage system. Upon receiving a response from a second storage system verifying an availability of a logical volume for an input/output (I/O) request, the I/O request is conveyed to an identified port, a result of the I/O request is received from the identified port, the result is conveyed to a host computer. |
| US09841902B2 |
Peripheral component interconnect express controllers configured with non-volatile memory express interfaces
Systems and methods presented herein provide for SSD data storage via PCIe controllers configured with NVMe interfaces. In one embodiment, a PCIe controller includes a plurality of buffers, a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device, and an I/O processor operable to partition the DRAM device into a plurality of logical blocks. The controller also includes virtual function logic communicatively coupled to the logical blocks of the DRAM device and to the buffers. The virtual function logic is coupled to a host system through the I/O processor to process an I/O request from the host system to a logical block of the DRAM device, to retrieve data from the logical block to at least one of the buffers, and to transfer the data from the buffer to the host system. |
| US09841899B2 |
Dispersed storage system with sub-vaults and methods for use therewith
A method for execution by one or more processing modules of a dispersed storage network (DSN) includes receiving a data access request for at least one data segment stored in the DSN. A vault associated with data access request is identified along with one of a plurality of sub-vaults associated with the vault. Access information corresponding to the one of the plurality of sub-vaults is retrieved to determine whether the access request is allowed. When the access request is allowed, a sub-vault directory associated with the one of the plurality of sub-vaults is retrieved to identify a DSN address corresponding to the data access request, and fulfilling the data access request based on the DSN address. |
| US09841896B2 |
Mobile terminal test device
A plurality of touch operation areas which are allocated to a plurality of measurement items for a mobile terminal are set in a touch-panel-type operating unit 40. A list of sections of the touch operation areas and a list of measurement item names for each section are displayed on a screen of a display unit 30. A switching button for switching the measurement item which has been invalidated among the measurement items to a valid state is displayed to inform an operator that the measurement item has been invalidated. The measurement results of the measurement item which has been validated are displayed in the sections to inform the operator that the measurement item has been validated. |
| US09841895B2 |
Alternative hypothesis error correction for gesture typing
In one example, a method may include outputting, by a computing device and for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, and receiving an indication of a gesture. The method may include determining an alignment score that is based at least in part on a word prefix and an alignment point traversed by the gesture. The method may include determining at least one alternative character that is based at least in part on a misspelling that includes at least a portion of the word prefix. The method may include determining an alternative alignment score based at least in part on the alternative character; and outputting, by the computing device and for display, based at least in part on the alternative alignment score, a candidate word based at least in part on the alternative character. |
| US09841894B2 |
Method for recognizing fingerprint and electronic device thereof
Provided are an electronic device and method for recognizing a fingerprint. The fingerprint recognition method includes deactivating touch recognition using a touch panel based on first touch information on a fingerprint sensor, and performing fingerprint recognition based on second touch information on the fingerprint sensor. |
| US09841891B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
Disclosed are a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same. The mobile terminal includes a display unit configured to display a content screen and a control unit configured to change an output state of the content screen with respect to a point from which a first touch gesture starts, in response to that the first touch gesture is sensed in the content screen, and when the first touch gesture which is continuously sensed in the content screen corresponds to a predetermined reference, perform control to search for other content associated with at least one piece of information extracted from the content screen. |
| US09841889B2 |
User interface navigation elements for navigating datasets
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a data navigation engine that generates user interface navigation elements for navigation large and expanding datasets. The user interface navigation elements may include a pivot control zoom slider for adjusting the data resolution with respect to different zoom pivot locations, an interactive ruler for consistent visual feedback and navigation of intervals of data within the dataset, a context bar for viewing the data proximate to a current view, and a multi-scale slider for repositioning the dataset within the current view. These user interface navigation elements provide the end-user with consistent control and visual feedback while navigating the dataset, independent of the size of the dataset or the portion of the dataset displayed within the current view. Therefore, large and expanding datasets can be navigated more effectively relative to prior art approaches. |
| US09841887B2 |
Anchoring viewport
The present disclosure relates to techniques of configuring a layout of graphical objects for display. In one example process, the device detects a scroll request and determines whether the scroll request meets predetermined criteria. If the scroll request meets the criteria, the device configures the layout of graphical objects that are to be displayed once the display is scrolled so that the graphical objects are arranged on the display differently than the arrangement in which the graphical objects would have been displayed, had the layout not been configured. If the scroll request does not meet the criteria, the device forgoes the configuration of the layout of graphical objects. |
| US09841886B2 |
Display control apparatus and control method thereof
There is provided a display control apparatus capable of maintaining visibility regarding a display item during a drag operation. The display control apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a position input on a screen displayed on a display unit, a display control unit configured to display the display item on the display unit and to perform control to scroll of the display item with a display effect according to a scroll instruction, and a control unit configured to, if the detection unit detects the position input on the screen during the scroll, perform control to stop the scroll with the display effect displayed when the position input has been detected. |
| US09841885B2 |
User interface apparatus having a wheel input and method for controlling the same
A user interface apparatus includes a first display unit that is configured to display a plurality of first items, a wheel input unit that is positioned proximate a first side of the first display unit, a button input unit that is positioned within a circumference of the wheel input unit, and a second display unit that is positioned within the circumference of the wheel input unit. The wheel input unit is rotatable and is configured to, based upon being rotated, output a scroll command to scroll the plurality of first items. The button input unit is configured to, based upon being pressed, output a selection command to select a first item from the plurality of first items. The second display unit is configured to display the selected first item. |
| US09841884B2 |
Providing a single-action multi-mode interface
A system and method for providing a single-action multi-mode interface are provided. The system includes a touch detector to detect an input to a touch device; a mode detector to detect a mode associated with the input; a displacement detector to detect a displacement associated with the detected touch and mode, wherein the displacement is defined by a first and second parameter; and a command initiator to transmit an action to a first system based on the first parameter and a second system based on the second parameter. |
| US09841880B1 |
System, method, and software product for enabling users to create graphically consistent badges
We disclose a system, method and software product for generating custom badges by users. A website presents to the user a badge creating dashboard, predefined color themes, predefined image frames, an badge editing canvas and image transformation tools. A user enters a user chosen image into the badge creating canvas. The user chooses a color theme and uses the image transformation tools to select portions of the image for viewing, and arranges the image in the image canvas for viewing. When the user is satisfied with the badge preview, the user sends a save request which is transferred from the browser to a server. The server generates the custom badge by applying the user chosen theme to the user chosen image. The custom badge is then saved for future retrieval by the user. |
| US09841876B2 |
Music now playing user interface
The invention is directed to an electronic device. The electronic device generates for presentation on a display a user interface including a plurality of content items, a first heading, and a second heading. While the user interface is presented on the display, the electronic device receives input scrolling the plurality of content items. In response to the input, the electronic device scrolls the plurality of content items including: scrolling the first heading with a first content item of the plurality of content items that is currently playing; and scrolling the second heading with a second content item of the plurality of content items that is next in a queue of content items. |
| US09841873B1 |
Process for reducing the number of physical actions required while inputting character strings
The present invention provides a process for inputting character strings which reduces the number of physical actions required by the user. In this process, the user is provided a rule or rules about which characters in a target character string are to be selected and corresponding mechanism or mechanisms are applied while searching a reference set of possible character strings to identify and present a subset of likely candidates. One illustrative rule is that the user is to select only the consonants in the target character string. One illustrative embodiment of the invention reduces the number of physical actions required by a user entering text into a device when using any of a plurality of input alternatives. A second illustrative embodiment of the invention reduces the number of physical actions required by a physically-disabled user entering text into a device using a virtual keyboard, scanning keyboard, or other assistive method for the purpose of standard text entry or communicative text or speech output. |
| US09841871B2 |
Method, system for controlling dynamic map-type graphic interface and electronic device using the same
A dynamic map-type graphic interface includes a number of user interface (UI) components. Each UI component is associated with one corresponding application program of the electronic device. The dynamic map-type graphic interface is a single-layer graphic interface made up of the UI components spliced together and around the center of the dynamic map-type graphic interface. A selection box to select the UI components is controlled to determine the different UI components of the dynamic map-type graphic interface via the input unit. |
| US09841868B2 |
User configurable user interface
Methods for providing a user with a user configurable user interface (UCUI) for a software application using an electronic computing device are presented, the methods including: causing the electronic computing device to receive a number of input fields corresponding with the UCUI from the software application; selecting any of the number of input fields for display on the UCUI; arranging the selected input fields by at least one group, where each of the selected input fields each correspond with at most one group at a time; arranging the at least one group for display on the UCUI; and displaying the UCUI, where the UCUI displays at least the at least one group and the corresponding selected input fields. |
| US09841867B2 |
Computing apparatus for displaying a plurality of electronic documents to a user
Apparatus for displaying a plurality of electronic documents to a user. The apparatus comprising a desk having a plurality of proximity zones which comprise at least a first proximity zone which is close to a user of the apparatus and at least a second proximity zone which is further away from said user; at least one display device comprising a display for displaying one of said plurality of electronic documents and at least one sensing device for determining the proximity zone within which said at least one display device is located. The functionality of said display device is determined by the proximity zone within which it is located. |
| US09841866B1 |
Facilitating interactions between children and experts
A virtual environment may be provided to facilitate education and knowledge gathering by users. The users may include children, youth, and/or other users. The users may be enabled to form connections between themselves and/or experts, and to communicate between themselves and/or with experts. Users may be provided with a different interface than experts. |
| US09841860B2 |
Modulated power supply for reduced parasitic capacitance
An input device comprising a display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device. The input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes a plurality of display electrodes, a modulated power supply configured to provide a modulated reference signal, and a processing system. The processing system includes a sensor module configured to drive a plurality of sensor electrodes with a modulated capacitive sensing signal that is based on the modulated reference signal for capacitive sensing during a first time period. The processing system also includes a display driver module configured to drive a plurality of display electrodes of a display device with modulated signals based on the modulated reference signal during the first time period. The modulated signals cause voltage between the plurality of display electrodes and the plurality of sensor electrodes to remain substantially constant. |
| US09841855B2 |
Systems and methods for capacitive touch detection
System and methods are provided for touch detection. The system includes: a sensing capacitive network configured to generate a touch-sensing signal based at least in part on a touch panel capacitance; an internal capacitive network configured to generate an input signal based at least in part on a predetermined internal capacitance; a comparative network configured to compare the touch-sensing signal with a reference signal to generate a first comparison result and compare the input signal with the reference signal to generate a second comparison result; and a signal processing component configured to generate a detection result to indicate whether a touch event occurs on the touch panel based at least in part on the first comparison result and the second comparison result. |
| US09841854B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device according to the present inventive concept includes: a display panel comprising a pixel electrode receiving a data voltage and a common electrode receiving a common voltage; and a touch sensor comprising a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein the touch sensor applies a touch detection signal to the plurality of driving electrode and detects a touch location by receiving a sense signal from the plurality of sensing electrode in an active mode, and determines whether a touch is made by receiving sense signals of the plurality of sensing electrodes, that are fluctuated by a ripple of a common voltage applied to the common electrode according to driving of the display panel in an idle mode. |
| US09841850B2 |
Device and method for proximity sensing with force imaging
Methods, systems and devices are described for operating an electronic system which includes a pliable component having an input surface, a first array of sensor electrodes, a second array of sensor electrodes, and a third array of sensor electrodes. The input device also includes a conductive substrate spaced apart from the pliable component and a compliant component disposed between the pliable component and the conductive substrate. In response to pressure applied by an input object to the input surface, the pliable component and the first, second, and third arrays of sensor electrodes locally deform and the compliant component locally compresses such that a spacing between the conductive substrate and at least one electrode from each of the first, second, and third arrays decreases. |
| US09841849B2 |
Carrier signal detection apparatus, touch control detection apparatus and detection methods thereof
A carrier signal detection apparatus, a touch control apparatus and detection methods thereof are provided. The carrier signal detection apparatus includes an analog to digital converting (ADC) apparatus and a filter. The ADC apparatus receives an analog input signal and converts the analog input signal to a digital signal. The filter receives the digital signal and accumulates the digital signal according to a delay time for generating a carrier signal detection result. |
| US09841840B2 |
Noise filtering devices, systems and methods for capacitance sensing devices
A capacitance sensing system can filter noise that presents in a subset of electrodes in the proximity of a sense object (i.e., finger). A capacitance sensing system can include a sense network comprising a plurality of electrodes for generating sense values; a noise listening circuit configured to detect noise on a plurality of the electrodes; and a filtering circuit that enables a filtering for localized noise events when detected noise values are above one level, and disables the filtering for localized noise events when detected noise values are below the one level. |
| US09841836B2 |
Control of non-destructive testing devices
A non-transitory, computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code having instructions. The instructions are configured to receive data relating to an environment, construct an image of the environment based on the received data, and display the image on a touch-screen device. The instructions are also configured to receive a control gesture via the touch-screen device and interpret the control gesture. Further, the instructions are configured to control an articulating system coupled to the device to control an orientation of a sensor configured to collect the data, control a mode of operation of the sensor, or any combination thereof based on the interpretation of the control gesture. |
| US09841834B2 |
In-cell touch liquid crystal panels and the array substrates thereof
An in-cell touch liquid crystal panel and the array substrate are disclosed. The array substrate includes a glass substrate and a TFT, a common electrode layer, and a pixel electrode formed on the glass substrate. The common electrode layer includes a plurality of bar-shaped touch driving electrodes insulated from each other. Each of the touch driving electrodes includes a plurality of suspended electrodes. A second insulation layer and a metal wiring layer are arranged between the common electrode layer and the passivation layer in sequence. The metal wiring layer includes a plurality of driving electrode wirings, a plurality of suspended electrode wirings, and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes. Each of the driving electrode wirings electrically connects to one of the touch driving electrodes via the through holes on the insulation layer, and each of the suspended electrode wirings electrically connects to the suspended electrodes arranged along the second direction. |
| US09841828B2 |
Pressure sensitive stylus
A handheld device includes a housing, an elongated rod movable with respect to the housing, a pyramid structure and a circuit. The elongated rod includes a tip at a first end and a compressible element at a second end. The compressible element includes conductive material configured to press against the electrodes based on a force vector applied on the tip. The pyramid structure includes at least three walls and an electrode on each of the at least three walls and is fixed or integrated with the housing. The circuit transmit signals on the compressible element or the electrodes, detect outputs from the electrodes and provide pressure related information based on the outputs. |
| US09841824B2 |
Combination computing device and game controller with flexible bridge and supporting a keyboard module
A combination computing device and input device. The computing device provides a plurality of sides. The input device providing a structural bridge, a pair of control modules, and a touch sensitive input module attached to the back side of the input device. The pair of control modules: confine the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides; adaptively and snugly accommodate the width of the computing device else a second computing device, the second computing device having a width greater than the width of the computing device; adaptively and snugly, accommodate the length of either the computing device, or the second computing device, the second computing device having a length greater than the length of the computing device; and a keyboard module integrated within at least one of the control modules, the keyboard module configured to provide full keyboard functionality. |
| US09841823B2 |
Physical object for intuitive navigation in a three-dimensional space
A computer-implemented method for manipulating graphics objects within a display viewed by an end-user is disclosed. The method involves: receiving motion information generated in response to the end-user moving an object that is external to the display; determining at least one zone of motion in which the end-user moves the object; determining a first motion type associated with the movement of the object within the at least one zone of motion; and based on the at least one zone of motion and the first motion type, determining at least one change to a viewpoint associated with one or more graphics objects displayed to the end-user within the display. The at least one change to the viewpoint causes an alteration in how the one or more graphics objects are displayed to the end-user within the display. |
| US09841816B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating mood-based haptic feedback
A method and apparatus for generating mood-based haptic feedback are disclosed. A haptic system includes a sensing device, a digital processing unit, and a haptic generator. The sensing device, in one embodiment, is configured to detect user's modalities in accordance with mood information collected by one or more sensors and capable of issuing a sensing signal in response to the user's modalities. The digital processing unit is capable of identifying a user's condition in accordance with the sensing signal and providing a haptic signal in response to the user's condition. The user's condition, in one aspect, indicates user's mood and/or user's psychological conditions. The haptic generator generates haptic feedback in accordance with the haptic signal. |
| US09841815B2 |
Method for differentiation of touch input and visualization of pending touch input
An apparatus and method for differentiation of a touch input in a touch sensitive device are provided. The method includes extending an object of a plurality of objects, each of the plurality of objects having a different corresponding identity, determining an identity of the extended object, communicating the identity of the extended object to the touch sensitive device, and, when the object touches the touch sensitive device, performing a function of the touch sensitive device according to the identity of the extended object. |
| US09841814B1 |
Intentional user experience
Methods for intentional user experience are provided herein. Exemplary methods include: getting point of interest data, including a location of a point of interest; receiving first user data, including a first location of the user and a first direction of a gaze of the user; calculating a first position of the gaze of the user using the first location of the user and the first direction of the gaze of the user; displaying a first indicator denoting the first position of the gaze of the user; receiving second user data, including a second location of the user and a second direction of a gaze of the user; calculating a second position of the gaze of the user using the second location of the user and the second direction of the gaze of the user; and displaying a second indicator denoting the second position of the gaze of the user. |
| US09841813B2 |
Automated vehicle human-machine interface system based on glance-direction
A human-machine interface (HMI) system used to indicate a vehicle-feature based on glance-direction of an occupant of the vehicle includes a camera and a controller. The camera is used to capture a sequence-of-images of an occupant of a vehicle. The controller is configured to determine a plurality of glance-directions from the sequence-of-images, define a plurality of glance-zones based on the plurality of glance-directions, one glance-zone for each glance-direction, define an intersection-zone based on an intersection of two or more of the glance-zones, determine an outlier-count based on how many of the plurality of glance-zones do not intersect with the intersection-zone, and select a vehicle-feature in the vehicle indicated by the occupant, said vehicle-feature located at a location inside the vehicle that corresponds to the intersection-zone, said vehicle-feature indicated by the operator when the outlier-count during the pause-interval is less than a paused-threshold. |
| US09841811B2 |
Visually directed human-computer interaction for medical applications
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of utilizing an eye detection apparatus in a medical application, which includes calibrating the eye detection apparatus to a user; performing a predetermined set of visual and cognitive steps using the eye detection apparatus; determining a visual profile of a workflow of the user; creating a user-specific database to create an automated visual display protocol of the workflow; storing eye-tracking commands for individual user navigation and computer interactions; storing context-specific medical application eye-tracking commands, in a database; performing the medical application using the eye-tracking commands; and storing eye-tracking data and results of an analysis of data from performance of the medical application, in the database. The method includes performing an analysis of the database for determining best practice guidelines based on clinical outcome measures. |
| US09841810B2 |
Dynamic augmented reality media creation
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for dynamic augmented reality media creation is disclosed. The method includes: receiving reality data; analyzing the reality data; identifying augmentation data based on the analysis of the reality data; generating augmented reality content; determining if the reality data corresponds to predetermined capture event criteria; and responsive to determining that the reality data corresponds to the predetermined capture event criteria, capturing the augmented reality content. |
| US09841808B2 |
Photoelectric sensor
Provided is a photoelectric sensor capable of enhancing display flexibility of a display section mounted on the photoelectric sensor and making this display flexibility contribute to improvement in user's operability. In a Run mode, a current value is displayed in large-sized numerals on a display section. When switching is made from the Run mode to a setting mode and letter information is to be displayed in the setting mode, a current value is displayed in relatively small-sized numerals at the corner (e.g., lower left) of the display section. |
| US09841798B2 |
Battery, battery controller, and method for the secured digital transmission of current measurement values
The invention relates to a method for the secured digital transmission of current measurement values and to a battery (1) and a battery controller (10) which are suitable for carrying out the method. The method has the steps of detecting (S1, S2) an amplitude of a battery current (IB) in a battery (1) using a first and a second sensor (2, 3), generating (S3, S4) a first and a second bit sequence, each of which describes the detected amplitude, generating a mirrored second bit sequence (21) by reversing (S5) a sequence of the bits provided by the second bit sequence (20), simultaneously transmitting (S6) the first bit sequence via a first data bus (5) and the mirrored second bit sequence (21) via a second data bus (6) to a battery controller (10), generating a second bit sequence (20) by reversing (S7) a sequence of the bits provided by the mirrored second bit sequence (21) after the simultaneous transmission (S6), and finally detecting (S8) a possible error in the first bit sequence or the second bit sequence (20) by comparing the first bit sequence (20) with the second bit sequence (21). Transmission faults are thus detected in particular in a transmission path between the sensors of the battery and the battery controller, said faults being caused by a common disturbance. Additionally, faults can also be detected which are caused by a disturbance that only affects one of the sensors or a part of the transmission path. |
| US09841796B2 |
Preventing dark current in battery management system
A method and apparatus for preventing dark current in a battery management system (BMS) are provided. A battery control apparatus may include a voltage regulator configured to regulate a voltage of a driving power supplied from a power supply to a processor, a first switch, located between the power supply and the voltage regulator, configured to switch on and off a connection between the power supply and the voltage regulator, and a second switch configured to control the first switch based on an input of a driving signal to operate the processor. |
| US09841795B2 |
Method for resetting an electronic device having independent device domains
A reset state control circuit adapted to reset independent device domains of an electronic device, said reset state control circuit comprising a capturing unit adapted to capture reset events; and a reset shaping logic adapted to change dynamically a reset control flow to reset device domains of said electronic device depending on a sequence of the reset events captured by said capturing unit. |
| US09841794B2 |
Portable electronic computer
This invention puts forward a kind of mobile computer, which includes a host with a panel display on it, a screen cover and a keyboard. The keyboard is set on the screen cover. The connection between the host and the screen cover adopts staff connecting structure or slide block and sliding groove connecting structure, and the host can be folded with the screen cover and opened to stand up askew on the screen cover conveniently. The best heat transfer effect of the wall of the host shell is adopted, when the host stands up, to improve heat transfer and decrease the host thickness. The screen cover can be removed and installed from the host conveniently. Setting battery on the screen cover, users can replace the battery conveniently. |
| US09841787B2 |
Retention features of a portable computer
A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device includes a retention member that provides a force to a flexible circuit disposed in a top portion and a bottom portion of the portable computing device. The retention member limits movement of the flexible circuit when, for example, the flexible circuit receives a force in response to the top portion pivoting with respect to the bottom portion. The bottom portion of the portable computing devices includes a bottom case having multiple terraced regions. The terraced regions allow the bottom portion to receive additional internal components, such as one or more battery packs, a main logic board, and/or one or more speaker modules. The battery packs are secured to the terraced region via adhesive rings. Although the terraced regions require additional material removed from the bottom case, the internal components secured to the bottom case provide structural support. |
| US09841785B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a first machine body and a second machine body adapted to be detachably assembled to the first machine body. The first machine body includes a first casing, a first hinge fixed to a side of the first casing, a second hinge pivoted to the first hinge along an axis, and a first connecting member disposed at the side and linked to the second hinge. The first and the second hinges are covered by the first casing. The second machine body includes a second casing and a second connecting member. When the first machine body is assembled to the second machine body, the first connecting member is fixed to the second connecting member, the second hinge is fixed jointly so that the first hinge is rotatable related to the second hinge. Accordingly, the first casing is rotatable related to the second casing. |
| US09841781B2 |
Assembled wearable device
Embodiments of the present invention provide an assembled wearable device. The assembled wearable device comprises a first functional module, a second functional module and a connecting structure for connecting the first functional module and the second functional module, wherein the connecting structure comprises a first inserting member and a first receiving member matching each other, the first receiving member is configured for receiving the first inserting member so that the first inserting member is confined to the first receiving member in at least one direction. |
| US09841778B2 |
Use of distributed generator (DG) inverters as STATCOMs for decreasing line losses
The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation, thereby decreasing system line losses. |
| US09841777B2 |
Voltage regulator, application-specific integrated circuit and method for providing a load with a regulated voltage
A voltage regulator for digital loads combines a closed loop regulation circuit with an open loop topology. A transistor and a bank of transistors share the same voltage source VDD and gate control current. Each of the bank of transistors is sized to match different current load requirements and one or more may be switched in or out as appropriate when the digital load transitions from one operating mode to another. The regulator has good DC load regulation and unconditional stability regardless of output capacitance. |
| US09841773B2 |
Cooling system management
A cooling system controller, method, and computer program (or product) for an installation of heat generating machines having variable cooling requirements, the cooling system comprising two or more thermal components sharing a first cooling fluid circuit and first cooling fluid for cooling the installation, the cooling system controller comprising: a requirement discovery engine for recording the variable cooling requirements of the machines; a characterizing engine for measuring and recording outputs for each thermal component in response to a plurality of input control settings for generating a respective set of static set-points for each thermal component; a logic model generator for generating a logical model of the thermal components based on: relationships between the thermal components, operating fluid flow and around the thermal components, static set-points of each component; an optimizer for finding minimum energy consumption for the cooling system; and an interface for continuously adjusting control settings for each component to keep the cooling system operating at the minimum energy consumption. |
| US09841772B2 |
Temperature responsive thermal bridge
A thermal bridge includes a first plate stack, a second plate stack and a temperature responsive actuator. The first plate stack is placed in thermal communication with a first electrical component and has a plurality of first plates. The second plate stack is placed in thermal communication with a second electrical component and has a plurality of second plates interleaved with the first plates. The temperature responsive actuator is coupled to at least one of the first and second plate stacks. The temperature responsive actuator changes shape based on changes in temperature to change the relative positions of the first and second plates. The temperature responsive actuator causes the first and second plates to vary thermal resistance between the first and second electrical components based on the change in relative positions of the first and second plates. |
| US09841769B2 |
Fluid activated flow control apparatus
Embodiments of a fluid flow regulating device and methods of using the same are described. Certain embodiments manages fluid flow between one or more input ports and output ports at least partly in response to fluid pressure changes and/or by a mechanism driven by fluid flow, optionally without using electrical power. |
| US09841768B2 |
Autonomous travelling service vehicle
In the prior art, detection sensitivity was fixed for an obstacle detection means provided to an autonomous travelling service vehicle; therefore, in the present invention an autonomous travelling service vehicle is provided with a position calculation means that determines the position of the chassis using a satellite positioning system, and with a control device that automatically drives the vehicle along a set travel route and causes the vehicle to execute the service, wherein an obstacle sensor that acts as an obstacle detection means for detecting whether or not an obstacle is present around the autonomous travelling service vehicle and a sensitivity adjustment means for adjusting the sensitivity of the obstacle sensor are provided, and the sensitivity of the obstacle sensor is adjusted by the sensitivity adjustment means so as to be high within a set work area and low outside the set work area. |
| US09841765B2 |
Curb detection for vehicle parking
Systems and methods for curb detection for parking are disclosed. An example vehicle parking assist system includes a processor and memory. An example program stored in the memory is configured to move a vehicle using a set of maneuvers to park the vehicle in a parking space based on an estimated location of a curb. The example program is also configured to compare a first yaw rate to a reference yaw rate to detect when the vehicle contacts the curb. Additionally, the example program is configured to move the vehicle using an adjusted set of maneuvers based on an actual location of the curb. |
| US09841763B1 |
Predictive sensor array configuration system for an autonomous vehicle
An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a predictive sensor configuration system that can dynamically detect reflectance anomalies that affect detectability by sensor array of the AV as the AV travels a current route. The predictive sensor configuration system can dynamically determine one or more configurations for the sensor array to attempt to positively identify the reflectance anomalies, and preemptively execute the one or more configurations for the sensor array as the AV travels the current route. |
| US09841761B2 |
System and method for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles
A system is provided comprising a control station for remotely controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”). The control station is configured to display vehicle status data received from each UAV, including displaying a location of each UAV in a single interface. Through the single interface, the control station may receive a control command input associated with one of the UAVs. The control station may transmit the received control command, or a command derived therefrom, to the respective UAV. The single interface may provide for a user to view and control flight operation of each of the UAVs independently through the single interface. |
| US09841760B2 |
System for remotely-operated systems
The invention relates to a remote-controlled system comprising: —at least one ground interface (3), from which an operator can control a remote-controlled vehicle; —at least one mission unit (7, 8) in said vehicle; and —a data link between said interface (3) and said mission unit (7, 8). Said system is characterized in that it comprises, on the ground and in the vehicle, security monitoring systems (6, 10) suitable for approving and/or authenticating critical data and/or commands exchanged between the ground and the vehicle and also suitable for verifying the integrity of said data. It is thus possible to use, on the ground as on board the vehicle, interfaces and units with a low level of criticality at the same time as interfaces and units with the highest level of criticality. |
| US09841756B2 |
Scheduling inspections and predicting end-of-life for machine components
A method for operating a machine component under stress. The method comprises determining a probability of failure PoF(N) of the component as a function of N cycles, selecting a time-based acceptable risk limit for the component and selecting an operational profile for the component, converting the time-based acceptable risk limit to a cycle-based acceptable risk limit using the operational profile, comparing the cycle-based acceptable risk limit with the PoF(N) values to determine an operational status of the component, comparing the cycle-based acceptable risk limit with the PoF(N) values, and operating the machine component responsive to results of the comparing step. |
| US09841751B2 |
Numerical-control machining-program creation device
To provide a numerical-control machining-program creation device that creates a numerical-control machining program including turning machining based on shape data of a workpiece. The numerical-control machining-program creation device generates a turning-machining removal shape indicating a shape to be removed by turning machining based on a turning sectional shape, extracts a turning groove shape from the turning-machining removal shape, and creates the numerical-control machining program for turning machining based on a shape obtained by separating the turning groove shape from the turning-machining removal shape. |
| US09841750B2 |
Dynamic real-time slice engine for 3D printing
Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for 3D printing without preprocessing a CAD model before delivery to a 3D printer. The CAD model for a design to be printed is received by a 3D printer. Instructions are generated for printing the first slice. While the instructions are used to start printing the CAD model, dynamic real-time slicing is performed on a remaining portion of the CAD model. Preprocessed data, model analysis information or real-time feedback is received during the printing of a respective slice. A next slice is identified, and slicing parameters are adjusted, including adjusting a slicing parameter for the next slice. Instructions for printing the next slice are generated. The next slice is printed based on the generated instructions. Dynamic real-time slicing is repeated to generate a then next slice and associated printing instructions. |
| US09841748B2 |
Built-in type vision based inspection tool for autonomous setting of initial origin
The present invention relates to a vision based inspection tool for setting of an initial origin of an automation machine tool, and more particularly, to a built-in type of vision based inspection tool for setting of an initial origin capable of improving setting precision of a current automation machine tool that depends on initial setting and increasing productivity depending on individual automatic setting by automatically sensing a machining origin in order to perform initial machining and re-machining of an existing workpiece using an automation machine tool and compensating for the machining origin to eliminate a time required for setting machining origins for various shapes in a jog mode. |
| US09841747B2 |
Numerical control device for performing control axis switch
In a numerical control device for performing a control axis switch, each of a plurality of control axis units includes an axis movement amount conversion unit configured to convert a movement amount of a servo motor into a movement amount corresponding to each of the control axis units of the plurality of control axis units, an axis position data storage unit, and a control object axis position data storage unit configured to store an axis position of a control object at a time when the control object is separated from a single drive unit, and an axis position stored in the axis position data storage unit is configured to be updated by using the movement amount of the servo motor, regardless of whether or not the control object is connected by a control axis switch unit to the control axis unit. |
| US09841746B2 |
Numerical controller having function of controlling speed by superimposed control
A numerical controller has a first axis (reference axis) and a second axis (superimposed axis), and performs superimposed control which superimposes a movement amount of the reference axis on a movement amount of the superimposed axis, and thereby controls the movement of the superimposed axis. The numerical controller controls an acceleration start time of the axis to be accelerated, in a superimposition interval in which the reference axis is accelerated and the superimposed axis is decelerated (or reference axis is decelerated and superimposed axis is accelerated). After the axis to be decelerated is sufficiently decelerated, the axis to be accelerated is accelerated, and a moving speed of the superimposed axis does not exceed a speed limit of a machine in an acceleration/deceleration interval. |
| US09841743B2 |
Apparatus and method for remote administration and recurrent updating of credentials in an access control system
A portable electronic key for use with an electronic locking device comprises a wireless communications module, a processor, and a software application configured to transmit, receive, and respond to electronic messages related to access control information. The electronic messages are formatted according to a request-response protocol. The wireless communications module is configured to use a standardized communication protocol to establish a wireless communications link with a networking device operably associated with a remote administration device located away from the portable electronic key. The software application periodically exchanges, via the wireless communications link, request-response messages related to access control information with a server application of the remote administration device. The processor responds to the exchange of request-response messages by performing at least one of modifying access control information of the portable electronic key or providing access control information of the portable electronic key to the remote administration device. |
| US09841741B2 |
Method and apparatus to replace an electrical power module in a wireless valve positioner without power disruption
A process control device includes an interface configured to communicate with other devices in a process control system. The process control device also includes a primary power source, the primary power source configured to provide power to at least one component of the process control device, which component, if not powered, would result in disruption to the control of the process. The process control device still further includes a terminal configured to electrically couple the process control device to an auxiliary power source such that the auxiliary power source provides sufficient power to the at least one component when the auxiliary power source is connected to the terminal such that the process control device remains operable to control the process in the absence of the primary power source. |
| US09841739B2 |
Motion controller device and communication method therein
A motion controller device and a communication method for the motion controller device are provided to reduce the large number of man-hours that are required for making communication settings and wiring design in large-scale systems. The motion controller device and communication method improve the degree of freedom for communication line connections by switching the two transmission paths on the transmitting and receiving sides of the communication ports contained within a central communication device and a terminal communication devices for full duplex communications. The motion controller device and communication also ensure the response performance required in the devices being controlled by way of the terminal communication device that autonomously and dynamically switches the communication paths according to the volume of communication data on the communication line along this type of network. |
| US09841736B2 |
Security, safety, and redundancy employing controller engine instances
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates employing safety within an industrial environment. An enhancing component can implement at least one of a security level, authentication, authorization, or an access right to a validated action to at least one of the controller or the controller engine instance. The enhancing component can further separate two or more entities within the industrial environment, the first entity related to process control and the second entity related to process safety. Additionally, the enhancing component can employ at least one of a backup controller or a backup controller engine instance in the event of at least one of a software error or a hardware error within the industrial environment. |
| US09841731B2 |
Holographic memory device
To reduce an influence of stray light and stably record/reproduce high-quality data in holographic recording/reproduction. A holographic memory device includes an optical system that guides a reference beam to an optical information recording medium at a desired angle of incidence, a control part that controls the angle of incidence of the reference beam generated in the optical system, and a lens part that images the reference beam in a desired position of the optical information recording medium. Further, at least a first light beam at a first angle and a second light beam at a second angle different from the first angle are output from the optical element, and the optical element is provided so that the first light beam may propagate within an effective diameter of the lens part and the second light beam may propagate to an outside of the effective diameter of the lens part. |
| US09841726B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a unit horizontally insertable and drawable with respect to a main body frame, and a lock mechanism for the unit. The lock mechanism includes a lock member which has an engagement projection engageable with an engaged portion formed in the main body frame, and a biasing member which biases the lock member in a first direction toward engagement of the engagement projection with the engaged portion. Along with insertion of the unit, the lock member moves in a second direction, and when the unit is inserted to a predetermined position, biasing force of the biasing member causes the lock member to move in the first direction and the engagement projection engages with the engaged portion. By moving the lock member in the second direction, engagement between the engagement projection and the engaged portion is released to make it possible to draw the unit. |
| US09841725B2 |
Image-forming device having guide to guide drawer supporting developing units in main casing
An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end. |
| US09841723B2 |
Image forming apparatus and tandem type photosensitive unit
An image forming apparatus is described. An image forming apparatus may include an image forming apparatus body and a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable with respect to the body, wherein the unit includes: a frame; a plurality of photosensitive bodies; a plurality of developer cartridges, including developer carriers, detachably mountable on the frame; and a pressing portion provided on the frame for pressing each of the cartridges so that the developer carrier thereof is directed toward the corresponding photosensitive body, each of the cartridges is pivoted to be movable to an imaging position pressed by the pressing portion and a detached position released from the pressing by the pressing portion, and the body is provided with an abutting portion abutting the cartridge located on the detached position thereby pivoting the cartridge and moving the same to the imaging position when the unit is mounted on the body. |
| US09841719B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided with a printing portion, a waste toner collection portion that includes a conveyance member that is driven by a motor, and conveys waste toner, thereby to collect the waste toner in a waste toner container, a current detection portion for detecting a motor current value, a fan that discharges scattering toner, and a control portion. In driving the fan, the control portion detects a value of the motor current value and sets rotation speed of the fan so that the larger said detected value of the motor current value, the higher the rotation speed. |
| US09841718B2 |
Lubricant applicator, cleaning device, and image forming apparatus
A lubricant applicator incorporated in a cleaning device disposed in an image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an image containing toner is formed, includes: a lubricant supplying unit that supplies lubricant; a brush roller that scrapes off the lubricant to apply the lubricant to a surface of the image bearing member; and a flicker member positioned on an upstream side from the lubricant supplying unit in a rotation direction of the brush roller, the flicker member coming into contact with the brush roller, wherein the flicker member is a plate-shaped member in which an opening is formed, the flicker member having elasticity to be allowed to elastically rock by coming into contact with the brush roller, and the opening is formed in a region with which the brush roller comes into contact. |
| US09841710B1 |
Transport device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A transport device includes: a first rotational member; a second rotational member that forms a nip with the first rotational member; a guide member that guides the medium in a predetermined direction; a changing part that supports the second rotational member so as to be rotatable and that moves the second rotational member to change a nip state between the second rotational member and the first rotational member; and an interposed member supported by the changing part and nipped between the first rotational member and the guide member, the interposed member including, in an intersecting direction intersecting a direction in which the interposed member is nipped, multiple portions having different thicknesses, the interposed member being nipped at any one of the multiple portions, while being moved in the intersecting direction in accordance with the movement of the second rotational member. |
| US09841709B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member, and a charge application portion. The first fixing member contacts unfixed toner on a sheet conveyed along a conveyance path. The second fixing member forms a nip portion between itself and the first fixing member such that the sheet passes through the nip portion. The charge application portion applies an electric charge to the unfixed toner on the sheet and to an outer circumferential surface of the first fixing member at a region on an upstream side of the nip portion in a movement direction of the outer circumferential surface, by causing a corona discharge to be generated between a discharge electrode and a counter electrode that are disposed apart from the outer circumferential surface of the first fixing member. |
| US09841704B2 |
Developing device having rotating feeding member
A developing device includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a circulation path along which the developer is circulated; a carrier supplying portion; a discharge opening, provided in the circulation path, through which a portion of the developer is to be overflowed and discharged; and a feeding member comprising a rotation shaft and a blade portion including a helical portion. An outer diameter of the blade portion formed in a first region including at least a portion opposing the discharge opening is smaller than that in a second region adjacent to the first region with respect to a rotation shaft direction. A smaller average angle formed between the rotation shaft and a developer feeding surface of the blade portion in the first region is smaller than that in the second region. |
| US09841697B2 |
Cleaning member, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning member includes a core and an elastic layer helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core so as to extend from one end to the other end of the core. When the cleaning member is rotated by a member to be cleaned, a non-contact region in which a first end portion and a second end portion of the elastic layer in an axial direction of the core are not in contact with the member to be cleaned is in a range from approximately 0° to approximately 60° in terms of a rotation angle of the cleaning member viewed from one side in the axial direction of the core. |
| US09841692B2 |
Toner
Provided is a toner having a toner particle that contains a binder resin, a colorant, a wax, and a crystalline polyester, wherein two or more peak tops for crystallization peaks are present in a temperature range from 40° C. to 80° C. in a first DSC curve obtained by a process or cooling the toner from 100° C. to 20° C. at 0.5° C./min, and using ΔH(0.5) for the exothermic quantity for the peak on the lowest temperature side of these crystallization peaks and using ΔH(100) for the exothermic quantity of the crystallization peak on the lowest temperature side in a second DSC curve obtained by a process of cooling the toner from 100° C. to 20° C. at 100° C./min, the ratio [ΔH(100)/ΔH(0.5)] is at least 2.0 and not more than 6.0. |
| US09841691B2 |
Method of manufacturing electrostatic latent image developing toner
A method of manufacturing an electrostatic latent image developing toner made of a binding resin made of an amorphous resin and a crystalline resin, and toner particles containing a releasing agent and a coloring agent, the method includes: adding a monomer for forming the amorphous resin, in an aqueous medium, under presence of the fine particles containing the crystalline resin, and performing polymerization to obtain coated resin fine particles that are fine particles containing the crystalline resin, the fine particles being coated with the amorphous resin; and flocculating and fusing at least fine particles containing the amorphous resin, the coated resin fine particles, and fine particles containing the coloring agent, in an aqueous medium, under presence of a flocculating agent, to obtain the toner particles, wherein a surfactant having concentration of one to five times critical micellar concentration is added to the aqueous medium in the polymerization. |
| US09841690B2 |
Method and apparatus for exposure pattern correction and exposure system
A method for correcting an exposure pattern on a substrate includes obtaining, based on the exposure pattern, displacement adjustment parameters for adjusting displacements of a worktable supporting the substrate in each of a first direction and a second direction, a rotation angle adjustment parameter for adjusting a rotation angle of the worktable in a rotation direction, and a gap adjustment parameter for adjusting a gap between the worktable and a mask plate. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other in a horizontal plane. The rotation direction is a direction in which the worktable rotates around a central axis of a base table supporting the mask plate. The method further includes moving the worktable based on the displacement adjustment parameters, the rotation angle adjustment parameter and the gap adjustment parameter. |
| US09841688B2 |
Method for detecting overlay error and method for manufacturing semiconductor device using the same
A method for detecting an overlay error includes: forming a first overlay key including a plurality of spaced apart first target patterns having a first pitch on a first layer of a substrate; forming a second overlay key including a plurality of spaced apart second target patterns having a second pitch different than the first pitch on a second layer of the substrate below the first layer; irradiating the first layer and the second layer with incident light having a first wavelength; obtaining a phase pattern of light reflected from the first layer and the second layer; calculating a position of a peak point or a valley point of the phase pattern of the reflected light; and detecting an overlay error of the first layer and the second layer using the position of the peak point or the valley point of the phase pattern. |
| US09841684B2 |
Light source apparatus and data processing method
A light source apparatus according to an embodiment may be used for an exposure apparatus which exposes a plurality of wafers by repeating a wafer exposure for exposing a total exposure area of each wafer. The wafer exposure may include a sequential execution of scanning exposures in which each divided area defined by dividing the total exposure area of each wafer is scanned by pulsed light. The apparatus may comprise: a light source controller configured to execute a control for outputting the pulsed light based on a luminescence trigger signal received from the exposure apparatus; a detector configured to detect a characteristic of the pulsed light; and a data collection processor configured to collect at least a piece of data in data included in a pulse light data group related to the pulsed light detected by the detector and a control data group related to the control, and execute a mapping process of mapping the collected data by at least one of scanning exposure basis and wafer exposure basis. |
| US09841682B2 |
Arrangement for actuating an element in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
The invention relates to arrangements for actuating an element in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. In accordance with one aspect, an arrangement for actuating an element in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a first number (nR) of degrees of freedom, wherein an adjustable force can be transmitted to the optical element in each of the degrees of freedom, and a second number (nA) of actuators, which are coupled to the optical element in each case via a mechanical coupling for the purpose of transmitting force to the optical element, wherein the second number (nA) is greater than the first number (nR). In accordance with one aspect, at least one of the actuators is arranged in a node of at least one natural vibration mode of the optical element. |
| US09841681B2 |
Light irradiation apparatus, drawing apparatus, and phase difference generator
Laser light from a light source part is guided to an irradiation plane by an irradiation optical system. In the irradiation optical system, element lenses are arrayed, and light fluxes that have passed through the element lenses respectively enter transparent elements. Irradiation regions of the light from the element lenses are superimposed on the irradiation plane. When each pair of adjacent target element lenses out of three target element lenses arrayed sequentially is regarded as a target element lens pair, the optical path lengths of three transparent elements corresponding to the three target element lenses are determined such that a peak position of light intensity on the irradiation plane resulting from the interference between the light fluxes through one target element lens pair is different from that corresponding to the other pair. This suppresses variations in light intensity caused by interference between the light fluxes on the irradiation plane. |
| US09841680B2 |
Source collector apparatus, lithographic apparatus and method
A source collector apparatus for use in a lithographic apparatus includes a fuel droplet generator configured in use to generate a stream of fuel droplets directed from an outlet of the fuel droplet generator towards a plasma formation location. In order to prevent droplet satellites from interfering with plasma formation, a gas supply is provided that in use provides a flow of gas (e.g., hydrogen) that deflects any droplet satellites out of the fuel droplet stream. Additionally, a detection apparatus may be provided as part of a shroud to determine the point at which coalescence of fuel droplets occurs thereby providing an indication of the likelihood of satellite droplets being present in the fuel droplet stream. |
| US09841676B2 |
Method of manufacturing display device using bottom surface exposure
A method for manufacturing a display device includes forming a plurality of light blocking patterns on a first surface of a transparent substrate, wherein a first light blocking pattern of the plurality of light blocking patterns has a different line width than a second light blocking pattern of the plurality of light blocking patterns. An insulating layer is formed on the first surface of the transparent substrate and the light blocking patterns. A conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer. A photo-resist layer is formed on the conductive layer. The photo-resist layer is exposed with ultraviolet rays through a second surface of the transparent substrate, wherein the first and second surfaces of the transparent substrate are opposite to each other. The photo-resist layer is developed. The conductive layer is etched using the photo-resist layer as a mask. The photo-resist layer is removed. |
| US09841675B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition for color filter and color filter using the same
Disclosed are a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter that includes (A) a colorant including a cyanine dye represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, (B) an acrylic-based binder resin, (C) a photopolymerizable monomer, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, and (E) a solvent, and a color filter using the same. In the above Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as described in the detailed description. |
| US09841673B2 |
Imprint apparatus and article manufacturing method
An imprint apparatus molds and cures an imprint material on a substrate using a mold to thereby form a pattern on the substrate. The apparatus includes a first drive mechanism configured to apply a force in a planar direction of the mold and change the planar shape of the pattern portion formed in the mold, and a second drive mechanism configured to deform the mold about an axis (for example, the Y axis) that is orthogonal to the pressing direction of the mold and the uncured resin (for example, the Z axis) and a direction of the force applied by the first drive mechanism (for example, the X axis). |
| US09841672B2 |
Method of decomposing layout of semiconductor device for quadruple patterning technology process and method of manufacturing semiconductor device using the same
A method of decomposing a layout of a semiconductor device for a quadruple patterning technology (QPT) process includes dividing the layout of the semiconductor device into a first temporary pattern, which includes rectangular features having a rectangular shape, and a second temporary pattern, which includes cross couple features having a Z-shape, generating a third temporary pattern and a fourth temporary pattern by performing a pattern dividing operation on the first temporary pattern in a first direction, generating a first target pattern and a second target pattern by incorporating each of the cross couple features included in the second temporary pattern into one of the third temporary pattern and the fourth temporary pattern, and generating first through fourth decomposed patterns by performing the pattern dividing operation on the first target pattern and the second target pattern in a second direction. |
| US09841671B2 |
Storage container
A storage container in which a uniform flow velocity of the purge gas can be achieved is provided with a plurality of stages of storage units each having an accommodating region to accommodate an article. A supply portion supplies a purge gas; a duct portion communicates with other duct portions of other storage units and serves as a flow path for the purge gas supplied from the supply portion; and an introducing portion communicably connects the duct portion with the accommodating region and introduces the purge gas to the accommodating region. In the flow path for the purge gas in the duct portion, a diffusion member is arranged. |
| US09841670B2 |
Support frame for pellicles
Provided is a support frame for pellicles which includes an aluminum alloy-made frame body with a pellicle film bonded to a front surface of the frame body, and with a glass substrate bonded to a back surface of the frame body. A front-side recessed groove extending in a circumferential direction of the frame body is formed on the front surface of the frame body, and a front-side suction hole extending from an outer peripheral surface of the frame body to an inner surface of the front-side recessed groove is formed on the frame body. |
| US09841667B2 |
Reflective photomask, method for manufacturing same and program for making mask pattern
A reflective photomask includes a substrate and a reflective layer on the substrate. The reflective layer has a top surface opposite to the substrate and a reflectivity distribution on the top surface. The reflective layer includes mask patterns, the mask patterns having sizes depending on the reflectivity distribution. The mask patterns include a first pattern and a second pattern, the first pattern having a first space size smaller than a second space size of the second pattern. The first pattern is provided in a first region of the top surface, and the second pattern is provided in a second region of the top surface, wherein a reflectivity in the first region is lower than a reflectivity in the second region. |
| US09841666B2 |
Restoration solution for cine film bubble and restoration method
The present invention discloses a restoration solution for cine film bubble and a restoration method. The restoration solution comprises 100 parts by volume of n-butanol, 60 to 120 parts by volume of lacquer thinner having 5% by mass of ethyl cellulose, 8 to 20 parts by volume of diphenyl isooctyl phosphite, 2 to 10 parts by volume of bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, and 2 to 15 parts by volume of petroleum ether. The present invention integrates micro-restoration, bubble puncture and optical filling, and effectively restores a bubble having a diameter of 0.1 mm to 1 mm generated between a film base layer and an emulsion layer of a cine film. The present invention has advantages of simple method of operation, low cost and good controllability. And the used restoration solution has good thermal stability, oxidation resistance, and permeability, and can eliminate the phenomenon of light scattering within the bubble, so that patterns and writing of the original image data are explicitly presented, and a better restoration effect is achieved without damages to films. Therefore, the restoration solution has good application values and market prospects. |
| US09841664B2 |
Cooling device and projector that changes pressure and circulation speed of a cooling gas based on a determined pressure of the cooling gas
A cooling device that can maintain or improve a cooling ability without being affected by fluctuation in an ambient temperature. Gas is supplied to a cooling target to cool the cooling target. A cooling device includes a cooling gas including gas having thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the air, a partition wall that closes and stores the cooling target and the cooling gas and is capable of circulating the cooling gas, a cooling section that cools and circulates the cooling gas, a pressure determining section that determines the pressure of the cooling gas, and a cooling control section that controls the cooling section. The cooling control section causes the cooling section to change the pressure of the cooling gas and/or change the circulation speed of the cooling gas on the basis of a result of the determination of the pressure determining section. |
| US09841662B2 |
Projector and method for controlling projector
In at least one embodiment, a projector includes an operation reception unit, and selection unit, and a correction unit. The operation reception unit receives an input operation. The selection unit allows selection of one of a plurality of controlled objects located in correspondence with vertices of a contour of an image based on image information and sides of the contour. The correction unit allows movement of the controlled object selected by using the selection unit within the image based on the input operation and corrects the contour of the image based on the moved controlled object. |
| US09841660B1 |
Object guide having a variable motion path
An object guide having a variable motion path includes a connecting seat, a first motion unit, a second motion unit, an adjustment unit and a drive unit. The adjustment unit is disposed on the connecting seat, and the second connecting portion of the first connecting arm and the fourth connecting portion of the second connecting arm are disposed at the same position, the first adjustment portion of the first adjustment arm and the second adjustment portion of the second adjustment arm are also located at the same position and simultaneously moved by the adjustment unit. Therefore, simply adjusting the adjustment unit can simultaneously adjust the first adjustment portion and the second adjustment portion to the straight line position, the outward curvature position, or the inward curvature position, which make the adjustment convenient, and the displacement curvatures for moving the object are asymmetrical. |
| US09841658B1 |
Controllable opto-electronic time stretcher, an electro-optical analog to digital converter having non-uniform sampling using the same, and related methods of operation
A controllable opto-electronic time stretcher comprising a first wave guide and a second waveguide coupled to the first waveguide along a coupling portion; wherein at least one of the first and second waveguides in the coupling portion has a controllable refractive index. |
| US09841657B2 |
CMOS photonic inverter
Photosensitive logic inverter, in particular of the CMOS type, formed of a transistor of type P and of a transistor of type N of which the respective threshold voltages can be modulated according to the quantity of photons received by a photosensitive zone provided opposite these transistors. |
| US09841656B2 |
Frequency converter system conversion cell and frequency conversion system
A frequency converter system includes a source that emits a beam having a wide spectral band; and a frequency conversion cell including 1) a birefringent nonlinear crystal having a first phase-matching wavelength, with an input face that receives the beam, an output face that emits at least one frequency-converted beam, and at least two parallel faces different from the input and output faces; 2) means for applying an external mechanical force to at least one of said two parallel faces, resulting in a variation in the birefringence of the nonlinear crystal, the value of the applied external mechanical force being determined so as to obtain phase matching at a second phase-matching wavelength different from the first phase-matching wavelength; and 3) means for adjusting the external mechanical force for wavelength tunability in the frequency conversion cell. |
| US09841654B2 |
Crystal mount for laser application
An optical crystal can be mounted to a mounting block configured to receive the crystal. A base portion on the mounting block utilizes two walls forming a corner and a single biasing spring clip to secure the crystal. The spring clip applies forces in two different directions substantially orthogonal to the two walls. The spring clip is based off a symmetrical geometry which applies nearly the same force application in both directions. The spring also features bend regions that contact the crystal in such a way as to reduce the presence of point loads or stress risers. The length of contact along the crystal is maximized, allowing for proper force distribution and a sufficient surface are contact for static holding capabilities. |
| US09841644B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection structures for liquid crystal displays
A liquid crystal display having an outer layer such as a thin-film transistor layer and an inner layer such as a color filter layer may be mounted in a metal device housing. Transparent conductive coating material may be formed on display layers. The transparent conductive coating material may include a layer on the upper surface of the thin-film transistor layer, a layer on the lower surface of the color filter layer, and an edge coating that extends between the upper surface layer and lower surface layer. Electrostatic discharge protection structures for the display may include a conductive elastomeric gasket that couples the upper surface layer to an inner surface of the housing, a conductive tape that couples the lower surface layer to the inner surface, and a conductive material on the inner surface that contacts the edge coating. |
| US09841642B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Embodiments of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device are disclosed. The LCD includes a backlight to illuminate a display panel with a plurality of sub-pixels, which include a first sub-pixel having a first color filter, a second sub-pixel having a second color filter having a different color from the first color filter, and a third sub-pixel having a third color filter having a different color from the first color filter and the second color filter.The LCD display panel includes a plurality of drain lines formed between the plurality of sub-pixels, the plurality of drain lines arranged as a first type of drain line set and a second type of drain line set, where the first type of drain line set includes only a single drain line positioned between two adjacent sub-pixels, and the second type of drain line set includes only two drain lines positioned between two adjacent sub-pixels. |
| US09841637B2 |
Display panel
A display panel is provided. The display panel includes a color filter substrate. The color filter substrate includes a first substrate, a black matrix, a color filter layer, a transparent conductive layer, and a plurality of spacers. The black matrix and the color filter layer are disposed on the first substrate. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the color filter layer and the black matrix, and has a plurality of openings located above the black matrix. The spacers are located on the transparent conductive layer and located on the black matrix. At least one of the openings is located between the adjacent spacers, and at least one of the spacers partially overlaps at least one of the openings. |
| US09841632B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, composite substrate and method for fabricating the same
Provided are a liquid crystal display panel, a composite substrate, and a method for fabricating the composite substrate. The composite substrate includes: a substrate, a carbon nanotube layer, a polarizing material and a photoalignment matrix material. The carbon nanotube layer is adhered to a surface of the substrate with the photoalignment matrix material; the carbon nanotube layer includes multiple carbon nanotubes extending in a same direction; the polarizing material is mixed into the photoalignment matrix material, and a molecule arrangement direction of the polarizing material is the same as the extending direction of the carbon nanotube. Multiple grooves arranged in parallel may be formed between carbon nanotubes since the extending direction of the carbon nanotube is the same, and the groove may be used for an initial alignment of liquid crystal molecules. |
| US09841624B2 |
Configurations for tileable display apparatus with multiple pixel arrays
A display including a screen layer for displaying a unified image to a viewer on a viewing side of the screen layer that is opposite a backside of the screen layer, and an illumination layer having an array of light sources. Each light source in the array is configured to emit a divergent projection beam having a limited angular spread. A display layer is disposed between the screen layer and the illumination layer, and includes a matrix of pixlets, a spacing region disposed between the pixlets in the matrix, wherein the array of light sources are positioned to emit the divergent projection beams having limited angular spread to project sub-images displayed by the pixlets as magnified sub-images on the backside of the screen layer, the magnified sub-images to combine to form a substantially seamless unified image, and one or more components positioned on the display layer in the spacing region. |
| US09841622B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a display panel curved in a first direction; a lower frame; an upper frame coupled to the lower frame; and a fastening member coupling the lower frame and the upper frame, wherein the lower frame includes a first coupling portion protruding toward the display panel, the first coupling portion having a first coupling hole, the upper frame includes a second coupling portion protruding toward the display panel, the second coupling portion having a second coupling hole, the fastening member penetrates the first coupling hole and the second coupling hole to fasten the lower frame and the upper frame together, and a bottom portion of the first coupling portion forms an acute angle with respect to a base portion of the lower frame, and a bottom portion of the second coupling portion forms an acute angle with respect to a base portion of the upper frame. |
| US09841616B1 |
Mobile system incorporating flexible and tunable anti-reflective skin and method of use
A mobile system includes a self-supporting platform, a tunable anti-reflective (AR) skin or film disposed on and secured to the mobile platform, one or more actuators and a controller. The tunable AR skin or film includes one or more layers that are at least partially transmitting to optical energy at one or more optical wavelengths. The skin or film is substantially flexible and/or stretchable and has an optical AR to incident electromagnetic radiation of a given wavelength which is selectively variable when flexed and/or stretched. The actuators are able to flex and/or stretch the skin or film in response to receipt of a control signal. The controller generates the control signal based on a measured value of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the tunable AR skin or film. |
| US09841611B1 |
Lens exchanging structure of spectacles
A lens exchanging structure of spectacles is disclosed. The lens exchanging structure of spectacles includes a trench disposed on a lens rim for receiving a lens. An open slot is disposed in the trench and has a long through hole having a first holey section and a second holey section. A moving part is placed in the open slot and has a bump disposed in the first holey section. A positioning part is disposed in the second holey section and assembled with the moving part. Therefore, the lens can be positioned or removed by the moving mechanism of the moving part in the open slot. |
| US09841610B2 |
Observation optical system and observation apparatus including the same
Provided is an observation optical system including: an objective lens; an image inverting unit; and an ocular lens, the objective lens including, in order from object side to observation side: a positive first lens unit; a negative second lens unit; and a positive third lens unit, wherein the first lens unit consists of a positive front unit and a positive rear unit separated by an air interval, which is largest along optical axis, wherein the second lens unit moves to have a component orthogonal to optical axis for image blur correction, and wherein a lateral magnification of second lens unit, a curvature radius of a lens surface of second lens unit closest to observation side, a curvature radius of a lens surface of third lens unit closest to object side, the air interval between front and rear units, and a focal length of first lens unit are appropriately set. |
| US09841604B2 |
Color separation device and image sensor including the color separation device
A color separation device changes a light path according to the wavelengths of incident light and an image sensor has improved light utilization efficiency by using the color separation device. The color separation device may include a first element having a first refractive index that varies according to wavelengths of light along a first refractive index distribution curve, and a second element having a second refractive index that varies according to wavelengths of light along a second refractive index distribution curve, the second refractive index distribution curve being different from the first refractive index distribution curve. The color separation device may be manufactured by simply joining two elements, namely, the first and second elements, together and thus may be more easily manufactured and perform more effective color separation. |
| US09841599B2 |
Optical configurations for head-worn see-through displays
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for providing a high transmission see-through view of the environment while trapping escaping light from the display system. In embodiments, a camera system is also provided that is aligned with the display system to provide images of the environment in a viewing direction of the user. |
| US09841595B1 |
Electrowetting element with reflective surface
An electrowetting element comprises a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid. A support plate includes a support plate surface in contact with at least one of the first or second fluids. The support plate includes an electrode for applying a voltage to control a configuration of the first and second fluids and a reflective surface. A first layer positioned between the reflective surface and the support plate surface has a first layer optical thickness substantially equal to a quarter multiple of a reference wavelength. |
| US09841593B2 |
Optical sectioning of a sample and detection of particles in a sample
An apparatus for obtaining a plurality of images of a sample includes a sample device suitable for holding a liquid sample; a first optical detection assembly including a first image acquisition device, the first optical detection assembly having an optical axis and an object plane, the object plane including an image acquisition area from which electromagnetic waves can be detected as an image by the first image acquisition device; one translation unit arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other; and an image illumination device, wherein the apparatus is arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other along a scanning path, which defines an angle theta relative to the optical axis, wherein theta is in the range of about 0.3 to about 89.7 degrees. |
| US09841589B2 |
Illumination optical apparatus and device manufacturing method
Provided is an illumination optical apparatus that illuminates the surface with light from a light source and includes an optical integrator (the integrator) configured to form a plurality of secondary source images (the images); a adjuster having a plurality of adjusting elements for adjusting a light of the images; and a consensor configured such that the adjuster is in a conjugate relationship with the end surface of the integrator, wherein the element is located at positions, which corresponds to a secondary source formed by an odd reflection times in the first direction by the integrator and a secondary source formed by an even times and a secondary source formed by an odd times in the second direction and a secondary source formed by an even times, wherein the element is not located at a position which corresponds to a secondary source formed by no reflection in the integrator. |
| US09841588B2 |
Telescope and beam expander assemblies
A telescope and beam expander assembly includes a primary telescope mirror. An optical element is spaced apart from the primary mirror. The optical element includes front and rear surfaces, wherein an outward facing aspect of the rear surface is mounted opposite the primary mirror and includes a reflective portion that forms a secondary mirror to reflect gathered light from the primary mirror toward a focal point. An inward facing aspect of the front surface includes a reflective portion that forms a secondary expander mirror configured to reflect a beam onto an inward facing aspect of the rear surface for beam expansion. The optical element can include a monolithic body of optically-transmissive material on which the front and rear surfaces are located. |
| US09841587B2 |
On-axis unobscured telescope
Reflective optical telescopes and method of observing a scene. One example of a reflective optical telescope includes a primary mirror positioned along a linear axis extending between an entrance aperture and an image plane, configured to receive optical radiation via the entrance aperture, a secondary mirror positioned along the linear axis and configured to receive the optical radiation from the primary mirror and to reflect the optical radiation in a direction of the primary mirror, wherein the optical radiation received by the primary mirror is unobscured by the secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror positioned along the linear axis and configured to receive the optical radiation from the secondary mirror and reflect the optical radiation in a direction of the primary mirror, and a quaternary mirror positioned along the linear axis, configured to receive the optical radiation from the tertiary mirror and reflect the optical radiation to the image plane. |
| US09841585B2 |
Optical lens
An optical lens comprising a first lens (L1), a second lens (L2), and a third lens (L3) that are sequentially arranged on a common optical axis in the transmission direction of an incident light. Both the first lens and the second lens are positive plano-convex lenses. The third lens is a negative meniscus lens. The first lens comprises a first curved surface (S1) and a second curved surface (S2). The second lens comprises a third curved surface (S3) and a fourth curved surface (S4). The third lens comprises a fifth curved surface (S5) and a sixth curved surface (S6). The two curved surfaces of each lens respectively are the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the lens. The first to the sixth curved surfaces are sequentially arranged in the transmission direction of the incident light. The first curved surface and the third curved surface protrude in reverse to the transmission direction of the incident light. The fifth curved surface and the sixth curved surface protrude in the transmission direction of the incident light. The third curved surface is constituted by connecting sequentially and directly multiple arced surfaces (Φ1, Φ2, Φ3, Φ4, and Φ5) having different focuses and all of the focuses (f1, f2, f3, f4, and f5) of these arced surfaces are located on the optical axis. The optical lens is applicable in processing deep and fine holes or engraving deep and fine lines. |
| US09841583B2 |
Optical imaging lens and electronic device comprising the same
An optical imaging lens set includes a first lens element with an image-side surface of a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis, a second lens element with an object-side surface of a concave part in a periphery region, with an image-side surface of a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis and of a concave part in a periphery region, a third lens element with an object-side surface of a concave part in a periphery region, a fourth lens element of positive refractive power with an object-side surface of a concave part of the optical axis, a third lens element thickness T3, an air gap G34 between the third lens element and the fourth lens element and an air gap G45 between the fourth lens element and the fifth lens element to satisfy (T3+G45)/G34≦1.20. |
| US09841571B1 |
Optical coupling system that reduces back reflection and improves mode matching in forward optical coupling using perturbations at a reflective surface
An optical coupling system and method are provided for coupling light from a light source into an optical fiber that reduce back reflection of light into the light source and provide controlled launch conditions that improve forward optical coupling. The optical coupling system comprises at least one flat surface having perturbations formed therein over at least a portion of the flat surface that intersects an optical pathway. The perturbations have a lateral width and a height that are preselected to increase forward optical coupling efficiency and to decrease back reflection of the light beam from the optical fiber end face into the light source. The perturbations improve forward optical coupling by creating a complex light beam shape that is preselected to better match a spatial and angular distribution of a plurality of light modes of the optical fiber. |
| US09841567B1 |
Two-dimensional optical scanning method and optical scanning adapter for inspecting multiple-fiber optic connector
An optical scanning adapter for shifting the imaging axis of an inspection probe for inspecting fiber endfaces of a multiple-fiber connector includes a housing, a fitting tip having a mating interface for interfacing with the connector, an imaging assembly, an x-direction driving mechanism, a y-direction driving mechanism, and a connecting portion for connecting an inspection probe. The imaging assembly includes a first lens, a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a second lens. The connector endfaces are placed on the front focal plane of the first lens. The x-direction driving mechanism shifts the imaging axis of the imaging assembly along a first direction by translating the first lens and the first reflective surface together, whereas the y-direction driving mechanism shifts the imaging axis along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction by turning the second reflective surface about the optical axis of the second lens. |
| US09841565B2 |
Method for producing a ridge optical waveguide having low coupling losses between the ridge optical waveguide and an optical fibre, and a ridge optical waveguide made using this method
A method for producing a ridge optical waveguide having low coupling losses between the ridge optical waveguide and an optical fiber includes forming on the surface of a dielectric substrate an optical waveguide having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; cutting out two parallel recesses spaced apart by a distance wr on the surface of the dielectric substrate to form a rigid optical waveguide with an increased width (wr) between the two recesses. The recesses are cut such that the depth of each recess changes continuously and gradually between a zero depth at the height of the first end of the optical waveguide and a maximum depth (Hm) at a pre-determined distance (Ip) from the first end. |
| US09841559B2 |
Multimode fiber with intermediate clad layer
An optical fiber including a multimode core having a radius, R1, and a maximum relative refractive index, Δ1MAX, at a wavelength λ0, an inner clad layer surrounding the core and having a radial thickness, T2, and a minimum relative refractive index, Δ2MIN, of about 0.0% at a wavelength of λ0, an intermediate clad layer surrounding the inner clad layer and having a radial thickness, T3, and a maximum relative refractive index Δ3MAX and an outer clad layer surrounding the inner clad layer and having a radial thickness, T4, and a maximum relative refractive index, Δ4MIN, at a wavelength of λ0. The optical fiber satisfies the following relationship: Δ1MAX>Δ3MAX>Δ2MIN, and the optical fiber exhibits an overfilled bandwidth of greater than or equal to about 1.5 GHz-km at λ0. |
| US09841555B2 |
Optical transmission systems and methods using a QSM large-effective-area optical fiber
Optical transmission systems and methods are disclosed that utilize a QSM optical fiber with a large effective area and that supports only two modes, namely the fundamental mode and one higher-order mode. The optical transmission system includes a transmitter and a receiver optically coupled by an optical fiber link that includes at least one section of the QSM optical fiber. Transmission over optical fiber link gives rise to MPI, which is mitigated using a digital signal processor. The QSM optical fiber is designed to have an amount of DMA that allows for the digital signal processor to have reduced complexity as reflected by a reduced number of filter taps as compared to if the DMA were zero. |
| US09841554B2 |
Panel light assembly
A panel light wall assembly comprising a support frame structure including at least first and second substantially straight and parallel support frame members spaced apart on opposite sides of a light panel receiving space, a light panel assembly including a rectilinear assembly frame including first, second, third and fourth substantially straight elongated assembly frame members, a light source mounted to the first assembly frame member, a planar light guide member forming an edge and mounted to the assembly frame with the edge adjacent the light source and a fastener interacting with at least one of the first and second support frame members to secure the light panel assembly with at least a portion of the light panel assembly received within the panel receiving space and a second portion extending outside and to one side of the panel receiving space with the light guide member and light source located within the panel receiving space. |
| US09841551B2 |
Luminous glazing assembly
A luminous glazing assembly includes a first glazing pane with a first light source coupled to the first pane to emit at instant t0 at λ1 and to emit at t′≠t0 at λ2, λ2 distinct from λ1; a first light-extracting system and first masking arrangement to mask the extracted light from the internal-face side; making optical contact with the first glazing pane, a second glazing pane with a second light source that is optically coupled to the second pane, to emit at t0 at a λ3 distinct from λ1; a second light-extracting system and second masking arrangement to mask the light from the bonding-face side; between the first masking arrangement and the second extracting system, a first optical isolator; and between the first masking arrangement and the second extracting system, a second optical isolator, merged with the first optical isolator or separate and closer to the second extracting system. |
| US09841549B2 |
Light guide, light source device, and image reading device
A light guide includes a first exit portion emitting first exiting light, a second exit portion emitting second exiting light in a different direction than the first exiting light, and a reflecting portion reflecting light entering the light guide to each of the first and second exit portions. The first and second exit portions respectively have first and second curved surfaces each having a convex cross section perpendicular to the long axis direction. The second exit portion is connected to the first exit portion in the direction perpendicular to the long axis direction. The reflecting portion is provided, in a plane facing the first exit portion and the second exit portion, at a position shifted in the direction perpendicular to the long axis direction from a position where a normal to the plane passes through a connection portion between the first and second exit portions. |
| US09841548B2 |
Electronic devices with soft input-output components
An electronic device may have control circuitry coupled to input-output devices such as a display. A flexible input-output device may be formed from an elastomeric substrate layer. The substrate layer may have signal paths to which components are mounted. Openings may be formed in the elastomeric substrate layer between the signal paths to create a stretchable mesh-shaped substrate. The electrical components may each include an interposer having solder pads soldered to the elastomeric substrate. Electrical devices such as micro-light-emitting diodes may be soldered to the interposers. The electrical components may also include electrical devices such as sensors and actuators. A stretchable lighting unit may have a stretchable light guide illuminated by a stretchable light source. |
| US09841534B2 |
Methods for preparing optically clear adhesives and coatings
Optically clear adhesive or coating layers can be prepared by preparing a curable mixture, coating the curable mixture to form a layer, partially curing the curable mixture, drying the coated layer, and fully curing the curable mixture. The curable mixture may also be partially cured and then coated, dried and fully cured. The curable mixture includes two free radically polymerizable monomer compositions that are relatively incompatible and a transient compatibilizer, such as a solvent. Polymers of the two monomer compositions, if polymerized separately and blended, form phase separated domains. The curable mixture provides for adhesive or coating layers that are optically clear. |
| US09841531B2 |
Three-dimensional simulating device for the stratum stability in the natural hydrate exploitation
A three-dimensional simulating device for the stratum stability in natural gas hydrate exploitation includes a three-dimensional model located in an environmental control unit, an axial pressure control unit, and a post-processing unit. An inner cavity of the three-dimensional model is divided into a sealed simulating cavity and a sealed axial pressure sealing cavity by an axial pressure sealing piston arranged in the inner cavity. A vertical well and a horizontal well stretch into the simulating cavity. The axial pressure control unit, the environmental control unit, and a plurality of sensors in the three-dimensional model are electrically connected to the post-processing unit. This simulating device simulates the external environment and combines in-situ synthesis and decomposition of a hydrate with stratum stability, thereby achieving high reliability and high accuracy, comprehensively evaluating mechanical characteristic change of the stratum and the stratum stability to provide guidance in natural gas hydrate exploitation. |
| US09841527B2 |
Apparatus and method for downhole transient resistivity measurement and inversion
A method of processing electromagnetic signal data includes: disposing a downhole tool in a borehole in an earth formation, the downhole tool including at least one electromagnetic transmitter; performing a downhole electromagnetic operation, the operation including transmitting an electromagnetic pulse from the transmitter into the formation and measuring a time domain transient electromagnetic (TEM) signal over a selected time interval following a transmitter turn-off time; transforming the measured time domain TEM signal into a frequency domain TEM signal measured; and applying an inversion technique to the transformed frequency domain TEM signal to estimate one or more formation parameters. |
| US09841526B2 |
Formation imaging with multi-pole antennas
Various embodiments include systems and methods that operate to provide reservoir imaging. The systems and methods can include a number of transmitter antennas and a number of receiving antennas arranged to operate as one or more multi-pole antennas, controlled to generate high resolution cross-well formation images. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US09841524B2 |
Metal object detection device
A metal object detection device includes a plurality of detection coils, a capacitor configuring a resonant circuit in cooperation with each of at least two of the detection coils, a first series connection body, a second series connection body, a voltage applying unit, and a processing unit. The voltage applying unit applies an AC voltage to both ends of each of the first series connection body and the second series connection body. The processing unit performs a process for detecting the metal object on the basis of a potential difference between a connection point included in the first series connection body and a connection point included in the second series connection body. |
| US09841523B2 |
Tube wave generation
A method to generate a tube wave in a tubular system involves reciprocating a plunger in a chamber system to alternatingly increase and decrease net volume, drawing fluid from and returning the fluid to a tubular system and into and from the chamber system, to generate a tube wave, and guiding the tube wave to the tubular system. Also, a tube wave generator-sensor system has a chamber system, a plunger, a driver to reciprocate the plunger within the chamber system to generate a tube wave, a flow passage to guide the tube wave into a tubular system, and a sensor to receive the tube wave signal and/or response from the tubular system. The method and system can work with or without a firing valve and or accumulator, without adding or subtracting fluid from the tubular system. |
| US09841519B2 |
Seismic sensor devices, systems, and methods including noise filtering
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for sensing acoustic waves in a medium. One example system includes a first elongated member, a first motion sensor sensitive to vibrations of the first elongated member, a second motion sensor spaced apart from the first motion sensor and also sensitive to vibrations of the first elongated member, and a first vibration source operably coupled to the first elongated member and configured to vibrate the first elongated member. |
| US09841514B2 |
X-ray detector arrangement
The proposed technology relates to an x-ray detector arrangement having x-ray detector sub-modules arranged in two or more layers, where the separation between adjacent sub-modules in a lower layer is smaller than the corresponding separation between sub-modules in an upper layer. |
| US09841513B2 |
X-ray detector
The present disclosure relates to an X-ray detector which includes a pixel unit configured to include a photodiode and to output a voltage corresponding to an incident amount of X-rays, a comparator configured to compare the output voltage of the pixel unit with a preset threshold voltage to output a logic signal, and a counter configured to count the output signal of the comparator to convert to a digital output. |
| US09841510B2 |
Radiation detector with photosensitive elements that can have high aspect ratios
The invention relates to a radiation detector (100) and to a method for manufacturing such a detector. In a preferred embodiment, the radiation detector (100) comprises an array of photosensitive pillars (110) that are embedded in a conversion material (120). The photosensitive pillars may particularly be diodes connected at their ends to external circuits (130, 140). The conversion material (120) may particularly comprise a powder of scintillator particles (121) embedded in a matrix of binder. |
| US09841507B2 |
Wireless device for indoor positioning
A wireless device for indoor positioning has a satellite positioning system, a transceiver, a motion measurement system, and a position estimation system. The satellite positioning system is configured to determine a location of the device based on received satellite positioning signals. The wireless local area network transceiver is configured to measure while in the areas of non-reception, signals transmitted by wireless local area network (WLAN) access points (APs). The motion measurement system is configured to measure movement of the wireless device. The position estimation system is configured to determine a reference location, and record measurements of movement. The reference location and the recorded measurements are to be provided to a positioning database that generates a positioning grid. |
| US09841501B1 |
Use of blink counts to locate movable tagged assets
A method of locating a tagged movable asset comprises determining blink counts for receivers in a plurality of zones, and selecting one of the zones according to a comparison of the blink counts. |
| US09841496B2 |
Multiple pattern illumination optics for time of flight system
Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for creating multiple patterns of flood illumination for a time of flight (TOF) camera system. Light is generated, and from the generated light, illumination light is formed that is projected into an image environment. The illumination light is formed by: diverging the generated light to form divergent light characterized by a light profile that is less intense in a first region centered on an optical axis of the divergent light than in a second region that at least partially rings the first region, and converting the divergent light into a plurality of illumination light patterns to be projected into the illumination environment. The illumination light patterns are each projected to a corresponding region of the illumination environment. |
| US09841489B2 |
Mitigation of multipath distortions for TDOA-based geolocation
Method and system for radiolocation of RF transmitter in the presence of multipath interference. RF receivers are spatially separated at known locations in a moderate multipath environment in the vicinity of the transmitter. Upon detection of a received active RF signal associated with the transmitter, the receivers are directed to acquire measurements of the detected RF signal. Each receiver obtains a sequence of measurements of the RF signal at different positions along a trajectory that provides multiple measurements at relative phase differences between the direct-path and the multipath reflections of the detected RF signal. The receivers may be repositioned automatically or manually, or prearranged or selectively deployed at fixed positions along the trajectory. TDOA measurements between pairs of receivers are calculated based on the obtained measurements, and are averaged to provide a respective updated TDOA measurement value for each receiver pair, which is used to determine the transmitter location. |
| US09841488B2 |
IR detector system and method
An Infra Red detector system and method is disclosed that implements a digital coordinate generator onto a 2D focal plane array infrared detector. The method used in this form of the invention by the IR detector system, generates X-Y coordinate data for pixels containing detected target data. Advantageously, it reduces subsequent signal post processing required to generate the same data using numerical processing techniques in software and the latency that this introduces. |
| US09841484B2 |
Resonator device for electron spin resonance
In some aspects, a resonator device for spin resonance applications is described. In some examples, the resonator device includes a substrate, terminals, and resonators. The terminals include a first terminal having first terminal segments disposed on a substrate surface, and a second terminal having second terminal segments disposed on the substrate surface opposite the first terminal segments. The resonators include conductors disposed on the substrate surface between the first and second terminals. Each conductor is disposed between one of the first terminal segments and a respective, opposite one of the second terminal segments. |
| US09841483B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging method and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
In one embodiment a magnetic resonance imaging method includes the steps of comparing a first image and a second image to determine whether there is a distorted region present in the first image or the second image, each of the first image and second image having a total field of view that is the distance of the image along an axis, assigning an affected field of view to a width of the distorted region, determining an acceleration factor by dividing the total field of view of one or both of the first image and the second image by the affected field of view, acquiring sampled image data according to the acceleration factor of one or both of the first image and the second image and applying a mask to a third image in the affected field of view. |
| US09841482B2 |
Iterative sense denoising with feedback
A magnetic resonance imaging system (1) includes a denoising unit (24), and a reconstruction unit (20). The denoising unit (24) denoises a partial image and provides a spatially localized measure of a denoising effectivity. The reconstruction unit (20) iteratively reconstructs an output image from the received MR data processed with a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and in subsequent iterations includes the denoised partial image and the spatially localized measure of the denoising effectivity. |
| US09841478B2 |
Method and control device to operate a magnetic resonance system
In a method and a control device for operating a magnetic resonance system by a pulse sequence that includes an excitation phase, material in an examination volume is excited by emission of an RF excitation pulse during a selection gradient pulse in a first gradient direction. RF refocusing pulses are then emitted and readout gradient pulses are activated in a second gradient direction for spatially coded acquisition of raw data of the examination volume along the second gradient direction. A prephasing gradient pulse is switched before a first RF refocusing pulse in the second gradient direction, and/or a rephaser gradient pulse is switched before an RF restore pulse, following the RF refocusing pulses, in the second gradient direction. The prephaser gradient pulse and/or the rephaser gradient pulse have lower slew rates than the readout gradient pulses. |
| US09841473B2 |
MR surface coil with integrated automatic patient immobilization
A magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) local coil includes at least two parts that may be moved relative to one another. At least one part of the at least two parts has elements that, in a closed state of the MRT local coil, presses directly or via pressure elements on at least one closed volume area in another part of the at least two parts. The at least one closed volume area is displaced by this in the closed state of the local coil into a coil interior space inside the local coil until the closed volume area rests against a patient. |
| US09841472B2 |
Magnetoelectric sensor and method for the production thereof
Magnetoelectric sensors that can be manufactured using known methods of thin film technology and output an ME voltage that is many times higher for a predetermined magnetic field than the known cantilever-beam sensor. The design that is termed separator ME sensor is characterized by the arrangement of a thick dielectric layer (14) between the ferroelectric (10) and the magnetostrictive phases (12), and by an electrode arrangement (18) applied on one side of the ferroelectric (10) and that is engineered to tap the ME voltage along the extent of the layer. Advantageously, it can be manufactured easily by coating conventional dielectric substrates (14) on the front and rear with one each of the functional layers (10, 12). |
| US09841460B2 |
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit may include a first semiconductor device including a first through-silicon via configured for electrically coupling a first bump pad to a second bump pad, and may be configured to buffer a first internal test signal generated by a test signal inputted through the first bump pad and generate a first detection signal. The integrated circuit may include a second semiconductor device including a second through-silicon via configured for electrically coupling a third bump pad to a fourth bump pad, and may be configured to buffer a second internal test signal generated by the test signal inputted through the third bump pad and generate a second detection signal. The third bump pad may be electrically coupled with the second bump pad. |
| US09841459B2 |
Device and method for controlling IC temperature
A device for controlling IC temperature capable of bringing a device-under-test to a predetermined temperature includes a compressor, temperature controller element, thermal sensing element, heat insulating structure, input/output terminal and a temperature controller. The compressor has a base and a contact portion contacting the DUT directly. The thermal sensing element is attached to the temperature controlling element contacting the base. The heat insulation structure surrounds the temperature controlling element and a portion of the compressor. The input/output terminal, having a signal line and at least one power line, is disposed on the heat insulation structure. The power and signal lines connected to the temperature sensor are connected to the temperature controlling element and thermal sensing element respectively. The temperature sensor powers the temperature controlling element and controls temperature thereof. Temperature of the temperature controlling element is obtained by measuring electrical properties of thermal sensing element via signal line. |
| US09841455B2 |
Transmitter configured for test signal injection to test AC-coupled interconnect
In one example, a driver circuit includes a differential transistor pair configured to be biased by a current source and including a differential input and a differential output. The driver circuit further includes a resistor pair coupled between a node pair and the differential output, a transistor pair coupled between a voltage supply and the node pair, and a bridge transistor coupled between the node pair. The driver circuit further includes a pair of three-state circuit elements having a respective pair of input ports, a respective pair of control ports, and a respective pair of output ports. The pair of output ports is respectively coupled to the node pair. The pair of control ports is coupled to a common node comprising each gate of the transistor pair and a gate of the bridge transistor. |
| US09841452B2 |
Earphone connection interface and method of operating earphone, and terminal for supporting the same
An earphone connection interface is provided. The earphone connection interface includes a first detector disposed at a first area to detect an electrical change according to a contact state of the first area, and a second detector disposed at a second area different from the first area to detect an electrical change according to a contact state of the second area. |
| US09841448B2 |
Resonant system and method of determining a dielectric constant of a sample
The present invention pertains to a resonant cavity system, more specifically, a resonant system for measuring the dielectric constant of a sample and its method of use. The system and method provide for holding sample materials, which can be in solid, liquid, or powder form, and for reducing the size of the requisite cavity for measurement. The construction incorporates waveguide flange connectors to seal the electromagnetic cavity, which facilitates the measurement of low-loss materials. The design for signal input enables the use of standard calibration techniques and measurement. |
| US09841446B1 |
Conversion rate control for analog to digital conversion
A method, apparatus, and energy metering system obtains mains samples of a mains power line signal, performs non-white noise (NWN) filtering of the mains power line signal, obtains adjustable clock source samples of an adjustable clock signal of an adjustable clock oscillator, determines a difference based on the mains samples and the adjustable clock source samples, adjusts an adjustable clock source frequency of the adjustable clock oscillator based on the difference, and applies the adjustable clock source frequency to an analog to digital converter (ADC) to determine a conversion rate of the ADC. |
| US09841440B2 |
Current detection circuit and magnetic detection device provided with same
A current detection circuit includes a coil that is constituted by a metal wiring formed on a semiconductor substrate, a resistor that is provided in a position near the coil on the semiconductor substrate, constituted by a metal wiring formed on the semiconductor substrate, which is made of a metal material being same as that of the coil, and arranged so as to prevent any magnetic field from being generated due to a current flowing in the resistor, an output circuit that outputs currents in accordance with a resistance ratio between the coil and the resistor to the coil and the resistor correspondingly through a common terminal, and a detection circuit that detects the current flowing in the resistor to thereby detect the current flowing in the coil. |
| US09841438B2 |
Guide plate for a probe card and probe card provided with same
It is an object of the invention to provide a guide plate for a probe card with fine through holes at tight pitches and with increased strength. The guide plate 100 for a probe card includes a metal base 110; first insulation layers 120; and metal layers 130. The metal base 110 has a plurality of through holes 111 to receive probes therethrough, and inner walls of the through holes 111. The first insulation layers 120 are of tuboid shape and provided on the respective inner walls of the through holes 111 of the metal base 110. The metal layers 130 are provided on the first insulation layers 120. |
| US09841434B2 |
Method for producing an acceleration sensor
The invention relates to a method for producing an acceleration sensor having a housing (1), which has a cylindrical or cubic basic shape, having at least one internal support (4) and having a sensor element (2) arranged thereon. According to the invention a sensor element (2) comprising a main body (29) having a head part (21) and an end face (24) opposing said head part (21) is premounted, by surrounding the head part (21) with at least one piezoelectric measuring element (23), a seismic composition (22) and a clamping ring (27). The end face (24) is subsequently positioned on the inner support (4) of the housing (1) in contact therewith to form a contact zone (7) between the end face (24) and the support (4). Finally, the sensor element (2) is welded in this contact zone (7) to the housing (1). The invention further relates to an acceleration sensor produced using said method. |
| US09841433B2 |
Wind direction indicator
A wind direction indicator for hunters includes a smoke generator, a housing, an electrical power source, an air pump and a switch all arranged such that the indicator may be actuated by a hunter using a single hand. The smoke generator may be a cartomizer as an example. |
| US09841431B2 |
Lipidomic biomarkers for identification of high-risk coronary artery disease patients
The present invention inter alia provides a method, and use thereof, of predicting severe CVD complications such as AMI or CVD death by detecting the lipid concentrations or lipid ratios of a biological sample and comparing it to a control and has identified specific lipid markers that are more specific and sensitive in predicting these CVD complications than currently utilized clinical markers. Also provided is an antibodies towards said lipids, and the use thereof for predicting, diagnosing, preventing and/or treating CVD complications. The invention additionally relates to kits comprising lipids and/or an antibody thereto, for use in the prediction and/or diagnosis of CVD complications. |
| US09841426B2 |
Intracellular organelle peptide targeted enzyme substrates
This invention relates to substrates and methods for the visualization of intracellular organelles, such as the lysosome, peroxiosome, nucleus, Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus, based upon organelle enzyme activity. Such compounds represent a novel combination of chemically distinct enzyme substrates with targeting and detection substrates which are activated by enzyme activity inside target organelles to produce a detectable signal. The organelle targeted enzyme substrates of this invention are designed to provide high fluorescence at lower pH values found in some organelles and can be used for monitoring enzyme activity inside cells at very low concentrations. |
| US09841423B2 |
Methods for diagnosing and treating Helicobacter pylori infection
The present invention provides methods for diagnosing and treating Helicobacter pylori infection by using a monoclonal antibody to detect Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) and inhibit the activity thereof. The monoclonal antibody is an ANTI-FLAG antibody that binds to a specific epitope on HP-NAP for the detection of HP-NAP in its native form or denatured form. Furthermore, the present invention uses the ANTI-FLAG antibody to block HP-NAP-induced production of reactive oxygen species by human neutrophils. Thus, the present invention can be applied in clinical diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection as well as treatment of the infection via inhibiting Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation. |
| US09841419B2 |
Sensor device and a method of sampling
A sample is added to a chamber (12) in which magnetic particles (P) are provided. The sample includes a target component (T) and the chamber (12) has a detection surface (122). A magnetic force is exerted on the magnetic particles (P) to attract the magnetic particles (P) to the detection surface (122). The bound magnetic particles that captured the target component (T) in the magnetic particles (P) and the unbound magnetic particles that captured no target component (T) in the magnetic particles (P) are held at the detection surface (122). At least part of the sample is drained out of the chamber (12) and a new sample added to the chamber (12). The magnetic force exerted on the magnetic particles (P) is altered to release the unbound magnetic particles from the detection surface (122). An amount of the bound magnetic particles that are held at the detection surface (122) are measured. The target component (T) is preconcentrated by repeating the steps of magnetically binding the target component (T) from the newly added sample and washing the detection surface (122) from unbound magnetic particles. |
| US09841416B2 |
Systems and methods for single-molecule nucleic-acid assay platforms
Integrated circuits for a single-molecule nucleic-acid assay platform, and methods for making such circuits are disclosed. In one example, a method includes transferring one or more carbon nanotubes to a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) substrate, and forming a pair of post-processed electrodes on the substrate proximate opposing ends of the one or more carbon nanotubes. |
| US09841401B2 |
Capillary electrophoresis method for analyzing collagen
A capillary electrophoresis method for identification and analyzing collagen quantitatively, which is used to identify and quantify collagen in a sample, comprises the steps of: (a) dissolving a collagen-containing sample to form a sample solution; (b) preparing a capillary with an inner wall thereof having a positively-charged layer; (c) introducing the sample solution into the capillary filled with an analytical buffer solution; and (d) driving the sample solution to pass through the capillary. The method of the present invention does not need the purifying pre-treatment and cracking the collagen-containing sample but directly performs the capillary electrophoresis analysis of collagen. Therefore, the present invention can shorten the time for analyzing collagen quantitatively. |
| US09841398B2 |
Methods for manufacturing well structures for low-noise chemical sensors
In one implementation, a method for manufacturing a chemical detection device is described. The method includes forming a chemical sensor having a sensing surface. A dielectric material is deposited on the sensing surface. A first etch process is performed to partially etch the dielectric material to define an opening over the sensing surface and leave remaining dielectric material on the sensing surface. An etch protect material is formed on a sidewall of the opening. A second etch process is then performed to selectively etch the remaining dielectric material using the etch protect material as an etch mask, thereby exposing the sensing surface. |
| US09841397B2 |
Sensor element including a strip conductor and a reference gas channel
A sensor element for detecting a physical property of a gas includes: a solid electrolyte film; a first end area and a second end area situated diametrically opposite in the longitudinal direction; a functional element in the first end area in the interior which is electrically conductively connected to a contact surface situated in the second end area on the outer surface, the electrically conductive connection having a strip conductor running essentially in the longitudinal direction in the interior of the sensor element; and a reference gas channel running essentially in the longitudinal direction of the sensor element communicating with a reference gas outside of the sensor element via a reference gas opening, the strip conductor and the reference gas channel being situated in such a way that at least a partial overlap occurs between them. |
| US09841396B2 |
Assay devices with integrated sample dilution and dilution verification and methods of using same
The invention is to devices and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature for forming a diluted sample for analysis. The devices and methods also include a dilution verification feature for verifying the degree of dilution of the diluted sample. The devices preferably are capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided. |
| US09841393B2 |
Sensor of volatile substances with integrated heater and process for manufacturing a sensor of volatile substances
A sensor of volatile substances including: a sensitive layer, of a sensitive material that is permeable to a volatile substance and has an electrical permittivity depending upon a concentration of the volatile substance absorbed; a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure capacitively coupled together and arranged so that a capacitance between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure is affected by the electrical permittivity of the sensitive material; and a supply device, configured to supply a heating current through one between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure in a first operating condition, so as to heat the sensitive layer. |
| US09841391B2 |
Hand-held test meter with integrated thermal channel
A hand-held test meter includes an electrically and thermally insulating case (“ETIC”) with an outwardly facing surface, a test meter electrical component (“TMEC”) with a thermal contact portion disposed within the electrically-insulating case, and at least one thermal channel. The thermal channel includes a proximal contact portion with a proximal contact surface, a distal contact portion with a distal surface, and a channel portion connecting the proximal contact portion and the distal contact portion. The thermal channel is integrated with the ETIC such that the thermal channel extends through the ETIC from the outwardly facing surface and to the thermal contact portion of the TMEC. The extension is such that the proximal contact surface of the thermal channel is outside of the ETIC and the distal surface of the thermal channel is in contact with the thermal contact portion of the TMEC. The thermal channel is thermally conductive and electrically-insulating. |
| US09841390B2 |
Identification of materials from a hydrogen to electron ratio
A method of examination of an object comprising the steps of: applying a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance technique to obtain a data item correlated to the relative nuclear susceptibility within the sample; obtaining a further data item correlated to another measure of the object under examination; determining therefrom a ratio. |
| US09841389B2 |
Photon-counting type X-ray computed tomography apparatus and method
A photon-counting type X-ray computed tomography apparatus that comprises a high-voltage generator to generate a voltage signal, an X-ray tube to emit X-rays when the X-ray tube receives the voltage signal from the high-voltage generator, an X-ray detector to detect photons derived from the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube, and circuitry to count a number of the detected photons with respect to a plurality of energy bands, detect a number of photons in a first energy band that exceeds an energy level corresponding to a voltage value of the voltage signal, and changing a number of photons at a second energy band based on the detected number of photons in the first energy band, to correct for operational limitations of the X-ray detector. |
| US09841388B2 |
X-ray tomography device
An X-ray tomography device for providing a 3D image of a sample comprising a X-ray source, a cell, a photon detector and a processing unit. The processing unit computes the 3D tomography image on the basis of the acquired images corresponding to a plurality of cell angles. The cell is positioned so as the photon detector senses mainly photons coming from the sample inside the cell, and the photon detector is overexposed to cancel pixels corresponding to photons not coming from the sample. |
| US09841386B2 |
Radiation threat detection
Systems and methods for detecting clandestine fissile or radioactive material on the basis of emitted radiation and particles (such as neutrons and alpha particles) arising from within the material. Emission by the fissile or radioactive material is detected in conjunction with a conventional x-ray imaging system that includes an external source of illuminating penetrating radiation, at least one detector configured to detect at least the penetrating radiation and to generate a detector signal, and a processor configured as a detector signal discriminator to generate an output indicating whether the detector signal is triggered by an origin other than illuminating penetrating radiation. Active and passive modes of detection are described by some embodiments. Other embodiments are directed toward neutron detection, gamma ray detection with energy resolution, and designs of detectors to enhance the detection of clandestine nuclear material. |
| US09841384B2 |
Defect inspecting method and defect inspecting apparatus
A defect inspecting method and apparatus for inspecting a surface state including a defect on a wafer surface, in which a polarization state of a laser beam irradiated onto the wafer surface is connected into a specified polarization state, the converted laser beam having the specified polarization state is inserted onto the wafer surface, and a scattering light occurring from an irradiated region where the laser beam having the specified polarization state is irradiated, is separated into a first scattering light occurring due to a defect on the wafer and a second scattering light occurring due to a surface roughness on the wafer. An optical element for optical path division separates the first and second scattering lights approximately at the same time. |
| US09841383B2 |
Multiscale uniformity analysis of a material
A method for characterizing the uniformity of a material includes selecting a set of size scales at which to measure uniformity within an area of interest in an image of the material; suppressing features in the image smaller than a selected size scale of interest within the set of size scales; dividing the image into patches equal to the size scale of interest; and calculating a uniformity value within each patch. |
| US09841382B2 |
Methods and systems for analyzing a liquid medium
Methods and systems for colorimetrically analyzing a liquid medium by analyzing chemical test strip images are provided. The liquid medium can be industrial water in an industrial water system. Image analyzing software carries out the analysis. The results of the analysis can be used to diagnosing a chemical treatment regimen of the industrial water system. A chemical test strip holder can be used to enhance reliability and repeatability of the imaging process and/or subsequent analysis. |
| US09841381B2 |
Temperature change indicator and methods of making the same
Sensors including thermal load sensors and chemical or biological load sensors, and methods of making the sensors, are disclosed. The sensors may include a solid polymeric matrix and at least one organic indicating material encapsulated within the solid polymeric matrix, wherein the organic indicating material is configured to diffuse into the solid polymeric matrix at a phase transition temperature of the organic indicating material, and wherein an extent of diffusion indicates a target load on the sensor. The target load may, for example, be a thermal load, or a chemical or biological load. |
| US09841379B2 |
Fluorescence and phosphorescence detecting apparatus
To detect a fluorescent light and a phosphorescent light emitted from a paper sheet with a high precision, a fluorescence and phosphorescence detecting apparatus includes two sensor units. Each sensor unit includes a light source that emits an ultraviolet light on the paper sheet, an image sensor that captures images of the fluorescent light and the phosphorescent light excited on the paper sheet by irradiation of the ultraviolet light, and a light receiving lens that guides the fluorescent light and the phosphorescent light excited on the paper sheet to the image sensor. The two sensor units are arranged above and below the transport path and opposing each other across the transport path, and the light receiving lenses and the image sensors in the two sensor units are off-set along a transport direction of the paper sheet. |
| US09841376B2 |
High sensitivity metamaterial nano-sensing system with ultra-narrow line width spectral response
The invention relates to a metamaterial nano-sensing system, and in particular to a high-sensitivity metamaterial nano-sensing system with an ultra-narrow line width spectral response. The system includes an input light path, a metamaterial nano-sensing unit and an output light path which are sequentially provided along a direction of a light path, and the metamaterial nano-sensing unit includes a Bragg grating and a metallic periodic array arranged above the Bragg grating. The nano-sensing system provided by the invention has an ultra-narrow line width spectral response, so that sensitivity of a nanosensor is effectively improved, and broad application prospect in the fields of portable biosensing, drug development and detection, environment monitoring and the like is ensured. |
| US09841375B2 |
Coherently receiving simultaneous optical-based electrical signals
Systems for measuring optical properties of a specimen are disclosed. The systems are configured to sample signals related to the measurement of the properties of a specimen, and perform software-based coherent detection of the signals to generate resulting measurements are based on the signals acquired at substantially the same time instance. This facilitates the displaying or generating of the desired measurements in real time. In one configuration, the system is configured to direct a modulated light signal at a selected wavelength incident upon a specimen. In another configuration, the system is configured to direct a combined light signal, derived from a plurality of light signals at different wavelengths and modulated with different frequencies, incident upon a specimen. In yet another configuration, the system is configured to direct a plurality of light signals modulated with different frequencies incident upon different regions of a specimen. |
| US09841373B2 |
System and method for alkylation process analysis
A method and apparatus is provided for concentration determination of at least one component in an acid catalyst for hydrocarbon conversion containing an unknown concentration of an acid, an acid-soluble-oil (ASO), and water. An instrument configured for measuring a property of the acid catalyst, has responsivities to concentrations of one of the acid, ASO, and water, substantially independent of the concentrations of the others of the acid catalyst, ASO, and water. A temperature detector is configured to generate temperature data for the acid catalyst. A processor is configured to capture data generated by the temperature detector and the instrument, and to use the data in combination with a model to determine a temperature compensated concentration of the one of the acid, the ASO, and the water. Optionally, one or more other instruments configured for measuring other properties of the liquid mixture may also be used. |
| US09841372B2 |
Unambiguous retardance measurement
This invention is directed to methods of unambiguously measuring the absolute retardance, δA of an optical sample. A method for measuring absolute retardance of an optical sample includes directing light comprising a plurality of wavelengths through a polarization state generator source, the optical sample, and a polarization state analyzer, detecting, at an imaging device, retardance measurement light emanating from the optical sample after also passing through the polarization state analyzer at the plurality of wavelengths, determining a measurement retardance associated with the detected retardance measurement light at each of the wavelengths, and determining an absolute retardance associated with the optical sample based on the measurement retardances determined at each of the wavelengths. |
| US09841371B2 |
System for determining a composition of a sample using wavelength dependent variability measurement with multiple time intervals
Disclosed are apparatus, kits, methods, and systems that include a radiation source configured to direct radiation to a sample; a detector configured to measure radiation from the sample; an electronic processor configured to determine information about the sample based on the measured radiation; a housing enclosing the source, the detector, and the electronic processor, the housing having a hand-held form factor; an arm configured to maintain a separation between the sample and the housing, the arm including a first end configured to connect to the housing and a second end configured to contact the sample; and a layer positioned on the second end of the arm, the layer being configured to contact the sample and to transmit at least a portion of the radiation from the sample to the detector. |
| US09841370B2 |
Multi-layered target design
Multi-layered targets, design files and design and production methods thereof are provided. The multi-layered targets comprise process layers arranged to have parallel segmentation features at specified regions, and target layer comprising target elements which are perpendicular to the parallel segmentation features of the process layers at the specified regions. |
| US09841366B2 |
Method and device for determining the consumption of electrode material during the operation of an electric furnace
A method determines the consumption of electrode material during the operation of an electric furnace, particularly an arc furnace for producing steel. The method determines a weight of an electrode column, which is arranged in the electric furnace or is to be introduced into the electric furnace, using a weighing device. A device for determining the consumption of electrode material of an electric furnace, particularly an arc furnace for producing steel, is provided for performing the method. The device contains a weighing device for determining the weight of at least one electrode column which is arranged in the electric furnace or is to be introduced into the electric furnace, wherein the weighing device is integrated in an operating device of a system containing the electric furnace. Vibration conditions of the electrode column during operation of the electric furnace can also be determined with the method and with the device. |
| US09841365B2 |
Strain inspection device and attaching method thereof
A strain inspection device of a printed circuit board (PCB) which is easily cracked or damaged by external pressure (force) applied to the PCB while the PCB is being assembled, and an attaching method thereof. The strain inspection device of a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a fixing member; and a damage indicator fixed to the PCB by the fixing member, having a crack guide through hole, and cracked or damaged along a corner of the crack guide through hole due to deformation of the PCB. |
| US09841363B2 |
Modular equipment for automatically determining features of elongated textile samples of the yarns, threads, tapes type and the like
Modular equipment for automatically determining features of elongated textile samples is provided. The equipment includes a housing on which a loading module for loading inlet ends of textile samples to be tested is mounted, a measurement module for measuring at least feature of the textile samples, a handling device for handling the textile samples between the loading module and the measurement module, and a central unit of the programmable type for controlling and managing the loading module, the measurement module, and the handling means. The loading module includes gripping members that are arranged aligned to one another along a loading direction, a carriage that is driven in a movable manner in both translation senses along a translation direction parallel to the loading direction, and a motor associated with the carriage for operating the carriage moving along the translation direction. |
| US09841362B2 |
Endosseous dental implant loading fixture
An apparatus for fatigue testing an article includes a base having a platform for receiving an article to be tested, a shaft extending toward said platform for applying a force to said article, a coupling assembly connected to said shaft, said coupling assembly comprising a joint that pivots about an axis, and flex pivots disposed to be aligned with said axis about which said joint pivots. |
| US09841361B2 |
Device and method for testing pressure of hydraulic tools
Devices and methods are provided for testing and maintaining hydraulic tools and, in particular, devices and methods for testing and maintaining hydraulic forcible entry tools that are used to forcibly open locked doors, for example, in emergency situations. |
| US09841356B2 |
Combustion pressure sensor
A combustion pressure sensor is formed of a ring-shaped cylindrical body. The combustion pressure sensor detects combustion pressure in a combustion chamber of an engine by being attached to an outer periphery of a tip of a functional component attached to the combustion chamber. The cylindrical body forms sealed space sealed with a ring-shaped diaphragm on one side and with a ring-shaped support member on an opposite side. The sealed space is defined by an external cylindrical member and an internal cylindrical member coaxial with each other. The diaphragm has a ring-shaped pressure receiving part formed on a side near the combustion chamber to receive pressure from outside and a ring-shaped transmitting part formed on a rear surface of the diaphragm. A pressure transmitting member and a pressure detecting element are provided in the sealed space. Tight abutting contact is formed between the transmitting part of the diaphragm and the pressure transmitting member, between the pressure transmitting member and the pressure detecting element, and between the pressure detecting element and the support member. |
| US09841349B2 |
Method for distributedly measuring polarization transmission matrices of optical fiber and system thereof
A method for distributedly measuring polarization transmission matrices of an optical fiber includes steps of: inputting a fully polarized pulse into the optical fiber with linear birefringence only; and demodulating polarization states of Rayleigh backscattered light at different points on the optical fiber from a pulse input end; after demodulating, dividing the polarization states of the Rayleigh backscattered light into Q groups in sequence, wherein every three polarization states are divided into one group; calculating a transmission matrix of Group N; and solving the equation set using a numerical analysis method for obtaining multiple solutions, and screening the multiple solutions according to characteristics of the polarization transmission matrix, wherein each time of screening provides a unique solution Mx(N) of the equation set; continually updating MA values for iteration, so as to obtain the distribution of polarization transmission matrices of the optical fiber. |
| US09841345B2 |
Detection method and facility for checking sealed products for leaks
The invention concerns a detection method for checking sealed product packages for leaks, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: at least one previously sealed product (2) is placed in an air, nitrogen, or oxygen atmosphere, in a chamber (3) (step 101), the pressure in the chamber (3) is lowered to a secondary vacuum pressure below 10−1 mbar and, while continuing the secondary vacuum pumping of the chamber (3), the gases contained in the chamber are ionized to monitor the change in the chamber (3) of the concentration of at least one gaseous species of the gas volume contained within the sealed product (2) chosen from among nitrogen, oxygen, or argon, by analysis by optical emission or mass spectrometry (step 102). |
| US09841344B2 |
System and methods for monitoring leaks in underground storage tanks
Leak detection system and method for monitoring leaks in underground and aboveground storage tanks, pipelines or other containments, including single, double or triple wall containments are provided. A leak detection apparatus includes an oxidation chamber, a chemical marker concentrator, a mass spectrometer (MS) ion trap and a scroll vacuum pump. Vapor samples carrying marker chemicals introduced into a tank, pipeline, or other containment are injected at sample injection point into an oxidation chamber. Oxygen from an oxygen source is fed into oxidation chamber to destroy or oxidize contaminates such as hydrocarbons in the vapor without destroying or oxidizing the chemical markers. Effluent from the oxidation chamber is passed to an elongate conduit with a metal foil or screen suspended within the conduit. The marker chemicals are attracted by a chemical coating on the foil/screen and released by heating the metal. The released marker chemicals are fed into a mass spec ion trap for leakage analysis and results. |
| US09841343B1 |
Blowout preventer (BOP) test tool and methods
A test tool and related method for testing a blowout preventer (BOP). The test tool includes a first sub, a first pipe adapted to be connected to, and disconnected from, the first sub, the first pipe including an external spline, a second sub adapted to be connected to, and disconnected from, the first sub, the second sub including an internal spline adapted to engage the external spline of the first pipe, and a second pipe adapted to be connected to the second sub. The test tool includes an operational configuration in which the internal spline of the second sub engages the external spline of the first pipe so that a torque is transferable from the second sub to the first pipe via at least the engagement between the internal spline and the external spline. One or more high pressure low torque (HPLT) connections are incorporated into the test tool. |
| US09841342B2 |
Leak detection device and method for checking objects for fluid tightness by means of a leak detection device
A leak detection device has a test chamber which, for evacuation, is connected to an evacuation pump device. Moreover, the test chamber is connected by a test gas line to a test gas pump device. The test gas pump device is connected, at its main inlet, to a test gas detector, such that a detection of test gas can take place using the counter-current principle. A valve device is arranged in the test gas line. This valve device has a test gas chamber for temporary storage of test gas removed from the test chamber. |
| US09841341B2 |
Package for semiconductor devices sensitive to mechanical and thermo-mechanical stresses, such as MEMS pressure sensors
A surface mounting device has one body of semiconductor material such as an ASIC, and a package surrounding the body. The package has a base region carrying the body, a cap and contact terminals. The base region has a Young's modulus lower than 5 MPa. For forming the device, the body is attached to a supporting frame including contact terminals and a die pad, separated by cavities; bonding wires are soldered to the body and to the contact terminals; an elastic material is molded so as to surround at least in part lateral sides of the body, fill the cavities of the supporting frame and cover the ends of the bonding wires on the contact terminals; and a cap is fixed to the base region. The die pad is then etched away. |
| US09841336B2 |
Pressure sensor, measuring device, reaction carrier and measuring method
A pressure sensor (100) for a measuring system (10) measuring concentrations of gaseous and/or aerosol components of a gas mixture with a reaction carrier (14), with a flow channel (42). The flow channel (42) forms a reaction chamber (46) with a reactant (48), that enters into an optically detectable reaction, and with a measuring device (12) with a gas port unit (5) connecting an inlet channel (16) and an outlet channel (18) to the flow channel (42) and a gas delivery unit (28). The pressure sensor (100) measures a pressure difference of a gas mixture flowing through the gas delivery assembly unit (2) and/or the flow channel (42) of the reaction carrier (14) and has an elastic element (102), which is configured to undergo deformation as a function of the pressure difference. A measuring method, a measuring device and a reaction carrier for such a measuring system are also provided. |
| US09841335B2 |
Sensor for detecting a temperature and a pressure of a fluid medium
A sensor for detecting a temperature and a pressure of a fluid medium includes at least one housing, at least one temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fluid medium and at least one pressure sensor element for detecting the pressure of the fluid medium. An activation and/or evaluation circuit is situated in the housing. The activation and/or evaluation circuit is situated on a circuit carrier. The activation and/or evaluation circuit is connected to the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor element. The temperature sensor has at least one connecting line including a connecting section for connecting to the activation and/or evaluation circuit. The circuit carrier has one recess. The connecting section is angled toward the connecting lines. The connecting section protrudes through the recess for connecting to the activation and/or evaluation circuit. |
| US09841333B2 |
Method and system for measuring torque in a tiltrotor aircraft
A method for calculating torque through a rotor mast of a propulsion system of a tiltrotor aircraft includes receiving the torque being applied through a quill shaft of the rotorcraft. The quill shaft is located between a fixed gearbox and a spindle gearbox, and the spindle gearbox is rotatable about a conversion access. The torque through the rotor mast is determined by using the torque through the quill shaft and the efficiency loss value between the quill shaft and the rotor mast. |
| US09841329B2 |
Strain gage based system and method for failure detection of a fluid film bearing
A system and method for detecting a failure of a fluid film bearing is disclosed. The system and method use one or more non-laser based strain transducers to detect changes in the frequency spectrum of the pressure of the fluid film at one or more locations in the bearing to identify failure or the risk of failure of the bearing. The system and can use metallic film, piezoelectric, and piezoresistive strain sensors to generate alarms when particular frequency bands become present in the strain frequency spectrum. The system and method can also generate strain orbit plots and perform waveform analysis of the time varying strains in the bearing housing caused by time-varying changes in the pressure of the fluid film. |
| US09841327B2 |
Method of producing conductive patterns of nanoparticles and devices made thereof
A method of processing a liquid material. The method includes mixing a liquid material with a solvent, wherein the solvent has a constituent capable of coating the particles of the material. The liquid material mixed with the solvent is then particlized, deposited on a substrate and activated to form a pre-defined electrically conductive pattern. Particlization methods include sonication and the deposition methods include ink-jet printing. Activation methods include applying mechanical pressure. The method can be used to produce electronic devices. The electronic devices made by the method include strain gauges. The substrates utilized for making the electronic devices utilizing the method can be wearable or stretchable or both. |
| US09841326B2 |
Thermal detection circuit
A circuit is disclosed that includes a first differential input pair and a second differential input pair. The first differential input pair is activated according to an output of the second differential input pair, and receives a first temperature-dependent voltage and an output signal. The second differential input pair is activated according to an output of the first differential input pair, and receives a second temperature-dependent voltage and the output signal. The switching circuit couples a capacitive element to a first voltage supply according to the output of the first differential input pair, and the capacitive element to a second voltage supply according to the output of the second differential input pair, to generate the output signal. |
| US09841323B2 |
Spectroscopic unit and spectroscopic device using same
A spectroscopic unit and spectroscopic device according to the present invention are provided with a filter that is provided with a plurality of optical filter elements disposed in order from the entrance side to the exit side of light under measurement and has different transmission wavelengths corresponding to entrance positions along a first direction. A first optical filter element from among the plurality of optical filter elements is tilted with respect to a second optical filter element disposed adjacently to the first optical filter element as a result of the first optical filter element being rotated by a prescribed angle with a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and s second direction from the entrance side to the exit side as the axis of rotation thereof or being rotated by a prescribed angle with the first direction as the axis of rotation thereof. |
| US09841322B1 |
Spectral imaging with multiple illumination sources
A spectrometric device for optical analysis of material composition, coating thickness, surface porosity, and/or other characteristics uses several monochromatic light sources—e.g., laser diodes—to illuminate a sample, with a camera taking an image of the sample under each source's light, and with the various images then being combined to generate a (hyper)spectral image. To address the difficulty in obtaining uniform illumination intensity across the illuminated sample area with solid-state light sources, the output from the light sources may be supplied to an integrating sphere (preferably after being combined within a fiber combiner), and then to a fiber bundle whose output ends are configured as a ring light (a ring of fiber ends directing light at a common spot). The camera may then focus on the spot, at which the sample may be placed for illumination and imaging. |
| US09841321B2 |
Visual indicator of scan workflow
A hand-held spectrometer includes at least one indicator light and a processor configured to control the at least one indicator light to indicate a state of the hand-held spectrometer selected from a group consisting of a background scanning state, a ready-to-scan-sample state, a signal strength state, a fluorescence intensity state, a sample match state, a sample classification state, an error state, a data transfer state, a battery charge state, and a memory capacity state. The sample match state can be, for example, one of a positive match state, a mixture match state, a negative match state, and a match error state. In some embodiments, the error state can be at least one of a background error state, a user error state, and an instrument error state, or any combination thereof. |
| US09841318B1 |
Apparatus for acoustic sensing
The invention provides an improved acoustic energy generating apparatus that includes an improved backing structure. The improved backing structure employs protrusions that are not located in a uniform pattern along a forward side surface of the backing structure, to realize improved re-direction of acoustic energy towards a forward direction relative to the acoustic energy generating apparatus. |
| US09841314B2 |
Systems and methods for freight tracking and monitoring
System, methods, and computer program products are provided for enhanced freight tracking and monitoring. The system may track the location of a freight shipment within a carrier's transportation network from the time it is picked up by a carrier from a consignor until it is delivered to a consignee, provide for weight determinations and shipping re-classifications of the freight shipment during transport, and provide real-time status information and reports to the carrier, consignor, and/or consignee. |
| US09841306B2 |
High-speed volume measurement system and method
Disclosed is a volume sensor having first, second, and third laser sources emitting first, second, and third laser beams; first, second, and third beam splitters splitting the first, second, and third laser beams into first, second, and third beam pairs; first, second, and third optical assemblies expanding the first, second, and third beam pairs into first, second, and third pairs of parallel beam sheets; fourth, fifth, and sixth optical assemblies focusing the first, second, and third beam sheet pairs into fourth, fifth, and sixth beam pairs; and first, second, and third detector pairs receiving the fourth, fifth, and sixth beam pairs and converting a change in intensity of at least one of the beam pairs resulting from an object passing through at least one of the first, second, and third parallel beam sheets into at least one electrical signal proportional to a three-dimensional representation of the object. |
| US09841305B2 |
Sensor device for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing through a duct
A sensor device for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing through a duct, e.g., an intake air mass flow of an internal combustion engine, includes: a sensor housing, e.g., a sensor plug that is placed or that can be placed into a flow tube, in which the duct is fashioned; and at least one sensor chip situated in the duct for determining the parameter of the fluid medium. The sensor chip has a sensor area. The sensor housing has an inlet into the duct that is oriented opposite a main direction of flow of the fluid medium, and has at least one outlet from the duct. The sensor area is covered at least partly by an electrically conductive layer. |
| US09841304B2 |
Air data system
An air data system includes an avionics system and a plurality of sensors associated with the avionics system, each of the sensors providing a signal indicative of a parameter used by the avionic system to determine the flight status of the aircraft. At least one air data probe is electronically coupled to the avionics system. At least one pitot static probe is coupled to a pressure transducer through pneumatic tubing, the pressure transducer is electronically coupled to the avionics system. |
| US09841292B2 |
Screen transitions in a geographic application
The display device of a portable device is configured to operate in at least a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation. Instructions, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to detect a first transition from the first physical orientation of the display device to the second physical orientation of the display device, detect a second transition from the second physical orientation of the display device to the first physical orientation of the display device, and, in response to the second transition, select a presentation format for displaying geographic content via the display device in the first physical orientation, based at least in part on a prior presentation format according to which the geographic content was presented via the display device prior to the first transition. |
| US09841291B2 |
Generating turn-by-turn direction previews
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to generating turn-by-turn direction previews. In one aspect, one or more computing devices, may receive a request for a turn-by-turn direction preview. The one or more computing devices may generate a set of turn-by-turn directions based on a series of road segments connecting a first geographic location and a second geographic location. Each direction in the set of turn-by-turn directions may be associated with a corresponding waypoint. The one or more computing devices then identify a set of images corresponding the series of road segments between two adjacent waypoints of the set of turn-by-turn directions, and determine a subset of the set of images to include in the turn-by-turn direction preview. Subsequently, the one or more computing devices may generate the turn-by-turn direction preview based on at least in part on the determined subset of the set of images. |
| US09841288B2 |
Packaged tours with turn-by-turn navigation
An improved guidance system and method provide a packaged tour object having tour directions and media related to points of interest of a tour for playing via a telematics unit. A user is provided, via their telematics unit, with specific directions to access points of interest of the tour in a certain sequence, while the telematics unit optionally conveys media content to the user at appropriate points. The media content may be keyed to an upcoming site, and may comprise audio and/or visual information. In addition, user convenience information such as parking and ticketing information may be contained ion the packaged tour object for presentation via the telematics unit. |
| US09841282B2 |
Successive offer communications with an offer recipient
Successive offer communications are sent to an offer recipient. A first offer communication includes an offer of a merchant and the second offer communication includes an announcement about the offer. The first and second offer communications are each formatted to be rendered by respective communication device, such as a mobile phone of the offer recipient or a Point of Interaction (POI) terminal. The content of the offer communications may be tailored to the offer recipient based on the offer recipient's past transactions within a transaction processing system or a real time geographical location of the offer recipient. |
| US09841278B2 |
System and method for resolving information about a rotor comprising a measuring device for measuring and recording in a fixed rotor state without vibration due to rotation
A system and method for resolving the angular position of a rotor evaluates the real size of the stripes or gears on the rotor by an auxiliary device, such as a sensor shift device in a first embodiment or a camera in a second embodiment, at a fixed rotor, thus eliminating systematic errors and influence of rotor vibration during this calibration. By knowing the actual size or angular increment or produced sensor signal of each repeating element, a compensation of the error can be made and accuracy can be dramatically increased. |
| US09841277B2 |
Graphical feedback during 3D scanning operations for obtaining optimal scan resolution
This application teaches a method for indicating voxel quality comprising graphically and/or mathematically. Such a method may include measuring a distance from the three-dimensional scanning device to an area of a subject corresponding to an image voxel. It may also include measuring an angle between a line of sight from the three-dimensional imaging device and an orthogonal ray of the same area of the subject corresponding to the same voxel. The process may further include comparing the measured distance and angle to known acceptable operating ranges of the scanner, and plotting a quality point corresponding to the foregoing metrics on a set of axes. |
| US09841276B2 |
System and method for developing three-dimensional surface information corresponding to a contoured glass sheet
A system for acquiring surface data from one of the surfaces of a curved glass sheet and developing a surface definition of the glass sheet includes a conveyor for conveying the glass sheet in a first direction, at least one display projecting a preselected multi-phase non-repeating contrasting pattern, and at least one camera, each one of the cameras uniquely paired with one of the displays. The system may also include a control programmed to execute logic for controlling each of the camera/display pairs to acquire the desired images, and logic for analyzing and combining the data acquired by the cameras to construct a definition of the surface of the glass sheet. |
| US09841272B2 |
Film thickness measuring device and film thickness measuring method
A film thickness measuring device including: a terahertz wave generator; a prism that has an entrance surface, an abutment surface capable of abutting a surface of a sample including a first film on a side where the first film is formed, and an emission surface; a terahertz wave detector that detects an S-polarization component and a P-polarization component of a reflected wave from the sample, emitted from the emission surface of the prism; and a control section configured to determine a thickness of the first film formed in the sample, based on a difference between a time waveform of the S-polarization component of the reflected wave and a time waveform of the P-polarization component of the reflected wave. |
| US09841266B2 |
Apparatus and method for magnetic sensor based surface shape analysis spatial positioning in a uniform magnetic field
A device has a flexible substrate supporting an array of magnetic sensors exposed to a uniform external magnetic field. One or more controllers receive magnetic sensor signals from the magnetic sensors. The one or more controllers collect reference magnetic sensor signals when the flexible substrate is aligned with the uniform external magnetic field. The one or more controllers collect first polarity magnetic sensor signals in response to deformation of the flexible substrate in a first direction. The one or more controllers collect second polarity magnetic sensor signals in response to deformation of the flexible substrate in a second direction. The magnetic sensor signals establish a profile of the orientation of the flexible substrate with respect to the uniform external magnetic field. |
| US09841265B2 |
Method and apparatus of measuring a gap between a first and second roll
A method and an apparatus are provided to measure a gap between a first and second roll. Moreover, a method and an apparatus are provided to correct the gap to a target distance with a closed loop system. Also, a method and an apparatus are implemented to detect the wear for each roll by using a non-contacting measuring device. |
| US09841262B2 |
Linked round carrying bag
A linked round carrying bag having a flexible sleeve and a fastening is provided. The sleeve is sealed at a first end, has an opening at a second end, and has an openable closure, for example, a zip, extending substantially from the first end to the second end. A width of the sleeve is greater than the length of an individual round of the linked round that the bag is designed to carry but is less than twice the length of an individual round. The fastening is adjacent a closed side of an opening of the sleeve and is arranged to be tightly fastenable around the closed side of the opening and any linked round carried in the bag. The fastening can ensure that a linked round is held in its proper position within the bag, even when the bag is carried as a bandolier. |
| US09841256B2 |
Combined launch and storage tube for missile
A dual purpose missile storage and launch tube device includes a tubular housing and a front cover removably covering a first end of the tubular housing, the first end defining an opening for firing a missile. A rear cover assembly removably covers a second end of the tubular housing opposite the first end. A safety mechanism is attached to the tubular housing and includes a sliding member extending through a longitudinal passageway formed in the safety mechanism. A forward portion of the sliding member engages the front cover. A rearward portion of the sliding member engages a fastener locking the rear cover assembly onto the tubular housing. The rearward portion of the sliding member is disengaged from the fastener when the front cover is removed from the first end of the tubular housing for unlocking the rear cover assembly from the tubular housing. |
| US09841253B2 |
Gun sling swivel adapter
Described herein is an adapter for converting a single sling mount to dual-sling mount. The adapter comprises a body having a modified “H” configuration with two opposing legs joined to two outwardly extending arms. The two opposing legs each have a transverse bore linearly aligned with one another. Each outwardly extending arm also has a transverse bore. The resulting gun sling assembly allows one to carry the gun across one's back in a backpack fashion. An adapter having a modified “Y” configuration allows one to carry a military-style gun across one's back in a backpack fashion. |
| US09841249B1 |
Firearm safety device and system for uniquely and individually enabling firearm discharge
The present invention relates to smart gun technology, i.e., devices, systems, and methods, designed to ensure that the individual who is attempting to fire a weapon has been authorized to use the in-use weapon. In some embodiments, we disclose a firearm safety device having a spring-type, hammerless firing pin coupled to a logic circuit configured to uniquely identify an individual. Some embodiments employ RFID technology, which is much more reliable than most consumer-grade biometric identification mechanisms. |
| US09841248B2 |
Heat dissipation assembly incorporated into a handguard surrounding a rifle barrel
A heat dissipation assembly for use with a barrel forming a part of a firearm upper receiver. An annular shaped barrel nut is adapted to secure the barrel to the upper receiver. An elongated handguard is affixed to the barrel nut at a heat conducting location, the handguard adapted to surround a proximal extending portion of the barrel, the handguard having a plurality of apertures defined therethrough. At least one cooling element is located on an exterior of the handguard. A thermoelectric generator is incorporated into the handguard for transferring heat from the barrel nut to the cooling element. A fan component is integrated into the handguard and operated by the thermoelectric generator for drawing air through the apertures in order to provide additional cooling to the barrel. |
| US09841241B2 |
Mechanical-thermal structure suitable for a space environment
A monolithic mechanical-thermal structure which is suitable for a space environment is provided, in which the structure contains at least one hole. The walls of the hole are lined with filaments. The monolithic mechanical-thermal structure may be made of metal. And a process for manufacturing the structure is also provided. |
| US09841239B2 |
Heat transfer between tracer and pipe
A heat transfer element includes curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of a pipe for attachment thereto; and a channel configured to receive a tracer therein. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with heat transfer cement (HTC) to both the pipe and the tracer. A system includes a pipe and a tracer; HTC; and a heat transfer element having curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of the pipe and attached thereto via the HTC, and a channel in which the tracer is received and secured via HTC. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with HTC to both the pipe and the tracer. |
| US09841233B2 |
Nail lamp
A nail lamp is configured to cure light-curable nail product on a user's nails. The lamp includes an array of discrete light sources with different light wavelength profiles. The different wavelength profiles are configured to, in combination, cure a light-curable nail product. A space is disposed beneath the array and is sized to accommodate therein the nails of an appendage of a user so as to expose the user's nails to light from the array. The space is substantially open to the ambient environment to the front, rear, left, right, and top of the space, thereby providing an open architecture. |
| US09841231B2 |
LNG facility with integrated NGL recovery for enhanced liquid recovery and product flexibility
Process for efficiently operating a natural gas liquefaction system with integrated heavies removal/natural gas liquids recovery to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) and/or natural gas liquids (NGL) products with varying characteristics, such as, for example higher heating value (HHV) and/or propane content. Resulting LNG and/or NGL products are capable of meeting the significantly different specifications of two or more markets. |
| US09841228B2 |
System and method for liquefying a fluid and storing the liquefied fluid
A Dewar system is configured to liquefy a flow of fluid, and to store the liquefied fluid. The Dewar system is disposed within a single, portable housing. Disposing the components of the Dewar system within the single housing enables liquefied fluid to be transferred between a heat exchange assembly configured to liquefy fluid and a storage assembly configured to store liquefied fluid in an enhanced manner. In one embodiment, the flow of fluid liquefied and stored by the Dewar system is oxygen (e.g., purified oxygen), nitrogen, and/or some other fluid. |
| US09841224B2 |
Refrigerator appliances with passive storage compartments
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, and a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber. The fresh food door includes an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The fresh food door is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The refrigerator appliance further includes a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door, and a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment. The compartment door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The passive storage compartment maintains a temperature greater than a fresh food chamber temperature and less than an ambient temperature when the fresh food door and compartment door are closed and the refrigerator appliance is operational. |
| US09841223B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment provided inside the main body and having an open front side of the storage compartment, a door rotatably coupled to the main body and which opens or closes the open front side of the storage compartment, and a gasket coupled to a rear side of the door to maintain a seal between the main body and the door when the door is closed. The gasket includes a first gasket coupled to the rear side of the door to absorb an impact generated between the door and the main body when the door is closed and a second gasket provided as an integrated injection molded product and coupled to a rear side of the first gasket to maintain the seal between the door and the main body when the door is closed. |
| US09841222B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a cabinet with a first storage region sealable by a gasket of a door. A first hinge, outside a sealing region, allows the door to rotate relative to the cabinet. A second hinge, inside the sealing region, allows the door to rotate relative to a container having a second storage region that can be accommodated inside the first storage region. Rotating shafts of the first and second hinges are non-collinear, and a coupling between the container and the second hinge is drawn forward when the door rotates independent of the container. A guide unit protrudes into the first storage region and is selectively coupled to a fixing device at the container. The fixing device includes a push unit pushable by the door and a holder that fixes the guide unit as a rotation axis of the container, and releases the push unit from a pushed state. |
| US09841208B2 |
HRV/ERV with improved air flow balancing and method of operating the same
A heat and energy recovery ventilation unit for a building, having an inside and an outside. The unit including a main body having a fresh air inlet and an indoor air outlet on one side and a fresh air outlet and an indoor air inlet on the other side and having an air to air heat exchanger within the main body and connected to each of said inlets and outlets to define respective air flow passageways for each of said indoor air and said fresh air, the heat exchanger permitting heat and energy exchange between said indoor air and said fresh air. Also included is a first variable speed blower and a second variable speed blower and at least one electronic air flow sensor to measure at least one of the air flows the air flow sensor producing at least one electronic signal related to the sensed air flow. Also included is a controller for receiving the data signal, the controller using the data signal to control at least one of the variable speed blowers to provide a balanced fresh air inflow and indoor air outflow through the ventilation unit. A method of operating the unit is also disclosed. |
| US09841207B2 |
Installation guide system for air conditioner and method of using the same
Provided are an installation guide system for an air conditioner and a method of using the same. The installation guide system for an air conditioner may include a memory that stores at least one image for a building in which an air conditioner installed, and a display providing a user interface to design a disposition of the air conditioner in the building. The user interface may include a first region that provides a recommended configuration of indoor units to be installed based on a type of an indoor unit of the air conditioner or load information for a prescribed room in which the indoor unit is installed. The user interface may also include a second region that displays the stored image of the building and a graphical image for the indoor units in the image of the building based on the recommendations provided in the first region. |
| US09841206B2 |
Installation guide system for air conditioner and method of using the same
Provided are an installation guide system for an air conditioner and a method of using the same, including a display that displays a user interface for designing an installation for an air conditioner, a memory that stores at least one image for a building, and a controller to control a display of the stored images on the user interface. The user interface may include a first region that displays information with respect to a plurality of recommended configurations of the air conditioner including configuration of plurality of tubes that connect an outdoor unit to at least one indoor unit, and a second region that displays one of the stored images for a building and including a display of the outdoor unit, the indoor unit and the plurality of tubes The displayed image may be configured based on a selected recommended configuration of the air conditioner selected in the first region. |
| US09841201B2 |
Method and system for limiting consumption
This invention relates to methods and systems for limiting consumption, particularly power consumption, more particularly by appliances in a building, and is generally suitable for integration with building management systems. Embodiments of the invention provide arrangements in which the aggregated power load of a plurality of appliances is capped to a selected value (which may be arbitrary, or may be dictated by conditions) while seeking to minimize the deviation from target environmental conditions within the building through a combination of distributed decision making by the appliances themselves and centralized orchestration, which may be informed by real-time sensor readings and/or known properties of the building. The distributed decision-making by individual devices may be based on projected deviation from the target conditions after a period of activity or inactivity but with a central controller which determines which devices should be switched on. |
| US09841198B2 |
Air conditioner units having improved make-up air module communication
Air conditioner units and operating methods are provided. A unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a compressor. The unit further includes a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The unit further includes a vent aperture defined in the bulkhead. The unit further includes a dehumidification system which includes an evaporator, a condenser, and an auxiliary compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser. The unit further includes a humidity sensor disposed within the outdoor portion, and a controller in communication with the compressor, the auxiliary compressor and the humidity sensor. The controller is configured to deactivate the auxiliary compressor when the compressor is active and an outdoor humidity level sensed by the humidity sensor is above a predetermined humidity threshold. |
| US09841197B2 |
Hot water supply apparatus
A hot water supply apparatus has: a thermo-sensitive valve which is connected in parallel to a cold water delivery pipe and a hot water delivery pipe and which is closed when the hot water temperature to flow inside the valve is above a predetermined temperature to thereby shut off communication between the cold water delivery pipe and the hot water delivery pipe; and a circulation pump. By operation of the circulation pump, water circulation takes place from a heat exchanger through the hot water delivery pipe, a return pipe, the circulation pump, and a cold water supply pipe back to the heat exchanger. When the thermo-sensitive valve is open, water circulation takes place also through the thermo-sensitive valve. Instantaneous hot water supply operation is finished when an amount detected by a flow sensor falls below a predetermined amount during the instantaneous hot water supply operation. |
| US09841190B2 |
Gasification and pyrolysis optimization system for medical and toxic waste
The present disclosure is directed to a treatment system for medical and toxic waste. The system comprises two parts, a heterogeneous gasification system, in which syngas is produced from non-homogeneous waste, and a pyrolysis system, in which medical and hazardous waste are pyrolyzed using the syngas produced from the heterogeneous gasification system. The heterogeneous gasification system comprises a gasifier reactor having a reactor zone connected with an ash distillation zone, a re-fueling structure, an open-top water tank that wraps around the entire bottom section of the gasification system, and a gasification-agent supply module having a supply-end connected to the bottom of the gasifier reactor and a demand-end connected to the pyrolysis system. The pyrolysis system comprises a rotatable pyrolysis reactor having a horizontal and hollow cylindrical shape, a pyrolyzed-ash precipitator, which is connected to the pyrolysis reactor zone, and a condenser connected to the pyrolyzed-ash precipitator. |
| US09841188B2 |
Power supply for hot oxygen burner
The present invention relates to the supplying power to burners for oxy-fuel combustion glass melting furnaces, including a fuel injecting means and a hot oxygen power supplying means, the dispensing of oxygen being carried out so as to develop a staged combustion, a fraction of the oxygen being concurrently injected into the fuel, said oxygen being supplied essentially without heating prior to the supplying thereof into the fuel injecting means. |
| US09841187B2 |
Combustion plate
A combustion plate is for use in a totally aerated combustion burner in which a plate main body made of ceramic has formed therein a multiplicity of flame holes for ejecting a premixed gas. The plate main body is provided, in a lattice shape, with non-flame-hole sections free of flame holes. Each of those sections of the plate main body which are enclosed by the non-flame-hole sections constitutes a collective flame-hole section having formed therein in a crowded manner a plurality of flame holes. Flame holes formed in those peripheral portions of the collective flame-hole sections which are adjacent to the non-flame-hole sections are smaller in diameter than the diameter of the flame holes formed in those portions of the collective flame-hole sections which are inner than the peripheral portions. |
| US09841186B2 |
Tunable nucleate boiling using electric fields and ionic surfactants
A tunable boiling system includes a fluid having a solvent and an ionic surfactant in the solvent, a counter electrode disposed within the fluid, and a working electrode having a surface in contact with the fluid. The system is configured to apply a voltage between the surface and the counter electrode in order to affect bubble formation in the fluid at the surface. Methods of making and using the system are also provided. |
| US09841182B2 |
Steam generator and heating cooker comprising steam generator
A steam generator comprises a water storage chamber which stores water, a steam generating heater which heats water in the water storage chamber, a water supply pump which supplies water stored in a water supply tank through a water supply port provided in the water storage chamber and a water supply passage, a discharge passage which discharges water formed with a first water discharge passage having a U shape to be convex downward, which is in fluid communication with a discharge port provided in the water storage chamber, and a second water discharge passage having an inverted U shape to be convex upward, and configured such that water stored in the water storage chamber is discharged through the discharge port and the water discharge passage according to the theory of a siphon, wherein the first water discharge passage is formed by a nonmetallic material. |
| US09841180B1 |
Combined type single stud illuminating building block
A combined type single stud illuminating building block includes a circuit board, an illuminating member and an outer housing. The circuit board includes a top side and a bottom side opposite to each other. The circuit board is extended to form at least one first connection portion. The bottom side includes an electrode circuit. The illuminating member is mounted on the top side and electrically connected with the electrode circuit. The outer housing includes a connection hole to receive the circuit board and the illuminating member. The outer housing is hollow and light transmittable. The outer housing includes at least one second connection portion connected with the at least one first connection portion, respectively. Thus, the combined type single stud illuminating building block can be connected with the building block having various numbers of engaging studs to enhance degrees of freedom and variability of connection. |
| US09841178B2 |
Projector and method for controlling the same
A projector includes a power receiving terminal, a light source that emits light based on electric power supplied to the power receiving terminal, a light diffuser that adjusts the degree of diffusion of the light from the light source, a specifying section that alternately specifies one of illumination projection and image projection every time electric power supply to the power receiving terminal is started, and a light diffusion controller that controls the light diffuser so that when the specifying section specifies the illumination projection, the light diffuser diffuses the light from the light source, whereas when the specifying section specifies the image projection, the light diffuser transmits the light without substantially diffusing the light. |
| US09841176B2 |
Lamp
The invention relates to a lamp (1) comprising a lamp housing (2), a light source (3) disposed in the lamp housing (2), a reflection device (4) associated with the light source (3) for deflection of light emitted by the light source (3) in the direction of a light outlet opening (5) of the lamp housing (2), and a cooling device (6) associated with the light source (3) and/or with the lamp housing (2). In particular an inner side (7) of the lamp housing (2) is formed at least in some locations as the reflection device (4) and/or the cooling device (6) is formed in one piece with the lamp housing (2). |
| US09841173B2 |
Interior rearview mirror assembly with integrated indicator symbol
This invention relates to mirror assemblies for vehicles and in particular to interior rearview mirror assemblies having touch screen inputs corresponding to elements representing a symbol. The symbols are located behind a reflective element and not visible until activated by selection of the corresponding input or other means. |
| US09841172B2 |
Light irradiating device
The light irradiating device which irradiates linear light includes: a substrate which is parallel to first and second directions; a plurality of LED light sources which emits light in a third direction intersecting a surface of the substrate; a heat transporting unit which extends in a direction opposite to the third direction from the substrate; a cooling unit which has a heat radiating pin radiating the heat of the heat transporting unit into the air, an LED driver circuit which drives the LED light source; a housing which has an opening sucking and exhausting external air on one surface of the second direction, accommodates the cooling unit and the LED driver circuit, and forms a wind tunnel in an area where the cooling unit and the LED driver circuit are disposed; and a fan which is provided at a side opposite to the third direction of the cooling unit. |
| US09841171B2 |
Light-emitting device and lighting appliance including the light-emitting device
In a first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a light-emitting device includes a substrate; a light-emitting element electrically connected to the substrate and arranged in a light-emitting area that is positioned on an upper surface of the substrate; and an electronic part that is electrically connected to the substrate and arranged outside the light-emitting area on the upper surface of the substrate, the electronic part obliquely protruding from an edge of the upper surface of the substrate. |
| US09841170B2 |
LED grid device and a method of manufacturing a LED grid device
A LED grid device comprising a LED grid and a plate-shaped member at which the LED grid has been arranged. The LED grid has several electrically conducting wires arranged side by side, and several LED modules, each LED module having a LED package, wherein each LED package is coupled to at least two wires of the electrically conducting wires. Each LED module further has a thermally conducting element positioned between two adjacent wires of the wires that the LED package is coupled to. The thermally conducting element carries the LED package, and protrudes from the LED package, and the thermally conducting element is attached to the plate-shaped member. |