| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09876717B2 |
Distributed virtual network gateways
Computerized methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for distributing virtualized gateway functionality to multiple nodes within a physical network. Initially, drivers that carry out the gateway functionality are provisioned to cooperate with endpoints instantiated on the network nodes, while a directory service is implemented to maintain a mapping between virtual internet protocol (IP) addresses and location-dependent addresses, as well as a table enumerating transformation actions according to known pathways connecting the endpoints within a network. In operation, the directory service replies to requests from the driver (carrying source and destination IP addresses of data packets) with the appropriate location-dependent addresses (utilizing the mapping) and the appropriate transformation action(s) (utilizing the table). The transformation action(s) include rewriting headers of the data packets to include the location-dependent addresses, encapsulating the data packets as inner data packets within respective outer data packets, or configuring the data packets with a tunneling protocol. |
| US09876715B2 |
Network fabric overlay
Disclosed herein are methods of forwarding packets on a network, such as a leaf-spine network having leaf devices and spine devices. The methods may include receiving a packet at an ingress leaf device, and determining based, at least in part, on a header of the packet whether the packet is to be transmitted to a spine device. The methods may further include ascertaining based, at least in part, on a header of the packet whether to perform encapsulation on the packet, encapsulating the packet according to a result of the ascertaining, and then transmitting the packet to a spine device according to a result of the determining. Also disclosed herein are network apparatuses which include a processor and a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being configured to perform some or all of the foregoing described methods. |
| US09876714B2 |
Stateful services on stateless clustered edge
In order to enable dynamic scaling of network services at the edge, novel systems and methods are provided to enable addition of add new nodes or removal of existing nodes while retaining the affinity of the flows through the stateful services. The methods provide a cluster of network nodes that can be dynamically resized to handle and process network traffic that utilizes stateful network services. The existing traffic flows through the edge continue to function during and after the changes to membership of the cluster. All nodes in the cluster operate in active-active mode, i.e., they are receiving and processing traffic flows, thereby maximizing the utilization of the available processing power. |
| US09876709B1 |
Alignment detection in a multi-lane network interface
In an example implementation, an alignment detection circuit includes a buffer, a candidate selection circuit, and a correlator circuit. The buffer is configured to receive a data stream from a data lane, the data stream including alignment markers delineating data frames, each of the alignment markers having a predefined bit pattern. The candidate selection circuit is configured to identify candidate data blocks in successive data blocks of the data stream provided by the buffer, each of the candidate blocks having a measure of symmetry satisfying a threshold metric indicative of the predefined bit pattern. The correlator circuit is configured to search for at least one of the alignment markers in each of the candidate blocks and adjust alignment of the data stream in the buffer in response to locating the at least one alignment marker. |
| US09876708B2 |
Network-on-chip computing systems with wireless interconnects
Several embodiments of the present technology are related to network-on-chip based integrated circuits with wireless interconnects. In one embodiment, a computing device includes a plurality of computing cores on a common substrate. The computing cores are organized into a plurality of subnets individually associated with a set of the computing cores, a communications hub associated with the set of the computing cores, and a plurality of conductive or semi-conductive connectors connecting the set of the computing cores into a small world network. The computing device further includes a plurality of wireless transceivers on the substrate, the wireless transceivers being individually associated with one of the communications hubs of a corresponding subnet. |
| US09876707B2 |
Method and apparatus for multicast implementation in a network
Interest in multicast group membership may be advertised via a routing system on an Ethernet network along with an indication of an algorithm to be used by the nodes on the network to calculate the distribution tree or trees for the multicast. Each node, upon receipt of the advertisement, will determine the algorithm that is to be used to produce the multicast tree and will use the algorithm to calculate whether it is on a path between nodes advertising common interest in the multicast. Example algorithms may include shortest path algorithms and spanning tree algorithms. This allows multicast membership to be managed via the routing control plane, while enabling spanning tree processes to be used to forward multicast traffic. Since spanning tree is able to install multicast state per service rather than per source per service, this reduces the amount of forwarding state required to implement multicasts on the routed Ethernet mesh network. |
| US09876706B2 |
Relay system and switching device for a layer 3 network
When IGMP packets are relayed to a predetermined router (L3SW), first and second L2SWs update their own snooping tables by snooping. Also, the first L2SW acquires a correspondence relation retained in the snooping table of the second L2SW through a control plane and registers it to the snooping table of the first L2SW. Then, when the first L2SW receives a multicast packet whose destination is a multicast group, the first L2SW extracts corresponding IP addresses based on its own snooping table and converts the multicast packet into unicast packets whose destinations are the IP addresses. |
| US09876702B2 |
Determining the context of a computing device
In some embodiments a remote request is received relating to a context of a device after the device has been powered off. A sensor of the device is turned on to obtain context information of the device from the sensor. The obtained context information is provided from the device to a remote device while the device is still powered off. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09876699B2 |
System and method for generating a report in real-time from a resource management system
A system and method for generating a report in real-time from a resource management system includes: receiving a plurality of parameters related to the report from a user; identifying required data from the resource management system based on the plurality of parameters; extracting refined data from the resource management system based on the identified required data using a data mining algorithm; and generating a report in real-time based on the extracted refined data. |
| US09876697B2 |
Stochastic jitter measuring device and method
A jitter measuring setup (10) comprises a signal generator (14), a sample-and-hold circuit (15), and the inventive all stochastic jitter measuring device (1) comprising signal acquisition means (2) and calculation means (3). The input signal of the sample-and-hold circuit (15) is generated by the signal generator (14). Furthermore, the output signal of the sample-and-hold circuit (15), respectively the input signal of the measuring device (1), is comprised of a superposition of the sampled input signal of the sample-and-hold circuit (15) and a cyclostationary random process. |
| US09876695B2 |
Generating production server load activity for a test server
Replicating on a test server a production load of a production server. The production load can be created on the production server by processing client requests received from clients. While the client requests are processed, in real time, the production load can be replicated to generate a replicated production load that represents the client requests and defines state information representing unique states formed between the production server and the respective clients. In real time, the replicated production load can be communicated in order to replicate the production load on the test server. |
| US09876689B1 |
Automatically generated virtual network elements for virtualized local area networks
Systems, methods, and software for providing a virtualized communication networking environment are provided herein. In one example, a method includes identifying a media access control address for a network interface of a virtual machine, the media access control address comprising at least one communication network indicator associated with a virtualized local area network. If a virtual network element has not been generated for handling traffic associated with the network interface of the virtual machine, then generating the virtual network element and associating the virtual network element with the virtualized local area network based on the communication network indicator. When the virtual network element has been generated, then assigning the network interface of the virtual machine to the virtual network element associated with the virtualized local area network based on the communication network indicator of the media access control address. |
| US09876688B2 |
Dynamic neighboring cell measurements
A method is disclosed of a wireless communication device connectable to a subscriber identity module and adapted to communicate with a wireless communication network using one of a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology. The method comprises determining if the subscriber identity module supports the second radio access technology and determining if the wireless communication network supports emergency call using the second radio access technology. If the subscriber identity module does not support the second radio access technology, the method comprises performing neighboring cell measurements for the second radio access technology only if the wireless communication network supports emergency call using the second radio access technology. Corresponding computer program product, arrangement and wireless communication device are also disclosed. |
| US09876687B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting preferred parent node in wireless sensor network
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for selecting a preferred parent node in a wireless sensor network, and the method includes: according to all received DIO messages, separately acquiring, by a first node, node identification information carried in each of the DIO messages and generates a parent node set; selecting, by the first node, a fixed node with a highest performance parameter level as a preferred parent node when it is determined that the parent node set includes at least two fixed nodes; and selecting, by the first node, a mobile node with a highest performance parameter level as the preferred parent node when it is determined that the parent node set does not include a fixed node, and includes at least two mobile nodes. |
| US09876682B2 |
Methods and devices for regulating traffic on a network
Methods and devices are provided for regulating traffic on a network. According to some aspects of the invention, if a subscriber's upstream traffic exceeds a predetermined level over a first period of time, the subscriber's quality of service is adjusted without requiring the subscriber to re-register. According to some embodiments, a first token bucket is used to determine whether the subscriber's upstream traffic exceeds the predetermined level over the first period of time. In some such embodiments, the first token bucket is used to control the burst size of another token bucket, depending on the subscriber's upstream traffic during the first period of time. |
| US09876679B2 |
Wireless mesh network firmware upgrade system and method
A wireless mesh access point receives a first notification of firmware download availability. In response to the first notification, the wireless mesh access point downloads a firmware file from a peer from which the first notification was received. The wireless mesh access point loads the downloaded firmware file into a firmware memory associated with operation of a processor. The wireless mesh access point then transmits a second notification of firmware download availability to one or more other peers. |
| US09876672B2 |
Network operating system for managing and securing networks
Systems and methods for managing a network are described. A view of current state of the network is maintained where the current state of the network characterizes network topology and network constituents, including network entities and network elements residing in or on the network. Events are announced that correspond to changes in the state of the network and one or more network elements can be configured accordingly. Methods for managing network traffic are described that ensure forwarding and other actions taken by network elements implement globally declared network policy and refer to high-level names, independently of network topology and the location of network constituents. Methods for discovering network constituents are described, whereby are automatically configured. Routing may be performed using ACL and packets can be intercepted to permit host to continue in sleep mode. The methods are applicable to virtual environments. |
| US09876671B2 |
Method and device for processing commands in a set of components of a computer system
A method and apparatus for the processing of at least one command concerning at least one component of a cluster is disclosed. The cluster comprises several components, the at least one component having a dependency link, according to the at least one command, with at least one other component, is disclosed. |
| US09876670B2 |
Local network node
A communication system comprising a local network node (LNN) is described for connecting with a user terminal in a 3G network. The LNN provides a local user-controlled access point for the network that may be installed in the home or office by-passing connection through network Node Bs. If the User passes outside the coverage area provided by the LNN, then a handover between the LNN and an appropriate Node B preferably takes place so that the User's connection to the 3G network is substantially unaffected. The LNN is arranged to provide protocol conversion between the 3G control messages received from the UE to the equivalent SIP/SDP messages required for maintenance of connections in Internet Protocol based networks, such as the Release 5 architecture. |
| US09876663B2 |
Method and apparatus for application of distortion shaping when using peak-to-average ratio reduction
Method and an apparatus for application of distortion shaping when using Peak-to-Average Ratio (PAR) reduction. The apparatus obtains an input signal. The apparatus applies, on the input signal, the PAR reduction and the distortion shaping to form an output signal. A bandwidth associated with the distortion shaping covers multiple channel bandwidths comprised in the input signal, which multiple channel bandwidths are associated with one or more Radio Access Technologies (RATs). Embodiments herein facilitate the distortion shaping and applicability of PAR reduction, in particular in case one of the RATs is Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or similar and/or the input signal is associated with radio communications systems that support multiple RATs. |
| US09876659B2 |
Interference estimation
An interference estimation method and a communication device configured to estimate interference. The interference estimation method can include determining a first communication channel of a first uplink communication signal of a first communication protocol and determining a second communication channel of a second downlink communication signal of a second communication protocol. The method can further include: determining frequency spacing between the first uplink communication signal and the second downlink communication signal; determining the PSD of the transmit signal within the receiver bandwidth of the second downlink communication signal; and determining the transmit noise floor from the first uplink communication signal in the receiver bandwidth. Power integration terms can be determined based on the overall PSD of the transmit signal from first uplink communication signal within the second downlink communication channel. An interference estimation can be calculated using the interference power integration term(s). |
| US09876655B2 |
Precoding-codebook-based secure uplink in LTE
A Precoding-codebook-base Secure Uplink (PSU) scheme is proposed to utilize the channel reciprocity, uniqueness, and randomness in solving the secure initiation problem. A UE receives a first reference signal via first downlink channel in a mobile communication network. The UE performs channel estimation based on the first reference signal and thereby obtaining a first channel response matrix of the first downlink channel. The UE then encodes secrecy information onto a second reference signal. The UE transmits the second reference signal via a second uplink channel. The secrecy information is hidden in the uplink channel through a precoding operation such that the secrecy information can be extracted when the second uplink channel is reciprocal to the first downlink channel. |
| US09876654B2 |
Messaging service system and method for expanding member addition operation
Provided is a messaging service system and method for adding a contact through a grouping operation. The messaging service system includes a member registering unit configured to create a group, and to register a first member designated by a user as a first participant of the group; and a member managing unit configured to disclose the group to the first participant of the group, to assign, to the first participant, a permission to add a second participant to the group, in which, the member registering unit is configured to add a second member designated by the first participant of the group as the second participant of the group, and the member managing unit is configured to display a list of members registered by the member registering unit and a list of groups created by the member registering unit. |
| US09876646B2 |
User identification management system and method
Systems and methods for managing the identity of a user, for managing the identity of the user in a public storage facility, and for certifying pending transactions for a user are disclosed. One example method includes receiving, at an input device, personal data that identifies the user. The personal data is represented as input data. The input device is configured to process a hashing function to provide a hash value and user accessible interface for transmitting the hash value and a public key of the user to the public storage facility, e.g., block chain, and for receiving back from the public storage facility a transaction number corresponding to the hash value and the public key. In one example, the input device is configured to encrypt the hash value, a time stamp and the transaction number with a public key of a certification entity to provide user certifiable data to the certification entity. The certification entity is configured to access the public storage facility to verify the user. Also provided are systems and methods for certifying pending financial transactions, pending debit and/or credit card transactions, and other pending transactions are also disclosed. Systems and methods signing and certifying documents are also disclosed. |
| US09876644B2 |
Authenticating data packet based on hash image of the data packet in erasure coding-based data transmission
Provided is a method of authenticating and verifying data packet transmission, and apparatuses for performing the same. The method and corresponding apparatus are configured to encode data packets through erasure coding. The method and corresponding apparatus are also configured to generate authentication packets for the encoded data packets based on hash images of the encoded data packets. |
| US09876643B2 |
Increased communication security
A method of increasing communication security may include determining, responsive to receiving a first message from a first computer system, whether said first computer system is authorized to communicate with a second computer system, wherein said determining is performed at a third computer system. The method may also include generating a first data portion associated with a security token, wherein said generating said first data portion includes accessing data, wherein said data includes a first instance of a session key, and wherein said generating said first data portion further includes encrypting, using a key associated with said second computer system, said data to generate said first data portion. The method may further include communicating, if said first computer system is authorized to communicate with said second computer system, a second message from said third computer system for delivery to said first computer system. |
| US09876640B2 |
Information processing apparatus, server apparatus, and computer program product
In an embodiment, an information processing apparatus is connected to external apparatuses. The information processing apparatus includes: a device key storage unit configured to store a device key; a shared key storage unit configured to store one or more shared keys shared by the external apparatuses; a key generating unit configured to generate a media key from the device key and media key blocks; and an updating unit configured to generate the shared keys as generated shared keys, which is updated, based upon the media key and the shared keys stored in the shared key storage unit, and to store the generated shared keys into the shared key storage unit. |
| US09876636B2 |
Homomorphic public-key encryption scheme
Technologies are generally described for providing a fully homomorphic public key encryption scheme. In some examples, a method performed under control of a transmitter may include receiving, from a server, a system parameter; selecting a secret decryption key corresponding to the transmitter; generating a first public encryption key for the transmitter, based at least in part on the secret decryption key corresponding to the transmitter and the system parameter; receiving, from the server, a public encryption key corresponding to a receiver; enciphering a message into a first ciphertext, based at least in part on the public encryption key corresponding to the receiver and the secret decryption key corresponding to the transmitter; and transmitting, to a data processing device, a request to process the message by processing the first ciphertext that corresponds to the message into a second ciphertext without deciphering the first ciphertext. |
| US09876635B2 |
Security reliance scoring for cryptographic material and processes
In representative embodiments, a system and method to calculate a security reliance score is illustrated. The security reliance score is calculated from an aggregation of property sub-scores. The property sub-scores are, in turn, based on scores for attributes that make up the properties. A learning model is employed to adjust scores over time based on collected information. Additionally, statistical sampling can adjust scores based on context, including geo-location context. Security reliance scores can be used to identify weaknesses that should be fixed in cryptographic material and/or configurations. The system can also make recommendations for changes that will have the biggest impact on security reliance scores. Additional uses are also identified. |
| US09876633B2 |
Method for the radio communication of digital data in a noisy environment
The invention relates to a device for the radio transmission of a data word between a transmitter (1) and a receiver (65), comprising a transmitter (1) that can transmit at least one block of data comprising a preamble word and a data word repeated several times; an elementary synchronization block allowing the synchronization of the receiver (65) to the transmitter (1) and the detection of the preamble word; and a synchronous averaging device (67) calculating the average of the data word repeated. |
| US09876632B2 |
Data transmission/reception system, transmission apparatus and reception apparatus
There is provided a data transmission/reception system for performing a data communication using interleaving, comprising: a transmission apparatus configured to transmit data in which a synchronization signal including identification data is included; and a reception apparatus configured to extract the synchronization signal from the data received from the transmission apparatus, wherein upon detecting that the extracted synchronization signal is not coincident with any one of a plurality of predetermined code strings, the reception apparatus replaces the extracted synchronization signal with one predetermined code string among the plurality of predetermined code strings, wherein an inter-code word distance between the one predetermined code string and the extracted synchronization signal is the smallest among the calculated inter-code word distances; and the reception apparatus identifies a storage unit for storing the data received from the transmission apparatus based on the identification data included in the replaced synchronization signal. |
| US09876628B2 |
TDD uplink/downlink re-configuration mechanism
The invention relates to methods for communicating within a communication system when re-configured from a source to a target uplink/downlink configuration. The invention is also providing mobile station for performing these methods, and computer readable media the instructions of which cause the mobile station to perform the methods described herein. Specifically, the invention suggests to perform PUSCH transmissions in response to Downlink Control Information, DCI, transmissions such that the source uplink/downlink configuration is applied to PUSCH transmissions relating to DCI transmissions received up to and including subframe N−6, a predefined uplink/downlink configuration is applied to PUSCH transmissions relating to DCI transmissions received during subframes N−5 to N−1; and the target uplink/downlink configuration is applied to PUSCH transmissions relating to DCI transmissions received from subframe N onward. |
| US09876626B2 |
Microwave backhaul system having quadruple capacity
A microwave backhaul system having quadruple capacity. In one embodiment, an outdoor communication unit in a microwave backhaul system is provided, which includes a first and second dual channel processing modules that are each configured to process two transmission/reception channels. The outdoor communication unit also includes two transmitter modules that are each configured to upconvert two channels for transmission at vertical polarization and a horizontal polarization. |
| US09876625B2 |
Inter-cell interference coordination in a wireless communication system
A method and a first base station are described for setting measurement resources. Information about setting of a blank subframe of a second base station among a plurality of subframes is received. Resources are set in which a terminal will perform measurement using the information about setting of the blank subframe of the second base station. The information about setting of the blank subframe of the second base station includes a bitmap indicating blank subframes and non-blank subframes of the second base station. In addition, the resources in which the terminal will perform measurement are determined among the blank subframes indicated by the bitmap. |
| US09876624B2 |
Terminal device, integrated circuit, and radio communication method
For aperiodic reporting of CSI, nCQI ref is four, and a subframe n−nCQI ref corresponds to a valid subframe. A subframe that satisfies a criteria including at least a criterion (i) is regarded as being valid. In the criterion (i), in a case where third information for a radio frame is detected, an UL-DL configuration for the radio frame is given by the third information for the radio frame, and in a case where the third information for the radio frame is not detected, the UL-DL configuration for the radio frame is given by first information. The criterion (i) stipulates that the subframe is a subframe indicated as a DL subframe or a special subframe by the UL-DL configuration for the radio frame. In a case where a subframe n−4 is not a valid subframe for aperiodic reporting of channel state information, the reporting of the CSI is omitted in the subframe n. |
| US09876623B2 |
Transmission of uplink control information in carrier aggregation with a large number of cells
Methods and apparatus are provided for a user equipment (UE) to transmit uplink control information (UCI) and for a base station to receive UCI when the UE is configured a number of cells for operation with carrier aggregation (CA). The base station configures the UE a code rate and the UE determines a UCI payload to transmit in a subframe to be the maximum one that results a transmission code rate that is not larger than the configured code rate. For transmission of aperiodic channel state information (A-CSI), a number of triggering states depends on the number of cells. |
| US09876622B2 |
Transmission of control information on uplink channels
Techniques for sending control information on uplink channels are disclosed. In one design, a user equipment (UE) may determine its current configuration for concurrent transmission of a control channel and a shared channel. The UE may select one or more channels, from among the control channel and the shared channel, to send control information of at least one type in a same subframe. The UE may select the one or more channels based on the types of control information to send, the current configuration for concurrent transmission of the control channel and the shared channel, whether the UE is scheduled for data transmission on the shared channel in the subframe, whether the UE has sufficient transmit power to transmit both the control channel and the shared channel, etc. The UE may send the control information on the one or more selected channels in the subframe. |
| US09876619B2 |
Method for setting reference signal in multi-cell based wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
Disclosed is a method for transmitting and receiving a signal, by a terminal, in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the method comprises the steps of: receiving information about a plurality of reference signal resources from a base station; receiving information about one channel state information (CSI) process from the base station; and reporting CSI on the basis of the information about the one CSI process, wherein the information about the one CSI process comprises information indicative of at least one of the plurality of reference signal resources. |
| US09876615B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data multiple times in consecutive subframes
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting data and a method and apparatus for receiving data, wherein said methods transmit/receive a reference signal in sub-frames bundled for data transmission/reception using at least an identical precoding matrix, an identical reference signal sequence, an identical reference signal generating identifier, or an identical reference signal scrambling sequence. |
| US09876610B2 |
Method, terminal, and base station for retransmitting message
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for retransmitting a message, mainly including notifying, by a terminal, a base station that the terminal is a narrowband terminal when sending a random access preamble to the base station; and when the base station subsequently detects that an error occurs to a message 3 sent by the terminal, instructing, by the base station, through a message 3 retransmission indicator, the terminal to retransmit the message 3, or retransmitting, by the terminal, the message 3 to the base station in a manner for actively retransmitting the message 3. |
| US09876609B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing an efficient control channel structure in a wireless communication system
According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided in which a control channel used for transmitting control information is partitioned into a plurality of subchannels each of which is operated at a specific data rate. For each of one or more user terminals, one of the subchannels is selected based on one or more selection criteria for transmitting control information from an access point to the respective user terminal. Control information is transmitted from the access point to a user terminal on a particular subchannel selected for the respective user terminal. At the user terminal, one or more subchannels are decoded to obtain control information designated for the user terminal. |
| US09876607B2 |
Methods and apparatus employing FEC codes with permanent inactivation of symbols for encoding and decoding processes
Encoding of a plurality of encoded symbols is provided wherein an encoded symbol is generated from a combination of a first symbol generated from a first set of intermediate symbols and a second symbol generated from a second set of intermediate symbols, each set having at least one different coding parameter, wherein the intermediate symbols are generated based on the set of source symbols. A method of decoding data is also provided, wherein a set of intermediate symbols is decoded from a set of received encoded symbols, the intermediate symbols organized into a first and second sets of symbols for decoding, wherein intermediate symbols in the second set are permanently inactivated for the purpose of scheduling the decoding process to recover the intermediate symbols from the encoded symbols, wherein at least some of the source symbols are recovered from the decoded set of intermediate symbols. |
| US09876604B2 |
Channel bonding signaling to in-range devices
In certain aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communications comprises a processing system configured to generate a frame comprising first information indicating a plurality of channels to be used by the apparatus for a transmission and second information indicating a time duration of the transmission. The apparatus also comprises an interface configured to output the frame for wireless transmission on at least one of the plurality of channels. In certain aspects of the present disclosure, another apparatus receiving the frame may determine the plurality of channels based on the first information, compute a time duration based on the second information, and avoid transmitting on the plurality of channels for at least the computed time duration (e.g., to avoid collision). |
| US09876599B2 |
System(s), method(s), and apparatus for accurate detection of the end of stream
A multimedia presentation system for presenting multimedia data comprising a demultiplexing unit and at least one processing unit. The demultiplexing unit demultiplexes a plurality of streams of data. At least one presentation processing unit provides the plurality of stream of data for presentation according to predetermined timing and detecting an end of any one of the plurality of streams of data. |
| US09876592B2 |
Systems and methods for detection of signal quality in digital radio broadcast signals
Systems, methods, and processor readable media are disclosed for detection of signal quality problems and errors in digital radio broadcast signals. First monitoring equipment is located in an over-the-air coverage area of a first radio station. Second monitoring equipment is located in an over-the-air coverage area of a second radio station. The first and second monitoring equipment are configured to receive digital radio broadcast signals from the respective first and second radio stations. A computing system is configured to receive data from the first monitoring equipment and the second monitoring equipment, the data being indicative of one or more attributes of a digital radio broadcast signal received at respective monitoring equipment. The computing system analyzes received data to detect a signal quality problem or error in the digital radio broadcast signals received at the first and second monitoring equipment. |
| US09876591B2 |
Transceiver and operation method thereof
A transceiver and a method operating the transceiver are provided. The transceiver includes a first communication module configured to receive a first signal based on a first communication scheme; a second communication module configured to receive a second signal based on a second communication scheme; a reception module having a low-power circuit configured to detect a signal in a frequency band which can be used by the first communication module and the second communication module; and a controller configured to establish channels for the first communication module or the second communication module based on a strength of the signal detected by the reception module. |
| US09876588B2 |
Systems and methods for performing tester-less radio-frequency testing on wireless communications circuitry
Radio-frequency performance of wireless communications circuitry on an electronic device under test (DUT) may be tested without external test equipment such as signal analyzers or signal generators. A first DUT may transmit test signals to a second DUT. External attenuator circuitry interposed between the DUTs may attenuate the test signals to desired power levels. The second DUT may characterize and/or calibrate receiver performance by generating wireless performance metric data based on the attenuated test signals. A single DUT may transmit test signals to itself via corresponding transmit and receive ports coupled together through the attenuator. The DUT may generate performance metric data based on the test signals. The DUT may include feedback receiver circuitry coupled to an output of a transmitter via a feedback path and may characterize and/or calibrate transmit performance using test signals transmitted by the transmitter and received by the feedback receiver. |
| US09876587B2 |
Transmission device with impairment compensation and methods for use therewith
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system that includes a transmission device having a coupler positioned with respect to a transmission medium to facilitate transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that transport communications data. The electromagnetic waves propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium. A training controller detects an impairment on the transmission medium adverse to the transmission or reception of the electromagnetic waves and adjusts the electromagnetic waves to reduce the effects of the impairment on the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09876584B2 |
Quasi-optical coupler
A quasi-optical coupling system launches and extracts surface wave communication transmissions from a wire. At millimeter-wave frequencies, where the wavelength is small compared to the macroscopic size of the equipment, the millimeter-wave transmissions can be transported from one place to another and diverted via lenses and reflectors, much like visible light. Transmitters and receivers can be positioned near telephone and power lines and reflectors placed on or near the cables can reflect transmissions onto or off of the cables. The lenses on the transmitters are focused, and the reflectors positioned such that the reflected transmissions are guided waves on the surface of the cables. The reflectors can be polarization sensitive, where one or more of a set of guided wave modes can be reflected off the wire based on the polarization of the guided wave modes and polarization and orientation of the reflector. |
| US09876583B2 |
Timing recovery for optical coherent receivers in the presence of polarization mode dispersion
A timing recovery system generates a sampling clock to synchronize sampling of a receiver to a symbol rate of an incoming signal. The input signal is received over an optical communication channel. The receiver generates a timing matrix representing coefficients of a timing tone detected in the input signal. The timing tone representing frequency and phase of a symbol clock of the input signal and has a non-zero timing tone energy. The receiver computes a rotation control signal based on the timing matrix that represents an amount of accumulated phase shift in the input signal relative to the sampling clock. A numerically controlled oscillator is controlled to adjust at least one of the phase and frequency of the sampling clock based on the rotation control signal. |
| US09876580B2 |
Optical device
An optical device, comprising an optical component, configured to produce optical amplification; a component configured to intermittently supply coherent light to said optical component; and a controller, configured to apply a time varying signal to said optical component such that a plurality of light pulses are emitted during each period of time that said coherent light is received, wherein the plurality of light pulses emitted during each period have a fixed phase relation. |
| US09876578B2 |
Optical device, an optical transceiver and a network node
An optical device comprising, an optical input and output device comprising a first input port, a second input port, a first output port and a second output port, and an optical filtering device comprising an input port coupled to the first output port and an output port coupled to the second input port, and an optical amplifying device comprising an input port coupled to the second output port. The optical input and output device is adapted to couple the output port comprised in the optical filtering device to the input port comprised in the optical amplifying device. The optical filtering device comprises a multiple of cascaded phase shifted Bragg gratings, each being adapted to filter an associated respective optical carrier within to produce a respective output signal to the optical amplifying device. |
| US09876576B2 |
Layered coaxial transmitter optical subassemblies with support bridge therebetween
Layered coaxial transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSAs) with a support bridge therebetween may be used in an optical transmitter or transceiver for transmitting optical signals at multiple channel wavelengths. The coaxial TOSAs may include cuboid type TO laser packages having substantially flat outer surfaces that may be mounted on substantially flat outer surfaces on a transmitter or transceiver housing or on the support bridge. The support bridge supports and isolates one layer of the TOSAs mounted over another layer of the TOSAs such that the TOSAs may be stacked to fit within a small space without sacrificing optical coupling efficiency. |
| US09876572B2 |
Configuring a computer network to satisfy multicast dispersion and latency requirements using affinity and network topologies
Systems and methods of affinity modeling in data center networks that allow bandwidth to be efficiently allocated within the data center networks, while reducing the physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks. Such systems and methods of affinity modeling in data center networks further allow computing resources within the data center networks to be controlled and provisioned based at least in part on the network topology and an application component topology, thereby enhancing overall application program performance. Using an affinity topology describing requirements for communications between applications and a network topology, network nodes are configured to satisfy multicast dispersion and latency requirements associated with communications between applications. |
| US09876567B2 |
Free space optical communication tracking with electronic boresight compensation and co-boresighted transmit and receive optics
Exemplary embodiments described herein include a bi-directional Free Space Optical (FSO) communication unit that may be used in a multi-node FSO communication system. The bi-directional FSO unit may include a co-boresighted optical unit such that received and transmitted beams are coincident through a common aperture. Embodiments described herein may be used to correct or accommodate the alignment errors of the received and transmitted beams. |
| US09876564B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying a source of node return system degradation
Embodiments include a system, method, and a computer program product for identifying a cause of return system degradation. Embodiments include monitoring a network to identify a distressed node impacted by return system degradation, polling a plurality of cable modem devices serviced by the distressed node for transmission parameter values, scoring the transmission parameter values for each of the plurality of cable modem devices, identifying a cable modem device from among the plurality of cable modem devices causing the return system degradation based on the scores of each of the plurality of cable modem devices, and initiating a work order to repair the cable modem device from among the plurality of cable modem devices causing the return system degradation. |
| US09876558B2 |
Relay device, communication system, and relaying method
According to one embodiment, a relay device that relays communication between an information request device which requests information and an information providing device which provides requested information. The relay device includes an interface to receive a signal transmitted by the information request device. The relay device includes a first circuitry to perform, using the signal, at least one of connection management of a network, authentication of the information request device, and authentication of a user of the information request device. The relay device includes a second circuitry to control allocation of storage areas included in a storage device, or an available range within which information saved in the storage area is able to be provided, when the first circuitry detects establishment of a connection to the network, disconnection of the connection, an authentication result, or a lapse of a valid connection time period. |
| US09876554B2 |
Radio node, a user equipment and methods for managing a transmission
A radio network node (110), a user equipment (120) and methods therein for managing a transmission from the user equipment (120) to the radio network node (110) are disclosed. The radio network node (110) adapts (302) a transport format relating to the transmission based on information indicating at least one mode switching point of a radio transmitter (1420). The radio transmitter (1420) is comprised in the user equipment (120). The user equipment (120) adapts (1110) the transmission based on the information indicating at least one mode switching point of the radio transmitter (1420) comprised in the user equipment (120). |
| US09876549B2 |
Methods for efficient beam training and communications apparatus and network control device utilizing the same
A communications apparatus includes a wireless communications module and a controller. The wireless communications module uses a preferred receiving beam determined in a beam training procedure to communicate with a network control device and further monitors one or more candidate receiving beam(s) by using the one or more candidate receiving beam(s) to receive signals from the network control device. The controller calculates a detection metric for the preferred receiving beam and the preferred control beam and a detection metric for each combination of the one or more candidate receiving beam(s) and the preferred control beam, and determines whether to change the preferred receiving beam according to the detection metrics for the preferred receiving beam and the preferred control beam and for each combination of the one or more candidate receiving beam(s) and the preferred control beam. |
| US09876547B2 |
Codebook sub-sampling for CSI feedback on PUCCH for 4Tx MIMO
Channel state information (CSI) feedback in a wireless communication system (100) is disclosed. User equipment (107) transmits a CSI feedback signal via a Physical Uplink Control CHannel (PUCCH) (108). If the UE is configured in a first feedback mode, the CSI comprises a first report jointly coding a Rank Indicator (RI) and a first precoding matrix indicator (PMI1) (203), and a second report coding Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) and a second precoding matrix indicator (PMI2)(204). If the UE is configured in a second feedback mode, the CSI comprises a first report coding RI (205), and a second report coding CQI, PMI1 and PMI2 (206). The jointly coded RI and PMI1 employs codebook sub-sampling, and the jointly coding PMI1, PMI2 and CQI employs codebook sub-sampling. |
| US09876545B2 |
Apparatus, system and method of wireless communication via polarized antennas
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of wireless communication via polarized antennas. For example, an apparatus may include circuitry configured to cause a wireless station to generate an information element including a plurality of antenna identifiers of a plurality of directional antennas of the wireless station, and a plurality of polarization indicators corresponding to the plurality of antenna identifiers, a polarization indicator corresponding to an antenna identifier to indicate a polarization setting of a directional antenna identified by the antenna identifier; and to transmit a frame including the information element. |
| US09876544B2 |
Apparatus, system and method of multi-user wireless communication
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of multi-user (MU) wireless communication. For example, a wireless station may be configured to generate a MU Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) including a header field and a plurality of Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) to a respective plurality of users, the header field including an indication of a plurality of lengths of respective ones of the plurality of MPDUs, one or more MPDUs of the plurality of MPDUs being followed by one or more respective PHY padding portions extending to an end of a longest MPDU of the plurality of MPDUs; and process transmission of the MU PPDU to the plurality of users over a wireless communication band. |
| US09876543B2 |
Systems and methods for channel state information exchange
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide improved channel estimation and channel state information (CSI) transfer in a wireless data communication system, including but not limited to Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communication systems. In accordance with one or more embodiments and aspects thereof, a channel estimation and CSI transfer system is disclosed that extends and utilizes existing frame transfer elements to accomplish estimation and transfer. Such a system may offer improved capabilities such as a lower overhead CSI transfer, reduced data transfer latency, and more frequent CSI measurements. |
| US09876541B2 |
Uplink transmit diversity
The present disclosure discloses a method in a wireless access network node for controlling a UE. The UE comprises at least two transmit antennas, and is capable of uplink transmit diversity. There is an antenna weight associated with each transmit antenna. First, the wireless access network node determines that the antenna weights of the user equipment may be controlled. Then, it creates a control signal that comprises control information and transmits it to the user equipment. The control information controls a UE autonomous selection of the antenna weights in the UE. |
| US09876539B2 |
Method and apparatus for scalable load balancing across wireless heterogeneous MIMO networks
A method and apparatus for load balancing in a wireless network is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, by at least one of the one or more controllers, from at least one of the one or more base stations, information indicative of a rate that can be provided by the at least one base station to at least one client terminal by the at least one base station when serving a group of one or more client terminals, the at least one client terminal being associated to the at least one controller; receiving, by the at least one of the one or more controllers, from the at least one of the one or more base stations, information indicative of the transmission resources provided by the at least one base station for resource allocation among the at least one client terminal by the at least one controller; and determining, by the at least one controller, based on the information indicative of the rate and the information indicative of transmission resources, information indicative of an allocation of base station transmission resources for at least one client terminal from the at least one base station. |
| US09876537B2 |
Phase controlled array for wirelessly powering implantable devices
A reader device includes an array of antenna coils configured to electromagnetically couple with devices implanted beneath or within skin of a human body. An implanted device can include a loop antenna or other means configured to couple with at least one antenna coil of the reader device to receive radio frequency energy from the reader device. The antenna coil array is configured to mount to the skin surface to improve the coupling between the implanted device and coils of the array. Further, the reader device is configured to select two or more antenna coils of the array and to operate the selected antenna coils to emit radio frequency power at respective amplitudes and relative phases to provide radio frequency power to the implanted device while increasing efficiency of the power transfer and reducing the exposure of the skin to radio frequency energy. |
| US09876534B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, and program for exchanging data with a target
A communication device includes a first processing unit that detects a target and receives a first command for activating an interface upon a detection of the target. The communication device also includes a second processing unit that exchanges data with the target through the first processing unit. Further, the communication device includes an interface between the first processing unit and the second processing unit. The first processing unit selects a predetermined interface level from among a plurality of interface levels based on the first command and exchanges data with the second processing unit based on the predetermined interface level. |
| US09876533B2 |
Methods and systems for vehicle communication to a data network
Methods, systems, and an integrated Broadband over Power Line (BPL) module cover assembly for communicating data between an aircraft and a ground-based network are provided. The assembly includes a power receptacle cover plate and a BPL module coupled to said power receptacle cover plate. |
| US09876531B2 |
System and method for reducing interference in OFDM channels
A system and method for signal processing in a cable modem termination system (CMTS) is provided. A CMTS receiver in communication with a plurality of cable modems at a upstream signal or a cable modem receiver in communication with the CMTS at a downstream signal. A plurality of Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (“ATDMA”) channel processors include a filter for recovering an ATDMA signal and a Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (“OFDM”) channel processor includes a filter for processing a combined OFDM and ATDMA signal. A summation module subtracts the ATDMA signal from the combined ATDMA and OFDM signal to obtain a clean OFDM signal. |
| US09876527B2 |
Remote unit for communicating with base stations and terminal devices
A remote unit of a distributed antenna system is disclosed that can communicate analog RF signals with both base stations and terminal devices in a coverage zone serviced by the remote unit. In some aspects, the remote unit can include a signal processing module and a transceiver. The transceiver can communicate RF signals between a master unit of the distributed antenna system and a terminal device. The transceiver can also receive analog downlink RF signals from a base station. The signal processing module can convert the analog downlink RF signals to digital downlink signals and provide the digital downlink signals to the master unit. |
| US09876519B1 |
Methods and apparatus for automated adaptation of transmitter equalizer tap settings
One embodiment relates to a method of automated adaptation of a transmitter equalizer. A multi-dimensional search space of tap settings for the transmitter equalizer is divided into multiple single-dimensional search spaces, each single-dimensional search space being associated with a single tap of the transmitter equalizer. The multiple single-dimensional search spaces are searched in series, and a tap for a single-dimensional search space is set before searching a next single-dimensional search space. Another embodiment relates to a transceiver with adaptation circuitry configured to implement the above-described method. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed. |
| US09876507B2 |
Semantic compression of structured data
Systems and methods for the semantic compression of structured data include identifying attributes of elements in a collection structure, such as a table. The attributes may be grouped and the grouping used to consolidate attribute values used in the elements. An index of repeated attribute values may also be generated and used to replace the attribute values in elements of the structured data. |
| US09876506B2 |
Measuring device, measuring system, measuring method, and computer readable recording medium
To provide a measuring device wherein a measurement range corresponding to a wave shape to be measured can be set with a simple configuration. A measuring device (100) has: a measuring unit that measures changes of indexes with time, said indexes relating to an object event; a conversion unit that converts a measurement value measured by means of the measuring unit into a predetermined format within a previously set measurement range; and a control unit that controls the measurement range. The control unit changes the measurement range in the cases where a conversion value obtained by converting the measurement value by means of the conversion unit satisfies predetermined conditions in a predetermined period. |
| US09876504B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a 3-input NAND decoder having six MOS transistors arranged in a line. The MOS transistors of the decoder are formed in a planar silicon layer disposed on a substrate and each have a structure in which a drain, a gate, and a source are arranged vertically and the gate surrounds a silicon pillar. The planar silicon layer includes a first active region having a first conductivity type and a second active region having a second conductivity type. The first and second active regions are connected to each other via a silicon layer on a surface of the planar silicon layer. |
| US09876502B2 |
Clock integrated circuit
The clock circuit of an integrated circuit operates with variations such as temperature, ground noise, and power noise. Various aspects of an improved clock integrated circuit address one or more of the variations in temperature, ground noise, and power noise. |
| US09876495B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device capable of reducing power consumption is provided. A writing potential is supplied to the cell 11 in which data rewriting is to be performed, whereby data is written. Meanwhile, in the cell 11 in which data rewriting is not to be performed, the data is transferred to the cell 12 and then the transferred data is rewritten to the cell 11. As a result, the data stored in the cell 11 in which data rewriting is not to be performed can be maintained without the reading and writing operation in a driver circuit. This results in a higher rewriting speed and lower power consumption in the driver circuit. |
| US09876490B2 |
Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing continuous-time signal differentiation and integration
Systems and methods for providing an approximate differentiation and integration of an input continuous-time signal are provided. The disclosed systems include a continuous-time delay block configured to receive an input continuous-time signal and to delay the input continuous-time signal by a predetermined delay factor to generate a delayed input continuous-time signal, a processing block configured to determine a difference or a sum between two continuous-time signals, and a multiplication block configured to multiply an input continuous signal to provide a multiplied input continuous signal. |
| US09876489B1 |
Method of implementing a differential integrating phase interpolator
The phase interpolator comprises a first charge pump configured to receive a first differential clock signal having a first clock phase, wherein the first charge pump has a first current path and a second current path coupled between a first pull-up current source and a first pull-down current source, wherein the first current path comprises a first NMOS steering switch coupled between a first output node and the first pull-down current source and the second current path comprises a second NMOS steering switch coupled between a second output node and the first pull-down current source; and a second charge pump configured to receive a second differential clock signal having a second clock phase, wherein the second charge pump has a third current path and a fourth current path coupled between a second pull-up current source and a second pull-down current source, and wherein the third current path comprises a third NMOS steering switch coupled between the first output node and the second pull-down current source and the fourth current path comprises a fourth NMOS steering switch coupled between the second node and the second pull-down current source. |
| US09876484B2 |
Elastic wave device with first and second support layers providing a hollow path
In an elastic wave device, a plurality of elastic wave elements that include IDT electrodes are provided on a piezoelectric substrate, and a support layer that surrounds the elastic wave elements is provided on the piezoelectric substrate to define hollow portions in which the elastic wave elements are located. A cover member is stacked on the support layer, so that the hollow portions, in which the elastic wave elements are located, are provided, and the support layer includes a first support layer and a second support layer. The first support layer extends along an outer peripheral edge of the piezoelectric substrate, and the second support layer is located in a region surrounded by the first support layer and disposed around the elastic wave elements so as to have the hollow portions, in which the elastic wave elements are located. A hollow path is provided between the first support layer and the second support layer and arranged to allow communication between at least two of the hollow portions. |
| US09876483B2 |
Acoustic resonator device including trench for providing stress relief
An microelectronic device includes a substrate, a piezoelectric component formed over the substrate, at least one trench formed in the substrate. The piezoelectric component has a corresponding resonance frequency. The at least one trench is configured to reduce mechanical stress on the piezoelectric component, in response to force applied to the substrate, for stabilizing the resonance frequency. |
| US09876482B2 |
Matching unit and matching method
A matching unit includes a directional coupler for detecting a travelling wave and a reflected wave; a matching circuit including a first variable capacitance capacitor, a second variable capacitance capacitor and an inductance; and a control unit for controlling VC1 and VC2 of the first and the second variable capacitance capacitor by calculating a reflection coefficient based on the travelling wave and the reflected wave. When a distance between the calculated reflection coefficient and a circle described by a trace of the reflection coefficient which passes through a matching point on a Smith chart is greater than a predetermined value, the control unit changes VC2 of the second variable capacitance capacitor and the calculated reflection coefficient to make the distance within the predetermined value. When the distance becomes within the predetermined value, the control unit changes VC1 of the first variable capacitance capacitor and makes the calculated reflection coefficient smaller. |
| US09876481B2 |
Microwave processing device
A microwave processing device includes: a periodic structure body which forms a surface-wave transmission line to transmit surface waves of microwaves; an oscillator which generates microwave power; and a transmitting part which transmits the microwave power generated by the oscillator to the periodic structure body, wherein a matching part is provided at a connecting portion between the periodic structure body and the transmitting part, and an impedance of the matching part is set to a value between an impedance of the periodic structure body and an impedance of the transmitting part. |
| US09876476B2 |
Supervisory control of radio frequency (RF) impedance tuning operation
A radio frequency (RF) control system including a RF generator having a power amplifier that outputs a RF signal and a controller. A matching network receives the RF signal and generates at least one RF output signal. In a first mode of operation, the controller enables adjustment of the frequency of the RF signal and a tune element of the matching network to achieve an impedance match and in a second mode of operation the controller enables adjustment of only the tune element of the matching network to achieve an impedance match while the frequency is adjusted to a target frequency. The RF controls system operates in a continuous and pulse mode of operation. |
| US09876471B2 |
Apparatus and methods for power amplifiers with phase compensation
Apparatus and methods for phase compensation in power amplifiers are disclosed herein. In certain implementations, a method of phase compensation in a power amplifier includes amplifying a radio frequency signal using a power amplifier that includes an input stage and an output stage, powering a bipolar transistor of the output stage using a power amplifier supply voltage, changing a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage, the bipolar transistor having an input reactance that changes in response to the change in the voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage, and compensating for a variation in a phase delay of the power amplifier arising from the change in the input reactance of the bipolar transistor using a compensation circuit that is electrically connected to an output of the input stage. |
| US09876470B2 |
Medical amplifier isolation
This disclosure provides isolation for a medical amplifier by providing a low impedance path for noise across an isolation barrier. The low impedance path can include a capacitive coupling between a patient ground, which is isolated from control circuitry, and a functional ground of an isolation system that is isolated from earth ground. The low impedance path can draw noise current from an input of an amplifier of patient circuitry. |
| US09876469B1 |
Voltage-controlled oscillator with mask-selectable performance
An apparatus includes a substrate, a capacitance die and an exciter die. The capacitance die is generally mounted on the substrate and may be configured to vary a frequency of a signal in an inductor. The exciter die is generally mounted on the substrate and may be configured to excite the signal. A particular one of the capacitance die and the exciter die may be fabricated with a die mask that has a plurality of available designs. The available designs generally customize the particular die to a plurality of configurations respectively. The capacitance die, the exciter die and the inductor may form a voltage-controlled oscillator. |
| US09876465B2 |
Assembly comprising profiles for supporting a solar panel
An assembly comprises at least two structural profiles arranged parallel to each other with respect to their length direction and at least one solar panel. Each of the structural profiles is doubled walled and comprises a continuous top cover and a plurality of spaced panel support sections. Each of said plurality of structural profiles is positioned such that, in between the respective top covers and their corresponding panel supports of adjacent structural profiles, along the length direction, the at least one solar panel can be slidably mounted at both its opposing edges. |
| US09876463B2 |
Adjustable end clamp for mounting solar panels to roofs
Disclosed is a system and device (10, 100, 200, 300) for mounting a solar panel (11) to a roof (43). The device (10, 100, 200, 300) allows for the mounting of solar panels (11) with various thicknesses using an end clamp (12) and base (13) assembly where the end clamp (12) is height adjustable along an alignment portion (20) that projects vertically upward from a planar top surface (19) of the base (13). The end clamp (12) includes an end portion (18) with a three-angle bearing surface (27) that engages both a side surface and a groove (23) within a side surface of the alignment portion (20). The solar panel (11) frame is secured from the top by an upper clamping surface of the end clamp (12) to the alignment portion (20) and the top surface of the base (13). |
| US09876462B2 |
Support system for photovoltaic mounting rail having cylindrical base that rotates into a locked position
A support system for photovoltaic mounting rails having a cylindrical base that rotates into a locked position. |
| US09876455B2 |
Field winding type synchronous machine
A field winding type synchronous machine has a stator having a stator core to which a stator coil is wound, and a rotor that rotates while facing a peripheral surface of the stator with an electromagnetic gap therebetween. The rotor includes a rotor core having a plurality of main pole portions and interpole portions, main pole windings wound around the main pole portions, interpole windings wound around the interpole portions, and a full-wave rectifier circuit for energizing the field current to the main pole windings. The interpole windings produce the induced current by a magnetic flux generated by a time harmonic current superimposed on a fundamental wave of the stator coil. The electromagnetic gaps between the interpole portions and a circumferential surface of the stator are configured larger than electromagnetic between the main pole portions and the circumferential surface of the stator. |
| US09876450B2 |
Active clamp for motor driver
An apparatus includes a clamp control circuit configured to control a first current to have a magnitude substantially equal to that of a second current when the second current has a first flow direction. The clamp control circuit is configured to control the first current to be substantially zero when the second current has a second flow direction. A method includes determining a value of a first current, controlling a second current to have a substantially zero value when the first current flows in a first direction, and controlling the second current to have a magnitude substantially equal to that of the first current when the first current flows in a second direction. The first current flows in the first direction when a winding of a motor is being supplied with energy and flows in the second direction when the winding of the motor is discharging energy. |
| US09876448B2 |
Position control apparatus
A tandem control method is applied to a position control apparatus. The tandem control method controls one object to be controlled by individually driving a first driving shaft and a second driving shaft. A speed difference between the first driving shaft and the object to be controlled is amplified and added to a torque command value of the first driving shaft. A speed difference between the second driving shaft and the object to be controlled is amplified and added to a torque command value of the second driving shaft. |
| US09876442B2 |
Robust single-phase DC/AC inverter for highly varying DC voltages
A single-phase DC/AC inverter has a single-phase inverter bridge with binary switches connected to an RLC low-pass filter. Digital control logic in a control circuit (or in a microcontroller) determines and controls a logic state q determining the position of the switches in the inverter bridge from sensed iL, vC values from the RLC filter. The control logic selects one of multiple possible logic states q based on whether the sensed iL, vC values belongs one of multiple boundary regions of a tracking band in an iL, vC state space. |
| US09876438B2 |
Converter unit system having inrush-current suppression circuit
In a converter unit system, converter units are connected in parallel. The converter unit includes a converter circuit connected to an AC power supply and a DC bus, a first inrush-current suppression resistor connected to the DC bus, a first contactor connected in parallel to the first inrush-current suppression resistor, a smoothing capacitor provided after the first inrush-current suppression resistor and the first contactor, a second contactor externally outputting ON/OFF signal, a voltage detection unit measuring a DC voltage value across the smoothing capacitor, and a control unit controlling the first contactor and the second contactor. The converter unit system includes a third contactor connected to the converter units, and a second inrush-current suppression resistor connected in parallel to the third contactor. When contacts of the second contactors are all closed, a contact of the third contactor is closed. |
| US09876435B2 |
Gate drive apparatus for resonant converters
A method comprises providing a resonant converter comprising a switching network comprising a first high-side switch, a second high-side switch, a first low-side switch and a second low-side switch, a resonant tank coupled between the switching network and a transformer and a rectifier coupled to a secondary side of the transformer, coupling a driver to the switching network and the rectifier, wherein the driver includes a first winding coupled to the rectifier, a second winding coupled to the first high-side switch and a third winding coupled to the second high-side switch, detecting a signal indicating a soft switching process of the driver and adjusting a resonant frequency of the driver until the resonant frequency of the driver approximately matches a switch frequency of the resonant converter. |
| US09876425B2 |
Control circuit for power converter
A circuit for controlling a first field-effect transistor of a power converter, intended for a converter including at least one first and one second transistor connected in series between two terminals for applying a first voltage, the circuit including a circuit for detecting the opening of the second transistor. |
| US09876424B2 |
Compensation network, switching power supply circuit and circuit compensation method
Disclosed are a compensation network, switching power supply circuit and a circuit compensation method; in the compensation network: an output end of the resistance capacitance network is cascaded to an input end of the unity gain amplifier network, and an output end of the unity gain amplifier network is cascaded to an input end of the error amplifier network; the resistance capacitance network is configured to provide a voltage dividing resistor, and generate a zero and a pole which are mutually canceled; the unity gain amplifier network is configured to generate a zero for canceling a pole in a low pass filter network, and a pole for suppressing a high-frequency noise and improving a phase margin of a switching power supply circuit; and the error amplifier network is configured to generate a pole for increasing low-frequency gain and a zero for canceling another pole in the low pass filter network. |
| US09876420B2 |
Sub-module distributed control method, device and system
A submodule distributed control method, device and system are provided. Submodules of each bridge arm are grouped. Each group corresponds to one valve based controller. An upper-level control device calculates a weight of each group according to a bridge arm current, an average voltage of normal submodules in each group, and the number of the normal submodules in each group; calculates, according to the number of submodules to be input in a corresponding bridge arm, the number of submodules being input in each group and delivers the number to the valve based controller. The valve based controller operates according to a voltage balancing policy and a gating method that are provided in the prior art. |
| US09876416B2 |
Method for producing an electrical machine for vehicle claw pole comprising a centering point
Method for making an electrical machine (10), especially a three-phase generator for vehicles, that comprises a stator (16) and a rotor (20). The rotor (20) comprises a first and a second claw pole (22, 23) from which claw pole fingers (24) respectively extend in the axial direction from claw pole roots (60). A centering point (74) for a tool is located on a rear radius (72) of the claw pole roots (60). |
| US09876412B2 |
Gas turbines in mechanical drive applications and operating methods
A drive system for driving a load, comprising a gas turbine configured and arranged for driving the load, an electric motor/generator electrically connected to an electric power grid, a first load coupling connecting the gas turbine to the load, a second load coupling, connecting the load to the electric motor/generator. The electric motor/generator is adapted to function as a generator for converting excess mechanical power from the gas turbine into electrical power and delivering the electrical power to the electric power grid, and as a motor for supplementing driving power to the load. The drive system comprises furthermore a disconnecting device to reversibly disconnect the load from the gas turbine, so that the load can be driven only by the motor. |
| US09876408B2 |
Electric machine, sealing assembly and associated method
An electric machine includes an electric machine having a housing defining a cavity in the housing. The housing has an internal wall of the housing defining an aperture extending from an exterior of the housing to the cavity. The machine also includes a stator secured to the housing and a rotor. The rotor is rotatably secured to the housing. The machine also includes a component positionable in the aperture and a sealing member. The sealing member is operably associated with the component. At least a portion of the sealing member is made of a conformable material and adapted for engagement with the housing. The internal wall of the housing is adapted to radially engage the conformable portion of the sealing member. |
| US09876406B2 |
Stator winding pattern for hairpin drive motor
A stator winding pattern of a hairpin drive motor includes a stator with 8 poles and 48 slots of a distribution winding where a hairpin-type of flat coil is inserted into a slot of a stator core and configured by a full pitch winding implementing 6 pitches of 3 phases and 2 in parallel, the pitch being a distance between adjacent slots, characterized in that: first to fourth layers are formed in the slot of the stator core in a radial direction of the stator core; and when a first layer or a fourth layer is set as a draw out part of one phase in an optional reference slot, a first draw out of a different phase is formed in a draw out slot having 16 pitches in a slot forward direction in a same layer based on the reference slot, and a second draw out of the different phase is formed in a draw out slot having 32 pitches in the slot forward direction in the same layer based on the reference slot. |
| US09876405B2 |
Stator winding pattern for hairpin drive motor
A stator winding pattern of a hairpin drive motor includes a stator with 8 poles and 48 slots of a distribution winding where a hairpintype of flat coil is inserted into a slot of a stator core and configured by a full pitch winding implementing 6 pitches of 3 phases and 2 in parallel, the pitch being a distance between adjacent slots, characterized in that: first to fourth layers are formed in the slot of the stator core in a radial direction of the stator core; and when a first layer or a fourth layer is set as a draw out part of one phase in an optional reference slot, a first draw out part of a different phase is formed in a draw out slot having 28 pitches in a slot forward direction in a same layer based on the reference slot, and a second draw out part of the different phase is formed in a draw out slot having 20 pitches in a slot reverse direction in the same layer based on the reference slot. |
| US09876403B2 |
Vibration prevention in synchronous machines
Spatially mutually close pole components are offset with respect to one another such that their influences on a given harmonic of the vibrations occurring during operation cancel one another as much as possible. The present invention therefore suggests concepts and makes dimensioning proposals by means of which certain harmonic orders of the operating noise can be reduced. |
| US09876400B2 |
Rotor of wound rotor synchronous motor
A rotor of a wound rotor synchronous motor is spaced apart from an interior diameter surface of a stator by a predetermined gap, and includes a plurality of teeth wound by a rotor coil, and circumferentially spaced apart from each other by a distance, where a slot is formed between the teeth, each tooth is formed with a shoe facing an interior diameter surface of the stator, and both ends of the shoe protrude in a direction of both ends of an adjacent shoe, where each tooth includes a first part corresponding to a winding body of the tooth and a second part extending in the direction of both ends of the adjacent shoe from both sides of the first part. |
| US09876396B2 |
Wireless power transmitting apparatus and wireless power transmission system
A wireless power transmitting apparatus includes: a loop conductor for power transmission having an inductance; an inverter circuit configured to receive a DC voltage, convert the DC voltage into an AC voltage, and apply the AC voltage to the loop conductor; a capacitor connected between one end of the loop conductor and at least one end of the inverter circuit; and a metal layer covering one of the faces formed by the loop conductor farthest from a power receiving apparatus. |
| US09876394B1 |
Boost-charger-boost system for enhanced power delivery
A controlled-power delivery system may operate with RF waves for supplying continuous and suitable power to a load. The controlled-power delivery system may include one or more receiving antennas, one or more rectifiers, a first boost converter, a charger, a storage element, and a second boost converter. The first boost converter may step up the rectified DC voltage obtained from the receiving antenna and rectifier to supply a suitable voltage level that can be used for charging the storage element. The second boost converter may increase the voltage from the storage element to a suitable level that may satisfy the power requirements of the load. The charger in conjunction with the first and second boost converters may be configured to allow a plurality of modes of operation for delivering power to the load and charging the storage element. |
| US09876392B2 |
Reversible powering device
The present disclosure provides a reversible powering device for an electronic equipment including a first power input port and a second power input port. Said reversible powering device including: a power input determining module configured to determine whether the first power input port or the second power input port of the electronic equipment has a power input respectively, and send a control signal to a switch controlling module if it is determined that the first power input port has a power input and the second power input port has no power input; and the switch controlling module configured to control a switch device according to said control signal such that the power input into the first power input port is output from the second power input port in a reverse direction to power another electronic equipment. |
| US09876391B2 |
Power conversion apparatus, control system, and control method
PCS 400 operates in any one of a standard mode and a charging mode within a plurality of operation modes at a time when PV 100 operates. The plurality of operation modes include the standard mode in which an output of the PV 100 is converted into AC power and the AC power is supplied to grid 1 and/or load 300 and the charging mode in which the output of the PV 100 is supplied to storage battery 200. An output voltage of the DC/DC converter 410 is different in the standard mode and in the charging mode. |
| US09876387B2 |
Wireless battery charging systems and methods for an electronic lock
Example systems and methods are described that wirelessly charge a rechargeable battery associated with a lock. In one implementation, a rechargeable battery is electrically coupled to an electronic lock module associated with a door corresponding to a door frame. An electronic control module associated with the door frame and physically separate from the electronic lock module generates a wireless charging link between the electronic control module and the electronic lock module. The electronic control module transmits a charging signal to the electronic lock module via the wireless charging link, and the electronic lock module uses this charging signal to charge the rechargeable battery. The implementation also includes a lock associated with the door that can be locked or unlocked by the electronic lock module. |
| US09876380B1 |
Secured wireless power distribution system
A wireless power distribution system for military applications is disclosed. The system includes a wireless power transmitter coupled with a power source. The transmitter may form pockets of energy using controlled radio frequencies. Electrical equipment coupled with an electronic receiver may utilize pockets of energy formed by the transmitter to charge or power the electrical equipment. The transmitter coupled with a power source may be used in a fixed position or may be carried in a vehicle for portability. |
| US09876379B1 |
Wireless charging and powering of electronic devices in a vehicle
Configurations and methods of wireless power transmission for charging or powering one or more electronic devices inside a vehicle are disclosed. A transmitter capable of single or multiple pocket-forming may be connected to a car lighter, where this transmitter may include a circuitry module and an antenna array integrated within the transmitter, or operatively connected through a cable. This cable may allow the positioning of the antenna array in different locations inside the vehicle suitable for directing RF waves or pockets of energy towards one or more electronic devices. Transmitter's configuration can be accessed by one or more electronic devices through Bluetooth communication in order to set up charging or powering priorities. |
| US09876377B2 |
Multichip, battery protection apparatus, and battery pack
A multichip in which a protection IC for detecting at least one of overcharge, over discharge, and overcurrent of a secondary battery and a monitoring IC for monitoring a battery state of the secondary battery are integrated in a package. The protection IC and the monitoring IC are not overlapped in a plan view. A regulator output terminal for the monitoring IC, a ground terminal common to the protection IC and the monitoring IC, a power supply terminal common to the protection IC and the monitoring IC, and a current detection terminal for the protection IC are disposed along a first side of package, and a communication terminal for the monitoring IC, a discharge control terminal for the protection IC, a charge control terminal for the protection IC, and a overcurrent detection terminal for the protection IC are disposed as external connection terminals along the second side of package. |
| US09876376B2 |
Multiple battery charger and method for controlling the same
A multiple battery charger is provided. The multiple battery charger includes an input unit configured to receive or block power from a power supply unit, an output unit including a plurality of output terminals, wherein the plurality of output terminals are commonly connected to the input unit and charge a plurality of batteries, and wherein each of the plurality of output terminals includes at least one of a plurality of second switches for a selective receipt of the power from the input unit and the plurality of output terminals are controlled in a time division multiple control manner, and a switching control unit configured to transmit a pulse width modulation signal to the input unit and the output unit so as to independently control the power applied to the plurality of batteries. Accordingly, a plurality of different kinds of batteries and the same kind of batteries in which charge states are different can be simultaneously charged. |
| US09876370B2 |
Charging station and charging station guide for autonomously navigating utility vehicle
In a charging station for charging a battery installed on an autonomously navigating utility vehicle equipped with a prime mover powered by the battery to travel about a working area delineated by a boundary wire, there are provided with a pair of charging terminals installed on the station to be capable of connecting with a pair of charging terminals installed on the vehicle, a first wire installed on the station at a location inside of the working area and being formed as a circular shape having a center, and a second wire installed on the station to be formed as a shape that is symmetrical with respect to a center line obtained by connecting a midpoint of the terminals and the center of the first wire. |
| US09876364B2 |
Power receiving device, vehicle, and power transmission device
This power receiving device includes a magnetic shield, and the magnetic shield includes: a first magnetic sheet located beside the power receiving unit; a conductive sheet located opposite to the power receiving unit with the first magnetic sheet interposed therebetween; and a second magnetic sheet located opposite to the first magnetic sheet with the conductive sheet interposed therebetween. |
| US09876359B2 |
High-voltage intelligent switch alternating current capacitor
Disclosed is a high-voltage AC capacitor for reactive power compensation of 10 kV-35 kV power grid, and in particular to a high-voltage AC capacitor with a high-voltage switching switch provided therein, as well as a structure for prolonging the service life of a thin film metalized high-voltage capacitor and a control method for prolonging the service life of the thin film metalized high-voltage capacitor. The AC capacitor is formed by multiple intelligent switch capacitor units connected in series, and each capacitor unit is formed by a switch contact (K11-Kn1) and a capacitor (C1-Cn) connected in series. If there are N capacitor units, when each switch contact is disconnected, the endurable voltage of each switch contact, the endurable voltage between the switch contact and a coil and the voltage each capacitor withstands are 1/Nth of the total voltage; when the switch operates, all the contacts operate at the same instant. |
| US09876358B2 |
Converter arrangement for power compensation and a method for controlling a power converter
A converter arrangement and a method of controlling a three-phase converter arrangement connected to a transmission grid are provided. The converter arrangement includes three phase legs and an energy transfer circuit. The method includes providing a varying respective output phase voltage to the transmission grid by selecting energy storage elements of both the phase legs and the energy transfer circuit and connecting the selected energy storage elements to the transmission grid output. The method further includes selecting energy storage elements for performing a transfer of energy between the energy storage elements during the control period. |
| US09876353B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting electrical power
The present invention relates to a method (40) for transmitting electrical power between an energy supply grid (16) and an energy consumer (12) or energy producer (12) which is coupled to the energy supply grid (16), wherein at least one electrical variable of the energy supply grid (16) is detected, wherein a discrepancy between the electrical variable and a rated variable of the energy supply grid (16) which is associated with the electrical variable is determined, wherein the power transmission is controlled on the basis of the discrepancy, and wherein the electrical variable is a mains frequency and/or a mains voltage of the energy supply grid (16) and the rated variable is a rated frequency and/or rated voltage of the energy supply grid (16). |
| US09876351B2 |
Electric apparatus and power control method
In accordance with an embodiment, an electric apparatus is provided with a connection device configured to connect with an external power supply, a battery and a plurality of power load sections, and a controller programmed to select a supply destination of power of the external power supply from a plurality of the power load sections, and supply power of the battery to another power load section except the supply destination according to supply capacity of the external power supply connected with the connection device. |
| US09876350B2 |
Power supply system
[Problem] To provide a power supply system which effectively utilizes a power storage unit and also limits degradation of the power storage unit.[Solution] A power supply system (1) is provided with: a power storage unit (2) for charging supplied electric power and supplying the charged electric power by means of discharge; and a power storage unit controller (3) for controlling the discharging of the power storage unit (2). The power storage unit controller (3) sets a discharge period during which the power storage unit (2) can be discharged. Furthermore, during the discharge period, the power storage unit controller (3) determines the electric energy to be supplied by means of the discharging of the power storage unit (2) during the remaining discharge period on the basis of the remaining discharge period and the electric energy that can be discharged by the power storage unit (2). |
| US09876347B2 |
Apparatus and methods for restoring power cell functionality in multi-cell power supplies
A method is provided for operating a multi-cell power supply that includes multiple series-connected power cells in each of multiple legs. Each power cell includes a bypass device that may be used to selectively bypass and de-bypass the power cell. After a first power cell faults and is bypassed as a result of the fault, the method includes de-bypassing the first power cell without stopping the multi-cell power supply if the first power cell fault was caused by a predetermined operating condition. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US09876346B2 |
System and method for compressor motor protection
A refrigerant compressor includes an electric motor. A current sensor measures current to the electric motor. A switching device is configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the electric motor, respectively. A maximum continuous current (MCC) device generates an output that one of: (i) is an MCC for the electric motor and (ii) is a value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor. A motor protection module: is remote from the MCC device; receives the output wirelessly from the MCC device via an antenna; one of sets a first MCC to the MCC for the electric motor and determines the first MCC based on the value indicative of the MCC for the electric motor; selectively sets a predetermined MCC to the first MCC; and controls the switching device based on a comparison of the current to the electric motor and the predetermined MCC. |
| US09876341B2 |
Cable and flexible conduit gland assembly
A cable and flexible conduit gland assembly includes a mounting member mounted in a predetermined object, one or multiple connection members, an outer cap, and one packing device and one or multiple auxiliary clamping sleeves mounted in the mounting member between the connection members and the outer cap and compressible by the outer cap and the connection members to wrap about the periphery of an inserted cable and to provide multiple packing effects. Thus, the cable and flexible conduit gland assembly has high IP rating, and is practical for dynamic mechanical application, or application in a deep-water environment or high explosive atmosphere. |
| US09876339B2 |
Thermal sleeve with integral positioning member, assembly therewith and method of construction thereof
A thermal sleeve for protecting an electronic member connected to a wiring harness, assembly therewith and method of construction are provided. The thermal sleeve includes a tubular heat-settable nonwoven inner layer having a generally cylindrical portion and an outer surface extending along a longitudinal central axis between opposite open ends. A reflective outer layer is disposed about the outer surface. At least one finger of the heat-settable nonwoven inner layer extends radially inwardly from the generally cylindrical portion. The at least one finger is heat-set to remain extended radially inwardly absent an externally applied force thereon. The at least one finger has a free end surrounding a through opening sized for receipt of the wiring harness. |
| US09876338B2 |
Device for stripping electric cables using violet or blue laser diodes
The invention concerns a device for stripping electric cables, comprising at least one stripping beam (10, 11; 110, 111; 209) emitted by a LASER source (1; 101; 201) and focused by an optical assembly (2-4; 102, 103; 203-208) into a focusing point (12, 13), called cutting point, and at least one track (6; 106) for receiving a portion of cable to be stripped, characterised in that each LASER source comprises a LASER diode (1; 101; 201) emitting a stripping beam of which the wavelength is between 400 nm and 460 nm, and preferably of the order of 445 nm. |
| US09876337B2 |
Machine arranged for sawing micro trenches and placing ducts/cables in micro trenches
The present invention relates to a machine arranged for sawing micro trenches and placing ducts/cables in micro trenches, said machine comprising a saw blade arranged for sawing a micro trench in an area; said machine further comprising: a stabilizing device arranged for stabilizing the walls of said micro trench when placing ducts/cables into said micro trench, said stabilizing device being positioned immediately behind said saw blade in said micro trench, and said stabilizing device comprising guiding means for guiding at least one duct/cable when placed into said micro trench; said saw blade and said stabilizing device are arranged to be lowered and elevated independently of each other. |
| US09876336B2 |
Gas-insulated switching apparatus
A gas-insulated switching apparatus of a three-phase-isolated type includes: two first main buses and extending in parallel at an identical height; a first connection bus interconnecting the first main buses; a first divergence bus diverging downward from the first connection bus; and a first circuit breaker connected to the first divergence bus, wherein a connection portion between the first connection bus and the first divergence bus is disposed at a position lower than the height at which the first main buses extend, and a grounding switch is disposed above the connection portion between the first connection bus and the first divergence bus. |
| US09876335B2 |
System, method and device for racking circuit breakers
Systems, devices and methods for racking circuit breakers in a switchgear cabinet include a drive mechanism that is flexibly linked to a racking mechanism associated with each circuit breaker. The drive mechanism can be connected for racking multiple circuit breakers without requiring re-positioning of the drive mechanism. |
| US09876333B2 |
Panelboard breaker compartment with disconnect features
A circuit breaker may be plugged into a breaker compartment in a panelboard without making a connection to a power bus of the panel board. A tool may be inserted into the breaker compartment to operate movable contacts that connect, or disconnect, the circuit breaker from the power bus without de-energizing the power line network. Inserting the tool into the breaker compartment first causes a trip actuator to trip the circuit breaker. |
| US09876330B1 |
Wavelength tunable external cavity quantum cascade laser utilizing an angle tuned immersion grating as a wavelength selective filter element
A light source having a gain chip, a retro reflecting prism and a first actuator is disclosed. The gain chip amplifies light passing therethrough. The retro reflecting prism is characterized by a pivot axis within the retro reflecting prism, an input light direction, an output light direction, and a diffraction grating that receives light emitted by the gain chip traveling in the input direction, returns a diffracted light beam to the gain chip along the input light direction and generates an output light beam. The first actuator causes the retro reflecting prism to rotate about the pivot axis in response to a control signal being coupled to the first actuator. |
| US09876326B1 |
Universal lightbulb socket
A socket having a quick release to removably and reliably receive a light bulb. A flat circular base has a top surface and an outer periphery. A plurality of flexible elongated plastic prongs extend outward from the top surface about the outer periphery of the base. The prongs are threaded and can flex outward to permit the light bulb to be pulled straight out of or pushed straight into the socket without turning the light bulb. A first elongated metal socket contact is positioned along at least one of the flexible elongated plastic prongs. A second metal socket contact is positioned at the top surface of the base. |
| US09876325B2 |
Multi-function power strip
Embodiments of a multi-function power strip are shown, said strip including a first endcap and a second endcap; at least one rail, said rail being adapted to engage with at least one outlet module; the rail also being engaged with a transformer module, said transformer module in electrical connection with the at least one outlet module, and adapted to receive electrical power therefrom, said transformer module further comprising a transformer adapted to transform electrical power into a plurality of voltages suitable for powering a plurality of different models of electronic accessories, and a connector forming a circuit to provide a suitable one of the plurality of voltages to an electronic accessory; and wherein the at least one outlet module and the transformer module are releasably joined together. |
| US09876323B1 |
Hermaphroditic pin and socket connector
An electrical connector for use with wires is disclosed that includes an electrical contact and an insulated housing. The electrical contact includes a wire contact portion and a connector contact portion. The wire contact portion connects the electrical connector to a wire. The connector contact portion includes a male contact prong and a female contact socket. The electrical contact may be positioned within an insulated housing that is designed to connect both the male contact prong and the female contact socket when mated with another electrical device. |
| US09876322B2 |
Backward compatible connectivity for high data rate applications
The present invention provides a communication jack for connecting to one of a first plug and a second plug. The jack includes a housing, plug interface contacts, and coupling circuitry. The plug interface contacts are at least partially within said housing and include a plurality of contact pairs having at least a first contact pair and a second contact pair. The coupling circuitry is configured for engaging said first contact pair and said second contact pair when said first plug is inserted into said housing. The coupling circuitry is configured for disengaging from said first contact pair and said second contact pair when said second plug is inserted into said housing. |
| US09876318B2 |
Ground contacts for reduced-length connector inserts
Connector inserts having a high signal integrity and low insertion loss by shielding signal contacts. One example may provide one or more ground contacts between a front opening and signal pins of a connector insert. These ground contacts may have sufficient lever arm to provide a good contact to a corresponding contact in a connector receptacle. To avoid excessive length in the connector insert, embodiments of the present invention may stack a portion of the ground contact above the signal contacts in the connector insert. To reduce excessive capacitance that would otherwise reduce signal impedance, one or more openings may be formed in the ground contacts. To prevent signal contacts from shorting to a shield through this opening, the opening may be covered by tape. The ground contacts may be positioned to avoid encountering power contacts in the receptacle when the insert is inserted into the receptacle. |
| US09876317B2 |
Replaceable adapter for use with vehicular battery charging system
An energy transfer system includes an adapter having a power terminal port with a plurality of power terminals and an intermediate adapter terminal port with a plurality of intermediate adapter terminals. Each of the plurality of intermediate adapter terminals is in direct electrical communication with one of the plurality of adapter terminals. The energy transfer system also includes an intermediate complementary port that is configured to mate with the intermediate adapter terminal port to establish electrical communication between the plurality of intermediate adapter terminals and a plurality of complementary intermediate terminals. The adapter terminal port is configured not to mate with the intermediate terminal port and not to mate with the intermediate complementary terminal port. |
| US09876312B1 |
Double locking mechanism between plate end and cable end of ethernet vehicle connector
A double locking mechanism between plate end and cable end of Ethernet vehicle connector. The double locking mechanism includes a plate end connector body, a cable end connector body and a locking plate, in which the connector bodies are pluggable with each other. The plate end connector body includes a fastening plate located at its top end, at the near pluggable end, the fastening plate is provided with an inward hook, which is provided with a sliding slope at the near pluggable end. The cable end connector body includes a fastening bar located at the top of itself, the fastening bar includes a long incline and a short incline respectively located at its near and distal pluggable ends. The locking plate includes a longitudinal resilient fastener and two transverse resilient fasteners respectively located in the middle and at the two sides of the locking plate. |
| US09876306B2 |
Method for producing a modular electrical connector assembly for a control unit in a motor vehicle
A method for producing a modular electrical connector assembly for a vehicle control unit, the connector assembly having a module carrier and at least two connector modules disposed side-by-side on the carrier. Each connector module has a connector housing collar and a plurality of contact elements disposed in a contact area within the connector housing collar. First, one of the connector modules is placed in an opening in the module carrier and positioned precisely relative to the module carrier. The connector module is pressed with a hold-down device against the module carrier retained in a holding device. In this state, the connector module is laser-welded to the carrier in an attachment region with a laser beam. Laser welding permits a reliably stable and fluid-tight, material-locking connection between the components, and an advantageous, space-saving placement of the attachment region laterally within the collar, with higher manufacturing precision and small manufacturing tolerances. |
| US09876302B2 |
Medical instrument and drive unit each having an interface for electrically connecting the drive unit with the medical instrument
A medical instrument comprises an interface for electrically connecting a drive unit with the medical instrument. The interface has a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in a connecting surface. At least one of the contacts in the connecting surface is electrically isolated from the remaining contacts by a recess or an elevation. |
| US09876301B2 |
Electrical connector for Christmas lamp trees
The utility model discloses an electrical connector for Christmas lamp trees which comprises an upper and a lower connecting base, first columnar electrodes and elastic devices are arranged in the upper connecting base, second arc-shaped electrodes are arranged in the lower connecting base, and the elastic devices cause the first electrodes to tightly abut against the second electrodes. The first columnar electrodes and the second arc-shaped electrodes form a point-to-surface contact, so that the reliability of electrical connection is increased greatly, allowing a Christmas lamp tree to be universal to high and low voltages. Moreover, sufficient contact between upper and lower layers and natural effect of the Christmas lamp tree can still be ensured even if the Christmas lamp tree is subjected to an external force, and multiple sets of first and second electrodes are electrically connected in one-to-one correspondence, leading to diversified functions of the Christmas lamp tree. |
| US09876291B2 |
Method for a tension proof closure of the end of an energy cable
A method for the tension proof closing of the end of an energy cable in which an energy cable is used whose center axis containing the electrical transmission elements is surrounded by a tension proof reinforcement of metal wires. Initially, the reinforcement at the end of the energy cable is removed over a predetermined length. Subsequently, a pipe piece of metal, which tightly surrounds the end of the remaining reinforcement, is placed onto the end of the remaining reinforcement. Finally, a cup shaped tubular elongated sleeve of metal is pushed onto the end of the energy cable and is connected in a tension proof manner to the pipe piece which has, at its free end facing away from the pipe piece, a device suitable for mounting a tension element. In addition, a device manufactured by the method is proposed. |
| US09876289B2 |
Terminal metal fitting and connector using same
A terminal metal fitting, includes: a first terminal extended in a first direction on a first plane; a second terminal extended in a second direction on the first plane; a first flat plate part of a flat plate type, the first flat plate part being contacted with the first terminal, and having a first broad width face parallel to the first plane; a second flat plate part of a flat plate type, the second flat plate part being contacted with the second terminal, and having a second broad width face parallel to the first plane; a first articulated part of a flat plate type, the first articulated part being contacted with the first flat plate part in the first direction, and having a third broad width face parallel to a second plane including a third direction perpendicular to the first plane, and the first direction; a second articulated part of a flat plate type, the second articulated part being contacted with the second flat plate part in the second direction, and having a fourth broad width face parallel to a third plane including the second direction and the third direction; and a connecting portion connecting the first articulated part and the second articulated part, wherein the connection portion can be bent around the third direction to form an angle difference between the first direction and the second direction. |
| US09876288B2 |
Coaxial cable connector with compression bands
A cable connector for coupling to a coaxial cable includes an outer barrel configured to receive the cable, a collar received on the outer barrel, and a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a plurality of compressible compression bands, the seal assembly configured to provide a seal with a cable received by the cable connector. |
| US09876287B1 |
Electrical plug and socket assembly for a safety grounded tree
An artificial lighted tree may have power routed through the tree trunk and three-wire safety grounding. A system and method are provided for preventing inadvertent electrical connection of a standard plug to a female socket of an electrical power cord to the artificial lighted tree. The apparatus and method comprise a non-standard female socket on a three-prong safety grounded electrical power cord. The non-standard female socket includes raised side socket walls with vertical half rounds in the sidewalls to mate with a non-standard two-prong non-polarized male electrical plug, customized to include mating grooves cut into top and bottom lips. Advantageously, use of a non-standard female socket paired with a non-standard two-prong non-polarized male electrical plug functions to prevent electrical connection by standard two-prong non-polarized male electrical plugs thereby permitting use of a three wire cord having lower amperage rating than standard UL approved three wire cord. |
| US09876283B2 |
Active electronically scanned array antenna
An antenna is provided and includes a plate and an aperture assembly attached to the plate. The aperture assembly includes sticks that respectively include a spacer, a carrier formed separately from the spacer and on which circulators are disposed, a base defining recesses from which bosses interleaved with the recesses protrude and fasteners disposed to fasten the spacer to the base at boss locations with the carrier interposed between the spacer and the base and the circulators aligned with the recesses. The aperture assembly further includes conductive elements extending through the plate and the base for electric coupling to the circulators. Adjacent sticks define a slot extending forwardly from the plate. The slot is notched at a corresponding circulator and rounded forwardly from the corresponding circulator. |
| US09876281B2 |
System and method for reducing the probability of detection of a communication and sensor mast
A system and method are for reducing the probability of detection of a Line of Sight type communication and sensor mast. The mast has an upper portion extending upwardly relatively the ground, and a lower portion closer to the ground than the upper portion. The mast at the upper portion is equipped with at least a communication or sensor element. The mast is equipped with an actuator that, based on calculated instructions, is designed to alter the elevation above ground of the mast upper portion so as to achieve an acceptable signal quality with the upper portion of the mast at the lowest possible elevation. |
| US09876280B1 |
Radome with radio frequency filtering surface
A system for detecting radio frequency (RF) signals includes a radome including one or more phase change material (PCM) layers disposed on an inner surface thereof and a sensor at least partially disposed within the radome. The system also includes a heat source arranged such that it can direct heat toward the inner surface of the radome and a controller that causes the heat source to direct heat towards the inner surface of the radome such that a frequency selective surface (FSS) is formed thereon. |
| US09876276B2 |
Device with radio and body-coupled-communication connectivity
A device is equipped with one or more communication modules supporting communication on the basis of radio signals and communication on the basis of body-coupled communication signals. Further, the device is equipped with an antenna for transmission of the radio signals. The antenna is further operable to transfer the body-coupled communication signals between the device and a body of a user of the device. |
| US09876271B2 |
Mobile communication device
Embodiments described herein relate a mobile communication device and techniques to suppress deterioration of antenna characteristics. The mobile device includes metallic members that are disposed around, or in portions of a casing of the mobile device. The metallic member is grounded directly to a ground plane of the mobile device at a first predetermined position. The grounded metallic member forms a stub line that cancels a flow of electric current though the metallic member. Furthermore, the metallic member is also connected to the ground plane, at a second predetermined location, via a resonant circuit. The mobile device is capable of adjusting a phase of the antenna current flowing through the device, when the mobile device is being operated by a user, and thus suppresses deterioration of antenna characteristics in certain desired frequency bands. |
| US09876262B2 |
Multi resonator non-adjacent coupling
A coupling is provided for coupling non-adjacent resonators of a radio frequency filter. The coupling joins together non-adjacent resonators with a metal strip. The metal strip is physically connected to but electrically isolated from resonators located between the connected non-adjacent resonators. The metal strips include tabs the length of which may be varied. The coupling works with different resonator configurations including horizontally aligned resonators. The coupling allows for the jumping of an even number of resonators can produce zeros at high and low bands. A single coupling of this configuration enables two negative couplings. |
| US09876261B2 |
Monitoring device for a battery, a lithium-ion battery, and method for the monitoring of a battery
A monitoring device for a battery, a lithium-ion battery with the monitoring device and a method for the monitoring of a battery, wherein the battery is provided with a plurality of cell composites comprising a number of mutually parallel-interconnected battery cells. The cell composites are also interconnected by means of electrical cell couplers, and one or more temperature sensors are arranged between the cell composites. Where a voltage drop across one or more of the battery cells on the electrical cell couplers exceeds a predetermined value and, simultaneously, a temperature occurs on at least one of the temperature sensors which exceeds a predetermined value, a fault signal is generated. The defective battery cell can then be isolated from the cell composite. |
| US09876258B2 |
Voltage-enhanced energy storage devices
The present disclosure provides an energy storage device comprising at least one electrochemical cell comprising a negative current collector, a negative electrode in electrical communication with the negative current collector, an electrolyte in electrical communication with the negative electrode, a positive electrode in electrical communication with the electrolyte and a positive current collector in electrical communication with the positive electrode. The negative electrode comprises an alkali metal. Upon discharge, the electrolyte provides charged species of the alkali metal. The positive electrode can include a Group IIIA, IVA, VA and VIA of the periodic table of the elements, or a transition metal (e.g., Group 12 element). |
| US09876257B2 |
Secondary battery and electrode production method
Secondary battery includes a battery assembly configured by alternately stacking positive electrodes 1 and negative electrodes 6 via separators 20, in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode respectively include collectors 3 and 8, and active materials 2 and 7 applied on the collectors. On each surface of the collector, a coated portion coated with the active material and an uncoated portion not coated with any active material are provided. In one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, boundary portion 4a between the coated portion and the uncoated portion on the front surface of the collector, is positioned planarly away from boundary portion 4b between the coated portion and the uncoated portion on the rear surface of the collector. |
| US09876255B2 |
Cosolvent electrolytes for electrochemical devices
A method for stabilizing electrodes against dissolution and/or hydrolysis including use of cosolvents in liquid electrolyte batteries for three purposes: the extension of the calendar and cycle life time of electrodes that are partially soluble in liquid electrolytes, the purpose of limiting the rate of electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen as a side reaction during battery operation, and for the purpose of cost reduction. |
| US09876253B2 |
Low viscosity/high conductivity sodium haloaluminate electrolyte
An additive that is added to the NaAlX4 electrolyte for use in a ZEBRA battery (or other similar battery). This additive has a moiety with a partial positive charge (δ+) that attracts the negative charge of the [AlX4]− moiety and weakens the ionic bond between the Na+ and [AlX4]− moieties, thereby freeing some Na+ ions to transport (move). By using a suitable NaAlX4 electrolyte additive, the battery may be operated at much lower temperatures than are typical of ZEBRA batteries (such as, for example, at temperatures between 150 and 200° C.). Additionally, the additive also lowers the viscosity of the electrolyte solution and improves sodium conductivity. Non-limiting examples of the additive SOCl2, SO2, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, CH3SOCH3), CH3S(O)Cl, SO2Cl2. A further advantage of using this additive is that it allows the use of a NaSICON membrane in a ZEBRA-type battery at lower temperatures compared to a typical ZEBRA battery. |
| US09876251B2 |
Layer cell, assembled battery including layer cell, and method for assembling layer cell
Layer cell includes an outer casing, positive electrode, negative electrode, separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and electrically conductive current collector passing through the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator in an axial direction of the outer casing. The positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator are stacked in the axial direction of the outer casing. First electrode which is one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is in contact with an inner surface of the outer casing, but is not in contact with the current collector. Second electrode which is the other electrode is not in contact with the outer casing, but is in contact with the current collector. An outer edge of the second electrode is covered with the separator. Peripheral edge of a hole, in the first electrode is covered with the separator. |
| US09876249B2 |
Fuel cell stacks with increased natural frequency
In certain configurations and applications, fuel cell stacks can be subject to damage arising from resonance. For instance, the natural frequency of lengthy automotive fuel cell stacks can be low enough to be problematic. Incorporating appropriate support bars between the compression straps holding such stacks together and the fuel cells in the stack can suitably increase the natural frequency in a relatively compact manner. |
| US09876247B2 |
Solid ceramic electrolytes
A solid ceramic electrolyte may include an ion-conducting ceramic and at least one grain growth inhibitor. The ion-conducting ceramic may be a lithium metal phosphate or a derivative thereof. The grain growth inhibitor may be magnesia, titania, or both. The solid ceramic electrolyte may have an average grain size of less than about 2 microns. The grain growth inhibitor may be between about 0.5 mol. % to about 10 mol. % of the solid ceramic electrolyte. |
| US09876246B2 |
Nanofiber membrane-electrode-assembly and method of fabricating same
In one aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a fuel cell membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a membrane disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, includes fabricating each of the anode electrode, the cathode electrode, and the membrane separately by electrospinning; and placing the membrane between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and pressing then together to form the fuel cell MEA. |
| US09876241B2 |
Fuel supply unit
A fuel supply unit including injectors to adjust a flow rate and a pressure of fuel gas and an outflow passage of which the fuel gas injected from the injectors will flow out, wherein the fuel supply unit further includes: a branch passage that branches off from the outflow passage and communicates with an injection port of the injector; a specified injector defined as N−1 or less pieces of the injectors when N pieces of the injectors are provided, in which N denotes an integer more than 1; and a pressure reduction member provided in the branch passage that communicates with an injection port of the specified injector, only the specified injector is operated during idling, and the pressure reduction member is configured to decompress injection pressure of the fuel gas which will be injected from the specified injector. |
| US09876236B2 |
Fuel cell separator plates
The invention relates to separator plates (108) for fuel cells, and in particular to separator plates having particular geometries for improved edge sealing properties. Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a fuel cell separator plate (308) having first and second opposing faces (304, 305), the separator plate having a series of corrugations (301) extending, and providing air flow paths (302), between first and second opposing edges of the plate, wherein crests of corrugations along the first face (304) proximate the first edge (303) of the plate are depressed to be coplanar with adjacent crests of corrugations along the second face such that a greater contact surface on the second face (305) is provided compared with the first face (304). |
| US09876226B2 |
Aluminum dry-coated and heat treated cathode material precursors
Aluminum dry-coated and heat treated cathode material precursors. A particulate precursor compound for manufacturing an aluminum coatedlithium transition metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries includes a transition metal (M)-oxide core and a non-amorphous aluminum oxide coating layercovering the core. By providing a heat treatment process for mixed metal precursors that may be combined with an aluminum dry-coating process, novel aluminum containing precursors that may be used to form high quality nickel based cathode materials are obtained. The aluminum dry-coated and heat treated precursors include particles have, compared to prior art precursors, relatively low impurity levels of carbonate and/or sulfide, and can be produced at lower cost. |
| US09876225B2 |
Anode active material and battery
Anode active materials, anodes, and batteries are provided. In one embodiment, an anode active material includes particles consisting essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon and an alloy of silicon. An average degree of circularity of the particles is 90% or less. |
| US09876222B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which can suppress the change in structure of a positive electrode active material at a high voltage is provided. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material which absorbs and releases lithium ions; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material which absorbs and releases lithium ions; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material has a surface to which a rare earth compound is adhered and includes a lithium cobalt composite oxide containing at least one type selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn, Ca, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ge, Sn, Si, P, Nb, Mo, S, and W, and charge is performed so that the potential of the positive electrode is 4.53 V or more with reference to lithium. |
| US09876221B2 |
Negative active material for rechargeable lithium battery and rechargeable lithium battery including same
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to negative active materials for lithium rechargeable batteries and to lithium rechargeable batteries including the negative active materials. The negative active material includes a crystalline carbon material having pores, and amorphous conductive nanoparticles in the pores, on the surface of the crystalline carbon, or both in the pores and on the surface of the crystalline carbon. The conductive nanoparticles have a FWHM of about 0.35 degrees (°) or greater at the crystal plane that produces the highest peak as measured by X-ray diffraction. |
| US09876215B2 |
Electric connector attachment structure of battery pack for electric vehicle
To provide an electric-connector attachment structure of a battery pack for an electric vehicle, which can attach an electric connector to a battery pack even when the height of the battery pack for an electric-vehicle is set low, the electric-connector attachment structure includes: a battery pack 3 for an electric vehicle including a tray 4 of a box-like shape which accommodates a battery and has an opening on an upper side, and a cover 5 of a box-like shape having an opening on a lower side, the tray 4 and the cover 5 being joined at a horizontal plane; and an electric connector 6 to which an electrical cable 61 is connected. It further includes an inclined portion 441, 551 to which the electric connector 6 is connected, disposed at an inner side of the battery pack 3 with respect to a joint surface 461 at which the tray 4 and the cover 5 are joined, extending over lower and upper regions across the horizontal plane H passing through the joint surface 461; and a protruding portion 443, 553 disposed between the joint surface 461 and the inclined portion 441, 551 so as to protrude from the horizontal plane passing through the joint surface 461 in a direction opposite to the electric connector 6. The inclined portion 441, 551 is formed so as to be continuous from the protruding portion 443, 551. |
| US09876213B2 |
Electrode assembly and secondary battery having the electrode assembly
An electrode assembly includes a first electrode plate including a first electrode current collector and a first electrode active material layer thereon, a second electrode plate including a second electrode current collector and a second electrode active material layer thereon, a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, a first electrode tab coupled to the first electrode current collector, and a second electrode tab coupled to the second electrode current collector, wherein a region of the first electrode current collector including the first electrode tab faces a wound first electrode plate, wherein a region of the second electrode current collector including the second electrode tab faces a wound second electrode plate, and wherein the second electrode active material layer is only on one surface of the second electrode current collector in a region preceding a first winding turn of the second electrode plate. |
| US09876196B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A novel light-emitting device is provided. A novel light-emitting device with high emission efficiency, low power consumption, and small viewing angle dependence of chromaticity is provided. The light-emitting device includes at least one light-emitting element and one optical element. A spectrum of light emitted from the light-emitting element through the optical element in a range of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 70° with respect to a normal vector of the light-emitting element has a first local maximum value in a wavelength range of greater than or equal to 400 nm and less than 480 nm and a second local maximum value located on a longer wavelength side than the first local maximum value. The intensity ratio of the second local maximum value to the first local maximum value is less than or equal to 15%. |
| US09876192B2 |
Barrier composition and properties
A barrier film on an organic electronic device. The barrier film comprises an inorganic polymeric silicon composition having Si—O—Si bonds which exhibit an asymmetric stretching Si-0 vibration frequency (AS1) ranging between 1200 cm−1 and 1000 cm−1, Si—O—H vibration frequency ranging between 950 cm−1 and 810 cm−1 and an —O—H ranging between 3400 cm−1 and 3700 cm−1 in which the ratio of peak areas for Si—O—H and —O—H vibration frequencies compared to the peak area of the Si—O—Si vibration frequency is less than 0.15. The barrier film exhibits a water vapor transmission rate between 1×10−2 g/m−2 day and 1×10−8 g/m−2 day. |
| US09876185B2 |
Light-emitting device comprising light-emitting layers
A light-emitting element at least includes a first electrode, a first light-emitting layer over the first electrode, a second light-emitting layer over and in contact with the first light-emitting layer, a third light-emitting layer over and in contact with the first light-emitting layer, and a second electrode over the third light-emitting layer. Each of the first light-emitting layer and the second light-emitting layer contains a phosphorescent compound. The third light-emitting layer contains a fluorescent compound. Each of the first light-emitting layer, the second light-emitting layer, and the third light-emitting layer includes an organic compound. |
| US09876184B2 |
Organic photosensitive device with an electron-blocking and hole-transport layer
The present disclosure provides a photosensitive device. The photosensitive device includes a donor-intermix-acceptor (PIN) structure. The PIN structure includes an organic hole transport layer; an organic electron transport layer; and an intermix layer sandwiched between the hole transport organic material layer and the electron transport organic material layer. The intermix layer includes a mixture of an n-type organic material and a p-type organic material. |
| US09876180B2 |
Organic light emitting device and display device having the same
An organic light emitting device and a display device including the same, the organic light emitting device including a first electrode; a hole controlling layer on the first electrode; an emission layer on the hole controlling layer; an electron controlling layer on the emission layer; and a second electrode on the electron controlling layer, wherein the emission layer includes a hole transport host material, an electron transport host material, a bipolar host material, and at least one dopant material. |
| US09876175B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element, material for organic electroluminescent element, and light emitting device, display device and lighting device each using organic electroluminscent element
An organic electroluminescent element including a substrate, a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode, disposed on the substrate, and at least one organic layer including a light emitting layer, disposed between the electrodes, in which a compound represented by the following formula (I) is contained in any layer of the at least one organic layer. The organic electroluminescent element has high luminous efficiency and a strong effect of improving the durability by driving aging: wherein X, A1, A2, A3, A4, and R1 to R8 are as defined herein. |
| US09876174B2 |
Electronic device including a fluoranthene derivative
There is provided a compound having Formula I. In Formula I: R3-R16 are the same or different and are H, D, alkyl, silyl, aryl, deuterated alkyl, deuterated silyl, or deuterated aryl, where no more than two R1-R16 are biphenyl and where at least two of R1-R16 have Formula II. In Formula II: Ar is phenyl, naphthyl, heteroaryl, spirofluorenyl, or a deuterated analog thereof; R11 is the same or different at each occurrence and is D, alkyl, silyl, aryl, deuterated alkyl, deuterated silyl, or deuterated aryl, where adjacent R11 groups can join to form a fused aromatic ring or fused deuterated aromatic ring; m is an integer form 0-4; n is an integer from 1-5; and the asterisk represents a point of attachment. |
| US09876173B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
Novel oligocarbazole compounds containing a triphenylene and an oligocarbazole are provided. The compounds are useful in devices including organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). |
| US09876164B1 |
Method and system for providing a low moment free layer magnetic junction usable in spin transfer torque applications
A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The free layer has a free layer perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than a free layer out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The free layer includes an alloy. The alloy includes [CoxFeyBz]uMgt, where u+t=1 and x+y+z=1. |
| US09876163B2 |
Magnetic memory with tunneling magnetoresistance enhanced spacer layer
A device and a method of forming a device are presented. A substrate is provided. The substrate includes circuit component formed on a substrate surface. Back end of line processing is performed to form an upper inter level dielectric (ILD) layer over the substrate. The upper ILD layer includes a plurality of ILD levels. A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) stack is formed in between adjacent ILD levels of the upper ILD layer. The MTJ stack includes a free layer, a tunneling barrier layer and a fixed layer. The fixed layer includes a polarizer layer, a composite texture breaking layer which includes a first magnesium layer and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer. |
| US09876162B2 |
Electronic device including a semiconductor memory having variable resistance structure with magnetic correction layer
This technology provides an electronic device. An electronic device in accordance with an implementation of this document includes a semiconductor memory, and the semiconductor memory may include a substrate; a plurality of structures formed over the substrate to be spaced apart from each other, each structure comprising a free layer having a variable magnetization direction, a pinned layer having a pinned magnetization direction, and a tunnel barrier layer interposed between the free layer and the pinned layer; and a magnetic correction layer formed adjacent to the plurality of structures and structured to reduce an influence to the free layer by a stray magnetic field generated by the pinned layer. |
| US09876155B2 |
Optoelectronic component and method for the production thereof
An optoelectronic component includes a composite body including a molded body; and an optoelectronic semiconductor chip embedded into the molded body, wherein the optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a first electrical contact on its top side, a first top side metallization is arranged on the top side of the composite body and electrically conductively connects the first electrical contact to the through contact, a second top side metallization is arranged on the top side of the composite body and electrically insulated with respect to the first top side metallization, the second top side metallization completely delimits a part of the top side of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip, and a wavelength-converting material is arranged in a region completely delimited by the second top side metallization on the top side of the composite body, the wavelength-converting material extending as far as the second top side metallization. |
| US09876153B2 |
Light-emitting device
This disclosure discloses a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device includes a light-emitting diode, a metal bump, and a reflective insulation layer. The light-emitting diode includes an active layer, an insulation layer formed on the active layer and having a side surface, and a pad electrically connected to the active layer. The metal bump is formed on the pad. The reflective insulation layer covers the side surface. |
| US09876152B2 |
Light emitting device with an adhered heat-dissipating structure
This disclosure discloses a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device includes: a heat-dissipating structure having a first part and a second part separated from the first part; a light-emitting unit including a light-emitting element with a first pad formed on the first part; and a first transparent enclosing the light-emitting element and having a sidewall; and an adhesive material covering a portion of the sidewall. |
| US09876151B2 |
Solid-state light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and lighting device
A solid-state light-emitting element includes a structure body having a property of transmitting visible light and an uneven structure on each of the top side and the bottom side thereof; a high refractive index material layer provided on one surface of the structure body; and a light-emitting body with a refractive index of greater than or equal to 1.6 provided over the high refractive index material layer. One surface of the high refractive index material layer is flatter than the other surface thereof which is in contact with the structure body. The refractive index of the high refractive index material layer is greater than or equal to 1.6. The refractive index of the structure body is greater than 1.0 and less than that of the high refractive index material layer. |
| US09876150B2 |
Method for producing optical semiconductor device and optical semiconductor device
A method is provided for making optical semiconductor devices collectively. LED chips are arranged on a material substrate, and the substrate is sandwiched by a common mold and a first cooperating mold formed with a cavity. A light-transmitting resin is injected into the cavity and solidified to form a light-transmitting resin member including body portions for sealing the LED chips and connecting portions each connecting adjacent body portions. Then, the substrate is sandwiched by the common mold and a second cooperating mold formed with another cavity. A light-shielding resin is injected into the cavity and solidified to form a light-shielding resin member filling the gaps between the body portions. The body portions are separated from each other by making cuts in the material substrate and the light-shielding resin member. |
| US09876148B2 |
Electronic component, optoelectronic component, component arrangement, and method for producing an electronic component
An electronic component, an optoelectronic component, a component arrangement, and a method for producing an electronic component are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes forming a sacrificial structure on a top side of a carrier by a photolithographic process from a photoresist layer, arranging an electronic semiconductor chip on the carrier after exposing the photoresist layer, molding a molded body around the sacrificial structure and around the electronic semiconductor chip such that a surface of the electronic semiconductor chip is at least partly not covered by the molded body, detaching the molded body from the carrier and removing the sacrificial structure, wherein removing the sacrificial structure results in a cutout being formed in the molded body. |
| US09876147B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting element and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor light emitting element having: a semiconductor laminated body; a full surface electrode containing an Ag provided on an upper surface of the p-type semiconductor layer; a cover electrode that covers a surface of the full surface electrode, is provided to contact on the upper surface of the p-type semiconductor layer at an outer edge of the full surface electrode, and is made of an Al-based metal material; a p-side electrode that is provided on a portion of a surface of the cover electrode; a metal oxide film that covers other surfaces of the cover electrode and contains an oxide of a metal material forming the cover electrode; and an insulation film that is made of an oxide and covers a surface of the metal oxide film, is provided. |
| US09876145B2 |
Flip-chip light emitting diode chip
A flip-chip light emitting diode chip includes a first semiconductor structure, which includes a P-type semiconductor layer, a N-type semiconductor layer, openings, a reflective layer, a barrier layer, a passivation layer, and an electrical contact layer. The openings penetrate the P-type semiconductor layer and a part of the N-type semiconductor layer so as to partially expose the N-type semiconductor layer. The reflective layer is disposed on the P-type semiconductor layer. The barrier layer is disposed on the reflective layer, and the area of the barrier layer is smaller than that of the reflective layer therefore the reflective layer is exposed from the barrier layer. The passivation layer is disposed on the barrier layer and partially fills in the openings. The electrical contact layer disposed on the passivation layer partially penetrates through the passivation layer to contact the exposed part of the N-type semiconductor layer. |
| US09876140B2 |
Semiconductor structure with stress-reducing buffer structure
A semiconductor structure comprising a buffer structure and a set of semiconductor layers formed adjacent to a first side of the buffer structure is provided. The buffer structure can have an effective lattice constant and a thickness such that an overall stress in the set of semiconductor layers at room temperature is compressive and is in a range between approximately 0.1 GPa and 2.0 GPa. The buffer structure can be grown using a set of growth parameters selected to achieve the target effective lattice constant a, control stresses present during growth of the buffer structure, and/or control stresses present after the semiconductor structure has cooled. |
| US09876138B2 |
Light-emitting devices
A light-emitting device comprises a semiconductor layer sequence comprising a first semiconductor layer having a first electrical conductivity, a second semiconductor layer having a second electrical conductivity, and an active layer interposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of beveled trenches formed in the semiconductor layer sequence; a plurality of protruding structures respectively formed in the plurality of beveled trenches; a dielectric layer formed on the second semiconductor layer and an inner sidewall of the plurality of beveled trenches; a reflecting layer interposed between the semiconductor layer sequence and the dielectric layer; and a metal layer formed along the inner sidewall of the plurality of beveled trenches, wherein the dielectric layer, the reflecting layer and the metal layer are overlapping, the plurality of protruding structures and the reflecting layer are not overlapping. |
| US09876134B2 |
Infrared detector and method of detecting one or more bands of infrared radiation
A dual-band infrared detector is provided. The dual-band infrared detector includes a first absorption layer sensitive to radiation in only a short wavelength infrared spectral band, and a barrier layer coupled to the first absorption layer. The barrier layer is fabricated from an alloy including aluminum and antimony, and at least one of gallium or arsenic. The dual-band infrared detector also includes a second absorption layer coupled to the barrier layer opposite the first absorption layer. The second absorption layer is sensitive to radiation in only a medium wavelength infrared spectral band. The composition of the alloy used to fabricate the barrier layer is selected such that valence bands of the barrier layer and the first and second absorption layers substantially align. |
| US09876133B2 |
Photovoltaic system for spectrally resolved solar light
A photovoltaic system is described that improves solar energy absorption efficiency by resolving light into constituent colors using dispersive optics. The system reduces a blurring effect of a light beam while ensuring that the system's bulkiness is not increased. The photovoltaic system disperses a focused light beam into constituent colors (spectrum) and provisions for sufficient expansion of the light beam. The photovoltaic system re-focuses the dispersed light beam that results in a reduction of the beam size, while the beam is being exposed to photovoltaic cells that convert the incident light energy into electrical energy. |
| US09876129B2 |
Cone-shaped holes for high efficiency thin film solar cells
A photovoltaic device includes a substrate having a plurality of hole shapes formed therein. The plurality of hole shapes each have a hole opening extending from a first surface and narrowing with depth into the substrate. The plurality of hole shapes form a hole pattern on the first surface, and the hole pattern includes flat areas separating the hole shapes on the first surface. A photovoltaic device stack is formed on the first surface and extends into the hole shapes. Methods are also provided. |
| US09876128B2 |
Texturing monocrystalline silicon substrates
A method for preparing a monocrystalline silicon substrate surface for a subsequent texturing step, the method comprising: removing contaminants from the surface by contacting the surface with a cleaning solution; etching the pre-cleaned surface with an aqueous solution comprising from 12 to 19% by weight, of KOH and/or NaOH; rinsing the etched surface with an aqueous medium at pH from 7 to 10; and contacting the rinsed etched surface with ozonated deionized water at pH from 2 to 4.5, thereby converting the rinsed etched surface into a prepared surface. A method for texturing the prepared surface is also provided. |
| US09876122B2 |
Vertical memory cell with non-self-aligned floating drain-source implant
Various embodiments provide a memory cell that includes a vertical selection gate, a floating gate extending above the substrate, wherein the floating gate also extends above a portion of the vertical selection gate, over a non-zero overlap distance, the memory cell comprising a doped region implanted at the intersection of a vertical channel region extending opposite the selection gate and a horizontal channel region extending opposite the floating gate. |
| US09876121B2 |
Method for making a transistor in a stack of superimposed semiconductor layers
A method for making a transistor in which: a) on a substrate, at least one semi-conductor structure is made, which is formed by a stack comprising alternating layer(s) based on at least one first semi-conductor material and layer(s) based on at least one second semi-conductor material different from the first semi-conductor material, b) a zone of the structure is made amorphous using implantations, the zone made amorphous comprising one or more portions of one or more layers based on the second semi-conductor material, c) the portions are removed by selectively etching a second semi-conductor material made amorphous towards the first semi-conductor material (FIG. 2L). |
| US09876119B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An oxide semiconductor film is formed over a substrate, a film of a semiconductor other than an oxide semiconductor is formed over the oxide semiconductor film, and then an oxygen atom in the oxide semiconductor film and an atom in the film of a semiconductor are bonded to each other at an interface between the oxide semiconductor film and the film of a semiconductor. Accordingly, the interface can be made continuous. Further, oxygen released from the oxide semiconductor film is diffused into the film of a semiconductor, so that the film of a semiconductor can be oxidized to form an insulating film. The use of the gate insulating film thus formed leads to a reduction in interface scattering of electrons at the interface between the oxide semiconductor film and the gate insulating film; so that a transistor with excellent electric characteristics can be manufactured. |
| US09876118B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device including a transistor having excellent electrical characteristics (e.g., on-state current, field-effect mobility, or frequency characteristics) or a semiconductor device including a transistor with high reliability. In the channel width direction of a channel-etched transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is between first and second gate electrodes, the first and second gate electrodes are connected to each other through an opening portion in first and second gate insulating films. In addition, the first and second gate electrodes surround the oxide semiconductor film in a cross-section in the channel width direction, with the first gate insulating film provided between the first gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor film and the second gate insulating film provided between the second gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor film. Furthermore, the channel length of the transistor is 0.5 μm or longer and 6.5 μm or shorter. |
| US09876115B2 |
FinFET isolation structure and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor device and a semiconductor fin on the semiconductor substrate, in which the semiconductor fin has a fin isolation structure at a common boundary that is shared by the two cells. The fin isolation structure has a dielectric portion extending from a top of the semiconductor fin to a stop layer on the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric portion divides the semiconductor fin into two portions of the semiconductor fin. |
| US09876114B2 |
Structure and method for 3D FinFET metal gate
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure in accordance with some embodiments. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; and a gate stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate; wherein the gate stack includes a high k dielectric material layer, and various metal layers disposed on the high-k dielectric material layer, wherein the gate stack has a convex top surface. |
| US09876113B2 |
Method for improving transistor performance through reducing the salicide interface resistance
An embodiment of the invention reduces the external resistance of a transistor by utilizing a silicon germanium alloy for the source and drain regions and a nickel silicon germanium self-aligned silicide (i.e., salicide) layer to form the contact surface of the source and drain regions. The interface of the silicon germanium and the nickel silicon germanium silicide has a lower specific contact resistivity based on a decreased metal-semiconductor work function between the silicon germanium and the silicide and the increased carrier mobility in silicon germanium versus silicon. The silicon germanium may be doped to further tune its electrical properties. A reduction of the external resistance of a transistor equates to increased transistor performance both in switching speed and power consumption. |
| US09876112B2 |
Source/drain structure and manufacturing the same
A fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET) device is disclosed. The device includes a semiconductor substrate having a source/drain region, a plurality of isolation regions over the semiconductor substrate and a source/drain feature in the source/drain region. The source/drain feature includes a multiple plug-type portions over the substrate and each of plug-type portion is isolated each other by a respective isolation region. The source/drain feature also includes a single upper portion over the isolation regions. Here the single upper portion is merged from the multiple plug-type portions. The single upper portion has a flat top surface facing away from a top surface of the isolation region. |
| US09876108B2 |
Wrap around silicide for FinFETs
A method includes forming a gate stack on a middle portion of s semiconductor fin, and forming a first gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack. After the first gate spacer is formed, a template dielectric region is formed to cover the semiconductor fin. The method further includes recessing the template dielectric region. After the recessing, a second gate spacer is formed on the sidewall of the gate stack. The end portion of the semiconductor fin is etched to form a recess in the template dielectric region. A source/drain region is epitaxially grown in the recess. |
| US09876105B2 |
Semiconductor device with buried doped region and contact structure
A semiconductor device includes a buried doped region at a first distance to a main surface of a semiconductor body. A contact structure extends from the main surface to the doped region. The contact structure includes a contact layer formed from a metal-semiconductor alloy that directly adjoins the doped region. The contact structure further includes a fill structure formed from a metal or a conductive metal compound. An insulator structure surrounds the contact structure in cross-sections parallel to the main surface. |
| US09876104B2 |
High voltage semiconductor devices and methods of making the devices
A multi-cell MOSFET device including a MOSFET cell with an integrated Schottky diode is provided. The MOSFET includes n-type source regions formed in p-type well regions which are formed in an n-type drift layer. A p-type body contact region is formed on the periphery of the MOSFET. The source metallization of the device forms a Schottky contact with an n-type semiconductor region adjacent the p-type body contact region of the device. Vias can be formed through a dielectric material covering the source ohmic contacts and/or Schottky region of the device and the source metallization can be formed in the vias. The n-type semiconductor region forming the Schottky contact and/or the n-type source regions can be a single continuous region or a plurality of discontinuous regions alternating with discontinuous p-type body contact regions. The device can be a SiC device. Methods of making the device are also provided. |
| US09876103B2 |
Semiconductor device and transistor cell having a diode region
A transistor cell includes a drift region, a source region, and a body region arranged between the source region and the drift region in a semiconductor body. A drain region is below the drift region. An insulated gate trench extends into the drift region. A diode region extends deeper into the drift region than the insulated gate trench and partly under the insulated gate trench so as to form a pn junction with the drift region below a bottom of the insulated gate trench. The body region adjoins a first sidewall of the insulated gate trench and the diode region adjoins a second sidewall of the insulated gate trench opposite the first sidewall so that the body region of the transistor cell and a channel region including a region of the body region extending along the first sidewall are separated from the diode region by the insulated gate trench. |
| US09876097B2 |
Selectively formed gate sidewall spacer
A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin on a substrate and forming a sacrificial gate over a channel region of the fin. A hydrogen terminated surface is formed on sidewalls of the sacrificial gate, and a spacer is deposited on the hydrogen terminated surface of the sacrificial gate. An insulator layer is formed over portions of the fin. The sacrificial gate is removed to expose the channel region of the fin, and a gate stack is formed over the channel region of the fin. |
| US09876094B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device having a silicide layer
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a gate electrode and a source or drain disposed at opposite sides of the gate electrode, forming an interlayer insulating layer covering the gate electrode and the source or drain, forming a contact hole exposing the source or drain in the interlayer insulating layer, forming a silicide layer on a bottom surface of the contact hole, and forming a spacer on sidewalls of the contact hole and an upper surface of the silicide layer. |
| US09876085B2 |
Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and liquid crystal display
An array substrate comprises a base substrate on which data lines and gate lines intersecting with each other are formed to define pixel units, and a switching element is provided in each of the pixel units and comprises a gate electrode, an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode, and end parts of the source electrode and the drain electrode located directly on the active layer are opposite to each other to define a channel region. An extension conductive part is formed close to the source electrode or the drain electrode and to electrically contact the source electrode or the drain electrode, one end of the extension conductive part extends toward the channel to protrude from the source electrode or the drain electrode contacting with the extension conductive part and to contact the active layer at least within the channel region. |
| US09876083B2 |
Semiconductor devices, FinFET devices and methods of forming the same
Semiconductor devices, FinFET devices and methods of forming the same are disclosed. One of the semiconductor devices includes a substrate, a gate over the substrate and a gate dielectric layer between the gate and the substrate. The gate dielectric layer includes an oxide-inhibiting layer having a dielectric constant greater than about 8 and being in an amorphous state. |
| US09876081B2 |
Lift-off of epitaxial layers from silicon carbide or compound semiconductor substrates
A method to remove epitaxial semiconductor layers from a substrate by growing an epitaxial sacrificial layer on the substrate where the sacrificial layer is a transition metal nitride (TMN) or a TMN ternary compound, growing one or more epitaxial device layers on the sacrificial layer, and separating the device layers from the substrate by etching the sacrificial layer to completely remove the sacrificial layer without damaging or consuming the substrate or any device layer. Also disclosed are the related semiconductor materials made by this method. |
| US09876077B1 |
Methods of forming a protection layer on an isolation region of IC products comprising FinFET devices
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a plurality of trenches in a semiconductor substrate so as to define a plurality of fins, forming a recessed layer of insulating material comprising a first insulating material in the trenches, wherein a portion of each of the plurality of fins is exposed above an upper surface of the recessed layer of insulating material, and masking a first portion of a first fin and performing at least one first etching process to remove at least a portion of an unmasked second fin. In this example, the method further includes forming a device isolation region for the FinFET device that comprises a second insulating material and forming an isolation protection layer above the device isolation region. |
| US09876074B2 |
Structure and process to tuck fin tips self-aligned to gates
A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor fin portion having an end wall and extending upward from a substrate. A gate structure straddles a portion of the semiconductor fin portion. A first set of gate spacers is located on opposing sidewall surfaces of the gate structure; and a second set of gate spacers is located on sidewalls of the first set of gate spacers. One gate spacer of the second set of gate spacers has a lower portion that directly contacts the end wall of the semiconductor fin portion. |
| US09876071B2 |
Structures to avoid floating RESURF layer in high voltage lateral devices
A semiconductor device contains an LDNMOS transistor with a lateral n-type drain drift region and a p-type RESURF region over the drain drift region. The RESURF region extends to a top surface of a substrate of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a shunt which is electrically coupled between the RESURF region and a low voltage node of the LDNMOS transistor. The shunt may be a p-type implanted layer in the substrate between the RESURF layer and a body of the LDNMOS transistor, and may be implanted concurrently with the RESURF layer. The shunt may be through an opening in the drain drift region from the RESURF layer to the substrate under the drain drift region. The shunt may be include metal interconnect elements including contacts and metal interconnect lines. |
| US09876065B2 |
Organic light emitting display having fourth insulating layer fully covers a contact hole
Organic light-emitting display is disclosed. The organic light-emitting display includes a first substrate, a semiconductor layer positioned on the first substrate, a first insulating layer positioned on the semiconductor layer, a gate metal layer positioned on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer with a contact hole exposing part of the gate metal layer, a source-drain metal layer positioned on the second insulating layer and electrically connected to the gate metal layer via the contact hole, a third insulating layer positioned on the source-drain metal layer, a fourth insulating layer positioned on the third insulating layer, and a pixel electrode positioned on the fourth insulating layer, wherein the fourth insulating layer fully covers the contact hole, and a stepped portion of the pixel electrode caused by the fourth insulating layer is spaced apart from the contact hole. |
| US09876064B2 |
Flexible organic electroluminescent device and method for fabricating the same
Provided is a flexible organic electroluminescent device and a method for fabricating the same. In the flexible electroluminescent device, line hole patterns are formed on surfaces of a plurality of inorganic layers positioned in a pad region in which a flexible printed circuit board is connected to prevent a path of cracks caused by repeated bending and spreading of the organic electroluminescent device from spreading to the interior of the device. |
| US09876063B2 |
Light emitting device, driving method of light emitting device and electronic device
By controlling the luminance of light emitting element not by means of a voltage to be impressed to the TFT but by means of controlling a current that flows to the TFT in a signal line drive circuit, the current that flows to the light emitting element is held to a desired value without depending on the characteristics of the TFT. Further, a voltage of inverted bias is impressed to the light emitting element every predetermined period. Since a multiplier effect is given by the two configurations described above, it is possible to prevent the luminance from deteriorating due to a deterioration of the organic luminescent layer, and further, it is possible to maintain the current that flows to the light emitting element to a desired value without depending on the characteristics of the TFT. |
| US09876061B2 |
Organic light-emitting device and organic display apparatus
Organic light-emitting device including light-emitting portions disposed in two intersecting directions along a substrate main surface. Each light-emitting portion, in a first direction intersecting the substrate main surface, includes first and second electrodes, a charge transport layer, and an organic light-emitting layer, and is partitioned from adjacent light-emitting portions by first banks extending in a third direction being one of the two directions and second banks extending in a second direction being the other of the two directions. Each area between adjacent first banks is covered by the charge transport and organic light-emitting layers extending continuously across the area over the second banks. The first and second banks contain insulating material, a thickness of the second banks is no greater than 20% a height of the first banks, and the second banks have a surface portion contact angle smaller than that of the first banks. |
| US09876053B2 |
Semiconductor devices comprising magnetic memory cells and methods of fabrication
A magnetic cell core includes a seed region with a plurality of magnetic regions and a plurality of nonmagnetic regions thereover. The seed region provides a template that enables formation of an overlying nonmagnetic region with a microstructure that enables formation of an overlying free region with a desired crystal structure. The free region is disposed between two nonmagnetic regions, which may both be configured to induce surface/interface magnetic anisotropy. The structure is therefore configured to have a high magnetic anisotropy strength, a high energy barrier ratio, high tunnel magnetoresistance, a low programming current, low cell-to-cell electrical resistance variation, and low cell-to-cell variation in magnetic properties. Methods of fabrication, memory arrays, memory systems, and electronic systems are also disclosed. |
| US09876046B2 |
Imaging device comprising multilayer wiring structure and capacitance element capable of having relatively larger capacitance value
An imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric conversion element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion film, supported on the semiconductor substrate, and generating a signal by performing photoelectric conversion on incident light; a multilayer wiring structure including an upper wiring layer and a lower wiring layer provided between the semiconductor substrate and the second electrode; and a signal detection circuit provided in the semiconductor substrate and the multilayer wiring structure, including a signal detection transistor and a first capacitance element, and detecting the signal. The signal detection transistor includes a gate and a source region and a drain region, the first capacitance element includes a first lower electrode, a first upper electrode, and a dielectric film disposed therebetween, the upper wiring layer is disposed between the second electrode and the gate, and the upper wiring layer includes the first upper electrode. |
| US09876044B2 |
Image sensor and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor includes a semiconductor layer including a first surface and a second surface, which are opposite to each other. A plurality of unit pixels is in the semiconductor layer. Each of the unit pixels includes a first photoelectric converter and a second photoelectric converter. A first isolation layer isolates adjacent unit pixels from one another. A second isolation layer is between the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter. The first isolation layer has a different shape from the second isolation layer. |
| US09876043B2 |
Optical sensing with tessellated diffraction-pattern generators
An array of diffraction-pattern generators employ phase anti-symmetric gratings to projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced array of photoelements. Each generator in the array of generators produces point-spread functions with spatial frequencies and orientations of interest. The generators are arranged in an irregular mosaic with little or no short-range repetition. Diverse generators are shaped and placed with some irregularity to reduce or eliminate spatially periodic replication of ambiguities to facilitate imaging of nearby scenes. |
| US09876041B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device including forming a mask with apertures corresponding to a pixel pattern on the surface of a semiconductor layer, implanting second-conductivity-type impurity ions into the semiconductor layer from the front side of the layer to form second-conductivity-type photoelectric conversion parts and forming a part where no ion has been implanted into a pixel separation region, forming at the surface of the semiconductor layer a signal scanning circuit for reading light signals obtained at the photoelectric conversion parts after removing the mask, and removing the semiconductor substrate and a buried insulating layer from the semiconductor layer after causing a support substrate to adhere to the front side of the semiconductor layer. |
| US09876040B1 |
Method for manufacturing TFT substrate
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a TFT substrate, in which after induced crystallization is conducted by implanting ions into an amorphous silicon layer, there is no need to completely remove the ion induction layer formed on the surface of a poly-silicon layer so obtained and instead, a half-tone mask based operation is applied to remove only a portion of the ion induction layer corresponding to a channel zone and there is no need for re-conducting ion implantation subsequently for source/drain contact zones, thereby saving the mask necessary for re-conducting ion implantation. Further, the source/drain electrodes are also formed with the half-tone mask based operation so as to save the mask necessary for making the source/drain electrodes. Further, the source/drain electrodes are formed first so that the formation of an interlayer insulation layer can be omitted thereby saving the mask necessary for forming the interlayer insulation layer. Through the adoption of a half-tone mask base operation, the method for manufacturing a TFT substrate according to the present invention can reduce the nine masks that are involved in the prior art techniques to only six masks, thereby effectively simplifying the manufacturing process, improving manufacturing efficiency, and saving manufacturing cost. |
| US09876036B2 |
TFT arrangement structure
The present invention provides a TFT arrangement structure, comprising a first thin film transistor (T1) and a second thin film transistor (T2) controlled by the same control signal line; the first active layer (SC1) of the first thin film transistor (T1) and the second active layer (SC2) of the second thin film transistor (T2) are at different layers, and positioned to stack up in space, and the first source (S1) and the first drain (D1) of the first thin film transistor (T1) are formed on the first active layer (SC1), and the second source (S2) and the second drain (D2) of the second thin film transistor (T2) are formed on the second active layer (SC2); the gate layer (Gate) is electrically coupled to the control signal line to control on and off of the first, the second thin film transistors (T1, T2). The TFT arrangement structure can reduce the space of the circuit arrangement to increase the aperture ratio of the display panel and satisfy the demands of the narrow frame and high resolution to the display panel. |
| US09876034B2 |
Transistor array routing
A device comprising an array of transistors, wherein the device comprises: a first conductor layer at a first level defining a plurality of first conductors providing either source or gate electrodes for said array of transistors; a second conductor layer at a second level defining a plurality of second conductors providing the other of source or gate electrodes for said array of transistors; wherein said second conductor layer further defines routing conductors at one or more locations between said second conductors, each routing conductor connected by one or more interlayer conductive connections to a respective first conductor. |
| US09876033B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A reduction in contaminating impurities in a TFT, and a TFT which is reliable, is obtained in a semiconductor device which uses the TFT. By removing contaminating impurities residing in a film interface of the TFT using a solution containing fluorine, a reliable TFT can be obtained. |
| US09876031B1 |
Three-dimensional memory device having passive devices at a buried source line level and method of making thereof
A layer stack including a lower semiconductor layer, a lower dielectric layer, and a spacer material layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate, and the spacer material layer is patterned to form spacer line structures. An upper dielectric layer and an upper semiconductor layer are formed, followed by formation of an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers. Memory stack structures are formed through the alternating stack, the upper semiconductor layer, and the dielectric material layer. The upper semiconductor layer, the upper dielectric layer, and the lower semiconductor layer can be patterned to form a buried source layer and at least one passive device. Each passive device can include a lower semiconductor plate, a dielectric material plate, and an upper semiconductor plate. Each passive device can be a resistor or a capacitor. |
| US09876028B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
The memory string comprises: a plurality of control gate electrodes stacked on the substrate and extending in a first direction and a second direction parallel to the substrate; a semiconductor layer that has one end thereof connected to the substrate, has as its longitudinal direction a third direction perpendicular to the substrate, and faces the plurality of control gate electrodes; and a charge accumulation layer positioned between the control gate electrode and the semiconductor layer. The contact includes, in the third direction, a first portion, a second portion which is more to a substrate side than is the first portion, and a third portion which is more to the substrate side than is the second portion. A width of the second portion is larger than a width of the first portion, and larger than a width of the third portion. |
| US09876026B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with a controlled doped concentration of a channel film that is run-through a plurality of memory stacks. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include forming a hole, forming a channel film on an inner surface of the hole, forming a buffer film on an inner surface of the channel film, forming a dopant supply film to fill the hole, and doping the channel film via a dopant diffusion from the dopant supply film into the channel film. |
| US09876023B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a stack including first conductive layers and first dielectric layers, a second conductive layer formed on the stack, openings through the second conductive layer and the stack, and through structures formed in the openings, respectively. Each through structure includes a memory layer, a gate dielectric layer, a channel layer, a dielectric material and a pad. The channel layer is isolated from the stack by the memory layer, the channel layer is isolated from the second conductive layer by the gate dielectric layer, and the memory layer and the gate dielectric layer have different compositions. |
| US09876018B2 |
Ferroelectric capacitor, ferroelectric field effect transistor, and method used in forming an electronic component comprising conductive material and ferroelectric material
A method used in forming an electronic component comprising conductive material and ferroelectric material comprises forming a non-ferroelectric metal oxide-comprising insulator material over a substrate. A composite stack comprising at least two different composition non-ferroelectric metal oxides is formed over the substrate. The composite stack has an overall conductivity of at least 1×102 Siemens/cm. The composite stack is used to render the non-ferroelectric metal oxide-comprising insulator material to be ferroelectric. Conductive material is formed over the composite stack and the insulator material. Ferroelectric capacitors and ferroelectric field effect transistors independent of method of manufacture are also disclosed. |
| US09876017B2 |
Static random access memory (SRAM) bit cells with wordline landing pads split across boundary edges of the SRAM bit cells
Static random access memory (SRAM) bit cells with wordline landing pads split across boundary edges of the SRAM bit cells are disclosed. In one aspect, an SRAM bit cell is disclosed employing write wordline in second metal layer, first read wordline in third metal layer, and second read wordline in fourth metal layer. Employing wordlines in separate metal layers allows wordlines to have wider widths, which decrease wordline resistance, decrease access time, and increase performance of SRAM bit cell. To employ wordlines in separate metal layers, multiple tracks in first metal layer are employed. To couple read wordlines to the tracks to communicate with SRAM bit cell transistors, landing pads are disposed on corresponding tracks inside and outside of a boundary edge of the SRAM bit cell. Landing pads corresponding to the write wordline are placed on corresponding tracks within the boundary edge of the SRAM bit cell. |
| US09876015B1 |
Tight pitch inverter using vertical transistors
CMOS inverters including gate-all-around vertical transistors are fabricated without requiring center gate contacts, thereby allowing close positioning of the transistors. The gate contact and the drain contact of the transistors are shared. Wiring of inverter input, output and power supply lines is simplified. |
| US09876014B2 |
Germanium-based quantum well devices
A quantum well transistor has a germanium quantum well channel region. A silicon-containing etch stop layer provides easy placement of a gate dielectric close to the channel. A group III-V barrier layer adds strain to the channel. Graded silicon germanium layers above and below the channel region improve performance. Multiple gate dielectric materials allow use of a high-k value gate dielectric. |
| US09876008B2 |
Bandgap reference circuit
An integrated circuit comprises a first doped region and a second doped region in a substrate. The second doped region is separated from the first doped region by a first spacing. The integrated circuit further comprises a dielectric layer over the substrate and a gate over the dielectric layer. The gate is positioned having the first doped region on a first substrate side of the gate and the second doped region on a second substrate side of the gate opposite the first substrate side of the gate. The integrated circuit also comprises a third doped region in the substrate separated from the first doped region by a second spacing. The integrated circuit further comprises a fourth doped region in the substrate. The gate and the third doped region are coupled with a first voltage supply, and the fourth doped region is coupled with a second voltage supply. |
| US09876001B2 |
Method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip
A method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a semiconductor body with a pixel region including different subpixel regions, each subpixel region having a radiation exit face, applying an electrically conductive layer onto the radiation exit face of a subpixel region, wherein the electrically conductive layer is suitable at least in part for forming a salt with a protic reactant, and depositing a conversion layer on the electrically conductive layer using an electrophoresis process, wherein the deposited conversion layer comprises pores. |
| US09875997B2 |
Low profile reinforced package-on-package semiconductor device
The present disclosure provides semiconductor packages and methods for fabricating PoP semiconductor packages. The PoP semiconductor package may comprise a first semiconductor package, the first semiconductor package comprising an anodized metal lid structure comprising (i) a central cavity having a central cavity opening direction and (ii) at least one perimeter cavity having a perimeter cavity opening direction facing in an opposite direction of the central cavity opening direction, a first semiconductor device arranged in the central cavity of the anodized metal lid structure, a redistribution layer electrically coupled to the first semiconductor device, wherein a conductive trace formed in the redistribution layer is exposed to the at least one perimeter cavity, and solder material arranged in the at least one perimeter cavity, and a second semiconductor package, the second semiconductor package comprising at least one conductive post, wherein the at least one conductive post is electrically coupled to the solder material arranged in the at least one perimeter cavity. |
| US09875993B2 |
Semiconductor devices with duplicated die bond pads and associated device packages and methods of manufacture
Semiconductor devices with duplicated die bond pads and associated device packages and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes a plurality of package contacts and a semiconductor die having a plurality of first die bond pads, a plurality of second die bond pads, and a plurality of duplicate die bond pads having the same pin assignments as the first die bond pads. The semiconductor die further includes an integrated circuit operably coupled to the package contacts via the plurality of first die bond pads and either the second die bond pads or the duplicate die bond pads, but not both. The integrated circuit is configured to be programmed into one of (1) a first pad state in which the first and second die bond pads are enabled for use with the package contacts and (2) a second pad state in which the first and duplicate die bond pads are enabled for use with the package contacts. |
| US09875990B2 |
Semiconductor package including planar stacked semiconductor chips
A semiconductor package may be provided. A semiconductor package may include a substrate. The semiconductor package may include a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip which are disposed adjacent to each other over a first surface of the substrate. The semiconductor package may include first bonding wires which electrically couple the first semiconductor chip and the substrate. The semiconductor package may include an insulation adhesive which is interposed between the second semiconductor chip and the substrate. The first bonding wires may be disposed to pass through the insulation adhesive and electrically couple the first semiconductor chip and the substrate. |
| US09875988B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming DCALGA package using semiconductor die with micro pillars
A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die disposed over a substrate. A plurality of composite interconnect structures are formed over the semiconductor die. The composite interconnect structures have a non-fusible conductive pillar and a fusible layer formed over the non-fusible conductive pillar. The fusible layer is reflowed to connect the first semiconductor die to a conductive layer of the substrate. The non-fusible conductive pillar does not melt during reflow eliminating a need to form a solder resist over the substrate. An encapsulant is deposited around the first semiconductor die and composite interconnect structures. The encapsulant flows between the active surface of the first semiconductor die and the substrate. A second semiconductor die is disposed over the substrate adjacent to the first semiconductor die. A heat spreader is disposed over the first semiconductor die. A portion of the encapsulant is removed to expose the heat spreader. |
| US09875987B2 |
Electronic devices with semiconductor die attached with sintered metallic layers, and methods of formation of such devices
An electronic device includes a semiconductor die having a lower surface, a sintered metallic layer underlying the lower surface of the semiconductor die, a conductive layer underlying the sintered metallic layer, and a conductive substrate underlying the conductive layer. |
| US09875981B2 |
Semiconductor device having conductive vias
A semiconductor device is provided, including: a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces and a plurality of conductive vias passing through the first and second surfaces; an insulating layer formed on the first surface of the substrate and exposing end portions of the conductive vias therefrom; and a buffer layer formed on the insulating layer at peripheries of the end portions of the conductive vias, thereby increasing product reliability and good yield. |
| US09875980B2 |
Copper pillar sidewall protection
Methods for copper pillar protection may include forming a metal post over a contact on a semiconductor die, where the metal post comprises a sidewall. A metal cap may be formed on the metal post and may be wider than the width of the metal post. A solder bump may be formed on the metal cap, and a conformal passivation layer may be formed on at least the sidewall of the metal post. The metal cap may be rounded shaped or rectangular shaped in cross-section. The metal post and the metal cap may comprise copper. The metal cap may comprise a copper layer and a nickel layer. The seed metal layer may comprise one or more of titanium, tungsten, and copper. The conformal passivation layer may comprise a nonwettable polymer. Horizontal portions of the conformal passivation layer may be removed utilizing an anisotropic etch such as a plasma etch. |
| US09875978B2 |
Semiconductor chip device
According to various embodiments, a method may include: forming a first layer on a surface using a first lift-off process; forming a second layer over the first layer using a second lift-off process; wherein the second lift-off process is configured such that the second layer covers at least one sidewall of the first layer at least partially. |
| US09875977B2 |
Packaging process of electronic component
A packaging process of an electronic component includes the following steps. Firstly, a semi-package unit is provided. The semi-package unit includes a first insulation layer and an electronic component. The electronic component is partially embedded within the first insulation layer. The electronic component includes at least one conducting terminal. Then, a metal layer is formed over the surface of the semi-package unit and a part of the metal layer is removed, so that a metal mask is formed on the surface of the semi-package unit and the at least one conducting terminals is exposed. Then, a metal re-distribution layer is formed on the metal mask and the at least one conducting terminal. Then, a part of the metal re-distribution layer and a part of the metal mask are removed, so that at least one contact pad corresponding to the at least one conducting terminal is produced. |
| US09875975B2 |
Semiconductor device including electrostatic discharge circuit and operation method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first driver configured to pull up a voltage level of a pad to a first power voltage in response to a driving signal, a second driver configured to pull down the voltage level of the pad to a second power voltage in response to the driving signal, a switch protection resistor configured to change an electrical resistance between the pad and the second driver in response to a switch control signal, and an ESD detector configured to detect a voltage level of the first or second power voltage and generate the switch control signal. |
| US09875974B2 |
Processing techniques for silicon-based transient devices
Provided are methods of making a transient electronic device by fabricating one or more inorganic semiconductor components, one or more metallic conductor components or one or more inorganic semiconductor components and one or more metallic conductor components supported by a mother substrate. The components may independently comprise a selectively transformable material and, optionally, further have a preselected transience profile. The components are transfer printed, thereby decoupling the component fabrication step from additional processing to provide desired device functionality and transient properties. A substrate layer is provided on top of the components and used to facilitate handling, processing, and/or device functionality. |
| US09875973B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for forming semiconductor package having build-up interconnect structure over semiconductor die with different CTE insulating layers
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die and encapsulant deposited over the semiconductor die. A first insulating layer is formed over the die and encapsulant. The first insulating layer is cured with multiple dwell cycles to enhance adhesion to the die and encapsulant. A first conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer and first conductive layer. The second insulating layer is cured with multiple dwell cycles to enhance adhesion to the first insulating layer and first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the second insulating layer and first conductive layer. A third insulating layer is formed over the second insulating layer and second conductive layer. The first, second, and third insulating layers have different CTE. The second insulating layer or third insulating layer is cured to a dense state to block moisture. |
| US09875972B1 |
Semiconductor device structure and method for forming the same
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first device. The semiconductor device structure includes a conductive element over the first device. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive shielding layer between the first device and the conductive element. The first conductive shielding layer has openings, and a maximum width of the opening is less than a wavelength of an energy generated by the first device. |
| US09875971B2 |
Magnetic shielding of MRAM package
Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) packages with magnetic shield protections and methods of forming thereof are presented. Package contact traces are formed on the first major surface of the package substrate and package balls are formed on the second major surface of the package substrate. A die having active and inactive surfaces is provided on the first major surface of the package substrate. The die includes a magnetic storage element, such as an array of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), formed in the die, die microbumps formed on the active surface. The package includes a top magnetic shield layer formed on the inactive surface of the die. The package may also include a first bottom magnetic shield in the form of magnetic shield traces disposed below the package contact traces. The package may further include a second bottom magnetic shield in the form of magnetic permeable underfill dielectric material. The package may also include a third bottom magnetic shield sandwiched between two thin package substrate layers of the package substrate. |
| US09875967B2 |
Interconnect structure with air-gaps
The present disclosure relates to an interconnect structure. In some embodiments, the interconnect structure has a first conductive body arranged within a first dielectric layer over a substrate. A first air-gap separates sidewalls of the first conductive body from the first dielectric layer. A barrier layer is arranged on sidewalls of the first conductive body at a location between the first conductive body and the first air-gap. The first air-gap is defined by a sidewall of the barrier layer and an opposing sidewall of the first dielectric layer. |
| US09875966B1 |
Method and structure of forming low resistance interconnects
Low resistance interconnect structures containing a combined via level/line level interconnect structure and an overlying line level interconnect structure are provided in which both interconnect structures include a metal or metal alloy having a bamboo microstructure are provided. |
| US09875963B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, an integrated circuit is formed on a semiconductor chip, a regulator supplies power to the integrated circuit via the power-supply wire, a first resistor is connected between the first pad electrode and the power-supply wire on the semiconductor chip, and a second resistor is connected between the second pad electrode and the power-supply wire on the semiconductor chip and has a resistance smaller than that of the first resistor. |
| US09875961B2 |
Structure of integrated inductor
This invention discloses a structure of an integrated inductor, comprising: an outer metal segment which comprises a first metal sub-segment and a second metal sub-segment; an inner metal segment which is arranged inside an area surrounded by the outer metal segment and comprises a third metal sub-segment and a fourth metal sub-segment; and at least a connecting structure for connecting the outer metal segment and the inner metal segment. The first metal sub-segment corresponds to the third metal sub-segment, and the first metal sub-segment and the third metal sub-segment belong to different metal layers in a semiconductor structure. The second metal sub-segment corresponds to the fourth metal sub-segment, and the second metal sub-segment and the fourth metal sub-segment belong to different metal layers in a semiconductor structure. |
| US09875955B2 |
Low cost hybrid high density package
A microelectronic assembly includes a substrate, a first and second microelectronic elements, a lead finger, electrical connections extending between contacts of the second microelectronic element and the lead fingers, and an encapsulant overlying at least portions of the first and second microelectronic elements, lead finger and electrical connections. The substrate has contacts at a first surface and terminals at an opposed second surface that are electrically connected with the substrate contacts. The first microelectronic element has contacts exposed at its front face. The front face of the first microelectronic element is joined to the substrate contacts. The second microelectronic element overlies the first microelectronic element and has contacts at a front face facing away from the substrate. The lead frame has lead fingers, wherein the second surface of the substrate and the lead fingers define a common interface for electrical interconnection to a component external to the microelectronic assembly. |
| US09875954B2 |
Test socket assembly and related methods
A socket assembly including a housing that has one or more spring probes therein. The socket assembly further includes a leadframe assembly that has one or more cantilever members, and the leadframe assembly has microwave structures and a flexible ground plane. The socket assembly further includes an elastomeric spacer adjacent the leadframe assembly, the elastomeric spacer having one or more holes receiving the spring probes therethrough. |
| US09875953B2 |
Interlayer chip cooling apparatus
An integrated circuit (IC) can be cooled by using a structure that includes two elements, such as integrated circuits (ICs) or electronic packages, in a stacked arrangement, with the elements having surfaces that face each other. The structure also includes a pair of fluidic channel boundaries, between the facing surfaces, where each fluidic channel boundary is formed by an arrangement of adjacent discrete connecting structures. The primary and secondary fluidic channel boundaries and the facing surfaces define a fluidic channel that is useful for promoting boiling of and directing the flow of a refrigerant between the two surfaces. |
| US09875952B2 |
Power conversion device
A power conversion device includes a heat releasing heatsink, a printed circuit board provided on the heatsink and having a through hole and wires, a metal case having a depressed portion fitted in the through hole and mounted on a top of the heatsink, and a heat releasable insulating layer made of a ceramic material and disposed between a bottom of the depressed portion and a top portion of the heat sink. A power semiconductor element is mounted in the depressed portion and electrically connected to the wires of the printed circuit board. |
| US09875950B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a heat source and a heat detection element which are formed on a semiconductor substrate; and a heat conductive member formed across both of the heat source and the heat detection element, a thermal conductivity of the heat conductive member being higher than a thermal conductivity of the semiconductor substrate, and wherein the heat source, the heat detection element and the heat conductive member are integrated on the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09875946B2 |
On-device metrology
Methods and systems for performing semiconductor metrology directly on device structures are presented. A measurement model is created based on measured training data collected from at least one device structure. The trained measurement model is used to calculate process parameter values, structure parameter values, or both, directly from measurement data collected from device structures of other wafers. In some examples, measurement data from multiple targets is collected for model building, training, and measurement. In some examples, the use of measurement data associated with multiple targets eliminates, or significantly reduces, the effect of under layers in the measurement result, and enables more accurate measurements. Measurement data collected for model building, training, and measurement may be derived from measurements performed by a combination of multiple, different measurement techniques. |
| US09875943B2 |
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor and method thereof
A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor comprises a semiconductor substrate, N-type and P-Type field-effect transistors positioned in the semiconductor substrate. Each of the field-effect transistor includes a germanium nanowire, a III-V compound layer surrounding around the germanium nanowire, a potential barrier layer mounted on the III-V compound layer, a gate dielectric layer, a gate, a source region and a drain region mounted on two sides of the gate. The field-effect transistor can produce two-dimensional electron gases and two-dimensional electron hole gases, and enhance the carrier mobility of the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor. |
| US09875942B2 |
Guard rings including semiconductor fins and regrown regions
A method includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor fin, wherein the semiconductor fin forms a ring, and etching a portion of the semiconductor fin not covered by the gate stack to form a recess. The method further includes performing an epitaxy to grow an epitaxy semiconductor region from the recess, forming a first contact plug overlying and electrically coupled to the epitaxy semiconductor region, and forming a second contact plug, wherein the second contact plug is overlying and electrically coupled to the gate stack. |
| US09875941B1 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. First, a first fin-shaped structure and a second fin-shaped structure are formed on a substrate, and a shallow trench isolation (STI) is formed around the first fin-shaped structure and the second fin-shaped structure, a patterned hard mask is formed on the STI. Next, part of the first fin-shaped structure and part of the second fin-shaped structure adjacent to two sides of the patterned hard mask are removed for forming a first recess and a second recess, and a dielectric material is formed into the first recess and the second recess. |
| US09875938B2 |
Integrated circuit device and method of fabricating the same
An integrated circuit device includes: a first fin-type active region in a first area of a substrate, the first fin-type active region having a first recess filled with a first source/drain region; a first device isolation layer covering both lower sidewalls of the first fin-type active region; a second fin-type active region in a second area of the substrate, the second fin-type active region having a second recess filled with a second source/drain region; a second device isolation layer covering both lower sidewalls of the second fin-type active region; and a fin insulating spacer on the first device isolation layer, the fin insulating spacer covering a sidewall of the first fin-type active region under the first source/drain region. |
| US09875935B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for producing the same
A method for producing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, providing at least one semiconductor device on the substrate, having a back face opposite the semiconductor substrate and a front face towards the semiconductor substrate, providing a contact layer on the back face of the semiconductor device, bonding the contact layer to an auxiliary carrier, and separating the at least one semiconductor device from the substrate. Further, a semiconductor device produced according to the method and an intermediate product are provided. |
| US09875934B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method for forming a semiconductor device
A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming an insulation trench structure comprising insulation material extending into the semiconductor substrate from a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The insulation trench structure laterally surrounds a portion of the semiconductor substrate. The method further comprises modifying the laterally surrounded portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a vertical electrically conductive structure comprising an alloy material. The alloy material is an alloy of the semiconductor substrate material and at least one metal. |
| US09875933B2 |
Substrate and method including forming a via comprising a conductive liner layer and conductive plug having different microstructures
In an embodiment, a substrate includes semiconductor material and a conductive via. The conductive via includes a via in the substrate, a conductive plug filling a first portion of the via and a conductive liner layer that lines side walls of a second portion of the via and is electrically coupled to the conductive plug. The conductive liner layer and the conductive plug have different microstructures. |
| US09875929B1 |
Three-dimensional memory device with annular blocking dielectrics and discrete charge storage elements and method of making thereof
A memory opening is formed through an alternating stack of sacrificial material layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate. Discrete annular dielectric metal oxide structures are formed on sidewalls of the electrically conductive layers around the memory opening. After forming memory stack structures including the annular dielectric metal oxide structures in the memory opening, lateral recesses are formed by removing the sacrificial material layers selective to the electrically conductive layers. Sacrificial material layers in the memory stack structure are etched at levels of the lateral recesses to form discrete annular structures at each level of the electrically conductive layers, each of which includes, from inside to outside, a respective annular charge storage structure, and a respective blocking dielectric comprising an annular dielectric metal oxide structure. |
| US09875922B2 |
Substrate processing system and method
A system for processing substrates has a vacuum enclosure and a processing chamber situated to process wafers in a processing zone inside the vacuum enclosure. Two rail assemblies are provided, one on each side of the processing zone. Two chuck arrays ride, each on one of the rail assemblies, such that each is cantilevered on one rail assemblies and support a plurality of chucks. The rail assemblies are coupled to an elevation mechanism that places the rails in upper position for processing and at lower position for returning the chuck assemblies for loading new wafers. A pickup head assembly loads wafers from a conveyor onto the chuck assemblies. The pickup head has plurality of electrostatic chucks that pick up the wafers from the front side of the wafers. Cooling channels in the processing chucks are used to create air cushion to assist in aligning the wafers when delivered by the pickup head. |
| US09875916B2 |
Method of stripping photoresist on a single substrate system
Provided is a method and system for stripping an ion implanted resist or performing a post-ash clean using a single substrate tool. Cleaning objectives and cleaning operating variables are selected for optimization. The first step immerses the substrate in a first treatment chemical, while concurrently irradiating the substrate with UV light, the process completed in a first process time, a first flow rate, and a first rotation speed of the substrate. The second step dispenses onto the substrate a second treatment chemical at a second temperature and a second composition, the second treatment chemical dispensed at a dispense temperature, and completed in a second process time and a second rotation speed. The two or more selected cleaning operating variables comprise UV wavelength, UV power, first concentration, first rotation speed, first flow rate, second process time, second rotation speed, percentage of residue removal, and dispense temperature. |
| US09875913B2 |
Method for singulating packaged integrated circuits and resulting structures
A method of packaging an integrated circuit includes forming a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit on a wafer, the first and second integrated circuit separated by a singulation region. The method includes covering the first and second integrated circuits with a molding compound, and sawing through a top portion of the molding compound using a first beveled saw blade, while leaving a bottom portion of the molding compound remaining. The method further includes sawing through the bottom portion of the molding compound and the wafer using a second saw blade, the second saw blade having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the first saw blade. The resulting structure is within the scope of the present disclosure. |
| US09875904B2 |
Silicon etching liquid, silicon etching method, and microelectromechanical element
The present invention is able to provide: a silicon etching liquid which anisotropically dissolves single crystal silicon, and which is characterized by containing (1) potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, (2) a hydroxyl amine and (3) a cyclic compound represented by general formula (I), which has a thiourea group and wherein N and N′ are linked; and a silicon etching method which uses this silicon etching liquid. (In general formula (I), Q represents an organic group having a saturated or unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.) By using the above-described silicon etching liquid, high etching rate can be achieved without lowering the etching rate of silicon and stability of the etching liquid is not impaired even in cases where copper is present in the etching liquid and/or where copper ions are dissolved in the etching liquid. |
| US09875902B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a fin structure disposed over a substrate, a gate structure and a source. The fin structure includes an upper layer being exposed from an isolation insulating layer. The gate structure disposed over part of the upper layer of the fin structure. The source includes the upper layer of the fin structure not covered by the gate structure. The upper layer of the fin structure of the source is covered by a crystal semiconductor layer. The crystal semiconductor layer is covered by a silicide layer formed by Si and a first metal element. The silicide layer is covered by a first metal layer. A second metal layer made of the first metal element is disposed between the first metal layer and the isolation insulating layer. |
| US09875900B2 |
Method of fabricating a tunnel oxide layer and a tunnel oxide layer for a semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a tunnel oxide layer for a semiconductor memory device, the method comprising: fabricating on a substrate a first oxide layer by an in-situ-steam-generation process; and fabricating at least one further oxide layer by a furnace oxidation process, wherein during fabrication of the at least one further oxide layer, reactive gases penetrate the first oxide layer and react with the silicon substrate to form at least a first portion of the at least one further oxide layer beneath the first oxide layer. |
| US09875897B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes line patterns extending in a first direction, and separated from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The plurality of line patterns includes at least two line sets, and each of the line sets includes four line patterns consecutively disposed in the second direction and having a length which varies based on location, and the at least two line sets have substantially an identical length. |
| US09875896B2 |
Method for forming a strained semiconductor layer including replacing an etchable material formed under the strained semiconductor layer with a dielectric layer
A semiconductor device comprising a substrate having a region protruding from the substrate surface; a relaxed semiconductor disposed on the region; an additional semiconductor disposed on the relaxed semiconductor; and low density dielectric disposed next to and at least partially underneath the relaxed semiconductor and adjacent to the protruding region of the substrate. |
| US09875886B1 |
Double-ended ceramic metal halide lamp
A double-ended ceramic metal halide lamp includes a luminous tube; at least two illuminators serially connected with each other deposed inside the luminous tube; and at least one ring-shaped retainers arranged between two illuminators to support the illuminators located along a central line of the luminous tube. A manufacturing method for a ceramic metal halide lamp includes following steps: (1) Arrange at least two serially connected illuminators inside an interior of a luminous tube; (2) Seal two ends of the luminous tube by a press sealing technique; and (3) Extract out the gas inside the luminous tube to form an eyelet at a central portion of the luminous tube. |
| US09875883B2 |
Metrology methods to detect plasma in wafer cavity and use of the metrology for station-to-station and tool-to-tool matching
A process chamber for detecting formation of plasma during a semiconductor wafer processing, includes an upper electrode, for providing a gas chemistry to the process chamber. The upper electrode is connected to a radio frequency (RF) power source through a match network to provide RF power to the wafer cavity to generate a plasma. The process chamber also includes a lower electrode for receiving and supporting the semiconductor wafer during the deposition process. The lower electrode is disposed in the process chamber so as to define a wafer cavity between a surface of the upper electrode and a top surface of the lower electrode. The lower electrode is electrically grounded. A coil sensor is disposed at a base of the lower electrode that extends outside the process chamber. The coil sensor substantially surrounds the base of the lower electrode. The coil sensor is configured to measure characteristics of RF current conducting through the wafer cavity. The characteristics of the RF current measured by the coil sensor are used to confirm presence of plasma within the wafer cavity. |
| US09875882B2 |
Microwave plasma processing apparatus, slot antenna, and semiconductor device
Disclosed is a microwave plasma processing apparatus. The microwave plasma processing apparatus includes a coaxial waveguide installed in a through hole which is formed in the center side portion in the intermediate metal body to extend continuously through the cooling plate and the intermediate metal plate. The coaxial waveguide includes an inner conductor, an intermediate conductor and an outer conductor. Each of a space between the inner conductor installed in a hollow portion of the intermediate conductor and the intermediate conductor and a space between the intermediate conductor installed in a hollow portion of the outer conductor and the outer conductor transmits microwaves. A difference between an inner diameter of the outer conductor and an outer diameter of the intermediate conductor is larger than a difference between an outer diameter of the inner conductor and an inner diameter of the intermediate conductor. |
| US09875879B2 |
Charged particle microscope with vibration detection / correction
A method of using a Charged Particle Microscope comprising: A specimen holder, connected to a positioning stage, for holding a specimen; A source, for producing a beam of charged particles; An illuminator, for directing said beam so as to irradiate the specimen; A detector, for detecting a flux of radiation emanating from the specimen in response to said irradiation, comprising the following steps: Providing the microscope with an interferential optical position sensor for determining a position of said specimen holder relative to a reference; Providing an automatic controller with a time-dependent position signal from said optical position sensor; Invoking said controller to use said signal to produce a vibration profile for the microscope. |
| US09875875B2 |
Method and apparatus for a porous electrospray emitter
An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip. |
| US09875873B2 |
Particle charger
A particle charger is provided with: a filter (28) partitioning the inside of a housing (20) into a first space (29) and second space (30); a particle introducer (22) for introducing a particle into the first space; a gas ion supplier (10) for supplying the first space with a gas ion; a potential gradient creator (26, 27, 31) for creating a potential difference within the housing so as to make the gas ion and a charged particle resulting from a contact of the aforementioned particle with the gas ion move toward the second space; an AC voltage supplier (32, 33) for applying AC voltages having a phase difference to the neighboring electrodes (28a, b) included in the filter; a controller (35) for performing a control for applying, to the plurality of electrodes, predetermined voltages so as to allow the charged particle to pass through a gap between the electrodes while trapping the gas ion by the electrodes; and a charged particle extractor (23, 25, 34) for extracting the charged particle admitted to the second space to the outside of the housing. By this configuration, the occurrence frequency of the multi-charging is suppressed. |
| US09875871B2 |
Solenoid switch
A starter for an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor and a solenoid switch. The solenoid switch includes a housing, a fixed core, a movable core, two spaced contacts, and a conductive member arranged to interconnect the contacts when the solenoid is turned on. The movable core is connected to a pinion of the motor which is movable to engage with a flywheel of the engine. The fixed core includes a pull-in coil of aluminum wire, a holding coil of copper wire, and a magnetic core. The motor is connected in series with the pull-in coil. When the solenoid is energized, the coils generate a magnetic field that attracts the movable core to the magnetic core, thereby the moving the pinion into engagement with the flywheel and causing the conductive member to interconnect the contacts. |
| US09875868B2 |
Locking device for high-voltage switchgear
The device is used for locking an access for actuating two switching devices of high-voltage switchgear with the aid of a drive shaft transmitting drive force onto the two switching devices. In order to increase the operational safety of the high-voltage switchgear with little outlay, the locking device comprises a closing disk which is fastened on the drive shaft, a rocker bar arrangement containing at least four rocker bars, and a slider. The slider can be moved, on-site, into two positions, the first of which releases an access for the actuation on-site and blocks an access for the actuation from a remote location, and the second of which blocks the access for the on-site actuation and releases the access for the remote actuation. |
| US09875860B2 |
Fiber optic ring for bypass system in multi-cell power supply
Embodiments of a bypass system for a multi-cell power supply are provided. An aspect includes a plurality of power cells, each of the plurality of power cells comprising a respective bypass device comprising one or more contactors. Another aspect includes a central control. Yet another aspect includes a fiber optic ring comprising a plurality of fiber optic links that connect the respective bypass device in each of the plurality of power cells and the central control in series, wherein the fiber optic ring starts and ends at the central control, and the central control is configured to communicate with the one or more contactors in the plurality of bypass devices via the fiber optic ring. |
| US09875858B2 |
Lockout device and a method for its use
A lockout device for preventing an electrical switch from being turned either ON or OFF while the lockout device is attached to the switch. The present lockout device can be capable of quick and easy attachment to the switch and can be secured to the switch with a padlock or similar locking device. The present lockout device can also comprise a peg for attaching a lockout tag, which prevents the tag from being removed while the lockout device is connected to a switch. |
| US09875854B2 |
Flexible supercapacitor and method of fabricating the same
A flexible supercapacitor comprising an electrolyte sandwiched between nickel foams electrodeposited with a nano-composite. The nanocomposite comprises of a conducting polymer, graphene oxide and a metal oxide. Process of fabricating the flexible supercapacitor is also provided. The process comprises electrodepositing a nanocomposite electro-potentiostatically on a nickel foam from an aqueous solution comprising of a conducting monomer, graphene oxide and a metal salt, placed in one compartment cell followed by compressing an electrolyte between at least two layers of electrodeposited nickel foams. |
| US09875851B2 |
Ceramic multi-layered capacitor
A ceramic multi-layer capacitor includes a main body, which has ceramic layers arranged along a layer stacking direction to form a stack, and first and second electrode layers arranged between the ceramic layers. The multi-layer capacitor also includes a first external contact-connection arranged on a first side surface of the main body and electrically conductively connected to the first electrode layers, and a second external contact-connection arranged on a second side surface of the main body. The second side surface is situated opposite the first side surface and is electrically conductively connected to the second electrode layers. |
| US09875847B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing the same
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a plurality of dielectric layers; and internal electrodes disposed on the dielectric layers and containing an additive. The additive contains lithium (Li) and a dielectric material. |
| US09875844B2 |
Winding component
A winding component includes a core; a frame disposed near the core; and a winding. The frame includes two frame members, which are joined and have openings for inserting the core and guards that face each other. A barrel, which is disposed on an edge of an opening and has the core inserted thereinto, is formed on one frame member, which also includes a separation restricting portion that restricts separation of the frame members and includes: a plate that protrudes from the barrel toward the other frame member and elastically deforms relative to a center of the opening; and a hook which is formed on the plate, protrudes away from the center, and engages the other frame member. When the core is inside the barrel, the plate and the core remain adjacent or in contact, and elastic deformation of the plate toward the center is restricted. |
| US09875842B2 |
Inductor and converter having the same
The present disclosure discloses an inductor and a converter having the same. The inductor includes a magnetic core and a winding, the winding is provided within a window of the magnetic core, the winding includes a main body part and a sampling part, the main body part and the sampling part are connected in series, and a length ratio of the sampling part to the main body part is less than 2; wherein the main body part is formed of a low resistivity conductive material, the sampling part is formed of a low temperature coefficient conductive material, and a current flowing through the inductor is sampled across two ends of the sampling part. The inductor can obtain a current detection signal with high accuracy and low temperature drift with a compact structure, without increasing detection loss. |
| US09875841B2 |
Systems and methods for a DC phaseback choke
Phaseback DC choke includes a common core, a first coil formed about the common core, and a second coil formed about the common core in parallel opposing configuration relative the first coil. A DC circuit including a Phaseback DC choke is also provided. |
| US09875838B2 |
Surface mountable, toroid magnetic device
A surface mountable, toroid magnetic device is provided, the device having a potting filling the central hole of the toroid. The potting extends axially beyond the base of the toroid to form a contact surface which, in use, contacts a mounting body for the device. Heat generated by the device flows by conduction through walls of the toroid defining the central hole into the potting and then through the contact surface into the mounting body. |
| US09875837B2 |
Coil electronic component
A coil electronic component includes a first coil disposed on a first surface of an insulating substrate; a second coil disposed on a second surface of the insulating substrate opposing the first surface; a via connecting the first and second coils through the insulating substrate; a first via pad formed as one end of the first coil extending and disposed on the first surface of the insulating substrate to cover the via; and a second via pad formed as one end of the second coil extending and disposed on the second surface of the insulating substrate to cover the via. Upper surfaces of the first and second via pads have rounded corners. |
| US09875835B2 |
Optical telescope fibre positioning devices
A positioning system comprising a mounting assembly arranged to move a positioning device via a magnetic coupling interaction between the mounting assembly and the positioning device. The positioning device is configured to limit the spread of flux away from the device. |
| US09875833B2 |
Superconduting coil device comprising coil winding and contacts
A superconducting coil device includes at least one coil winding, including at least one first and one second superconducting strip conductor, the first and second strip conductors each having a superconducting layer and a contact side provided with a contact layer; at least one first contact electrically connecting the contact side of the first strip conductor to an external circuit via a first contact piece; at least one second contact electrically connecting the contact side of the second strip conductor to the external circuit via a second contact piece; and a third contact electrically connecting the first and second strip conductors via the contact layer of the first and the second strip conductor within the coil winding, wherein the contact side of the first strip conductor has a different orientation relative to a center of the coil winding than the contact side of second strip conductor. |
| US09875832B2 |
Grain-oriented electrical steel sheet
Provided is a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet, with reduced iron loss by magnetic domain refining treatment, exhibiting an excellent noise property and effectively reducing noise generated when stacked in an iron core of a transformer. In a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet including a forsterite film and a tension coating on both surfaces, magnetic domain refining treatment has been performed to apply linear thermal strain to the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet, the magnitude of deflection in the rolling direction of the steel sheet is 600 mm or more and 6000 mm or less as the curvature radius of the deflected surface with the surface having the strain applied thereto being the inner side, and the magnitude of deflection in the direction orthogonal to the rolling direction is 2000 mm or more as the curvature radius of the deflected surface with the surface having the strain applied thereto being the inner side. |
| US09875830B1 |
Modular, exchangeable surge protection system
A surge protection system provides surge protection to one or more circuits. Each circuit is connected to power and a surge protection module bridges the circuit such that the surge protection module absorbs surges from the power and/or the circuit. Being that, after exposure to certain amounts of surges, the surge protection modules lose effectiveness for surge protection, each surge protection module is independently removable and replaceable by a user without risk of personal injury from shock caused by making personal contact with the power and/or circuit. In some embodiments, a filter circuit is provided to filter out noise on the circuit. It is anticipated that the protection module includes indicators to inform a user that the protection circuit is operational and whether protection has been lost. Further, in some embodiments, a fuse is provided to protect the circuit from over current. |
| US09875829B2 |
Method for recoating RTV anti-pollution flashover coating on insulator coated with RTV anti-pollution flashover coating
Disclosed is a method for recoating an RTV anti-pollution flashover coating on an insulator coated with the RTV anti-pollution flashover coating. The insulator includes an insulator body, a steel cap connected to an upper surface of the insulator body, and a steel pin connected to a lower surface of the insulator body. The method includes: (1) wiping off dirt on a surface of the insulator; (2) determining whether the insulator can be recoated; (3) performing coating by using an RTV anti-pollution flashover coating with the content of solid being 55%-65%. After coating is performed, a newly coated anti-pollution flashover coating can be closely adhered to a surface of the insulator, swelling does not occur, adhesion of the coating with respect to the insulator is not reduced, the hydrophobicity of the surface is recovered, and non-reduction of a pollution flashover voltage of the insulator is ensured. |
| US09875827B2 |
Method for producing insulated electric wire
A method for producing an insulated electric wire comprises a first step of processing a copper alloy containing a tin and inevitable impurities into a fine wire having a diameter of 0.21 mm±0.008 mm, the tin being 0.30 wt % or more and 0.39 wt % or less, a second step of annealing the fine wire obtained in the first step so as to refine the fine wire to have an extension coefficient of 10% or more and 25% or less and a tensile strength of 300 MPa or more and 400 MPa or less, and a third step of twisting the seven fine wires having undergone the second step with a twist pitch of 15 mm±6 mm. |
| US09875824B2 |
Waterproofing structure, waterproofing method and wire harness
A waterproofing structure includes one or multiple insulated core wires; a shielding member configured to collectively cover the one or multiple insulated core wires; a sheath provided on the outside of the shielding member; and a waterproofing member provided at a target part of waterproofing. The target part of waterproofing is positioned where a sheath end portion is formed by cutting away the sheath to a predetermined length, and the shielding member is exposed from the sheath end portion. The waterproofing member is shaped to include a bottomed cylindrical body including a bottom portion, and one or multiple tubular portions which open up the bottom portion and continue with an outer surface of the bottom portion. |
| US09875823B2 |
Flat cable
A flat cable includes a dielectric element assembly including a plurality of dielectric layers laminated on each other in a direction of lamination, and a linear signal line provided in the dielectric element assembly. The dielectric element assembly includes at least one section bent in a plurality of places defining a zigzag shape when viewed in a plan view in the direction of lamination. In the zigzag section of the dielectric element assembly, any portions of the dielectric element assembly that are not adjacent across a bending line do not overlap when viewed in a plan view in the direction of lamination. |
| US09875821B2 |
X-ray filter for x-ray powder diffraction
Technologies are described for apparatus, methods and systems effective for filtering. The filters may comprise a first plate. The first plate may include an x-ray absorbing material and walls defining first slits. The first slits may include arc shaped openings through the first plate. The walls of the first plate may be configured to absorb at least some of first x-rays when the first x-rays are incident on the x-ray absorbing material, and to output second x-rays. The filters may comprise a second plate spaced from the first plate. The second plate may include the x-ray absorbing material and walls defining second slits. The second slits may include arc shaped openings through the second plate. The walls of the second plate may be configured to absorb at least some of second x-rays and to output third x-rays. |
| US09875814B2 |
Switched interface stacked-die memory architecture
Systems and methods disclosed herein include those that may receive a memory request including a requested memory address and may send the memory request directly to an address decoder associated with a stacked-die memory vault without knowing whether a repair address is required. If a subsequent analysis of the memory request shows that a repair address is required, an in-process decode of the requested memory address can be halted and decoding of the repair address initiated. |
| US09875813B2 |
Preventive measures for adaptive flash tuning
The present invention includes embodiments of systems and methods for increasing the operational efficiency and extending the estimated operational lifetime of a flash memory storage device (and its component flash memory chips, LUNs and blocks of flash memory) by monitoring the health of the device and its components and, in response, adaptively tuning the operating parameters of flash memory chips during their operational lifetime, as well as employing other less extreme preventive measures in the interim, via an interface that avoids the need for direct access to the test modes of the flash memory chips. In an offline characterization phase, “test chips” from a batch of recently manufactured flash memory chips are used to simulate various usage scenarios and measure the performance effects of writing and attempting to recover (read) test patterns written with different sets of operating parameters over time (simulating desired retention periods). |
| US09875810B2 |
Self-identifying memory errors
A memory region can durably self-identify as being faulty when read. Information that would have been assigned to the faulty memory region can be assigned to another of that sized region in memory using a replacement encoding technique. For phase change memory, at least two fault states can be provided for durably self-identifying a faulty memory region; one state at a highest resistance range and the other state at a lowest resistance range. Replacement cells can be used to shift or assign data when a self-identifying memory fault is present. A memory controller and memory module, alone or in combination may manage replacement cell use and facilitate driving a newly discovered faulty cell to a fault state if the faulty cell is not already at the fault state. |
| US09875807B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus converting serial type data into parallel type data in response to pipe control signals and pipe control signals during a training operation
A semiconductor memory apparatus may include a data conversion control block configured to control the number of pipe input control signals and the number of pipe output control signals which are enabled, in response to a training control signal. The semiconductor memory apparatus may also include a data conversion block configured to receive parallel data and output serial data, in response to the pipe input control signals and the pipe output control signals. |
| US09875806B2 |
Fuse-based integrity protection
Various systems and methods for implementing fuse-based integrity protection are described herein. A system for validating a read-only memory (ROM), the system comprising a ROM reader logic, implemented at least partly in hardware, to: access a read-only memory (ROM) having a plurality of permanently programmable electric couplings (PPECs), the PPECs having been programmed; survey a number of permanently altered PPECs in the set of PPECs to produce a counter value; read a binary representation of the counter value from PPEC values stored as a PPEC signature; and read a binary representation of the binary complement of the counter value from PPEC values in the PPEC signature; and a ROM validation logic, implemented at least partly, in hardware, to verify the integrity of the ROM using a combination of at least two of: the counter value, the binary representation of the counter value, and the binary representation of the binary complement of the counter value. |
| US09875794B2 |
Sensing phase-change memory/test cells for determining whether a cell resistance has changed due to thermal exposure
A phase change memory array may include at least one cell used to determine whether the array has been altered by thermal exposure over time. The cell may be the same or different from the other cells. In some embodiments, the cell is only read in response to an event. If, in response to that reading, it is determined that the cell has changed state or resistance, it may deduce whether the change is a result of thermal exposure. Corrective measures may then be taken. |
| US09875792B2 |
Determining soft data for fractional digit memory cells
Apparatuses and methods for determining soft data for fractional digit memory cells are provided. One example apparatus can include a controller to determine states of memory cells of a group of memory cells operated as fractional digit memory cells, and determine soft data based, at least partially, on dimensions to which particular memory cells correspond with respect to the group of memory cells, determined states of the memory cells with respect to a state adjacent a state corresponding to a swapping shell, and whether a particular memory cell is a candidate for swapping. |
| US09875791B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided are a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an SRAM cell including a first pull-up transistor, a first pull-down transistor and a first pass transistor formed on a substrate, a first read buffer transistor connected to gate terminals of the first pull-up transistor and the first pull-down transistor, and a second read buffer transistor which shares a drain terminal with the first read buffer transistor, wherein the first read buffer transistor includes a first channel pattern extending in a first direction vertical to an upper surface of the substrate, a first gate electrode which covers a part of the first channel pattern, and a first drain pattern which does not contact the first gate electrode, and which extends in the first direction, and which is connected to the first channel pattern. |
| US09875789B2 |
3D structure for advanced SRAM design to avoid half-selected issue
Systems are provided for a three dimension static random access memory (SRAM) structure. The SRAM structure comprises a plurality of memory array layers, layer decoder circuitry on each memory array layer, a word line driver circuit disposed on each memory array layer, and a plurality of complementary bit line pairs extending vertically from a memory cell in a first memory array layer to a memory cell in a second memory array layer. The layer decoder circuitry on each memory array layer is configured to decode a portion of an SRAM address to determine if the SRAM address corresponds to memory cells on its memory array layer. The word line driver circuit disposed on each memory array layer is configured to operate cooperatively with a partial SRAM address decoder to select and drive one of the plurality of word lines disposed on its memory array layer, wherein a selected word line is connected to a predetermined number of memory cells in a specific memory array layer. |
| US09875787B2 |
Reduced transport energy in a memory system
A memory stack comprises at least two memory components. The memory components have a first data link interface and are to transmit signals on a data link coupled to the first data link interface at a first voltage level. A buffer component has a second data link interface coupled to the data link. The buffer component is to receive signals on the second data link interface at the first voltage level. A level shifting latch produces a second voltage level in response to receiving the signals at the second data link interface, where the second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level. |
| US09875786B2 |
Output buffer circuit with low sub-threshold leakage current
A device includes a cutting circuit that is coupled between power supply lines in series with first and second output circuits which drive an output terminal in a push-pull manner. Each of the first and second output circuits includes a plurality of output transistors. The cutting circuit is rendered non-conductive when each of the transistors in the first and second output circuits is rendered non-conductive. |
| US09875783B2 |
High voltage tolerant word-line driver
Described is a word-line driver which is operable to switch a voltage level of a word-line to one of: first power supply, second power supply, or third power supply wherein the voltage level of the second power supply is higher than the voltage level of the first power supply, and wherein transistors of the word-line driver have same gate oxide thicknesses. |
| US09875781B2 |
Method for writing to a MRAM device configured for self-referenced read operation with improved reproducibly
A method for writing a MRAM device, including magnetic tunnel junction with a storage layer, a sense layer, and a spacer layer between the storage and sense layers. At least one of the storage and sense layers has a magnetic anisotropy axis. The method includes an initialization step including: applying an initial heating current pulse for heating the magnetic tunnel junction to a temperature above a threshold temperature at which a storage magnetization is freely orientable, providing an initial resultant magnetic field for adjusting the storage magnetization in an initial direction oriented along the magnetic anisotropy axis. The method allows performing the writing step with improved reproducibly. |
| US09875780B1 |
STT MRAM source line configuration
Improved STT MRAM source line configurations are provided. In one aspect, a STT MRAM array includes: a plurality of cells including magnetic tunnel junctions in series with field effect transistors; a plurality of word lines perpendicular to a plurality of bit lines; a plurality of source line segments spanning m+1 of the bit lines, wherein m of the bit lines include regular array bit lines, and wherein at least one other of the bit lines includes an extra bit line that is connected to the source line segments such that the source line segments span the regular array bit lines and the extra bit line. An STT MRAM device and a method for operating an STT MRAM device are also provided. |
| US09875774B1 |
Memory device and method of operating same
A semiconductor device includes: a sense amplifier; a branched line selectively connectable to the sense amplifier; a recycling arrangement selectively connectable to the branched line; an array of bit lines connected to corresponding memory cells; a multiplexer configured to selectively connect the branched line to a selected one of the memory cells through a corresponding line amongst the array of bit lines; and a controller. The controller is configured to: permit, during a recovery phase in which a gleaned amount of charge (gleaned charge) is recovered, flow of charge (charge-flow) between the recycling arrangement and the branched line; interrupt, during a drainage phase in which the gleaned charge is preserved, charge-flow between the recycling arrangement and the branched line; and permit, during a reuse phase in which the gleaned charge is reused, charge-flow between the recycling arrangement and the branched line. |
| US09875770B1 |
Devices and methods for reading magnetic media
An apparatus for reading data from a magnetic storage medium includes a plurality of magnetic read heads each configured to read a track of the magnetic storage medium and generate an analog data signal corresponding to the read track. The apparatus includes a converter to generate digital data samples from the analog data signals, and a plurality of equalizers to apply a plurality of coefficients to the digital data samples to generate a plurality of equalized signals. The plurality of coefficients are associated with different locations within the track. The apparatus includes a plurality of detectors to compute metrics and detect data bits for the plurality of equalized signals, and at least one selector to select one of the plurality of equalized signals that has a best metric from the computed metrics and to output the selected equalized signal. |
| US09875769B1 |
Optical storage system divider based draw verification with digitally synthesized writing laser pulse signal
An optical storage system includes an optical head configured to split a light beam into a higher power main beam and a lower power side beam. The system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to modulate the higher power main beam according to writing commands to write to an optical medium while processing first data resulting from the lower power side beam being reflected from the medium and second data obtained from a look-up table that maps the writing commands to digital representations of filtered writing strategy waveforms to remove noise from the first data caused by the higher power main beam and generate output indicative of written data directly after writing. |
| US09875767B2 |
Bolometer for internal laser power monitoring in heat-assisted magnetic recording device
An apparatus comprises a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS), a write pole at or near the ABS, and a reader at or near the ABS and connected to a pair of reader bond pads of the slider. A near-field transducer (NFT) is formed on the slider at or near the ABS, and an optical waveguide is formed in the slider and configured to receive light from a laser source. A sensor is situated proximal of the write pole at a location within the slider that receives at least some of the light communicated along the waveguide. The sensor may be electrically coupled to the reader bond pads in parallel with the reader, and configured to generate a signal indicative of output optical power of the laser source. |
| US09875766B2 |
Magnetic tape and magnetic signal reproducing device
The magnetic tape has a nonmagnetic layer, a magnetic layer, and a backcoat layer; with one or both of the magnetic layer and nonmagnetic layer comprising at least one type of lubricant; with the backcoat layer comprising at least one type of lubricant; with a surface lubricant index as measured on a surface of the magnetic layer ranging from 1.00 to 4.00; and with a state of a presence of indentations on the surface of the magnetic layer satisfying condition 1 and condition 2: condition 1: a number of indentations greater than or equal to 5 nm and less than 10 nm in depth of 5 to 1,000 per 350 μm×260 μm area; and condition 2: a number of indentations greater than or equal to 10 nm in depth of less than or equal to 100 per 350 μm×260 μm area. |
| US09875763B1 |
Recovering user data from a variably encroached data track
Method and apparatus for recovering user data from a rotatable data recording medium. In some embodiments, a moveable read element detects at least one uncorrectable read error in user data stored in a data sector arranged along a concentric track. A read retry operation is carried out to recover the user data by radially advancing the moveable read element from a first offset value to a different second offset value with respect to the track in accordance with a trajectory profile while transducing the user data from the data sector. This allows data that are variably overwritten (encroached upon) by different radial amounts from an adjacent track to be recovered. |
| US09875761B1 |
Gradient-index lens with tilted sidewall
A gradient-index lens couples light from a laser active region to a waveguide core. The gradient-index lens includes a plurality of bilayers, each of the bilayers having first and second material of respective first and second refractive indices. The bilayers conform to a planar base of the gradient-index lens and further conform to input and output sidewalls of the gradient-index lens. The input sidewall faces the laser active region and the output sidewall faces away from the laser active region. The input and output sidewalls are tilted at respective acute angles relative to the planar base. |
| US09875758B1 |
Slider utilizing multiple transducer sets
A slider includes an array of two or more transducer sets offset from one another in a cross-track direction. Each transducer set includes at least one writer and at least one reader. All of the transducer sets are configured to operate simultaneously to perform any combination of reading and writing on two or more tracks of a recording medium. At least one actuator is included between two the transducer sets. The actuator is configured to adjust a cross-track spacing between the two transducer sets in response to a control current. |
| US09875757B1 |
Adjusting track width to compensate for offset writing of a track
An offset from track center of a writer that is writing to a track of a magnetic recording medium is determined. A write current applied to a write coil of the writer is adjusted to compensate for the offset. The adjusting of the write current affects a width of the track. |
| US09875755B2 |
Voice enhancement device and voice enhancement method
A voice enhancement device includes: a sound receiving unit configured to receive an audio signal; a vehicle state monitor unit configured to monitor a vehicle state; a noise estimation unit configured to estimate a noise component for each frequency component using a cumulative histogram created by accumulating frequency of power of the audio signal received by the sound receiving unit for each frequency component; and a voice enhancer configured to suppress the noise component for each frequency component estimated by the noise estimation unit in the received audio signal, wherein the noise estimation unit resets the cumulative histogram on the basis of a monitoring result of the vehicle state monitor unit. |
| US09875753B2 |
Hearing aid and a method for improving speech intelligibility of an audio signal
A system for improving speech intelligibility of an audio signal, comprises a hearing aid (10), a server (71), and an external device (50)—such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. The hearing aid has a short range transceiver. The server is accessible via the Internet, and has a Speech Recognition Engine converting speech into text. The external device has a short range transceiver for communication with said hearing aid, a second transceiver for providing a wireless data connection to said server via the Internet, means for handling a speech stream intended for the hearing aid, and a Text-To-Speech engine adapted to synthesize speech based on a string of text. The invention also provides a method of improving speech intelligibility of an audio signal. |
| US09875752B2 |
Voice profile management and speech signal generation
A device includes a receiver, a memory, and a processor. The receiver is configured to receive a remote voice profile. The memory is electrically coupled to the receiver. The memory is configured to store a local voice profile associated with a person. The processor is electrically coupled to the memory and the receiver. The processor is configured to determine that the remote voice profile is associated with the person based on speech content associated with the remote voice profile or an identifier associated with the remote voice profile. The processor is also configured to select the local voice profile for profile management based on the determination. |
| US09875739B2 |
Speaker separation in diarization
The system and method of separating speakers in an audio file including obtaining an audio file. The audio file is transcribed into at least one text file by a transcription server. Homogenous speech segments are identified within the at least one text file. The audio file is segmented into homogenous audio segments that correspond to the identified homogenous speech segments. The homogenous audio segments of the audio file are separated into a first speaker audio file and second speaker audio file the first speaker audio file and the second speaker audio file are transcribed to produce a diarized transcript. |
| US09875734B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing audio readouts
For managing audio readouts and visual notifications, a method and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes audio output device, a display device, a processor, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor to: present, via the audio output device, an audio readout to the user of the apparatus, determine a user attention state, and present, via the display device, a visual cue in a visual notification that corresponds to the audio readout, in response to the user attention state being a state of user interest. The visual cue may indicate a location in the visual notification that corresponds to a current position of the audio readout. Determining the user attention state to be a state of user interest may include receiving sensor data and determining whether a user is holding the apparatus based on the sensor data. |
| US09875733B2 |
Microporous membrane laminate for acoustic venting
The technology described herein generally relates to a microporous membrane laminate for acoustic venting. In one embodiment, the technology disclosed herein is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane having an average pore size between 0.05 μm and 2 μm and a scrim layer laminated to the PTFE membrane to form an acoustic membrane laminate. The acoustic membrane laminate has a thickness between 10 μm and 60 μm, and the scrim layer defines an average scrim opening between 0.20 mm2 and 5.0 mm2. The acoustic membrane laminate exhibits an increased average insertion loss in a frequency range from 300 Hz to 3000 Hz compared to the PTFE membrane alone, and has a decreased total harmonic distortion relative to the PTFE membrane alone. The acoustic membrane laminate has a water entry pressure that is substantially equal to that of the PTFE membrane. |
| US09875729B2 |
Electronic mute for musical instrument
Methods for using at least one musical instrument mute for electronic modification of sound emitted from a musical instrument. A mute body is positionable within a bell or horn of the musical instrument, and the body has a proximal end portion and is configured to at least partially occlude the bell or horn. A microphone is positioned at the proximal end portion of the mute body and is configured to transduce a sound produced by the musical instrument. A speaker is positioned in the mute body as well. A microcontroller is configured to receive a signal from the microphone and to electronically modify the sound of the instrument when emitted through the speaker. Some mutes also provide a communication transceiver, sensors, and input devices to remotely control and manipulate sound produced by the mute. |
| US09875728B1 |
Musical key-changing apparatus for stringed instruments
This invention, a key-changing apparatus for stringed musical instruments, automatically sets all the strings to the necessary flats and sharps for any key signature selected. This allows musicians, particularly novices, to play musical scores in any key signature without having to remember to flatten or sharpen all the multiple notes required by the key signature. |
| US09875726B2 |
Hybrid-image display device
According to an implementation of the present specification there is provided an apparatus for creating a hybrid image. The apparatus comprises: a first light source configured to emit a first light in a first direction; a reflector disposed to intercept the first light and configured to at least partially reflect the first light in an output direction to produce a reflected first light. The apparatus also comprises a second light source configured to emit a second light, the reflector configured to at least partially transmit the second light in the output direction to produce a transmitted second light. The apparatus also comprises an input terminal configured to receive an input used to control one or more of the first light source and the second light source. The hybrid image comprises a combination of the reflected first light and the transmitted second light. |
| US09875723B2 |
Data processing apparatus for transmitting/receiving randomly accessible compressed pixel data groups over display interface and related data processing method
A data processing apparatus includes a compressor and an output interface. The compressor generates a plurality of compressed pixel data groups by compressing pixel data of a plurality of pixels of a picture based on a pixel data grouping setting of the picture. The output interface packs the compressed pixel data groups into an output bitstream, records indication information in the output bitstream, and outputs the output bitstream via a display interface. The indication information is indicative of at least one boundary between consecutive compressed pixel data groups packed. |
| US09875722B2 |
Optimized screen brightness control using multi-point light intensity input
A method for controlling a display screen brightness level for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device determines a first ambient light level and associates the first ambient light level with a first priority weight value. The electronic device further determines a second ambient light level and associates the second ambient light level with a second priority weight value. A display controller within the electronic device sets the display screen brightness level based, at least in part, on the first ambient light level, the second ambient light level, and at least one of the first and second priority weight values. |
| US09875716B2 |
Display panel with a timing controller embedded data driver and display apparatus including the same
A display panel includes a timing controller embedded data driver and a first data driver. The timing controller embedded data driver includes an image processing part and an internal data driving part. The image processing part generates a first data signal corresponding to a first display area and a second data signal corresponding to a second display area based on input image data. The internal data driving part generates a second data voltage based on the second data signal to output the second data voltage to the second display area. The first data driver is disposed at a first side of the timing controller embedded data driver. The first data driver receives the first data signal from the timing controller embedded data driver and generates a first data voltage based on the first data signal to output the first data voltage to the first display area. |
| US09875714B2 |
Driving circuit adjusting output timing of data driving signal according to positions of data lines and display apparatus including the same
A driving circuit includes a receiver configured to receive an image control signal comprising a data signal and a clock signal, separate the data signal from the clock signal and output the separated data and clock signals, a clock recovery unit generating a reference clock signal based on the clock signal and generating a plurality of multi-phase clock signals having different phases from that of the reference clock signal, an output clock generation unit outputting an output clock signal in synchronization with the clock signal and the plurality of multi-phase clock signals, and a data output unit driving a plurality of data lines with a data driving signal corresponding to the data signal in synchronization with the output clock signal, and the output clock generation unit outputs the plurality of multi-phase clock signals. |
| US09875712B2 |
Gate driving circuit and driving method thereof, and display device
A gate driving circuit and a driving method thereof, and a display device are provided. The gate driving circuit comprises at least two stages of shift register units, and further comprises at least one compensation unit arranged between two adjacent shift register units; a scanning signal output terminal of a first shift register unit is connected to a first signal input terminal of the compensation unit; a first signal output terminal of the compensation unit is connected to a reset signal terminal of the first shift register unit; a scanning signal output terminal of a second shift register unit is connected to a second signal input terminal of the compensation unit; a second signal output terminal of the compensation unit is connected to a control signal input terminal of the second shift register unit; and the compensation unit is further connected to at least one compensation voltage terminal, a first voltage terminal and a second voltage terminal, and is configured to compensate for a gate scanning signal in blanking time. The phenomena of insufficient charging of the pixels caused by increase of the blanking time of the clock signal can be avoided. |
| US09875710B2 |
Gate driving circuit with reduced voltage to mitigate transistor deterioration
A gate driving circuit includes first and second driving stages respectively driving first and second gate lines of a display panel. The first driving stage includes output transistors, a first control transistor controlling an electric potential of a control node in response to a signal provided from the second driving stage through an input terminal before a first gate signal is output, and a second control transistor applying a first carry signal to the input electrode of the first control transistor while the first gate signal is output. |
| US09875708B2 |
Driving circuit, array substrate and display apparatus
A driving circuit is provided, which includes multiple shift register units, at least one scan control unit and at least one all-gate-on unit. An operation of the driving circuit includes a driving phase and a discharging phase. During the driving phase, the at least one scan control unit controls the shift register units to output multiple driving signals successively in a first direction or in a second direction, the first direction being opposite to the second direction. During the discharging phase, the at least one all-gate-on unit controls the shift register units to output multiple driving signals simultaneously. An array substrate and a display apparatus each including the driving circuit are further provided. |
| US09875706B1 |
GOA circuit of reducing feed-through voltage
The present invention provides a GOA circuit of reducing feed-through voltage. An eleventh thin film transistor (T11) and a first capacitor (R1) coupled to the eleventh thin film transistor (T11) in series are added in a pull-down output unit (400). In the output process of the GOA circuit, the eleventh thin film transistor (T11) is activated with the added output control signal (CKF). With the voltage division function of the first resistor (R1), one more falling edge is generated to the waveform outputted by the output end (G(n)). Namely, the waveform outputted by the output end (G(n)) comprises two falling edges. Thereby, the voltage difference before and after the gate of the TFT in the pixel can be decreased to reduce the feed-through voltage and raise the display uniformity of the liquid crystal panel. |
| US09875705B2 |
Display apparatus and method of driving the same
Embodiments of the present invention provide a display apparatus and a method of driving the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a visual state acquiring module, and a visual acuity correcting module. The display panel includes M×N sub-pixels arranged in a matrix for displaying an image signal. The visual acuity correcting module is disposed in a display area of the display panel and includes a plurality of light blocking structures, the plurality of light blocking structures form M×N grid holes in one-to-one correspondence with the sub-pixels, and the visual acuity correcting module is configured to adjust sizes of the grid holes. |
| US09875703B2 |
Liquid crystal apparatus and electronic equipment
A liquid crystal apparatus is provided with a first electrode to which a first signal is supplied, a second electrode provided between the first electrode and sealing material and to which a second signal is supplied, and a third electrode provided between the second electrode and the sealing material and to which a third signal is supplied, in which the reference potential of the third electrode is different from the reference potential of the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09875697B2 |
Parallel constant current LED driving units for driving a LED string and method of performing the same
A Light Emitting Diode (LED) driver apparatus and a method of driving an LED array are provided. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) driver apparatus includes: a DC-DC converter configured to supply a driving voltage to an LED array, a plurality of LED drivers configured to drive the LED array according to a dimming signal, in which the plurality of LED drivers are connected to one another in parallel to supply currents to the LED array. |
| US09875694B2 |
Smoothing brightness transition during channel change
First and second brightness metadata pertaining to respective first and second contents are accessed, and responsive to receiving a command to change presentation from the first content to the second content, a composite brightness is established using the first and second metadata. At least one of the contents using the composite brightness at a start time of a transition period. During the transition period, video is presented using a changing brightness that starts at the composite brightness at the start time of the transition period and ends at the second brightness at an end time of the transition period. Subsequent to the end time of the transition period, the second content is presented using the second metadata and not using the first metadata. |
| US09875690B2 |
Pixel circuit, display substrate and display panel
The present invention provides a pixel circuit, a display substrate and a display panel. The pixel circuit comprises a power supply terminal; a control thin film transistor; a drive thin film transistor; a storage capacitor; a light-emitting device, the pixel circuit further comprises a voltage division control module and a voltage division capacitor, the voltage division control module is used for charging the storage capacitor in the pre-charging phase of the pixel circuit, so that voltage of the gate of the drive thin film transistor becomes a reference voltage, and the voltage division control module is capable of outputting a low level to the second end of the storage capacitor in the compensation phase of the pixel circuit. A first end of the voltage division capacitor is connected to the first end of the storage capacitor, a second end thereof is connected to the cathode of the light-emitting device. |
| US09875688B2 |
AMOLED pixel driving circuit and method for compensating nonuniform brightness
The present invention provides an AMOLED pixel driving circuit and a pixel driving method. The AMOLED pixel driving circuit utilizes a 6T2C structure, comprising a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth thin film transistors (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6), a first, a second capacitors (C1, C2) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the first thin film transistor (T1) is a drive thin film transistor, and the fifth thin film transistor (T5) is a switch thin film transistor; and a first control signal (G1), a second control signal (G2) and a third control signal (G3) are involved, and the three are combined with one another and correspond to a data signal writing stage (1), a whole compensation stage (2), a charging stage (3) and a light emitting stage (4) one after another. The threshold voltage changes of the drive thin film transistor and the organic light emitting diode can be effectively compensated to make the display brightness of the AMOLED more even and to raise the display quality. |
| US09875687B2 |
Display device having compensation circuit and driving method thereof
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a display device, and a method of driving the same. The display device includes a display unit including pixels included in one or more deterioration region groups and pixels included in one or more reference groups corresponding to the deterioration region groups, a sensing unit configured to sense a current flowing through an organic light emitting diode of each of the deterioration region groups and each of the reference groups and provide current information about the deterioration region group and current information about the reference group. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a compensation circuit configured to convert first data supplied from the outside into second data by using compensation data corresponding to a compensation prediction curve and output the second data, and compare the current information about the deterioration region group and the current information about the reference group and correct the compensation prediction curve for the deterioration region group; and a data driver configured to supply the second data to the display unit through data lines as data signals. |
| US09875676B2 |
Display device and method of inspecting the same
A display device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes a plurality of pixels located at crossing regions of a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines; a data driver coupled to ends of the plurality of data lines at a first side and configured to supply a plurality of data signals to the plurality of data lines; an inspection unit coupled to ends of the plurality of data lines at a second side and configured to supply a plurality of inspection signals to the plurality of pixels; at least one detection line electrically coupled to the inspection unit and extending from a first side of the panel to a second side of the panel; and a reset transistor coupled between the detection line and a reset power supply and configured to turn on when it receives a first control signal. |
| US09875674B2 |
Driver IC, display device, and inspection system
A display device includes, on a TFT substrate, a driver IC having a first bump and a second bump, a first terminal and a second terminal connecting respectively to the first bump and the second bump, and wiring interconnecting the first terminal and the second terminal. The driver IC also includes a resistance detection circuit that detects resistance between the first bump and the second bump. |
| US09875673B2 |
Illuminated aerial aircraft display
An illuminated aerial aircraft display is disclosed. The display may be towed by an airplane with a propeller with a front facing with a plurality of illuminated indicia that includes letters and numbers and illuminated computer generated or non-computer generated moving indicia or pictorial images disposed on the front facing and a wind milling generator installed on a lead pole of the illuminated aerial aircraft display and a plurality of LED lights that illuminate the illuminated indicia. The display has illuminated indicia that may utilize a wide variety of colors and aesthetically pleasing styles and works in combination with the propeller that spins and produces electricity utilized by the LED lights once the illuminated aerial aircraft display is picked up and towed by the aircraft. One or more batteries may also be utilized to power the LED lights. |
| US09875672B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light shielding layer (200) is located between a plurality of light-emitting regions (101) when seen in a direction perpendicular to a substrate (100). The light shielding layer (200) includes a light reflection layer (202) and a light absorbing layer (204). The light absorbing layer (204) is located closer to the substrate (100) side in a thickness direction than the light reflection layer (202), and has a light reflectance lower than that of the light reflection layer (202). Further, when seen in the direction perpendicular to the substrate (100), an end of the light reflection layer (202) is located further inside of the light shielding layer (200) than an end of the light absorbing layer (204). |
| US09875668B2 |
Language delay treatment system and control method for the same
The present disclosures relates to a control terminal, comprising: a data communication unit for receiving a first user voice by data communication with a first audio device and receiving a second user voice by data communication with a second audio device; a turn information generating unit for generating turn information, which is voice unit information, by using the first and second user voices; and a metalanguage processing unit for determining a conversation pattern of the first and second users by using the turn information, and outputting a reminder message corresponding to a reminder event to the first user when the conversation pattern corresponds to a preset reminder event occurrence condition. |
| US09875666B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognition of patient activities
A medication confirmation method and apparatus. The method of an embodiment of the invention includes the steps of capturing one or more video sequences of a user administering medication via a medication administration apparatus, storing the captured one or more video sequences, and analyzing at least one of the stored video sequences to confirm that the user has properly administered the medication, and has properly positioned the medication administration apparatus. |
| US09875662B2 |
Shopping assisting apparatus
An apparatus comprises a bag used for individuals with special needs (children and adults) and for typically developing children. The bag is used as a shopping list and schedules for what may happen on other community events to help with an easier transition on these activities for anyone that may need assistance. The inside of the bag contains storage for cards holding many product pieces. The front of the bag holds a small shopping list for those with decreased cognitive abilities. The inside of the bag may have additional hook sew-on fastener tape to provide for a longer shopping list for those with high cognitive abilities. The back of the bag has a large pocket holding product pieces once the user finds a product on their shopping list. The small pocket with flap is used to hold money, gift cards, credit cards, etc. |
| US09875660B2 |
Multi-modal UAV certification
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving flight path data regarding the presence of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a location at a future time, detecting the presence of the UAV at the location at the future time, determining radio identity data of the UAV using a radio mode of identification, determining optical identity data of the UAV using an optical mode of identification, and certifying the UAV based on a comparison of the radio identity data and the optical identity data to the flight path data. |
| US09875658B2 |
Method of computing aircraft trajectory subject to lateral and vertical constraints
A method for computing a setpoint trajectory of an aircraft comprising at least two subsets comprises the formulation and the solving of an optimization problem for the trajectory, and the formulation of the problem comprises at least the formulation of a constraint related to a transition of legs on at least one first subset of the trajectory, and the formulation of a constraint related to a transition of vertical flight phases on at least one second subset of the trajectory. The invention also relates to a system and a computer program for the computation of a trajectory. |
| US09875651B2 |
Electronic operating data memory for a rotationally operating machine
Disclosed is an electronic operating data memory for a rotationally operating machine, with a transceiver device for the contactless transmitting and/or receiving of data, it being possible for operating data of the machine that are stored on the operating data memory to be read out and/or overwritten by means of a mobile terminal. The operating data include data that relate to the rotational operating principle of the machine and can be monitored and displayed by means of the mobile terminal. |
| US09875649B2 |
Remote control systems for vehicles
A system includes a base station, a communications device, and a fob. The base station is configured to control a vehicle function in response to receiving a command via a first wireless link. One of the communications device and the fob is configured to transmit a request via a second wireless link different than the first wireless link. The other one of the communications device and the fob is configured to transmit the command to the base station via the first wireless link in response to receiving the request via the second wireless link. |
| US09875648B2 |
Methods and systems for reducing false alarms in a robotic device by sensor fusion
The present technology generally relates to robotics. More specifically, the present technology relates to systems and methods for reducing false alarms by a mobile robotic device using data collected by sensors in the robotic device. An example of the technology may include receiving sensor data at one or more sensors; determining a first portion of the sensor data that matches one or more positive logic patterns of the set of positive logic patterns; determining a second portion of the sensor data that matches one or more negative logic patterns of the set of negative logic patterns; determining a third portion of sensor data that does not match any positive logic patterns of the set of positive logic patterns or negative logic patterns of the set of negative logic patterns; generating an alarm decision; receiving an input indicating that the alarm decision was incorrect; linking the alarm decision and the input to each other; and transmitting the linked alarm decision and input to the second pattern library based on the input. |
| US09875645B1 |
Notification system for mobile devices
A method for sensory alert notification comprises retrieving an uncharacterized event record associated with a first user and a second user. The method comprises characterizing the uncharacterized event record by assigning a value to the uncharacterized event record based on an event impact value that characterizes an impact of the uncharacterized event record, a first user identifier, and a second user identifier. The method comprises generating a notification record comprising the characterized event record and a notification urgency value and generating a sensory alert notification, comprising one or more of a repeat and intensity rate of vibrating pulses, a repeat and a pitch rate of beeps of sound, and a repeat rate and a color of blinks of light, based on the notification record. The method further comprises transmitting the sensory alert notification to a mobile computing device of the second user. |
| US09875643B1 |
Systems and methods of emergency management involving location-based features and/or other aspects
System and methods are disclosed for emergency management during threatening events such as gunfire incidents. In some exemplary implementations, systems and methods may provide information to computer-based and mobile-device user interfaces, enabling various features and capabilities such as notifying site-based subscribers and public safety personnel that an emergency has occurred at a specific location. Implementations may also provide users with real-time information that can utilized by on-site personnel and responding public safety personnel to mitigate the emergency. Further, aspects may include configurations and/or capabilities that integrate with external technology platforms such as computer aided dispatch systems, surveillance camera systems, and security systems such as those having electronic lock control. |
| US09875642B2 |
Methods and systems for notifying a party at an end-user premise when a particular event occurs at another end-user premise
Methods and systems to notify a party at a given premise when a particular event, such as a fire, an intrusion, an emergency or another event, occurs at another premise. One method comprises: obtaining an indication of a particular event at a first end-user premise, the first end-user premise including first end-user equipment connected to a communications network via a first communication link; establishing a wireless communication link between the first end-user equipment and second end-user equipment at a second end-user premise, the second end-user equipment being connected to the communications network via a second communication link; and causing the first end-user equipment to transmit information to the second end-user equipment via the wireless communication link to instruct the second end-user equipment to issue a notification concerning the particular event. Also provided are apparatus and computer-readable media containing a program element executable by a computing system to perform such a method. |
| US09875641B2 |
Portable device for indicating emergecny events
A portable device including a gesture recognizer module for automatically detecting a specific sequence of gestures is described. The portable device may be used to detect a health, safety, or security related event. The portable device may further include an emergency event module for automatically determining whether the sequence of gestures corresponds to an emergency event. The portable device may further include a proximity detection module for automatically determining whether a mobile device corresponding to a user listed as an emergency contact is in a state of proximity to the portable device. The portable device may further include a notification module for automatically transmitting a message, indicating the emergency event, to the user of the mobile device determined to be in the state of proximity. |
| US09875640B2 |
Method and system for managing plant alarm systems
A system and method of managing notifications of a plurality of states of a plant of equipment are provided. The alarm system includes a memory device and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory device. The one or more processors are programmed to receive parameters relating to a potential alarm, receive an indication of a plant event from at least one of a plurality of field devices, compare the received indication to the received parameters, and display a notification of the potential alarm as at least one of an event, a diagnostic, an alert, and an alarm based on the comparison and in accordance with the received parameters. |
| US09875638B2 |
Method and system for generating geofences for managing offender movement
A computer-based system can generate geofences that are useful for managing offenders who are wearing devices that track their locations, such as offender monitors. In one mode, the computer-based system can track an offender's movement patterns and associated times and utilize the resulting data to generate proposed geofences. In another mode, the computer-based system can propose geofences based on offender category. Establishment categories can be determined based on offender category, and establishments can be identified based on establishment category. Proposed geofences can be created for the identified establishments. |
| US09875636B2 |
Collision sensor assembly for a stationary structure
A collision sensor assembly is attachable to a stationary structure such as a pallet rack, a door frame, the corner of a wall, or the like. The collision sensor is configured to sense when a collision occurs with the stationary structure such as when a piece of movable machinery contacts the stationary structure. The collision sensor assembly includes a sensor operatively connected to a processor which determines when a collision occurs, and produces a signal to an output signal generator to provide an external indication of the collision. |
| US09875635B2 |
Proximity detection system
Provided is a proximity detection system which is capable of changing a level of alarm depending on a distance between a worker and an apparatus, and setting an alarm-generating distance in an apparatus-side unit. The proximity detection system comprises a magnetic field detecting function-equipped RFID tag attachable to a worker, and a distance detection control unit installable in a self-propelled apparatus. The magnetic field detecting function-equipped RFID tag is configured to be selectively set between a plurality of levels of magnetic field detecting sensitivity, and comprises means to intermittently transmit setup magnetic field detecting sensitivity data and magnetic field detection data. The distance detection control unit is configured to output different levels of alarm according to the data received from the RFID tag. |
| US09875632B2 |
Optimized service mode cooling
A management controller may monitor temperatures of information handling resources in an information handling system and identify abnormalities associated with the information handling resources. When a power down sequence is initiated, the management controller may use any identified abnormalities as well as user input indicating a particular information handling resource for service. The management controller may perform service mode cooling to make the information handling system safe for servicing as soon as possible. The user may be alerted when the temperature conditions indicate safe handling of identified information handling resources. The management controller may also control an electromechanical cover preventing access to the information handling resources. |
| US09875630B2 |
Notification appliance
A notification appliance is disclosed. The notification appliance may be a strobe notification appliance, such as an LED strobe notification appliance. The notification appliance may be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Further, the notification appliance may include an optic that is configured to shape the light output from the notification appliance. For example, in a wall-mount, the optic may be mounted off-axis of a plane defined by a back plate of the notification appliance. Further, the notification appliance may be composed of a back plate, a driver board, and a front housing, with the front housing being attached to one or both of the back plate and the driver board. Moreover, the notification appliance may be used with an adapter bracket, which may be used to connect the notification appliance with one or more types of junction boxes. |
| US09875629B2 |
Battery operated device and tag for a battery operated tool
A device tag including a housing that includes a first connector structure constructed and arranged to engage with a battery operated device and a second connector structure constructed and arranged to slidingly engage with a battery such that the device tag is provided between the battery operated device and the battery. The device tag also includes an electrical connector carried by the housing and constructed and arranged to provide an electrical connection between the battery operated device and the battery. The device tag further includes an electronic device carried by the housing and constructed and arranged to transmit electrical signals. |
| US09875628B2 |
Disposable anti-tamper conductive plastic band for re-usable RFID tag
A disposable electrically conductive band for a re-usable RFID tag having an RFID tag holder, an electrical continuity contact within a loop on an end of the band, an electrically conductive landing area on a tongue of the band, the tongue being insertable through the loop to secure the band around a body to be monitored by an RFID system, the tongue thereby engaging a portion of the landing area with the electrical continuity contact. The conductive landing area has a series of electrical continuity dimples in each of which there is an electrical contact to an electrical pathway around the electrically conductive band. The RFID tag transmits an alarm to the monitoring agency whenever the band has been tampered with, severed, or otherwise circumvented. |
| US09875627B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing sensor data of detected objects
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting, by a system including at least one processor, a presence of an object from sensor data generated by a sensor device, retrieving, by the system, from a memory device a plurality of profiles biometrically descriptive of approved objects, asserting, by the system, an alarm responsive to determining from the sensor data that the detected object is not biometrically correlated to any of the plurality of profiles, classifying, by the system, the detected object as an authorized object responsive to determining from the sensor data that the detected object is biometrically correlated to at least one of the plurality of profiles, and notifying, by the system, at least one neighboring device responsive to asserting the alarm or responsive to classifying the detected object as the authorized object. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09875626B2 |
Methods and systems for determining a location of a container by tracking a SIM card associated with the container
Systems and methods of securing chattels are provided. Motion of a first container can be measured by a sensor over an interval of time and compared to motion of a second container. A relative difference between the motion of the first container and the motion of the second container over the interval of time can be calculated by a data processing circuit. A determination can be made by the data processing circuit that the relative difference in motion of the containers exceeds a predetermined threshold. An alert that the threshold has been exceeded can be transmitted by a transmitting circuit to a remote server. A SIM card and a modem can be associated with a container. Information corresponding to the location and identification of the SIM card can be received by the modem. The location and identification information can be transmitted by the modem to a remote server. |
| US09875624B2 |
Notification device with non-uniform LED strobe light pulse shaping control and methods
A light emitting diode (LED) device includes a control circuit configured to apply a non-uniform output power pulse shape to increase illumination intensity in at least a part of the pulse without consuming additional power. Different intensity levels may be provided in series in the non-uniform output power pulse shape. The non-uniform output power pulse shape improves lighting while maintaining the same power consumption as a reference light pulse having a uniform shape. |
| US09875620B2 |
System and method for providing a bonus game on a bingo based game
The gaming system that includes a server, a gaming machine communicatively coupled to the server, and a processor. The processor is programmed to: upon receiving a wager at the gaming machine, provide a bingo based game on the gaming machine, the bingo based game comprising gaming content that includes at least one bingo game card, determine that a triggering event has occurred during play of the bingo based game, and based on the triggering event, provide the player with at least one free bingo card in a bingo based bonus game. |
| US09875617B2 |
General gaming engine
An apparatus for implementing a game having a deterministic component and a non-deterministic component wherein a player uses the game through at least one player interface unit. Each player interface unit generates a player record indicating player-initiated events. A random number generator provides a series of pseudo-random numbers and a rules library stores indexed rules for one or more games. An interface registry stores mapping records where the mapping records are used to associate the player-initiated events to pre-selected rules in the rules library. A control means is coupled to the player interface to receive the output of the player interface unit, coupled to the interface registry, the rules library, and the random number generator. The control means processes the player record and returns an output record to the player interface unit where the output record is determined by executing the game's rules with reference to the pseudo-random numbers and predefined combinatorial algorithms for selecting sets of the pseudo-random numbers. In various embodiments, random numbers may be generated for use in a particular game or set of games, but not for use in all games. |
| US09875610B2 |
Monitoring of interactive gaming systems
A system for interactive gaming among a plurality of players includes a host computer system and a plurality of player terminals communicably coupled to the host computer system or gaming platform via a network. The plurality of player terminals may be located at a plurality of licensed gaming locations. The plurality of player terminals may be configured to engage the plurality of players in a common interactive game operated by the host computer system. The plurality of player terminals can include means for dispensing player winnings from the player terminal. |
| US09875606B2 |
Spontaneous player preferences
An apparatus, method, and system to present at least one game offering on a display of a gaming machine may include a portable electronic device having a processor operative with a spontaneous interest data application to acquire spontaneous interest data. A memory may store the spontaneous interest data and the spontaneous interest data application. The spontaneous interest data application may save the spontaneous interest data to the memory, and a data transfer interface can transfer the spontaneous interest data to a second device. |
| US09875598B2 |
System and method for augmenting content
Disclosed is a method and system involving augmenting content. The system includes context-sensitive augmenting options that are conveniently presented to a player. Promotion of time sensitive propositions is presented to both simplify the content augmenting experience and provide a better targeted experience. |
| US09875594B2 |
Banknote validator
A sensing system is described herein. The sensing system includes a sampling module configured to define a sampling interval. The sensing system also includes a plurality of sensors to sample an inserted item based at least on the sampling interval. The sensing system includes a tracking module configured to obtain start sensor data from the sensors, determine if start sensor data is absent, increment an absence count based at least on the determination, compare the absence count with a threshold absence count, and reject the inserted item based at least on the comparison. |
| US09875585B2 |
Vehicle video display verification system
A vehicle video display verification system, comprising a camera carried by the vehicle; a display unit positioned in the vehicle displaying images captured by said camera; a verification sensor monitoring the status of image information from said camera being displayed on said display unit; and, a video control unit receiving said image information from said camera and outputting said image information to said display unit, and receiving feedback information from said verification sensor; wherein said video control unit records said image information from said camera and said feedback information from said verification sensor for establishing confirmation of an image display status on said display unit in the event of a vehicle accident. |
| US09875579B2 |
Techniques for enhanced accurate pose estimation
The described technology regards an augmented reality system and method for estimating a position of a location of interest relative to the position and orientation of a display. Systems of the described technology include a plurality of sensors, a processing module or other computation means, and a database. Methods of the described technology use data from the sensor package useful to accurately generate signals to render graphical user interface information on a display, using vision-aiding processes, including horizon-matching, land-matching and Sun-matching. |
| US09875572B2 |
Method for simulating three-dimensional display on a two-dimensional display unit
Disclosed is a method for simulating three dimensional display of data. The method comprises obtaining (S100) width and height for an information container, and obtaining (S110) width and height for a virtual three-dimensional display unit. Additionally, the method comprises determining (S120) a number of faces, width and height for each face of the virtual display unit, and an angle between adjacent faces of the virtual display unit. The method further comprises determining (S130) a rotation point, retrieving (S140) data for a first page, and determining (S150) width and height for the data of the first page. The method also comprises inserting (S160) the data of the first page into the first face, and then repeating steps (e) to (g) for each face of the plurality of faces. The final steps are to display (S170) and rotate (S180) the virtual display unit around its rotational axis. |
| US09875571B2 |
Image combining apparatus, terminal device, and image combining system including the image combining apparatus and terminal device
In an embodiment, provided is an image combining apparatus coupled to a first terminal device through a network. The image combining apparatus includes: a delivery section that delivers screen data that is image data for a screen to the first terminal device; a receiving section that receives first handwriting position information indicating a position of first handwriting information input to a screen based on the screen data on the first terminal device; a generation section that produces first handwriting image data that is the image data of the first handwriting information using the first handwriting position information; and a combining section that produces combined screen data by combining the screen data with the first handwriting image data. |
| US09875570B2 |
Method for processing image data representing a three-dimensional volume
A method for processing image data representing a three-dimensional volume, the data comprising image values for a three-dimensional grid of voxels, comprising: starting from a given voxel building up a vector path along a first dimension of the three dimensional volume, connecting a number of voxels of two-dimensional slices of the grid adjacent in the first dimension, the connected voxels representing a spatial neighborhood of the given voxel, including structurally related voxels of the three-dimensional grid; averaging the image values of the voxels of the vector path to obtain a first averaged value, assigned to the given voxel position; repeating the aforementioned steps for a number of voxels; repeating the aforementioned steps on the first averaged values, employing vector paths along a second dimension being different from the first dimension, obtaining second averaged values; and on the second averaged values repeating the aforementioned steps, employing vector paths along a third dimension being different from the first and the second dimension. Thus, filtered values are obtained that constitute processed image data representing the three dimensional volume. |
| US09875565B2 |
Information processing device, information processing system, and information processing method for sharing image and drawing information to an external terminal device
An information processing device communicates with display terminals. The information processing device includes an image information acquisition section adapted to obtain image information, a display control section adapted to perform control of displaying an image based on the image information obtained, a drawing information acquisition section adapted to obtain drawing information adapted to draw a second image so as to be superimposed on a first image displayed based on first image information, a determination section adapted to determine whether or not the first image information is the same as delivered image information having already been delivered to the terminal device, and a delivery control section adapted to deliver the drawing information to the terminal device without delivering the first image information in a case in which it is determined that the first image information and the delivered image information are the same as each other. |
| US09875558B2 |
Image reconstruction system and method
A method and system for image reconstruction are provided. A projection image of a projection object may be obtained. A processed projection image may be generated based on the projection image through one or more pre-process operations. A reconstructed image including an artifact may be reconstructed based on the processed projection image. The artifact may be a detector edge artifact, a projection object edge artifact, and a serrated artifact. The detector edge artifact, the projection object edge artifact, and the serrated artifact may be removed from the reconstructed image. |
| US09875557B2 |
Extrinsic calibration of imaging sensing devices and 2D LIDARs mounted on transportable apparatus
A method and system for determining extrinsic calibration parameters for at least one pair of sensing devices mounted on transportable apparatus obtains (202) image data (110) representing images captured by an image generating sensing device (102) of the pair at a series of poses during motion through an environment (120) by transportable apparatus (100). The method obtains (202) data (112) representing a 3D point cloud based on data produced by a 2D LIDAR sensing device (104) of the pair. The method selects (204) an image captured by the image at a particular pose. The method generates (210) a laser reflectance image based on a portion of the point cloud corresponding to the pose. The method computes (212) a metric measuring alignment between the selected image and the corresponding laser reflectance image and uses (214) the metric to determine extrinsic calibration parameters for at least one of the sensing devices. |
| US09875556B2 |
Edge guided interpolation and sharpening
Techniques, methods, and systems for image processing may be provided. The image processing may be provided for upsampling and interpolating images. The upsampling and interpolating may include interpolating the image through at least an edge weight and a spatial weight. In various embodiments, the edge weight and/or the spatial weight may be calculated with a kernel. The kernel may be a kernel with a two dimensional (2D) distribution such as a Gaussian kernel, a Laplacian kernel, or another such statistically based kernel. The image processing may also include refining the upsampled and interpolated image through a refinement weight calculation and/or through back projection. |
| US09875551B2 |
Method for performing user authentication and electronic device thereof
Disclosed are a method and an electronic device for performing user authentication, the method including detecting a subject, determining a light-emitting parameter of a light source when the subject is to be photographed, and acquiring an image of the subject based on the determined light-emitting parameter. |
| US09875550B2 |
Method and device for tracking sports players with context-conditioned motion models
A method and device generates a trajectory. The method includes receiving a plurality of tracklets indicative of movement of a plurality of targets over a predetermined temporal interval. The method includes determining a plurality of context data for a pair of tracklets based upon at least one additional tracklet. The method includes computing a probability that the pair of tracklets relate to a first one of the targets. The method includes generating a trajectory for the first target based upon a concatenation of select ones of the tracklets. The concatenation maximizes the probability that the pair of tracklets correspond to the first target based upon the context data associated with the pair of the tracklets. |
| US09875549B2 |
Change detection in video data
A method and apparatus for processing a sequence of images of a scene, includes: a controller; a first module; and a second module; wherein the first module is arranged to perform an image registration process on the sequence to produce a registered set; the second module is arranged to perform a change detection process on the registered set; and the controller is arranged to provide: to the first module, an instruction to perform the image registration process on the sequence to produce the registered set; to the second module, an instruction to perform the change detection process on the registered set; and an instruction to transfer the registered set between the modules. The sequence of images may be a sub-sequence of a larger sequence. The apparatus can include a third module arranged to separate the larger sequence into sub-sequences. |
| US09875548B2 |
Candidate list generation
A system and method that generates a candidate list of indexed images that potentially match an object in a query image is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query image including an object, receiving a plurality of indexed images that match the object, computing a region of interest for the object, computing an overlap between a first region of interest corresponding to a first indexed image and a second region of interest corresponding to a second indexed image, determining that the overlap between the first region of interest and the second region of interest satisfies a threshold and including the first indexed image and the second indexed image in a candidate list of indexed images. |
| US09875546B1 |
Computer vision techniques for generating and comparing three-dimensional point clouds
Techniques to determine the three-dimensional structure of wearable items are disclosed. A scanning device can project waves at a wearable item and receive reflections of the waves. In embodiments, the scanning device projects light pulses and detects reflections of the light pulses. Depth measurements from the scanning device to the wearable item can be used to determine points corresponding to locations on the wearable item. A point cloud can be generated of the points, which can convey the three-dimensional structure of the wearable item. In embodiments, another wearable item can be determined to have a corresponding three-dimensional structure based on point cloud comparisons. The second wearable item can be suggested to a user as a wearable item having an appropriate fit for the user. |
| US09875542B2 |
Camera calibration device, camera calibration method, and camera calibration program
There is provided a camera calibration device capable of highly precisely and easily estimating camera parameters without installing a piece of special calibration equipment or measuring 3D coordinates of reference points employed for calibration. A normal vector acquisition unit acquires normal vectors perpendicular to a reference horizontal plane from an image of a camera to be calibrated. A rotation matrix estimation unit projects the acquired normal vectors on a projection virtual plane perpendicular to the reference horizontal plane and evaluates that the projected normal vectors are perpendicular to the reference horizontal plane thereby to estimate a rotation matrix employed for calibrating the camera. |
| US09875540B2 |
Generation of a patient-specific anatomical atlas
A medical data processing method of matching a medical image of an anatomical structure of a patient's body with an atlas-based representation of the anatomical structure, the method being constituted to be executed by a computer and comprising the following steps; acquiring patient image data describing a medical image representation of the anatomical structure in the medical image; determining, based on the patient image data, patient substructure data describing a plurality of patient substructure representations each describing a different patient substructure of the anatomical structure; acquiring general substructure data describing a general substructure representation of each of a plurality of general substructures for each of the patient substructures; determining, for each of the patient substructures and based on the patient substructure data and the general substructure data, substructure matching data describing a matching general substructure representation which matches the respective patient substructure representation; determining, based on the general substructure data and the substructure matching data, anatomical structure atlas data describing an atlas representation of the anatomical structure; determining, based on the patient image data and the anatomical structure atlas data, matching transformation data describing an atlas-patient matching transformation between the medical image representation of the anatomical structure and the atlas representation of the anatomical structure. |
| US09875539B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing method
A medical image processing apparatus includes, an unit (12) extracting a blood vessel wall region from the image in a range including an aneurysm in an object, an unit (13) calculating the blood vessel diameter change rates of the neck portions of the aneurysm, blood vessel curvature, and blood vessel flattening ratio at each of discrete points on a blood vessel region based on the extracted blood vessel region, an unit (14) extracting, from discrete points, feature points at each of which at least one of a blood vessel diameter change rate, blood vessel curvature, and blood vessel flattening ratio exceeds a corresponding one of thresholds and decide a range for the indwelling of a stent graft in accordance with the extracted feature points, and a display unit (19) superimposing and display unrecommended ranges on a stored image. |
| US09875538B2 |
Reporting tool with integrated lesion stager
A device and method integrates a lesion stager in a reporting tool. The method includes receiving a user input. The user input is image data including at least one variable value. The variable value is indicative of a variable parameter of the image data. The method includes associating each of the at least one variable value with a corresponding variable parameter to generate at least one variable-value pair. The method includes determining a computed output value as a function of select ones of the at least one variable-value pair. |
| US09875536B2 |
Sub-pixel and sub-resolution localization of defects on patterned wafers
Methods and systems for determining if a defect detected on a specimen is a DOI (Defect of Interest) or a nuisance are provided. One system includes computer subsystem(s) configured for aligning output of an inspection subsystem for an area on a specimen to simulated output of the inspection subsystem for the area on the specimen and detecting a defect in the output for the area on the specimen. The computer subsystem(s) are also configured for determining a location of the defect in the output with respect to patterned features in the simulated output based on results of the detecting and aligning, determining a distance between the determined location of the defect and a known location of interest on the specimen, and determining if the defect is a DOI or a nuisance based on the determined distance. |
| US09875532B2 |
Information processing device that implements image processing, and image processing method
The present invention provides an information processing device in which a degradation process of an input image is accurately estimated and a dictionary necessary for generating a desired restored image from the input image can be obtained. The information processing device is provided with: an image acquisition means that acquires a plurality of study images and an input image; and an estimation means that, on the basis of similarity between an arbitrary region of the input image and each of a plurality of degradation images in a case where regions of the study images corresponding to the arbitrary region are degraded on the basis of each of the plurality of degradation processes, outputs an estimated degradation process corresponding to the degradation process corresponding to the region of the input image. |
| US09875529B2 |
Device for removing noise on image using cross-kernel type median filter and method therefor
A device for removing a noise on an image using a cross-kernel type median filter includes a target pixel determination unit configured to determine whether a target pixel is a noise or not; a peripheral pixel determination unit configured to determine degrees of the noise on a peripheral pixel information of a peripheral pixel of the target pixel; and a noise removing unit configured to remove the noise of the target pixel and corrects the image by applying a cross-kernel type median filter based on the peripheral pixel information. |
| US09875528B2 |
Multi-frame patch correspondence identification in video
A method and systems of identifying one or more patches in three or more frames in a video are provided. A region in a reference frame of the video may be detected. A set of regions in a prior frame and subsequent frame that are similar to the region in the reference frame may then be identified. Temporal consistency between the region in the reference frame and two or more regions in the set of regions in the prior and subsequent frames may then be calculated. Patches of regions in the first, reference, and third frames may be identified based at least in part on the calculated temporal consistencies, with each patch identifying a region in the reference frame that can be mapped to a similar region in the prior and subsequent frames. |
| US09875526B1 |
Display of three-dimensional images using a two-dimensional display
A device displays one of multiple views of a three-dimensional image and changes the particular view displayed in response to physical movement of the device. Each of the multiple two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional image is associated with orientations or ranges of orientations of the device. The device displays the one of the views associated with the current orientation of the device. As the device is moved from one orientation to another, the device displays the view associated with the current orientation in place of the view associated with the former orientation. The orientation can be angular orientation about a vertical axis or horizontal axis, or both axes. |
| US09875525B2 |
Image processing device, projector, and image processing method
An image processing device includes a detection section adapted to detect a pointing direction of a pointing body, and a rotation section adapted to rotate an image based on the pointing direction detected by the detection section. |
| US09875524B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes: an input unit adapted to input an image; a first acquisition unit adapted to acquire a low-frequency component image from the image input by the input unit; a first transformation unit adapted to transform the low-frequency component image acquired by the first acquisition unit; a second transformation unit adapted to transform the image input by the input unit; a second acquisition unit adapted to acquire a transformed high-frequency component image from the transformed image obtained by the second transformation unit; and a display control unit adapted to display, on a display unit, a combined image obtained by combining the transformed low-frequency component image obtained by the first transformation unit and the transformed high-frequency component image acquired by the second acquisition unit. |
| US09875520B1 |
Systems and methods for dewarping images
A computer-implemented method comprises: extracting a setting from a description file of a virtual pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera used to capture an original image through a wide-angle lens; determining a first set of coordinates of a pixel of the original image for each cell of a sparse conversion map represented as a first look-up table, wherein the sparse conversion map corresponds to a sparse grid of pixels of an output image; determining, via interpolating the first set of coordinates, a second set of coordinates of a pixel of the original image for each cell of a full conversion map, wherein the second set of coordinates is represented as a second look-up table, wherein the full conversion map corresponds to a full grid of pixels of the output image; instructing a display to present the output image, wherein the original image is less rectilinear than the output image. |
| US09875519B2 |
Overlap aware reordering of rendering operations for efficiency
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for rendering using a graphics processing component (GPC). A computing device can receive instructions for a GPC, including an instruction IA associated with a first portion of a canvas. An insertion position in an instruction buffer for instruction IA can be determined by: determining an instruction IB in the instruction buffer that is associated with a second portion of the canvas. If the first and second portions overlap, the insertion position can be based on an overlapping-instruction position of IB in the instruction buffer. Otherwise, if instructions IA and IB are similar, then the insertion position can be based on a second position of IB in the instruction buffer. Otherwise, the insertion position can be determined based on an ending position of the instruction buffer. Instruction IA can be inserted in the instruction buffer at the insertion position. |
| US09875515B1 |
Embedding debugging information via watermarks
Debugging information for content rendered for display on a client device can be included in one or more watermarks inserted into the content. Performance, state, configuration, debugging, and other information can be encoded into a watermark and placed in rendered content in such a way that the information is imperceptible to most users. When a user reports a potential issue or problem, the user (or another source) can provide a version of the image frame corresponding to the issue, which enables the watermark to be located and the data extracted. A checksum or other value can be used to ensure that a complete and valid watermark was obtained. The data extracted from the watermark can then be used to attempt to identify and/or diagnose the potential issue without having to have access to the client device or communication with the user. |
| US09875508B1 |
Systems and methods for customizing insurance
System and methods provide customizable insurance according to consumer preferences. Demand simulators guide the creation of optimized packages of features, which consumers may select from to form an insurance package appropriate for their particular needs. Packages may be formed with a particular appeal to consumers with common needs, wants, or characteristics. In addition, methods and systems are provided for presenting insurance packages for consideration by customers over a network. Presented insurance packages may be formed through an optimization process or according to customer preferences. |
| US09875502B2 |
Shopping facility assistance systems, devices, and methods to identify security and safety anomalies
A central computer system is configured to simultaneously task various ones of a plurality of motorized transport units to temporarily attach to a corresponding mobile item container and to move the temporarily-attached mobile item container in a retail shopping facility in correspondence to the movement of an authorized consumer while also receiving and analyzing video input provided by video cameras that are included with at least some of the motorized transport units to identify security and safety anomalies in the retail shopping facility. By one approach, the central computer system identifies security and safety anomalies in the retail shopping center by characterizing contents of images as being either expected or unexpected and as being either potentially harmful or not potentially harmful. So configured the central computer system is able to not only identify anomalies but assess a degree of threat posed by a given anomaly. |
| US09875501B2 |
Systems and methods for modifying input detection areas
A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein to modify a size of one or more input detection areas. A size modifier accesses user interface size data. The user interface size data comprises a size for a first user interface element and a size for a first user input detection area. The size modifier determines a size of a display area of a user device. The size modifier calculates a modified size of the first user interface element. The modified size of the first user interface element is based on the size for the first user interface element and the size of the display area. The size modifier calculates a modified size of the first input detection area based on the size for the first input detection area and a first factor unrelated to the size of the display area. |
| US09875497B1 |
Providing brand information via an offering service
Described herein are techniques for providing information regarding brands of items offered for acquisition by an offering service. The items may comprise tangible or intangible goods, products (e.g., electronics, sporting goods, digital music, etc.), services, or the like. A brand, meanwhile, may refer to a name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that distinguishes a designer, maker, manufacturer, seller or the like from other entities. |
| US09875495B2 |
Method and apparatus for purchasing digital playlists
Digital media products and methods for making them are disclosed. A digital media product can effectively not have any value until purchased and activated at a point-of-sale. In one embodiment, the digital media product is content specific and provided to allow acquisition of a particular collection of digital media assets upon activation. As one example, the collection can pertain to a playlist, album or set of content. |
| US09875494B2 |
Using intents to analyze and personalize a user's dialog experience with a virtual personal assistant
A virtual personal assistant (VPA) application analyzes intents to, among other things, enhance or personalize a user's dialog experience with the VPA application. A set of intents, or multiple sets of intents, are maintained over the course of one or more user-specific dialog sessions with the VPA. Inferences may be derived from the set or sets of intents and incorporated into a current or future dialog session between the VPA and a user of the VPA application. In some embodiments, the inferences are only made available through the systemic understanding of natural language discourse by the VPA. |
| US09875490B2 |
Privacy sensitive persona management tools
The disclosed tools include enhanced and flexible tools to enable users who may be business competitors to share non-generic data in a substantially generic and in a substantially equitable manner. The resulting incentive to more freely share data between competitors will benefit users such as brand owners and enhance content delivered to their end users based on shared data. |
| US09875484B1 |
Evaluating attribution models
Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage media are provided for evaluating attribution models and comparing estimates produced by the attribution models with causal measurements from controlled experiments. An attribution model is identified for use in determining an estimate of an effectiveness of a campaign. An experiment is identified including experiment data that reflects implementation of a change in an experiment environment including identifying a measure of effectiveness of the change within a predetermined confidence level. The estimate is evaluated as compared to the identified measure of effectiveness. A determination is made that the attribution model is an effective measure of the change for the campaign, based at least in part on the evaluating. |
| US09875482B1 |
System and method for providing external notifications of events in a virtual space to users
External notifications of events that take place within a virtual space may be provided to users. External notifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instant message (external from the virtual space), push notification and/or through other external communication media. These external notifications may be generated based on parameters, such as user parameters, event parameters, and/or other parameters. The parameters may include one or more parameters that are dynamic and/or one or more parameters that are static. The notifications may include incentive offers. The incentive offers may include offers of virtual items within the virtual space. The incentive offers may require a response to the notification for redemption. The incentive offers may enhance engagement with the virtual space by users. |
| US09875479B2 |
Device management apparatus, device management system, and information processing method
A device management apparatus including a receiving unit configured to receive state information indicating a change in a state of a device and store the state information in a state information storage unit; a sending unit configured to send report information relating to the state information to a predetermined destination, when the state information received by the receiving unit corresponds to a report target; and a changing unit configured to expand the report targets when an operation state of the device does not fulfill a scheduled state of a present time point, the operation state being identified based on history of the state information stored in the state information storage unit. |
| US09875472B2 |
Drive through monitoring using wireless beacons
There are provided systems and methods for drive through monitoring using wireless beacons. A merchant may set up a wireless beacon at a drive through location for the merchant. The beacons may provide check-in services to a user when the user arrives at the drive through in a vehicle. The user may be checked-in through a device for the user, such as a mobile phone or a vehicles dashboard console that has communication capabilities with the beacon. Once the device establishes a communication channel with the beacon, check-in information or an identifier is received and associated with an order. The order may previously have been provided to the merchant. The user can complete payment for the order through the device and when the user arrives at a pick-up window, the merchant may utilize another beacon to connect to the device and retrieve the correct order for the user. |
| US09875471B1 |
Appointment and payment handling
An appointment and payment handling system may operate to handle payments for appointments based on user locations at times associated with appointments. The appointment and payment handling system may determine if a location of a customer device associated with a customer associated with an appointment matches a location associated with the appointment. If the locations match, the appointment and payment handling system may create a payment record for a payment to the merchant from the customer based on the determination that the customer location matches the location associated with the appointment. |
| US09875469B1 |
Bill splitting
When a merchant sells goods or services in a sales transaction, a merchant device can generate a bill. The bill includes an itemized list of the goods and services, a price for each item, and an identifier of the sales transaction. A first customer and a second customer split the bill using a first customer device and a second customer device, respectively. The first customer device establishes communication between the first customer device and the merchant device. Using the identifier of the sales transaction, the first customer device pays a portion of the itemized list of the goods and services at the merchant device. The second customer device establishes communication between the second customer device and the merchant device. Using the identifier, the second customer device pays a remaining portion of the itemized list of the goods and services at the merchant device. |
| US09875467B2 |
Business intelligence report provider
A system for providing a business intelligence report for a user. The system displays a list of available business intelligence reports. The system receives a request, from a business intelligence application, for at least one business intelligence report from the list of available business intelligence reports. The system provides configuration details to the business intelligence application. The configuration details determine a query. The business intelligence application performs the query on business data of a user database. The at least one business intelligence report is based upon the results of the query. |
| US09875465B2 |
Process control device, process control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
In a process control device, a workflow definition unit defines a workflow made up of multiple pieces of work. A deferred status setting unit sets, to a deferred status, incomplete work from among the pieces of work constituting the workflow. If the deferred status is set, a proceeding unit provisionally accepts that a piece of work set to the deferred status has been performed and proceeds to a next piece of work. If a result of a piece of work set to a deferred status is a different result from a result that the proceeding unit provisionally accepted as having been performed, a remanding unit extracts a piece of work to be remanded back to a previous piece of work from among the pieces of work constituting the workflow, and remands the extracted piece of work back to the previous piece of work. |
| US09875458B2 |
Tracking of built components by using ID tags
An apparatus for tracking a plurality of built components is provided. The apparatus comprises a reading gate configured to identify at least one fabricated building component arrived at the point of entry of the building site by reading an ID tag of each fabricated building component arrived at the point of entry of the building site and by associating the ID tag with a number imprinted on each fabricated building component. The reading gate is configured to record the timing of arrival of the identified fabricated building component at the point of entry of the building site. |
| US09875455B2 |
Package drop-off and pick-up system
An automated storage and retrieval system for customers and vendors/service providers to pick up and drop off packages such as parcels, dry-cleaning/laundry, and the like. The present invention may provide a convenient point for users to pick up or drop off items. In varying embodiments, the system may be particularly useful in multi-unit residential buildings, retail stores and other store-fronts, as stand-alone kiosks in popular locations such as department stores, train stations, malls, street corners, and the like. |
| US09875453B2 |
System to construct an improved view of a process
The proper visualization of a business process plays a key role in analyzing, changing, simulating and monitoring the business process. Most BPMS systems today, provide a modeling environment where the business user can define and visualize business processes as BPMN diagrams. Some more advanced systems (such as Sawion Business Manager) enable monitoring of the business process at run-time via a color-coded view of the process diagram. While process diagram is an important view of the process, it lacks the level of abstraction needed to provide information in an optimal way to the business users. The proposed visualization, called the 360 degree view provides an optimal view of a business process without losing important details about the process. |
| US09875452B2 |
Systems and methods for meeting a service level at a probable minimum cost
An inventory of service parts may be managed by assessing a company's capability, optimizing the inventory and implementing a management program based on the assessment and optimization. Optimizing target stock levels for the inventory of parts may be accomplished by calculating an inventory baseline for understanding information about the currently held inventory; developing a service strategy for a set of segments; quantifying a service level for each of the segments; analyzing the segments and their service levels for identifying at least one logistically distinct business; assigning each of the segments to a “best-fit” planning model for indicating each segment's deployment, replenishment, forecasting and review characteristics; identifying a probability distribution function for estimating a demand process of each of the segments; and calculating a target stock level for each segment. |
| US09875451B2 |
Predictive and corrective reporting of venue operating hours
A method includes obtaining, by one or more processor, a request related to an entity, data related to a given user, external data related to the entity, and external data related to the given user, and a record related to the entity, wherein the record comprises operating hours for the entity. The one or more processor analyzes the external data related to the entity and determines if there is an inconsistency in the operating hours, which it corrects. The processor analyzes the external data related to the entity to generate a prediction for peak hours of the entity and analyzes one or more of: the external data related to the entity, the external data related to the given user, the operating hours, the corrected operating hours, or the peak hours, to generate a recommendation for an optimal time for the given user to visit the entity. |
| US09875447B2 |
Generalizing an optimized supplier allocation plan
Generating an optimized supplier allocation plan includes identifying parts and suppliers associated with an allocation problem, where each supplier can supply at least one part. One or more objective functions are selected. Each objective function has part variables, and each part variable represents a quantity of a part to be procured from a supplier. At least one constraint constraining at least one part variable is received. The one or more objective functions are optimized with respect to the at least one constraint to yield a value for each part variable. A quantity of each part to be procured from at least one supplier is determined according to the values to generate the optimized supplier allocation plan. |
| US09875446B2 |
Travel product information sharing
Methods, systems, and computer program products that enable a travel agent to selectively share information related to a plurality of travel products with a traveler. In response to a search query from the travel agent, an information sharing module receives information relating to the plurality of travel products from a travel database system. The information sharing module causes the information to be displayed to a travel agent on a first display of a travel agency system. In response to the travel agent selecting a subset of the travel products, the information sharing module displays information relating to the subset of travel products to the traveler on a second display separate from the first display. The information sharing module may be configured to reformat the information so that the information is adapted to the traveler, and to cause travel products selected by the traveler to be booked. |
| US09875443B2 |
Unified attractiveness prediction framework based on content impact factor
A unified attractiveness prediction method is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of videos and extracting at least one of metadata and view data from each of the plurality of received videos, wherein the metadata is information for describing video contents, and the view data is a total number of users who watch the video. The method also includes obtaining potential view amounts of the plurality of received videos and calculating impact factor scores of the plurality of received videos based on the potential view amounts, each impact factor score including a numerical score for indicating a degree of effectiveness of a corresponding video. Further, the method includes providing a video with a highest impact factor score based on the calculated impact factor scores. |
| US09875440B1 |
Intelligent control with hierarchical stacked neural networks
A method of processing information is provided. The method involves receiving a message; processing the message with a trained artificial neural network based processor, having at least one set of outputs which represent information in a non-arbitrary organization of actions based on an architecture of the artificial neural network based processor and the training; representing as a noise vector at least one data pattern in the message which is incompletely represented in the non-arbitrary organization of actions; analyzing the noise vector distinctly from the trained artificial neural network; searching at least one database; and generating an output in dependence on said analyzing and said searching. |
| US09875432B2 |
Card holding member and card connector set
A card holding member is able to be inserted into a card connector via a sealing portion of an outer member and able to hold a card. The holding member includes a card holding frame portion, a connecting base portion, and a movable connecting portion. The frame portion opposing side surfaces of the card. The base portion integrally connects to the frame portion. The movable portion mounts on the base portion in the insertion/ejection direction of the holding member. The base portion includes a first sealed portion which engages a first sealing portion of the sealing portion and formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion. The movable portion includes a pressure receiving portion which engages a pressure imparting portion of the sealing portion. The movable portion is biased towards the insertion direction and positioned relative to the outer member when the receiving portion engages the imparting portion. |
| US09875430B1 |
Iterative relabeling using spectral neighborhoods
A first image is received. An initial label is assigned to at least some pixels in the first image, including by assigning a first label to a first pixel. A determination is made, based at least in part on labels of spectral neighbors of the first pixel, that the first pixel's label should be replaced with a different label. The first pixel's label is updated with the different label. |
| US09875426B2 |
Grouping digital images based on detected objects
A user captures images on a user computing device. The user signs in to an application, which transmits the user's images to an account management system, which recognizes objects within the images and assigns one or more object categories to the images and recognizes multiple images comprising objects in a common object category. After receiving user consent, the application groups the images on the user computing device according to object category. The user computing device captures an image of another object. The application transmits the image to the account management system, which detects objects within the image, identifies the object category, and saves the image to the corresponding object category group on the user computing device. After receiving user consent, the account management system finds information for each image in the object category group of images and transmits the information to the user computing device. |
| US09875420B2 |
Performing object detection in an image
A single-instruction, multiple data processor performs object detection in an image by testing for a plurality of object features in a plurality of image regions, the processor comprising: a set of computation units operable to execute a plurality of classifier sequences in parallel, each classifier sequence comprising a plurality of classifier routines, and each classifier routine comprising identical instructions to the other classifier routines in each of the plurality of classifier sequences; wherein each computation unit is configured to independently maintain data identifying an image region and a feature under test on that computation unit, and each classifier routine is arranged to access the data, test the identified feature against the identified image region and update the data such that the computation units are operable to concurrently test different features against different image regions. |
| US09875419B2 |
Recognition device and alignment system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a recognition device and an alignment system. The recognition device is configured to recognize an alignment mark on a display substrate and comprises a camera unit and a light source unit. The camera unit is configured to shoot the alignment mark, and the light source unit is configured to radiate emitted light onto the alignment mark. The recognition device further comprises a light processing unit configured to process light emitted from the light source unit so that the luminance of the light irradiated onto the alignment mark is greater than that of the light emitted from the light source unit. Through the arrangement of the light processing unit, the recognition device enables the luminance of the light irradiated onto the alignment mark to be greater than that of the light emitted from the light source unit. |
| US09875417B2 |
Use of relationship between activities of different traffic signals in a network to improve traffic signal state estimation
Methods and devices for using a relationship between activities of different traffic signals in a network to improve traffic signal state estimation are disclosed. An example method includes determining that a vehicle is approaching an upcoming traffic signal. The method may further include determining a state of one or more traffic signals other than the upcoming traffic signal. Additionally, the method may also include determining an estimate of a state of the upcoming traffic signal based on a relationship between the state of the one or more traffic signals other than the upcoming traffic signal and the state of the upcoming traffic signal. |
| US09875416B2 |
Situation analysis for a driver assistance system
A method for situation analysis for a driver assistance system on board a motor vehicle includes steps of providing a representation of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, the representation including a system of cells that are reversibly unambiguously associated with predetermined sections of the surroundings, scanning the surroundings of the motor vehicle with the aid of at least one sensor in order to detect an obstacle, and marking cells, based on the scan, in such a way that a cell that is associated with an obstacle-free section of the surroundings carries a first marker, and a cell that is associated with a section of the surroundings in which an obstacle has been detected carries a second marker. A morphological filter is subsequently used on the representation in order to provide cells, which are not accessible by the motor vehicle, with the second marker. |
| US09875415B2 |
Method and system for classifying painted road markings in an automotive driver-vehicle-asistance device
An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of arranging a digital camera on a vehicle body, operating the digital camera to provide an image file depicting an image of a scene related to vehicle operation on a road, in a computer memory, receiving from the memory the image file depicting pixels of an image of the scene related to vehicle operation on a road, and using an analysis of the pixels to generate an illumination invariant image of the scene. The illumination-invariant image is converted to a grayscale image and the grayscale image is then converted to an illumination-invariant color image. |
| US09875412B2 |
Crowd monitoring system and crowd monitoring method
This crowd monitoring system (MS) is provided with: a storage unit in which a plurality of images of a crowd including moving bodies are stored; a feature-value extraction unit which extracts a feature of each image; a number of persons input image selection unit which takes into account the distribution of the features, and selects, from among the images, a sample image for inputting the number of persons among the moving bodies; the number of persons input reception unit which displays, on a display unit, an input screen for inputting the number of persons among the moving bodies in the sample image, and receives an input of the number of persons among the moving bodies in the sample image; and a feature total number function generation unit which generates a function indicating the relationship between the features and the total number among the moving bodies. |
| US09875406B2 |
Adjustable extension for temple arm
This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The eyepiece includes an adjustable wrap around extendable arm comprising a shape memory material for securing the position of the eyepiece on the user's head, wherein the extendable arm extends from an end of an eyepiece arm. |
| US09875399B2 |
Augmenting gesture based security technology for improved classification and learning
A method, apparatus and computer program product for improving differentiation in a gesture based security system is described. An image based feed from a camera is received by the gesture based security system. The camera has a view of a first secured area. A first gesture within the feed is recognized, producing a first recognized gesture. The first recognized gesture is determined to be an unclassified gesture for the first secured area. Non-gesture metadata is associated with the first recognized gesture. The first recognized gesture and the associated non-gesture metadata are transmitted together for classification of the first recognized gesture. The first recognized gesture is classified as one of the following: an approved gesture within the first secured area, an unapproved gesture within the first secured area or a suspicious gesture within the first secured area. |
| US09875397B2 |
Method of extracting feature of input image based on example pyramid, and facial recognition apparatus
At least one example embodiment discloses a method of extracting a feature of an input image. The method includes constructing an example pyramid including at least one hierarchical level based on stored example images, generating a codebook in each of the at least one hierarchical level, calculating a similarity between the codebook and the input image, and extracting a feature of the input image based on the similarity. |
| US09875388B2 |
Fingerprint sensor device and method
A fingerprint sensor package and method are provided. The fingerprint sensor package comprises a fingerprint sensor along with a fingerprint sensor surface material and electrical connections from a first side of the fingerprint sensor to a second side of the fingerprint sensor. A high voltage chip is connected to the fingerprint sensor and then the fingerprint sensor package with the high voltage chip are connected to a substrate, wherein the substrate has an opening to accommodate the presence of the high voltage chip. |
| US09875387B2 |
Fingerprint sensor and packaging method thereof
A fingerprint sensor is provided. The fingerprint sensor includes a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB), a fingerprint sensing die and a molding compound. The multi-layer PCB includes a bottom dielectric layer, at least one intermediate dielectric layer disposed on the bottom dielectric layer, a top dielectric layer disposed on the intermediate dielectric layer and a trench. The trench is formed by digging out a portion of the intermediate dielectric layer and a portion of the top dielectric layer. The fingerprint sensing die is disposed in the trench of the multi-layer PCB and mounted on an upper surface of the bottom dielectric layer of the multi-layer PCB. The fingerprint sensing die includes a sensing array capable of sensing fingerprint information of a user. The fingerprint sensing die is covered by the molding compound, and the trench of the multi-layer PCB is filled with the molding compound. |
| US09875381B2 |
Communication method and communication system
A command sequence is restarted from the middle even when supply of power supply voltage to an internal circuit in a wireless tag is temporarily stopped (a power flicker occurs). A register or a cache memory included in a signal processing circuit in the wireless tag continues to retain data even after the supply of power supply voltage is stopped. After the power flicker occurs, the signal processing circuit in the wireless tag is returned to the state before the supply of power supply voltage is stopped and can restart signal processing. Consequently, the command sequence can be restarted from the middle. |
| US09875380B2 |
Non-contact data carriers including an anti-collision scheme
Data carriers for inventorying by means of a communication station, whereby the communication station and each data carrier are brought into communicative connection, and each data carrier brought into communicative connection with the communication station is configured to generate a response signal that renders possible an inventorying of the data carrier and is capable of delivering a generated response signal with the use of a transmission start moment that can be selected from a plurality of transmission start moments, each data carrier tests whether another data carrier is already giving its response signal. Each data carrier is configured to discontinue the generation or delivery of its response signal if another data carrier is already providing its response signal. |
| US09875374B2 |
System and method for collecting, storing, and securing data
A computer system for collecting, securing, storing, retrieving, and disposing data includes an input that receives data from one or more data capture devices, a staging server, a data storage system, and a presentation system. The data capture devices may capture data and transmit it to the staging server via the input. The staging server encrypts the data and transmits it to the data storage system. The data storage system is configured to store the data for a predetermined retention period, and if the data has a legal hold, the data storage system will safely secure the data until the hold is lifted. The presentation system is configured to communicate with the data storage system to request and access data for an authorized user. |
| US09875368B1 |
Remote authorization of usage of protected data in trusted execution environments
A trusted execution environment (TEE) of a computing device may receive an operation request requiring use of a protected data accessible only to the TEE. Responsive to receiving the operation request, the TEE may generate first data. The computing device may send the first data to a remote computing device. Responsive to sending the first data, the TEE may receive second data. The TEE may validate the second data to verify the remote computing device generated the second data. Responsive to validating the second data was generated by the remote computing device, the TEE may perform the requested operation using the protected data. |
| US09875366B2 |
Microprocessor system with secured runtime environment
Microprocessor system that is implemented or can be implemented in a mobile terminal and comprises: a normal operating system designed to generate and maintain a non-secure runtime environment and a security operating system designed to generate and maintain a secured runtime environment, and an operating system interface between the normal operating system and the security operating system, said operating interface being designed to control communication between the non-secure runtime environment and the secured runtime environment on the operating system level, and at least one filter interface that is designed to securely control communication between the non-secure runtime environment and a secured runtime environment on a level different from the operating system level. |
| US09875364B2 |
Multi-focused fine-grained security framework
An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates a knowledge structure that includes security annotation tokens and term tokens. Each of the security annotation tokens are stored in a parallel field and align to at least one of the term tokens. The knowledge manager matches security policies corresponding to a search request to one or more of the security annotation tokens and, in turn, generates search results based upon obfuscation of one or more of the term tokens aligned to the matched security annotation tokens. |
| US09875360B1 |
Simulation and virtual reality based cyber behavioral systems
A cybersecurity system for managing cyber behavior associated with cyber actors such that the cyber behavior can be computed and predicted and cyber interactions between the cyber actors can be created. The system includes a cyber behavioral space management module configured to receive input data, and data from the interaction engine and the analytic workflow engine, and to generate a plurality of cyber behavioral spaces based on the received data. The system includes an interaction engine configured to process cyber actor data to facilitate interactions with the cyber behavioral space, a cyber scene, a cyber map, and another cyber actor. The system includes an analytic workflow engine configured to analyze the cyber behavioral spaces and update cyber data based on the analyzed data and the interaction engine data. The system includes a visualization engine configured to compute visualizations and transmit the visualizations for display. |
| US09875359B2 |
Security management for rack server system
Various embodiments of the present technology provide methods for activating a security module of a rack system prior to the loading of an operating system. The security module can be configured to examine server platform security, communicate with an administrator through a baseboard management controller (BMC), certify signatures of firmware pieces on a motherboard of the rack system, exclude malware by isolating unsigned UEFI images, examine a signature list and security key installed on the motherboard, and/or report status of security management to a controller of the rack system (e.g., BMC). When the security module determines that an uncertified firmware or a bootable storage with malware is loaded onto the rack system, the security module can stop process(es) associated with the uncertified firmware and/or the bootable storage, and subsequently send a report the administrator. |
| US09875358B2 |
Preventing code modification after boot
The subject disclosure is directed towards protecting code in memory from being modified after boot, such as code used in a dedicated microprocessor or microcontroller. Hardware, such as in logic or in a memory protection unit, allows a range of memory to be made non-writeable after being loaded, e.g., via a secure boot load operation. Further, startup code that is used to configure the hardware/memory may be made non-executable after having run once, so that no further execution may occur in that space, e.g., as a result of an attack. A function in the runtime code may allow for a limited, attack-protected reconfiguration of sub-regions of memory regions during the runtime execution. |
| US09875355B1 |
DNS query analysis for detection of malicious software
A method and system are disclosed for detecting malicious software on host server computers or instances running on the host server computers. A pattern of behavior of how the malicious software makes Domain Name System (DNS) requests and/or responses can be used to detect the malicious software. The pattern of behavior can be based on actions that the tenants take in order to make the DNS requests, such as repeating the same requests at fixed time intervals, or requesting a plurality of DNS requests in batches, wherein at least a threshold percentage of which are not resolvable, or using statistically random domain names with the requests. The pattern of behavior can also be associated with responses to the DNS requests, such as when the response includes a text message, and the text message includes encrypted or statistically random data. |
| US09875352B2 |
Oral authentication management
A user manages security of one or more user devices by manipulating one or more sensors located in the user's mouth in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a password. The matching of the predetermined pattern to the password unlocks at least a portion of at least one user device. |
| US09875346B2 |
Setting and terminating restricted mode operation on electronic devices
A first electronic device is configured to operate in a restricted mode of operation, which restricted mode may be terminated or continued by one or more remotely located authorization devices, according to predetermined criteria. In a restricted mode, a first set of permitted applications stored on the first electronic device are executable, and a first set of data is accessible. While operating in the restricted mode, the first device detects a termination condition of the restricted mode and transmits an indication of the termination condition to one or more authorization devices. After transmitting the request, the first electronic device receives an indication that the restricted mode of operation has been continued according to predetermined criteria. Responsive to receiving the indication, the first electronic device continues to operate in the restricted mode according to the predetermined criteria. |
| US09875345B2 |
Method for watermarking a content
A method for preparing content for watermarking is disclosed. The content is available in different versions on a server for at least a client and the different versions of the content are subdivided into temporally aligned chunks. For each version of the content, candidate locations for watermarking are obtained. A watermark payload bit insertion rate is determined according to a minimum path. Watermark embedding metadata is generated for each version of the content such that the watermark payload bit insertion rate is the same. A device for implementing the method and a non-transitory program storage device are also disclosed. |
| US09875341B2 |
Accessing information associated with a mobile gaming device to verify the mobile gaming device is in communications with an intended server
To verify that a mobile gaming device is in communications with an intended server that provides activities and/or services to a player through the mobile gaming device and maintains information related to these activities and/or services, a verification server determines one or more pieces of the maintained information and sends the determined information to a verification device as a confirmation that the mobile gaming device is in communication with the intended server. |
| US09875340B2 |
Personalized pain management treatments
Systems and methods disclosed herein provide efficacious pain management therapies based on delivery of physical medicine(s) via computer-implemented systems. Patient information comprising patient pain symptoms, patient physiological measurements, patient demographics, and other information is received at a pain therapy device. The patient information is compared with pain analytics data compiled on a plurality of individuals to determine a personalized pain management therapy. The personalized pain management therapy is applied via a combination of thermoceuticals, electroceuticals, ultrasound, and several other forms of physical medicine. Sensors coupled to the pain therapy device measure changes in physiological data resulting from the pain management therapy. The personalized pain management therapy can be adjusted based on the changes in the physiological data and/or patient feedback. The patient information, information about the applied therapy, and therapy outcome information is added to the analytics database. |
| US09875337B2 |
Method and apparatus to present a virtual user
A method and apparatus for providing an interactive interface to user health data is described. |
| US09875336B2 |
Spatial arithmetic method of sequence alignment
A computer system aligns two or more sequences with each other to identify similarities and differences between the aligned sequences. The sequences may, for example, represent proteins. The system performs alignment quickly and accurately by representing the sequences as perceptual information and conceptual information having mappings between them in a knowledgebase, and then performing the alignment based on the representations of the sequences in the knowledgebase. The alignment may be performed in polynomial time, regardless of the number of sequences that are aligned. |
| US09875331B2 |
Signal via positioning in a multi-layer circuit board using a genetic via placement solver
One aspect includes identifying via groups that each includes a ratio of a plurality of signal vias to one ground via based on a design file defining a layout of a multi-layer circuit board. A genetic via placement solver iteratively evaluates potential placement solutions that adjust a placement of one or more of the signal vias until at least one solution is identified that meets one or more placement criteria of the signal vias. The genetic via placement solver performs a mutation and recombination of one or more solutions that do not meet the one or more placement criteria and re-evaluates the one or more solutions that do not meet the one or more placement criteria. The design file is modified to include at least one shifted signal via position based on identifying the at least one solution that meets the one or more placement criteria. |
| US09875329B1 |
Method and system for import of mask layout data to a target system
A host system for transferring data to a target system is provided. The host system may include a layout database for storing mask layout data representing an integrated circuit (IC) in terms of planar geometric shapes. The hosts system may further include a processor configured to import the mask layout data from the layout database to a memory-mapped disk in the host system. The processor is further configured to translate the mask layout data into one or more cell views according to a table hierarchy in the memory-mapped disk. The processor is further configured to transmit the one or more cell views from the memory-mapped disk to a magnetic disk of the target system. |
| US09875324B2 |
Traction power simulation
Systems and methods are provided for simulating fraction power and control in transportation systems under design conditions and/or utilizing real-time data. |
| US09875317B2 |
System and method for contextually enriching content of a referrer page when returning from a landing page
Methods and systems for providing content on a webpage includes rendering a webpage having a plurality of page areas. Each of the plurality of page areas is associated with an entity having display content. Selection of one of the plurality of page areas is detected. The selection causes a landing page to be rendered in place of the webpage. A return to the webpage from the landing page is detected. In response to the return, the selected page area of the webpage is modified to include at least one additional entity having associated display content. |
| US09875315B2 |
Managing a display of results of a keyword search on a web page by modifying attributes of a DOM tree structure
An approach is provided for managing a display of a keyword search result. First Document Object Model (DOM) element(s) in a web page DOM are identified as including DOM element(s) specifying first content that is relevant to the keyword. Second DOM element(s) in the DOM are identified as specifying second content that is irrelevant to the keyword. DOM element(s) are determined to specify paragraph(s) in the first content which were hidden from view as a result of a prior search of another keyword and based on the paragraph(s) not including the other keyword. The display of the result of the search is generated to include the first content and the paragraph(s) according to modified first attribute(s) of the DOM element(s) specifying the paragraph(s), and hide the second content from view, according to modified second attribute(s) of the second DOM element(s). |
| US09875313B1 |
Ranking authors and their content in the same framework
One or more server devices may simultaneously calculate first ranking scores for a group of users and second ranking scores for a group of comments authored by the group of users. The calculating may occur during a same process. The one or more server devices may further provide one of a first ranked list that includes information identifying the group of users, the information identifying the group of users being ordered based on the first ranking scores, or a second group of comments of the group of comments, the comments in the second group of comments being ordered based on the second ranking scores. |
| US09875309B2 |
Topical search system
A topical search computer system identifies topics from various definitional (i.e., data) sources. The system generates a catalog of different topics from the data sources. Topics with similar names are differentiated by the system based on the context in which each topic is used. The context for a topic is represented by a context vector, which describes the co-occurrence relationships between the topic and other topics derived from the data sources. Because the system has computed a context for each topic, the system can provide improved search results responsive to user queries for information. |
| US09875308B2 |
Monitoring a communication and retrieving information relevant to the communication
A system, method, and computer readable medium for monitoring a communication, and providing users with information retrieved from one or more data sources that may be relevant to the communication. An information module monitors a communication associated with at least one remote client by receiving either all (or a portion of) the communication as input. The information module then analyzes the communication to filter out and produce a running list of words that may define the context or key topics of the communication. One or more of the topic words are then used as search terms in a search executed against one or more data sources. The search results may then be forwarded to the remote client in real-time, according to one or more specified parameters. In this regard, a user of a remote client does not have to formulate their own search terms, or even activate the search, while engaged in a communication. By coupling the information module to one or more data sources, a user of a remote client may be presented with access to knowledge reports of experts, various documents, information, or other resources relevant to the context of the communication to which they may currently be associated. This empowers the user with knowledge and expertise sources that match the evolution of the topic(s) of the communication. |
| US09875306B2 |
Navigation through a collection of electronic documents
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for improving navigation through an electronic document collection. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a search engine system comprising a communication interface in data communication with a client terminal, a database persistently storing information characterizing electronic documents available on the Internet, a search constraint setting database persistently storing information characterizing settings for supplemental searches, and a search engine programmed to perform, in response to receipt of the information characterizing the entities named in the electronic document displayable at the client terminal, supplemental searches on the database to identify a responsive subset of the electronic documents available on the Internet. The supplemental searches are constrained by at least one of the named entities and the supplemental search settings stored at the search constraint setting database. |
| US09875304B2 |
Music selection and organization using audio fingerprints
A content selection system and method for identifying and organizing moods in content using objectively measured scores for rhythm, texture and pitch (RTP) and clustered into six mood classifications based on an objective analysis of the measured scores. Digitized representations of the content may also be identified and organized based on the content's frequency data, three-dimensional shapes derived from the digitized representations, and colors derived from the frequency data. Each piece of content may be identified by at least a mood shape, but may also be identified by a mood color and/or a mood based on the clustered RTP scores and/or the digitized representation. Users of the selection system may be able to view the moods identified in the different manners, or combinations of two or three mood identifying manners and select and organize content based on the identified moods. |
| US09875302B2 |
Mining multilingual topics
Techniques for utilizing data mining technology to extract universal topics with multilingual representations from a multilingual database, and to organize existing or new documents in different languages by analyzing their respective topic distributions. |
| US09875298B2 |
Automatic generation of a search query
A method, computer-readable medium, and system for automatic generation of a search query are disclosed. A semantic key may be automatically recognized in a first search query, thereby allowing a second search query to be automatically generated based on the first search query. A first search may be performed using the second search query. Search results generated responsive to the first search may include one or more instances of at least one semantic sub-key associated with the semantic key. In this manner, more relevant search results may be returned while relieving the user of manually entering the semantic key separately from the search query keywords and/or demarcating the semantic key and the search query keywords. |
| US09875295B1 |
Evaluation of substitution contexts
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating substitute terms. One of the methods includes receiving a query having an original term and determining one or more substitution contexts for the original term, wherein a substitution context includes one or more context terms and an indication of a position in the query of the original term and the one or more context terms. The substitution contexts are classified into a first category or a second category based on a respective score of each substitution context. The original term is associated with one or more substitution contexts in the first category. |
| US09875294B2 |
Method and apparatus for classifying object based on social networking service, and storage medium
Described are a method and an apparatus for classifying an object based on a social networking service. Feature information of an object may be acquired; a semantic vector of the feature information may be computed, the semantic vector being used to reflect a relevancy feature when segmented words exist in the feature information simultaneously; and the semantic vector of the feature information of the object may be input to a predetermined classifier, to obtain an initial category of the object after the object is classified. |
| US09875293B2 |
System and method for news events detection and visualization
Systems and methods are disclosed for news events detection and visualization. In accordance with one implementation, a method is provided for news events detection and visualization. The method includes, for example, obtaining one or more documents, the one or more documents being grouped into one or more clusters having a score, and the one or more clusters being grouped into one or more megaclusters, presenting information associated with the one or more documents on one or more timelines, wherein the one or more documents are grouped into different megaclusters being presented in a visually distinct way, and filtering the presented information based on the scores associated with the one or more clusters. |
| US09875289B2 |
Remote knowledge server apparatus and method thereof
An apparatus and method for processing an ontological query for data from any of a plurality of different databases on a network coupled to a computer that includes loading a ontological data model comprising a plurality of logical models based on data from the plurality of different databases, compiling the ontological query and optimizing 48 the compiled ontological query according to join and combination rules based on the logical models and describing meta-properties of the data and meta-relationships based on the meta-properties between the data from the plurality of different databases, and processing logical operations on the compiled ontological query. |
| US09875288B2 |
Recursive filter algorithms on hierarchical data models described for the use by the attribute value derivation
A system, a method, and a computer program product for filtering data stored in a hierarchical data model for use by an attribute value derivation are provided. At least one filtering mechanism to filter at least one instruction containing at least one target attribute value corresponding to at least one source attribute value combination stored in a hierarchical data model is provided. The instruction is filtered using the filtering mechanism. A user interface for displaying the hierarchical data model containing the filtered instruction is generated. |
| US09875286B1 |
Scoring messages based on sender attributes
A message sent by a message sender to a message receiver can be, e.g., upon arrival at a message system server, ranked or scored based on attributes of the message sender such as influence and engagement. Influence can relate to a determination of how influential the message sender is. Engagement can relate to a determination of how interested the message sender is in content published or syndicated by the message receiver. The message score can reflect a combination of an influence score and an engagement score. Scored messages can be sorted or filtered according to a desired element and a presentation of messages stored by the message system can be updated (e.g., ordered and scored) according to the desired element. |
| US09875284B1 |
Displaying search completion results
The present technology relates to methods, systems and computer program products for displaying search completion results. A chalkboard interface having search completion results can be displayed in response to inputs entered in a search field of a webpage. One or more search completion options, such as predicted search queries, can be generated based at least on the inputs. The search completion options and corresponding search results can be displayed in the chalkboard interface. If further inputs are entered in the search field, the search completion options are modified, resulting in a dynamic chalkboard interface that displays search completion options with corresponding search results that change with each keystroke or input inputted at the search field. The chalkboard interface can be superimposed over the webpage, except for the search field, so that as inputs are entered in the search field, the search completion options and search results are accordingly modified. |
| US09875283B2 |
Systems and methods for storing and searching data in a customer center environment
A method includes generating data from workforce applications, at least one of the workforce applications including at least one of forecasting, scheduling, recording, and monitoring functionalities; and storing the data from the at least one of the workforce applications in a storage area network (SAN), the SAN being operable to connect the at least one of the workforce applications to computer storage devices. This may also include keeping recorded contacts in a long term storage device such as the SAN or an operational data store (ODS) and transparently searching in both the ODS and the SAN simultaneously. With a concept of moving data on to a file system SAN which is cheaper as compared to a database technology such as ODS, the method facilitates predictable performance from the ODS and easier manageability with constant cost from SAN. |
| US09875281B2 |
Performance monitoring of wait times
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, a system, and a computer program product for determining wait times of tuples within a streaming environment. The method includes monitoring one or more tuples being processed within an operator graph where the operator graph includes a first processing element and a queue of the first processing element. The method includes recording a wait time of the one or more tuples within the queue of the first processing element. The method includes recording a processing time of the one or more tuples within the first processing element. The method includes displaying the wait time and the processing time of the one or more tuples. The method includes optimizing a configuration of the operator graph, in response to recording the processing time of the one or more tuples. |
| US09875275B2 |
Efficient state change support for hierarchical data models in a virtualized system
Methods, systems and computer readable media for efficient state change support for hierarchical data models in a virtualized system are described. In some implementations, the method can include determining a system status including a system-level bit masked word having a plurality of bits, each bit corresponding to a status of a different hierarchical level of the system, and receiving a change notification. The method can also include querying an entity at a lower hierarchy level if a cascaded state change is identified for that entity. The method can further include continuing to query one or more entities in successively lower hierarchy levels so long as a cascaded state change is identified for a corresponding entity in a lower hierarchy level. The method can also include determining the current status for one or more entities having a changed status. Identifying a cascaded state change can include performing a logical exclusive OR operation on a previous status bit masked word and a current status bit masked word of an entity. |
| US09875273B2 |
Methods and systems for managing configuration settings
A method for receiving configuration data for a client from a data repository may include sending a request for information pertaining to data stored in the data repository and receiving the data repository information. The method may include identifying a settings repository from the data repository information and requesting configuration data for the client from the identified settings repository. The configuration data may be received from the data repository and stored at the client. The settings at the client may be applied based on the received configuration data. |
| US09875271B2 |
Methods and system for vectored data de-duplication
The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for data de-duplication. More particularly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for data de-duplication that may utilize a vectoring method for data de-duplication wherein a stream of data is divided into “data sets” or blocks. For each block, a code, such as a hash or cyclic redundancy code may be calculated and stored. The first block of the set may be written normally and its address and hash can be stored and noted. Subsequent block hashes may be compared with previously written block hashes. |
| US09875270B1 |
Locking item ranges for creating a secondary index from an online table
A data storage system may implement locking item ranges for creating a secondary index of an online table. A secondary index may be generated for a table of items stored in a non-relational data store. Different ranges of items in the data store may be locked while a corresponding portion of the secondary index is generated. Upon generating the corresponding portion of the secondary index, a range of items may be unlocked. While generating the secondary index, the table may be made available for servicing access requests. For a request to update the table received during the generation of the secondary index, a determination may be made as to whether the update is included within a locked range of the table. If locked, the request may be delayed until the range is unlocked. |
| US09875263B2 |
Composite partition functions
Composite partition function techniques are described herein that may be used to repartition a database without moving existing data. In one or more implementations, a database is partitioned in a first arrangement associated with a first partition function. The database is repartitioned to form a second arrangement associated with a second partition function. A record of key membership for data entries in the partitions existing at the time of repartitioning is created, which can be used to recognize data corresponding to the first arrangement. A composite partition function is defined for subsequent database operations that is configured to apply the first partition function for data having keys found in the record of key membership and apply the second partition function for other data having keys that are not found in the record of key membership. |
| US09875258B1 |
Generating search strings and refinements from an image
Approaches include using a machine learning-based approach to generating search strings and refinements based on a specific item represented in an image. For example, a classifier that is trained on descriptions of images can be provided. An image that includes a representation of an item of interest is obtained. The image is analyzed using the classifier algorithm to determine a first term representing a visual characteristic of the image. Then, the image is analyzed again to determine a second term representing another visual characteristic of the image based at least in part on the first term. Additional terms can be determined to generate a description of the image, including characteristics of the item of interest. Based on the determined characteristics of the item of interest, a search query and one or more refinements can be generated. |
| US09875257B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof, AVN terminal and control method thereof, and route guidance system
A mobile terminal includes: a communication unit communicating with an external device; an image reception judgment unit determining whether an image is received from the external device; a location information extraction unit extracting location information included in an image received from the external device; a vehicle connection judgment unit determining whether the mobile terminal is connected to a vehicle; and a location information transmission unit transmitting the location information to the vehicle via the communication unit when the mobile terminal is connected to the vehicle. |
| US09875252B2 |
Data processing apparatus using calculation of histogram intersection
In a histogram intersection calculating apparatus, a histogram intersection calculating unit calculates a histogram intersection to compare histograms of query data and target data to obtain a score value of the histogram intersection. A calculation controlling unit makes the histogram intersection calculating unit calculate the histogram intersection in descending order of bin number of the histogram of the query data from the bin number having the maximum frequency value by using frequency values in the bin numbers of the query data and frequency values in the bin numbers of the target data to obtain a score value of the histogram intersection. |
| US09875249B1 |
Reducing database fragmentation
Techniques to reduce database fragmentation are disclosed. In various embodiments, an indication is received to store an attribute value for an entity that has a row or other entry in a first database table, wherein the first database table does not have a column for the attribute. It is determined that the value corresponds to a mapped value that is associated with not having an entry in a separate, second database table configured to store the attribute. Entries are made in the second database table only for values of the attribute other than the mapped value. Application level software code is configured to associate absence of a row in the second database table with the mapped value for the attribute. |
| US09875247B2 |
Geographic space management
At least one subsystem among the plurality of subsystems includes a managing section operable to manage individual route information for routes in a management target region of the at least one subsystem among the plurality of regions and adjacent route information for routes positioned in a partial range from a boundary of the management target region among routes in an adjacent region that is adjacent to the management target region, and an identifying section operable to identify the route on which the moving object is positioned based on the observation position, by using the individual route information and the adjacent route information managed by the at least one subsystem. Also provided is a method and computer program product. |
| US09875246B2 |
System and method for generating and displaying a cocktail recipe presentation
Method of generating presentation starts by receiving user input indicating activation of presentation generator and generating and transmitting content selection display to the electronic device that includes search button, first table including list of selected cocktails, and second table including spirit type and number count. When the user input indicates selection of search button, processor generates and transmits cocktail lookup page display that includes pop-up window that includes drop-down lists or search fields including cocktail criterions and third table that includes entries matching selected cocktail criterion selected. When user input indicates activation of selection box included in the third table and subsequent user input indicates no other entries are desired, processor generates and transmits content selection display that includes updated first table that comprises the entry associated with the activated selection box. Processor then generates and transmits the presentation in a first format to the electronic device. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09875244B1 |
Sentiment-based classification of media content
A set of comments associated with an item of media content is identified. A set of sentiment scores associated with the set of comments is generated, wherein each sentiment score indicates a type of sentiment expressed in a comment. The sentiment profile is generated responsive at least in part to the set of sentiment scores, the sentiment profile indicating the types of sentiment expressed in comments associated with the item of media content and stored in association with the item of media content. |
| US09875243B2 |
Recommender and media retrieval system that record group information
A recommender system provides recommendation scores based on stored ratings for media items, for example to assist control of selection of a media item for rendering by a terminal. Data representing stored rating values for media items is stored in a storage system for use to compute the recommendation scores. A processing system records an input rating value for a first one of the media items in the storage system, based on measured activity or input of a user. Furthermore information is acquired about a group of users in the company of which the input rating value applies for the user. This information is recorded in combination with the rating value. The processing system may compute a recommendation score for a second group of users from the stored rating values, dependent on a comparison of the second group of users and the recorded information about the group. |