Document Document Title
US09882178B2 Battery module assembly for vehicle's battery pack
Disclosed is a battery module assembly, which includes four battery modules, each having a plurality of cylindrical secondary battery cells (hereinafter, also referred to as ‘cells’) interposed between an upper frame and a lower frame, wherein among the four battery modules, two battery modules are arranged in parallel, and two battery modules are stacked on the two battery modules arranged in parallel. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stable and economic battery module assembly including a plurality of secondary battery cells.
US09882177B2 Energy storage module comprising a plurality of prismatic storage cells and method for production thereof
The invention relates to an energy storage module for a device for supplying voltage, in particular, of a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of in particular prismatic storage cells, which are stacked together at least in one row, are arranged one behind the other and are braced between at least two end plates by means of at least one tie rod or a wrapping, wherein at least one of the end plates comprises a layer structure of at least three layers and/or the tie rod consists of a fiber composite material.
US09882173B2 Methods for fabricating an organic electro-luminescence device
A method for fabricating an organic electro-luminescence device, comprising: forming a first conductive layer comprising a first electrode and a contact pattern on a substrate; foil ling a first mask on the first conductive layer, the first mask comprising an opening for exposing a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the contact pattern; forming a patterned organic functional layer by shielding of a second mask, the patterned organic functional layer covering the first mask and the first electrode exposed by the first mask, and the second mask being disposed over the first mask to shield the portion of the contact pattern exposed by the opening; forming a second conductive layer and patterning the second conductive layer by removing the first mask and a portion of the second conductive layer on the first mask to form a second electrode electrically connected to the contact pattern.
US09882172B2 OLED backplane and fabrication method thereof
Disclosed are an OLED backplane and fabrication method. The fabrication method comprises: forming a pattern including a TFT on a substrate; forming a passivation layer on the substrate including the TFT pattern; forming a color filter on the substrate including the passivation layer; forming a resin layer on the substrate including the color filter; heavily doping the resin layer of a first region in each sub-pixel on the substrate including the resin layer, the resin layer in the first region being conductive, the first region including a passivation layer via-hole region, a pixel electrode region and a connecting region between the passivation layer via-hole region and the pixel electrode region, the passivation-layer via-hole region being a position where a drain electrode of the TFT is located; and forming an organic light-emitting layer and a cathode sequentially on the substrate after the resin layer of the first region is heavily doped.
US09882171B2 Pixel matrix circuit
An electroluminescent device comprising: an organic electroluminescent element and a junction transistor having a first region, a second region, and an intermediate semiconducting region configured to control flow of charge between the first and second regions, wherein at least two abutting regions consist essentially of one or more semiconducting inorganic metal compounds, and wherein each region of the junction transistor and the electroluminescent element are successively stacked along a common direction.
US09882165B2 Light-emitting device and lighting device
A highly reliable light-emitting device which includes an organic EL element and is lightweight is provided. The light-emitting device includes a first organic resin layer; a first glass layer over the first organic resin layer; a light-emitting element over the first glass layer; a second glass layer over the light-emitting element; and a second organic resin layer over the second glass layer. The first organic resin layer and the first glass layer each have a property of transmitting visible light. The thickness of the first glass layer and the thickness of the second glass layer are independently greater than or equal to 25 μm and less than or equal to 100 μm. The light-emitting element includes a first electrode having a property of transmitting visible light, a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound, and a second electrode stacked in this order from the first glass layer side.
US09882164B2 Organic el display module
The organic EL display module includes an organic EL display device having flexibility, a touch panel having flexibility, a first adhesive portion for attaching the organic EL display device and the touch panel to each other, a curved and flexible intermediate housing disposed on an opposite side from the organic EL display device with respect to the touch panel, and a second adhesive portion for attaching the touch panel and the intermediate housing to each other.
US09882159B2 Voltage-light conversion device
The invention relates to a voltage-light conversion device (1) like an OLED comprising a structured electrically conducting layer (3) on a substrate (2) and a further layer (60) that is part of an encapsulation and which comprises a layer edge (63). The electrically conducting layer comprises in an edge region (70) close to the layer edge a structure edge (10), wherein at least a part of the structure edge is not perpendicular to the layer edge. Since in the edge region at least a part of the structure edge is not perpendicular to the layer edge, during the production process for producing the further layer a possible flow of initially liquid layer material along the structure edge can be directed such that the liquid material remains relatively close to the desired layer edge, i.e. the liquid material can be better locally confined.
US09882158B2 Organic optoelectronic component and method for producing an organic optoelectronic component
In various embodiments, an organic optoelectronic component is provided. The organic optoelectronic component may include a first electrode, an organic functional layer structure over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the organic functional layer structure. Optionally, the organic functional layer structure includes a charge carrier pair generation layer structure. At least one of the electrodes and/or the charge carrier pair generation layer structure includes electrically conductive nanostructures, the surfaces of which are at least partially coated with a coating material.
US09882157B2 OLED light emitting device and production method thereof and display apparatus
Disclosed herein is an OLED light emitting device and the production method thereof and a display apparatus. The OLED light emitting device includes a base substrate, and an anode, a cathode, and a light emitting layer located between the anode and the cathode, which are provided on the base substrate, and the OLED light emitting device further comprises a dissociation layer for dissociating excitons which arrive at the dissociation layer into holes and electrons; wherein the dissociation layer is provided between the light emitting layer and the anode in the case where the electron mobility is greater than the hole mobility; and the dissociation layer is provided between the light emitting layer and the cathode in the case where the hole mobility is greater than the electron mobility.
US09882154B2 Solid-state imaging element, production method thereof, and electronic device
A solid-state imaging element including a phase difference detection pixel pair that includes first (2PA) and second (2PB) phase difference detection pixels is provided. In particular, each phase difference detection pixel of the first and second phase difference detection pixels includes a first photoelectric conversion unit (52, 53b, 53c) arranged at an upper side of a semiconductor substrate (12) and a second photoelectric conversion unit (42, 43) arranged within the semiconductor substrate. The first photoelectric conversion film (52) may be an organic film. In addition, phase difference detection pixels may be realized without using a light shielding film.
US09882150B2 Metal compounds, methods, and uses thereof
Disclosed herein are metal compounds useful in devices, such as, for example, OLEDs.
US09882148B2 Organic compound, field element, organic light-emitting element, display apparatus, image information-processing apparatus, lighting apparatus, image-forming apparatus, and exposure apparatus
A bibenzo[d]imidazolidene compound inert to oxygen is provided. A 1,1′,3,3′-tetraphenyl-2,2′-bibenzo[d]imidazolidene compound is represented by general formula (1). In formula (1), R1 to R28 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a substituent. The substituent is any of a halogen atom, an alkyl group containing 1 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. At least one of R1 to R28 is the substituent.
US09882146B2 Heterocyclic compound and organic electronic element containing same
The present disclosure provides a novel compound capable of greatly improving the lifetime, efficiency, electrochemical stability and thermal stability of an organic electronic device, and an organic electronic device including an organic compound layer containing the compound.
US09882144B2 Organic electroluminescent element
An organic electroluminescence device includes: an anode; a cathode; and an organic layer interposed between the anode and the cathode, in which the organic layer includes an emitting layer and the emitting layer includes a compound represented by a formula (1) below and a compound represented by a formula (2) below. Az1 of the formula (1) below and Az2 of the formula (2) below are each an azine ring. Cz of the formula (1) below and HAr of the formula (2) below are each a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring.
US09882142B2 Compounds and organic electronic devices
The present invention relates to certain fluorenes, to the use of the compounds in an electronic device, and to an electronic device comprising at least one of these compounds. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the compounds and to a formulation and composition comprising one or more of the compounds.
US09882141B2 Pyrene-based compound and organic light-emitting diode including the same
A pyrene-based compound and an organic light-emitting diode including the pyrene-based compound are provided.
US09882140B2 Organic light-emitting device
Provided is an organic light-emitting device including a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the organic layer including an emission layer. The emission layer includes a first compound represented by Formula 1-1 or Formula 1-2 below, a second compound represented by Formula 2 below, and a third compound represented by Formula 3 below: where Ar1 to Ar8, R1 to R3, A, L1, L2, a1, a2, b1, b2, c1, c2, l1, and l2 are as defined in the specification.
US09882138B2 Organic compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A novel organic compound with which the emission characteristics, emission efficiency, and reliability of a light-emitting element can be improved; a light-emitting element including the organic compound; and a light-emitting device, an electronic device, and a lighting device each including the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element includes a hole-transport layer and a light-emitting layer between a pair of electrodes. At least one of the hole-transport layer and the light-emitting layer includes an organic compound having a skeleton represented by General Formula (G0).
US09882137B2 Organic semiconductor composition, organic thin film transistor, electronic paper, and display device
The present invention provides an organic semiconductor composition which makes it possible to prepare an organic thin film transistor having excellent insulation reliability while inhibiting the deterioration of mobility, and to provide an organic thin film transistor prepared using the composition. Furthermore, the present invention provides electronic paper and a display device which contain the organic thin film transistor. The organic semiconductor composition according to the present invention contains an organic semiconductor material and at least one kind of migration inhibitor selected from a compound represented by the following Formula (I), a compound represented by the following Formula (II), and a compound represented by the following Formula (III).
US09882126B2 Phase change storage device with multiple serially connected storage regions
A phase change storage device, Integrated Circuit (IC) chip including the devices and method of manufacturing IC chips with the devices. The device includes a phase change storage region with multiple phase change regions, e.g., two (2), of different phase change material serially-connected between said program/read line and a select device conduction terminal.
US09882115B2 Integrated compliant boundary for piezoelectric bimorph actuator
A piezoelectric bimorph actuator with an integral compliant boundary employs a first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element and a composite layer intimately engaged between the first and second piezoelectric elements to form a bimorph actuator. The composite layer extends from a peripheral edge of the piezoelectric elements and has a curved interface portion providing a mount for attachment of the bimorph actuator.
US09882114B2 De-icing arrangement and method for de-icing a structural element
A de-icing arrangement and a method for de-icing a structural element. The de-icing arrangement includes at least one electromagnetic actuator, a capacitive storage bank, a control unit arranged to provide an excitation pulse to the at least one electromagnetic actuator, and a charging circuit arranged to charge the capacitive storage bank. The at least one electromagnetic actuator is arranged to expand in at least one direction when fed with the excitation pulse. The at least one electromagnetic actuator is arranged in relation to the structural element so as to apply a mechanical force caused by the expansion on the structural element. The control unit is arranged to control cutoff of current discharge of the capacitive storage bank into the at least one electromagnetic actuator so as to abort the excitation pulse at a predetermined timing after start of the excitation pulse.
US09882110B2 Thermoelectric device technology
A thermoelectric device for use with solar cells or other heat sources. A substrate has a manufactured surface with a plurality of highland features and lowland features. Each highland feature defines a peak adjacent to which there is an interface of two different film regions (formed of two different metals, two different semiconductors, or one metal and one semiconductor). The two film regions diverge away from each other with increasing distance from the interface and terminate at distal end regions. In response to a temperature difference between the interface and the distal end regions, the device produces a voltage.
US09882108B2 Nanostructured layers of thermoelectric materials
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to thermoelectric materials. In one aspect, a method includes providing a plurality of nanostructures. The plurality of nanostructures comprise a thermoelectric material, with each nanostructure of the plurality of nanostructures having first ligands disposed on a surface of the nanostructure. The plurality of nanostructures is mixed with a solution containing second ligands and a ligand exchange process occurs in which the first ligands disposed on the plurality of nanostructures are replaced with the second ligands. The plurality of nanostructures is deposited on a substrate to form a layer. The layer is thermally annealed.
US09882105B2 LED module
An LED module A1 includes an LED chip 1, a lead group 4 including a lead 4A on which the LED chip 1 is mounted and a lead 4B spaced apart from the lead 4A, a resin package 2 covering part of the lead group 4, and mounting terminals 41 and 42 provided by part of the lead group 4 that is exposed from the resin package 2 and spaced apart from each other in direction x. The LED module further includes a mounting terminal 43 spaced apart from the mounting terminal 41 in direction y, and a mounting terminal 44 spaced apart from the mounting terminal 42 in direction y. This arrangement allows the LED module A1 to be mounted at a correct position on a circuit board.
US09882097B2 Optoelectronic semiconductor chip, optoelectronic semiconductor component, and a method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor component
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor body that emits primary light, and a luminescence conversion element that emits secondary light by wavelength conversion of at least part of the primary light, wherein the luminescence conversion element has a first lamina fixed to a first partial region of an outer surface of the semiconductor body, the outer surface emitting primary light, and leaving free a second partial region of the outer surface, the luminescence conversion element has a second lamina fixed to a surface of the first lamina facing away from the semiconductor body and spaced apart from the semiconductor body, the first lamina is at least partly transmissive to the primary radiation, a section of the second lamina covers at least the second partial region, and at least the section of the second lamina is absorbent and/or reflective and/or scattering for the primary radiation.
US09882096B2 Light emitting diode structure and method for manufacturing the same
An edge lighting light emitting diode (LED) structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The edge lighting LED structure includes a substrate, an electrode pattern, a chip, an encapsulation layer and a fluorescent layer. The electrode pattern at least includes two first conducting portions separately disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, two second conducting portions separately disposed on a lower surface of the substrate, and two conducting holes separately vertically penetrating through the substrate, each conducting hole connects a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion, and the conducting holes are exposed on a lateral surface of the substrate. A second surface of the chip is disposed on the first conducting portions. A top surface of the encapsulation layer exposes and is aligned with the first surface of the chip. The fluorescent layer covers a first surface of the chip.
US09882093B2 Light emitting element
A light emitting element has: first and second conductivity type semiconductor layers, first and second electrodes disposed on the same face side of the first and second conductivity type semiconductor layers, respectively. In plan view, the first electrode has a first connecting portion, a first extending portion, and two second extending portions, and the second electrode has a second connecting portion and two third extending portions. The first extending portion of the first electrode extends linearly from the first connecting portion toward the second connecting portion, and the two second extending portions extend parallel to the first extending portion on two sides of the first extending portion. The second extending portions each has two bent portions. The third extending portions extend parallel to the first extending portion between the first extending portion and the two second extending portions.
US09882087B2 Semiconductor material including different crystalline orientation zones and related production process
The invention relates to a manufacturing process of semiconductor material of element III nitride from a starting substrate, the process comprising: the formation of an intermediate layer based on silicon on a starting substrate, said intermediate layer comprising at least two adjacent zones of different crystalline orientations, especially a monocrystalline zone and an amorphous or poly-crystalline zone, growth via epitaxy of a layer of element III nitride on said intermediate layer, the intermediate layer being intended to be vaporised spontaneously during the step consisting of growing the layer of element III nitride via epitaxy.
US09882082B2 Compositions and processes for fabrication of rear passivated solar cells
Compositions used in, and methods for, fabricating a rear-passivated silicon solar cell are described. A novel method of opening the back surface for contacting the silicon with a conventional aluminum paste is described. Various novel screen printable etch resists are described. First, such an etch resist can be printed on the rear of a rear-passivated solar cell wafer. The passivation layer can then be removed using a wet etch, and next the etch resist layer can be removed. Further, an additional wet etch step may optionally be used to deepen the opening into the silicon and enhance the BSF (back-surface field). Aluminum paste can then be printed over the entire backside of the now etched cell. The entire cell is then fired. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the paste can be chosen so that it will not fire through the passivation layer.
US09882081B2 Photodetector methods and photodetector structures
Disclosed are a method of forming a photodetector and a photodetector structure. In the method, a polycrystalline or amorphous light-absorbing layer is formed on a dielectric layer such that it is in contact with a monocrystalline semiconductor core of an optical waveguide. The light-absorbing layer is then encapsulated in one or more strain-relief layers and a rapid melting growth (RMG) process is performed to crystallize the light-absorbing layer. The strain-relief layer(s) are tuned for controlled strain relief so that, during the RMG process, the light-absorbing layer remains crack-free. The strain-relief layer(s) are then removed and an encapsulation layer is formed over the light-absorbing layer (e.g., filling in surface pits that developed during the RMG process). Subsequently, dopants are implanted through the encapsulation layer to form diffusion regions for PIN diode(s). Since the encapsulation layer is relatively thin, desired dopant profiles can be achieved within the diffusion regions.
US09882080B2 High speed photodetector
A photodetector is disclosed. A first layer of the photodetector has a first semiconductor material having a first band gap energy, a first electric field, and a first doping concentration. A second layer has a second semiconductor material having a second band gap energy higher than the first band gap energy, a non-zero second electric field smaller than the first electric field, and a second doping concentration. The second layer is interfaced with the first layer. A region between the first and second layers has a third doping concentration.
US09882079B2 Apparatus and method for collecting and distributing radiation
A system and method for collecting and distributing generated and/or solar radiation. A pulsed distribution subsystem combining a generated radiation source with a solar radiation collector is provided. Radiation from the pulsed distribution subsystem is provided to one or more discrete distribution systems; the discrete distributions systems transmit and distribute radiation, such as visible light, to one or more end use points in a facility.
US09882076B2 Optical tandem photovoltaic cell panels
A solar energy conversion device comprises a vertical stack of at least two panels stacked in a hierarchy from an upper panel to a lower panel with each of the panels including a matching array of solar cells having a different energy bandgap from other panels of solar cells in the vertical stack of panels. Each panel in the vertical stack may be arranged with one of the panels having solar cells with a higher energy bandgap situated in the hierarchy and in the stack above others of the panels containing solar cells with a lower energy bandgap. The top surface of the device is adapted for receiving solar energy incident upon the uppermost panel. Each upper panel absorbs a fraction of sunlight with larger solar photon energies larger than the energy bandgap thereof.
US09882072B2 Solar cell and transparent electrode
Provided is a solar cell including a pair of electrodes, and a photoelectric conversion layer of chalcopyrite structure sandwiched between the pair of electrodes. At least one of the pair of electrodes, adapted to serve as a transparent electrode, has a nitrogen-containing layer composed with the use of an organic compound containing a nitrogen atom, and an electrode layer containing a metal of the Group 11 of the periodic table, which is provided to be laminated on the nitrogen-containing layer, thereby improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency.
US09882068B2 Monolithic integration techniques for fabricating photodetectors with transistors on same substrate
Examples of the various techniques introduced here include, but not limited to, a mesa height adjustment approach during shallow trench isolation formation, a transistor via first approach, and a multiple absorption layer approach. As described further below, the techniques introduced herein include a variety of aspects that can individually and/or collectively resolve or mitigate one or more traditional limitations involved with manufacturing PDs and transistors on the same substrate, such as above discussed reliability, performance, and process temperature issues.
US09882066B1 Transcap manufacturing techniques without a silicide-blocking mask
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor variable capacitor. The semiconductor variable capacitor generally includes a first non-insulative region disposed above a semiconductor region, and a second non-insulative region disposed adjacent to the semiconductor region. In certain aspects, the semiconductor variable capacitor also includes a first silicide layer disposed above the second non-insulative region, wherein the first silicide layer overlaps at least a portion of the semiconductor region. In certain aspects, a control region may be disposed adjacent to the semiconductor region such that a capacitance between the first non-insulative region and the second non-insulative region is configured to be adjusted by varying a control voltage applied to the control region.
US09882063B2 Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof, array substrate and display device
The present disclosure relates to the field of manufacturing technologies for semiconductor devices and provides a thin film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof, an array substrate and a display device. The thin film transistor includes: an active layer located on a plane; a source electrode, which is located on the active layer and is in contact with the active layer; a first insulation layer located on the source electrode and including a first via hole; and a drain electrode located on the first insulation layer, where the drain electrode is in contact with the active layer via the first via hole.
US09882059B2 Semiconductor device
To provide a transistor having a high on-state current. A semiconductor device includes a first insulator containing excess oxygen, a first oxide semiconductor over the first insulator, a second oxide semiconductor over the first oxide semiconductor, a first conductor and a second conductor which are over the second oxide semiconductor and are separated from each other, a third oxide semiconductor in contact with side surfaces of the first oxide semiconductor, a top surface and side surfaces of the second oxide semiconductor, a top surface of the first conductor, and a top surface of the second conductor, a second insulator over the third oxide semiconductor, and a third conductor facing a top surface and side surfaces of the second oxide semiconductor with the second insulator and the third oxide semiconductor therebetween. The first oxide semiconductor has a higher oxygen-transmitting property than the third oxide semiconductor.
US09882055B2 TFT substrate structure and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a TFT substrate structure is provided, in which a graphene layer is formed on a semiconductor layer and after the formation of a second metal layer, the second metal layer is used as a shielding mask to conduct injection of fluoride ions into the graphene layer to form a modified area in a portion of the graphene layer that is located on and corresponds to a channel zone of the semiconductor layer. The modified area of the graphene layer shows a property of electrical insulation and a property of blocking moisture/oxygen so as to provide protection to the channel zone. Portions of the graphene layer that are located under source and drain electrodes are not doped with ions and preserve the excellent electrical conduction property of graphene to provide electrical connection between the source and drain electrodes and the semiconductor layer.
US09882051B1 Fin field effect transistors (FETs) (FinFETs) employing dielectric material layers to apply stress to channel regions
Fin Field Effect transistors (FETs) (FinFETs) employing dielectric material layers to apply stress to channel regions are disclosed. In one aspect, a FinFET is provided that includes a substrate and a Fin disposed over the substrate. The Fin includes a source, a drain, and a channel region between the source and drain. A gate is disposed around the channel region. To apply stress to the channel region, a first dielectric material layer is disposed over the substrate and adjacent to one side of the Fin. A second dielectric material layer is disposed over the substrate and adjacent to another side of the Fin. The dielectric material layers apply stress along the Fin, including the channel region. The level of stress applied by the dielectric material layers is not dependent on the volume of each layer.
US09882048B2 Gate cut on a vertical field effect transistor with a defined-width inorganic mask
A method of cutting a gate on a VFET includes depositing a memorization layer around a spacer on a sidewall of the field effect transistor. A planarizing layer is patterned onto the memorization layer. An anti-reflective coating layer is patterned onto the planarizing layer. A photoresist layer is patterned onto the anti-reflective coating layer on ends of fins extending from a substrate. The planarizing layer, the anti-reflective coating layer, and the photoresist form a mask. The anti-reflective coating layer portion is etched from the VFET. The planarizing layer and the photoresist layer are arc etched from the VFET. The spacer is pulled down forming a void between gates on the VFET and exposing a hard mask on the fins. The hard mask is reactive ion etched vertically around the gates to form gates with a defined width mask. The memorization layer is removed from the VFET.
US09882045B2 Vertical conduction integrated electronic device protected against the latch-up and relating manufacturing process
A vertical conduction integrated electronic device including: a semiconductor body; a trench that extends through part of the semiconductor body and delimits a portion of the semiconductor body, which forms a first conduction region having a first type of conductivity and a body region having a second type of conductivity, which overlies the first conduction region; a gate region of conductive material, which extends within the trench; an insulation region of dielectric material, which extends within the trench and is arranged between the gate region and the body region; and a second conduction region, which overlies the body region. The second conduction region is formed by a conductor.
US09882043B2 Semiconductor device with trench termination structure
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device in which a trench termination structure is applied. There is disclosed a semiconductor device of which structure is partially improved so that a P body area is not formed in an adjacent area of a gate pad. The semiconductor device includes a gate pad formed on a substrate, an active area formed in the substrate and comprising trenches, an isolation area to isolates the gate pad and the active area, and a section of the active area adjacent to the gate pad where a P-body is not formed. According to such the semiconductor device, it is possible to minimize a drain-source leakage current and to stably secure a drain-source breakdown voltage.
US09882041B1 HEMT having conduction barrier between drain fingertip and source
A High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) includes an active layer on a substrate, and a Group IIIA-N barrier layer on the active layer. An isolation region is through the barrier layer to provide at least one isolated active area including the barrier layer on the active layer. A gate is over the barrier layer. A drain includes at least one drain finger including a fingertip having a drain contact extending into the barrier layer to contact to the active layer and a source having a source contact extending into the barrier layer to contact to the active layer. The source forms a loop that encircles the drain. The isolation region includes a portion positioned between the source and drain contact so that there is a conduction barrier in a length direction between the drain contact of the fingertip and the source.
US09882039B2 Fabrication technique for high frequency, high power group III nitride electronic devices
Fabrication methods of a high frequency (sub-micron gate length) operation of AlInGaN/InGaN/GaN MOS-DHFET, and the HFET device resulting from the fabrication methods, are generally disclosed. The method of forming the HFET device generally includes a novel double-recess etching and a pulsed deposition of an ultra-thin, high-quality silicon dioxide layer as the active gate-insulator. The methods of the present invention can be utilized to form any suitable field effect transistor (FET), and are particular suited for forming high electron mobility transistors (HEMT).
US09882034B2 Bipolar transistor and method of manufacturing the same
A bipolar transistor is supported by a single-crystal silicon substrate including a collector contact region. A first epitaxial region forms a collector region of a first conductivity type on the collector contact region. A second epitaxial region forms a base region of a second conductivity type. Deposited semiconductor material forms an emitter region of the first conductivity type. The collector region, base region and emitter region are located within an opening having sidewalls lined with an insulating sheath. A portion of the insulating sheath adjacent the base region is removed and a base contact region is formed by epitaxial material grown from a portion of the base region exposed by removal of the portion of the insulating sheath.
US09882028B2 Pitch split patterning for semiconductor devices
A method for forming fins of a semiconductor device comprises forming a first hardmask on a substrate, a sacrificial layer on the first hardmask, and a second hardmask on the sacrificial layer. Portions of the second hardmask and the sacrificial layer are removed to form a mandrel. Spacers are formed adjacent to the sacrificial mandrel. A second sacrificial layer is deposited and portions of the second sacrificial layer are removed to expose portions of the spacers and the first hardmask. A first doped region and a second doped region are formed by annealing. The second hardmask and the sacrificial spacer are removed. Undoped portions of the sacrificial mandrel and the second sacrificial layer are removed to further expose portions of the first hardmask. Exposed portions of the first hardmask are removed to expose portions of the semiconductor substrate, and exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate are removed to form fins.
US09882025B1 Methods of simultaneously forming bottom and top spacers on a vertical transistor device
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a gate structure around a vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure above a bottom source/drain (S/D) region and below a top source/drain (S/D) region, the gate structure comprising a gate electrode and a gate insulation layer, a first portion of the gate insulation layer being positioned between the gate electrode and the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure, removing second portion and third portions of the gate insulation layer while leaving at least some of the first portion in position to define a top spacer recess and a lower spacer recess and performing a common deposition process to simultaneously form a top spacer in the top spacer recess and a lower spacer in the lower spacer recess.
US09882020B2 Cascode configured semiconductor component
In accordance with an embodiment, a cascode connected semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing the cascode connected semiconductor component are provided. The cascode connected semiconductor component has a pair of silicon based transistors, each having a body region, a gate region over the body region, a source region and a drain. The source regions of a first and second silicon based transistor are electrically connected together and the drain regions of the first and second silicon based transistors are electrically connected together. The gate region of the second silicon based transistor is connected to the drain regions of the first and second silicon based transistors. The body region of the second silicon based transistor has a dopant concentration that is greater than the dopant concentration of the first silicon based transistor. A gallium nitride based transistor has a source region coupled to the first and second silicon based transistor.
US09882019B2 Compound varactor
The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a compound varactor. The method includes steps of depositing a collector layer, depositing a first base layer arranged in a first plurality of parallel fingers directly onto the collector layer, and depositing a second base layer arranged in a second plurality of parallel fingers that are interleaved with the first plurality of parallel fingers directly onto the collector layer.
US09882014B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
The semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor; a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor; a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; and a gate electrode overlapping the oxide semiconductor, part of the source electrode, and part of the drain electrode with the gate insulating film positioned therebetween. The source electrode and the drain electrode each include a Cu—X alloy film (X is Mn, Ni, Cr, Fe, Co, Mo, Ta, or Ti), and the thickness of a region of the oxide semiconductor over which neither the source electrode nor the drain electrode is provided is smaller than the thicknesses of regions of the oxide semiconductor over which the source electrode and the drain electrode are provided.
US09882013B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a semiconductor device including a gate electrode, source and drain regions, and a spacer. The gate electrode is located over a substrate, and an angle of a base corner of the gate electrode is greater than 90 degrees. The source and drain regions are located in the substrate at sides of the gate electrode. The spacer is located at a sidewall of the gate electrode.
US09882012B2 Junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) having source/drain and gate isolation regions
A junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) includes a substrate, a source region formed in the substrate, a drain region formed in the substrate, a channel region formed in the substrate, and at least one gate region formed in the substrate. The channel region connects the source and drain regions. The at least one gate region contacts one of the source and drain regions at an interface, and the at least one gate region is isolated from the other of the source and drain regions. A dielectric layer covers the interface while exposing portions of the gate region and the one of the source and drain regions.
US09882008B2 Graphene FET with graphitic interface layer at contacts
A method for forming a graphene FET includes providing a graphene layer having a surface. A first metal layer having a work function <4.3 eV is deposited on the graphene surface. The first metal layer is oxidized to form a first metal oxide layer. The first metal oxide layer is etched to provide open surface contact regions including a first and a second region of the graphene layer for providing a graphene surface source and drain contact. A second metal layer is deposited including a second metal layer portion providing a source with a source contact over the graphene surface source contact and a second metal layer portion providing a drain with a drain contact over the graphene surface drain contact. A grown-in graphitic interface layer is formed at an interface between the source contact and graphene surface source contact and the drain contact and graphene surface drain contact.
US09882007B2 Handle for semiconductor-on-diamond wafers and method of manufacture
Methods for mounting and dismounting thin and/or bowed semiconductor-on-diamond wafers (401) to a carrier (407) are disclosed that flatten said wafers and provide mechanical support to enable efficient semiconductor device processing on said semiconductor-on-diamond wafers.
US09882005B2 Fully depleted silicon-on-insulator device formation
A p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (pMOS) planar fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) device and a method of fabricating the pMOS FDSOI are described. The method includes processing a silicon germanium (SiGe) layer disposed on an insulator layer to form gaps on a surface opposite a surface that is disposed on the insulator layer, each of the gaps extending into the SiGe layer to a depth less than or equal to a thickness of the SiGe layer, and forming a gate conductor over a region of the SiGe layer corresponding to a channel region of the pMOS. The method also includes performing an epitaxial process on the SiGe layer at locations corresponding to source and drain regions of the pMOS planar FDSOI device.
US09882004B2 Semiconductor device having asymmetrical source/drain
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an active fin protruding from the substrate, and an asymmetric diamond-shaped source/drain disposed on an upper surface of the active fin. The source/drain includes a first crystal growth portion and a second crystal growth portion sharing a plane with the first crystal growth portion and having a lower surface disposed at a lower level than a lower surface of the first crystal growth portion.
US09882003B1 Device and system of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices and/or systems of a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR). For example, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) may include a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), the MOSFET may include a gate; an N-type source region; a non-Lightly Doped Drain (LDD) N-type drain region; and a P-Well region extending between the N-type source region and the non-LDD N-type drain region, and extending between the non-LDD N-type drain region and a drain region of the gate.
US09881995B2 MOSFET having dual-gate cells with an integrated channel diode
A semiconductor device includes MOSFET cells having a drift region of a first conductivity type. A first and second active area trench are in the drift region. A split gate uses the active trenches as field plates or includes planar gates between the active trenches including a MOS gate electrode (MOS gate) and a diode gate electrode (diode gate). A body region of the second conductivity type in the drift region abuts the active trenches. A source of the first conductivity type in the body region includes a first source portion proximate to the MOS gate and a second source portion proximate to the diode gate. A vertical drift region uses the drift region below the body region to provide a drain. A connector shorts the diode gate to the second source portion to provide an integrated channel diode. The MOS gate is electrically isolated from the first source portion.
US09881979B2 Flexible display device and method for manufacturing the same
How a flat panel display is bent by external forces is controlled. A display panel 40 has display elements, formed corresponding to the arrangement of pixels, on a first principal surface of a flexible display panel substrate 46. The display panel substrate 46 has a linear groove 48 on at least part of a second principal surface of the display panel substrate 46. A resin is stacked on a support substrate having a linear ridge on at least part of the surface of the support substrate. The surface shape of the support substrate is transferred to the resin so that the groove 48 is molded. Thus, the display panel substrate 46 made of the resin is formed on the support substrate. After the display elements are formed on the display panel substrate 46, the support substrate is removed from the display panel substrate 46.
US09881976B2 Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel and display device
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel and a display device are provided. A pixel unit of the OLED display panel includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel and a third sub-pixel and further includes an anode layer, a cathode layer and an organic function layer. The organic function layer includes: a first emission layer (EML1) configured to cover at least two adjacent sub-pixels comprising the first sub-pixel; a carrier blocking layer (CBL) configured to cover the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel; a second emission layer (EML2) arranged at an area provided with the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel and configured to at least cover the second sub-pixel; and a third emission layer (EML3) configured to cover at least two adjacent sub-pixels comprising the third sub-pixel. The OLED display panel can improve the pixel density.
US09881973B2 Constructions comprising stacked memory arrays
Some embodiments include a construction having a first memory array deck and a second memory array deck over the first memory array deck. The second memory array deck differs from the first memory array deck in one or more operating characteristics, in pitch, and/or in one or more structural parameters; with the structural parameters including different materials and/or different thicknesses of materials. Some embodiments include a construction having a first series and a third series of access/sense lines extending along a first direction, and a second series of access/sense lines between the first and third series and extending along a second direction which crosses the first direction. First memory cells are between the first and second series of access/sense lines and arranged in a first memory array deck. Second memory cells are between the second and third series of access/sense lines and arranged in a second memory array deck.
US09881970B2 Programmable resistive devices using Finfet structures for selectors
A programmable resistive memory having a plurality of programmable resistive cells. At least one of the programmable resistive cell includes a programmable resistive element and at least one selector. The selector can be built in at least one fin structure and at least one active region divided by at least one MOS gate into a first active region and a second active region. The first active region can have a first type of dopant to provide a first terminal of the selector. The second active region can have a first or a second type of dopant to provide a second terminal of the selector. The MOS gate can provide a third terminal of the selector. The first terminal of the selector can be coupled to the first terminal of the programmable resistive element. The programmable resistive element can be programmed by conducting current flowing through the selector to thereby change the resistance state.
US09881966B2 Three-dimensional integrated multispectral imaging sensor
A three-dimensional multispectral imaging sensor and method for forming a three-dimensional multispectral imaging sensor are provided. The three-dimensional multispectral imaging sensor includes a monolithic structure having a plurality of layers. Each of the layers is formed from light detecting materials for detecting light of respective different non-overlapping wavelengths and having respective different bandgaps.
US09881965B2 Back-side image sensor
A color back-side illuminated image sensor including, on the side of the thin semiconductor layer opposite to the illuminated surface, periodic thickness unevennesses forming an optic network having characteristics which make it capable of reflecting a given wavelength chosen within the range of the wavelengths of an illuminating incident beam.
US09881963B1 Horizontal avalanche photodiode
An avalanche photodiode sensor includes a plurality of avalanche photodiodes disposed in a semiconductor material where individual avalanche photodiodes in the plurality of avalanche photodiodes have an internal electric field parallel with a first surface of the semiconductor material. The individual avalanche photodiodes in the plurality of avalanche photodiodes include a p-doped semiconductor region which extends into the semiconductor material, and an n-doped semiconductor region which extends into the semiconductor material. The internal electric field extends between the p-doped semiconductor region and the n-doped semiconductor region. Processing methods as examples are also proposed.
US09881957B2 Photoelectric conversion device, image pickup system and method of manufacturing photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device includes a first semiconductor substrate including a photoelectric conversion unit for generating a signal charge in accordance with an incident light, and a second semiconductor substrate including a signal processing unit for processing an electrical signal on the basis of the signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit. The signal processing unit is situated in an orthogonal projection area from the photoelectric conversion unit to the second semiconductor substrate. A multilayer film including a plurality of insulator layers is provided between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate. The thickness of the second semiconductor substrate is smaller than 500 micrometers. The thickness of the second semiconductor substrate is greater than the distance from the second semiconductor substrate and a light-receiving surface of the first semiconductor substrate.
US09881951B2 Image sensors with phase detection pixels
An image sensor may include an image pixel array with both image pixels to gather image data and phase detection pixels to gather phase information. The phase detection pixels may be arranged in pairs, with two adjacent pixels covered by a single microlens. The phase detection pixel pairs may be arranged in dashed lines, with image pixels interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. There may be only one image pixel interposed between each phase detection pixel pair. The phase detection pixels may all include color filter elements of the same color. The phase detection pixels may all include green color filter elements. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may include color filter elements that match the surrounding color pattern. The image pixels in the interrupted lines may all include color filter elements of the same color.
US09881950B2 Solid-state image sensor and camera with light-shielding portions and amplification transistors
The solid-state image sensor includes image sensing pixels, first and second focus detection pixels configured to respectively detect lights passing through different regions of a pupil of an image sensing lens. The sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including photoelectric converters of the image sensing pixels, a photoelectric converter and a first well contact region of the first focus detection pixel, and a photoelectric converter and a second well contact region of the second focus detection pixel, a first contact plug electrically connected to the first well contact region, and a second contact plug electrically connected to the second well contact region. The relative position of the first well contact region in the first focus detection pixel differs from a relative position of the second well contact region in the second focus detection pixel.
US09881947B2 Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, display device
An array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, comprising a base substrate, and a gate, a gate insulating layer, an active layer and a source/drain arranged on the base substrate, the array substrate further comprising an antenna for receiving and/or transmitting wireless signals, the antenna being arranged on the base substrate. By arranging the antenna on the base substrate of the array substrate, the antenna is integrated directly in the display panel. Thus, not only the area of the PCB circuit board in the display device can be reduced, but also the spare area in the array substrate can be utilized sufficiently, thereby improving the integration level of the display device and reducing the total volume of the display device.
US09881946B2 Low temperature poly-silicon TFT substrate structure and manufacture method thereof
The present invention provides a Low Temperature Poly-silicon TFT substrate structure and a manufacture method thereof. By providing the buffer layers in the drive TFT area and the display TFT area with different thicknesses, of which the thickness of the buffer layer in the drive TFT area is larger, and the thickness of the buffer layer in the display TFT area is smaller, different temperature grades are formed in the crystallization process of the polysilicon to achieve the control to the grain diameters of the crystals. The polysilicon layer with larger lattice dimension is formed in the drive TFT area in the crystallization process to raise the electron mobility. The fractured crystals of polysilicon layer in the display TFT area can be obtained in the crystallization process for ensuring the uniformity of the grain boundary and raising the uniformity of the current. Accordingly, the electrical property demands for different TFTs can be satisfied to raise the light uniformity of the OLED.
US09881941B2 Array substrate and method for manufacturing the same, and display device
The invention provides a method for manufacturing an array substrate which comprises a gate driving circuit including a plurality of thin film transistors and connection gate lines each connected between gates of two adjacent thin film transistors, the method comprises steps of: step S1, forming a pattern including the gates of the thin film transistors and the connection gate lines on a base; step S2, forming a gate insulation layer above the pattern including the gates of the thin film transistors and the connection gate lines; step S3, forming a pattern including a gate line protecting layer on the gate insulation layer, wherein the gate line protecting layer is above the connection gate lines; and step S4, forming a pattern including the sources and drains of the thin film transistors. The invention also provides an array substrate which is manufactured by above method, and a display device comprising the same.
US09881939B2 Metal oxide film and method for forming metal oxide film
A metal oxide film including a crystal part and having highly stable physical properties is provided. The size of the crystal part is less than or equal to 10 nm, which allows the observation of circumferentially arranged spots in a nanobeam electron diffraction pattern of the cross section of the metal oxide film when the measurement area is greater than or equal to 5 nmφ and less than or equal to 10 nmφ.
US09881935B2 Electronic device and method for fabricating the same
Provided is an electronic device including a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory may include: a substrate; and a stepped structure including first interlayer dielectric layers and conductive layers which are alternately stacked over the substrate, wherein ends of the conductive layers are exposed along the profile of the stepped structure, and the stepped structure further includes a barrier layer formed on a sidewall of the conductive layer.
US09881934B2 Vertical non-volatile memory device, method of fabricating the same device, and electric-electronic system having the same device
Provided is a vertical non-volatile memory device having a metal source line. The vertical non-volatile memory device includes cell string units that are formed on first portions of a semiconductor substrate and are vertically arranged with respect to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, impurity regions formed on second portions of the semiconductor substrate between the cell string units, conductive lines formed on the impurity regions, and spacers that are formed on the sidewalls of the cell string units and insulate the conductive lines from the cells string units.
US09881932B2 Methods of adjusting flatband voltage of a memory device
Methods for adjusting a flatband voltage of a memory device, including applying a voltage to a control gate of the memory device such that charged species are moved to one of a plurality of different levels in a dielectric material in response to the voltage, wherein the plurality of different levels is greater than two.
US09881931B2 Memory device and manufacturing method thereof
There are provided a memory device and a manufacturing method thereof. A method of manufacturing a memory device may include forming, on a substrate, a conductive layer, a sacrificial layer, and a stack structure. The method may include forming a plurality of vertical holes by etching a portion of the stack structure. The method may include forming a memory layer and a channel layer along internal surfaces of the vertical holes. The method may include forming a slit trench exposing a portion of the sacrificial layer therethrough by etching a portion of the stack structure between the vertical holes. The method may include exposing a portion of the channel layer and the first conductive layer through a lower portion of the stack structure by removing portions of the sacrificial layer and the memory layer. The method may include forming another conductive layer along surfaces of the exposed portion of the channel layer and the first conductive layer. The method may include forming a slit insulating layer in the slit trench.
US09881928B2 Method for producing one-time-programmable memory cells and corresponding integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate that includes a semiconductor film located above a buried insulating layer. A first electrode of a silicide material overlies the semiconductor film. A sidewall insulating material is disposed along sidewalls of the first electrode. A dielectric layer is located between the first electrode and the semiconductor film. A second electrode includes a silicided zone of the semiconductor film, which is located alongside the sidewall insulating material and extends at least partially under the dielectric layer and the first electrode. The first electrode, the dielectric layer and the second electrode form a capacitor that is part of a circuit of the integrated circuit.
US09881927B2 CMOS-compatible polycide fuse structure and method of fabricating same
CMOS-compatible polycide fuse structures and methods of fabricating CMOS-compatible polycide fuse structures are described. In an example, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate. A polycide fuse structure is disposed above the substrate and includes silicon and a metal. A metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor structure is disposed above the substrate and includes a metal gate electrode.
US09881925B2 Mirror contact capacitor
A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a bonding layer in contact with a top surface of the substrate. At least one transistor contacts the bonding layer. The transistor includes at least one gate structure disposed on and in contact with a bottom surface of a semiconductor layer of the transistor. The semiconductor further includes a capacitor disposed adjacent to the transistor. The capacitor contacts the semiconductor layer of the transistor and extends down into the substrate. The method includes forming at least one transistor and then flipping the transistor. After the transistor has been flipped, the transistor is bonded to a new substrate. An initial substrate of the transistor is removed to expose a semiconductor layer. A capacitor is formed adjacent to the transistor and contacts with the semiconductor layer. A contact node is formed adjacent to the capacitor.
US09881923B1 Floating body transistors and memory arrays comprising floating body transistors
Some embodiments include a floating body transistor which has a gate structure configured as a bracket having two upwardly-projecting sidewalls joined to a base. A region between the upwardly-projecting sidewalls is an interior region of the bracket. The interior region of the bracket has an interior surface along an upper surface of the base, and along inward surfaces of the upwardly-projecting sidewalls. The sidewalls are a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls have first and second notches, respectively, which extend downwardly into the first and second sidewalls. The first and second notches are horizontally aligned with one another. Dielectric material lines the interior surface of the bracket. A semiconductor material body is within the interior region of the bracket and along the dielectric material. The semiconductor material body has a third notch which is horizontally aligned with the first and second notches.
US09881921B2 Fabricating a dual gate stack of a CMOS structure
A dual gate CMOS structure including a semiconductor substrate; a first channel structure including a first semiconductor material and a second channel structure including a second semiconductor material on the substrate. The first semiconductor material including SixGe1-x where x=0 to 1 and the second semiconductor material including a group III-V compound material. A first gate stack on the first channel structure includes: a first native oxide layer as an interface control layer, the first native oxide layer comprising an oxide of the first semiconductor material; a first high-k dielectric layer; a first metal gate layer. A second gate stack on the second channel structure includes a second high-k dielectric layer; a second metal gate layer. The interface between the second channel structure and the second high-k dielectric layer is free of any native oxides of the second semiconductor material.
US09881910B2 Apparatuses and methods for forming die stacks
Apparatuses and methods for forming die stacks are disclosed herein. An example method includes dispensing a temporary adhesive onto a substrate, placing a base die onto the temporary adhesive, curing the temporary adhesive, forming a die stack that includes the base die, activating a release layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the release layer is between the substrate and the temporary adhesive, removing the die stack from the substrate, and removing the temporary adhesive from the die stack.
US09881906B2 Semiconductor module
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor module includes: a substrate; a first interconnect layer provided on the substrate; a plurality of first semiconductor elements provided on the first interconnect layer, each of the first semiconductor elements having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, and the second electrode being electrically connected to the first interconnect layer; a plurality of first rectifying elements provided on the first interconnect layer, each of the first rectifying elements having a fourth electrode and a fifth electrode, and the fifth electrode being electrically connected to the first interconnect layer; and a second interconnect layer provided on the substrate, and the second interconnect layer being electrically connected to the first electrode and the fourth electrode. The second interconnect layer includes a corrugated surface or the first interconnect layer includes a corrugated surface.
US09881903B2 Package-on-package structure with epoxy flux residue
A structure includes a first package and a second package. The second package is coupled to the first package by one or more connectors. Epoxy flux residue is disposed around the connectors and in contact with the connectors. A method includes providing a first package having first connector pads and providing a second package having corresponding second connector pads. Solder paste is printed on each of the first connector pads. Epoxy flux is printed on each of the solder paste. The first and second connector pads are aligned and the packages are pressed together. The solder paste is reflowed to connect the first connector pads to the second connector pads while leaving an epoxy flux residue around each of the connections.
US09881900B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device can be manufactured with a reduced cost. The semiconductor device (1D) includes, a substrate (100D), which includes a main surface (101D) and a recess (108D) depressed from the main surface (101D), and includes a semiconductor material; a wiring layer (200D) in which at least a portion thereof is formed on the substrate (100D); one or more first elements (370D) accommodated in the recess (108D); a sealing resin (400D) covering at least a portion of the one or more first elements (370D) and filled in the recess (108D); and a plurality of columnar conductive portions (230D) penetrating through the sealing resin (400D) in the depth direction of the recess (108D), and respectively connected with the portion of the wiring layer (200D) that is formed at the recess (108D).
US09881899B2 Organic light-emitting device and organic display device
An organic light-emitting device having light-emitting portions arranged in two directions along a substrate main surface. Each light-emitting portion, in a first direction intersecting the substrate main surface, includes, disposed via a first insulating layer, a first electrode, an organic laminate, and a second electrode. In a second direction being one of the two directions along the substrate main surface, a non-light-emitting portion is present between adjacent light-emitting portions. The first electrodes of the adjacent light-emitting portions extend into the non-light-emitting portion. A second insulating layer is present between portions of the first electrodes in the non-light-emitting portion, and covers the portions of the first electrodes in the non-light-emitting portion. A height of the second insulating layer from the substrate main surface is lower than a height, from the substrate main surface, of upper surfaces of portions of the first electrodes in the light-emitting portions.
US09881896B2 Advanced chip to wafer stacking
A method and structure for forming a 3D chip stack using a vacuum chuck. The method may include: forming a first bonding layer on a first wafer and first chips, where the first chips are on a first substrate; forming a second bonding layer on a second wafer and second chips, where the second chips are on a second substrate; separating the second chips from the second wafer, wherein a portion of the second bonding layer remains on the second chips; moving the separated second chips to a cleaning chamber using a vacuum chuck; cleaning the separated second chips in the cleaning chamber; and bonding the second bonding layer on the separated second chips to the first bonding layer on the first chips.
US09881894B2 Thin 3D fan-out embedded wafer level package (EWLB) for application processor and memory integration
A semiconductor device has a plurality of first semiconductor die with an encapsulant deposited over a first surface of the first semiconductor die and around the first semiconductor die. An insulating layer is formed over the encapsulant and over a second surface of the first semiconductor die opposite the first surface. The insulating layer includes openings over the first semiconductor die. A first conductive layer is formed over the first semiconductor die within the openings. A second conductive layer is formed over the first conductive layer to form vertical conductive vias. A second semiconductor die is disposed over the first semiconductor die and electrically connected to the first conductive layer. A bump is formed over the second conductive layer outside a footprint of the first semiconductor die. The second semiconductor die is disposed over an active surface or a back surface of the first semiconductor die.
US09881892B2 Integrated circuit device
An integrated circuit device including a semiconductor substrate, a first bonding pad structure, a second bonding pad structure, a third bonding pad structure, a first internal bonding wire, and a second internal bonding wire is provided. The first bonding pad structure is disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate and exposed outside of the semiconductor substrate. The second bonding pad structure is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate and exposed outside of the semiconductor substrate. The third bonding pad structure is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate and exposed outside of the semiconductor substrate. The first bonding pad structure is electrically coupled to the third bonding pad structure via the first internal bonding wire. The third bonding pad structure is electrically coupled to the second bonding pad structure via the second internal bonding wire.
US09881890B2 Semiconductor module, bonding jig, and manufacturing method of semiconductor module
A semiconductor module includes an image pickup device on which a bump is disposed, and a flexible wiring board having a flexible resin as a base and including a wire having a bonding electrode at a distal end portion solder-bonded to the bump, in which the bonding electrode is pressed against the bump by bending/deformation of the wiring board caused by application of heat to a solder bonding temperature.
US09881888B2 Manufacturing method of interconnect structure
A conductive interconnect structure includes a contact pad; a conductive body connected to the contact pad at a first end; and a conductive layer positioned on a second end of the conductive body. The conductive body has a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a surface of the contact pad. The conductive body has an average grain size (a) on a cross sectional plane (Plane A) whose normal is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conductive body. The conductive layer has an average grain size (b) on Plane A. The conductive body and the conductive layer are composed of same material, and the average grain size (a) is greater than the average grain size (b).
US09881883B2 Electronic device with microfilm antenna and related methods
An electronic device may include a first substrate, an electrically conductive feed line on the first substrate, an insulating layer on the first substrate and the electrically conductive feed line, a second substrate on the insulating layer, and an antenna on the second substrate and having nanofilm layers stacked on the second substrate. The antenna is coupled to the feed line through an aperture.
US09881882B2 Semiconductor package with three-dimensional antenna
A semiconductor package is provided. The semiconductor package includes a package substrate having a first region and a second region defined between an edge of the package substrate and an edge of the first region. A semiconductor die is disposed on the package substrate in the first region. A three-dimensional (3D) antenna is disposed on the package substrate in the second region. The 3D antenna includes a planar structure portion and a bridge or wall structure portion. A molding compound encapsulates the semiconductor die and at least a portion of the 3D antenna. A conductive shielding element is inside the molding compound or partially covers the molding compound. A semiconductor package assembly having the semiconductor package is also provided.
US09881878B2 Semiconductor device and method of producing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate includes an element region including an element, a moisture-resistant frame surrounding the element region, an insulating layer provided between the moisture-resistant frame and an outer peripheral edge of the semiconductor device and on the semiconductor substrate, a first metal line extending along the outer peripheral edge and provided in the insulating layer, and a groove provided in the insulating layer.
US09881877B2 Electronic circuit package using composite magnetic sealing material
Disclosed herein is an electronic circuit package includes a substrate, an electronic component mounted on a surface of the substrate, and a magnetic mold resin covering the surface of the substrate so as to embed therein the electronic component. The magnetic mold resin includes a resin material and a filler blended in the resin material in a blended ratio of 30 vol. % or more to 85 vol. % or less. The filler includes a magnetic filler containing Fe and 32 wt. % or more and 39 wt. % or less of a metal material contained mainly of Ni, thereby a thermal expansion coefficient of the magnetic mold resin is 15 ppm/° C. or less.
US09881875B2 Electronic module and method of making the same
A method of manufacturing electronic module is provided. The method can perform selective partial molding by forming the tapes in a predetermined area on the circuit substrate, setting electronic components out the predetermined area on the circuit substrate, forming the molding member encapsulating the whole circuit substrate and removing the tapes along of the molding member thereon. Following, forming an EMI shielding layer on the molding member and setting optoelectronics in the predetermined area on the circuit substrate could protect the electronic components from electromagnetic disturbance and avoid the optoelectronics being encapsulated.
US09881874B2 Forming method of superposition checking mark, manufacturing method of a semiconductor device and semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a forming method of superposition checking marks includes forming a first superposition checking mark to have a first step with respect to an arrangement surface for the first superposition checking mark, forming an opaque film having a second step resulting from the first step on the arrangement surface, and forming on the opaque film a second superposition checking mark provided with a transparent film allowing observation of the second step.
US09881872B2 Method for fabricating a local interconnect in a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first transistor having a first gate, a first source and a first drain, a second transistor having a second gate, a second source and a second drain, an isolation region separating the first transistor from the second transistor, and a local interconnect connecting at least one of the first source and the first drain to at least the second source and the second drain. The local interconnect is in contact with a surface of the at least one of the first source and the first drain, a surface of the at least the second source and the second drain and a surface of a part of the isolation region.
US09881869B2 Middle of the line integrated efuse in trench EPI structure
A fuse includes a semiconductor layer having a dielectric material formed thereon. An epitaxially grown material is formed in a trench within the dielectric material. The epitaxially grown material includes a peak region. A fuse metal is formed over the peak region and extends along sidewalls of the trench and over the dielectric material outside the trench. Contacts are formed outside the trench connecting to fuse metal over the dielectric material.
US09881862B1 Top side cooling for GaN power device
A packaged semiconductor includes an electrically insulating encapsulant having opposite facing first and second planar sides. A thermally conductive substrate is partially embedded in the encapsulant such that an outer side of the substrate is exposed at the first side of the encapsulant and an inner side of the substrate is contained within the encapsulant. A GaN based power semiconductor device is completely embedded in the encapsulant and includes: a main side having electrically conductive device terminals, and a rear side that faces away from the main side and is mounted on the inner side the substrate. A plurality of electrically conductive leads is partially embedded in the encapsulant and electrically connected to the device terminals. Vertical portions of the leads extend away from the substrate towards the second side of the encapsulant.
US09881859B2 Substrate block for PoP package
A substrate block is provided that has an increased width. The substrate block comprises two substrate bars, and the substrate bars each comprise a substrate and a plurality of filled vias through the substrate. The substrate block may be used to manufacture package substrates, and these package substrate may be incorporated into a PoP structure. The package substrate includes a carrier having a plurality of vertical interconnections and a bar coupled to the vertical interconnections.
US09881858B2 Solder bond site including an opening with discontinuous profile
Apparatuses and methods for formation of a bond site including an opening with a discontinuous profile are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may at least include a substrate, a contact on the substrate, and a mask layer formed on the substrate and at least a portion of the contact. The mask layer may also include an opening formed therein, with the opening having a discontinuous profile from a top surface of the mask layer to the contact.
US09881857B2 Pad design for reliability enhancement in packages
A package includes a corner, a device die having a front side and a backside, and a molding material molding the device die therein. A plurality of redistribution lines is on the backside of the device die. The plurality of redistribution lines includes a plurality of metal pads. A polymer layer contacts the plurality of metal pads. A plurality of openings is formed in the polymer layer, with the plurality of metal pads aligned to and exposed to the plurality of openings. The plurality of openings includes a corner opening that is elongated and an additional opening farther away from the corner than the corner opening. The additional opening is non-elongated.
US09881856B1 Molded intelligent power module
An intelligent power module (IPM) has a first, second, third and fourth die paddles, a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth transistors, a tie bar, a low voltage IC, a high voltage IC, a first, second and third boost diodes, a plurality of leads and a molding encapsulation. The first transistor is attached to the first die paddle. The second transistor is attached to the second die paddle. The third transistor is attached to the third die paddle. The fourth, fifth and sixth transistor s are attached to the fourth die paddle. The low and high voltage ICs are attached to the tie bar. The molding encapsulation encloses the first, second, third and fourth die paddles, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth transistors, the tie bar, the low and high voltage ICs, and the first, second and third boost diodes. The IPM has a reduced top surface area and a reduced number of leads compared to a conventional IPM.
US09881853B2 Semiconductor package having a source-down configured transistor die and a drain-down configured transistor die
A semiconductor package includes a substrate, a first transistor die secured to the substrate and a second transistor die secured to the substrate. The first transistor die has a source terminal at a bottom side of the first transistor die which faces the substrate and a drain terminal and a gate terminal at a top side of the first transistor die which faces away from the substrate. The second transistor die has a drain terminal at a bottom side of the second transistor die which faces the substrate and a source terminal and a gate terminal at a top side of the second transistor die which faces away from the substrate. The package also includes a common electrical connection between the drain terminal of the first transistor die and the source terminal of the second transistor die.
US09881848B2 Thermal interface material on package
A packaged assembly is disclosed, including thermal interface material dispensed on an organic package and methods of manufacturing. The method includes dispensing a thermal interface material (TIM) on an electronic assembly. The method further includes removing volatile species of the TIM, prior to lid placement on the electronic assembly. The method further includes placing the lid on the TIM, over the electronic assembly. The method further includes pressing the lid onto the electronic assembly.
US09881844B2 Integrated circuits with copper hillock-detecting structures and methods for detecting copper hillocks using the same
An integrated circuit includes a copper hillock-detecting structure. The copper hillock-detecting structure includes a copper metallization layer and an intermediate plate structure spaced apart from adjacent to the copper metallization layer. The intermediate plate structure includes a conducting material plate. The intermediate plate structure further includes a plurality of conductive vias that are electrically and physically connected with the conducting material plate. The copper hillock-detecting structure further includes a sensing plate adjacent to the intermediate plate and electrically and physically connected with the plurality of vias such that the vias are disposed between the intermediate plate and the sensing plate.
US09881843B1 Integrated circuit including NCEM-Enabled, tip-to-tip gap-configured fill cells, with NCEM pads formed from at least three conductive stripes positioned between adjacent gates
An integrated circuit, in the form of a wafer, die, or chip, includes multiple standard cell-compatible fill cells, configured to enable non-contact electrical measurements. Such fill cells include mesh pads that contain at least three conductive stripes disposed between adjacent gate stripes. Such fill cells further include geometry to enable non-contact evaluation of tip-to-tip shorts and/or leakages.
US09881840B2 Method of fabricating gate electrode using a treated hard mask
A hard mask layer with a limited thickness is formed over a gate electrode layer. A treatment is provided on the hard mask layer to transform the hard mask layer to be more resistant to wet etching solution. A patterning is provided on the treated hard mask layer and the gate electrode to from a gate structure.
US09881839B1 Forming a hybrid channel nanosheet semiconductor structure
A method for fabricating a nanosheet semiconductor structure includes forming a first nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) structure having a first inner spacer comprised of a first material and a second nanosheet FET structure having second inner spacer comprised of a second material. The first material is different than the second material.
US09881838B2 Semiconductor devices having multiple gate structures and methods of manufacturing such devices
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, a plurality of first gate structures in the first region, the first gate structures being spaced apart from each other by a first distance, a plurality of second gate structures in the second region, the second gate structures being spaced apart from each other by a second distance, a first spacer on sidewalls of the first gate structures, a dielectric layer on the first spacer, a second spacer on sidewalls of the second gate structures, and a third spacer on the second spacer.
US09881836B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices comprises: applying a dual pulse power to the semiconductor device during metal electroplating a part of the semiconductor device and applying ultrasonic energy to said semiconductor device during the metal electroplating.
US09881831B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device including fin shaped structure
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, the semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a fin shaped structure and a shallow trench isolation. The fin shaped structure is disposed on the silicon substrate and includes a silicon germanium (SiGe) layer extending from bottom to top in the fin shaped structure. The shallow trench isolation covers a bottom portion of the fin shaped structure.
US09881830B2 Electrically insulated fin structure(s) with alternative channel materials and fabrication methods
Semiconductor structures and fabrication methods are provided which includes, for instance, fabricating a semiconductor fin structure by: providing a fin structure extending above a substrate, the fin structure including a first fin portion, a second fin portion disposed over the first fin portion, and an interface between the first and the second fin portions, where the first fin portion and the second fin portion are lattice mismatched within the fin structure; and modifying, in part, the fin structure to obtain a modified fin structure, the modifying including selectively oxidizing the interface to form an isolation region within the modified fin structure, where the isolation region electrically insulates the first fin portion from the second fin portion, while maintaining structural stability of the modified fin structure.
US09881826B2 Buffer station with single exit-flow direction
A buffer for use in semiconductor processing tools is disclosed. The buffer may be used to temporarily store wafers after processing operations are performed on those wafers. The buffer may include two side walls and a back wall interposed between the side walls. The side walls and the back wall may generally define an area within which the wafers may be stored in a stacked arrangement. Wafer support fins extending from the side walls and the back wall may extend into a wafer support region that overlaps with the edges of the wafers. Purge gas may be introduced in between each pair of wafers via purge gas ports located in one of the walls.
US09881824B2 Transfer apparatus and control method thereof
A transfer apparatus that includes a moving unit capable of moving with respect to a base and transferring an article with the moving unit protruding from the base. The transfer apparatus includes a movement regulation unit capable of switching between a first state in which the moving unit is restricted in a reference position and a second state in which the moving unit is allowed to move from the reference position to one of a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction and in which movement of the moving unit in the other direction is restricted.
US09881823B2 Automated material handling system for semiconductor manufacturing based on a combination of vertical carousels and overhead hoists
A highly efficient Automated Material Handling System (AMHS) that allows an overhead hoist transport vehicle to load and unload Work-In-Process (WIP) parts directly to/from one or more WIP storage units included in the system. The overhead hoist transport subsystem includes an overhead hoist transport vehicle traveling along a suspended track defining a predetermined route.
US09881822B2 Multi-stepped boat assembly for receiving semiconductor packages
A multi-stepped boat assembly includes a stack boat having at least one stack hole configured to receive a first semiconductor package and a second semiconductor package vertically stacked on the first semiconductor package in the stack hole. A guide boat has at least one guide hole vertically aligned with the at least one stack hole. The guide boat is removably attachable to the stack boat. An inner sidewall of the stack hole includes a first step configured to receive the first semiconductor package, and a second step provided on the first step and configured to receive the second semiconductor package. The guide hole extends toward the stack hole to guide movement of the first semiconductor package to the first step.
US09881821B2 Control wafer making device and method for measuring and monitoring control wafer
A control wafer making device, a method of measuring an epitaxy thickness in a control wafer, and a method for monitoring a control wafer are provided. In various embodiments, the control wafer making device includes a wafer substrate removing element and an epitaxy forming element. In various embodiments, a control wafer includes a substrate, a recess, a blocking layer, and an epitaxy. The substrate has a surface, and the recess is in the surface of the substrate. The blocking layer is over the surface of the substrate other than the recess. The epitaxy is in the recess. In various embodiments, the thickness of the epitaxy of the control wafer is measured by a polarized light.
US09881816B2 Cleaning composition and method for semiconductor device fabrication
A method of cleaning a substrate such as semiconductor substrate for IC fabrication is described that includes cleaning the semiconductor substrate with a mixture of ozone and one of an acid and a base. Exemplary acids and bases include HCl, HF, and NH4OH. The cleaning mixture may further include de-ionized water. In an embodiment, the mixture is sprayed onto a heated substrate surface.
US09881810B2 Structures, methods and applications for electrical pulse anneal processes
Structures and methods are provided for nanosecond electrical pulse anneal processes. The method of forming an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure includes forming an N+ diffusion on a substrate and a P+ diffusion on the substrate. The P+ diffusion is in electrical contact with the N+ diffusion. The method further includes forming a device between the N+ diffusion and the P+ diffusion. A method of annealing a structure or material includes applying an electrical pulse across an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure for a plurality of nanoseconds.
US09881807B2 Method for atomic layer etching
A method of etching a layer on a substrate includes disposing a substrate in a plasma processing system configured to facilitate an etching process, performing an atomic layer etching process cycle to etch a monolayer of an exposed surface of the substrate, and repeating the atomic layer etching process cycle until a target depth is reached. Each process cycle etches the monolayer from the exposed surface. The atomic layer etching process cycle sequentially includes forming an adsorption monolayer comprising an etchant on an exposed surface of the substrate by introducing the etchant while concurrently coupling electromagnetic power to the plasma processing system at a power level targeted to achieve an etchant radical flux at the substrate greater than a total ion flux at the substrate, which power level is less than or equal to 50 W, purging the plasma processing system to remove any excess etchant, desorbing the adsorption monolayer by exposing the adsorption monolayer to gas ions to activate a reaction of the etchant, and purging the plasma processing system again.
US09881796B2 Method for manufacturing molybdenum oxide-containing thin film
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a molybdenum oxide-containing thin film, involving vaporizing a starting material for forming a thin film containing a compound represented by the following general formula (I) to give vapor containing a molybdenum amide compound, introducing the obtained vapor onto a substrate, and further introducing an oxidizing gas to cause decomposition and/or a chemical reaction to form a thin film on the substrate. In the formula, R1 and R2 each represents a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents a t-butyl group or a t-amyl group, y represents 0 or 2, x is 4 when y is 0, or x is 2 when y is 2, wherein R1 and R2 that are plurally present may be the same or different.
US09881793B2 Neutral hard mask and its application to graphoepitaxy-based directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning
A material stack is formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate. The top layer of the material stack comprises at least an organic planarization layer. A neutral hard mask layer is formed on the top of the organic planarization layer. The neutral hard mask layer is neutral to the block copolymers used for direct self-assembly. A plurality of template etch stacks are then formed on top of the neutral hard mask layer. After formation of the template etch stacks, neutrality recovery is performed on the neutral hard mask layer and the top portions of the template etch stacks, the vertical sidewalls of the template etch stacks being substantially unaffected by the neutrality recovery. A template for DSA is thus obtained.
US09881792B2 Processes for shaping nanomaterials
Processes for shaping one- and two-dimensional nanomaterials, and thereby inducing local strains therein preferably to control one or more of their material properties. The processes include providing a substrate comprising a three-dimensional surface feature thereon, locating a nanomaterial on the substrate and over the surface feature, and directing a laser beam toward the nanomaterial such that the nanomaterial experiences laser shock pressure sufficient to deform the nanomaterial to conform at least partially to the shape of the surface feature and adhere to the surface feature either directly or via an intermediate layer therebetween.
US09881785B2 Method of preventing charge accumulation in manufacture of semiconductor device
A method of preventing a charge accumulation in the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: forming a material layer on a substrate; patterning (or processing) the material layer; and forming a graphene layer before patterning the material layer, wherein the graphene layer is formed on a surface of the material layer or on a surface of the substrate under the material layer. The substrate may be an insulation substrate. In addition, the substrate may have a stacked structure including a plurality of layers.
US09881782B2 Method for separating ions according to a physicochemical property
A method of separating ions according to a physicochemical property is disclosed. The method comprises causing ions to perform a plurality of cycles along or around an ion guiding path such that the ions separate according to said physicochemical property. The ions are ejected from an ion exit region by applying a force to the ions such that only having a physicochemical property value that is either above or below a threshold value are ejected as they pass through the exit region, but ions having a physicochemical property value either below or above said threshold value, respectively, remain within the ion guiding path. The force applied to the ions within the exit region is varied with time such that the physicochemical property value of the ions ejected from the ion guiding region varies with time.
US09881780B2 Multi-reflecting mass spectrometer with high throughput
Method and embodiments are provided for tandem mass spectrometer designed for extremely large charge throughput up to 1E+10 ion/sec. In one operation mode, the initial ion flow with wide m/z range is time separated in a trap array. The array ejects ions with a narrower momentarily m/z range. Ion flow is collected and confined in a wide bore ion channel at a limited time spread. The ion flow with narrow m/z range is then analyzed in a multi-reflecting TOF at frequent and time-encoded operation of the orthogonal accelerator, thus forming multiple non overlapping spectral segments. In another mode, time separated ions are subjected to fragmentation for comprehensive, all-mass MS-MS analysis. The momentarily ion flow at MR-TOF entrance is characterized by lower spectral population which allows efficient decoding of overlapping spectra. Those modes are combined with conventional spectrometer operation to improve the dynamic range. To provide practical solution, there are proposed multiple novel components comprising trap arrays, wide bore confining channels, resistive multipole, so as long life TOF detector.
US09881776B2 Monitoring liquid chromatography elution to determine when to perform a lockmass calibration
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed that comprises acquiring mass spectral data during a single experimental run or acquisition of a mass spectrometer and determining a first time T during the single experimental run or acquisition for calibrating the mass spectrometer. The step of determining the first time T further comprises determining a time when the mass spectral data being acquired during the single experimental run or acquisition is equal to or below a threshold. The mass spectrometer is then calibrated by introducing calibrant or lockmass ions at the first time T.
US09881775B2 Waveform for improved energy control of sputtered species
This disclosure describes systems and methods for regulating the density and kinetic energy of ions in a sputtering deposition chamber. A pulsed DC waveform with a modulated RF signal is generated and applied to the sputtering chamber. Upon termination of a cycle of the pulsed DC waveform, a reverse voltage spike is generated. This reverse voltage spike reverses the polarity of the cathode and anode of the sputtering chamber for some period of time. A reverse voltage limiting circuit is provided so as to limit the reverse voltage spike to a selected reverse voltage threshold. A controller may be employed to control the timing and duration of the application of the DC waveform, the timing and duration of the RF waveform, and the engagement of the reverse limiting circuit.
US09881753B2 Rotary battery switch
A battery switch including a housing having a removable side panel, a base, and two terminals located within the housing. Each terminal has a fixed end and a free end. Each terminal extends upwardly from the base. Each free end is positioned in a space between the base and the housing. Wherein the free ends of each of the terminals are accessible by removing the side panel.
US09881752B2 Rotary-type switch
A rotary-type switch for controlling vehicle lighting is provided. The rotary-type switch may include a housing portion that includes multiple positions that respectively correspond to multiple operation modes and a rotary dial being configured to rotate relative to the housing portion to select an operation mode of the rotary-type switch based on a position identified by a selection indicator. A controller is configured to control and operation mode of the rotary-type switch based on a vehicular power state and when the vehicular power state is OFF, regardless of the position of the selection indicator corresponding to the selected operation mode on either the housing portion or the rotary dial, the controller controls the rotary-type switch to automatically set the operation mode to that defined by an initial-operation position corresponding to a predetermined initial-operation mode.
US09881751B2 Input apparatus and electronic apparatus
A key structure includes a key, a key sheet and a supporting portion. The key displaces in a direction. The key sheet is disposed at a side of the key toward which the key displaces and comprises a sheet base portion and a contacting portion that displaces in the displacing direction of the key in accordance with a displacement of the key. The supporting portion is disposed between the key and the sheet base portion and supports one end portion of the key by contacting a member disposed opposite to the supporting portion while the other end portion of the key displaces in the displacing direction of the key.
US09881750B2 Multicolor illuminated keyboard
A multicolor illumination keyboard includes a light-emitting element, a color filter and plural keys. The plural keys are located above the light-emitting element. The color filter is arranged between the plural keys and the light-emitting element. After a source light emitted by the light-emitting element passes through the color filter, plural color lights are generated. The plural color lights are outputted from the plural keys. Consequently, the plural keys are illuminated in a multicolor manner.
US09881748B2 Key structure and keyboard using the same
A key structure includes a base, a keycap, and a connecting rod. The base includes a structural plate and a connecting plate. The connecting plate is configured on the structural plate. The keycap is configured on the structural plate and includes a plate body and a first hook. The connecting rod is configured under the structural plate and extending towards an extension direction. The connecting rod includes at least a second hook. The connecting rod moves along the extension direction relative to the base to drive the second hook to be fastened to or detached from the first hook. When the first hook is detached from the second hook, the keycap moves relative to the connecting rod to expose the space between the keycap and the base, and then the key structure is easily repaired or cleaned.
US09881745B2 Dye sensitized solar cell
Disclosed is a dye-sensitized solar cell which includes a working electrode and a counter electrode facing each other with an electrolyte layer therebetween, the working electrode having a dye-supporting metal oxide electrode composed of a metal oxide layer having a dye supported thereon. The dye contains a cyanine dye, and the electrolyte of the electrolyte layer contains a cobalt-based electrolyte. It is preferred to use at least one cyanine dye represented by general formula (1) as the cyanine dye. Anq− represents a q-valent anion, wherein q represents 1 or 2, and p represents a coefficient for maintaining overall charge neutrality.
US09881741B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic base body and is structured such that fluorine is present between the ceramic base body and a sintered metal layer or between a sintered metal layer and a conductive resin layer.
US09881740B2 Monolithic ceramic capacitor with varying conductor density
A monolithic ceramic capacitor includes an element body having therein a multilayer portion formed of a plurality of conductor layers and a plurality of ceramic dielectric layers alternately stacked in a thickness direction; and a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode provided on an outer portion of the element body. The element body is divided in the thickness direction into a thickness-direction first outer layer portion, a thickness-direction second outer layer portion, and a thickness-direction inner layer portion located between the thickness-direction first outer layer portion and the thickness-direction second outer layer portion and including the multilayer portion. A first conductor layer and a second conductor layer, which are outermost layers among the plurality of conductor layers, have lower conductor densities than any of conductor densities of the other conductor layers.
US09881738B2 Capacitor structures with embedded electrodes and fabrication methods thereof
Capacitor structures having first electrodes at least partially embedded within a second electrode, and fabrication methods are presented. The methods include, for instance: providing the first electrodes at least partially within an insulator layer, the first electrodes comprising exposed portions; covering exposed portions of the first electrodes with a dielectric material; and forming the second electrode at least partially around the dielectric covered portions of the first electrodes, the second electrode being physically separated from the first electrodes by the dielectric material. In one embodiment, a method further includes exposing further portions of the first electrodes; and providing a contact structure in electrical contact with the further exposed portions of the first electrodes. In another embodiment, some of the first electrodes are aligned substantially parallel to a first direction and other of the first electrodes are aligned substantially parallel to a second direction, the first and second directions being different directions.
US09881734B2 Electromechanical actuation and/or generation system including an electrical insulation between the electrical source and the load
An actuator or generator device includes an AC rotary electric machine having an electrical connection for transferring electrical energy to the terminals of the stator of the machine, the device including a transformer.
US09881732B2 Dielectric materials for power transfer system
A contactless power transfer system is proposed. The power transfer system comprises a field-focusing element comprising a dielectric material. The dielectric material includes an oxide material including (Mg1-xSrx)yTiO(2+y), wherein x can vary between the value of zero and 1 such that 0≦x≦1, and y can be 0, 1, or 2. A power transfer system further including a first coil coupled to a power source and a second coil coupled to a load is disclosed. In this system, the field-focusing element including the dielectric material is disposed between the first coil and the second coil.
US09881731B2 Integrated tunable inductors
An integrated inductor can be tunable via a control current which alters the magnetic flux density in a permeable magnetic material. The resulting inductor can be adjusted in-circuit, and may be suitable for applications such as dc-dc converters, RF circuits, or filters requiring operation at high frequencies and across wide bandwidths.
US09881724B2 Reactor
A reactor 2 disclosed by the present specification is equipped with two coils 3 that are arranged parallel to each other, a resin cover 41 that adheres to the two coils to cover the coils, and a column member 13. The resin cover 41 exposes lateral faces of the coils on such a side as to be in contact with a common tangential plane KL. The column member 13 is arranged parallel to the coils 3 in a space that is surrounded by the common tangential plane KL and the lateral faces of the respective coils 3. The column member 13 is exposed on a side thereof that is opposed to the common tangential plane KL, and is in contact with the respective coils 3 on the other side thereof. Furthermore, the column member 13 has a groove 13a that has an opening on the other side of the common tangential plane KL and extends along coil axes. The groove has a width that is narrow at the opening and widens toward a bottom of the groove. An interior of the groove is filled with resin of the resin cover 41.
US09881722B2 Composite magnetic body and method for manufacturing same
A composite magnetic body includes metal magnetic powder formed of metal magnetic particles and an insulator impregnated into at least a part of voids among the metal magnetic particles. On a cumulative curve of widths of the voids among the metal magnetic particles, a void width at which a cumulative distribution is 50% is equal to or smaller than 3 μm, and a void width at which the cumulative distribution is 95% is equal to or greater than 4 μm.
US09881721B2 Soft magnetic metal powder and soft magnetic metal powder core using the same
The present invention relates to a soft magnetic metal powder having iron as the main component and containing boron, wherein, the content of iron inside the soft magnetic metal powder is 98 mass % or more, the content of boron in the particle of the soft magnetic metal powder is 10 to 150 ppm, and the metal particle has a film of boron nitride on the surface. The present invention also relates to a soft magnetic metal powder core prepared by using the soft magnetic metal powder.
US09881716B2 Composite cable and composite harness
A composite cable includes a first twisted-pair wire formed by twisting a pair of first electric wires, a second twisted-pair wire formed by twisting a pair of second electric wires, a pair of third electric wires arranged between the first and second twisted-pair wires in a circumferential direction, each third electric wire having a larger outer diameter than the first and second electric wires, and a tape member spirally wound around an assembled article that is formed by twisting the first twisted-pair wire, the second twisted-pair wire and the pair of third electric wires together. The two twisted-pair wires have the same twist direction, the twist direction of the two twisted-pair wires is different from a twist direction of the assembled article, and the twist direction of the assembled article is different from a winding direction of the tape member.
US09881715B2 Heated extension cord
The present invention relates to a cord structured to connect a power source to a power take-off. The cord comprises a conductor extending along a length of the cord between opposite ends thereof, an insulator secured in surrounding relation to the conductor and extending along a length thereof, at least one resistance wire connected to the insulator and extending along at least a majority of a length of the insulator, a switching structure connected to the resistance wire and structured to define an active connection of the resistance wire in current receiving relation to the power source, and a temperature sensor structured to sense temperature exteriorly of the insulator. The temperature sensor is connected to the switching structure and is operative therewith to establish the active connection on determination of a predetermined ambient temperature. The resistance wire heats the insulator upon establishment of the active connection.
US09881713B2 Coating composition for transparent electrode passivation layer and transparent electrode having passivation layer
Provided is a coating composition for a transparent electrode passivation layer, the coating composition including a metal oxide and at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol. When a passivation layer formed using the coating composition for a transparent electrode passivation layer according to the present invention is applied to a transparent electrode, the passivation layer is capable of ensuring the heat resistance and durability of the transparent electrode while maintaining the transmittance of the transparent electrode. Particularly, the coating composition for a transparent electrode passivation layer according to the present invention exhibits excellent hardness.
US09881710B2 Achromatic phase-contrast imaging
An achromatic phase-contrast imaging apparatus for examining an object of interest is provided which comprises two different phase gratings which have different pitches. Thus, the imaging apparatus yields phase-contrast information for two different energies. Thus, phase-information over a wider energy band can be used.
US09881706B2 Nuclear powered rotary internal engine apparatus
A nanofuel engine including receiving nanofuel (including moderator, nanoscale molecular dimensions & molecular mixture) internally in an internal combustion engine that releases nuclear energy, is set forth. A nanofuel chemical composition of fissile fuel, passive agent, and moderator. A method of obtaining transuranic elements for nanofuel including: receiving spent nuclear fuel (SNF); separating elements from SNF, including a stream of elements with Z>92, fissile fuel, passive agent, fertile fuel, or fission products; and providing elements. A method of using transuranic elements to create nanofuel, including: receiving, converting, and mixing the transuranic elements with a moderator to obtain nanofuel. A method of operating a nanofuel engine loaded with nanofuel in spark or compression ignition mode. A method of cycling a nanofuel engine, including compressing nanofuel; igniting nanofuel; capturing energy released in nanofuel, which is also the working fluid; and using the working fluid to perform mechanical work or generate heat.
US09881704B2 Containment vessel drain system
A system for draining a containment vessel may include a drain inlet located in a lower portion of the containment vessel. The containment vessel may be at least partially filled with a liquid, and the drain inlet may be located below a surface of the liquid. The system may further comprise an inlet located in an upper portion of the containment vessel. The inlet may be configured to insert pressurized gas into the containment vessel to form a pressurized region above the surface of the liquid, and the pressurized region may operate to apply a surface pressure that forces the liquid into the drain inlet. Additionally, a fluid separation device may be operatively connected to the drain inlet. The fluid separation device may be configured to separate the liquid from the pressurized gas that enters the drain inlet after the surface of the liquid falls below the drain inlet.
US09881702B2 Hydraulic control unit and method of shutting down a nuclear reactor using the same
A method of shutting down a nuclear reactor may include compressing a scram gas that is in fluid communication with a scram accumulator. The scram accumulator defines a chamber therein and contains bellows within the chamber. The bellows are configured to hold a scram liquid in isolation of the scram gas. The scram gas exerts a compressive force on the bellows in a form of stored energy. The method may additionally include releasing the stored energy in response to a scram signal such that the scram gas expands into the chamber of the scram accumulator to compress the bellows and expel the scram liquid from the scram accumulator to insert control rods into a core of the nuclear reactor.
US09881697B2 Dynamic-shifting redundancy mapping for non-volatile data storage
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for redundancy mapping. A controller is configured to determine that one or more defects affect a subset of a first group of cells and a subset of a second group of cells of a non-volatile memory medium. A non-volatile memory medium may include a plurality of groups of cells, and redundant groups of cells may be available for replacing defective groups of cells. A controller is configured to store a mapping between affected subsets of first and second groups of cells and a redundant group of cells for a non-volatile memory medium. A controller is configured to read data for a first group and/or second group of cells by referencing a mapping and using a redundant group of cells.
US09881695B2 Short detection and inversion
In some examples, a memory device may be configured to store data in either an original or an inverted state based at least in part on a state associated with one or more shorted bit cells. For instance, the memory device may be configured to identify a shorted bit cell within a memory array and to store the data in the memory array, such that a state of the data bit stored in the shorted bit cell matches the state associated with the shorted bit cell.
US09881691B2 Bidirectional shift register and image display device using the same
A display device including a bidirectional shift register circuit, including: a plurality of cascade-connected register circuits; various circuits for setting various nodes to various voltage levels responsive to various signals input to various terminals; and an output circuit which outputs the clock pulse as an output pulse when the voltage of the first node is high level, wherein, at the forward shift operation, the bottom dummy register circuit is not input the reset signal and the first node of the bottom dummy register circuit is reset if the initial reset circuit of the bottom dummy register circuit receives the backward trigger signal, and wherein, at the backward shift operation, the top dummy register circuit is not input the reset signal and the first node of the top dummy register circuit is reset if the initial reset circuit of the top dummy register circuit receives the forward trigger signal.
US09881690B2 Shift register unit, gate driver circuit and display panel
A shift register unit having a pulse width modulation module is provided. The pulse width modulation module includes a first input submodule, a first pull-down submodule, a second input submodule, a second pull-down submodule, a third input submodule, and a third pull-down submodule.
US09881689B2 Emission driver and display device including the same
An emission driver and a display device having the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the emission driver includes a plurality of stages each configured to output an emission control signal, wherein each of the stages includes first and second driving blocks and a buffer block. The buffer block is configured to selectively output an emission control signal so as to operate in a sequential emission mode or in a simultaneous emission mode, the stages being configured to sequentially output a plurality of the emission control signals in the sequential emission mode and substantially simultaneously output the emission control signals in the simultaneous emission mode. The buffer block is further configured to determine a duration in which the emission control signal has a first voltage level based on an interval between time points when first and second intermediate signals have low voltage levels.
US09881688B2 Shift register
A shift register is realized having a simple construction with which it is possible to switch the scanning order of gate bus lines and the occurrence of an erroneous operation caused by a threshold voltage drop can be prevented. Unit circuits that make up the shift register are configured of: a thin film transistor in which a third clock is supplied to the gate terminal, the drain terminal is connected to a first node, and a first input signal (output signal of prior stage) is supplied to the source terminal; a thin film transistor in which a second clock is supplied to the gate terminal, the drain terminal is connected to the first node, and a second input signal (output signal of subsequent stage) is supplied to the source terminal; and a thin film transistor in which the gate terminal is connected to the first node, a first clock is supplied to the drain terminal, and the source terminal is connected to an output terminal. The shift direction is switched by changing the generation order of pulses of clock signals.
US09881682B1 Fine grained data retention monitoring in solid state drives
Embodiments described herein provide for linking retention parameters that affect data retention in flash to data stored in the flash. One embodiment includes a flash memory and a controller. The controller receives a plurality of write requests from a host, and stores data for the write request in flash pages of the flash memory along with indicators. The controller identifies at least one retention parameter that affects data retention of the stored data, and adds one or more of the indicators to an entry in a journal along with the at least one retention parameter. In response to determining that a data refresh is warranted based on the at least one retention parameter, the controller identifies the one or more indicators associated with the at least one retention parameter in the entry, locates the stored data corresponding to the one or more indicators, and refreshes the stored data.
US09881670B2 Soft information module
A soft information module is coupled between one or more flash memory devices and a decoder. The soft information module receives a putative value of one or more memory cells of the one or more flash memory devices based on a read of the one or more memory cells at an initial read level, and one or more respective indicators of whether the putative value was read at one or more respective different read levels offset from the initial read level, and receives a page indicator for the read. The soft information module determines a cell program region for the read based on the putative value, the one or more respective indicators, and the page indicator, identifies a predetermined confidence value for the region, and provides the confidence value to the decoder for association with the putative value, the confidence value being representative of a likelihood that the one or more memory cells was programmed to the putative value.
US09881666B2 Overvoltage protection for a fine grained negative wordline scheme
A fine grained negative wordline scheme for SRAM memories is disclosed. The scheme includes a circuit having a static random access memory (SRAM) cell including at least a wordline coupled to a plurality of NFETs of a transistor array. The circuit further includes a wordline driver including a plurality of inverters coupled between a wordline group decode node, a power supply and the wordline. Overvoltage on the wordline driver and NFETs of the SRAM cell are eliminated by applying a power gating mode and lowering the power supply voltage.
US09881660B2 Magnetic memory
A magnetic memory according to an embodiment includes: a conductive layer including a first and second terminals; a plurality of magnetoresistive elements separately disposed on the conductive layer between the first and second terminals, each magnetoresistive element including a reference layer, a storage layer between the reference layer and the conductive layer, and a nonmagnetic layer between the storage layer and the reference layer; and a circuit configured to apply a first potential to the reference layers of the magnetoresistive elements and to flow a first write current between the first and second terminals, and configured to apply a second potential to the reference layer or the reference layers of one or more of the magnetoresistive elements to which data is to be written, and to flow a second write current between the first and second terminals in an opposite direction to the first write current.
US09881659B2 Technologies for clearing a page of memory
Technologies for clearing a page of memory include a memory device configured write a value to a block of memory cells in response to an activation signal. The memory device includes a row decoder responsive to a memory address to select a row of memory cells and a column decoder responsive to the activation signal to select one or more columns of memory cells. Additionally, a write driver of the memory device is configured to write a value to global input/output lines, which are connected to the selected memory cells in response to the activation signal and regardless of data received on a data input of the write driver.
US09881658B2 Methods and apparatuses for master-slave detection
Apparatuses, master-slave detect circuits, memories, and methods are disclosed. One such method includes performing a master detect phase during which a memory unit in a memory group is determined to be a master memory unit, determining at each memory unit its location relative to other memory units, and determining at each memory unit its location in the memory group based on a total number of slave memory units and its location relative to other memory units.
US09881651B2 Interconnections for 3D memory
Apparatuses and methods for interconnections for 3D memory are provided. One example apparatus can include a stack of materials including a plurality of pairs of materials, each pair of materials including a conductive line formed over an insulation material. The stack of materials has a stair step structure formed at one edge extending in a first direction. Each stair step includes one of the pairs of materials. A first interconnection is coupled to the conductive line of a stair step, the first interconnection extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to a first surface of the stair step.
US09881648B2 Imaging device and playback device
An imaging device includes an imaging element that acquires a first image based on signal charge generated during a first accumulation time, and a second image based on signal charge generated during a second accumulation time relatively longer than the first accumulation time and synchronized with the first image during a synchronization period including the first accumulation time, and a moving image file generating unit that generates a moving image file including a first moving image based on the first image, a second moving image based on the second image, and synchronization information for synchronizing the first moving image and the second moving image frame by frame.
US09881645B2 Systems, methods, and media for editing video during playback via gestures
Described are computer-based systems, computer-implemented methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for editing video in real-time, or substantially in real-time, using gestures to apply transitions and effects to a plurality of simultaneously played video sources to create an edited video output.
US09881644B2 Active control of a read/write head
The invention generally relates to a hard disk drive with a disk, a read/write head, a z-axis actuator, and a controller. A surface of the disk and/or the head can be bare and thus devoid of any overcoat or lubricant layer, or alternatively the disk surface can have one or more layers with a combined thickness of less than 4 nanometers and the head can have a layer with a thickness of less than 2 nanometers. The hard disk drive can be enclosed, and its enclosed space can be a low pressure environment such as a near-zero or a zero pressure environment.
US09881642B2 Disk surface defect detection
The present application provides a transducer head comprising a laser source configured to heat a target storage medium surface, and a thermal sensor configured to detect a defect on the target storage medium surface. The present application also provides a method comprising heating a target storage medium surface with an energy source configured in a transducer head to irradiate the target storage medium surface, and detecting a defect on the target storage medium surface using a thermal sensor configured in the transducer head. Other implementations are also described and recited herein.
US09881640B2 Disk drive head suspension tail with a noble metal layer disposed on a plurality of structural backing islands
A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam and a laminated flexure that comprises a stainless steel layer, a copper trace layer, and a dielectric layer between the stainless steel layer and the copper trace layer. The laminated flexure includes a flexure tail that extends away from the load beam to a flexure tail terminal region. The copper trace layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads in the flexure tail terminal region. The stainless steel layer includes a plurality of backing islands in the flexure tail terminal region. Each of the plurality of backing islands is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of flexure bond pads. A noble metal layer is disposed on the plurality of backing islands.
US09881637B1 Methods and devices for spin torque oscillator control and monitoring
An apparatus for microwave-assisted magnetic recording includes a magnetic write head operable to write data to a magnetic storage medium. The apparatus includes a spin-torque microwave oscillator coupled to the magnetic write head and operable to provide microwave radiation to the magnetic storage medium. The apparatus includes a driver circuit in communication with the magnetic write head. The driver circuit is operable to dynamically modulate bias current provided to the spin-torque microwave oscillator in sympathy with data being written to the magnetic storage medium by the magnetic write head.
US09881636B1 Escalation detection using sentiment analysis
Systems and methods for escalation detection using sentiment analysis are disclosed. A computer-implemented method of the invention includes: determining, by a computer device, the occurrence of an interaction event between a first party and a second party within a recording including audio data; analyzing, by the computer device, the audio data for a change in tone over time; analyzing, by the computer device, the audio data for the presence of any negative tones; determining, by the computer device, whether the change in tone, the presence of any negative tones, or a combination of the change in tone and the presence of any negative tones, indicates an escalation during the interaction event to generate escalation data; and saving, by the computer device, the escalation data.
US09881631B2 Method for enhancing audio signal using phase information
A method transforms a noisy audio signal to an enhanced audio signal, by first acquiring the noisy audio signal from an environment. The noisy audio signal is processed by an enhancement network having network parameters to jointly produce a magnitude mask and a phase estimate. Then, the magnitude mask and the phase estimate are used to obtain the enhanced audio signal.
US09881630B2 Acoustic keystroke transient canceler for speech communication terminals using a semi-blind adaptive filter model
Provided are methods and systems for acoustic keystroke transient cancellation/suppression for user communication devices using a semi-blind adaptive filter model. The methods and systems are designed to overcome existing problems in transient noise suppression by taking into account some less-defective signal as side information on the transients and also accounting for acoustic signal propagation, including the reverberation effects, using dynamic models. The methods and systems take advantage of a synchronous reference microphone embedded in the keyboard of the user device, and utilize an adaptive filtering approach exploiting the knowledge of this keybed microphone signal.
US09881629B2 System for maintaining reversible dynamic range control information associated with parametric audio coders
On the basis of a bitstream (P), an n-channel audio signal (X) is reconstructed by deriving an m-channel core signal (Y) and multichannel coding parameters (α) from the bitstream, where 1≦m
US09881624B2 Method and device for encoding and decoding audio signal
A method is provided. The method includes obtaining a low-band spectrum of an audio signal in which a low-band signal is frequency transformed; obtaining phase information of a high-band spectrum of the audio signal based on the low-band spectrum; and outputting a bitstream that comprises the phase information of the high-band spectrum.
US09881621B2 Position-dependent hybrid domain packet loss concealment
The present document relates to audio signal processing in general, and to the concealment of artifacts that results from loss of audio packets during audio transmission over a packet-switched network, in particular. A method (200) for concealing one or more consecutive lost packets (412, 413) is described. A lost packet (412) is a packet which is deemed to be lost by a transform-based audio decoder. Each of the one or more lost packets (412, 413) comprises a set of transform coefficients (313). A set of transform coefficients (313) is used by the transform-based audio decoder to generate a corresponding frame (412, 413) of a time domain audio signal. The method (200) comprises determining (205) for a current lost packet (412) of the one or more lost packets (412, 413) a number of preceding lost packets from the one or more lost packets (313); wherein the determined number is referred to as a loss position. Furthermore, the method comprises determining a packet loss concealment, referred to as PLC, scheme based on the loss position of the current packet; and determining (204, 207, 208) an estimate of a current frame (422) of the audio signal using the determined PLC scheme (204, 207, 208); wherein the current frame (422) corresponds to the current lost packet (412).
US09881619B2 Audio processing for an acoustical environment
An apparatus for detecting a sound in an acoustical environment includes a microphone array configured to detect an audio signal in the acoustical environment. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to determine an angular location of a sound source of the audio signal. The angular location is relative to the microphone array. The processor is also configured to determine at least one reverberation characteristic of the audio signal. The processor is further configured to determine a distance, relative to the microphone array, of the sound source along an axis associated with the angular location based on the at least one reverberation characteristic.
US09881612B2 Automated portable recording device activation
Portable recording devices used by a person, such as a law enforcement officer, may be automatically activated to capture data assets. A dispatch request may be sent from a server to a computing device used by person equipped with a portable recording device. Subsequently, the server may determine whether the portable recording device is activated by the computing device to record a data asset. In response to a determination that there is a lack of activation of the portable recording device by the computing device to record the data asset following the dispatch request, the server may activate the portable recording device of the person to record the data asset.
US09881609B2 Gesture-based cues for an automatic speech recognition system
A method of recognizing continuous digits uttered by a speaker using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system includes receiving continuous digits via a microphone as speech from a user; detecting that recognition of one or more of the continuous digits falls below a predetermined confidence threshold; prompting the user to identify the continuous digits using a body gesture; detecting the body gesture made by the user; and identifying one or more of the continuous digits based on the body gesture.
US09881589B2 Backlight source driving circuit and display apparatus
There are disclosed a backlight source driving circuit and a display apparatus. The backlight source driving circuit comprises a switch field effect transistor (Q1), a freewheeling field effect transistor (Q2), a power supplying module, a control module, a LED group (Z) and a feedback module, the power supplying module is configured to supply power to the LED group (Z), the control module is configured to control turn-on timings of the switch field effect transistor (Q1) and the freewheeling field effect transistor (Q2) to be opposite, and the feedback module is configured to provide a feedback voltage to the control module. The backlight source driving circuit is disposed in the display apparatus. By utilizing the field effect transistor as the freewheeling device in the backlight source driving circuit, the power consumption of the driving circuit is decreased effectively and an efficiency of the driving circuit is enhanced.
US09881582B2 Semiconductor device, and display device and electronic device utilizing the same
A semiconductor device having a normal function means is provided, in which the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased even when a digital circuit using transistors having one conductivity is employed. By turning OFF a diode-connected transistor 101, the gate terminal of a first transistor 102 is brought into a floating state. At this time, the first transistor 102 is ON and its gate-source voltage is stored in a capacitor. Then, when a potential at the source terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased, a potential at the gate terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased as well by bootstrap effect. As a result, the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased.
US09881580B2 Circuit for common electrode voltage generation
A circuit for common electrode voltage generation includes: a VCOM driver configured to output alternating voltage levels at an output thereof, the output being connected to a display panel; a switching circuit with a plurality of inputs and an output, being configured to select one of voltage levels at the inputs at a time and thereby to output alternating voltages levels at the output of the switching circuit; and a stabilizing capacitor with one end connected to the output of the VCOM driver, and the other end connected to the output of the switching circuit.
US09881579B2 Low noise sensitivity source driver for display apparatus
Disclosed is a source driver for a display apparatus which is insensitive to power noise, and a configuration of filtering an influence of power noise, which is introduced from an exterior of the source driver or occurs in an interior thereof, to an operation of the source driver. The present invention is applied to the case of receiving a clock signal and a data signal through the single signal line, and is embodied such that a source driver for driving a display apparatus for achieving a high speed operation and a large screen has a characteristic insensitive to power noise.
US09881577B2 Touch substrate, touch display panel and driving method thereof, touch display device
The present invention provides a touch substrate comprising a plurality of capacitive touch driving electrodes extending in a row direction, a plurality of capacitive touch sensing electrodes extending in a column direction, a plurality of first pressure sensitive electrodes extending in the row direction and a plurality of second pressure sensitive electrodes extending in the column direction, the capacitive touch driving electrode and the capacitive touch sensing electrode are insulated from each other, the first pressure sensitive electrode is insulated from the capacitive touch sensing electrode and the capacitive touch driving electrode, the second pressure sensitive electrode is insulated from the capacitive touch sensing electrode and the capacitive touch driving electrode, when the touch substrate is touched, a voltage corresponding to a pressure at a touch position is generated between the first pressure sensitive electrode and the second pressure sensitive electrode corresponding to the touch position.
US09881573B2 Liquid crystal display having adaptive pulse shaping control mechanism
A liquid crystal display having adaptive pulse shaping control mechanism includes a first gate driver for providing a first gate signal based on a first modulation voltage, a second gate driver for providing a second gate signal based on a second modulation voltage, a first pixel array unit for illustrating image according to the first gate signal, a second pixel array unit for illustrating image according to the second gate signal, a timing controller for performing a pulse compare operation over the first and second gate signals so as to generate a first shaping control signal and a second shaping control signal, a first gate pulse modulation unit for providing the first modulation voltage according to the first shaping control signal, and a second gate pulse modulation unit for providing the second modulation voltage according to the second shaping control signal.
US09881571B2 3D image display apparatus and driving method thereof
An image display control unit in a three-dimensional image display apparatus is configured to drive gate lines and the data lines so as to provide the display panel with a left eye image signal during a first frame in which a right eye image signal is displayed on the display panel, and with the right eye image signal during a second frame in which the left eye image signal is displayed on the display panel. During the first frame, each of the pixels provides a second capacitor with the right eye image signal, and a first capacitor with the left eye image signal. During the second frame, each of the pixels provides the first capacitor with the right eye image signal, and the second capacitor with the left eye image signal. A backlight unit maintains a turn-on state during the first and second frames.
US09881569B2 Image display apparatus and control method thereof
An image display apparatus according to the present invention includes a light-emitting unit, a display unit configured to display an image on a screen by modulating light from the light-emitting unit based on image data, a first acquiring unit configured to acquire brightness information on brightness of the image data, an image-processing unit configured to perform image processing on input image data, a second acquiring unit configured to acquire processing information on the image processing, and a control unit configured to control emission brightness of the light-emitting unit based on the brightness information and the processing information, so as to suppress a change in contrast of an image, which is displayed on the screen, caused by the image processing.
US09881563B2 Light emitting diode driver circuit, display apparatus including the same, and method for driving light emitting diode
A light emitting diode driver (LED) circuit and method are provided. The light emitting diode driver circuit includes an LED array; a LED driving circuit configured to supply current to the LED array through switching operations of a plurality of switches; and a driving controller configured to control the plurality of switches to supply current, corresponding to a dimming signal, to the LED array using a clock signal of a preset frequency. The driving controller may be further configured to control the plurality of switches to alternately perform switching operations.
US09881559B2 Gate drive circuit and display device
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a gate drive circuit comprising several stages of unit circuits, wherein each unit circuit comprises: a high level terminal, a low level terminal, a first clock terminal, a second clock terminal, a gate output terminal, a logic turn-on input terminal, a logic turn-on output terminal, a control module, a first gating module and a second gating module. An embodiment of the present invention also provides a display device comprising the gate drive circuit. A gate drive circuit with interlaced output is realized, ensuring no suspended state in time sequence between interlaced lines, while maintaining an original dual time sequence (i.e., eliminating suspended state between interlaced lines, and ensuring a stable output of the shifting register).
US09881558B2 Display device including data scaler and method for driving the same
A display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a control unit configured to scale image data provided from the outside based on an image load factor and to output the scaled image data, and a data driver configured to supply data signals corresponding to the scaled image data to a plurality of data lines connected to the pixels, wherein the control unit includes a load factor calculating unit configured to calculate a load factor of the image data; and a data scaler configured to scale a gray level of the image data based on a scaling ratio corresponding to a load factor.
US09881555B2 Organic light emitting diode display device capable of sensing and correcting a progressive bright point defect
Disclosed is an OLED display device capable of sensing and correcting a progressive bright point defect and a method of driving the same. The OLED display device includes a data driver for supplying an off-driving voltage to a driving transistor for driving a light emitting element in each sub-pixel, and sensing a voltage corresponding to a leakage current of the driving transistor, and a bright point estimator for estimating a progressive bright point of a sub-pixel by comparing a voltage value sensed through the data driver with a reference value, and darkening and correcting the sub-pixel estimated to have the progressive bright point.
US09881553B2 OLED drive system raising frame contrast and drive method
An OLED drive system raising a frame contrast and a drive method are disclosed. The OLED display panel is equally divided into a plurality of display divisions along a vertical direction. The brightness calculation module is employed to calculate average pixel brightnesses corresponding to the respective display divisions in the OLED display panel. On one hand, the power management module is employed to supply different reference voltages for the respective display divisions correspondingly according to the average pixel brightnesses of the respective display divisions in the OLED display panel, and respectively insert the reference voltages of the respective display divisions into reference voltage lines corresponding to the pixels of middle rows in the display divisions to make the reference voltages of the respective display divisions be different for raising the frame contrast.
US09881552B2 Display device and method for driving same
Provided is a driving method whereby it is possible to simultaneously compensate for both degradation of a drive transistor and degradation of a light-emitting element without causing special light emission at the time of detecting characteristics in a display device. In a display device which includes a pixel circuit including an electro-optic element and a drive transistor, a driving method includes: a detecting a characteristic of the drive transistor; detecting a characteristic of the electro-optic element; storing characteristic data obtained based on detection results in the first and second detection of characteristics of the drive transistor and electro-optic element, as correction data; and correcting the video signal based on the correction data.
US09881551B2 Drive circuit, display device, and drive method
A drive circuit for a light emitting element which can correct a threshold voltage of a drive transistor between two reference voltages without a reset power supply. The drive circuit includes a light emitting element, a drive transistor for controlling an amount of current, a first switching element that is arranged between the light emitting element and the drive transistor, a second switching element that is arranged between the drive transistor and the second reference voltage, a third switching element that is arranged between a gate, and one of a source and a drain of the drive transistor, a fourth switching element that is connected to the other of the source and the drain of the drive transistor, and controls input of signal voltage, and a first capacitor connected to the gate of the drive transistor.
US09881550B2 Pixel circuit, driving method thereof, and display apparatus
Disclosed are a pixel Circuit, a driving method thereof, and a display apparatus. The pixel circuit comprises a driving transistor, a capacitor connected between the source and the gate of the driving transistor, a light-emitting element, a light-emitting control module, a data writing module and a compensating module. By cooperation among the various modules, the drift of the threshold voltage of the driving transistor can be compensated. Accordingly, the driving current which is provided by the driving transistor to drive the light-emitting element to emit light only relates to the voltage of the data signal and the reference signal, while does not relate to the threshold voltage of the driving transistor and the first reference voltage source, and thus the effect on the current flowing through the light-emitting element raised due to the threshold voltage and due to the IR drop can be avoided. The operating current which drives the light-emitting element to emit lights can remain uniform, thereby improving the uniformity of the image luminance of the whole display area of the display apparatus.
US09881543B2 Shift register unit, method for driving the same, shift register, and display device
A shift register unit includes a first shift register module and a second shift register module. The first shift register module includes a first input module configured to input a start signal to a first control node, a second input module configured to input a first level to a second control node, a first output control module configured to input a second level to the first control node, a second output control module configured to input a first clock signal to the second control node, a first output module configured to input the first clock signal to a first output end, and a second output module configured to input the first level to the first output end. The second shift register module includes a second output end, third and fourth input modules, third and fourth output control modules, and third and fourth output modules.
US09881542B2 Gate driver on array (GOA) circuit cell, driver circuit and display panel
Disclosed is a GOA circuit cell, comprising a GOA registering module having a shift register unit and a GOA output module having a digital logic circuit. An current-stage excitation pulse, a second additional clock signal, a first clock signal and a second clock signal are provided to the digital logic circuit, such that only during a first half pulse width of the current-stage excitation pulse, a first gate line driving pulse corresponding to a first half cycle of the first clock signal is output at a first current-stage output terminal, and a second gate line driving pulse corresponding to a second half cycle of the second clock signal is output at a second current-stage output terminal. It also discloses a GOA circuit formed by cascading the GOA circuit cell and a display panel comprising the driver circuit.
US09881537B2 Display panel and flat panel display apparatus with transmission lines for connecting gate lines to control circuit
A display panel comprises: a set of gate lines; and a set of data lines and a set of transmission lines extending in substantially the same direction, the set of transmission lines being electrically connected to the set of gate lines, respectively. A flat panel display apparatus comprises: a set of gate lines; a set of data lines and a set of transmission lines extending in substantially the same direction, the set of transmission lines being electrically connected to the set of gate lines, respectively; and a control circuit electrically connected to the set of data lines and the set of transmission lines.
US09881534B2 Lighting fixture
Provided is a lighting fixture, which belongs to the technical field of display equipment detection and can be used for solving the problem that an existing lighting fixture is liable to damage a detection probe in a detection process. The lighting fixture includes a work load platform, a lifting unit and a lighting test unit, wherein the work load platform is used for loading a display panel to be subjected to lighting test; the lifting unit is connected with the lighting test unit and used for driving the lighting test unit to ascend and descend; and the lighting test unit is provided with a plurality of probes and is driven by the lifting unit to contact the probes with a circuit test point on the display panel, in order to carry out the lighting test on the display panel. The lighting fixture is intelligent, flexile and strong in adaptability.
US09881532B2 System and method for extracting correlation curves for an organic light emitting device
A system for determining the efficiency degradation of an organic light emitting device (OLED) in an array-based semiconductor device having an array of pixels that include OLEDs. The system determines the relationship between changes in an electrical operating parameter of the OLEDs and the efficiency degradation of said OLEDs, for at least one stress condition; measures a change in the electrical operating parameter of the OLEDs; determines the stress condition of at least one pixel or group of pixels in the semiconductor device; and uses the determined relationship and the determined stress condition to determine the efficiency degradation of the OLEDs corresponding to the measured change in the electrical operating parameter of the OLEDs.
US09881528B2 Transparent liquid crystal display on display case
Exemplary embodiment disclosed herein provide a point-of-sale advertising system for use with a display case having a front glass sheet positioned in front of a cavity for accepting goods, the system containing a transparent LCD positioned behind the front glass sheet, and a plurality of LEDs positioned adjacent to one pair of opposing edges of the LCD and arranged so that light which is emitted from the LEDs is directed backwards towards the cavity. Further embodiments may also contain a door assembly and frame surrounding the front glass sheet and LCD, a switch positioned to determine when the door assembly is open or closed, and electrical circuitry adapted to turn off the LEDs when the door is open and turn on the LEDs when the door is closed.
US09881527B1 Flexible tensioned banner
A banner is made of a flexible sheet material with a casing. A resilient, flexible rod extends through the casing and has first and second ends anchored at fixed, spaced-apart positions so that the resilient, flexible rod forms an arcuate shape and holds the flexible sheet material in tension to form a flexible, arcuate-shaped, tensioned banner.
US09881526B2 Material to increase traffic sign awareness
Material for a sign support structure, such as a signpost, providing greater visibility an added awareness to the sign comprising a film or sheeting on which is printed contrasting colored segments or contrasting colored designs, words, or letters replicated repeatedly on or within and along the length of the material. The material, when attached to the sign support structure or an independent substrate that is subsequently attached to the sign support structure, provides a higher visibility pattern drawing awareness to the sign.
US09881518B2 Food intake controlling devices and methods
Technologies are generally described for controlling food intake. Example devices/systems described herein may include an image sensor, a dietary information identifier, a dietary management unit, and an image display unit. The image sensor may capture an image of a dish or a menu. The dietary information identifier may identify the dish or menu from the image and provide meal dietary information based on the identified dish or menu. The dietary management unit may store personal dietary information and determine combined dietary information based on the personal dietary information and the meal dietary information. The image display unit may process the captured image based on the combined dietary information in such a manner that a part of the captured image is hidden on an image display unit or a part of color or text information of the captured image is changed on the image display unit.
US09881515B2 Cognitive training system and method
A cognitive training system provides cognitive skills development using a suite of music and sound based exercises. Visual, auditory, and tactile sensory stimuli are paired in various combinations to build and strengthen cross-modality associations. The system includes a cognitive skills development platform in which training video-games and cartoons are user presented. The platform uses computer implemented systems and methods for training a user with the aim of enhancing processes, skills, and/or development of user intelligence, attention, language skills and brain functioning. The cognitive training system may be utilized by users of varying, or no, musical skills and is presented at a difficulty level corresponding to user characteristics, age, interests and attention span. User characteristics may be assessed in several manners, including retrieval of past performance data on one or more of the exercises.
US09881514B2 Display device for practice of keyboard instrument diagrammed with black keys as markers
In the present invention, images of a keyboard can be efficiently input into a learner's brain by using a display device in which two kinds of parallel black keys on a keyboard instrument are diagrammed as marker figures which are a substantially n-shaped figure and a substantially m-shaped figure, and the positions of pressed keys are plotted onto the marker figures. The display device can be configured using, for example, printed matter (e.g., a sheet or a card), a font set, an electronic display, and a three-dimensional object, and is provided as a sheet for writing music, performance or practice sheet music, learning cards, or a three-dimensional mimic keyboard. Altogether, provided is a novel music education method based on the images of a keyboard.
US09881513B2 System and method for simulating real-time visualizable electronic warfare
Disclosed herein is a system and method for simulating real-time visualizable electronic warfare. The system includes a location calculation unit for calculating location coordinates of the aircraft and the missile for each frame according to a display frame rate, a display unit for visualizing, for each frame, movement of the aircraft and the missile depending on the location coordinates thereof, a precise tracking unit for, when a relative distance between the aircraft and the missile is less than a dangerous distance, dividing an interval between a current frame and a subsequent frame into sub-intervals based on the display frame rate, and sampling locations of the aircraft and the missile, and a proximity fuse control unit for processing the missile to explode when a relative distance between sampled locations of the aircraft and the missile, is less than or equal to a maximum explosible distance of a proximity fuse of the missile.
US09881508B2 Collision detection system
An aircraft ground collision detection system comprising: an object detection device for mounting on an aircraft and arranged to detect objects and output the location of each detected object; and a processor arranged to: receive the ground speed of the aircraft and the heading of the aircraft and the detected location of each detected object; predict the aircraft's path based on the ground speed and the heading; compare the predicted aircraft path with the object locations; and output an alert based on the overlap or proximity of the predicted aircraft path with the object locations. By predicting the path of the aircraft based on detected ground speed and heading, the system can accurately assess which detected objects pose a collision threat.
US09881507B2 Turbulence detection and monitoring
A turbulence detection and monitoring system may include a data processing system configured to collect and analyze motion-related sensor data from a plurality of personal electronic devices onboard an aircraft in flight. The personal electronic devices may communicate with the data processing system at least in part via an onboard wireless network.
US09881506B1 Unmanned aerial vehicle beacon pod
Beacon pods that provide location information to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The beacon pods may emit location information, which may replicate global positioning system (GPS) satellite information, provide a homing signal, provide access to a mobile telephone network as a signal repeater or booster, and/or provide other information and/or connectivity to a UAV, which may aid navigation and/or other operations of UAVs. The beacon pods may be configured for use in a residential location, which may enable a beacon pod to connect to residential power and computing networks. The beacon pods may establish secure data communication with UAVs and may log events related to UAVs, which may be used for various purposes.
US09881503B1 Vehicle-to-pedestrian-communication systems and methods for using the same
An autonomous-driving vehicle system, for implementation at an autonomous-driving vehicle. The autonomous-driving vehicle system includes a hardware-based processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising and input module and an activity module. The input module, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, obtains input data indicating presence of a pedestrian communication device near the autonomous-driving vehicle. The activity module, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit: (i) determines, based on the input data, in a pedestrian-presence determination, that the pedestrian communication device is or will soon be near the autonomous-driving vehicle, and (ii) determines, based on the pedestrian-presence determination, an autonomous-driving action to be implemented by the autonomous-driving vehicle. In other aspects, the present technology relates to a method or a non-transitory computer readable storage device, for performing any of the operations described.
US09881501B2 Driver assistance system with traffic light alert
A traffic light alert system of a vehicle includes a display operable to display an iconistic traffic light representation with a background surrounding the displayed iconistic traffic light representation. A control is operable to adjust the display responsive to a determination of a status of a traffic light ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle. Responsive to determination of the traffic light ahead of the vehicle and determination that the traffic light has a particular signal status, the control controls the display so that the iconistic traffic light representation indicates the determined particular signal status and the surrounding background is displayed in a particular color associated with the determined particular signal status.
US09881499B1 Traffic light devices and methods of use
Traffic light devices and methods of use are provided herein. A traffic light may include a first lighting element segment that can be activated with a first color, a second lighting element segment that can be activated with a second color or a third color, and a third lighting element segment surrounds the second lighting element segment.
US09881498B2 Method and system to assess abnormal driving behaviour of vehicles travelling on road
The invention concerns a method for assessment of abnormal driving behavior to improve driving safety of a vehicle travelling on a road, using position information and motion information about said vehicle and/or at least one neighboring vehicle travelling in the proximity of said vehicle on said road. The method comprises a step of obtaining and memorizing (40, 42) a plurality of position information items and motion information items, each information item corresponding to a measuring time instant of an observation time interval and a step of obtaining (44) at least one estimate of the reference value for said vehicle and/or its at least one neighboring vehicles travelling on said road during the observation time interval. Next, the sets of deviation values are computed (46), each deviation value being computed using a memorized information item corresponding to a measuring time instant and the at least one estimate of the reference value and the quantities of deviation are obtained from the corresponding sets of deviation values. If a quantity of deviation among said quantities of deviation is greater than a predetermined threshold for the corresponding driving behavior, the method implements (52) a measure for safety improvement.
US09881496B2 Remote control system electronic device and remote control method
The invention provides a remote control system, including a cloud server, a first device and a portable electronic device. The first device includes a transmission interface for connecting to a second device. The portable electronic device sets up a transmission path to connect with the first device via the cloud server. The first device transmits type information including a type of the transmission interface to the portable electronic device through the transmission path. The portable electronic device encodes original data based on the type information to generate encoded data conforming to the transmission interface, and transmits the encoded data to the first device through the transmission path. The first device transmits the encoded data to the second device through the transmission interface, so as to control the second device.
US09881495B1 Duplication method for a remote control operating in radio frequency and remote control thus obtained
In one embodiment, a duplication method is provided for a remote control operating in radio frequency and capable to remotely control an electrical device by the pressure of at least one control key or button. The remote control comprises at least one memory, a transceiver and a microprocessor capable of executing a program for implementing: enabling the clone remote control to a duplication phase by pressing said control key and simultaneously pressing a programming key for a predetermined number of times; releasing the said control and programming keys; approaching the emitting ends of an original remote to be duplicated and the clone remote control in the duplication phase; pressing for a predetermined period of time a key of the original remote control, allowing said microprocessor to receive via the transceiver the working frequency and the code transmitted from the original remote control by means of a recognition and/or emulation procedure of the transmitted code; pressing for a predetermined period of time a key of the clone remote control to which assign the same function of said key of the original remote control; storing in said memory said working frequency, the recognized code and the assigned key; starting a control procedure that provides for the transmission of the recognized or emulated code toward the electrical device to be controlled; confirming the storage of said recognized or emulated code also on the electrical device to be controlled, if the control procedure has succeeded.
US09881492B2 Security system with shielded devices
The shielding status of a security system may be determined based on shielding statuses of individual devices in the security system. The shielding status of each individual device in the security system may be determined based on whether it is in a secured state and is properly functioning. The shielding status of the security system may be determined based on equally or unequally weighted shielding statuses of the individual devices. The shielding status of the security system may be transmitted to a mobile device carried by a user who is outside of the monitored environment. The shielding status of the security system may also be transmitted to the security monitoring company, the device vendor, or the homeowner insurance carrier, which may advertise products or services or provide incentives to the user based on the shielding status of the security system.
US09881487B2 Emergency detection mechanism
An embodiment of the invention may include a method, a computer program product and a computer system for assessing interactions towards an electronic device. The embodiment may include a computing device that monitors a pattern of actions of a first user, where the first user is associated with a first electronic device. The embodiment may include a computing device that determines that at least one action from the first user indicates the first user is undergoing an aggressive act. The embodiment may include a computing device that responds to the aggressive act by: communicating results of the determination that the first pattern matches the data pattern to a second electronic device; and/or sending information detailing a command to activate a device component of one or both of the first electronic device and a third electronic device.
US09881485B2 Device based hygiene reminder, alarm, and reporting system
A system for providing device-based hygiene reminders, alarms, and reporting is disclosed. In particular, the system may utilize a mobile device capable of wirelessly communicating with a peripheral wearable reader. Prior to a user entering an area, the system may include prompting the user to scan a first tag using the wearable reader. A signal may be sent to the mobile device that alerts the user to perform a hygiene-related action prior to entering the area. At the time of performing the hygiene-related action, the system may require the reader to scan a second tag in proximity to a device associated with the hygiene-related action to disable the alert. After the scanning the second tag, the user may be allowed to enter the area. Information related to the performance of the hygiene-related action may be tracked and utilized to generate reports for assessing compliance with hygiene protocols.
US09881484B1 Location-based warning notification using wireless devices
A method and system for generating warning notifications using wireless indoor navigation technology is disclosed. The method comprises determining a location for an individual and a transportation device by receiving device identifiers (e.g., distinctive combination of numbers and/or characters uniquely identifying receiving devices associated with the individual and the transportation device) and location information, received from one or more beacons, from the receiving devices. The method comprises determining a location associated with the individual and the transportation device based on the location information and/or the device identifiers. The method also comprises receiving a destination location and determining an intended path for the transportation device. The method comprises warning the individual upon determining that the location associated with the individual is within a predetermined proximity to the transportation device or its intended path.
US09881477B2 Device having a sensor for sensing an object and a communicator for coupling the sensor to a determiner for determining whether a subject may collide with the object
An embodiment of a device includes a sensor and a communicator. The sensor is configured to be attached to a body portion of a subject, to sense an object, and to generate information related to the object. The communicator is configured to provide the information to a determiner-notifier that is configured to determine, in response to the information, if the body portion may contact the object, and to generate a notification in response to determining that the body portion may contact the object. Such a device (e.g., attached to, or part of, a shoe) may be useful to warn a subject of a potential collision between an object (e.g., stairs, furniture, door jamb, curb, toy) and a body part (e.g., foot, toes) in which the subject has lost feeling, the ability to feel pain, or proprioception. And such a warning may help the subject to avoid inadvertently and repeatedly injuring the body part.
US09881475B2 Alert management utilizing mobile devices
Methods, computer systems, and computer-storage medium are provided for managing patient alerts using a mobile device. A mobile device associated with a patient caregiver receives a critical alert related to the patient, and the alert is presented on the mobile device. The alert includes important contextual information that enables the caregiver to make a quick assessment of how to effectively address the alert. The alert includes options for accepting the alert or rejecting the alert. Acceptance of the alert enables the caregiver to communicate the alert to selected caregivers that can assist in managing the alert. Rejecting the alert causes the alert to be automatically communicated to additional caregivers associated with patient.
US09881472B2 Tag and hybrid security system with the tag
A tag and a hybrid security system with the tag are disclosed. A combination tag combined a passive RFID tag and an AM tag includes a passive RFID tag; an AM tag; and an enclosure housing the RFID tag and the AM tag. The hybrid security system includes a pedestal embedded with an EAS antenna and a RFID antenna; and a RFID reader, wherein the pedestal is configured to sense the AM tag of the combination tag and trigger the RFID reader to read the RFID tag of the combination tag when presence of the AM tag is sensed. A security tag is also disclosed, including an enclosure having a PP top housing and a PP bottom housing; an AM tag housed in the enclosure; and a lock mechanism securing the security tag onto a person's wristband; wherein the security tag has a color characteristic for identification of persons.
US09881467B2 Haptic effects conflict avoidance
A method and system for avoiding haptic effects conflict is presented. A haptic enabled device configured to generate haptic effects associated with a first signature is used by a user. The system detects an additional source of haptic effects and determines a second signature associated with the haptic effects produced by the source. The system determines a preferred set of haptic configurations and modifies either the first or second signature based on the preferred set of haptic configurations to achieve a minimal conflict between the first and second signatures.
US09881466B2 Annular light system
A beacon or annular light generator assembly includes a top cover and an associated bottom cover centered on a vertical axis with a ring of light-emitting elements situated between the top and bottom covers. Upper and lower reflectors are integrated into the lower side of the top cover and into the upper side of the lower cover. These reflectors are surfaces of rotation, about the vertical axis, of a horizontal parabola whose focus lies substantially on the ring of light-emitting elements. A cylindrical collimating lens lies radially outside the ring of light-emitting elements, and concentrates the center portion of the light onto the horizontal plane. Light outside the center portion is redirected by the upper and lower reflectors parallel to the horizontal plane. A multiple array may be formed of two or more such annular light generator assemblies stacked upon one another.
US09881464B2 Core module for an automated transaction machine
A core module for an Automated Transaction Machine (ATM) includes a housing including a plurality of cassette bays, a first document delivery system, and a second document delivery system. The first document delivery system is capable of transporting a document between the cassette and the second document delivery system via a first transport path. The second document delivery system is capable of transporting a document between the first document delivery system and an other ATM location via a second transport path.
US09881463B2 Gaming machine arranging symbols
Provided is a gaming machine which does not bore the player through reel actions until completion of rearrangement of symbols. Under the condition where predetermined symbols are aligned on a payline when the symbols of a first scroll line of at least one of a plurality of scroll lines are being scrolled and symbols on the remaining second scroll lines are stopped, the gaming machine changes scrolling motion of symbols of the first scroll line.
US09881461B2 Enhanced interleaved wagering system
An enhanced interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate application telemetry; display a wager outcome; communicate an indication to enter a tournament; communicate tournament application telemetry associated with the tournament; display a tournament award; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request; determine and communicate the wager outcome; the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller, the application controller also operatively connected to a tournament controller and constructed to: receive the application telemetry; determine whether to trigger a wager; communicate the wager request; receive the wager outcome; receive the tournament entry indication; receive tournament award; communicate the tournament award.
US09881459B2 Gaming system and method for providing a game which populates symbols along a path
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to a game including a path of different symbol display positions. The gaming system generates one or more symbols (and/or one or more awards) at one or more of the symbol display positions of a matrix or grid. The gaming system then randomly forms a path including a plurality of the symbol display positions and determines an award for the player based on which symbol display positions are included in the formed path.
US09881458B2 Skill-based bonusing interleaved wagering system
A mobile device for a gaming system is disclosed, the mobile device providing an interactive controller configured to: communicate application telemetry; receive a wager outcome; receive an application resource; initiate a bonus goal; communicate additional application telemetry; receive and display bonus wager outcome; a wager controller constructed to: receive the wager request; determine a wager outcome; communicate the wager outcome; receive bonus wager request; determine a bonus wager outcome; and communicate bonus wager outcome; and the application controller operatively connecting the mobile device and the wager controller, the application controller constructed to: receive application telemetry; determine whether to trigger a wager; communicating wager request; receive and communicate the wager outcome; determine and communicate the application resource; communicate a bonus goal offer; receive additional application telemetry; determine whether the bonus goal is achieved; generate and communicate bonus wager request; communicate the bonus wager outcome.
US09881457B2 Apparatus and methods for playing electronic table card games
Electronic card game devices and methods incorporate progressive jackpot operations controlled by a central server computer. If a system game device is selected by the central server computer to win a progressive jackpot award, the system game device is programmed to display secondary game outcome symbols on playing cards being displayed during game play to indicate winning of the award.
US09881456B2 Sponsored hybrid systems
An electronic game machine allowing for a sponsored hybrid system includes: a real world controller coupled to a game world controller over a network, the real world controller constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credits; an entertainment software controller coupled to the game world controller, wherein the entertainment software controller is configured to execute an entertainment game; and the game world controller coupled to the entertainment software controller, a non-player interface, and the real world controller by the network, wherein the game world controller is constructed to: access a database containing a player profile of the player and a sponsor profile of a non-player; receive from the non-player interface, sponsorship terms involving allocation of gameplay resources during sponsored gameplay of the hybrid game; allocate gameplay resources associated with the sponsor profile to the player profile based on the sponsorship terms; and allocate gameplay resources resulting from a payout of gameplay resources.
US09881454B2 Multifaceted application resource interleaved wagering system
A multifaceted application resource interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate application telemetry; receive application resource instructions; communicate additional application telemetry; receive application resource availability instructions; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request instructions; determine a wager outcome; and communicate wager outcome data to the application controller; and the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller, the application controller constructed to: receive the application telemetry; determine whether a wager is triggered; generate wager request instructions; instruct the wager controller by communicating the wager request instructions to the wager controller; receive the wager outcome data; determine application resources to award; generate application resource instructions; communicate the application resource instructions; receive the additional application telemetry; determine whether to make the application resource available to the user; generate application resource availability instructions; and communicate the application resource availability instructions.
US09881453B2 Integrating remotely-hosted and locally rendered content on a gaming device
A wager gaming machine may be configured not only to provide wagering games, but also to communicate with one or more hosts that can provide information and/or services pertaining to local wager gaming events, including but not limited to local tournaments, local restaurants, local messages (e.g., messages from other players in the gaming establishment), local social events, local sporting events, local dating opportunities, etc. Other hosts may provide information and/or services pertaining to business or finance (e.g., stock quotes), sports, news, weather, etc. Processes for conveying audio, video, etc., from host devices may be separate from processes used to control wager game presentations. At least some such processes may be able to output an associated “skin” on a video system of the wager gaming machine. These processes may involve providing one or more “widgets.” In some preferred implementations, at least a threshold level of one or more wager gaming machine resources will be made available to wager game presentations and related functions.
US09881450B2 Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing one or more alternative wager propositions if a credit balance is less than a designated wager amount
Various embodiments of gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods of the present disclosure provide one or more alternative wagering propositions to a player when the player's credit balance is less than (or, in certain embodiments, less than or equal to) a designated wager amount. If the player accepts one of the alternative wager propositions, the player risks an amount of the player's remaining credit balance for a chance to win an alternative award. If the player wins the alternative award, the gaming system enables the player to play one or more plays of the wagering game at the designated wager amount. If the player does not win the alternative award, the gaming system reduces the player's credit balance by the amount risked.
US09881449B1 Interactive gaming among a plurality of players systems and methods
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 via a network. The plurality of player terminals are located at a plurality of licensed gaming locations. The plurality of player terminals are configured to engage the plurality of players in a common interactive game operated by the host computer system. The plurality of player terminals include means for dispensing player winnings from the player terminal.
US09881447B2 Social collaboration in community casino game offered as player incentive
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for enhancing social collaboration in an online casino game. One method includes an operation for receiving bets from players playing in a first gambling mode in an online gambling room. The method also includes an operation for determining contributions to a community metric based on the outcomes of the bets, where all players in the online gambling room contribute towards the community metric. After detecting that the community metric reaches a predetermined goal, the online casino game enters all players in the online gambling room into a second gambling mode to achieve a room goal, where the value of the community metric does not change while players are in the second gambling mode.
US09881445B2 Gaming machine and a method of gaming
A gaming machine arranged to implement a base game and associated method are described. The gaming machine includes a game implementer arranged to implement a game and to generate game state information indicative of the current state of the game as the game is played by a player; and a data storage device arranged to store the game state information as the game is played by the player; the game implementer being arranged to retrieve game state information and to recommence play of the game by the player when the game state information is retrieved.
US09881441B2 Systems and methods for operating a sweepstakes
Systems and methods for determining sweepstakes winners involve a display providing a code to an end-user device and the end user-device providing the displayed code to a computer, which determines whether the displayed code is a winning code. Whether a code is a winning code can be based on a variable factor, such as a geographic location, a date, a time of day, a day of a week, a number of submissions by a particular person, valued activities performed by a particular person. The identification of a code as a winning code can be performed either before the code is provided to the display or after the code is received by the computer.
US09881434B2 Intelligent portable object comprising graphical personalization data
The invention relates to an intelligent portable personal security object including graphical personalization data visible from a face of the object, wherein the graphical personalization data are presented by electronic display. The invention also relates to a use of the portable object in the carrying out of secure electronic transaction; and/or in the authentication and visual monitoring of at least one person; and/or in logical access control for at least one user; and/or in the displaying of data other than graphical personalization data.
US09881426B2 3D patient interface device selection system and method
An electronic apparatus for use in selecting a patient interface device and including a geometric fit score determining unit (42) configured to calculate a geometric fit score for each of one or more of patient interface devices, a patient criteria fit score determining unit (44) configured to calculate a patient criteria fit score for each of the one or more patient interface devices, and an overall fit score determining unit (46) configured to calculate an overall fit score for each of the one or more patient interface devices based on the calculated geometric fit score and the calculated patient criteria fit score for each of the one or more patient interface devices.
US09881421B2 Image processing
An image processing method for a head mounted display device is provided, operable in respect of an image generated for display by the head mountable display device according to at least one of an initial position or orientation of a viewpoint. The method includes detecting one or both of a current position or orientation of the head mountable display device depending upon a display time at which the image is to be displayed. The method further includes processing the image using pixel position mappings in which at least a subset of pixels of the image are displaced by respective pixel displacements dependent upon a difference between at least one of the initial position and the detected current position, or the initial orientation and the detected current orientation at the time at which the image is to be displayed.
US09881420B2 Inferential avatar rendering techniques in augmented or virtual reality systems
An augmented reality display system comprises a passable world model data comprises a set of map points corresponding to one or more objects of the real world. The augmented reality system also comprises a processor to communicate with one or more individual augmented reality display systems to pass a portion of the passable world model data to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems, wherein the piece of the passable world model data is passed based at least in part on respective locations corresponding to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems.
US09881419B1 Technique for providing an initial pose for a 3-D model
In one embodiment, augmented reality is facilitated by a special initialization user interface that shows multiple views of a three-dimensional (3-D) model and a representation of a physical environment captured by a camera, where each of the multiple views is updated substantially in real-time as changes are made in another of the multiple views. An approximate lateral position of the representation of the physical environment with respect to the 3-D model is received through user interaction with a first of the views. An approximate orientation of the representation of the physical environment with respect to the 3-D model is received through user interaction with a second of the views. Correspondence is established between a plurality of portions of the 3-D model and a plurality of portions of the representation of the physical environment to anchor the 3-D model to the representation of the physical environment.
US09881418B2 Identifying features in polygonal meshes
A polygonal mesh is received and the edges and vertices of the polygonal mesh are analyzed. A positive (e.g., convex or protruding) feature may be identified where the positive feature is bound by a non-concave edge (e.g., a convex edge or a planar edge). A negative (e.g., concave or receding) feature may also be identified where the negative feature is bound by a non-convex edge (e.g., a concave edge or a planar edge).
US09881416B2 Obtaining 3D modeling data using UAVs for cell sites
Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site include flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.
US09881414B2 Electronic device and method for displaying overlapping objects
Disclosed is a method for displaying an object by an electronic device. The method for displaying an object includes overlapping a plurality of second objects obtained by changing an attribute of a first object in a direction corresponding to the location of a light source, displaying the plurality of overlapping second objects and displaying the first object on the plurality of overlapping second objects.
US09881407B1 Systems, methods, and devices for integrated product and electronic image fulfillment
The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, tracking, and facilitating the ordering and procurement of promotional products. Additionally, the disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for aggregating, managing, and tracking promotional product procurement data in order to allow for the data mining of such information. The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for enabling the generation of a virtual canvas for creating images sized for editable areas of a promotional product, website, brochure, banner, or the like. The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for enabling the generation of a virtual canvas for creating a rotatable image of a promotional product having positioned on the promotional product a user defined image. The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for enabling the generation of a single invoice comprising an invoice amount from a supplier and an invoice amount from a third party decorator.
US09881397B2 Method and system for constructing a graph representing a building
One inventive aspect relates to a method of constructing a graph representing a building (BAT) in which a person (U) moves. In one inventive aspect, the method is adapted to receiving information about the movement of the person in the building over a period of time, the information being collected and transmitted by a portable device (D) associated with the person (U), and in constructing at least one branch of the graph from received movement information. One inventive aspect also provides a method of remotely tracking the activity of a person in a building as a function of the constructed graph. One inventive aspect also provides a server (S) implementing the method of constructing a graph.
US09881395B2 Rendering multi-part glyphs
Disclosed herein are technologies for facilitating rendering of glyphs. In accordance with one aspect, a vector-based glyph is decomposed into multiple part-glyphs. A font file including rendering data of the part-glyphs is generated. The part-glyphs are individually configured with respective properties. A mapping file that includes configuration information of the part-glyphs may also be generated. The configuration information may include grouping information and the respective properties of the part-glyphs.
US09881392B2 Mipmap generation method and apparatus
A method and corresponding apparatus are configured to generate a mipmap are configured to allocate a mipmap status register of a mipmap level generated with respect to a texture, receive a request for the texture, and calculate a mipmap level with respect to the texture. The method and corresponding apparatus are also configured to determine whether a mipmap of the calculated mipmap level exists using the mipmap status register and outputting a result indicative thereof, and determine whether to generate the mipmap of the mipmap level based on the result.
US09881388B2 Compression and decompression of a 3D modeled object
It is provided a computer-implemented method for compressing a three-dimensional modeled object, wherein the method comprises providing a boundary representation of the modeled object; determining first data, that describe a mapping from the range of a reference function to the range of another function, and second data, that describe a mapping from the domain of the other function to the domain of the reference function which, when composed with the reference function and the mapping from the range of the reference function to the range of the other function, leads to the same result as applying the other function; and replacing in the geometrical data the other function by the first data, the second data and a pointer to the reference function. Such a method improves the compression of a 3D modeled object.
US09881385B2 Method and apparatus for counting and aggregating a pre-determined number of articles
A method for counting and aggregating a pre-determined number of articles includes: driving, by a conveyor, an article stream to move to an end of the conveyor in a single layer state; conveying the article stream in a periodic motion; after the articles in the article stream leave the conveyor, accurately counting the number of the articles; and when a total number of articles in a combination of temporary storage bin is the same as a target number, transporting all articles in the combination of temporary storage bin to a storage device. Article batches are separately delivered to different temporary storage bins, and the total number of articles in temporary storage bins in different combinations is calculated, so as to obtain with a combination in which the number of articles is the same as the target number. The operation efficiency is improved and the manufacturing cost of device is reduced.
US09881384B2 Method and apparatus for providing one or more road conditions based on aerial imagery
An approach is provided for providing one or more road conditions based on aerial imagery. The road condition platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more road segments on an aligned image including an aerial image frame of an area and a reference map of the area to determine one or more non-road elements. The road condition platform also determines one or more characteristics of the one or more non-road elements disposed within the one or more road segments. The road condition platform further determines one or more road conditions based on the one or more characteristics.
US09881383B2 Laser projection system with motion compensation and method
A method of accurately projecting a laser image pattern on a work surface and continuously compensating for relative dynamic movement between the laser and the work surface, including establishing a position of the camera in three dimensions relative to the work surface by locating the targets in the camera image, establishing a position of the laser relative to the work surface utilizing the fixed position of the laser relative to the camera, and using a computer to continuously adjust the rotation of the laser projector mirrors in response to dynamic movement of the laser projector relative to the work surface as determined by the camera. In one embodiment, the computer continuously tracks at least two prior locations of the laser projector relative to the work surface and predicts the next location of the laser, compensating for movement of the laser relative to the work surface.
US09881378B2 Position determining techniques using image analysis of marks with encoded or associated position data
Method for determining position of a mobile device having an imaging device includes obtaining an image of a mark on a known-position object from the imaging device, the mark having an encoded position, decoding the mark to derive data about the position of the mark using a database of marks and their positions, and analyzing appearance of the mark in the image in combination with the derived data about the position of the mark to derive the position of the mobile device. Mark appearance analysis may involve analyzing an angle between an imaging direction of the imaging device and a surface of the mark.
US09881375B2 Markers in 3D data capture
A structured light projector includes an optical mask and a light emitter. The light emitter can be capable of illuminating the optical mask, and the optical mask can be capable of transforming the light from the emitter so as to provide structured light bi-dimensional coded light pattern that includes a plurality of feature types formed by a unique combination of feature elements. The projected light pattern includes one or more markers which include pairs of feature elements between which the epipolar distances are modified relative to distances between respective feature elements in non-marker areas of the pattern, and an appearance of feature elements within the marker and across the marker's edges is continuous.
US09881373B2 Image generating apparatus and image generating method
An image generating apparatus generates an edge image that is an image for which an edge has been enhanced or extracted from an original image obtained by imaging a subject. The image generating apparatus has a viewpoint image generating unit configured to generate a viewpoint image from the original image; and an edge processing unit configured to generate the edge image by applying edge processing to enhance or extract an edge with respect to the viewpoint image generated by the viewpoint image generating unit.
US09881372B2 Method and system for vascular disease detection using recurrent neural networks
A method and apparatus for vascular disease detection and characterization using a recurrent neural network (RNN) is disclosed. A plurality of 2D cross-section image patches are extracted from a 3D computed tomography angiography (CTA) image, each extracted at a respective sampling point along a vessel centerline of a vessel of interest in the 3D CTA image. Vascular abnormalities in the vessel of interest are detected and characterized by classifying each of the sampling points along the vessel centerline based on the plurality of 2D cross-section image patches using a trained RNN.
US09881371B2 System for visualization of a cancer diagnosis
Certain aspects of an apparatus and method for automatic ER/PR scoring of tissue samples may include for determining a cancer diagnosis score comprising identifying a positive stained nucleus in a slide image of the tissue sample, identifying a negative stained nucleus in the slide image, computing a proportion score based on number of the positive stained nucleus identified and number of the negative stained nucleus identified and determining the cancer diagnosis score based on the proportion.
US09881370B2 Method of determining a rotation axis of an object in tomography and characterisation method by tomography
Method of determining a rotation axis of an object during acquisition of projections obtained by a tomography characterization system, comprising the following steps, starting from said projections: Select zones on the projections along the presumed rotation axis; Reconstruct a structure of the object using data in the selected zones, Make reprojections of the reconstruction; Determine a total offset for each selected zone; Determine the real rotation axis using total offsets determined for all zones.
US09881368B2 Disease diagnostic apparatus, image processing method in the same apparatus, and medium storing program associated with the same method
The invention provides an image processing method in a diagnostic apparatus of diagnosing a disease using a captured image of an affected area, comprising the steps of: (i) separating the captured image memorized into a brightness component and a color information component (Step S131); (ii) separating the brightness component into a base component and a detail component (Step S132); (iii) performing a highlighting process on the base component and/or the detail component (Step S133-S140); and (iv) restoring a brightness component from a highlighted base component and the detail component, and/or from the base component and a highlighted detail component, and using the restored brightness component and the color information component to generate a highlighted image (Step S141).
US09881366B2 System and method for analyzing and processing food product
Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of processing meat or food products. Information is compiled and analyzed regarding the condition of a carcass, meat product, styling of the meat product and associated tray or package. Information is used in various processes, including determining which further processing steps are required. The information is also stored for future reference and analysis.
US09881365B2 Semiconductor defect categorization device and program for semiconductor defect categorization device
The present invention provides semiconductor defect classification equipment for classifying a defect in a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor defect classification equipment is provided with: a display unit; a storage unit that stores an inspection image including an inspection object portion on the semiconductor wafer and design data of the semiconductor wafer including a plurality of manufacturing steps; and an processing unit that displays the inspection image and the design data on the display unit. The processing unit acquires at least one first layout data and the inspection image from the storage unit, and displays the first layout data and the inspection image on the display unit in a superposed manner.
US09881363B2 Image processing device, projector and image processing method for correcting a displayed image
An image processing device includes a selection section adapted to select a first correction point among a plurality of correction points included in a correcting image, an identification section adapted to identify a second correction point and a third correction point adjacent to the first correction point, and a display control section adapted to emphasize a first line segment connecting the first correction point and the second correction point to each other, and a second line segment connecting the first correction point and the third correction point to each other, and display the correcting image on a display section.
US09881358B2 Method and system for adaptive pixel replacement
A system and method of image processing is provided, including implementing adaptive pixel replacement techniques or reducing noise. The method includes obtaining a data map of an image frame, wherein the data map comprises good pixels and bad pixels at locations associated with the data map. The method also includes assigning different techniques to the bad pixels, wherein a first technique is assigned to a first bad pixel and a second technique is assigned to a second bad pixel. The method further includes adjusting information associated with the bad pixels for a chosen technique for each of the bad pixels.
US09881356B2 Data processing method
A data processing method is disclosed for processing hyperspectral image data of a scene. The method comprises sequentially receiving portions of the data at a data buffer to form a data set comprising a predefined number of data portions and calculating a set of global statistical parameters and data correction factors using the data forming the data set. The method further comprises receiving a further data portion at the data buffer and simultaneously removing the earliest received data portion at the data buffer, from the data set, and subsequently calculating a set of local statistical parameters using the data of the further data portion. The method further comprises updating the set of global statistical parameters using the set of local statistical parameters and correcting the data of the data portion removed from the data set using the correction factors. The method further comprises outputting the corrected data portion and set of global statistical parameters calculated using the data set comprising the removed data portion, to a processor.
US09881353B2 Buffers for display acceleration
Embodiments enable a graphics processor to more efficiently process graphics and compositing processing commands. In certain embodiments, a client application submits client graphics commands to a graphics driver. The client in certain embodiments can notify a window server that client graphics commands have been submitted. In response, the window server can generate compositing processing commands and provide these commands to the graphics driver. Advantageously, a graphics processor can execute the client graphics commands while the window server generates compositing processing commands. As a result, processing resource can be used more efficiently.
US09881348B2 Activation system architecture
Techniques are described for generating a license for software installed on a device. An entitlement certificate is generated including one or more entitlements describing license characteristics of the software. The one or more entitlements are determined in accordance with first information about the software. The first information includes at least one of a purchase token and package information. A binding certificate in accordance with a binding type for the software is generated. A license in accordance with said binding certificate and said entitlement certificate is generated. The binding certificate identifies an entity to which the license is bound.
US09881344B2 User characteristics-based sponsored company postings
A system may include a network interface, a user interface, and a recommendation engine. The user interface may be configured to receive a company characteristic of a company profile of a company posted to the social network and a company bid from an entity related to company to the social network. The recommendation engine may be configured to determine an aggregate company score for the user based on a relevance of the company characteristic to a user characteristic and the company bid. The network interface may be configured to transmit a message related to the company to the user based, at least in part, on the aggregate company score.
US09881343B2 Systems and methods for performing updates in a distributed environment
The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for performing updates in a distributed environment, which comprises receiving a platform product and a plurality of supporting products at a server, the server being accessible by one or more access devices and receiving a plurality of modified supporting products at the server, a given modified supporting product corresponding to a given supporting product. A determination is made as to whether a given one of the plurality of supporting products is in use by the one or more access devices. If the given one of the plurality of supporting products is not in use, the given one of the plurality of supporting products is overwritten with the corresponding modified supporting platform product. If the given one of the plurality of supporting products is in use, the given one of the plurality of supporting products is locked until its use terminates.
US09881341B1 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 product 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 products for consideration by customers over a network. Presented insurance products may be formed through an optimization process or according to customer preferences.
US09881340B2 Feedback loop linked models for interface generation
The invention relates to a system for handling insurance requests, such as new coverage applications, renewal applications, and insurance quote requests. The system includes at least two computerized predictive models whose outputs each serve as inputs to the other. A business logic module is included in the system to process insurance requests with the predictive models to determine one or more sets of recommended policy parameters for the user and to output the determination to the user via a user interface. In various embodiments, the predictive models also output workflow components (such as underwriting workflow components) and price components (such as premium prices) corresponding to output suggested sets of coverage parameters.
US09881337B2 Systems and methods for providing seamless transitions between graphical images on a binary options interface
Methods, apparatus and article of manufactures for providing seamless transitions between graphical images on a binary options interface. An user-input is received on a touch-sensitive display of the binary options interface. The user-input corresponds to a request for a transformation of a graphical image that is displayed on the binary options interface. The binary options interface is integrated into a mobile device. In response to the user-input, an updated graphical image is generated. The updated graphical image is displayed to replace the graphical image on the binary options interface. The graphical image to the updated graphical image comprises a continuously displayed image.
US09881336B2 Foreign currency exchange system and method
A foreign currency exchange system and method are provided that allows the user to exchange various foreign currency for a physical or electronic gift card, a donation to a charity, a stored foreign currency value card and/or a multi-currency debit cash card.
US09881335B2 System and method for selecting personalities to facilitate the completion of an online auction
A method and system for progressing an auction is provided. Examples include an auction analysis component configured to analyze an auction forum for auctions that are likely to complete without a reserve price being met (i.e., triggered auctions), and a personality selection component configured to select a personality capable of facilitating the progression of a triggered auction.
US09881332B2 Systems and methods for customizing search results and recommendations
A recommendation system can be configured to customize search results and/or recommendations of content (e.g., customized products, products, advertising, layouts, etc.) using online and/or offline activity captured on a user population. The system can be configured to customize the content returned to users to achieve specific behaviors and/or influence the current user's behavior, responsive to modeling previous users. For example, the system can capture and aggregate user behavior/activity and score content based on the actions taken with respect to the content. In some examples, the scoring can be filtered or augmented by matching current user characteristics to characteristics of the previous users. The scoring can be generated independent of the language in which the activity/user behavior occurred. According to one embodiment, the system is configured to generate language independent models and utilize the language independent modeling to deliver customized content (e.g., recommendations and/or search results) without conventional constraints.
US09881328B2 System and method for age verification over mobile app for purchasing age-restricted items
A system and method for forecasting sales is presented. A transmission by a customer is received indicating an intention for a customer to purchase an item from a retailer via a mobile device. An embodiment determines if the item is subject to an age-restriction. This can be accomplished by using location data of a retailer. Biometric data is received from the customer intending to purchase the item. The biometric data is compared to verified biometric data to confirm the identity of the customer. The age of the customer is determined. Thereafter, the transaction is allowed to proceed if the age of the customer satisfies the age-restriction for the item. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.
US09881324B2 Apparatus and method of wireless instant messaging
A wireless communication device declares one of a plurality of extended instant messaging states and transmits the declared states to a presence information server. Declared extended instant messaging states for destination devices are received, and an enhanced instant message based on declared extended instant messaging states is generated.
US09881323B1 Providing hard-to-block advertisements for display on a webpage
Methods and systems of the invention provide advertisements or other content for a webpage. An example is providing portions of an advertisement as separate items in multiple formats, multiple positions, and/or from multiple locations so that at least some of the advertisement is still displayed to a requesting user even though advertisement-blocking mechanisms are used.
US09881322B2 Data transfer between mobile computing devices using short-range communication systems
Transferring data between mobile computing device by converting contact information stored in a proprietary format on the first mobile computing device to a nonproprietary graphical format, transferring the contact information in the nonproprietary graphical format from the first mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device and storing the contact information in the nonproprietary graphical format on the second mobile computing device. The contact information stored in the nonproprietary graphical format on the second mobile computing device can be converted to the proprietary format and stored on the second mobile computing device. The transfer of the contact information can be performed in response to an indication that the users of the first and second mobile computing devices have had contact with one another.
US09881320B2 Targeting customer segments
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for targeting segments of customers. A system maps users to targeting segments based on a respective purchase history of the users, and receives a segment identifier from a server, the segment identifier to be associated with a targeting segment from the targeting segments for anonymously identifying the targeting segment. Next, the system associates the segment identifier with the targeting segment and users mapped to the targeting segment, and sends, to the server, the segment identifier and unique user identifiers of the users mapped to the targeting segment associated with the segment identifier, the unique user identifiers masking respective identities of the users from the server and the segment identifier masking an identity of the targeting segment associated with the segment identifier. The system then instructs the server to deliver selected invitational content to at least one unique user identifier associated with the segment identifier.
US09881317B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information communication system, and computer program
An information processing apparatus includes a customer guiding information management unit configured to obtain a content ID used to identify an application introduction source site and an individual identification ID used to identify a user terminal which has accessed the introduction source site and manage the content ID and the individual identification ID as customer guiding information, and a result measurement unit configured to obtain information including an individual identification ID of a user terminal which has downloaded an application, compare the information with the customer guiding information managed by the customer guiding information management unit, and measure a result of the introduction source site identified by the content ID included in the customer guiding information.
US09881311B2 Determining a lowest price for a dynamically priced product
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a request for a product. Two or more fingerprints are selected, where each fingerprint includes digital data describing a corresponding virtual customer. By a computer processor, a first fingerprint is loaded to emulate a first virtual customer. A first price query is submitted to a vendor's web service for the product, where the first price query uses the loaded first fingerprint. A second fingerprint is loaded to emulate a second virtual customer. A second price query is submitted to the vendor's web service for the product, where the second price query uses the loaded second fingerprint. Two or more prices are received from the vendor's web service, including a first price received in response to the first price query and a second price received in response to the second price query. A lowest price is selected from among the prices received.
US09881310B2 System and method for collecting market research data
An eliciting system is provided. The eliciting system may embody a method for collecting market research data by eliciting customer input through an interactive, competitive game format. The eliciting system may provide the game format by including a controllable object, a control unit and a display platform, wherein the display platform provides a plurality of scan codes presented in an eye-catching manner. The control unit provides a user interface and is adapted to remotely control the controllable object as it hovers over the display platform. The controllable object may provide a scanner for reading the plurality of scan codes. Each scan code may provide a market association with a good and/or service. Each market association scanned by the scanner is represented on the user interface, whereby the user of the control unit can view and approve of or disapprove of it, while the user controls the controllable object hovering over the display platform.
US09881309B2 Systems and methods for tailoring marketing
The systems and methods described herein may be used to recommend an item to a consumer. The methods may comprise determining, based on a collaborative filtering algorithm, a consumer relevance value associated with an item, and transmitting, based on the consumer relevance value, information associated with the item to a consumer. A collaborative filtering algorithm may receive as an input at least one of: a transaction history associated with the consumer, a demographic of the consumer, a consumer profile, a type of transaction account, a transaction account associated with the consumer, a period of time that the consumer has held a transaction account, a size of wallet, a share of wallet, and/or the like.
US09881306B2 Wireless devices for storing a financial account card and methods for storing card data in a wireless device
A wireless device is enabled to receive a financial account card that is inserted into a card slot of the wireless device. The wireless device reads card data from the financial account card when it is inserted into the slot and programs an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag or a memory included in the wireless device. The wireless device may then be used to provide payment by transmitting the card data via radio frequency to a nearby RFID reader using the RFID tag. The financial account card may also be ejected from the wireless device and swiped by a magnetic card reader.
US09881305B1 Context-based restrictions on payment cards
Introduced here is a technology that enables effective fraud detection and protection in financial transactions by use of a communication signal capability associated with payment cards. The technology eliminates the uncertainty inherent in card transactions as to the authenticity of a payment card. In various embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for placing context-based restrictions on the payment card to assist in eliminating the uncertainty in card transactions. The payment card can include any electronic card having an embedded smart chip (e.g., BLE, WiFi, GPRS, 4G, LTE, etc.). The context-based restrictions can include a geographical restriction, a timing restriction, a purchase amount restriction, a merchant-category-code restriction, a particular merchant restriction, or a proximity restriction. The context-based restrictions can be placed on the payment card through communication with a computing device (e.g., smartphone, computing tablet, laptop, desktop, etc.).
US09881301B2 Conversion tracking of a user across multiple devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a method for conversion tracking. The method comprises anonymously linking plural identifiers, each identifier associated with a user and specific requesting source. Anonymously linking includes linking different identifiers associated with different requesting sources used by the user to access content. Anonymously linking includes linking the different identifiers using an identifier that does not include any personally identifiable information, and storing impression, click and interaction data for the user in association with respective identifiers. The method further comprises determining that an impression of content to the user has occurred on one of the two different requesting sources and that an interaction, associated with the impression, has been recorded on another of the two different requesting sources, and linking the impression and/or click with the interaction, including charging a sponsor associated with the impression and/or click.
US09881300B2 Technologies for split key security
Technologies for split key security include a payment device to generate a key encryption key and a first key encryption key part. The payment device generates a second key encryption key part based on the key encryption key and the first key encryption key part and deletes the key encryption key in response to generating the second key encryption key part. Further, the payment device stores the first key encryption key part to a secure memory of a security co-processor of the payment device and the second key encryption key part to a secure memory of a secondary processor of the payment device. The secondary processor is electrically coupled to a backup energy source.
US09881298B2 Credit card system and method
A credit card system is provided which has the added feature of providing additional limited use credit card numbers and/or cards. These numbers and/or cards can be used for a single or limited use transaction, thereby reducing the potential for fraudulent reuse of these numbers and/or cards. The credit card system finds application to “card remote” transactions such as by phone or Internet. Additionally, when a single use or limited use credit card is used for “card present” transactions, so called “skimming” fraud is eliminated. Various other features enhance the credit card system, which will allow secure trade without the use of elaborate encryption techniques. Methods for limiting, distributing and using a limited use card number, controlling the validity of a limited use credit card number, conducting a limited use credit card number transaction and providing remote access devices for accessing a limited use credit card number are also provided.
US09881288B1 Enhanced user interface for creating interactive layouts
This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for utilizing an enhanced user interface to create interactive layouts. For instance, a merchant device may present a user interface to a merchant, where the merchant can use the user interface to create a layout of a physical establishment. The merchant device can then receive inputs indicating respective locations of designated sections and objects within the physical establishment, and update the layout to include graphical elements corresponding to the designated sections and the objects at the respective locations. After creating the layout, the merchant device can send data corresponding to the layout to a payment service. The payment service can analyze the layout to determine locations within the physical establishment for placing designated sections and objects. Additionally, the payment service can send the merchant device messages that indicate the locations.
US09881287B1 Dual interface mobile payment register
A mobile payment register can generate a first user interface on a display. The first user interface is adapted to accept an input to process a first operation by a first user associated with a payment transaction. The payment transaction requires inputs into the mobile payment register by at least two users. The mobile payment register detects, via a sensor, a re-orientation motion. The re-orientation motion can cause the display to change from a first orientation substantially facing the first user to a second orientation substantially facing a second user. In response to detecting the re-orientation motion, the display can replace at least a portion of the first user interface with at least a portion of a second user interface such that input elements on the second user interface are able to accept an input from the second user to authorize or modify the payment transaction.
US09881284B2 Mini-kiosk for recycling electronic devices
A mini-kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The mini-kiosk is designed to be placed on a counter-top. The mini-kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The mini-kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.
US09881282B1 Web-enabled conferencing and meeting implementations with a subscription-based model
Meeting and conferencing systems and methods are implemented in a variety of manners. Consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a meeting system is implemented that includes a computer server arrangement with at least one processor. The computer server arrangement is configured to provide a web-based meeting-group subscription option to potential meeting participants. A meeting scheduling data is received over a web-accessible virtual meeting interface. The meeting scheduling data includes group identification information and meeting time information. In response to the group identification information, participant identification information is retrieved for participants that subscribe to a meeting group identified by the group identification information. In response to the meeting time information and the participant identifying information, audio connections are established for participants of the meeting. Merged audio from the established audio connections is provided to the participants over the established audio connections.
US09881276B2 Ultrasonic bracelet and receiver for detecting position in 2D plane
Ultrasonic tracking of a worker's hands may be used to monitor performance of assigned tasks. An inventory system includes inventory bins configured to store inventory items, an ultrasonic unit, ultrasonic transducers, and a management module. The ultrasonic unit is configured to be worn by a user in proximity to the user's hand and to periodically emit ultrasonic sound pulses. The ultrasonic transducers are arranged relative to the inventory bins and configured to receive the emitted pulses. The management module is operatively coupled with the ultrasonic transducers and configured to process signals generated by the ultrasonic transducers to identify an inventory bin based on proximity of the ultrasonic unit relative to the identified inventory bin. The management module monitors performance of an assigned task based on the identified inventory bin.
US09881275B2 Network inclusion of a networked light bulb
A unique identifier may be stored in an RFID chip, a bar code, or other methods of passive storage associated with the networked light bulb. The unique identifier may be accessed while the light bulb is unpowered and before the light bulb is put into service. Information is stored in a database that identifies an association between the unique identifier and a particular network. If the light bulb is put into service, the light bulb may send the unique identifier over the network. A device may receive the unique identifier and query the database for information related to the unique identifier. If the unique identifier is associated with the particular network that the light bulb is connected to, the light bulb may be added as an authorized node on the particular network.
US09881269B2 Collaborative infrastructure update scheduling
A method, system, and/or computer program product manages update operations for a hardware resource. A time, date, and location of the future meeting for which a predetermined feature from a hardware resource has been designated as being required for the future meeting is retrieved from a calendar. A determination is made as to whether or not the predetermined feature of the hardware resource is scheduled for updating during the time and date of the future meeting at said location. A level of detriment that will occur to the future meeting if the future meeting proceeds without the updating of the predetermined feature from the hardware resource is determined. A schedule for updating the hardware resource is then adjusted according to the level of detriment that will occur to the future meeting if the future meeting proceeds without the updating of the predetermined feature from the hardware resource.
US09881268B1 Roadside assistance
A mobile computerized apparatus configured to provide membership status in a roadside assistance program after occurrence of a roadside event is disclosed. The apparatus executes instructions that cause/allow the apparatus to receive input related to an electronic membership card, retrieve from a data store membership information associated with the vehicle, and dynamically update the electronic membership card for display on the apparatus.
US09881263B2 Method and apparatus for deciding path of vehicle
A route determining method includes determining a first node which is the closest to a current position, among a plurality of nodes by using a position sensor and moving in a direction of the determined first node, determining a first point included in a radio wave reachable area of the first node by transmitting and receiving data between the moving object and the first node and going through the determined first point, determining a second node which is the closest to the first point by using the position sensor and moving in a direction of the determined second node, and determining a second point included in a radio wave reachable area of the second node by transmitting and receiving the data between the moving object and the second node based on the first node and a position of the first point and going through the second point.
US09881262B2 Undo/redo of database files for modifying re-accommodation
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for modifying re-accommodations. A report characterizing execution of a re-accommodation may be stored in a report database. The report may include an impacted Passenger Name Record (PNR) table that associates each PNR impacted by the re-accommodation with an identifier. The identifier may identify an envelope in a history file comprising a portion of the history file that documents changes made to the PNR by the re-accommodation. In response to receiving a request to modify the re-accommodation, the report may be retrieved from the report database. PNRs impacted by the previous re-accommodation, and changes made to each PNR, may be determined using data in the impacted PNR table and the history files of the PNRs. The impacted PNR table may thereby enable building and execution of a modifying re-accommodation that selectively undoes or redoes a previously executed re-accommodation to implement new solutions to scheduling changes.
US09881259B2 System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management
An active load management system (ALMS) is utilized to supply operating reserve to a utility. According to one embodiment, the ALMS determines amounts of power stored in power storage devices located at service points within the utility's service area, and stores the stored power data in a repository. The ALMS also determines an amount of available operating reserve based on at least the stored power data. When the utility needs operating reserve, the ALMS receives a request for operating reserve from the utility. The ALMS then manages a flow of power from the power storage devices to a power grid accessible by the utility responsive to the utility's request, taking into account the amount of available operating reserve. Determination of stored power data may be aided by reports received from control devices located at the service points, where the reports indicate amounts of power stored by the power storage devices.
US09881255B1 Model based selection of network resources for which to accelerate delivery
A network resource (“NR”) delivery acceleration system predicts web browsing behavior of users based on their frequent navigation habits, the navigation habits of the majority and/or content based prediction. Based on these predictions, the system accelerates the delivery of selected network resources, such as resources on web pages, to user devices in one or more ways, such as by selectively prefetching, caching, preemptively delivering, and/or pre-rendering content items. To determine access probabilities for candidate pages (such as those frequently visited by the user), the NR delivery acceleration system adapts or trains one or more models, such as logistic regression and/or frequency-based models, using individual/personalized browsing histories of users, their content (topic) preferences, and/or aggregated patterns of navigation.
US09881252B2 Converting digital numeric data to spike event data
One embodiment of the invention provides a system comprising at least one data-to-spike converter unit for converting input numeric data received by the system to spike event data. Each data-to-spike converter unit is configured to support one or more spike codes.
US09881250B2 Methods and apparatus for RFID communications in a process control system
Methods and apparatus for RFID communications in a process control system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a radio-frequency identification tag operatively coupled to a field device of a process control system. The radio-frequency identification tag has a processor, an onboard memory, and an antenna. The onboard memory stores data received from the field device to be communicated to a radio frequency identification reader. Power for the processor and the onboard memory is to be drawn from control system power provided to the field device.
US09881233B2 Image recognition apparatus
An image recognition apparatus includes a storage unit which stores a plurality of pieces of identical recognition reference data which are used as references for recognizing a specific object from an image, an image recognition unit which recognizes the specific object by alternately making a switch between the plurality of pieces of recognition reference data, on a frame basis, stored in the storage unit, for consecutive frames of the image acquired by an image acquisition unit, and a recognition determining unit which, on condition that recognition results obtained by the image recognition unit by using the plurality of pieces of recognition reference data meet a predetermined matching condition, outputs the recognition results as effective recognition results.
US09881230B2 System and method for automated road identification in distant traffic camera images
In embodiments the invention provides methods and systems for improved monitoring of roadways and related resources. The methods employ frugal devices such as remote webcams, and provide methods for improving the quality and usefulness of the data obtained from such devices.
US09881229B2 Apparatus, method and program for image search
One or more representative images extracted from an image group comprising a plurality of images is/are displayed. A part or all of the representative image or images, such as a main subject region or a background region including a search target, is/are selected from the representative image or images, and used for setting search conditions. The image group is searched for an image or images agreeing with the search conditions having been set.
US09881225B2 System and method for intelligent receipt processing
A system and method for document management, such as receipts, includes a device having a processor and associated memory, a wireless data interface and a digital imager. The device is configured to selectively generate image data corresponding to captured images of associated receipts acting in connection with a touchscreen display. Price data is extracted from multiple areas of the image data and an image of the receipts on the touchscreen display is generated. The processor determines a position of the price data on the image and highlights at least one user-selectable portion of the image on the touchscreen display. Aggregate costs are calculated and displayed in accordance with user selection.
US09881221B2 Method and system for estimating gaze direction of vehicle drivers
Methods and systems for continuously monitoring the gaze direction of a driver of a vehicle over time. Video is received, which is captured by a camera associated with, for example, a mobile device within a vehicle, the camera and/or mobile device mounted facing the driver of the vehicle. Frames can then be extracted from the video. A facial region can then be detected, which corresponds to the face of the driver within the extracted frames. Features descriptors can then be computed from the facial region. A gaze classifier derived from the vehicle, the driver, and the camera can then be applied, wherein the gaze classifier receives the feature descriptors as inputs and outputs at least one label corresponding to one or more predefined finite number of gaze classes to identify the gaze direction of the driver of the vehicle.
US09881213B2 Unmanned aerial vehicle rooftop inspection system
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes receiving, by the UAV, flight information describing a job to perform an inspection of a rooftop. A particular altitude is ascended to, and an inspection of the rooftop is performed including obtaining sensor information describing the rooftop. Location information identifying a damaged area of the rooftop is received. The damaged area of the rooftop is traveled to. An inspection of the damaged area of the rooftop is performed including obtaining detailed sensor information describing the damaged area. A safe landing location is traveled to.
US09881209B2 Methods and systems for detecting tampering in a document image
In one embodiment, an image processing device for detecting tampering in a document image is disclosed. The image processing device comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores processor instructions, which, on execution, causes the processor to determine an image quality of the document image by analyzing one or more quality features extracted from the document image. The processor is caused to pre-process the document image based on a pre-defined ontology of documents when the image quality is above a pre-defined quality threshold. Further, the processor is caused to segment the pre-processed document image into one or more region of interests based on the pre-defined ontology of documents and detect tampering in a region of interest in the document image by processing each region of interest of the one or more region of interests to detect tampering in the document image.
US09881207B1 Methods and systems for real-time user extraction using deep learning networks
Methods and systems for real-time user extraction using deep learning networks. In one embodiment, user extraction comprises obtaining a given frame of color pixel data, checking whether a reset flag is cleared or set, and generating a trimap for the given frame. If the reset flag is cleared, generating the trimap comprises: obtaining a user-extraction contour based on a preceding frame; and generating the trimap based on the obtained user-extraction contour. If the reset flag is set, generating the trimap comprises: detecting at least one persona feature in the given frame; generating an alpha mask by aligning an intermediate contour with the detected persona feature(s), wherein the intermediate contour is based on a color-based flood-fill operation performed on a previous frame which was segmented by a machine-learning-segmentation process; and generating the trimap based on the generated alpha mask. The generated trimap is output for extracting a user persona.
US09881203B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and program
An image processing device (10) includes a posture estimation unit (110) that estimates posture information including a yaw angle and a pitch angle of a person's face from an input image including the person's face, and an image conversion unit (120) that generates a normalized face image in which an orientation of a face is corrected, on the basis of positions of a plurality of feature points in a face region image which is a region including the person's face in the input image, positions of the plurality of feature points in a three-dimensional shape model of a person's face, and the posture information.
US09881202B2 Providing visual effects for images
Implementations relate to providing visual effects for images. In some implementations, a method includes detecting one or more objects in an image. The method identifies one or more important objects of the objects, where the important objects are determined to have an importance measurement satisfying a predetermined threshold indicating their importance to a viewer of the image. The method determines an application of a visual image effect to the image based on the important objects.
US09881193B2 Method for reading a two-dimensional code by means of a camera used for three-dimensional optical measurement of objects
Disclosed is a method for reading a two-dimensional code (17) by means of a camera (1) used for the three-dimensional optical measurement of an object using triangulation. Said method comprises the steps of placing the camera (1) above the two-dimensional code (17), having a white light source (5) of the camera (1) illuminate the code (17), having the camera (1) capture an image (18) of the code (17), and having an arithmetic unit (6) read data encrypted in the code (17) from the image (18) of the code (17).
US09881191B2 Method of controlling operation of cataloged smart devices
A method of controlling operation of cataloged smart devices includes generating an image of an item using a camera of a mobile computing device, the item corresponding to a smart device, identifying the item in the image, establishing a link to the smart device in response to identifying the item in the image, and controlling the smart device using the mobile computing device after establishing the link to the smart device.
US09881190B2 Detector logic and radio identification device and method for enhancing terminal operations
An electronic device operable with a radio frequency identification device operable with a detector logic and a method for operating the electronic device with a radio frequency identification device and a detector logic is provided. Firstly, a detection event is registered by the detector logic. The detected event relates to an operation of the radio frequency identification device, which is applicable to transmit data to a counterpart radio frequency identification device. A detection signal is generated and issued by the detector logic in response to the registering and detection event, respectively, which detection signal is received by the electronic device. Then, the electronic device initiates one or more operations in response to the receiving of the detection signal.
US09881188B2 Use of a tag and reader antenna for a simulated theremin effect
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for providing an audible feedback based on a proximity or a link quality between an external reader and a tag. The external reader transmits power to the tag with a radio frequency electromagnetic signal. The tag may rectify the radio frequency electromagnetic signal and create a rectified voltage. This rectified voltage may be used to power various components of the tag. Once it receives power from the reader, the tag may communicate information back to the external reader. The information communicated back to the reader is communicated by modulating an antenna impedance of the tag. By modulating the impedance, the tag will backscatter radiation transmitted by the reader. The reader is able to create an audio output based on determining the proximity or link quality from the reader to the tag based on the backscatter radiation it receives from the tag.
US09881185B2 Systems and methods for estimation of a population of passive RFID sensors
Systems and methods for providing an estimate of a population of passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensors in a coverage area of an RFID reader system are disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of this invention, the contention resolutions or results of each slot in an interrogation receive frame are determined. The contention resolutions are then used to determine the probabilities of different population estimates. A population estimate is then selected as the population based on the probability of the estimate meeting predetermined criteria.
US09881182B2 Programming on-chip non-volatile memory in a secure processor using a sequence number
A method may be executed by a secure processor having secure cryptography hardware implemented thereon. The method may be executed in a security kernel of a secure on-chip non-volatile (NV) memory coupled to the secure processor. The method may include: storing a rewritable state and a device private key based at least in part on a programmed secret seed and the rewritable state, the device private key being part of a cryptographic key pair comprising a public key associated with the device private key, and the rewritable state being a state of a secure application encrypted with the public key; providing one or more instructions to gather the device private key and from the private key datastore; and using the device private key to generate a device certificate, the device certificate providing the device with access to the secure application.
US09881181B2 Device-installation-information distribution apparatus and system
A device-installation-information distribution apparatus for distributing device installation information including a function of installing program on an information processing apparatus to enable the information processing apparatus to use a device over a network and a function of configuring operation settings of the program includes a distribution request obtaining unit configured to obtain a distribution request, which is transmitted from the information processing apparatus, requesting to distribute the device installation information, a device-installation-information update unit configured to obtain login information for use in logging into the information processing apparatus at a privilege authorized to install software based on the obtained distribution request and device installation information for the target device and update the device installation information by adding the login information to the device installation information, and a device-installation-information distribution unit configured to transmit the updated device installation information to the information processing apparatus.
US09881180B2 Randomized input device heating
A security code input may be obfuscated from a thermal imaging device by randomly heating a random set of inputs of an input device. The security code is inputted on an input device, which communicates with a security system to grant or deny access to a user based on an entry of the security code. The input device includes a plurality of hearing elements. The input device may receive an input from the user. A random set of heating elements including one or more heating elements, are generated from the plurality of heating elements. A temperature is determined for the one or more heating elements of the random set of heating elements. The temperature is then applied to the one or more heating elements of the random set of heating elements of the input device.
US09881177B2 Systems and methods for a cryptographic file system layer
The systems and methods disclosed herein transparently provide data security using a cryptographic file system layer that selectively intercepts and modifies (e.g., by encrypting) data to be stored in a designated directory. The cryptographic file system layer can be used in combination with one or more cryptographic approaches to provide a server-based secure data solution that makes data more secure and accessible, while eliminating the need for multiple perimeter hardware and software technologies.
US09881174B2 Multi-layered metadata management system
A metadata layer management system is presented. Layers of metadata objects can be constructed where each metadata layer object comprises a rights policy. As entities interaction with the metadata layer objects, possibly by navigating links among the objects, each entity's access rights to the objects are governed by the rights policy. Further, the disclosed techniques provide for resolving rights conflicts among the rights policies of the metadata layer objects.
US09881170B2 DBFS permissions using user, role, and permissions flags
A method for authenticating file operations on files and folders stored in a database file system where the database file system can authenticate a client-user request based upon the client-user's database credentials. The database file system has the capability of storing file permissions based on database credentials. Once a client requests a certain file operation, the client's operating system first determines whether the client has sufficient privileges to perform the requested file operation. If the client has privileges, the client operating system forwards the file operation request to the database file system. The database file system then authenticates the client, based on his database credentials, to determine whether or not to perform the requested file operation.
US09881164B1 Securing data
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for securing data. One of the methods includes receiving, by the map reduce framework, data for analysis. The method includes identifying, by the map reduce framework, private data in received data. The method includes encrypting the private data. The method includes storing the encrypted private data in a location separate from the received data. The method includes obfuscating the private data by adding a reference to the location of the encrypted private data in the received data.
US09881153B2 System and method for detection of heap spray attack
Methods, systems and media are shown for detecting a heap spray event involving examining user allocated portions of heap memory for a process image, determining a level of entropy for the user allocated portions, and, if the level of entropy is below a threshold, performing secondary heuristics, and detecting a heap spray event based on results of the secondary heuristics. In some examples, performing the secondary heuristics may include analyzing a pattern of memory allocation for the user allocated portions, analyzing data content of the user allocated portions of heap memory, or analyzing a heap allocation size for the user allocated portions of heap memory.
US09881152B2 System for monitoring the unauthorized use of a device
The invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting the loss, theft or unauthorized use of a device and/or altering the functionality of the device in response. In one embodiment, a device monitors its use, its local environment, and/or its operating context to determine that the device is no longer within the control of an authorized user. The device may receive communications or generate an internal signal altering its functionality, such as instructing the device to enter a restricted use mode, a surveillance mode, to provide instructions to return the device and/or to prevent unauthorized use or unauthorized access to data. Additional embodiments also address methods and systems for gathering forensic data regarding an unauthorized user to assist in locating the unauthorized user and/or the device.
US09881146B2 Authenticating device and authenticating method
An authenticating device employing an authenticating method of the invention is disclosed. In the method, a candidate character set is divided into several candidate character subsets so that at least one subset contains two or more elements. Then, these subsets are provided to the user to select. Before a first password character, or each time the user inputs a password character, the elements of the candidate character set are randomly arranged to produce the candidate character subsets. Based on which candidate character subsets are selected by the user, the characters in the selected subsets are compared with the password characters, thus completing the authentication process. By dynamically randomly generating the candidate character subsets to be selected by the user, password operation complexity is increased. This may comprehensively improve security and convenience of the authentication process.
US09881139B2 Domain spanning applications
Managing and accessing media items, including: a plurality of domains configured to provide access to media items; a plurality of clients associated with the plurality domains, and providing a pathway for accessing the media items; and a spanning application configured to track and aggregate accessible media items from the plurality of domains based on authentication and registration information and associated rights of the plurality of clients and the plurality of domains, wherein the spanning application enables accessing of the media items across the plurality of domains.
US09881137B2 Golf club fitting apparatus
Provided is a fitting apparatus that accurately and objectively determines an optimal swingability index, which is a swingability index of a golf club suited to a golfer. The fitting apparatus is provided with an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires a measurement value obtained by measuring a swing action of a test club by the golfer with a measurement device. The calculation unit calculates a swing index indicating a feature amount of the swing action, based on the measurement value. The determination unit determines the optimal swingability index, according to a magnitude of the swing index.
US09881134B2 Artificial general intelligence method for determining a disease state using a general graph and an individualized graph
A medical general intelligence computer system and computer-implemented methods analyze morpho-physiological numbers for determining a risk of an emergent disease state, determining an emergent disease state, predicting a pre-emergent disease state, determining a pre-emergent disease state, and/or predicting a risk of a pre-emergent disease state.
US09881133B2 Patient in-the-loop participatory care and monitoring
Methods and systems for patient participatory care and monitoring are provided for applications including respiratory care, ECG monitoring, capnography, infusion pump alarm prevention/management, pressure sore prevention, incentive spirometry, consciousness monitoring during sedation, pain management and other care and monitoring modalities. A patient in-the-loop system includes an input interface for receiving data acquired from a monitoring, controlling or sensing device, a storage device for storing the data at a first location, and a processor for analyzing artifacts in the data and determining whether the patient provided a deliberate action with respect to the device as a response to a prompt or query. The processor can further initiate a variety of prompts and/or output queries stored in the storage device at a second location to the patient. The data derived from these patient-in-the-loop techniques are formatted to be received and interpreted by electronic medical record and electronic record keeping systems.
US09881132B2 Method and apparatus for remote workstation synchronization
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described herein that are configured to provide remote access to a workstation operating in a medical domain via a zero configuration protocol. In some example embodiments, a method is provided that comprises activating a viewing application that is configured to connect to a remote workstation, via a zero configuration protocol, and enable a view of medical application data. The method of this embodiment may also include receiving an indication of a current patient context. In some example embodiments, the current patient context identifies the medical application data that is currently being viewed at the remote workstation relating a particular patient that is available for viewing in the viewing application. The method of this embodiment may also include accessing the medical application data in the viewing application based on the current patient context.
US09881127B2 Systems and methods for converting and delivering medical images to mobile devices and remote communications systems
A system for automated conversion and delivery of medical images, comprising: a communication interface; a data storage system configured to store data relating to the medical images; a server coupled with the data storage system and the communication interface, the server configured to: receive a medical image file via the communications interface, the medical image file comprising medical data and meta data, determine what fields are present in the meta data, correlate the determined fields with a modality in order to determine a modality associated with the medical image file, determine whether the data recorded in the fields has been altered, identify a recipient associated with the medical image file based on the meta data, and transmit a message to the recipient via the communication interface.
US09881126B2 Arrangements for viewing clinical images
In a method and system for populating multi-segment layouts with related multimodal medical images, a relationship is determined between subsets of the multimodal medical images. The relationship is used to determine selected subsets initially selected for display in respective segments of a segmented display. Appropriate images relating to selected subsets are used to populate the remaining display segments.
US09881121B2 Verification method of mask pattern, manufacturing method of a semiconductor device and nontransitory computer readable medium storing a mask pattern verification program
According to one embodiment, an inscribed figure as circle or an oval inscribed in a rectangular pattern of designed layout data is calculated, a difference in area between a lithographic shape corresponding to the rectangular pattern and the inscribed figure is calculated, and it is determined whether the difference in area satisfies a predetermined specification.
US09881114B2 Virtual hierarchical layer propagation
Simulation and verification are critical to analyzing a semiconductor design using design rule checking (DRC) to verify design rules for manufacturing (DRM). The efficient use of computational resources including runtimes and resource requirements is a key component of the analysis. A virtual hierarchical layer (VHL) with shapes is generated for the design analysis of a design, including cells and hierarchical design levels. A cell and multiple instances of the cell are identified in the design. A VHL based on polygons overlapping the cell is generated in response to an algorithmic operation. The VHL shapes are propagated to subsequent algorithmic operations. The algorithmic operations update the VHL shapes. Shapes are filtered out of the VHL shapes as part of the updating. The VHL shapes are propagated through a chain of operations.
US09881112B1 Vectorless dynamic power estimation for sequential circuits
Vectorless dynamic power estimation for a circuit design may include forming, using a processor, a complex basic element within the circuit design, determining, using the processor, initial toggle rates for basic elements within the circuit design, and determining, using the processor, an initial toggle rate for the complex basic element. Vectorless dynamic power estimation further may include generating, using the processor, final toggle rates by updating the initial toggle rates according to a control signal analysis and calculating, using the processor, dynamic power dissipation for the circuit design using the final toggle rates.
US09881108B2 Method of evaluation wind flow based on conservation of momentum and variation in terrain
A method of modeling the spatial variation in wind resource at a prospective wind farm site. The method involves a simplified analysis of the Navier-Stokes equation and utilizes data from all of the met sites simultaneously to develop site-calibrated models. The model coefficients, mUW and mDW, describe the sensitivity of the wind speed to changes in the upwind and downwind terrain exposure and are defined for downhill and uphill flow. The coefficients are a function of terrain complexity and, since terrain complexity can change across an area, the estimates are performed in a stepwise fashion where a path of nodes with a gradual change in complexity is found between each pair of sites. Also, coefficients are defined for each wind direction sector and estimates are performed on a sectorwise basis. The site-calibrated models are created by cross-predicting between each pair of met sites and, through a self-learning technique, the model coefficients that yield the minimum met cross-prediction error are found.
US09881107B2 Simulation method, simulation program, processing apparatus, simulator, and design method
A simulation method includes acquiring a processing condition for performing predetermined processing on a processing target with use of plasma, calculating a solid angle corresponding to a field-of-view region through which plasma space is viewable from a predetermined evaluation point in the predetermined evaluation point on a surface of the processing target based on the processing condition, and calculating an incident radical amount entering the evaluation point by a flux method with use of a function which takes a reaction probability between the solid angle and the evaluation point of a radical entering the evaluation point as an argument.
US09881106B2 Determination of behavior of loaded wheels by load simulation
The invention relates to a method for contactless determining a behavior of a loaded tire or wheel, comprising the steps of determining a contour of at least a portion of the tire or wheel; simulating loading of the tire or wheel with a virtual loading element bearing against the tire for at least one rotary position of the wheel on the basis of the determined contour, a displacement of the determined contour caused by the virtual loading element and at least one parameter associated to the tire or wheel or to a part of the tire; and determining the behavior of the loaded wheel using the simulation results.
US09881103B2 Method and system for query transformation for managing information from multiple datasets
A method and system for users to connect, extract, query and transform data from multiple databases, independent of their format, type, and location. The system comprises a setup portion, a meta database, and a user portion. The setup portion establishes datasets for use by the system with the user portion. The meta database stores the datasets. The user portion allows a user to input a query and processes the query to gather information from at least one data source and generate a response.
US09881099B2 System, method and computer program product for data transfer management
According to one aspect of the present disclosure a method and technique for managing data transfer is disclosed. The method includes comparing, by a processor unit of a data processing system, data to be written to a memory subsystem to a stored data pattern and, responsive to determining that the data matches the stored data pattern, replacing the matching data with a pattern tag corresponding to the matching data pattern. The method also includes transmitting the pattern tag to the memory subsystem.
US09881098B2 Configuration resolution for transitive dependencies
A method including receiving on a server a request from a first provider to retrieve a configuration for a lookup order. The method also can include determining the configuration for the lookup order using the server based at least in part on whether the call to the first provider by the application is through the direct dependency relationship or through the transitive dependency relationship. The method further can include providing the configuration for the lookup order to the first provider. The method additionally can include receiving first information at the application that is based at least in part on the configuration for the lookup order. The method further can include providing second information for at least a portion of a web page that is based at least in part on the first information. Other embodiments are provided.
US09881096B1 Web page tab management based on location
Systems and methods for web page tab management are provided. A method for web page tab management includes determining a web browser tab group to open, in its own window of a web browser executed by a computing device, based on a location of the computing device. The determined tab group includes a plurality of tabs assigned to the browser window and corresponding to a plurality of open web pages associated with the location. The method further includes the computing device automatically opening the determined tab group in the web browser window. A system for web page tab management includes a tab group determiner and a tab group manager.
US09881095B2 Search results for native applications
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating native application search results. In one aspect, a method includes accessing application package files for native applications, and for each native application: determining, from the application package file, an application name of the native application, accessing, at the data processing apparatus, application pages of the native application, and for each of the application pages, generating application page data describing content of the application page, an application page name of the application page, the content described by the application page data including text that a user device displays on the application page when the user device displays the application page, and indexing the application page data and application icon for the native application in an index that is searchable by a search engine.
US09881093B2 Systems and methods for photograph mapping
Systems and methods for photograph mapping are disclosed herein. In one embodiment a first digital image and at least one user-generated datum is received from at least one user. The first image is geographically organized according to the at least one datum. The first image is associated with at least one location and at least one direction. The first image is provided from a first person perspective to a user in response to a request.
US09881092B2 Method and apparatus for content-aware role modeling and recommendation
An example approach is provided for providing recommendations to a user based on user's role derived from the context information and an advanced user profile. A recommendation platform processes context information to determine one or more roles associated with a user. Next, the recommendation platform calculates at least one level of similarity between the one or more roles and one or more other roles associated with one or more other users. Then, the recommendation platform determines recommendation information associated with the one or more other users based, at least in part, on the at least one level of similarity. Next, the recommendation platform processes the recommendation information to generate one or more recommendations for the user.
US09881091B2 Content item audience selection
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting an audience for content are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, from a content item provider, a request to distribute content items to users that have been deemed interested in a particular entity. First users that have expressed an interest in the particular entity are identified. Expansion entities for the particular entity are identified in a knowledge graph. At least one of the expansion entities can be connected to the particular entity by a relationship path. Second users are identified. The second users are deemed interested in the particular entity based on the second users having expressed an interest in an expansion entity. The content items are provided to at least a portion of the first users and at least a portion of the second users.
US09881089B2 Pop-up search box
A user device may: receive a search selection; and display a search box concurrently with application or page from which the search selection was received. The search box may be displayed without the user device navigating to another application or another page. The user device may output a search query based on search terms inputted into the search box; receive search results to the search query; and display or outputting the search results.
US09881087B2 Searching multiple sellers by multiple matching items
In various exemplary embodiments, a system and associated method for to perform a search for a plurality of items in an electronic environment. In one embodiment, the system includes a keyword prompt engine to receive a plurality of keywords from an end-user. Each of the plurality of keywords is related to the plurality of items for which the end-user is searching. A price range engine prompts the end-user to input a price range for each of the plurality of items. A search engine uses one or more processors to locate the plurality of items in an inventory within the electronic environment based on the plurality of keywords and the price range. The search engine further matches concurrently one or more sellers having the plurality of items available for sale.
US09881082B2 System and method for automatic, unsupervised contextualized content summarization of single and multiple documents
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for generating a context-sensitive summarization of a corpus of content. Natural Language Processing (NLP) operations are performed on text within an input corpus to extract phrases, which are then used to generate a grammatical analysis. In turn, the grammatical analysis is used to determine the thematic relevance of individual sentences in the input corpus. Sentences within the input corpus are then ranked according to their respective thematic relevance. This ranking is used to construct a contextualized content graph, which in turn is used to generate a content summarization for the input corpus.
US09881077B1 Relevance determination and summary generation for news objects
News documents from one or more sources are aggregated. The news documents are grouped into a plurality of news collections. Each of the news collections includes a sub-set of the news documents having related content. Objects described by the news collections are determined. The objects collectively form a set of objects. A relevance of each of the news collections is measured with respect to the objects respectively described by the news collections and one or more news collections are determined from the plurality of news collections to be associated with a first object included in the set of objects based on the relevance of the one or more news collections to the first object.
US09881073B2 Method for reconfiguration of database, recording medium, and reconfiguration device
A method for reconfiguration of a database, the method includes extracting a plurality of entity candidates based on a plurality of attribute names and first information about a relation degree between the attribute name and the entity, first identifying a plurality of entity candidate groups in which each is comprised of extracted the plurality of entity candidates and has a correspondence relation with all the attribute names and the number of the entity candidates is minimum, second identifying the entity candidate group, in which a total of relation degrees between the entities in the entity candidate group is maximum, based on second information about the relation degree between the entities, and assigning each of the plurality of attribute names to either one of the plurality of entity candidates so as to have the correspondence relation of the attribute name and the entity candidate based on the first information.
US09881072B2 Dynamic feature set management
In an example, a network is described with a plurality of data sources. Each data source may provide a feature, such as a data type that the data source collects or generates. A data aggregator may be connected to the network, and configured to collect, classify, and merge features as appropriate. The data aggregator includes a discriminator for classifying features, a merger, unmerger, converter, and evaluator. Features are provided to one or more expert systems configured to control one or more systems based on the features. Feedback to the data aggregator is used to evaluate the success of a merge. When a merge is found to be unhelpful, features may be unmerged.
US09881069B2 Information landscape modeling, analysis and validation
Managing and validating a project using an information landscape. Embodiments include providing an information landscape including a topology of landscape elements for the project, linking the topology of landscape elements to a plurality of solution artifacts, and validating at least one of the plurality of solution artifacts and semantics of the information landscape.
US09881067B2 Metadata refinement using behavioral patterns
A system and method of metadata refinement using behavioral patterns is disclosed. In some embodiments, user behavioral data for results of a search query is received. The results can include an untagged item and a plurality of tagged items. A determination can then be made that the tagged items have been assigned a first type of metadata not assigned to the untagged item. The untagged item can then be identified as a candidate to be tagged with the first type of metadata assigned to the tagged items based on the user behavioral data. In some embodiments, the user behavioral data comprises clickstream data indicating that a user selected the untagged item and the tagged items during a single search event.
US09881062B2 Operation and method for prediction and management of the validity of subject reported data
A system for developing and implementing empirically derived algorithms to generate decision rules to predict invalidity of subject reported data and fraud with research protocols in surveys allows for the identification of complex patterns of variables that detect or predict subject invalidity of subject reported data and fraud with the research protocol in the survey. The present invention may also be used to monitor invalidity of subject reported data within a research protocol to determine preferred actions to be performed. Optionally, the invention may provide a spectrum of invalidity, from minor invalidity needing only corrective feedback, to significant invalidity requiring subject removal from the survey. The algorithms and decision rules can also be domain-specific, such as detecting invalidity or fraud among subjects in a workplace satisfaction survey, or demographically specific, such as taking into account gender or age. The algorithms and decision rules may be optimized for the specific sample of subjects being studied.
US09881059B2 Systems and methods for suggesting headlines
Systems and methods for recommending headlines of an article are disclosed. A topic for the article may be chosen based on the article and an original headline. Trending words within the topic that are related to the article are identified and suggested for inclusion in a revised headline.
US09881055B1 Language conversion based on S-expression tabular structure
Approaches for S-expression tabular structure based language conversion. An SQL expression is converted into an S-expression tabular structure. A function table including a plurality of functions associated with S-expression tabular structure tabulated against at least one of a function name, a derived column and a derived table and an argument table including plurality of arguments associated with the S-expression tabular structure tabulated against at least one of an argument type, a function identifier linking the arguments to the function table, a computed from function, a reference to entity or a literal value, is generated based on the S-expression tabular structure. One or more functions associated with the S-expression tabular structure is converted to a pre-determined SQL based language, based on a language map of the pre-determined language and the function table and the argument table.
US09881054B2 System and method of query processing with schema change in JSON document store
An information processing system, a computer readable storage medium, and a method of managing a query to find a set of JSON documents in a multi-schema JSON document store. A query engine receives a first query to find at least one JSON document in a plurality of sets of JSON documents stored in the JSON document store, each set of JSON documents being organized in a unique JSON schema version related to a unique JSON schema version of each other set of JSON documents by at least one schema change. The first query is organized in a first unique JSON schema version. A query translator translates the first query into a second query based on the at least one schema change. The first and second queries are executed to provide first and second query results which are collectively returned.
US09881050B2 Method and system to recommend applications from an application market place to a new device
A method and system for populating a second electronic device of a user with applications from a second application platform said second electronic device is operating with, using applications installed on a first electronic device of said user, said first electronic device operating with a first application platform. The method is carried out by an application recommendation node.
US09881048B2 Mirroring, in memory, data from disk to improve query performance
Techniques are provided for maintaining data persistently in one format, but making that data available to a database server in more than one format. For example, one of the formats in which the data is made available for query processing is based on the on-disk format, while another of the formats in which the data is made available for query processing is independent of the on-disk format. Data that is in the format that is independent of the disk format may be maintained exclusively in volatile memory to reduce the overhead associated with keeping the data in sync with the on-disk format copies of the data.
US09881046B2 Recording medium having stored therein process managing program, process managing apparatus and process managing method
A process managing apparatus includes detecting an occurrence of an abnormality in a management target system that sequentially executes a plurality of process procedures; identifying a process procedure in which the abnormality has occurred from among the plurality of process procedures according to the detecting of the occurrence of the abnormality; identifying from among the plurality of process procedures a subsequent process procedure that is affected by the abnormality that occurred in the identified process procedure by referring to process procedure information that defines a plurality of operating processes included in the plurality of process procedures and an order of execution of the plurality of operating processes; and identifying output information that relates to the identified process procedure or the subsequent process procedure, among output information from the plurality of process procedures.
US09881044B2 Techniques for ensuring consistency of data updates transactions in a distributed storage system
A method and system for ensuring consistency in data updates transactions in a distributed storage system (DSS) are provided. The method includes receiving an aggregated transaction request comprising monotonous transaction requests, wherein each monotonous transaction request is initiated by at least one computing node of a plurality of computing of nodes in the DSS, wherein the root computing node and the plurality of computing nodes are arranged in a tree structure; generating a range of transaction indexes based on the aggregated transaction request; and passing the generated range of transaction indexes along the plurality of computing nodes according to their respective level in the tree structure hierarchy, wherein each of the plurality of computing nodes initiating the monotonous transaction request is allocated with a unique portion of the aggregated transaction indexes, thereby ensuring time-order access to at least one storage device in the DSS.
US09881043B2 Multiple revision mailbox
A method begins by determining slice names of encoded data slices stored within a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method continues by determining dispersed storage (DS) units within the DSN storing a set of the encoded data slices associated with the slice names. The method continues by determining one or more revision numbers associated with the slice names. The method continues by determining if same slice names have different associated revision numbers and, when the same slice names have different associated revision numbers, adding the slice names to a revision mailbox for subsequent correction.
US09881040B2 Tracking data of virtual disk snapshots using tree data structures
User data of different snapshots for the same virtual disk are stored in the same storage object. Similarly, metadata of different snapshots for the same virtual disk are stored in the same storage object, and log data of different snapshots for the same virtual disk are stored in the same storage object. As a result, the number of different storage objects that are managed for snapshots do not increase proportionally with the number of snapshots taken. In addition, any one of the multitude of persistent storage back-ends can be selected as the storage back-end for the storage objects according to user preference, system requirement, snapshot policy, or any other criteria. Another advantage is that the storage location of the read data can be obtained with a single read of the metadata storage object, instead of traversing metadata files of multiple snapshots.
US09881034B2 Systems and methods for automating management of distributed databases
An automation system is provided to automate any administrative task in a distributed database, such that the end user can input a goal state (e.g., create database with a five node architecture) and the automation system generates and executes a plan to achieve the goal state without further user input. According to another aspect, bringing existing database systems into automated management can be as complex as designing the database itself. According to some embodiments, the automation system is configured to analyze existing database systems, capture and/or install monitoring components within the existing database, and generate execution pathways to integrate existing database systems into automation control systems. Based on the current state information, the automation system is configured to generate an installation pathway of one or more intermediate states to transition the existing system from no automation to a goal state having active automation agents distributed throughout the database.
US09881033B2 Intelligent electrical distribution grid control system data
Aspects of a multi-level electrical distribution control system associated with an electrical distribution grid are disclosed. Data access and processing across the multi-level control system and the electrical distribution grid can provide improved utilization of energy within the electrical distribution grid. Further, dynamic reconfiguration of the electric distribution grid can be based distributed processing and access to information relating to the electrical distribution control system or electrical distribution grid. An encapsulated DNNC data element is disclosed as an efficient and secure means of accessing data across the multi-level electrical distribution control system or the associated electrical distribution grid.
US09881031B1 System and method for combining data sets
Embodiments of the invention involve receiving a first set of data describing one or more first observations and a second set of data describing one or more second observations. The first set of data comprises at least two types of data and the second set of data comprises at least two types of data. At least one of the two types of data in the first data set are common with at least one of the two types of data in the second data set. The common types of data comprise common data to the first and second sets of data. The types of data that are not common comprise exclusive data for each of the first and second sets of data. A first multiple regression model is developed for the first data set. The common data for the first data set are set as independent variables and the exclusive data for the first data set are set as dependent variables. A second multiple regression model is developed for the second data set. The common data for the second data set are set as independent variables and the exclusive data for the second data set are set as dependent variables. Prediction results of the first and second multiple regression models are received. Based on the prediction results, at least some of the one or more first observations and the one or more second observations are classified as reasonable observations, which are well-predicted observations. At least some of the one or more first observations and the one or more second observations are classified as outlier observations, which are not classified as well-predicted observations. The outlier observations are removed. The reasonable observations are assigned into intervals for each of the types of data. Based on the assignment, the observations are merged to create a third data set.
US09881029B2 Method and system for providing a federated wide area motion imagery collection service
A method and a computer system for providing a federated wide area motion imagery (WAMI) collection service are provided. The method may include collecting WAMI collection metadata by issuing a request for retrieving WAMI collection metadata from one WAMI collection service (CS) and storing the response. The WAMI CS may run at a geographic location, and WAMI data may be collected and stored there. The WAMI collection metadata may indicate where the WAMI data is stored, and it may be transmitted to the federated WAMI CS. The method may further include organizing the WAMI collection metadata in a tree structure or directed acyclic graph (DAG). A request for accessing the stored WAMI data may then be received from a client using the stored WAMI collection metadata. Access may be provided to the geographic location of the WAMI CS to retrieve a portion of the WAMI data.
US09881026B2 Method and apparatus for identifying input features for later recognition
Disclosed are method and apparatus to recognize actors during normal system operation. The method includes defining actor input such as hand gestures, executing and detecting input, and identifying salient features of the actor therein. A model is defined from salient features, and a data set of salient features and/or model are retained, and may be used to identify actors for other inputs. A command such as “unlock” may be executed in response to actor input. Parameters may be applied to further define where, when, how, etc. actor input is executed, such as defining a region for a gesture. The apparatus includes a processor and sensor, the processor defining actor input, identifying salient features, defining a model therefrom, and retaining a data set. A display may also be used to show actor input, a defined region, relevant information, and/or an environment. A stylus or other non-human actor may be used.
US09881017B2 System and method for event-based synchronization of remote and local file systems
A method for synchronizing a file system (FS) and a remote file system (RFS) includes monitoring the FS for FS events, generating FS event records, receiving RFS event records of RFS events, generating file system operations (FSOs) based on the FS and RFS event records, and communicating the FSOs to the FS and RFS to synchronize them. A method for generating the FSOs includes accessing a plurality of FS and/or RFS event records, processing the accessed records to generate processed event records, generating the FSOs based on the processed event records, and outputting the FSOs to cause synchronization of the FS and RFS. Systems are also described. The invention facilitates event-based, steady-state synchronization of local and remote file systems.
US09881016B1 Unified slice map volume
Examples are generally directed towards a file server having a unified file system associated with a unified slice map volume. In one example, the unified file system stores file system metadata and sparse volume metadata within the unified slice map volume. The unified file system performs a unified set of functions using the file system metadata and sparse volume metadata in the unified slice map volume.
US09881011B2 System and method for generating user profiles for human resources
A system and method for generating user profiles for human resources are described. The system includes an enterprise service bus configured to receive a request to transmit media to a device and route the media to a device and network appliance as a service (NAaaS) application services configured to receive the request from the enterprise services bus, generate a user profile for a user, log a device usage entry that includes a unique identifier for the user, a unique identifier for the device and an action associated with the request, determine one or more keywords relating to content in the media, generate an index that includes the one or more keywords and update the user profile for the user based on the one or more keywords.
US09881007B2 Systems and methods for multi-user multi-lingual communications
Various embodiments described herein facilitate multi-lingual communications. The systems and methods of some embodiments enable multi-lingual communications through different modes of communication including, for example, Internet-based chat, e-mail, text-based mobile phone communications, postings to online forums, postings to online social media services, and the like. Certain embodiments implement communication systems and methods that translate text between two or more languages. Users of the systems and methods may be incentivized to submit corrections for inaccurate or erroneous translations, and may receive a reward for these submissions. Systems and methods for assessing the accuracy of translations are described.
US09881003B2 Automatic translation of digital graphic novels
Digital graphic novel content is received and features of the graphic novel content are identified. At least one of the identified features includes text. Contextual information corresponding to the feature or features that include text is generated based on the identified features. The contextual information is used to aid translation of the text included in the feature or features that include text.
US09881002B1 Content localization
A localization service may be provided to manage distribution of content including text overlays according to language codes. In some examples, the language codes include regional identifiers and language identifiers. The localization service may provide the content including translated text overlays for reproduction by client devices in accordance with descriptive data associated with the images. In some examples, the descriptive data may describe the text overlays, placement of the text overlays with respect to the content, and characteristics of the text overlays.
US09880994B1 Detecting compatible layouts for content-based native ads
Detecting compatible layouts for content-based native ads is disclosed. First page information representing elements of a first page may be generated. Second page information representing elements of a second page may be generated. It may be determined, based at least in part on the first page information and second page information, that a native sponsored content template configured for use with the first page is compatible with the second page.
US09880991B2 Transposing table portions based on user selections
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for displaying tabular data. A computing device identifies a plurality of data elements organized in a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns, wherein the first plurality of rows and the first plurality of columns are at least partially displayed. The computing device receives a data selection spanning an entire row or an entire column included in the first plurality of rows or the first plurality of columns. The computing device, in response to receiving the data selection spanning an entire row or an entire column included in the first plurality of rows or the first plurality of columns, determines a statistical relationship included in the data selection. The computing device, in response to determining the statistical relationship, displays at least a portion of the data selection.
US09880984B2 Revision of a portion of a document via social media
Document revision via social media includes receiving a portion of a document and contact information of a reviewer to be notified for reviewing the portion of the document. The contact information of the reviewer corresponds to a social network. Document revision via social media also includes storing the portion of the document and the contact information of the reviewer into a memory, generating a link referencing the portion of the document stored into the memory, and publishing the link to the reviewer for the reviewer to access the portion of the document for reviewing via the social network.
US09880983B2 Methods and systems for uniquely identifying digital content for eDiscovery
Systems and methods provide for the collection of content, such as webpage content, and for detection of changes in content. Files composing a document at a different time periods may be accessed and sets of hash values corresponding to files composing the document at the different periods may be calculated. A determination is made as to whether a file in the identified files at the different time periods is an HTML file, and if so an additional hash value corresponding to the HTML file is calculated. Aggregated hash values may be calculated based on hash values in the sets of hash values. A report may be generated reporting hash values for the document as it exists at the different time periods, including the hash values for the files composing the document, the additional hash values for respective HTML files, and the aggregated hash values. Changes in hash values may be indicated.
US09880981B2 Automatically detecting the ability to execute processing logic after a parser or validation error
In an embodiment of the invention, a method for error handling during document processing is provided. The method includes receiving a well-defined document as input to a computer program executing in memory of a computer, parsing the well-defined document and validating the well-defined document as conforming with a defined plan for the well-defined document, and responsive to detecting an error during parsing and validating, permitting use of the well-defined document to proceed notwithstanding the detected error if enough of the well-defined document conforms to the defined plan to satisfy programmatic input needs of the computer program, but otherwise terminating use of the well-defined document in the computer program.
US09880978B2 System and method for selective control of zoom adjustments in an electronic publication
A system and method for selective control of zoom adjustments in an electronic publication is disclosed. The method may include generating content for display on an electronic reading device; generating at least one style for the content, and storing the content and the at least one style on a computer readable medium. The generation of at least one style may include identifying at least a portion of the content for which at least one zoom level will be specified; specifying a base text size for the portion of the content; and specifying a first value to increment the base text size to a first zoom state text size. A method for rendering an electronic document on an electronic device may include storing content representing an electronic publication in a computer memory of the electronic device, the content including at least one style for a portion of the content, the at least one style including a base text size for the portion of the content and at least a first value to increment the base text size to a first zoom state text size; rendering the contents according to the at least one style; and incrementing the base text size for the portion of the content by the first value in response to a user input to zoom.
US09880977B2 Calendar overlays
Implementing an electronic calendar can include accessing a first electronic calendar owned by a first party, accessing a second electronic calendar owned by a second party, and presenting a view that combines at least one existing entry from within each of the first and second electronic calendars. Source information for each of the first and second electronic calendars may be electronically maintained. The combined view may be updated electronically to reflect a change to at least one of the existing entries from within at least one of the first and second electronic calendars. Electronic calendars may be accessed and overlaid without importing events, thus enabling simple updating. Event information may be imported and source or other attributes may be associated with imported information to enable updating and other sorting functions.
US09880976B2 Matrix processing apparatus
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a system for transforming sparse elements into a dense matrix. The system includes a data fetch unit that includes a plurality of processors, the data fetch unit configured to determine, based on identifications of the subset of the particular sparse elements, a processor designation for fetching the subset of the particular sparse elements. The system includes a concatenation unit configured to generate an output dense matrix based on a transformation that is applied to the sparse elements fetched by the data fetch unit.
US09880974B2 Folded butterfly module, pipelined FFT processor using the same, and control method of the same
A folded butterfly module performs a radix-22 butterfly operation, and includes: a buffer operable to store first and second to-be-stored data and output first and second stored data; a first multiplexer operable to output one of the second stored data and input data as first selection data; a butterfly operator performing a radix-2 butterfly operation on the first stored data and the first selection data to generate operation data and the second to-be-stored data; a second multiplexer operable to output one of the input data and the operation data as the first to-be-stored data; a third multiplexer operable to output one of the operation data and the second stored data as second selection data; and a multiplier generating output data that equal a product of the second selection data and twiddle data.
US09880972B2 Computer subsystem and computer system with composite nodes in an interconnection structure
The present invention provides a computer subsystem and a computer system. The computer subsystem includes L composite nodes, each composite node includes M basic nodes, each basic node includes N central processing units (CPUs) and one node controller. Any two CPUs in each basic node are interconnected. Each CPU in each basic node is connected to the node controller in the basic node. The node controller in each basic node has a routing function. Any two node controllers in the M basic nodes are interconnected. A connection between the L composite nodes formed through connections between node controllers enables communication between any two node controllers to be no more than three hops. The computer subsystem and the computer system according to embodiments of the present invention can reduce the kinds and the number of interconnection chips, and simplify an interconnection structure of a system, thereby improving reliability of the system.
US09880971B2 Memory appliance for accessing memory
A memory appliance system is described and includes a processor coupled to one or more communication channels with a command interface, wherein the processor is configured for communicating commands over the communication channels. A plurality of Smart Memory Cubes (SMCs) is coupled to the processor through the communication channels. Each of the SMCs includes a controller that is programmable, and a plurality of memory devices. The controller is configured to respond to commands from the command interface to access content stored in one or more of the plurality of memory devices and to perform data operations on content accessed from the plurality of memory devices.
US09880966B1 Encapsulating metadata of a platform for application-specific tailoring and reuse of the platform in an integrated circuit
Application-specific tailoring and reuse of a platform for a target integrated circuit may include determining, using a processor, a plurality of unused interfaces of the platform and determining, using the processor, connectivity of a circuit block to be coupled to the platform within the target integrated circuit. The method may include coupling, using the processor, the circuit block to the platform using an interface that is compatible with the circuit block and selected from the plurality of unused interfaces of the platform.
US09880963B2 Communication device including communication unit configured to communicate via local area network (LAN) and at least one I/O port that is connectable to manufacturing apparatus
A communication device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a LAN, and IO ports connectable to a manufacturing apparatus, and a controller. The IO ports are configured and/or programmed to exchange ON/OFF signals including multiple bits with the manufacturing apparatus. The controller is configured and/or programmed to receive communication requests from communication destinations via the LAN, store network addresses of communication destinations and IO port designations, change a value of the ON/OFF signals of designated IO ports in accordance with requests from communication destinations, and transmit the ON/OFF signals of designated IO ports to communication destinations via the communication unit and the LAN in accordance with requests from the communication destinations.
US09880962B2 Vehicle entertainment assemblies and systems
Methods and systems are disclosed relating to in-vehicle entertainment, information presentation, and/or processing. Aspects of multimedia in-vehicle entertainment systems that may incorporate removable and/or portable tablet-type computing devices are described. In certain configurations, a hinged tablet computer carrier includes guide rails into which a portable tablet computer may slide while in an open position, and which can hinge into a closed or locked position that holds the tablet computer in place, positions it for viewing, and effects mechanical and electrical coupling of the tablet computer with other components of the in-vehicle entertainment system. Exemplary placement could include headrest, seatback, overhead, or in-dash mounting. Hinging or sliding could be vertical or horizontal. Various other mechanical, electronic, and electro-mechanical aspects of the methods and systems are described.
US09880958B2 Extensible host controller of a host for optionally controlling the host to act as a target side or a host side and related operation method thereof
An extensible host controller applied to a host includes a universal serial bus (USB) module, a control unit, and a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE) bus. The USB module includes a USB unit and a predetermined unit. The PCIE bus is coupled to the control unit, wherein the PCIE bus supports a USB mode and a predetermined mode. When a first host with a first extensible host controller is connected to the USB module, the control unit makes the host utilize the USB mode and the USB unit, or the predetermined mode and the predetermined unit to communicate with the first host according to a determination way.
US09880956B2 Method and apparatus for adapting the data transmission security in a serial bus system
In a bus system that includes at least two subscribed data processing units that exchange messages via a bus in a serial data transmission, the transmitted messages are of a logical structure that includes a start-of-frame bit, an arbitration field, a control field, a data field, a CRC field, an acknowledge field and an end-of-frame sequence, the control field including a data length code, which contains information regarding the length of the data field. The CRC field of the messages can include any of two or more different numbers of bits depending on a value of an associated switchover condition (UB3).
US09880953B2 Systems and methods for network I/O based interrupt steering
Systems and techniques for managing network processing on a central processing unit including multiple cores are described. Techniques may determine respective resource utilization for one or more processing cores. In one example resource utilization for cores may be determined based on one or more of task utilization time, processor load based on hardware interrupts, cycles spent on processing network packets, utilization based on software interrupts, and idle time. Interrupts may be steered to a core based on resource utilization.
US09880952B2 Bus access controller, hardware engine, controller, and memory system
According to one embodiment, there is provided a bus access controller including a memory, multiple buffers, and an issuance circuit. Information necessary for bus access can be set in the memory. The multiple buffers store information set in the memory. The issuance circuit is connected to a bus. The issuance circuit issues a bus-access instruction, according to information stored in a buffer selected from among the multiple buffers in response to a request.
US09880951B2 Circuit for using shared memory, and method of storing determination result of arbitration content of arbitrator of this circuit
According to an embodiment, a circuit for using a shared memory is provided, which has a plurality of function circuits, a bus, an arbitrator, and a communication measuring device. Each of a plurality of the function circuits performs a prescribed calculation. The bus communicates an input/output signal of each of the function circuits. The arbitrator assigns a use right of the bus to each of the function circuits. The communication measuring device measures a communication time of each of the function circuits, determines whether or not the measured communication time is within a range of a reference communication time set for each of the function circuits, and stores this determination result in a determination result storage device accessible from outside.
US09880948B2 Method and apparatus for bus lock assistance
A method is described that includes detecting that an instruction of a thread is a locked instruction. The instruction also includes determining that execution of said instruction includes imposing a bus lock. The instruction also include executing a bus lock assistance function in response to said determining, said bus lock assistance function including a function associated with said bus lock other than implementation of a bus lock protocol.
US09880947B2 Return oriented programming stack pivoting protection
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for identifying a stack pointer associated with a sequence of code being executed on a computing system and counting a number of exchange updates to the stack pointer. Additionally, a hardware interrupt may be generated if the number of exchange updates reaches a threshold. In one example, the hardware interrupt is a performance monitoring interrupt.
US09880943B2 Cache management in a multi-threaded environment
Disclosed here are methods, systems, paradigms and structures for deleting shared resources from a cache in a multi-threaded system. The shared resources can be used by a plurality of requests belonging to multiple threads executing in the system. When requests, such as requests for executing script code, and work items, such as work items for deleting a shared resource, are created, a global sequence number is assigned to each of them. The sequence number indicates the order in which the requests and work items are created. A particular work item can be executed to delete the shared resource if there are no requests having a sequence number lesser than that of the particular work item executing in the system. However, if there is at least one request with a sequence number lesser than that of the particular work item executing, the work item is ignored until the request completes executing.
US09880941B2 Sharing an accelerator context across multiple processes
The present disclosure relates to sharing a context on a coherent hardware accelerator among multiple processes. According to one embodiment, in response to a first process requesting to create a shared memory space, a system creates a shared hardware context on the coherent hardware accelerator and binds the first process and the shared memory space to the hardware context. In response to the first process spawning one or more second processes, the system binds the one or more second processes to the shared memory space and the hardware context. Subsequently, the system performs one or more operations initiated by the first process or one of the one or more second processes on the coherent hardware accelerator according to the bound hardware context.
US09880939B2 Memory system and information processing system
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory, a device controller, and a tag memory. The device controller stores a part of a logical-to-physical address translation table (L2P table) stored in the nonvolatile memory in a memory of a host as a cache. The tag memory includes a plurality of entries associated with a plurality of cache lines of the cache. Each entry includes a tag indicating which area of the L2P table is stored in a corresponding cache line, and a plurality of bitmap flags indicating whether a plurality of sub-lines included in the corresponding cache line are valid or not.
US09880937B2 Dynamic set associative cache apparatus for processor and access method thereof
The present invention provides a dynamic set associative cache apparatus for a processor. When read access occurs, the apparatus first determines a valid/invalid bit of each cache block in a cache set to be accessed, and sets, according to the valid/invalid bit of each cache block, an enable/disable bit of a cache way in which the cache block is located; then, reads valid cache blocks, compares a tag section in a memory address with a tag block in each cache block that is read, and if there is a hit, reads data from a data block in a hit cache block according to an offset section of the memory address.
US09880936B2 Distributed cache framework
A system includes a database that stores data on one or more memory devices and a business object layer that receives a request for data associated with a user stored on the database. The system includes a first cache that reads and stores the requested data from the database in response to the request from the business object layer, where the first cache is partitioned into different segments and the different segments are stored across multiple different computing devices. The system includes a second cache that reads and stores the requested data from the first cache. The business object layer filters and applies business logic to the data before the second cache reads the requested data from the first cache. The second cache is stored on a single computing device that received the request. The business object layer delivers the requested data from the second cache.
US09880935B2 Efficient data transfer between a processor core and an accelerator
A processor writes input data to a cache line of a shared cache, wherein the input data is ready to be operated on by an accelerator. It then notifies an accelerator that the input data is ready to be processed. The processor then determines that output data of the accelerator is ready to be consumed, the output data being located at the cache line or an additional cache line of the shared cache, wherein the cache line or the additional cache line comprises a set first flag that indicates the cache line or the additional cache line was modified by the accelerator and that prevents the output data from being removed from the cache line or the additional cache line until the output data is read by the processor. The processor reads and processes the output data from the cache line or the additional cache.
US09880932B2 Instruction and logic for flush-on-fail operation
A processor includes a memory management unit and a front end including a decoder. The decoder includes logic to receive a flush-on-commit (FoC) instruction to flush dirty data from a volatile cache to a persistent memory upon commitment of a store associated with the FoC instruction. The memory management unit includes logic to, based upon a flush-on-fail (FoF) mode, skip execution of the flush-on-commit instruction and to flush the dirty data from the volatile cache upon a subsequent FoF operation.
US09880931B2 Safepoints for guest languages on a virtual machine
An application programming interface (API) may include an initiator configured to initiate a guest safepoint via an action represented in a guest language executed on a virtual machine, provide a safepoint action to a group of guest threads, synchronize the guest threads such that each guest thread in the group executes the safepoint action once all guest threads in the group enter the guest safepoint, and synchronize the guest threads such that each guest thread in the group exits the guest safepoint once all guest threads in the group complete execution of the safepoint action. The API may also include a guest configured to determine whether a guest safepoint is initiated, enter the guest safepoint, execute the safepoint action while execution of a guest action is paused, and exit the guest safepoint and resume execution of the guest action once the safepoint action completes execution.
US09880928B1 Storing compressed and uncompressed data in blocks having different allocation unit sizes
Improved techniques for storing data involve storing compressed data in blocks of a first AU size and storing uncompressed data in blocks of a second AU size larger than the first AU size. For example, when a storage processor compresses a chunk of data, the storage processor checks whether the compressed chunk fits in the smaller AU size. If the compressed chunk fits, then the storage processor stores a compressed chunk in a block having the smaller AU size. Otherwise, the storage processor stores the uncompressed chunk in a block having the larger AU size. Advantageously, the improved techniques promote better disk and cache utilization, which improves performance without disrupting block mapping.
US09880926B1 Log structured reserved zone for a data storage device
A circuit may be configured to store data to a reserved zone of a non-volatile solid state memory (NVSSM) in a log structured manner and to use information stored in the reserved zone to restore data as needed. In some embodiments, a reserved area of a NVSSM may include die from one or more non-volatile memory modules, which can be divided into blocks and the blocks can be combined to form frames. In some examples, the frames may contain frame headers that can contain a unique identifier which can indicate which frame is to be used to restore data structures, such as during power up or for other restore events.
US09880925B1 Collecting structured program code output
A system may obtain an executable code segment of program code. The executable code segment may be associated with an emitter, and the program code, when executed, may be associated with a plurality of execution states. Each execution state, of the plurality of execution states, may correspond to a state of execution at a point in the execution of the program code that causes an event, of the plurality of events. The system may execute the executable code segment. The system may receive, from the emitter and based on executing the executable code segment, a program state corresponding to the particular execution state. The emitter may emit the information based on a particular event caused by executing the executable code segment. The system may collect the program state and information describing the particular event.
US09880924B2 Source code unit testing using an indexing tool
A processing device indexes source code that include test functions that test corresponding functions in the source code. The processing device determines a function in the source code that contains a change, determines a set of functions in the source code that are affected by the change in the function, identifies one or more test functions in the set of functions, and creates a list of identified test functions. The list of identified test functions is a subset of the plurality of test functions to execute for testing the change.
US09880918B2 Mobile and remote runtime integration
An application program may be analyzed to identify candidate classes or methods that may be executed using a remote computing node. Candidate classes or methods may be translocated to the remote computing node based on performance characteristics of the device on which the application program is running, the environment in which the device operates, and on the performance and availability of the remote computing node. An application program publisher may be assigned instances of virtual machines that may be dedicated to hosting translocated classes and methods.
US09880917B2 Monitoring virtual machines for alert conditions
Methods and systems may provide for detecting an event external to a plurality of virtual machines running on one or more physical machines and determining that the event corresponds to one or more error conditions associated with at least one particular virtual machine in the plurality of virtual machines. Additionally, an alert may be generated in response to at least one of the one or more error conditions. In one example, detecting the event includes detecting an emulated device interrupt associated with the at least one particular virtual machine.
US09880913B2 Storing data in multi-region storage devices
An apparatus comprises a storage controller coupled to at least one multi-region storage device. The at least one multi-region storage device comprises two or more storage regions, the two or more storage regions comprising a first storage region associated with a first set of failure characteristics and at least a second storage region associated with a second set of failure characteristics different than the first set of failure characteristics. The storage controller is configured to replicate in the second storage region at least a portion of data that is stored in the first storage region.
US09880911B2 Method for handling faults in a central control device, and control device
The invention relates to a method for handling faults in a central control device, wherein the control device comprises a distributed computer system (100), to which distributed computer system (100) sensors (112, 113, 122, 123) are connected or can be connected, wherein the distributed computer system (100), particularly all the components of the computer system, is distributed to a first fault containment unit FCU1 (101) and a second fault containment unit FCU2 (102), wherein FCU1 (101) and FCU2 (102) are each supplied with power via a separate, independent power supply, and wherein FCU1 (101) and FCU2 (102) interchange data solely via galvanically separated lines, and wherein some of the sensors are connected at least to FCU1 (101) and the remainder of the sensors are connected at least to FCU2 (102), and wherein FCU1 (101) and FCU2 (102) are connected to a redundantly designed communication system (131, 132) having one or more actuators, so that, if FCU1 fails, FCU2 will maintain a limited functionality using the sensors assigned to FCU2, and if FCU2 fails, FCU1 will maintain a limited functionality using the sensors assigned to FCU1.
US09880910B2 Asynchronous remote copy system and storage control method
In a previous storage apparatus, differential JNLs are reflected in order of the sequential numbers, to the data volumes thereof. If a first storage apparatus is suspended, it is determined which is newer: the sequential number which the journal recently reflected in a second storage apparatus or the sequential number reflected in a third storage apparatus. In the newer storage apparatus having the newer sequential number, it is determined whether one or more JNLs from the journal having the sequential number next to the sequential number which is not determined to be the newer to the journal having the sequential number determined to be the newer exist, or not. If the result of the determination is positive, from the newer storage apparatus to the previous storage apparatus which is not the newer of the second and the third storage apparatuses, one or more differential JNLs are copied.
US09880902B2 Multi-writer revision synchronization in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a processing module of a computing device receiving a most current revision value for a data element, where a revision value for the data element is generated based on a current time of a storing device. The method continues with the processing module generating a new revision value for a currently revised version of the data element based on a current time of the computing device and comparing the current time of the new revision value with the current time of the most current revision value. When the current time of the new revision value precedes the current time of the most current revision value, the method continues with the processing module adjusting the new revision value to produce an adjusted revision value and facilitating storage of the currently revised version of the data element having the adjusted revision value.
US09880898B2 Transmission control checking for interconnect circuitry
Transmission control checking circuitry adds control check data to a transaction response which is received at a transaction master and compared with expected data at the transaction master. The expected data having control check data may be a unique transaction identifier. The transaction master generated the unique transaction identifier when it generated the transaction request and will check that the transaction responses include that unique transaction identifier. In this way, errors in the control of transmission of transactions (e.g., misrouting) may be detected.
US09880897B2 Failure mode identification and reporting
When a software component is starting, such as but not limited to a task or a subtask, the component pushes its identification (ID) onto a stack. The component executes its other instructions. If the component completes its instructions so that it can terminate normally, it pops the stack, which removes its ID from the stack. If the component fails, such as by not being able to complete its instructions, it will not be able to pop the stack so its ID will remain in the stack. Another software process can read the IDs in the stack to identify which components have failed and can automatically take a specified action, such as by sending an email message to, sending a text message to, or calling by telephone, a person or persons responsible for that software component.
US09880894B2 High availability and energy-efficient watchdog timer
Examples for an intelligent watchdog timer for a computing device are described herein. The watchdog timer operates a watchdog counter that repetitively counts a watchdog count interval from an initial value to a final value. The watchdog counter is continually reset if the device is functioning properly. If the watchdog timer is allowed to reach a final count value, a processor reset is initiated. Several components operate to detect the current mode of operation of the processor or an operating system, and predict, in part based on user context, when different power states may occur. The components also forecast when the watchdog timer is scheduled to reach the final count value. Based on the forecasts of when the watchdog timer will reach the final count value and the predictions of future power states of the processor or operating system, the watchdog counter is selectively disabled or reset.
US09880892B2 System and method for managing semiconductor manufacturing defects
A method of managing semiconductor manufacturing defects, the method including: determining a cumulative aging parameter for each of a plurality of first IC products produced with a particular manufacturing line, the cumulative aging parameter being dependent on a product operating condition; calculating an observed defect rate for the plurality of first IC products based on a difference between a predicted value of a aging parameter and the cumulative aging parameter for each of the plurality of first IC products; and adjusting a manufacturing reliability model for the particular manufacturing line in response to the observed defect rate being different from an initial predicted defect rate for the plurality of first IC products wherein the manufacturing reliability model reestablishes the initial predicted defect rate.
US09880887B2 Method, computer program and device for allocating computer resources of a cluster for executing a task submitted to said cluster
A method and device for allocating computer resources of a cluster for carrying out at least one job controlled by the cluster is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes determining the placement of the job from physical features of the job and from physical features and availability of the computer resources of at least one processing area of the cluster. The method further includes receiving energy state features of the computer resources of at least the processing area; determining a recommended placement of the at least one job by correlating the physical features of the job, the physical features, availability and energy state of the computer resources on the basis of predetermined rules; and deducing, from the predetermined recommended placement, a recommended allocation list of the computer resources for carrying out the job in the cluster.
US09880883B2 Virtual resource control system determining new allocation of resources at a hub
To provide a virtual resource control system capable of appropriately defining the amounts of allocated virtual resources to individual service systems under an environment in which service systems are added or deleted. A resource excessive/lacking amount calculation means 54 simulates a resource consumption situation of each node in the service system by use of a hybrid model, and calculates the amount of excessive/lacking resource indicating the lacking amount or the excessive amount of the amount of allocated virtual resource corresponding to one entire service system corresponding to a service management device. The resource excessive/lacking amount calculation means 54 notifies the amount of excessive/lacking resource to a hub device 60, and receives a notification of the new amount of allocated virtual resource corresponding to the entire service system. A notification by the resource excessive/lacking amount calculation means 54 and a response from the hub device 60 are made asynchronously.
US09880882B2 Multi-tenant SaaS platform and method for automated deployment of connector application, and tenant and service provider using virtual machine
A multi-tenant software as a service (SaaS) platform for automatic deployment of a connector application, and a method for automatic deployment of a connector application in a multi-tenant software as a service (SaaS) platform, the method including: deploying a tenant service connector package to a tenant among a plurality of tenants, the tenant service connector package being a package configured to cause a tenant virtual machine to be created in order to provide a service to at least one tenant of the plurality of tenants in a virtual machine form; activating the tenant virtual machine through execution of the tenant service connector package in the tenant that receives the tenant service connector package; forming a connection channel between a virtual machine of the SaaS platform and the tenant virtual machine; and providing the service between the SaaS platform and the at least one tenant through the formed connection channel.
US09880881B1 Multi-tier resource and load orchestration
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for process-performing resources and process specifications particularized to loads are provided. A provisional electronic composite for a load may be created. A type of process-performing resource may be identified. Performance data may be accessed to identify a process-performance duration that corresponds to a process type, the type of process-performing resource, process-performance locations, and process-performance times. A process-assignment duration may be defined, and an availability of a process-performing resource may be detected. A performance time may be determined based on the availability of the process-performing resource. Instruction to perform the process at the performance time may transmitted to at least one resource-controlling device. The provisional electronic composite for the load may be modified based on the performance time and the instruction to form an updated electronic composite.
US09880880B2 Automatic scaling of computing resources using aggregated metrics
A computing resource monitoring service receives a plurality of measurements for a metric associated with an auto-scale group. Each measurement is associated with metadata for the measurement, which specifies attributes for the measurement. The computing resource monitoring service determines, for each measurement and based at least in part on the metadata, a fully qualified metric identifier for the measurement. The service partitions the plurality of measurements into a plurality of logical partitions associated with one or more in-memory datastores. The service transmits the measurements from the plurality of logical partitions to the one or more datastores for storage of the measurements. These measurements are provided to one or more computing resource managers for the auto-scale group to enable automatic scaling of computing resources of the group based at least in part on the measurements.
US09880879B1 Identifying task instance outliers based on metric data in a large scale parallel processing system
Among other disclosed subject matter, a method includes receiving metric data associated with an execution of each of a plurality of task instances. The plurality of task instances include task instances associated with a task and the metric data for each task instance relating to execution performance of the task instance. The method includes for each task instance determining a deviation of the metric data associated with the task instance relative to an overall deviation of the metric data for the plurality of task instances of the task during each of a plurality of intervals and combining deviation measurements for the task instance that exceed a threshold deviation to obtain a combined deviation value. Each deviation measurement corresponds to the deviation of the metric data for one of the plurality of intervals. The method includes ranking the combined deviation values associated with at least a subset of the task instances.
US09880875B2 Apparatus and method for hardware-based task scheduling
Provided are a method and apparatus for task scheduling based on hardware. The method for task scheduling in a scheduler accelerator based on hardware includes: managing task related information based on tasks in a system; updating the task related information in response to a request from a CPU; selecting a candidate task to be run next after a currently running task for each CPU on the basis of the updated task related information; and providing the selected candidate task to each CPU. The scheduler accelerator supports the method for task scheduling based on hardware.
US09880874B2 Process operating method and apparatus thereof
A process operating method is provided. The method includes determining an execution application, generating an application process for the determined execution application, loading the determined execution application from a secondary memory to the generated application process, generating a platform child process that is a child process of a platform process, and loading a predetermined sub-module of the application to the platform child process.
US09880873B2 Electronic official document processing method
An electronic official document (EOD) processing method, wherein a work action set consisting of N work actions is defined, comprising: (1) selecting M work actions from the work action set, setting a corresponding working user for each selected work action, and sequencing all selected work actions into a workflow by order of execution; (2) inputting a to-be-processed EOD as a first EOD into the first work action in the workflow; (3) starting an integer i from 1 and increasing the integer i by 1 each time until the integer i reaches M, and executing the following every time the integer i is increased: the working user corresponding to the i-th work action performs an operation specified in the i-th work action on the No. i EOD, and stores the processing result as a No. i+1 EOD; and (4) outputting the No. M+1 electronic document as the processing result.
US09880872B2 Post-copy based live virtual machines migration via speculative execution and pre-paging
The method includes post copy migrating a guest virtual machine from a migration source host to a migration target host, executing the instruction stream of the guest virtual machine on the migration target host, and determining, by the migration target host, when the guest virtual machine encounters the page fault. When the guest virtual machine encounters the page fault, the method includes requesting, by the migration target host, the not-present page from the migration source host for loading on the migration target host, and emulating, on an emulator executing on or in communication with the migration target host, continued execution of the instruction stream of the guest virtual machine. The method also includes identifying, by the emulator, future page references to future pages from the emulated continued execution of the instruction stream, and requesting the future pages from the migration source host in parallel with the not-present page request.
US09880870B1 Live migration of virtual machines using packet duplication
A virtualization management component of a particular host at a virtualized computing determines that a packet duplication phase of a migration of a virtual machine from a source host to the particular host has begun. The virtualization management component detects that a migrated version of the virtual machine, instantiated at the particular virtualization host, has generated a baseline packet directed to a destination address. The virtualization management component sends a first encapsulation packet comprising the baseline packet to an encapsulation intermediary associated with the destination address. The virtualization management component sends a second encapsulation packet comprising the baseline packet to the source virtualization host, with a directive to forward the second encapsulation packet to the encapsulation intermediary.
US09880869B2 Single computer-based virtual cross-domain solutions
Three embodiments of one-way cross-domain systems for transferring information from a client in a first security domain to a server in a second separate security domain are disclosed. In addition, three embodiments of bilateral cross-domain systems for transferring first information from a client in a first security domain to a server in a second separate security domain and second information from the server in the second separate security domain to the client in the first security domain are also disclosed. Each of the one-way and bilateral cross-domain systems is based upon a single computer server which employs a number of virtual machines to implement send and receive servers. The single computer server also implements one (for the one-way cross-domain systems) or two (for the bilateral cross-domain systems) virtual one-way data links in either virtual machines or within the hypervisor portion of the operating system.
US09880868B2 Modifying an OS installer to allow for hypervisor-specific adjustment of an OS
An installer installing an operating system on a host computer system detects that the operating system is to be run under a hypervisor, and causes at least one configuration parameter of the operating system to be adjusted based on the hypervisor. A migration tool migrating a virtual machine from one hypervisor to another hypervisor, identifies the types of the two hypervisors, the operating system used by the virtual machine, and causes at least one configuration parameter of the operating system to be adjusted based on the target hypervisor.
US09880866B2 Cryptographically attested resources for hosting virtual machines
Approaches to enable the configuration of computing resources for executing virtual machines on behalf of users to be cryptographically attested to or verified. When a user requests a virtual machine to be provisioned, an operator of the virtualized computing environment can initiate a two phase launch of the virtual machine. In the first phase, the operator provisions the virtual machine on a host computing device and obtains cryptographic measurements of the software and/or hardware resources on the host computing device. The operator may then provide those cryptographic measurements to the user that requested the virtual machine. If the user approves the cryptographic measurements, the operator may proceed with the second phase and actually launch the virtual machine on the host. In some cases, operator may compare the cryptographic measurements to a list of approved measurements to determine whether the host computing device is acceptable for hosting the virtual machine.
US09880864B2 Dynamic configuration system for distributed services
A system includes a dynamic configuration property database for a computer-based service. The system executes an application program interface that couples the computer-based service to the database. The system reads a dynamic configuration property from the database while the computer-based service is executing and without requiring the computer-based service to cease execution. The system also provides the dynamic configuration property to the computer-based service while the computer-based service is executing such that the computer-based service can use the configuration property without requiring the computer-based service to cease execution and without having to restart the computer-based service.
US09880862B2 Method and system for verifying proper operation of a computing device after a system change
A method and system for applying a system change in an automated fashion and verifying the correct operation of a computing device after the system change includes allowing the computing device an opportunity to at least temporarily apply the system change, determine whether the system change is successful, and discard the system change if not successful, using operating system and BIOS components.
US09880861B2 Method and apparatus for page view switching
A method for page view switching is provided. The method includes detecting a view switching operation in an application interface by a user to switch from a current view to a target view. The method also includes destroying the current view corresponding to the view switching operation and creating a view object corresponding to the target view in the view switching operation by calling a view controller class. Further, the method includes assigning values to the view object through a view controller and displaying the view object with the assigned values on the application interface to display the target view to the user.
US09880860B2 Automatic return to synchronization context for asynchronous computations
Architecture that includes an asynchronous library which remembers the synchronization context that initiated an asynchronous method call and when the request is completed, the library restores the synchronization context of the calling thread before executing a callback. This ensures that the callback executes on the same thread as the original asynchronous request. The callback to the asynchronous operation that asynchronous library provides automatically “jumps threads” to maintain thread affinity.
US09880857B2 System file management on a storage device
A method or system comprises reading content of a plurality of system files from storage media of a storage device, generating a master storage device system file, and storing the master storage device system file on the storage media at a master system file location. The location of the master system file is provided to boot firmware or hardware. As a result, when the system boots up, the master system file is read into a temporary cache.
US09880856B2 Patching boot code of read-only memory
The present disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques for patching boot code of read-only memory (ROM). In some aspects, execution of boot code from a ROM is initiated to start a boot process of a device. Execution of the boot code from the ROM is then interrupted to enable execution of other boot code, such as corrected boot code or additional boot code, from another memory. Once the other boot code is executed, execution of the boot code from the ROM is resumed to continue booting the computing device. By so doing, the corrected boot code or additional boot code can be executed during the boot process effective to patch the boot code stored in the ROM.
US09880852B2 Programmable hardware accelerators in CPU
Embodiments of the present invention may include a data processing system comprising a processing execution block to execute instructions stored in an instruction queue, a programmable hardware accelerator, and a controller programmed to monitor the instruction queue to detect a first type of instructions stored in the instruction queue, reprogram the programmable hardware accelerator to execute the first type of instructions, and transmit the first type of instructions to the programmable hardware accelerator to be executed.
US09880849B2 Allocation of load instruction(s) to a queue buffer in a processor system based on prediction of an instruction pipeline hazard
Various aspects provide for detecting ordering violations in a memory system. A system includes a prediction component and an execution component. The prediction component predicts whether a load instruction in the system is associated with an instruction pipeline hazard. The execution component allocates the load instruction to a queue buffer in the system in response to a prediction that the load instruction is not associated with the instruction pipeline hazard.
US09880848B2 Processor support for hardware transactional memory
A processing core of a plurality of processing cores is configured to execute a speculative region of code as a single atomic memory transaction with respect one or more others of the plurality of processing cores. In response to determining an abort condition for an issued one of the plurality of program instructions and in response to determining that the issued program instruction is not part of a mispredicted execution path, the processing core is configured to abort an attempt to execute the speculative region of code.
US09880847B2 Register file mapping
An apparatus for processing instructions includes a mapping unit comprising a plurality of mappers wherein each mapper of the plurality of mappers maps a logical sub-register reference to a physical sub-register reference, a decoding unit configured to receive an instruction and determine a plurality of logical sub-register references therefrom, and an execution unit. The mapping unit may be configured to distribute the plurality of logical sub-register references amongst the plurality of mappers according to at least one bit in the instruction and provide a corresponding plurality of physical sub-register references. The execution unit may be configured to execute the instruction using the plurality of physical sub-register references. Corresponding methods are also disclosed herein.
US09880845B2 Vector processing engines (VPEs) employing format conversion circuitry in data flow paths between vector data memory and execution units to provide in-flight format-converting of input vector data to execution units for vector processing operations, and related vector processor systems and methods
Vector processing engines (VPEs) employing format conversion circuitry in data flow paths between vector data memory and execution units to provide in-flight format-converting of input vector data to execution units for vector processing operations are disclosed. Related vector processor systems and methods are also disclosed. Format conversion circuitry is provided in data flow paths between vector data memory and execution units in the VPE. The format conversion circuitry is configured to convert input vector data sample sets fetched from vector data memory in-flight while the input vector data sample sets are being provided over the data flow paths to the execution units to be processed. In this manner, format conversion of the input vector data sample sets does not require pre-processing, storage, and re-fetching from vector data memory, thereby reducing power consumption and not limiting efficiency of the data flow paths by format conversion pre-processing delays.
US09880840B2 Detection of potential need to use a larger data format in performing floating point operations
Detection of whether a result of a floating point operation is safe. Characteristics of the result are examined to determine whether the result is safe or potentially unsafe, as defined by the user. An instruction is provided to facilitate detection of safe or potentially unsafe results.
US09880836B2 System and method for deploying a software program
A method for deploying a software program on a target computing device includes receiving late-binding configuration actions; combining the late-binding configuration actions with a target computing device-specific model to produce a final configuration model; and providing the final configuration model to the target computing device. The final configuration model is executed by the target computing device to configure the target computing device with the software program.
US09880835B2 Initialization status of a register employed as a pointer
Initialization status of a register to be used as a pointer to a reference data structure is used to determine how a stub is to be generated to access the reference data structure. The register is one type of pointer configuration to be used to access the reference data structure, which is used to resolve a symbol associated with a function of a program. An indication is obtained as to whether the register has been initialized with a reference data structure pointer. Based on obtaining the indication, a stub is generated that is to be used to access the function. The generating depends on whether the register has been initialized. If the register has not been initialized, then the stub is generated to include another type of pointer configuration to be used to access the reference data structure.
US09880834B2 Source program analysis system, source program analysis method, and recording medium on which program is recorded
A matching portion detector detects matching portions the respective contents of which match each other, in a source program. A similar portion detector detects, on the basis of the matching portions detected by the matching portion detector, similar portions each containing a part that matches a part of another similar portion and another part that does not match, and each satisfying a criterion, in the source program. A non-matching portion analyzer analyzes the similar portion detected by the similar portion detector, and outputs an index indicating a degree of similarity between the similar portion and another similar portion that partially match each other.
US09880833B2 Initialization status of a register employed as a pointer
Initialization status of a register to be used as a pointer to a reference data structure is used to determine how a stub is to be generated to access the reference data structure. The register is one type of pointer configuration to be used to access the reference data structure, which is used to resolve a symbol associated with a function of a program. An indication is obtained as to whether the register has been initialized with a reference data structure pointer. Based on obtaining the indication, a stub is generated that is to be used to access the function. The generating depends on whether the register has been initialized. If the register has not been initialized, then the stub is generated to include another type of pointer configuration to be used to access the reference data structure.
US09880832B2 Software patch evaluator
Automated systems and methods for assessing the urgency of installing a patch for a component of a software application are described. The systems and methods involve identifying a set of defective programming constructs of the component that are altered by the patch, collecting execution traces of programming constructs of the software application and programming constructs of the component in a context of application use, and evaluating the execution traces to determine whether one or more defective programming constructs of the component are invoked in the context of application use.
US09880830B2 On-board applet migration
An electronic device (such as a cellular telephone) automatically installs and personalizes updates to an applet on a secure element in the electronic device. In particular, when a digitally signed update package containing the update is received from an updating device (such as a server), the secure element identifies any previous versions of the applet installed on the secure element. If there are any previously installed versions, the secure element verifies the digital signature of the update package using an encryption key associated with a vendor of the secure element. Then, the secure element uninstalls the previous versions of the applet and exports the associated user data. Next, the secure element installs the update to the applet, and personalizes the new version of the applet using the user data.
US09880829B2 Method and apparatus for performing hitless update of line cards of a network device
A method in a first network device of performing a software update of a line card of a second network device without disruption to data traffic. The method includes causing a redundant control plane component of the second network device to be updated according to the software update. The method continues with causing the second network device to instantiate, based on the software update, a line card virtual machine (LC VM) as a redundant data plane component for the line card. The method further includes causing a third network device to forward data traffic to both the line card and the LC VM of the second network device, and causing the second network device to update the line card according to the software update while processing the received data traffic using the LC VM.
US09880821B2 Compiler optimizations for vector operations that are reformatting-resistant
An optimizing compiler includes a vector optimization mechanism that optimizes vector operations that are reformatting-resistant, such as source instructions that do not have a corresponding reformatting operation, sink instructions that do not have a corresponding reformatting operation, a source instruction that is a scalar value, a sink instruction that may produce a scalar value, and an internal operation that depends on lanes being in a specified order. The ability to optimize vector instructions that are reformatting-resistant reduces the number of operations to improve the run-time performance of the code.
US09880819B2 Methods and apparatuses for a compiler server
A method and an apparatus that instructs a compiler server to build or otherwise obtain a compiled code corresponding to a compilation request received from an application are described. The compiler server may be configured to compile source codes for a plurality of independent applications, each running in a separate process, using a plurality of independent compilers, each running in a separate compiler process. A search may be performed in a cache for a compiled code that satisfies a compilation request received from an application. A reply message including the compiled code can be provided for the application, wherein the compiled code is compiled in direct response to the request, or is obtained from the cache if the search identities in the cache the compiled code that satisfies the compilation request.
US09880815B2 SQL visualizer
A SQL Visualizer including means for transforming a textual SQL statement into a graphical diagram which represents the textual SQL statement.
US09880814B1 Dynamic generation of plugins based on user-customized catalogs
Embodiments are directed towards dynamically generating a plugin module based on a customizable catalog. A plurality of application features may be determined based on a catalog of available application features of a visitor computer. One or more templates may be generated that lists application features. A plugin client and a corresponding plugin core that include application features listed in the one or more templates may be generated. The plugin client may then be provided to the host computer and the corresponding plugin core may be installed on the visitor computer. Information that may be associated with actions performed by users of the plugin client may be obtained from the host computer. Application features included in the plugin core may be determined based on the information obtained from the host computer. And, operations may be performed on the visitor computer based on the obtained information and the plugin core.
US09880810B1 Universal shifter and rotator and methods for implementing a universal shifter and rotator
A single block shifter design performing arithmetic and logical shift operations on input operands of multiple types is disclosed. The shifter design may be configurable and automatically generated to support multiple partition types including at least one of 80-bit, 40-bit, and 20-bit partition type. The shifter may also be configured and automatically generated to perform rotate operations on input operands. The shifter may include two stages where the first stage includes multiple multiplexers performing shift or rotate operations by one or more shift or rotate amounts without saturation, and the second stage includes multiple multiplexers performing operations with saturation. The shifter includes an inversion block to process signed and unsigned input data. A method of automatically generating the shifter design with an electronic design tool is also disclosed.
US09880808B2 Display apparatus and method of controlling a display apparatus in a voice recognition system
A display method and apparatus for controlling a voice recognition system are provided. When a user's voice for controlling the display apparatus is input, the method of controlling the display apparatus transmits the voice's user to the interactive server, while determining whether the user's voice is a pre-stored command in the display apparatus, and in response to the user's voice not being a pre-stored command in the display apparatus and the control information which corresponds to the user's voice and first guide information guiding the pre-stored command capable of the same function as the user's voice are transmitted from the interactive server, the method performs the function of the display apparatus, according to the control information transmitted from the interactive server, and displays the first guide information.
US09880805B1 Workout music playback machine
A workout music playback device for playing workout music during a workout with given workout parameters by arranging and assembling song segments of original musical recordings in accordance with workout parameters. The device has a media output manager configured to receive said workout parameters and prepare audio output information on arranging a sequence of song segments into an edited song recording. It has an instruction relay module configured to receive said audio output information, and transmit said workout audio output instructions. The device has a media output generator configured to receive said audio output instructions from said instruction relay module, retrieve and assemble said song recording data of said original musical recording from said memory in accordance with said audio output instructions, and transmit a data stream of workout music corresponding to said workout parameters.
US09880804B1 Method of automatically adjusting sound output and electronic device
A method of automatically adjusting sound output is disclosed. The method includes the following the steps of: receiving a sound message via a microphone; analyzing the sound message to determine whether the sound message is a voice message; controlling a sound player to stop playing sound or to lower volume of the sound if the sound message is a voice message.
US09880803B2 Audio buffering continuity
A method of audio buffering continuity which includes downloading by a client device a digital audio stream from a digital source; buffering by the client device the downloaded digital audio stream; playing the digital audio stream from the buffered digital audio stream; when the digital audio stream is interrupted such that there is a gap when the client device is incapable of downloading the digital audio stream, inserting by the client device an audio pattern into the gap wherein the audio pattern has one or more elements of the downloaded digital audio stream; and playing by the client device the audio pattern a plurality of times to form a loop while the digital audio stream is interrupted. Also disclosed is an apparatus and a computer program product.
US09880792B2 Management system, information processing device, and management method
A management system includes: a setting unit that performs administrator setting; a storage unit that stores therein administrator setting information, program information specifying a program corresponding to an image processing device, and customization information indicating how to change a setting of the program in accordance with an administrator setting; a generation unit that generates a program file based on the administrator setting information and the program information, and generates a customization file based on the administrator setting information and the customization information; and an installation control unit that installs the program in an information processing device based on the program file, and changes the setting of the program to adapt to the administrator setting based on the customization file.
US09880791B2 Image formation apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program executable on image formation apparatus
An image formation apparatus includes a hypervisor, a control firmware running on a host OS and responsible for controlling the image formation apparatus, and a cooperation module operating on the same level as the hypervisor. A resource includes an image memory managed by the control firmware and adapted for image processing. The cooperation module is configured to: cooperate with the control firmware to obtain an available memory space of the image memory; associate a content of a job to be processed with a program running on one or more guest OSs required for that job; and before starting the job, read a required guest OS into the available memory space of the image memory and cause the associated program to be executed.
US09880789B2 Printing system for distributing print jobs, image forming apparatus and server apparatus
According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus is connected with a server. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and an input section configured to receive, from a user, a job start operation for a requested print job. The image forming apparatus also includes a communication interface that receives a print job from the server, and transmits a request for transmission of a print job. A storage section stores image data corresponding to each received print job. A processor determines whether the image data corresponding to the requested print job is already stored in the storage section when the job start operation was received. In a case that the image data corresponding to the requested print job is already stored in the storage section when the job start operation was received, image data corresponding to the requested print job is printed.
US09880787B2 System and method for memory patching circuits
A patching system and a patching circuit provide a type of patching entry which can replace several sequential memory positions with hardcoded and dynamically configured assembly instructions, thus injecting a small piece of code. The operation of the injected code can be for any purpose, but as an example may be used to seamlessly redirect the execution flow of a processing unit.
US09880785B2 Managing a collection of data
A measurement sampling facility takes snapshots of the central processing unit (CPU) on which it is executing at specified sampling intervals to collect data relating to tasks executing on the CPU. The collected data is stored in a buffer, and at selected times, an interrupt is provided to remove data from the buffer to enable reuse thereof. The interrupt is not taken after each sample, but in sufficient time to remove the data and minimize data loss.
US09880777B1 Embedded synchronous replication for block and file objects
A technique for performing synchronous replication on both block and file-based objects employs a replication appliance embedded alongside a unified data path IO stack within a storage processor of a data storage system. Various arrangements are described for achieving failover, migration, failback, and load balancing, both involving other embedded replication appliances and involving external replication appliances.
US09880776B1 Content-driven data protection method for multiple storage devices
A backup storage system and methods implemented by the backup storage system are disclosed. The backup software performs a plurality of backup operations to backup one or more data objects according to a backup schedule. The backup operations may be alternated across a plurality of backup storage devices, and each of the backup operations may operate to store a respective backup data set on one of the backup storage devices. In performing the plurality of backup operations, the backup storage system may create the backup data sets such that each respective backup storage device can be used independently of the other backup storage device(s) to perform a complete recovery of the one or more data objects to any point in time that corresponds to any respective backup data set stored on the respective backup storage device.
US09880773B2 Non-homogeneous disk abstraction for data oriented applications
One embodiment of the system described herein facilitates a virtualized heterogeneous disk that supports differentiated storage service qualities. During operation, the system mounts a plurality of partitions of a heterogeneous disk at different mount points, each mount point corresponding to a level of quality of service (QoS). The system then receives a write command and identifies a QoS level indication associated with the write command. Subsequently, the system selects a partition on the heterogeneous disk with performance parameters matching the identified QoS level and writes data to the selected partition. The heterogeneous disk is an abstraction of a plurality of virtualized storage devices. Furthermore, the heterogeneous disk has a single block address space, and the virtualized storage devices are allowed to have differentiated performance parameters, thereby facilitating differentiated QoS levels in the heterogeneous disk.
US09880768B2 Dynamic memory reallocation for match-action packet processing
A pool of unit memories is provided in order to flexibly allocate memory capacity to implement various tables and/or logical memories such as those for implementing an OpenFlow switch. The pool is structured with routing resources for allowing flexible allocation and reallocation of memory capacity to the various tables. The unit memories and logical units in the pool are interconnected by a set of horizontal routing resources and a set of vertical routing resources.
US09880762B1 Compressing metadata blocks prior to writing the metadata blocks out to secondary storage
A technique manages file system metadata and is performed in a data storage system that maintains a file system on behalf of a set of host computers. The technique involves modifying a first metadata block of the file system in response to a file system change, the first metadata block containing file system metadata. The technique further involves performing a compression operation to generate a compressed metadata block in volatile storage from the first metadata block, the compressed metadata block having a size that is smaller than a size of the first metadata block. The technique further involves writing the compressed metadata block from the volatile storage (volatile cache memory) to non-volatile storage (e.g., flash memory).
US09880760B2 Managing data stored in a nonvolatile storage device
A storage device may be configured to copy valid data units from a source memory area to a destination memory area according to a source-to-destination mapping. The source-to-destination mapping may be generated based on a ranking scheme that considers the number of valid data units being stored in each of a plurality of source pages storing the data.
US09880759B2 Metadata for data storage array
A data storage array may be made up of several storage devices, each of which may contain array metadata that may allow portions of the storage array to be used. A system may have a file system manager that may receive and respond to file system commands and a storage device manager that may store data on the several storage devices. Array metadata defining where data is stored within the storage array is stored on each device within the array. A policy engine may identify data to be stored on the array and determine if the data contains array metadata or other types of data and may store the data on every device, devices having specific characteristics, two or more devices, or one device.
US09880757B1 Copy data management with data security
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automatically provisioning the security profile for production data to copy data. In some instances the security provisioning for the copy data is made at the time the production data is copied. In other instances, the security provisioning occurs in a secondary application using the copy data.
US09880756B2 Successive data fingerprinting for copy accuracy assurance
Systems and methods are disclosed for checking the data integrity of a data object copied between storage pools in a storage system by comparing data fingerprints of data objects, by scheduling a series of successive copy operations over time for copying a data object from a source data store to a target data store; generating a partial fingerprint of the data object at the source data store using a data fingerprinting operation that creates a fingerprint from a subset of data of the data object; sending the partial fingerprint of the data object to the target data store; sending any new data contents for the data object to the target data store; and creating a partial fingerprint of the data object at the target data store and comparing it to the partial fingerprint sent to the target data store to determine if they differ.
US09880753B2 Write requests in a distributed storage system
Example data storage systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method identifies data to be written to a shared storage system that includes multiple storage nodes. The method communicates a write operation vote request to each of the multiple storage nodes. The write operation vote request is associated with a data write operation to write the identified data to the shared storage system. A positive response is received from at least a portion of the multiple storage nodes. The data write operation is initiated in response to receiving positive responses from a quorum of the storage nodes.
US09880752B2 Memory die temperature adjustment based on a power condition
A device includes a memory device and a controller. The controller is coupled to the memory device. The controller is configured to, in response to receiving a request to perform a memory access at the memory device, determine that the memory device has a characteristic indicative of a temperature crossing. The controller is also configured to, in response to determining that the memory device has the characteristic indicative of the temperature crossing, determine that the memory device satisfies an availability criterion. The controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the memory device satisfies the availability criterion, increase a temperature of the memory device by performing memory operations on the memory device until detecting a condition related to the temperature.
US09880747B2 Apparatus, system, and method of logical address translation for non-volatile storage memory
A fast and lean way of performing logical-to-physical address translation is presented. A logical address is divided into a most significant bits portion and a least significant bits portion. Instead of using the entire logical address to locate an entry in an address translation table, only the most significant bits portion of the logical address is used, which substantially reduces the size of the address translation table. The entry includes a most significant bits portion of a physical volatile memory address and a most significant bits portion of a physical non-volatile memory address. The actual physical volatile memory address and the actual physical non-volatile memory address can be derived by combining the most significant bits portions of the addresses stored in the address translation table entry with the least significant bits portion of the logical address.
US09880742B2 Valid data merging method, memory controller and memory storage apparatus
A valid data merging method, a memory controller and a memory storage apparatus are provided. The method includes: selecting a first physical erasing unit, and loading a first logical address-physical address mapping table according to a physical address-logical address mapping table. The method also includes: updating the first logical address-physical address mapping table according to the physical address-logical address mapping table, and identifying valid data in the first physical erasing unit according to the physical address-logical address mapping table and the first logical address-physical address mapping table. The method further includes: storing the first logical address-physical address mapping table, copying the valid data to a second physical erasing unit, and performing an erasing operation for the first physical erasing unit.
US09880738B2 Placement and movement of sub-units of a storage unit in a tiered storage environment
A storage controller configures a plurality of storage tiers. A sub-unit of a storage unit is maintained in a selected storage tier of the plurality of storage tiers, for at least a predetermined duration of time subsequent to an input/output (I/O) request for the sub-unit.
US09880737B2 Changing keyboard layout automatically while entering a password
A system and method for automatically reconfiguring a keyboard layout display to facilitate entry of password characters. The system analyzes the password while setting it, and will save a required keyboard layout for each character. A method includes obtaining an encoded sequence of keyboard layouts mapped to a corresponding characters sequence of a user password, receiving input of a password character and determining whether the character input is correct. If the character entered is correct: decoding the keyboard layout sequence to obtain a correct keyboard layout associated with a next password character to be entered; and automatically displaying the correct keyboard layout associated with a next character to be entered; or if the character entered is not correct: decoding the keyboard layout sequence to obtain one of: a correct or incorrect keyboard layout associated with a next password character to be entered; and automatically displaying the correct or incorrect keyboard layout on the device.
US09880734B2 Handwritten information inputting device and portable electronic apparatus including handwritten information inputting device
A handwritten information inputting device includes an inputting region into which handwritten information is inputted with a pointer such as an electronic pen or a finger. The device also includes a function disposition region in which a plurality of operational elements (e.g., graphic icons) are disposed, each assigned a process related to the inputted handwritten information such as enlarging or rotating the inputted handwritten information. In response to a continuous operation for a defined period of time of any of the operational elements, operational element disposition information regarding the operational elements disposed in the function disposition region is displayed on an external display apparatus, to which the handwritten information inputting device is connected. Also, the operated (selected) operational element is displayed visually distinguishable from the rest of the operational elements. Thus, an operator can confirm his operation of the operational elements without taking his eyes off the external display apparatus.
US09880733B2 Multi-touch remote control method
A multi-touch remote control method comprises following steps: a remote control device receiving a touch gesture input; computing a number of the touch points of the touch gesture input; generating and transferring a mouse event data to a receiving device as a mouse input if the number of the touch points is 1; and generating and transferring a single touch event data to the receiving device as a single touch input if the number of the touch points is greater than 1 and all the touch points of the touch gesture input are close to each other.
US09880730B2 Touchscreen user interface for presenting media
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes providing a mid state, a fullscreen state, and a miniplayer state of a touchscreen user interface for presentation on a touchscreen device. The mid state presents a first video from a queue of videos and portions of a previous video or a next video from the queue of the videos. The fullscreen state expands the first video to fit the touchscreen user interface without presentation of the portions of the previous video or the next video. The miniplayer state shrinks the first video to fit a list of videos for a user account within the touchscreen user interface.
US09880727B2 Gesture manipulations for configuring system settings
In some examples, a gesture configuration component provides for different ways to interpret gestures made by a user to specify various parameters of control settings to modify system or application settings. For instance, a user may change display settings for one or more display devices, such as resolution, orientation, and display arrangements. Further, in some cases, the gesture configuration component may perform configuration changes while providing a live preview of the changes being made.
US09880713B2 Display control apparatus, display control method, and program
An information processing system that acquires captured image data corresponding to a user interface displayed on a first display, the user interface including a plurality of graphic representations each corresponding to a respective function; and controls a second display to display a representation of the user interface based on a recognition process performed on the user interface, the representation of the user interface indicating whether a function corresponding the plurality of the graphic representations is capable of being accessed.
US09880708B2 User interface
An example implementation involves a control device displaying on a graphical user interface, an indicator positioned with respect to a particular multimedia item in a displayed list of a plurality of multimedia items. After displaying the indicator on the graphical user interface for a first predefined time, the control device displays on the graphical user interface, an information panel obstructing a portion of the displayed list, the information panel providing information associated with the particular multimedia item that is not shown in the displayed list. After displaying the information panel for a second predefined time, the control device terminates display of the information panel.
US09880706B2 Gesture for selecting multiple items in a list
An information processing method and an electronic device, related to the field of communication, are provided in the application. The method includes: displaying M data entries of a page on a display interface by a display unit, where the page includes N data entries, M≦N; obtaining a continuous track generated by a slide operation by an operating body; determining L data entries from J data entries passed by the continuous track based on a predetermined rule, 1≦J≦N, L≦J; and setting the L data entries into selected states. By the solutions in the application, an operation of selecting multiple data entries is implemented without clicking check boxes one by one by a user, the operation is significantly simplified, and efficiency of a multiple selection is improved.
US09880701B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates the use of a terminal in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes a touchscreen configured to detect a direct touch and a proximity touch and a controller outputting at least one or more icons through the touchscreen, the controller detecting the proximity touch to a 1st icon for running a prescribed application among the outputted at least one or more icons, the controller, if a duration time of the detected proximity touch reaches a 1st time, outputting a 2nd icon by changing the outputted 1st icon into the 2nd icon, the controller, if the direct touch to the 2nd icon is detected, running a prescribed function of the prescribed application. Accordingly, it is able to access various functions of the mobile terminal using a proximity touch.
US09880700B2 Home screen user interface for electronic device display
A user interface overlay is presented over a native graphical user interface (GUI) of a device. By way of example, the overlay can include a graphical presentation layer (GPL) that can selectively mask and/or expose functionality of the native GUI of the device. In addition, the GPL can bundle disparate portions of native functionality in accord with one or more logical associations between a title, tag, application, purpose, type, or like qualifier, associated with the disparate portions. In addition, user preferences and device/network intelligence components can dynamically customize portions of the GPL to match a location, locale, mood, or setting or like situational context of a device and/or user.
US09880699B2 Multiple views of a geographic area on a mobile device
A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving on a mobile device a search query associated with a geographic location, providing one or more search results in response to the search query, the search results each being associated with a geographic location, and presenting on a graphical display of the computing device icons corresponding to each search result and also corresponding to a key on the computing device.
US09880698B2 Three-dimensional space interface apparatus and method
A three-dimensional (3D) space interface apparatus and method are provided. The 3D space interface apparatus provides an interface in which a user may directly touch and transform a 3D virtual object of a 3D space, which is shown in various ways depending on a position of the user. The 3D space interface apparatus may provide for manipulation of the 3D virtual object by the user using a sensing signal that senses the position and movement of a manipulation object the user. Specifically, an interface unit of the apparatus verifies, using the sensing signal, whether a predetermined movement of the manipulation object has occurred or whether a contact between the 3D virtual object and the manipulation object has been made, and generates a predetermined reaction corresponding to the predetermined movement or the contact.