| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09906142B2 |
Resonant converting apparatus and control method thereof
A resonant converting apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The resonant converting apparatus includes a resonant converting circuit, a load detector, a control signal generator and a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) signal generator. The resonant converting circuit converts an input voltage into an output voltage to drive a load according to a PFM signal. The load detector detects a load status of the load. The control signal generator generates the control signal according to the load status and a PFM range. When the load status is a light load status, the control signal is divided into a plurality of first time periods and second time periods which are respectively arranged alternatively. The PFM signal is maintained to a reference voltage during the second time periods, and is a periodical signal having frequency substantially equal to a resonant frequency during the first time periods. |
| US09906141B2 |
DC-DC converter
In a DC-DC converter, a voltage at a connection point on the side of connection with a primary winding of a switching transistor is compared to a threshold voltage set within a variation range of the voltage at the connection point while the switching transistor is performing a switching operation, and, when the polarity by which the voltage was compared to the threshold voltage does not change during a detection period longer than the predetermined period of the drive signal for bringing the switching transistor under switching control, the switching transistor is determined as being operating in an active state with a danger of heat generation. |
| US09906140B2 |
Power supply circuit and power supply method for switching power supply
A power supply circuit for a switching power supply including a power switch configured to receive a DC input voltage, can include: a switching control circuit configured to receive a charge voltage signal of a charge capacitor, a reference voltage signal, and a PWM control signal, and to generate a switching control signal; a control unit having a supply voltage from the charge capacitor, where the charge capacitor includes a first terminal coupled to the switching control circuit, and a second terminal coupled to ground; and where when the switching power supply is in a start-up phase, the power switch is turned on, the first switch is turned off, and the DC input voltage charge the charges capacitor through the power switch, and the control unit begins operating when the charge voltage signal reaches a level of starting voltage of the control unit. |
| US09906139B2 |
Power supply module, power supply device, and power controlling method
A power supply module coupled with a primary winding of a power conversion module, the power supply module includes a plurality of power-controlling modules, a plurality of second switches, and a microprocessor. Each power-controlling module includes an auxiliary winding and a first switch electrically connected in series, and each auxiliary winding is magnetic coupled with the primary winding. Each second switch is electrically connected to one of the power-controlling units. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the first switches of the power-controlling modules and the second switches. The microprocessor places at least one first switch and one of the second switches in a conducting state to make the first switch in the conducting state and the second switch in the conducting state electrically connect in series and output an electric power to power the power conversion module. |
| US09906138B2 |
Flyback-based power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus including a flyback power conversion circuit, a control chip and a detection auxiliary circuit is provided. The flyback power conversion circuit receives and converts an input voltage into a DC output voltage. The control chip generates a PWM signal in response to a power supplying requirement to control the operation of the flyback power conversion circuit, wherein the control chip has a single multi-function detection pin. The detection auxiliary circuit assists the control chip to obtain a first detection voltage via the multi-function detection pin, such that the control chip performs a detection of an over temperature protection (OTP) and a detection of an over voltage protection (OVP) synchronously according to the first detection voltage. The first detection voltage is related to the DC output voltage or a thermal voltage of an environment temperature. |
| US09906133B2 |
Electric source control apparatus
An electric source control apparatus has: a determining device for determining whether a converter operates in a first mode or a second mode, wherein the first mode prioritizes increase of efficiency of the electric power conversion than the second mode does and the second mode prioritizes suppression of increase of element temperature of the switching element than the first mode does; and a controlling device for controlling the converter so that (i) a switching pattern becomes a first pattern, if the converter operates in the first mode and (ii) the switching pattern becomes a second pattern, if the converter operates in the second mode, wherein the first pattern is capable of increasing the efficiency of the electric power conversion more than the second pattern is and the second pattern is capable of suppressing the increase of the element temperature more than the first pattern is. |
| US09906132B1 |
DC-to-DC converting circuit and integrated circuit of power circuit
A DC-to-DC converting circuit includes a power switch unit, a second power switch, a phase node, a boosted circuit and a sensing circuit. The power switch unit includes a first power switch, a sensing element, a first end, a second end and a sensing end. The sensing element is connected to the sensing end and the first end. The first end is connected to an input voltage. The second power switch is connected to the first power switch. The phase node is located between the power switch unit and the second power switch and is connected to the second end. The boosted circuit boosts the input voltage to a first operation voltage and provides the first operation voltage to the sensing end. The first operation voltage is higher than the input voltage. The sensing circuit is connected to the boosted circuit and the sensing end to obtain a sensing voltage. |
| US09906131B1 |
Zero-voltage switch-mode power converter
A switched-mode power converter includes timing control feedback loop circuits to minimize or eliminate the potential difference across a high-power switch and a low-power switch during their transitions times. A first feedback circuit compares the measured voltage across the high-power switch at the moment the high-power switch closes with the input voltage to the high-power switch to control a low-to-high delay time. A second feedback circuit compares the measured voltage across the low-power switch at the moment the low-power switch closes with the input voltage to the low-power switch to control a high-to-low delay time. A third feedback circuit compares the measured voltage across the low-power switch at the moment the low-power switch opens. The output of the third feedback circuit is provided as inputs to the first and second feedback circuits. The third feedback circuit also controls the frequency of the power converter. |
| US09906127B2 |
Fractional output voltage multiplier
Various circuits, apparatuses and methods are disclosed for generating a DC voltage conversion. In an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a DC voltage multiplier having a first capacitor. In a first mode, the first capacitor is charged to store a first voltage between first and second terminals of the capacitor. In a second mode, the DC voltage multiplier shifts a voltage of the second terminal up to a second voltage, thereby shifting the first terminal to a third voltage. The apparatus also includes a fractional output control circuit that when enabled, connects a second capacitor between the first terminal of the first capacitor and the ground reference voltage. The connecting of the second capacitor causes the first terminal of the first capacitor to be pulled down to a voltage between the first and third voltages when the second terminal is shifted up to the second voltage. |
| US09906119B2 |
Method of ripple-compensation control and electrical energy conversion device using the same
A ripple-compensation control method and electrical energy conversion device utilizing the same are provided. The ripple-compensation control method is disclosed, adopted by an electrical energy conversion device including a converter configured to perform electrical energy conversion, a controller coupled to control terminals of the converter and controlling a first voltage of a DC node of the converter according to a command value, and a ripple-compensation unit configured to generate a ripple-component voltage of the first voltage and provide the command value generated based on the ripple-component voltage to the controller. |
| US09906116B2 |
Compact implementation for a high-efficiency, variable-speed permanent magnet motor
A compact high-efficiency motor is disclosed. The motor includes at least two rotor segments having passive magnetics comprising permanent magnets and at least two stator segments having active magnetics comprising permanent magnets and associated electromagnets controlled by a control system. The magnetic effect between the at two sets of magnetics can be modified to sequence the rotor segments through a series of rotation-induced steps by controlling the associated interaction of the magnetic fields produced by the two sets of magnetics. The electromagnets are energized by a control system to provide a variable-speed motor that produces high torque. |
| US09906114B2 |
Voice coil motor
A voice coil motor includes a base, a first resilient member, a movable member, a wire coil, a second resilient member, a housing, and a group of magnets. The base includes a through hole, a circular groove surrounding the through hole and guide poles extending away from the base. The first resilient member includes a number of guide holes arranged at a peripheral. The movable member includes a receiving through hole for receiving a lens module, a top end and a bottom end, the moveable frame is fixed with the first resilient member and suspended above the circular groove. The wire coil surrounds the movable member. The second resilient member locates on the top end of the moveable frame. The housing receives the base. Each magnets is fixed to the second resilient member, the magnets and the wire coil cooperatively generate a magnetic force for driving the movable member. |
| US09906108B2 |
Sensorless electric machine
An electric machine that includes a rotor core made of magnetic steel; a stator configured with stationary windings therein; openings disposed within or on the rotor core; and a rotor circuit that is configured to introduce saliency based on an orientation of part of the rotor circuit in relationship to a pole location of the electric machine, where the rotor circuit is made of a conductive, non-magnetic material. A rotor component and various embodiments of electric machines are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims. |
| US09906107B2 |
Magnet-free rotating electric machine
A magnet-free rotating electric machine provided with an annular rotor between an outer and inner stators. The annular rotor includes pairs of inner and outer salient poles along a circumferential direction of an annular rotor yoke portion. Each rotor coil is diagonally wound between an inner circumferential surface of the rotor yoke portion on a first side and an outer circumferential surface of the rotor yoke portion on a second side with the pair of inner and outer salient poles sandwiched therebetween. A rectifying device ensures that the magnetic polarities of the inner and outer salient poles magnetized by the current of the rotor coil induced by the excitation of the outer stator and the inner stator are opposite to each other and further that the NS magnetic pole directions of the adjacent pairs of inner and outer salient poles are opposite to each other. |
| US09906101B2 |
Actuator with an assembly for electrical manual actuation of an actuator
An apparatus for automation technology, comprising an actuator and an assembly for manual actuation of the actuator, wherein an electrical drive or an electro hydraulic drive is provided as the driving element for the actuator. The assembly includes a generator and a manual actuating element for the generator and wherein the assembly can be electrically coupled with the driving element of the actuator. |
| US09906098B2 |
Method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle and corresponding drive device
A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle, said method includes: permanently supplying an entire exhaust gas of a drive aggregate of the drive device to a turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger of the drive device via a variable turbine geometry and providing compressed air by means of a compressor coupled with the turbine for the drive aggregate; operating in at least one operating mode of the drive device in each operating point of the drive aggregate an electric machine, which is mechanically operatively connected with the turbine and the compressor, as a generator for braking the turbine; and braking the turbine by means of the electric machine the stronger the further a throttle flap arranged fluidly between the compressor and the drive aggregate is opened, while maintaining the operating point of the drive aggregate constant. |
| US09906096B2 |
Eccentric leadscrew actuator
An improved actuator assembly including an eccentric leadscrew actuator assembly with a housing having a stator and a plurality of coils is provided. A rotor is arranged radially inwardly from the stator and includes a first threading on a radially inner surface. A shaft is arranged in a fixed axial position and radially inwardly from the rotor, and includes a second threading on a radially outer surface that engages the first threading of the rotor. A bearing assembly is fixed to the rotor, and the bearing assembly supports an eccentric ring connected to the rotor. The rotor rotates eccentrically around the shaft based on energization of the plurality of coils of the stator. The rotor is axially displaceable by rotation thereof via rolling engagement of the first threading of the rotor and the second threading of the shaft along an axially extending tangent line. |
| US09906090B2 |
Blender motor housing
A magnetic drive assembly includes a housing having a cylindrical end bell portion and a cylindrical hub portion adjacent the end bell portion, wherein the radius of the hub portion is greater than the radius of the end bell portion. One or more mounting tabs extend radially outward from the hub portion. The housing has heat transfer fins associated with the mounting tabs for dissipating heat and structurally supporting the mounting tabs in the manner of a gusset. The heat transfer fins may be arranged on opposite sides of each mounting tab to provide support for the mounting tab in opposite axial directions of the housing. To relieve internal pressure, the housing may have at least one pressure equalization vent allowing passage of gas but not passage of liquid into and out of the housing. |
| US09906086B2 |
Rotating electric machine including a stator with a connection portion having a corner portion and method for manufacturing same
A rotating electric machine having downsized coil ends is provided. In a rotating electric machine having a stator 130 including a stator core 132 formed with a plurality of slots 420 rowed in a circumferential direction and a stator coil 138 inserted into the slots of the stator core, and a rotor 150 disposed rotatably with respect to the stator core with a clearance interposed therebetween. The stator coil is formed by a plurality of segment coils 28 being connected, the segment coils 28 being made of a conductor shaped into a rough U-shape and having a rectangular cross-section. The segment coil has at an end a connection portion 800 connected to another segment coil, the connection portion having a corner portion 810. |
| US09906085B2 |
Stator for rotary electric machine
Small coil groups are each configured by connecting a plurality of winding bodies in series by passing crossover portions that are formed by bending first conductor terminals radially outward axially outside a coil end and joining the crossover portions to second conductor terminals that are subject to joining, the first conductor terminals that constitute first ends of the small coil group are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other circumferentially around a radially inner side of a circular arc-shaped region that extends circumferentially around the coil end, the second conductor terminals that constitute second ends of the small coil group are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other circumferentially around a radially outer side of the circular arc-shaped region of the coil end, and a stator winding is produced by connecting the small coil groups within the circular arc-shaped region. |
| US09906079B2 |
Power supply circuit
There is a problem in the prior semiconductor devices that energy recovery efficiency is low. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a power supply circuit includes an alternating-current signal synthesis unit including a plurality of alternating-current coupling elements having primary sides to which respective input alternating-current signals are input and secondary sides connected in series with each other, and a control circuit that outputs an input selection signal specifying a combination of the input alternating-current signals to be synthesized. The control circuit generates the input selection signal so as to maximize the output alternating-current signal synthesized by the alternating-current synthesis signal unit. |
| US09906077B2 |
Wireless power transmission system and power transmission apparatus
A power transmission apparatus includes an inverter circuit, a power transmission antenna that wirelessly transmits alternating current power output from the inverter circuit, and a power transmission control circuit that causes the inverter circuit to output the alternating current power. The power transmission control circuit causes the inverter circuit to output the alternating current power as binary communication data by varying frequency of the alternating current power output from the inverter circuit between a first frequency and a second frequency, and performs amplitude control for eliminating a difference between amplitude of voltage of the alternating current power at a time when the frequency is the first frequency and amplitude of the voltage of the alternating current power at a time when the frequency is the second frequency. |
| US09906074B2 |
Power supply system
A power supply system includes an uninterruptable power-supply apparatus supplying power to a load, a switch connecting a bypass power supply to the load, and a switching circuit turning the switch on when the uninterruptable power-supply apparatus is stopped. In a case where the uninterruptable power-supply apparatus is stopped, the switching circuit turns the switch on when a phase of an output voltage of the bypass power supply is equal to a phase of an output voltage of the uninterruptable power-supply apparatus at a stopped timing. |
| US09906072B2 |
Systems and methods for matching an end of discharge for multiple batteries
A system includes a first power converter, a second power converter, a first battery having a time to end of discharge (EOD) and coupled to output a current to the first converter, a second battery having a time to EOD and coupled to output a current to the second converter, and a control circuit coupled to the first converter and the second converter. The control circuit is configured to monitor the times to EOD of the first battery and the second battery, and in response to the times to EOD of the first battery and the second battery not being substantially equal, control the first converter to adjust the current drawn from the first battery to change a rate of decrease of the time to EOD of the first battery. Other example systems and methods for substantially matching a time to EOD of a plurality of batteries are also disclosed. |
| US09906068B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring electrical power by capacitive coupling from a charging device to a user device
An apparatus is provided for transferring power to an electrical load, including: a charging device including an assembly of at least three transmitting armatures, and a primary electrical circuit connecting each transmitting armature to a tension generator; a user device including the electrical load, at least a pair of receiving armatures, and a secondary electrical circuit connecting the receiving armatures to the electrical load, the pair of receiving armatures being faceable to at least a pair of transmitting armatures of the charging device realizing therewith at least two distinct electrical capacitors; an electronic system for monitoring and selecting, connected to the primary circuit of the charging device, which is configured to identify a first sub-assembly of transmitting armatures which face an armature of the receiving armatures of the user device, and to identify a second sub-assembly of transmitting armatures which face the other receiving armature of the user device. |
| US09906063B2 |
Method for performing wireless charging control of an electronic device with aid of random phase-delay packet, and associated apparatus
A method for performing wireless charging control of an electronic device and an associated apparatus are provided, where the method includes: determining at least one random value for controlling timing of packet transmission regarding at least one wireless charging report of the electronic device; and based on the aforementioned at least one random value, sending at least one random phase-delay packet, wherein each random phase-delay packet of the aforementioned at least one random phase-delay packet has a random phase-delay with respect to a time slot, and the aforementioned at least one random phase-delay packet is utilized for carrying information of the aforementioned at least one wireless charging report. More particularly, a wireless charging device (e.g. transmitter pad) is arranged to wirelessly charge the electronic device, and based on the aforementioned at least one random value, the electronic device does not obtain information from the wireless charging device through any packet. |
| US09906059B2 |
Charge and discharge management system and movable power source using the same
An apparatus can include: (i) a first switch coupled to an external interface and an inductor; (ii) a second switch coupled to ground and a common node between the first switch and the inductor; (ii) a third switch coupled to ground and a common node between the inductor and a fourth switch, where the inductor and first, second, third, and fourth switches form a power converter; (iii) a charge and discharge control circuit coupled to the power converter, and being configured to control the first, second, third, and fourth switches; and (iv) a chargeable battery coupled to the fourth switch, where the power converter is configured to provide a current to the battery when the external interface is coupled to an external power supply, and where the power converter is configured to provide a current to a load when the external interface is coupled to the load. |
| US09906058B2 |
Method for charging an electric emergency energy storage device
A method for charging an electric emergency energy storage device (1) comprising the following steps: predicting the energy demand EB of the energy consumer (2), determining the capacitance C of the emergency energy storage device (1) and the internal resistance Ri of the emergency energy storage device (1), calculating a charging voltage UL, whereby the charging voltage UL is calculated in such a way that the energy EC stored in the emergency energy storage device (1) at this charging voltage UL is just enough to meet the predicted energy demand EB, taking into account losses that occur, especially at the internal resistor Ri, and charging or discharging the emergency energy storage device (1) until the calculated charging voltage UL has been reached. |
| US09906052B2 |
Power supply device
A power supply device includes a battery module in which batteries are connected in series; a negative electrode output terminal to which a negative electrode terminal of the battery module is connected; a positive electrode output terminal to which a positive electrode terminal of the battery module and a connection point between predetermined batteries are individually connected through discharging switches; an output voltage detecting circuit for detecting an output voltage; a charging current adjusting circuit for adjusting the charging current of the battery module; thermistors for detecting the state-of-charge of the battery module; and a control device for controlling the charge and discharge of the battery module, wherein the control device includes means for controlling the discharging switches, so that the output voltage is within a specific range, and means for controlling the charging current adjusting circuit on the basis of the state-of-charge of each battery of the battery module. |
| US09906051B2 |
Power supply system using energy storage cell
A power supply system using an energy storage cell includes at least one lithium cell module; a voltage balance device, received and built in the lithium cell module, for performing voltage balance; and a cell module voltage monitoring device, disposed between a load and the lithium cell module, for monitoring and controlling working voltage ranges of all the lithium cell modules. The voltage balance device built in each lithium cell module performs charging correction on a lithium cell unit in which a capacitance difference is caused by a fabrication process or caused subsequently, to prevent overcharge damage of the lithium cell unit caused by the capacitance difference. The cell module voltage monitoring device is provided on an external line, and only a correct total charge voltage needs to be provided to charge the lithium cell module. |
| US09906048B2 |
Non-contact power supply apparatus
A non-contact power supply apparatus includes a first coil, a second coil opposed to the first coil, and a sensor. The sensor includes an insulator, transmitting main antenna parts, transmitting sub antenna parts, a transmitting circuit, receiving main antenna parts, receiving sub antenna parts, and a receiving circuit. |
| US09906036B2 |
Alternative source module array characterization
A system and method for mapping relative positions of a plurality of alternative energy source modules. In one embodiment, the method includes injecting a first contribution current into a power grid by a first alternative energy source module of the plurality of alternative energy source modules and determining an output voltage for each of the plurality of alternative energy source modules. The method also includes constructing a data structure of the relative positions of the plurality of alternative energy source modules employing the output voltage for ones of the plurality of alternative energy source modules. |
| US09906033B2 |
Consensus-based power control apparatus
A consensus-based power control apparatus is provided, which includes a real power control module and a reactive power control module. A real power consensus signal between a first power generating apparatus and a second power generating apparatus is provided and a frequency restoration signal is generated according to the real power consensus signal, thereby allowing the real power control module to generate a real power output signal. A reactive power consensus signal between the first power generating apparatus and the second power generating apparatus is provided and a voltage differential restoration signal is generated according to the reactive power consensus signal, thereby allowing the reactive power control module to generate a reactive power output signal. Therefore, the invention can control real power and reactive power input signals (i.e., actual real power and reactive power outputs) of the first power generating apparatus in a grid system. |
| US09906031B2 |
Power line reactance module and applications
The disclosure is generally directed to reactance modules or DSRs (30) that may be mounted on a power transmission line (16) of a power transmission system (400). A DSR (30) may be configured in a bypass mode or in an injection mode (where reactance is injected into the corresponding line (16)). Multiple DSRs (30) installed on a power line section (18) define an array (410) and have a dedicated controller (440). Such an array (410) and controller (440) may be installed on a number of different power line sections (18). The controller (440) for each array (410) may communicate with a DSR server (420), which in turn may communicate with a utility-side control system (430). Each DSR (30) may incorporate one or more features directed to core (50) configurations and assembly, communications, modal configuration control, fault protection, EMI shielding, DSR (30) assembly, and DSR (30) installation. |
| US09906028B2 |
Method and system for operating an electrical energy supply network
An electrical energy supply network has plurality of electrical energy users and/or energy generators that are connected to a common control device. In order to operate as efficiently as possible, with newly added energy generators and energy users to be linked into the existing control system, at least two energy profile groups are provided. The energy users and/or energy generators are assigned to the groups such that energy users having the same or similar energy consumption time series and energy generators having the same or similar energy generation time series are assigned to the same energy profile group. A further energy user or energy generator is assigned to one of the energy profile groups and all energy generators and energy users of an energy profile group are operated in an identical manner by the control device. |
| US09906026B2 |
Device for reducing standby-mode energy consumption of an electric household appliance
An electric household appliance (1) has an electronic control unit (5) powered by a low-voltage power unit (6), and a device (7) for reducing energy consumption of the electric household appliance in standby mode. The device includes: a bistable relay (21) which is switched by a low-voltage enabling signal (S2) to a closed position to turn on the low-voltage power unit (6), or is switched by a disabling signal (S3) to an open position to turn off the low-voltage power unit (6); a low-voltage capacitive power unit (10) designed to generate the low-voltage enabling signal (S2); and a hand-operated control device (11) interposed between the low-voltage capacitive power unit (10) and the bistable relay (21) to supply the low-voltage enabling signal (S2) to the bistable relay. |
| US09906025B2 |
Electric power supply apparatus and system
An electric power supply apparatus includes a controller configured to control an amount of generated power, obtained from an energy creation device, supplied to multiple power-using devices capable of being operated or charged with the generated power. The power-using devices are assigned priorities based on an order in which the power-using devices use the generated power, and the controller supplies the generated power to the power-using devices in descending order of the priorities according to the amount of the generated power obtained from the energy creation device and a predetermined supply power amount required by each power-using device. |
| US09906019B2 |
Integrated solar and battery inverter
A circuitry arrangement includes two-pole connectors for connecting a battery and a further voltage source. The plus pole of one connector and the minus pole of the other connector are directly connected to a plus pole and a minus pole of a DC voltage link. The plus and minus poles of the one connector are connected via a first parallel circuit of a switch and a diode and a first choke connected in series. The minus and plus poles of the other connector are connected via a second parallel circuit of a switch and a diode and a second choke connected in series. A connection between choke ends of the two parallel circuits is electrically conductive at least for alternating currents. The two chokes are magnetically coupled in that their winding senses on a common magnetic core are equal as viewed from the connection between the two parallel circuits. |
| US09906016B2 |
Ignition circuit
The object of the invention is an ignition circuit for a series connection of at least two spark gaps for limiting overvoltages with medium and high power, particularly overvoltages corresponding to pulse shapes 8/20 μs and 10/350 μs with amplitudes of about 10 kA to about 200 kA (class I arrester). The spark gaps are each equipped with at least one auxiliary electrode. The ignition circuit has a first varistor and a second varistor, with the ignition circuit being particularly suited to limiting overvoltages with medium power, particularly overvoltages corresponding to pulse shape 8/20 μs with amplitudes of about 10 to about 100 kA (class II arrester). The ignition circuit is designed to be connected to the auxiliary electrodes, with the ignition circuit Z having two ignition subcircuits. The first ignition subcircuit TZ1 has the first varistor VAR1 and is designed to ignite the first spark gap. The second ignition subcircuit has the second varistor and is designed to ignite the second spark gap. Further objects of the invention are an overvoltage protection device with this kind of ignition circuit, as well as the use of a multi-contact varistor for triggering a spark gap. |
| US09906015B2 |
Battery protection system with reference voltage control system
A programmable battery protection system. Implementations may include: a battery and a battery protection integrated circuit (IC) coupled with the battery that includes a reference voltage circuit, a variable resistor circuit coupled with the reference voltage circuit, and only two field effect transistors (FETs) coupled with the overcurrent detection circuit and with the battery. The reference voltage circuit and the variable resistor circuit may be configured to cause a current sense signal of the system to vary substantially linearly with changes in a supply voltage of the system. |
| US09906012B2 |
Electrical circuit protection device for leakage current protection
A circuit protection device includes a housing with a base and an upper cover, a clapboard, a circuit board, an AC power source path, a synchronous unit, a synchronous control switch, a tripping and resetting mechanism, a ground fault detection drive unit and a test and reset switch, to perform a function of ground fault protection, and to switch synchronously on or off the AC power path. The device has a manual mechanical tripping and electrical reset function, ensuring that the AC power supply connecting to the load circuit is switched off when the device has malfunctioned or the load circuit has failed, and preventing the device from being reset in case that the circuit protection device is not energized, or the circuit protection device has failed, or the AC power supply is reversely connected with load terminals. |
| US09906011B2 |
Electronic device and over-current protection circuit thereof
An over-current protection circuit includes a first connector, a first current measuring unit, a first switch unit, a first resistor unit, and a second connector. The first connector is electrically coupled to a power supply unit (PSU). When a current of the first resistor unit measured by the first current measuring unit is less than a first reference value, the first switch unit is turned on, and the second connector receives a first power supply from the PSU. When the current of the first resistor unit measured by the first current measuring unit is greater than or equal to the first reference value, the first switch unit is turned off, and the second connector does not receive the first power supply from the PSU. |
| US09906010B2 |
Driving device and driving method
A driving device is configured to drive a power semiconductor switch module based on a main control signal. The driving device includes a voltage-modulating unit and a driving module. When the voltage-modulating unit receives a protection signal, the voltage-modulating unit generates a turn-off pulse signal based on the protection signal. Moreover, the driving module is configured to turn off the power semiconductor switch module based on the turn-off pulse signal. Also disclosed herein is a driving method. |
| US09906007B2 |
Grommets for supporting harnesses and systems and methods including the same
Grommets for supporting harnesses and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The grommets include a grommet body, a resilient cushion, and a retention mechanism. The grommet body is configured to be received within an aperture that is defined by a structural component and defines a tubular receiving region that is sized to receive the harness. The resilient cushion is located within the tubular receiving region and is configured to extend between the harness and the grommet body. The retention mechanism is configured to selectively retain the grommet body within the aperture. The methods include locating the resilient cushion around an external surface of the harness, locating a first body portion and a second body portion around an external surface of the resilient cushion, and operatively interlocking the first body portion with the second body portion to form the grommet body. |
| US09906004B2 |
Method for determining stripping parameters for stripping a cable
Determining at least one stripping parameter for stripping a cable containing a conductor by: a) cutting an insulation up to a cutting depth of a cable with at least one stripping knife, wherein an initial cutting depth is selected to be the cutting depth, which ensures that the at least one stripping knife comes in contact with the conductor; b) stripping the cut insulation by moving the at least one stripping knife in a longitudinal direction in relation to the cable; c) determining by a detecting unit whether the at least one stripping knife has come in contact with the conductor in the step a); and d) repeating the steps a) to c), wherein in each case the cutting depth is reduced by a cutting feed value until a conductor contact can no longer be determined, whereby the stripping cutting depth is maintained in a parameter determination phase. |
| US09906002B2 |
Resistive element, RC module, and RC voltage divider for a high-voltage electrical substation insulated by a dielectric fluid
The invention provides a RC module (20) for a RC voltage divider for an electrical substation insulated by a dielectric fluid. The RC module (20) comprises first and second plane conductive supports (210a,b) separated from each other in order to co-operate with the dielectric fluid to form a capacitor, when the module equips an electrical substation. The module further comprises at least one resistive element (220a,b) electrically connecting together the first and the second conductive supports (210a,b), the resistive element comprising a printed circuit (222) defining a resistive electric circuit including a plurality of resistive 2-terminal components mounted in series. The invention also provides a resistive element and a voltage divider. |
| US09905997B2 |
Image display device
An image display device includes a laser light source, a controller, a temperature acquisition unit, and an image forming unit. The laser light source emits a plurality of laser beams including a red laser beam, a green laser beam, and a blue laser beam. The controller controls lighting of the laser light source. The temperature acquisition unit obtains temperature information with respect to the laser light source. The image forming unit creates an image from the plurality of laser beams emitted from the laser light source. The controller varies a light output ratio between the plurality of laser beams, based on the temperature information obtained by the temperature acquisition unit. |
| US09905991B2 |
Optically pumped semiconductor laser with mode tracking
An intra-cavity doubled OPS-laser has a laser-resonator including a birefringent filter (BRF) for coarse wavelength-selection, and an optically nonlinear (ONL) crystal arranged for type-II frequency-doubling and fine wavelength-selection. Laser-radiation circulates in the laser-resonator at one of a range of fundamental wavelengths dependent on the resonator length. The ONL crystal has a transmission peak-wavelength dependent on the crystal temperature. Reflection of circulating radiation from the BRF is monitored. The reflection is at a minimum when the ONL crystal transmission-peak wavelength is at the circulating radiation wavelength. The temperature of the ONL crystal is selectively varied to maintain the monitored reflection at about a minimum. |
| US09905989B1 |
Method for high-rate fiber laser manufacturing
A method of manufacturing a high-power fiber laser by forming a first assembly of fiber optic components on a common first fiber; forming a second assembly of other fiber optic components on a common second fiber; forming a further fiber optic component on a third optical fiber; connecting the first fiber to the third optical fiber by a first splice to fix the first assembly of fiber optic components to the further fiber optic component; and connecting the third optical fiber to the second fiber by a second splice to fix the second assembly of fiber optic components to the further fiber optic component. |
| US09905987B2 |
Laser radar system
A laser radar system includes a first light source unit including a signal light source—a seed laser diode or a light source for amplifying a laser beam from the seed laser diode—and a pump laser diode, a second light source unit disposed to be spaced apart from the first light source unit, the second light source unit including an optical amplifier for amplifying a signal output from the first light source unit, and an optical connector for connecting the first light source unit and the second light source unit to each other, wherein the second light source unit is disposed at an end of a laser transceiver unit of the laser radar system. |
| US09905983B2 |
Brush for an electric motor
A brush for an electric motor has a brush body having a front end surface configured to make sliding electrical contact with a commutator of the motor. First and second side surfaces are connected to the front end surface. The first side surface and the second side surface are positioned on opposite sides of the brush body in a rotational direction of the commutator. The front end surface has a first contact surface and a second contact surface that contact the commutator earlier than other regions of the front end surface, and are respectively positioned on diametrically opposed corners of the front end surface. In an initial state, the width of the contact area between the brush and the commutator is increased to extend the commutation time. |
| US09905973B2 |
Communications connectors including transmission lines having impedance discontinuities that improve return loss and/or insertion loss performance and related methods
Communications plugs are provided that include a housing that receives the conductors of the communication cable. A printed circuit board is mounted at least partially within the housing. A plurality of plug contacts are on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board includes a plurality of conductive paths that electrically connect respective ones of the conductors to respective ones of the plug contacts. First and second of the conductive paths are arranged as a first differential pair of conductive paths that comprise a portion of a first differential transmission line through the communications plug, where the first differential transmission line includes a first transition region where the impedance of the first differential transmission line changes by at least 20% and a second transition region impedance of the first differential transmission line changes by at least 20%. |
| US09905969B1 |
Locking electrical device
An electrical receptacle including a body having a plurality of electrical connections, a device face connected to the body and movable with respect to the body, a plurality of electrical plug contacts positioned behind the device face, and wherein the electrical plug contacts retain an electrical plug prong at a first tension when the device face is in a first position and the electrical plug contacts retain the electrical plug prong at a second tension when the device face is in a second position. |
| US09905968B2 |
Coaxial connector with floating mechanism
In a coaxial connector with a floating mechanism, a housing of a socket includes a housing base portion and a housing movable portion which can move radially over a plug-side end face of the housing base portion with a socket-side center contact. A top side of a plug-side shell is fitted onto the housing movable portion. A socket-side shell integrally includes shell contact plate portions which are exposed from the plug-side end face of the housing base portion. An end of the plug-side shell is configured to come into contact with the shell contact plate portions. |
| US09905965B2 |
Connector and connector assembly
A connector is mountable on a mount object in an up-down direction and connectable with a mating connector along a predetermined direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The mating connector comprises a mating fitting portion and a male screw member. The connector comprises a fitting portion and a screw end accommodation portion. The fitting portion is mateable with the mating fitting portion. The screw end accommodation portion defines an accommodation space which accommodates an end of the male screw member when the connector is connected with the mating connector. The screw end accommodation portion has at least a front surface portion, an upper surface portion, a rear surface portion and an outer surface portion. The front surface portion is provided with a female screw portion which is connectable with the male screw member. The accommodation space is positioned between the front surface portion and the rear surface portion in the predetermined direction. |
| US09905963B1 |
Adjustable strain relief for electrical connectors
A backshell assembly with a strain relief member. The backshell assembly includes an enclosure member for positioning over a connector. The enclosure member has a wire receiving portion which extends from a surface of the enclosure member. A strain relief mounting member extends from the enclosure. The strain relief member is movably mounted to the strain relief mounting member. The strain relief member is movable between 0 degrees and 90 degrees as measured between a center axis a wire mounting opening of the wire receiving portion to a center axis of a wire receiving opening of the strain relief member. |
| US09905956B2 |
Preventing unwanted contact between terminals
Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus that includes a male-connector body comprising at least one mating surface, and shaped to define a hollow core. A plurality of electrically-conductive male-connector terminals are coupled to the mating surface of the male-connector body. A longitudinal insert is configured to, by moving inside the hollow core, push the male-connector terminals radially outward. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09905955B2 |
Terminal and connector
The terminal comprises a conductive contact plate, a conductive body, an extended part, and a lance. The conductive contact plate is elastic and makes contact with a counterpart terminal. The conductive body supports the conductive contact plate and comprises a side plate. The extended part comprises a folded part extending from the +Z-side end of the side plate and folded outward from the conductive body and an overlapped part extending from the leading end of the folded part and overlapping with the side plate. The lance is a member protruding from the overlapped part and having the shape of a cantilever beam. |
| US09905950B2 |
Electric contact means and electrical cable assembly for the automotive industry
An electric contact is disclosed. The electric contact has an electric contact section including a plurality of contact springs with different geometrical shapes and a connecting section connected to an electric conductor. |
| US09905945B2 |
Connector module and connector blade thereof
Disclosed is a novel connector module structure, to be installed in a system to form connection between at least two functional modules. The connector module provides jumper connection capabilities, i.e., allowing one of its connection terminals to form electrical connection with a connection terminal of one or more particular non-adjacent connector modules. |
| US09905944B2 |
Flippable electrical connector
A receptacle connection assembly includes a printed circuit board defining two spaced slots in a front edge portion with a mating tongue formed therebetween, a plurality of pads formed on two opposite surfaces of the mating tongue in a diagonally symmetrical manner for a flippable usage and a metallic shield including a tubular capsular portion assembled to the PCB to enclose the mating tongue. |
| US09905943B2 |
Clamping cage for an edge connector
A connector module for connecting the bare end of an insulated electrical conductor with an electrical device, including a hollow generally-rectangular terminal cage body formed from a bent conductive first metal sheet to form at least one vertical generally rectangular side wall and a pair of end walls, one of the cage walls having a horizontal lower surface defining a first cage sealing surface, and a vertical interior wall surface defining a second cage sealing surface; a horizontal bus bar formed from a conductive second metal sheet and having a relatively broad horizontal top surface defining a horizontal first bus bar sealing surface, and a relatively narrow side surface defining a vertical second bus bar sealing surface; and a securing seam for securing one of the bus bar first and second sealing surfaces with the corresponding one of the cage first and second sealing surfaces. |
| US09905940B2 |
Interlaced multiband antenna arrays
Antenna arrays which can work simultaneously in various frequency bands thanks to the physical disposition of the elements which constitute them, and also the multiband behavior of some elements situated strategically in the array. The configuration of the array is described based on the juxtaposition or interleaving of various conventional mono-band arrays working in the different bands of interest. In those positions in which elements of different multiband arrays come together, a multiband antenna is employed which covers the different working frequency bands. The advantages with respect to the classic configuration of using one array for each frequency band are: saving in cost of the global radiating system and its installation (one array replaces several), and its size and visual and environmental impact are reduced in the case of base stations and repeater stations for communication systems. |
| US09905936B2 |
Ultra-broadband antenna array with constant beamwidth throughout operating frequency band
An antenna array includes a plurality of antenna elements coupled in a common area and extending radially outward from the common area. At least one of the plurality of antenna elements includes a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion arranged in a configuration such that a gap is formed between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion. The gap includes first spacing associated with a first operating frequency and a first operating wavelength, and a second spacing associated with a second operating frequency and a second operating wavelength. A proportion of the first spacing to the first wavelength is substantially equal to a proportion of the second spacing to the second wavelength, thereby providing a constant beamwidth over an operating frequency band. A method of arranging a plurality of antenna elements in an antenna array is also disclosed. |
| US09905934B2 |
Antenna system and terminal
An antenna system includes a first antenna and a second antenna, where the first antenna and the second antenna are connected in parallel to an antenna feeding point, and a phase-shift apparatus is connected in series between the first antenna or the second antenna and the antenna feeding point, so that an imaginary part of impedance at the antenna feeding point is canceled out near a central frequency channel number. The antenna system provides an expansion in radio frequency bandwidth in free space and an increase in average efficiency. |
| US09905931B2 |
Antenna for short-range applications and use of an antenna of this type
The invention relates to an antenna for short-range applications, particularly RFID applications. The antenna (1) according to the invention comprises an elongated bipolar conductor structure (12) with an inner conductor (14) and an envelope conductor (16) coaxially surrounding the same, wherein a first end (18) of the conductor structure (12) is provided as a connection end for connecting a transmitter and/or receiver for an antenna signal to be transmitted using the antenna or an antenna signal to be received by the antenna, and wherein an inner-conductor extension (24), which is connected to the inner conductor (14), is provided at a second end (22) of the conductor structure (12) and a free end (26) of the inner-conductor extension (24) is capacitively coupled to the envelope conductor (16). A wireless and reliable transmission of energy and/or information over short distances in particular can be realized using the invention. |
| US09905930B2 |
Omni-directional ceiling antenna
The present invention provides an omni-directional ceiling antenna, including: a cone cylinder-shaped radiation oscillator, a cone cylinder-shaped reflector, a disc cylinder-shaped base plate, and a dielectric ring; where the reflector includes a first hollow cone and a first cylindrical ring, a flared end of the first hollow cone is connected to the first cylindrical ring, and an outer diameter of the first cylindrical ring is smaller than that of the flared end of the first hollow cone; a second cylindrical ring is provided on the base plate, and the second cylindrical ring sockets to the first cylindrical ring to form a spatially separated coupling structure; the dielectric ring is provided between the second cylindrical ring and the first cylindrical ring so as to realize separation and fixed support between the reflector and the base plate. |
| US09905927B2 |
Antenna device, circuit board and memory card
A disclosed antenna device includes a substrate made of a dielectric material, an antenna element formed on one side of the substrate, and a ground element formed on another side of the substrate. |
| US09905920B2 |
Smart electric meter
A smart electric meter is provided. The smart electric meter includes a body, an antenna holder, an antenna structure and a supporting member. The antenna holder is disposed on the body, wherein the antenna holder is annular. The antenna structure is disposed on the antenna holder, wherein the antenna structure is moveable along a circumferential direction of the antenna holder. The supporting member is connected to the antenna structure, wherein the supporting member is moveably disposed on the antenna holder, and the supporting member moves the antenna structure along the circumferential direction of the antenna holder. |
| US09905917B2 |
Antenna device
An antenna device includes: a ground electrode; a first dielectric layer which is provided on one surface of the ground electrode; a feed plate which is provided on a surface of the first dielectric layer opposite from the ground electrode, and which is shorted to the ground electrode; a feed line which feeds to the feed plate; a second dielectric layer which is provided in such a manner as to sandwich the feed plate in combination with the first dielectric layer; and a radiation electrode which is provided on a surface of the second dielectric layer opposite from the feed plate, and which is fed by being electrically connected to the feed plate at a feed point and thereby radiates or receives a radiowave with a first frequency. |
| US09905916B2 |
Antenna and implantable medical device
An antenna for an implantable medical device with a broadened bandwidth including at least two strut-like first conducting members, wherein each adjacent pair of first conducting members is connected by a second conducting member, wherein the second conducting member has the basic form of an at least partial round and/or polygonal plate, or of at least a part of a sphere and/or polyhedron, or a cross (or X), or a star, wherein the second conducting member further includes at least one through going opening, wherein the basic form fully encircles the opening. |
| US09905913B2 |
Antenna structure and wireless communication device using same
An antenna structure includes a metal housing, a first feed portion, a first ground portion, a second ground portion, and a radiator. The metal housing includes a front frame, a backboard, and a side frame. The side frame defines a slot and the front frame defines a gap. The metal housing is divided into at least a long portion and a short portion by the slot and the gap. One end of the first feed portion is electrically connected to the long portion for feeding current to the long portion and another end of the first feed portion is electrically connected to the backboard. The first and second ground portions are both electrically connected to the long portion for grounding the long portion. The radiator is positioned in the metal housing, electrically connected to the backboard, and is spaced apart from the short portion. |
| US09905905B1 |
Antenna enclosure for attachment to a handrail
An antenna enclosure for attachment to a handrail, comprises a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being configured to mate together to form said enclosure; each of the first and second parts including a cavity portion having a base wall, a peripheral external side wall and an inner wall; the external side wall of the first part is configured to mate with the external side wall of the second part; a seal disposed between the external side wall of the first part and the external side wall of the second part; and the first and second parts including respective clamp portions configured to wrap around a post of the handrail when the first and second parts are mated together. |
| US09905903B2 |
Resonator filter having a rotatable rod that presses a dielectric material into an elastic spring material
A resonator filter according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a cover formed with a first coupling hole; a housing connected to the cover to form an inner space and having a second coupling hole formed at a bottom of the inner space; a dielectric material mounted around the second coupling hole in the bottom of the inner space of the housing; a first rod inserted to the first coupling hole to be connected to the cover and pressing the dielectric material; and a second rod inserted to the second coupling hole to be connected to the housing to be close to the dielectric material and tuning a resonance frequency by controlling a separation distance from the first rod. |
| US09905901B1 |
Miniature directional coupling device
Differing from conventional directional coupling device being implemented on a coin-like planar board, the present invention stacks a bottom substrate, at least one phase retarding unit, at least one reference ground unit, a coupled circuit layer, a main circuit layer, and a top substrate to form a miniature directional coupling device. Because this miniature directional coupling device not occupies too much circuit area when being applied in a mobile communication product, the miniature directional coupling device can meet the requirements of light weight and compact size demanded by high-technology mobile communications for the electronic components. It is worth explaining that, since the said phase retarding unit consists of many end-to-end connected transmission wires, engineers skilled in designing microwave circuit are able to carry out the modulation of coupling flatness of the miniature directional coupling device by changing a total length of the end-to-end connected transmission wires. |
| US09905899B2 |
High-frequency high-power terminator
A high-frequency high-power terminator is disclosed. Specifically, the high-frequency high-power terminator has a new structure which uses a resistive element in a distributed element form to achieve broadband matching and to have improved rated power. |
| US09905896B2 |
Rotary switch for low passive intermodulation connection
A low passive intermodulation (PIM) RF rotary switch comprises a plurality of center conductors connected to stationary pads, at least two rotatable pads being connected by a rotatable pad bridge. Depending on the switching state of the switch, at least two stationary pads are in close proximity to at least two rotatable pads, at a distance sufficient to generate/form a RF signal connection between the center conductors via the stationary and rotatable pads. |
| US09905895B2 |
Pulsed mode apparatus with mismatched battery
A pulse mode apparatus comprises a mismatched battery electrically connected to a pulse mode device having a pulse duty cycle with a power-on time period and a power-off time period. The mismatched battery comprises a first battery cell having a first internal resistance and first charge capacity, and a second battery cell having a second internal resistance and second charge capacity, and the battery comprises at least one of the following: (1) the second internal resistance is less than the first internal resistance, and (2) the second charge capacity is less than the first charge capacity. The battery also has a pair of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells in parallel, a pair of terminals connected to the first or second battery cells, and a casing around the first and second battery cells with the terminals extending out of the casing. |
| US09905891B2 |
Battery cell provided with cut portion and battery pack comprising the same
Disclosed herein is a battery cell including an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a case in which the electrode assembly is mounted, wherein a body of the electrode assembly and a body of the case are provided with cut portions. |
| US09905888B2 |
Self-healing liquid/solid state battery
A battery system that exchanges energy with an external device is provided. The battery system includes a positive electrode having a first metal or alloy, a negative electrode having a second metal or alloy, and an electrolyte including a salt of the second metal or alloy. The positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte are in a liquid phase at an operating temperature during at least one portion of operation. The positive electrode is entirely in a liquid phase in one charged state and includes a solid phase in another charged state. The solid phase of the positive electrode includes a solid intermetallic formed by the first and the second metals or alloys. Methods of storing electrical energy from an external circuit using such a battery system are also provided. |
| US09905887B2 |
Lithium secondary battery
The present invention relates to a secondary battery cg a positive electrode capable of absorbing and releasing lithium, and a electrolyte solution containing a non-aqueous electrolytic solvent, wherein the positive electrode has a positive electrode active material which operates at 4.5 V or more relative to lithium, and wherein the non-aqueous electrolytic solvent contains a sulfone compound represented by a predetermined formula and a fluorinated ether compound represented by a predetermined formula. |
| US09905883B2 |
Ceramic electrolyte material comprising a modified polycrystalline lithium metal phosphate
There is disclosed a polycrystalline lithium-ion conductive membrane for a lithium-air battery that comprises at least one surface, a polycrystalline lithium-ion conductive material comprising grain boundaries, and at least one modifying phase, wherein (a) the at least one modifying phase is incorporated into the grain boundaries to form a modified polycrystalline lithium-ion conductive material comprising modified grain boundaries, (b) the at least one modifying phase is incorporated into the at least one surface to form a modified surface, or both (a) and (b). Various lithium based batteries, including lithium ion, lithium-air, and lithium-water batteries are disclosed, as well as methods for modifying the polycrystalline lithium-ion conductive membrane to allow it to be used in such battery applications. |
| US09905877B2 |
Fuel cell stack
A fuel cell stack includes fuel cells, first and second rectangular end plates, and side panels. The fuel cells are stacked in a stacking direction to form a stacked fuel cells having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in the stacking direction. The side panels are disposed between and fixed to the first and second rectangular end plates to surround the stacked fuel cells. The side panels include a first side panel and a second side panel opposite to the first side panel. The first side panel and the second side panel each have an asymmetric shape and are disposed so as to be point-symmetric to each other with respect to a fuel-cell central axis extending in the stacking direction and passing through a center of the fuel cells. |
| US09905874B2 |
Additives for hydrogen/bromine cells
The invention relates to the use of 1-alkyl-2-alkyl pyridinium halide (e.g., 1-ethyl-2-methyl pyridinium bromide), 1-alkyl-3-alkyl pyridinium halide (e.g., 1-ethyl-3-methyl pyridinium bromide) or 1-alkyl-3-alkyl imidazolium halide (e.g., 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium bromide) as additives in an electrolyte used in hydrogen/bromine cells, for complexing the elemental bromine formed in such cells. The invention also provides an electrolyte comprising aqueous hydrogen bromide and said additives, and processes for operating an electrochemical flow cell selected from the group consisting of hydrogen/bromine or vanadium/bromine cells. |
| US09905864B2 |
Fuel cell system and control method thereof
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply/exhaust portion, an oxidant gas supply/exhaust portion, a cooling portion, and a controller. The controller performs at least one of a transient increase control process and a transient decrease control process. In the transient increase control process, the controller determines whether a temperature of a coolant is in a transient increase state. In the transient increase state, the controller performs an oxidant gas pressure increase process. In the transient decrease control process, the controller determines whether the temperature of the coolant is in a transient decrease state. In the transient decrease state, the controller performs at least one of the oxidant gas pressure increase process and an output increase process. In the output increase process, the controller controls the fuel cell to generate an output higher than a target output corresponding to a request output. |
| US09905862B2 |
Fuel cell
A fuel cell includes a resin-framed membrane electrode assembly, first and second separators, and a resin frame member. The resin frame member is provided to surround an outer periphery of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The first and second separators sandwich the resin-framed membrane electrode assembly therebetween in a stacking direction to define a reactant gas flow channel between each of the first and second separators and the resin-framed membrane electrode assembly. The first and second separators include a reactant gas manifold hole which passes through the first and second separators in the stacking direction. The resin frame member includes a bridge portion having connecting flow channels connecting the reactant gas flow channel and the reactant gas manifold hole. At least one of the connecting flow channels has a sloped surface. |
| US09905860B2 |
Water activated battery system having enhanced start-up behavior
A water activated lithium battery cell having a thermal agent component for warming up cell components upon deployment. Also a water-activated battery system that is adapted to operate in and/or on the surface of a waterbody (i.e., a body of water including those which are natural or man made). In various embodiments the battery system comprises an operably breachable hermetic enclosure and at least one lithium battery cell having an open-cathode architecture, the lithium cell disposed inside the hermetic enclosure and therein maintained in an open ionic circuit condition (i.e., an inactive state) throughout battery system storage. Moreover, optionally, a thermal agent may be disposed inside the hermetic enclosure for warming up one or more battery cell components, the agent typically water activated, which is to mean that it (the thermal agent) evolves heat by reacting with water. |
| US09905858B2 |
Fuel cell with an improved electrode
An improved platinum and method for manufacturing the improved platinum wherein the platinum having a fractal surface coating of platinum, platinum gray, with a increase in surface area of at least 5 times when compared to shiny platinum of the same geometry and also having improved resistance to physical stress when compared to platinum black having the same surface area. The process of electroplating the surface coating of platinum gray comprising plating at a moderate rate, for example at a rate that is faster than the rate necessary to produce shiny platinum and that is less than the rate necessary to produce platinum black. Platinum gray is applied to manufacture a fuel cell and a catalyst. |
| US09905857B1 |
Methods of fabricating metal-foam electrodes for batteries and fuel cells
This invention provides metal-foam electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. In some variations, an electrode includes a first metal layer disposed on a second metal layer, wherein the first metal layer comprises an electrically conductive, open-cell metal foam with an average cell diameter of about 25 μm or less. The structure also includes smaller pores between the cells. The electrode forms a one piece monolithic structure and allows thicker electrodes than are possible with current electrode-fabrication techniques. These electrodes are formed from an all-fluidic plating solution. The disclosed structures increase energy density in batteries and power density in fuel cells. |
| US09905854B2 |
Electrode for rechargeable lithium battery and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
An electrode for a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery, the electrode including a current collector; an electrode active material layer; and an electrolyte solution impregnation layer, wherein the electrolyte solution impregnation layer includes a metal oxide and a conductive material. |
| US09905853B2 |
Conductive carbon, electrode material including said carbon, electrode in which said electrode material is used, and electric storage device provided with said electrode
Provided is conductive carbon which gives an electric storage device having a high energy density. This conductive carbon is characterized in having a hydrophilic solid phase component, where a crystallite size La that does not include a twist in a graphene surface direction and a crystallite size Leq that includes a twist in a graphene surface direction, which are calculated from a Raman spectrum of the hydrophilic solid phase component, satisfy the following relationships: 1.3 nm≦La≦1.5 nm, and 1.5 nm≦Leq≦2.3 nm, and 1.0≦Leq/La≦1.55. When performing a rolling treatment on an active layer including an active particle and this conductive carbon formed on a current collector during manufacture of an electrode of an electric storage device, the pressure resulting from the rolling treatment causes this conductive carbon to spread in a paste-like form and increase in density while covering the surface of the active particles, the conductive carbon being pressed into gaps formed between adjacent active particles and filling the gaps. As a result, the amount of active material per unit volume in the electrode obtained after the rolling treatment increases, and the electrode density increases. |
| US09905850B2 |
Polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide particles, preparation method thereof, and cathode active material including the same
Provided are polycrystalline lithium manganese oxide particles represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a method of preparing the same: Li(1+x)Mn(2-x-y-f)AlyMfO(4-z) |
| US09905847B2 |
Forming electrode active materials
In an example of a method for making an electrode active material, a sacrificial layer is formed on a nanomaterial. Carbon is coated on the sacrificial layer to form a carbon layer. Titanium dioxide is coated on the carbon layer to form a titanium dioxide layer. The sacrificial layer is removed to form a void between the nanomaterial and the carbon layer. |
| US09905845B2 |
Method for manufacturing silicon flakes, silicon-containing negative electrode and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing silicon flakes includes steps as follows. A silicon material is contacted with a machining tool which includes at least one abrasive particle fixedly disposed thereon. The silicon material is scraped along a displacement path with respect to the machining tool to generate the silicon flakes having various particle sizes. |
| US09905844B2 |
Solid state battery with volume change material
In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, the second electrode including at least one first thin-film deposition formed volume change accommodating feature, and a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09905843B2 |
Negative electrode material and battery
A negative electrode material includes a carbon material including boron. In a B1s spectrum of the carbon material which is measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the ratio of the area of a peak that occurs at a binding energy of 187.0 eV or more and 188.5 eV or less to the total area of peaks that occur at a binding energy of 184.0 eV or more and 196.5 eV or less is 50% or more. |
| US09905837B2 |
Imaging element, solid-state imaging device, and electronic device
An imaging element has a laminated structure including a first electrode, a light-receiving layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the light-receiving layer. The second electrode is made of a transparent amorphous oxide having a conductive property. |
| US09905836B2 |
Rechargable battery with internal current limiter and interrupter
A high energy density rechargeable (HEDR) battery employs a combined current limiter/current interrupter to prevent thermal runaway in the event of internal discharge or other disruption of the separator. The combined current limiter/current interrupter is interior to the battery. |
| US09905832B2 |
Battery wiring module
Provided is a battery wiring module to be attached to a single cell group in which a plurality of single cells each having a positive electrode section and a negative electrode section are lined up, and to connect the electrode sections. The battery wiring module includes a connecting member configured to connect the electrode sections, and a protector by which the connecting member is held. The protector has a positioning section that is fitted to positioned sections formed in a single cell prior to the connecting member reaching the electrode sections when the battery wiring module is attached to the single cells. The positioning section is provided projecting farther to the single cell side than the connecting member. |
| US09905824B2 |
Separator for electrochemical device
Disclosed is a separator for an electrochemical device including a porous polymer film, and a porous coating layer including at least one type of particles of inorganic particles and organic particles and binder polymer, the porous coating layer formed on one surface or both surfaces of the porous polymer film, wherein the porous polymer film has a structure in which multiple fibrils arranged parallel to the surface of the film are stacked in layers, and the fibrils are bound to each other to form a lamellar structure with a size from 130 to 200 nm and tortuosity of the porous polymer film is from 1.60 to 1.90, and an electrochemical device comprising the same. |
| US09905818B2 |
Electric storage device, electric storage apparatus, method for producing electric storage device, and method for producing cover plate
An electric storage device includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate that are insulated from each other, and a case that houses the electrode assembly. The case includes a case body including an opening, and a cover plate that is placed on an opening edge of the opening of the case body so as to cover the opening. The case body includes a step portion at the opening edge. The cover plate includes a projection that is inserted into the opening of the case body. At least a portion of the projection opposes the step portion within the case body. A seam between the cover plate and the opening edge of the case body is laser welded in at least the step portion. |
| US09905815B2 |
Insertion guide device for film armored battery
When inserting film armored battery into space between movable plates, tab-shaped terminal projecting from side edge of outer packaging body is reliably guided into space. Guide member disposed at an upper position of movable plates is provided with guide surface portion tapered toward counter-insertion direction. In guide surface portion, relative to side edge of terminal on the side of insertion direction, a portion corresponding to terminal base portion close to outer packaging body is relatively projected toward counter-insertion direction in comparison with a portion corresponding to terminal tip portion far from outer packaging body. Terminal is thereby contacted to guide surface portion in a sliding manner from terminal base portion having a small deformation and is corrected to the shape before the deformation. |
| US09905814B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a display device includes forming a first resin layer on a first substrate; forming a plurality of regions on the first resin layer, the plurality of regions each including a display portion, a terminal portion and a light blocking layer located between the display portion and the terminal portion; forming a second resin layer on a second substrate; bonding the first substrate and the second substrate; directing first laser light along a first line and a second line enclosing the plurality of regions such that the first laser light is transmitted through the second substrate to irradiate the first resin layer and the second resin layer; and directing second laser light along a third line parallel to the light blocking layer such that the second laser light is transmitted through the second substrate to irradiate the light blocking layer and the second resin layer. |
| US09905813B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device, organic layer depositing apparatus, and method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display device using the organic layer depositing apparatus
An organic layer depositing apparatus includes a deposition unit which includes one or more deposition assemblies spaced a predetermined distance apart from a substrate to deposit a deposition material on the substrate, wherein the one or more deposition assemblies include: a deposition source; a deposition source nozzle unit; a first pattern sheet which includes a first patterning unit and a first overlap unit; and a second pattern sheet which includes a second patterning unit and a second overlap unit, wherein the first and second pattern sheets are arranged such that the first and second overlap units overlap each other. |
| US09905808B2 |
Organic light-emitting diode display device and its manufacturing method
The present disclosure provides an OLED display device and its manufacturing method. The OLED display device includes an organic light-emitting layer and a plurality of elements arranged one on another at a light-exiting side of the organic light-emitting layer. At least one transparent light extraction layer is arranged between the elements, and/or between the organic light-emitting layer and the element adjacent to the organic light-emitting layer, and/or at a light-exiting surface of the element farthest away from the organic light-emitting layer. A refractive index of the organic light-emitting layer and/or a refractive index of the element adjacent to the light extraction layer, and a refractive index of the light extraction layer decrease successively in a light emergent direction, and the refractive index of the light extraction layer is greater than a refractive index of air. |
| US09905798B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a reduced dead space, and a method of manufacturing provides the same. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a lower substrate comprising a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area; first thin film transistors (TFTs) disposed in the display area of the lower substrate; a first insulating layer that is disposed in the display area and at least a portion of the peripheral area of the lower substrate and that covers the first TFTs; organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) electrically connected to the first TFTs; a sealant disposed such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the first insulating layer; a barrier layer disposed between the first insulating layer and the sealant; and an upper substrate sealed with the lower substrate by the sealant. |
| US09905796B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a first substrate; a display device including a display portion and located on the first substrate; a second substrate located above the display device; a sealing portion between the first substrate and the second substrate, and surrounding the display portion, the sealing portion bonding the first substrate and the second substrate; a circuit portion located between the sealing portion and the display portion; and one or more supplement members located between the circuit portion and the sealing portion so as to absorb an external shock delivered to the sealing portion. |
| US09905794B2 |
Display device and automobile including the same
A display device for a vehicle and an automobile including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a display unit that includes a first surface and a second surface located on an opposite side of the first surface. The first surface includes an active area having opposing sides and configured to generate an image and a plurality of inactive areas located on the opposing sides of the active area and bent with respect to the active area. The display device also includes a heat radiation member adjacent to the second surface of the display unit. |
| US09905790B2 |
Optoelectronic device including quantum dot
Provided are optoelectronic devices including quantum dots. An optoelectronic device may include an active layer including a quantum dot and at least one molecular interlayer adjacent to the active layer. The active layer may be provided between two electrodes, and a charge transfer layer may be provided adjacent to the active layer. The molecular interlayer may be provided between the active layer and the charge transfer layer. The molecular interlayer may have a smaller amount of surface charge than the charge transfer layer. The molecular interlayer may include a nonionic material or a hydrophobic material. The charge transfer layer may include an electron transport layer, and the electron transport layer may include an inorganic semiconductor. |
| US09905789B2 |
White-light-emitting composite film comprising polyfluorene derivatives and red light quantum dots, its manufacture method, and white light organic electroluminescent device
Disclosed are a light-emitting composite film, its manufacture method, and a white light organic electroluminescent device. Said light-emitting composite film comprises a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer. The first light-emitting layer comprises polyfluorene or polyfluorene derivatives, and the second light-emitting layer comprises quantum dots. A variety of color gamut and an improved brightness of devices can be achieved by the light-emitting composite film. |
| US09905787B2 |
Array substrate, method for manufacturing the same and display device
According to embodiments of the present invention, there are provided an array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same and a display device, capable of reducing production difficulty of the array substrate. The manufacturing process of the array substrate is simplified, and the production cost is reduced. The array substrate comprises thin film transistor in a top-gate, bottom-contact configuration which is located on a substrate. Regarding the thin film transistor, its gate electrode is connected to a gate line, its source electrode is connected to a data line, and its drain electrode is connected to a pixel electrode. |
| US09905785B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
This invention discloses novel metal complexes for phosphorescent OLEDs. The incorporation of a specific nitrogen substitution in the benzimidazole phenanthridine ligand system is shown to provide desirable color. |
| US09905784B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
A compound having the formula Ir(LA)n(LB)3−n, having the structure: is described. In formula Ir(LA)n(LB)3−n, n is either 1 or 2; R1, R2, R4, and R5 each independently represent up to the maximum number of substitutions or no substitutions; X1, X2, X3, and X4 are each independently C or N; and at least one of X1, X2, X3, and X4 is N. In addition, any adjacent substituents of R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are optionally linked together to form a ring, and each R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 is independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof. Formulations and devices, such as an OLEDs, that include the compound of formula Ir(LA)n(LB)3−n are also described. |
| US09905781B2 |
Condensed cyclic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
An organic light-emitting device includes: 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; wherein the organic layer includes a condensed cyclic compound of Formula 1: The organic light-emitting device including the condensed cyclic compound may exhibit low driving voltage, high efficiency, high luminance, and long lifespan characteristics. |
| US09905780B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials containing N-phenylcarboline and organic electroluminescent device by using the same
An organic electroluminescent material is shown in General Formula (1), wherein one of X1, X2, and X3 is an independent nitrogen atom, and R1 to R14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, a thioalkyl group, a silyl group, and an alkenyl group. |
| US09905771B2 |
Organic light-emitting device
An organic light-emitting device includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an organic layer between the first electrode and the second the organic layer including an emission layer. The organic layer includes a first compound represented by Formula 1 and a second compound represented by Formula 2: where R1, to R3, R11 to R13, R21 to R24, X, L1 to L3, L11 to L13, a1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3, a11 to a13, b11 to b13, and c11 to c13 are as defined in the specification. |
| US09905770B2 |
Compound having acridan ring structure, and organic electroluminescent device
An organic compound having a substituted acridan ring structure with characteristics excelling in hole-injecting/transporting performance and having an electron blocking ability, a highly stable thin-film state, and excellent heat resistance is provided as a material for an organic electroluminescent device of high efficiency and high durability, and the organic electroluminescent device of high efficiency and high durability is provided using this compound. The compound is used as a constituent material of at least one organic layer in the organic electroluminescent device that includes a pair of electrodes and one or more organic layers sandwiched between the pair of electrodes. |
| US09905769B2 |
Process of manufacturing an electron transport material
A process of dissolving [6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester in a solvent to produce a first mixture. A reagent is added to the first mixture to produce a second mixture. The second mixture is then refluxed to produce [6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric-N-2-trimethylammonium ethyl ester iodide. |
| US09905767B2 |
High-molecular compound and light-emitting element using same
A high-molecular compound including a group indicated by general formula (11) as a repeating unit. In formula (11) n1 indicates an integer of 1-3. Ar1 indicates an arylene group, a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group, or a divalent aromatic amine residue, and these groups may have a substituent group. If there is a plurality of Ar1, the Ar1 can be the same or can be different. R11 indicates a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a monovalent aromatic heterocyclic group, or an aralkyl group, and said groups may have a substituent group. The plurality of R11 can be the same or can be different. However, at least three of the R11 are an alkyl group, an aryl group, a monovalent aromatic heterocyclic group, or an aralkyl group. |
| US09905764B2 |
Substrate for an organic light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a substrate for an organic light emitting diode including a base substrate, a high refractive scattering layer formed on the base substrate, and having a scattering particle scattering light in a high refractive material, and an adhesive layer formed between the base substrate and the high refractive scattering layer to laminate the base substrate with the high refractive scattering layer, wherein the high refractive scattering layer has a structure in which the scattering particle is immersed in the high refractive material, an average thickness of the high refractive scattering layer is smaller than an average diameter of the scattering particle, a surface of the high refractive scattering layer laminated with the base substrate by the adhesive layer has unevenness formed by the scattering particle, the opposite surface of the high refractive scattering layer laminated with the base substrate by the adhesive layer has a planarized surface, and a method for manufacturing the same. The substrate may have an excellent degree of planarization and improved light extraction efficiency without degradation in performance of the diode, and low process and material costs and mass-production of the substrate may be easily achieved. |
| US09905763B2 |
Opto-electrical devices incorporating metal nanowires
The present disclosure relates to OLED and PV devices including transparent electrodes that are formed of conductive nanostructures and methods of improving light out-coupling in OLED and input-coupling in PV devices. |
| US09905761B2 |
Organic light emitting display device having subsidiary layers to adjust a resonant range, and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed is an organic light emission display device including; a substrate in which a first side area, a middle area, and a second side are sequentially defined in a first direction; a first electrode disposed on the substrate; a second electrode opposite to the first electrode; a red emission layer disposed between the first and second electrodes; a first subsidiary layer disposed between the red emission layer and the first electrode in the middle area, and configured to adjust a resonant range; and a second subsidiary layer disposed between the red emission layer and the first electrode respectively in the first and second side areas, and configured to adjust a resonant range. The first subsidiary layer is different from the second subsidiary layer in thickness. |
| US09905759B2 |
Memory device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a pillar, a first wiring, a second wiring, an insulating film provided between the first wiring and the second wiring, a first layer provided between the first wiring and the pillar in the second direction and including a first metal oxide containing a first metal and oxygen, a second layer provided between the second wiring and the pillar in the second direction and including the first metal oxide containing the first metal and oxygen, and an intermediate film provided between the pillar and the first layer and between the pillar and the second layer in the second direction and including a second metal oxide containing the first metal and oxygen. Concentration of oxygen contained in the first metal oxide is lower than concentration of oxygen contained in the second metal oxide. |
| US09905749B2 |
Piezoelectric composition and piezoelectric device
The present invention aims to provide a piezoelectric composition which is free of lead based compounds and is represented by the following formula (1), (Bi0.5xNa0.5xBa0.7y+zCa0.3y)a(Tix+y+0.8zHf0.2z)O3 (1), wherein, x, y, z and a in formula (1) meets the following conditions, 0.70x0.90, 0.02y0.28, 0.02z0.28, 0.90a1.10 and x+y+z=1. The present invention also provides a piezoelectric device having the piezoelectric composition mentioned above. |
| US09905748B2 |
Vibrating device
A vibrating device that is in the form of a rectangular plate having opposed long sides and opposed short sides, and that utilizes an expanding and contracting vibration mode in a direction of the short sides. The vibrating device includes a Si layer made of a degenerate semiconductor, a silicon oxide layer, a piezoelectric layer, and first and second electrodes through which a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer. When a total thickness of the Si layer is denoted by T1, a total thickness of the silicon oxide layer is denoted by T2, and the TCF in the vibrating device when the silicon oxide layer 3 is not provided is denoted by x(ppm/K), T2/(T1+T2) is within a range of (−0.0003x2−0.0256x+0.0008)±0.05. |
| US09905742B2 |
Carrier, carrier leadframe, and light emitting device
A carrier leadframe, including a frame body and a carrier, is provided. The frame body includes at least one supporting portion, and the carrier includes a shell and at least one electrode portion and is mechanically engaged with the frame body via the supporting portion. A method for manufacturing the carrier leadframe as described above, as well as a light emitting device made from the carrier leadframe and a method for manufacturing the device, are also provided. The carrier leadframe has carriers that are separate in advance and mechanically engaged with the frame body, thereby facilitating the quick release of material after encapsulation. Besides, in the carrier leadframe as provided, each carrier is electrically isolated from another carrier, so the electric measurement can be performed before the release of material. Therefore, the speed and yield of production of the light emitting device made from the carrier leadframe is improved. |
| US09905737B2 |
Hybrid chip-on-board LED module with patterned encapsulation
Different wavelength conversion materials, or different concentrations of a wavelength conversion material are used to encapsulate the light emitting elements of different colors of a hybrid light emitting module. In an embodiment of this invention, second light emitting elements (170) of a particular color are encapsulated with a transparent second encapsulant (120;420;520), while first light emitting elements (160) of a different color are encapsulated with a wavelength conversion first encapsulant (110;410;510). In another embodiment of this invention, a particular second set of second and third light emitting elements (170,580) of different colors is encapsulated with a different encapsulant than another first set of first light emitting elements (160). |
| US09905734B2 |
Emissive structure with lateral carrier injection
The structure intended to emit electromagnetic radiation, comprises first and second electrodes configured so as to allow carriers to be injected into at least one semiconductor-based stack with a view to making them recombine in an active zone of the stack in order to form all or some of the electromagnetic radiation to be emitted. The first electrode has at least one first face for injecting carriers into the stack, said face being oriented in a different direction to the direction in which the stack is formed. The second electrode comprise a second face for injecting carriers into the stack, wherein said second injection face comprises a first portion facing the first electrode and a second portion for which the first electrode is not facing, and a dielectric element, making contact with the first electrode, is interposed between at least one part of the first electrode and at least one part of the first portion. |
| US09905731B2 |
High output group III nitride light emitting diodes
A light emitting diode is disclosed that includes a silicon carbide substrate and a light emitting structure formed from the Group III nitride material system on the substrate. The diode has an area greater than 100,000 square microns and has a radiant flux at 20 milliamps current of at least 29 milliwatts at its dominant wavelength between 390 and 540 nanometers. |
| US09905728B2 |
Vertical ultraviolet light emitting device
A UV light emitting device is disclosed. The UV light emitting device includes: a substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; an active layer disposed on the n-type semiconductor layer; a hole injection layer disposed on the active layer and comprising Al; an Al-delta layer disposed on the hole injection layer and comprising Al; and a first p-type contact layer disposed on the Al-delta layer and having a higher doping concentration of p-type dopants than the hole injection layer, wherein the first p-type contact layer has a lower Al content than the hole injection layer, a band-gap of the first p-type contact layer is lower than or equal to energy of light emitted from the active layer, and the Al-delta layer has a higher Al content than the hole injection layer and allows holes to enter the active layer by tunneling therethrough. |
| US09905726B2 |
Semiconductor epitaxial structure
A semiconductor epitaxial structure is provided. The semiconductor epitaxial structure includes a substrate, a doped semiconductor epitaxial layer, and a carbon nanotube layer. The doped semiconductor epitaxial layer is located on the substrate. The carbon nanotube layer is located between the substrate and the doped semiconductor epitaxial layer. The carbon nanotube layer can be a carbon nanotube film drawn from a carbon nanotube array and including a number of successive and oriented carbon nanotubes joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. |
| US09905724B2 |
Optical materials, optical components, and methods
An optical material comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles are in a charge neutral state is disclosed. Also disclosed is an optical component including an optical material comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles are in a charge neutral state. Further disclosed is an optical material obtainable by at least partially encapsulating an optical material comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles and irradiating the at least partially encapsulated optical material with a light flux for a period of time sufficient to neutralize the charge on at least a portion of the nanoparticles. Further enclosed is an optical component obtainable by at least partially encapsulating an optical component including an optical material comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles and irradiating the at least partially encapsulated optical material with a light flux for a period of time sufficient to neutralize the charge on at least a portion of the nanoparticles. Methods are also disclosed. |
| US09905720B2 |
Apparatus and method for sensing
An apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises: a sensing material configured to produce a non-random distribution of free charges in response to a parameter; an electric field sensor; a first conductive electrode comprising a first area overlapping the sensing material; an insulator provided between the first conductive electrode and the sensing material; a second electrode comprising a second area adjacent the electric field sensor; and a conductive interconnection between the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode. |
| US09905719B2 |
Multi-junction solar cell, photoelectric conversion device, and compound-semiconductor-layer lamination structure
A multi-junction solar cell that is lattice-matched with a base, and that includes a sub-cell having a desirable band gap is provided. A plurality of sub-cells are laminated, each including first and second compound semiconductor layers. At least one predetermined sub-cell is configured of first layers and a second layer. In each of the first layers, a 1-A layer and a 1-B layer are laminated. In the second layer, a 2-A layer and a 2-B layer are laminated. A composition A of the 1-A layer and the 2-A layer is determined based on a value of a band gap of the predetermined sub-cell. A composition B of the 1-B layer and the 2-B layer is determined based on a difference between a base lattice constant of the base and a lattice constant of the composition A. Thicknesses of 1-B layer and 2-B layer are determined based on difference between base lattice constant and a lattice constant of composition B, and on thickness of the 1-A layer and thickness of 2-A layer. |
| US09905715B2 |
Controlling of photo-generated charge carriers
Embodiments related to controlling of photo-generated charge carriers are described and depicted. At least one embodiment provides a semiconductor substrate comprising a photo-conversion region to convert light into photo-generated charge carriers; a region to accumulate the photo-generated charge carriers; a control electrode structure including a plurality of control electrodes to generate a potential distribution such that the photo-generated carriers are guided towards the region to accumulate the photo-generated charge carriers based on signals applied to the control electrode structure; a non-uniform doping profile in the semiconductor substrate to generate an electric field with vertical field vector components in at least a part of the photo-conversion region. |
| US09905711B2 |
Avalanche photo detector device and manufacturing method thereof
An avalanche photodetector device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side, an avalanche photo detector structure disposed on the front side of the substrate, a plurality of heat sinks disposed on the back side of the substrate, and a plurality of reflecting islands disposed on the back side of the substrate. |
| US09905705B2 |
Thin film transistor, array substrate and display device
A thin film transistor, an array substrate and a display device are provided by the present disclosure. The thin film transistor is on a base substrate, a profile of a width edge of the channel includes an up-and-down curved section in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the base substrate. |
| US09905702B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a bottom-gate transistor including an oxide semiconductor, in which electric-field concentration which might occur in the vicinity of an end portion of a drain electrode layer (and the vicinity of an end portion of a source electrode layer) when a high gate voltage is applied to a gate electrode layer is reduced and degradation of switching characteristics is suppressed, so that the reliability is improved. The cross-sectional shape of an insulating layer which overlaps over a channel formation region is a tapered shape. The thickness of the insulating layer which overlaps over the channel formation region is 0.3 μm or less, preferably 5 nm or more and 0.1 μm or less. The taper angle θ of a lower end portion of the cross-sectional shape of the insulating layer which overlaps over the channel formation region is 60° or smaller, preferably 45° or smaller, further preferably 30° or smaller. |
| US09905701B2 |
Active device structure with oxide channel layer having degree of crystallinity and method thereof
An active device structure and a method of fabricating an active device are provided. The active device structure includes a gate, an oxide channel layer, a source, a drain and a high power deposited insulation layer. The gate and the oxide channel layer are overlapped in a top and bottom manner. The oxide channel layer includes a top layer and a bottom layer having a crystalline structure different from a crystalline structure of the top layer. The source and the drain both contact the oxide channel layer, wherein a gap separating the source and the drain defines a channel area. The high power deposited insulation layer contacts the top layer of the oxide channel layer. The top layer of the oxide channel layer provides the effect of blocking light, which solves the problem of threshold voltage shift due to the light irradiation on the oxide channel layer. |
| US09905698B2 |
Low temperature poly-silicon thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same
The embodiment of the disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a low temperature poly-silicon thin film transistor, comprising forming an interlayer dielectric layer, forming a photoresist layer on the interlayer dielectric layer, and conducting a first photoresist removing on the photoresist layer to expose the interlayer dielectric layer with a first area, etching the interlayer dielectric layer with the first area to form a first depression region, conducting a second photoresist removing on the photoresist layer to expose the interlayer dielectric layer with a second area, and etching the interlayer dielectric layer with the second area and the first depression region to form a second depression region in a step form at the periphery of the first depression region. |
| US09905696B2 |
Semiconductor device
A change in electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device including an interlayer insulating film over a transistor including an oxide semiconductor as a semiconductor film is suppressed. The structure includes a first insulating film which includes a void portion in a step region formed by a source electrode and a drain electrode over the semiconductor film and contains silicon oxide as a component, and a second insulating film containing silicon nitride, which is provided in contact with the first insulating film to cover the void portion in the first insulating film. The structure can prevent the void portion generated in the first insulating film from expanding outward. |
| US09905690B1 |
Field effect transistor having a multi-width electrode structure and method for manufacturing the same
A field effect transistor is manufactured by firstly forming an epitaxial layer on a substrate. Then, a trench having an oxide layer is formed on the epitaxial layer. The oxide layer has a first electrode portion having a first width and a first height and a second electrode portion having a second width and a second height. A gate oxide layer covering the oxide layer and the second electrode portion has a gate portion having a third width. The epitaxial layer has a body region and a source region, where these two regions are adjacent to the gate portion and covered by an interlayer dielectric. A source electrode covering the body region and the interlayer dielectric contacts the source region. The first height is no less than the second height, the first width is smaller than the second width, and the second width is smaller than the third width. |
| US09905686B2 |
Insulated gate bipolar transistor with improved on/off resistance
In a plane view of the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, the source region and the first contact region are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction along the gate trench in an area being in contact with a side surface of the gate trench, and the second contact region is arranged adjacent to the source region and the first contact region in an area apart from the gate trench. The impurity concentration of the first contact region is lower than the impurity concentration of the second contact region. |
| US09905685B2 |
Semiconductor device and trench field plate field effect transistor with a field dielectric including thermally grown and deposited portions
A semiconductor device includes compensation structures that extend from a first surface into a semiconductor portion. Sections of the semiconductor portion between neighboring ones of the compensation structures form semiconductor mesas. A field dielectric separating a field electrode in the compensation structures from the semiconductor portion includes a thermally grown portion, which directly adjoins the semiconductor portion. A not fully densified deposited portion of the field dielectric has a lower density than the thermally grown portion. |
| US09905684B2 |
Semiconductor device having schottky junction between substrate and drain electrode
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate that is made of a semiconductor material with a wider band gap than silicon, a field effect transistor, including a front surface element structure, provided on a front surface of the substrate, and a drain electrode having surface contact with the substrate so as to form a Schottky junction between the semiconductor substrate and the drain electrode. |
| US09905683B2 |
Semiconductor power device
A semiconductor power device includes a substrate, an active region having a recess and disposed on the substrate, a first conductivity type semiconductor layer disposed on the recess and devoid of overlapping with the recess, a gate electrode disposed on the active region wherein a portion of the gate electrode is disposed in the recess, a dielectric layer between the active region and the gate electrode, and a two dimension electron gas formed in the active region. |
| US09905680B2 |
Lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor
A lateral insulated gate bipolar transistor comprises a substrate (10); an anode terminal located on the substrate, comprising: an N-type buffer region (51) located on the substrate (10); a P well (53) located in the N-type buffer region; an N-region (55) located in the P well (53); two P+ shallow junctions (57) located on a surface of the P well (53); and an N+ shallow junction (59) located between the two P+ shallow junctions (57); a cathode terminal located on the substrate; a draft region (30) between the anode terminal and cathode terminal; and a gate (62) between the anode terminal and cathode terminal. |
| US09905677B2 |
Method to form a cylindrical germanium nanowire device on bulk silicon substrate
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate structure having a substrate and a cavity in the substrate, epitaxially growing a SiGe nanowire in the cavity, and removing a portion of the substrate surrounding the SiGe nanowire to substantially expose a surface of the SiGe nanowire. The method further includes oxidizing the exposed surface of the SiGe nanowire to form an oxide layer, removing the oxide layer by etching, and repeating the oxidizing and removing steps to form a suspended germanium nanowire in the cavity. |
| US09905676B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same
Methods of forming an integrated circuit device are provided. The methods may include forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming a first etch mask on a sidewall of the gate structure, anisotropically etching the substrate using the gate structure and the first etch mask as an etch mask to form a preliminary recess in the substrate, forming a sacrificial layer in the preliminary recess, forming a second etch mask on the first etch mask, etching the sacrificial layer and the substrate beneath the sacrificial layer using the gate structure and the first and second etch masks as an etch mask to form a source/drain recess in the substrate, and forming a source/drain in the source/drain recess. A sidewall of the source/drain recess may be recessed toward the gate structure relative to an outer surface of the second etch mask. |
| US09905674B2 |
Vertical power MOSFET and methods for forming the same
A device includes a semiconductor region in a semiconductor chip, a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor region, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. A drain region is disposed at a top surface of the semiconductor region and adjacent to the gate electrode. A gate spacer is on a sidewall of the gate electrode. A dielectric layer is disposed over the gate electrode and the gate spacer. A conductive field plate is over the dielectric layer, wherein the conductive field plate has a portion on a drain side of the gate electrode. A conductive via is disposed in the semiconductor region. A source electrode is underlying the semiconductor region, wherein the source electrode is electrically shorted to the conductive field plate through the conductive via. |
| US09905673B2 |
Stress memorization and defect suppression techniques for NMOS transistor devices
Disclosed are methods for stress memorization techniques. In one illustrative embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a method involving fabricating an NMOS transistor device having a substrate and a gate structure disposed over the substrate, the substrate including a channel region underlying, at least partially, the gate structure, the fabricating including: forming a source and drain cavity in the substrate; with an in situ doped semiconductor material, epitaxially growing a source and drain region within the source and drain cavity; performing an amorphization ion implantation process by implanting an amorphization ion material into the source and drain region; forming a capping material layer above the NMOS transistor device; with the capping material layer in position, performing a stress forming anneal process to thereby form stacking faults in the source and drain region; and removing the capping material layer. |
| US09905671B2 |
Forming a gate contact in the active area
A method of making a semiconductor device includes patterning a fin in a substrate; forming a gate between source/drain regions over the substrate, the gate having a dielectric spacer along a sidewall; removing a portion of the dielectric spacer and filling with a metal oxide to form a spacer having a first spacer portion and a second spacer portion; forming a source/drain contact over at least one of the source/drain regions; recessing the source/drain contact and forming a via contact over the source/drain contact; and forming a gate contact over the gate, the gate contact having a first gate contact portion contacting the gate and a second gate contact portion positioned over the first gate contact portion; wherein the first spacer portion isolates the first gate contact portion from the source/drain contact, and the second spacer portion isolates the second gate contact portion from the source/drain contact. |
| US09905670B2 |
Bi-layer metal deposition in silicide formation
A method includes performing a first sputtering to form a first metal film on a surface of a semiconductor region. The first sputtering is performed using a first ion energy. The method further includes performing a second sputtering to form a second metal film over and contacting the first metal film, wherein the first and the second metal films includes a same metal. The second sputtering is performed using a second ion energy lower than the first ion energy. An annealing is performed to react the first and the second metal films with the semiconductor region to form a metal silicide. |
| US09905667B2 |
Lateral bipolar transistor
A bipolar junction transistor comprises a semiconductor layer disposed on an insulating material, at least a portion of the semiconductor layer forming a base region. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor emitter laterally disposed on a first side of the base region, where in the transistor emitter is a first doping type and has a first width, and wherein the first width is a lithographic feature size. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a transistor collector laterally disposed on a second side of the base region, wherein the transistor collector is the first doping type and the first width. The bipolar junction transistor further comprises a central base contact laterally disposed on the base region between the transistor emitter and the transistor collector, wherein the central base contact is a second doping type and has a second width, and wherein the second width is a sub-lithographic feature size. |
| US09905656B2 |
Semiconductor substrate
Provided is a semiconductor substrate including a seed layer disposed on a substrate, a buffer layer disposed on the seed layer, a plurality of nitride semiconductor layers disposed on the buffer layer, and at least one stress control layer between the plurality of nitride semiconductor layers. The buffer layer includes a plurality of step regions and at least one heterogeneous region. The plurality of step regions includes the same nitride semiconductor material. The heterogeneous region includes a different nitride semiconductor material from the step regions. |
| US09905655B2 |
Method for reducing bipolar degradation in an SIC semiconductor device and semiconductor device
Disclosed is a method for forming a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device. The method includes: in a SiC semiconductor body, forming crystal defects in a first semiconductor region by introducing non-doping particles into the semiconductor body; and forming a second semiconductor region such that there is a pn junction between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region. |
| US09905652B2 |
Semiconductor device having varying wiring resistance
In a conventional semiconductor chip, the source electrode and the sense pad electrode for current detection are provided separately and distanced from each other on the front surface of the semiconductor chip. The area occupied by the sense pad electrode must be several times the area of a MOSFET cell unit. Therefore, there is a problem that the area of the sense pad electrode is enlarged relative to the source electrode. Provided is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate; a front surface electrode provided above the semiconductor substrate; a first wire for a first terminal connected to the front surface electrode; and a second wire for current sensing connected to the front surface electrode. A resistance of a path through which current flows through the second wire is higher than a resistance of a path through which the current flows through the first wire. |
| US09905650B2 |
Uniaxially strained nanowire structure
Uniaxially strained nanowire structures are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of vertically stacked uniaxially strained nanowires disposed above a substrate. Each of the uniaxially strained nanowires includes a discrete channel region disposed in the uniaxially strained nanowire. The discrete channel region has a current flow direction along the direction of the uniaxial strain. Source and drain regions are disposed in the nanowire, on either side of the discrete channel region. A gate electrode stack completely surrounds the discrete channel regions. |
| US09905647B2 |
Group III-nitride compound heterojunction tunnel field-effect transistors and methods for making the same
A tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a p-type GaN source layer, an n-type GaN drain layer, and an interlayer interfaced between the source-layer and the drain layer. In one example, the interlayer includes an Indium Nitride (InN) layer. In one example, the interlayer includes a graded Indium gallium nitride layer and an InN layer. In one example, the interlayer may include a graded Indium gallium nitride (InxGa1-xN) layer and an Indium gallium nitride (InGaN) layer. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes an in-line configuration. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a side-wall configuration. |
| US09905645B2 |
Vertical field effect transistor having an elongated channel
A vertical field effect transistor is provided as follows. A substrate has a lower drain and a lower source arranged along a first direction in parallel to an upper surface of the substrate. A fin structure is disposed on the substrate and extended vertically from the upper surface of the substrate. The fin structure includes a first end portion and a second end portion arranged along the first direction. A bottom surface of a first end portion of the fin structure and a bottom surface of a second end portion of the fin structure overlap the lower drain and the lower source, respectively. The fin structure includes a sidewall having a lower sidewall region, a center sidewall region and an upper sidewall region. A gate electrode surrounds the center side sidewall region of the fin structure. |
| US09905638B1 |
Silicon epitaxy for high aspect ratio, substantially perpendicular deep silicon trench
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes etching a high aspect ratio, substantially perpendicular trench in a semiconductor region doped with a first dopant having first conductivity type and performing a first cycle for depositing silicon doped with a second dopant on an inner surface of the high aspect ratio, substantially perpendicular trench, the first cycle comprising alternately depositing silicon at a first constant pressure and etching the deposited silicon at an etching pressure that ramps up from a first value to a second value, the second dopant having a second conductivity type that is opposite from the first conductivity type. |
| US09905637B2 |
Reduction of defect induced leakage in III-V semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a p-doped layer formed on the substrate having a dislocation density exceeding 108 cm−2. An n-type layer is formed on or in the p-doped layer. The n-type layer includes a II-VI material configured to tolerate the dislocation density to form an electronic device with reduced leakage current over a device with a III-V n-type layer. |
| US09905633B1 |
Structure and formation method of semiconductor device structure
Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. A method for forming a semiconductor device structure includes forming a first patterned conductive layer. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer covering the first conductive layer. The method further includes forming a conductive via in the dielectric layer. In addition, the method includes forming a resistor layer and a protection layer over the dielectric layer. The method also includes patterning the protection layer to form a protection feature and patterning the resistor layer to form a resistor feature overlapping the first conductive layer. The resistor feature is electrically connected to the first conductive layer through the conductive via. The method further includes forming a second conductive layer over the dielectric layer. The top surface of the resistor feature maintains covered by the protection feature during the formation of the second conductive layer. |
| US09905632B2 |
Light-emitting unit, light-emitting device, and lighting device
The light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element over an insulating surface. The first light-emitting element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound interposed between the first and second electrodes. An edge portion of the first electrode is covered with a first insulating partition wall. The second light-emitting element includes a third electrode, a fourth electrode, a light-emitting organic compound interposed between the third and fourth electrodes. The first and third electrodes are formed from the same layer having a property of transmitting light emitted from the light-emitting organic compound. The second and fourth electrodes are formed from the same layer. The second electrode intersects with the edge portion of the first electrode with the first partition wall interposed therebetween, whereby the second electrode and the third electrode are electrically connected to each other. |
| US09905631B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel including a display area for displaying an image, and a non-display area outside of the display area and including a pad area, a pad in the pad area, and including a plurality of pad lines extending from wire lines drawn from the display area toward the non-display area, a driver including a plurality of terminal lines respectively electrically connected to the pad lines, the driver being configured to transmit a signal to, and to receive a signal from, an external board, and a conductive layer between the pad and the driver for electrically connecting the pad and the driver, wherein each of the pad lines crosses and contacts at least two points of a corresponding one of the terminal lines. |
| US09905629B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a substrate; an insulating layer arranged above the substrate; a through portion configured to pass through the substrate and the insulating layer; a pixel array located above the insulating layer and including pixels each including a light-emitting element including a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode facing the pixel electrode, and an emission layer arranged between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode, the pixels at least partially surrounding the through portion; and a pattern portion arranged between the through portion and the pixel array, wherein the pattern portion includes: a recess that is concave along a thickness direction of the insulating layer; and a cladding layer arranged above the insulating layer, configured to cover the recess, and including a material different from the insulating layer. |
| US09905628B2 |
Display panel with varying conductive pattern zone
An organic electroluminescence display panel includes a substrate, an organic light-emitting layer disposed on the substrate, a first conductive pattern with a plurality of first meshes disposed on the substrate, a second conductive pattern with a plurality of second meshes disposed on the substrate and separated from the first conductive pattern, and a sealant dispensing area overlapped with the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern. A distance between two adjacent meshes of the first meshes is different from a distance between two adjacent meshes of the second meshes. |
| US09905627B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and organic light-emitting diode display including the same
A thin film transistor substrate and an organic light-emitting diode display including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the TFT substrate includes substrate and a TFT located on the substrate. The TFT includes a lower gate electrode, a first insulating layer covering the lower gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer located on the first insulating layer, a first electrode located on the oxide semiconductor layer and having an island shape, a second electrode located on the oxide semiconductor layer and surrounding the first electrode, a second insulating layer at least partially covering the oxide semiconductor layer; and an upper gate electrode located on the second insulating layer. The oxide semiconductor layer includes a first region, a second region surrounding the first region, and a third region interposed between the first and second regions. |
| US09905623B2 |
Thin film encapsulation unit, organic light emitting diode display including the same and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film encapsulation unit including an inorganic layer, a first organic layer on the inorganic layer and including a light-blocking unit and a light-transmitting unit, and a reflection-preventing layer on the first organic layer. |
| US09905622B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and manufacturing method thereof, each having a display apparatus
An organic electroluminescent device and a manufacturing method thereof, a display apparatus are provided. The organic electroluminescent device includes a plurality of pixel units in an array form. Each of the pixel units includes a light emitting region and a transparent region, and each of the pixel units includes: a base substrate (1); a thin film transistor switch (2); a planarizing layer (3), a first electrode (4), a pixel defining layer (5), an organic layer (6) and a second electrode (7), disposed at a side of the thin film transistor switch (2) facing away from the base substrate (1) in this order. The first electrode (4) is positioned in the light emitting region (A) of the pixel unit; and at least one of the planarizing layer (3) and the pixel defining layer (5) is only disposed within the light emitting region (A) of the pixel unit. With the above organic electroluminescent device, transmittance of the transmissive region of each pixel unit is enhanced. |
| US09905616B2 |
Organic light-emitting device, method of fabricating the same, and organic light-emitting display apparatus including the device
An organic light-emitting device and display apparatus, the device including a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; an emission layer between the first and second electrode; a hole control layer between the first electrode and the emission layer; and an electron control layer between the emission layer and the second electrode, wherein the emission layer includes a plurality of sub-emission layers to emit light having different wavelengths, at least portions of the plurality of sub-emission layers do not overlap one another, the plurality of sub-emission layers include: a first sub-emission layer including a first color light-emitting dopant, and a second sub-emission layer including a second color light-emitting dopant, the first and second sub-emission layers each include a hole-transporting and electron-transporting host which form an exciplex, and a triplet energy of the exciplex is equal to or greater than triplet energies of the first and second color light-emitting dopant. |
| US09905615B2 |
Image sensor, method for manufacturing the same, and image processing device having the image sensor
An image sensor comprising: a first layer having a plurality of groups of photodiodes formed in a semiconductor substrate, each group representing a 2×2 array of photodiodes, with 2 first pixels configured to detect light of a first wavelength and 2 second pixels configured to detect light of a second wavelength, each first pixel positioned adjacent to the second pixels; and a second layer overlapping the first layer, the second layer is organic, having a plurality of organic photodiodes configured to detect light of a third wavelength, each organic photodiode positioned to partially overlap 2 first photodiodes and 2 second photodiodes of the first layer. |
| US09905614B2 |
Organic photovoltaic element and method for producing same
An organic photovoltaic (OPV) element that extends in a longitudinal direction and contains a plurality of modules, each of which includes a number of serially connected cells. A periodic succession of a number of the modules defines a pattern having at least a threefold rotational symmetry. Preferably, the basic shape of the modules is triangular, and the combined modules form a hexagonal superstructure. |
| US09905613B2 |
Movement of oxygen vacancies in an electronic device
An electronic device includes a transistor. The transistor includes a body including a metal oxide; a gate electrode; and a gate insulating layer interposed between the body and the gate electrode, wherein the transistor is turned on or turned off by movement of oxygen vacancies in the body according to voltages applied to the gate electrode and the body. |
| US09905611B2 |
Variable resistance memory
According to one embodiment, a variable resistance memory includes first and second semiconductor regions in a layer; a memory cell on the first semiconductor region, the memory cell including a first transistor having a first gate connected to a word line and a memory element, the word line extending in a first direction parallel to a surface of the layer; and a second transistor on the second semiconductor region and connected to the memory cell via a bit line, the bit line extending a second direction parallel to the surface of the layer, and the second direction intersecting the first direction. The second semiconductor region extends in a third direction parallel to the surface of the substrate and the third direction intersects the first and second directions. |
| US09905610B2 |
Integrated structures of acoustic wave device and varactor, and acoustic wave device, varactor and power amplifier, and fabrication methods thereof
An integrated structure of acoustic wave device and varactor comprises an acoustic wave device and a varactor formed on a first part and a second part of a semiconductor substrate respectively. The acoustic wave device comprises an acoustic wave device upper structure and a first part of a bottom epitaxial structure. The acoustic wave device upper structure is formed on the first part of the bottom epitaxial structure. The varactor comprises a varactor upper structure and a second part of the bottom epitaxial structure. The varactor upper structure is formed on the second part of the bottom epitaxial structure. The integrated structure of the acoustic wave device and the varactor formed on the same semiconductor substrate is capable of reducing the module size, optimizing the impedance matching, and reducing the signal loss between the varactor and the acoustic wave device. |
| US09905608B1 |
EMCCD image sensor with stable charge multiplication gain
In electron multiplying charge coupled device (EMCCD) image sensors, electron traps in the dielectric stack underneath charge multiplication electrodes may cause undesirable gain ageing. To reduce the gain ageing drift effect, a dielectric stack may be formed that does not include electron traps in regions underneath charge multiplication electrodes. To accomplish this, silicon nitride in the dielectric stack may be removed in regions underneath the charge multiplication electrodes. The EMCCD image sensors can thus be fabricated with a stable charge carrier multiplication gain during their operational lifetime. |
| US09905606B2 |
Photodetecting device and manufacturing method thereof, and image sensor and manufacturing method thereof
A photodetecting device, a method of manufacturing the photodetecting device, an image sensor, and a method of manufacturing the image sensor are provided. The photodetecting device includes a first insulation layer, a silicon layer disposed on the first insulation layer, a metal plug disposed through the first insulation layer and the silicon layer, a silicon wire disposed on the silicon layer, and an electrode connected to the silicon wire. |
| US09905605B2 |
Phase detection autofocus techniques
The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having autofocus function and associated methods. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit has a photodiode array with a plurality of photodiodes disposed within a semiconductor substrate and a composite grid overlying the photodiode array and having a first plurality of openings and a second plurality of openings extending vertically through the composite grid. The integrated circuit further has an image sensing pixel array with a plurality of color filters disposed in the first plurality of openings. The integrated circuit further has a phase detection pixel array having a plurality of phase detection components that are smaller than the plurality of color filters and that have a low refractive index (low-n) material with a refractive index (n) smaller than a refractive index of the plurality of color filters, wherein the phase detection components are disposed in the second plurality of openings. |
| US09905604B2 |
Imaging device and imaging unit
An imaging device having a first surface on which light is incident and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, includes a photoelectric conversion section including semiconductors having a same conductivity type, in which an impurity concentration on the second surface side is higher than an impurity concentration on the first surface side. |
| US09905597B2 |
Sensor package structure
A sensor package structure includes a substrate, a sensing member, a shielding member, a metallic wire, and an encapsulating compound. The substrate includes a die bonding zone and a wiring zone. The sensing member is mounted on the die bonding zone and includes a sensing zone, a carrying zone arranged around the sensing zone, and a connecting zone arranged outside of the carrying zone. The shielding member includes a translucent covering portion and a supporting portion connected to a peripheral portion of the covering portion. The supporting portion having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than 10 ppm/° C. is fixed on the carrying zone. The metallic wire connects the wiring zone and the connecting zone. The encapsulating compound is disposed on the wiring zone and covers a peripheral side of the sensing member, the connecting zone, and a peripheral side of the shielding member. |
| US09905594B2 |
Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and display device
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The array substrate comprises a base substrate; a signal line and an electrode arranged in different layers on the base substrate, and an insulating layer located between the signal line and the electrode. The array substrate further comprises a dielectric film located between the signal line and the insulating layer, the dielectric film covering the signal line; and/or a dielectric film located between the electrode and the insulating layer, the dielectric film covering the electrode. |
| US09905592B2 |
Method for manufacturing TFT, array substrate and display device
A method for manufacturing a thin-film transistor (TFT), an array substrate and a display device are disclosed. The manufacturing method includes: forming a photoresist layer provided with a completely retained region, a partially-retained region and a completely removed region on a metal film by a half-tone mask process; forming a source/drain metal layer by etching the metal film under the cover of the photoresist layer; removing the photoresist layer in the partially-retained region; forming an active layer by patterning the semiconductor film; and removing residual photoresist layer. |
| US09905591B2 |
Array substrate comprising separating region and manfacturing method thereof,display apparatus
An array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, a display apparatus are disclosed. The manufacturing method of the array substrate includes a forming a conduction layer (20) for electrically connecting two adjacent pixel electrodes (104) upon forming of the pixel electrodes (104). The method further includes forming a photoresist layer (30) on a surface of a substrate with the conduction layer (20) formed thereon; through one exposure and development process, forming a first photoresist removed region (A) and a photoresist retained region (B). The first photoresist removed region (A) corresponds to a location of the conduction layer (20); the conduction layer (20) in the first photoresist removed region (A) is etched, to form a separating region (106) configured for avoiding electrical connection of pixel electrodes (104) of two adjacent pixel units; and within the separating region (106), a metal line that is non-electrically connected to adjacent two pixel electrodes (104) is formed. With the array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, damage to excessive thin film layers in the array substrate in the course of reducing bright dot defect can be avoided. |
| US09905590B2 |
Manufacturing method of a LTPS array substrate
The present invention provides a LTPS array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The method comprises: forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on a substrate, forming polysilicon layers of a first region and a second region on the substrate including the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the thickness of the polysilicon layer of the first region is greater than the one of the second region, the polysilicon layer of the first region partially covers the source electrode and the drain electrode; passivating the surface of the polysilicon layer in order to turn the part of the adjacent surface of the polysilicon layer of the second region and the first region into an insulating layer; forming a gate electrode on the insulating layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The present invention can simplify the LTPS technical process and reduce the producing costs. |
| US09905584B2 |
Display device
By applying an AC pulse to a gate of a transistor which easily deteriorates, a shift in threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. However, in a case where amorphous silicon is used for a semiconductor layer of a transistor, the occurrence of a shift in threshold voltage naturally becomes a problem for a transistor which constitutes a part of circuit that generates an AC pulse. A shift in threshold voltage of a transistor which easily deteriorates and a shift in threshold voltage of a turned-on transistor are suppressed by signal input to a gate electrode of the transistor which easily deteriorates through the turned-on transistor. In other words, a structure for applying an AC pulse to a gate electrode of a transistor which easily deteriorates through a transistor to a gate electrode of which a high potential (VDD) is applied, is included. |
| US09905582B2 |
Display device
A display device in which the current load of wirings are distributed and display variations due to voltage drop are suppressed. An active matrix display device of the invention comprises a first current input terminal, a second current input terminal, and a plurality of current supply lines extending parallel to each other. Each current supply line is connected to a plurality of driving transistors in a line. One end of each current supply line is connected to the first current input terminal via a first wiring intersecting with the current supply lines, and the other end thereof is connected to the second current input terminal via a second wiring intersecting with the current supply lines. Accordingly, a current is supplied to each current supply line from both the first and the second current input terminals. The first and the second current input terminals are provided separately from each other. |
| US09905579B2 |
Semiconductor device and display device including the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device with a reduced layout area of transistors is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor including a first oxide semiconductor film and a second transistor including a second oxide semiconductor film over a substrate. When the oxide semiconductor films are subjected to electron diffraction, the ratio of the integrated intensity of luminance of a diffraction spot derived from c-axis alignment to the integrated intensity of luminance of a diffraction spot derived from alignment in any direction in the first oxide semiconductor film is higher than that in the second oxide semiconductor film. In addition, part of the first transistor is located between the second transistor and the substrate. |
| US09905577B2 |
Array substrate, flexible display device and method for manufacturing array substrate
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a flexible display device, and a method for manufacturing an array substrate. The array substrate includes a flexible substrate arranged at a display region and a peripheral region, and an array layer formed on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate arranged at the display region has a first thickness, and at least a portion of the flexible substrate arranged at the peripheral region has a second thickness greater than the first thickness. According to the array substrate of the present disclosure, the flexible substrate arranged at the peripheral region is provided with a thickened portion so as to meet the strength requirement of an unfoldable region. Meanwhile, the thickened portion can be formed in a single process through a base plate having a corresponding concave structure, and as a result, it is able to reduce the process complexity. |
| US09905573B1 |
Three-dimensional memory device with angled word lines and method of making thereof
A mesa structure is formed over peripheral devices on a substrate. An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers is formed over the substrate and the mesa structure. A region of the alternating stack overlying the mesa structure is removed to provide a region in which the layers in the alternating stack extend along a non-horizontal direction that is parallel to the dielectric sidewall of the mesa structure. Memory stack structures and backside contact via structures are formed through another region of the alternating stack that includes horizontally-extending portions of the layers within the alternating stack. The spacer material layers are provided as, or are replaced with, electrically conductive layers. Top surfaces of portions of the electrically conductive layers that extend parallel to the dielectric sidewall of the mesa structure can be contacted by word line contact via structures. |
| US09905565B1 |
Memory cell
A microelectronic component is capable of being used as a memory cell. The component includes a semiconductor layer resting on an insulating layer and including a doped source region of a first conductivity type, a doped drain region of a second conductivity type, and an intermediate region, non-doped or more lightly doped, with the second conductivity type, than the drain region, the intermediate region including first and second portions respectively extending from the drain region and from the source region. An insulated front gate electrode rests on the first portion. A first back gate electrode and a second back gate electrode are arranged under the insulating layer, respectively opposite the first portion and the second portion. |
| US09905563B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer stacked body including a compound semiconductor; a first field-effect transistor element including a first drain electrode, a first source electrode, and a first gate electrode that are provided on the first semiconductor layer stacked body; a second semiconductor layer stacked body including a compound semiconductor; and a second field-effect transistor element including a second drain electrode, a second source electrode, and a second gate electrode that are provided on the second semiconductor layer stacked body. The second gate electrode forms a Schottky junction or a p-n junction with the second semiconductor layer stacked body, the second drain electrode is connected to the first drain electrode, the second source electrode is connected to the first gate electrode, and the second gate electrode is connected to the first source electrode. |
| US09905556B1 |
Semiconductor device
To suppress the reverse breakdown voltage decrease while separating a main body region from a current detecting region. To provide a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a main body region having one or more operation cells formed inside the semiconductor substrate, a current detecting region having one or more current detecting cells formed inside the semiconductor substrate, an intermediate region formed between the main body region and the current detecting region and inside the semiconductor substrate, an upper surface side electrode formed above at least part of the main body region, a current detecting electrode that is formed above at least part of the current detecting region and is separate from the upper surface side electrode, and an additional electrode that is formed above at least part of the intermediate region and is connected to either the upper surface side electrode or the current detecting electrode. |
| US09905546B2 |
Package on package structure and fabrication method thereof
A method for fabricating a package on package (PoP) structure is provided, which includes: providing a first packaging substrate having at least a first electronic element and a plurality of first support portions, wherein the first electronic element is electrically connected to the first packaging substrate; forming an encapsulant on the first packaging substrate for encapsulating the first electronic element and the first support portions; forming a plurality of openings in the encapsulant for exposing portions of surfaces of the first support portions; and providing a second packaging substrate having a plurality of second support portions and stacking the second packaging substrate on the first packaging substrate with the second support portions positioned in the openings of the encapsulant and bonded with the first support portions. As such, the encapsulant effectively separates the first support portions or the second support portions from one another to prevent bridging from occurring therebetween. |
| US09905544B2 |
Bonding LED die to lead frame strips
In one embodiment, an LED bulb includes a plurality of metal lead frame strips, including at least a first strip, a second strip, and a third strip. First LED dies have their bottom electrodes electrically and thermally connected to a top surface of the first strip. Second LED dies have their bottom electrodes electrically and thermally connected to a top surface of the second strip. The top electrodes of the first LED dies are wire bonded to the second strip, and the top electrodes of the second LED dies are wire bonded to the third strip to connect the first LED dies and second LED dies in series and parallel. The strips are then bent to cause the LED dies to face different directions to obtain a wide emission pattern in a small space. The strips are then enclosed in a thermally conductive bulb having electrical leads. |
| US09905543B2 |
Light-emitting diode (LED) device
A light-emitting diode (LED) device configured to provide a multi-color display includes a plurality of light-emitting cells at least partially defined by a partition layer. The LED device may be configured to reduce optical interferences between the light-emitting cells. The LED device includes a plurality of light-emitting structures spaced apart from one another; a plurality of electrode layers on respective first surfaces of the light-emitting structures, a separation layer configured to electrically insulate the light-emitting structures from each other; phosphor layers on respective second surfaces of the light-emitting structures and associated with different colors, and a partition layer between the phosphor layers to separate the phosphor layers from one another. Each light-emitting cell may include a separate light-emitting structure, a separate set of one or more electrodes, and a separate phosphor layer. |
| US09905541B2 |
Semiconductor module with bus bar including stacked wiring layers
A semiconductor module includes upper arms and lower arms for three phases, heat sinks, a main circuit side bus bar, an output terminal side bus bar, a control terminal, and a resin mold portion. The output terminal side bus bar includes U-phase to W-phase wiring layers disposed opposite to each other via an insulating layer and U to W terminals electrically connecting each of the U-phase to W-phase wiring layer and a load. A stacked layer number of the U-phase to W-phase wiring layer is set to be an even number. |
| US09905538B2 |
Chip-stacked semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same
A chip-stacked semiconductor package includes a first chip having a first front surface, a first back surface, and a first connection member on the first front surface, the first back surface being opposite to the first front surface; a second chip having a second front surface, a second back surface, a second connection member and a first through-silicon via (TSV) electrically connected to the second connection member, the second back surface opposite to the second front surface, and the second connection member on the second front face; and a first sealing member between the first front surface and the second front surface, the first sealing member filling a space between the first connection member and the second connection member, the first connection member of the first chip and the second connection member of the second chip being symmetric with respect to each other. |
| US09905536B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided including a package substrate, and a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked above the package substrate, at least one of the plurality of semiconductor chips including a step part in a periphery edge part of a rear surface. |
| US09905530B2 |
Systems and methods for bonding semiconductor elements
A method of ultrasonically bonding semiconductor elements includes the steps of: (a) aligning surfaces of a plurality of first conductive structures of a first semiconductor element to respective surfaces of a plurality of second conductive structures of a second semiconductor element, wherein the surfaces of each of the plurality of first conductive structures and the plurality of second conductive structures include aluminum; and (b) ultrasonically bonding ones of the first conductive structures to respective ones of the second conductive structures. |
| US09905529B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of mounting a Si interposer over a printed wiring substrate, plasma-cleaning an upper surface of the Si interposer, disposing an NCF over the upper surface of the Si interposer, and mounting a semiconductor chip over the upper surface of the Si interposer through the NCF. Also, the method includes the step of electrically coupling each of plural electrodes of a second substrate and each of plural electrode pads of the semiconductor chip with each other through plural bump electrodes by reflow, and the surface of the Si interposer is plasma-cleaned before attaching the NCF to the Si interposer. |
| US09905528B2 |
Semiconductor mounting apparatus, head thereof, and method for manufacturing laminated chip
A semiconductor mounting apparatus includes a storing unit that stores a liquid or a gas, a contact unit that comes into contact with a semiconductor chip when the storing unit is filled with the liquid or the gas, and a sucking unit that sucks up the semiconductor chip to bring the semiconductor chip into close contact with the contact unit. |
| US09905524B2 |
Bump structures in semiconductor device and packaging assembly
A bump structure in a semiconductor device or a packing assembly includes an under-bump metallization (UBM) layer formed on a conductive pad of a semiconductor substrate. The UBM layer has a width greater than a width of the conductive pad. |
| US09905523B2 |
Microelectronic assemblies formed using metal silicide, and methods of fabrication
Two microelectronic components (110, 120), e.g. a die and an interposer, are bonded to each other. One of the components' contact pads (110C) include metal, and the other component has silicon (410) which reacts with the metal to form metal silicide (504). Then a hole (510) is made through one of the components to reach the metal silicide and possibly even the unreacted metal (110C) of the other component. The hole is filled with a conductor (130), possibly metal, to provide a conductive via that can be electrically coupled to contact pads (120C.B) attachable to other circuit elements or microelectronic components, e.g. to a printed circuit board. |
| US09905522B1 |
Semiconductor copper metallization structure and related methods
Implementations of semiconductor packages may include: a silicon die including a pad, the pad including aluminum and copper; a passivation layer over at least a portion of the silicon die and a layer of one of a polyimide (PI) a polybenzoxazole (PBO), or a polymer resin coupled to the passivation layer. The package may include a first copper layer coupled over the pad, the first copper layer being about 1 microns to about 20 microns thick; a second copper layer coupled over the first copper layer, the second copper layer may be about 5 microns to about 40 microns thick; where a width of the first copper layer above the pad may be wider than a width of the second copper layer above the pad. The first and second copper layers may be configured to bond with a heavy copper wire or solder with a copper clip. |
| US09905519B1 |
Electronic structure process
An electronic structure process includes the following steps. A redistribution structure and a carrier plate are provided. A plurality of first bonding protruding portions and a first supporting structure are formed on the redistribution structure. A first encapsulated material is formed and filled between a first opening and the first bonding protruding portions. The carrier plate is removed. A plurality of second bonding protruding portions and a second supporting structure are formed on the redistribution structure. A second encapsulated material is formed and filled between a second opening and the second bonding protruding portions. |
| US09905516B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A metal oxide layer is in contact with an interlayer insulating layer covering a transistor, and has a stacked-layer structure including a first metal oxide layer having an amorphous structure and a second metal oxide layer having a polycrystalline structure. In the first metal oxide layer, there are no crystal grain boundaries, and grid intervals are wide as compared to those in a metal oxide layer in a crystalline state; thus, the first metal oxide layer easily traps moisture between the lattices. In the second metal oxide layer having a polycrystalline structure, crystal parts other than crystal grain boundary portions have dense structures and extremely low moisture permeability. Thus, the structure in which the metal oxide layer including the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer is in contact with the interlayer insulating layer can effectively prevent moisture permeation into the transistor. |
| US09905512B2 |
Semiconductor device containing memory cells with a fuse in static random memory cell (SRAM) device and method of manufacturing same
An object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor device having less cracking or peeling and a method of manufacturing the same. A fuse portion of a semiconductor device has bit lines electrically coupled to a SRAM memory cell. The bit lines are covered by an interlayer insulating film. As the interlayer insulating film, a boron-doped BPTEOS film is formed. The bit lines have thereabove a fuse. The fuse and the bit lines are electrically coupled to each other via contact plugs. The interlayer insulating film that covers the bit lines therewith is separated from the contact plugs. |
| US09905511B2 |
Modular fuses and antifuses for integrated circuits
Nanoscale efuses, antifuses, and planar coil inductors are disclosed. A copper damascene process can be used to make all of these circuit elements. A low-temperature copper etch process can be used to make the efuses and efuse-like inductors. The circuit elements can be designed and constructed in a modular fashion by linking a matrix of metal columns in different configurations and sizes. The number of metal columns, or the size of a dielectric mesh included in the circuit element, determines its electrical characteristics. Alternatively, the efuses and inductors can be formed from interstitial metal that is either deposited into a matrix of dielectric columns, or left behind after etching columnar openings in a block of metal. Arrays of metal columns also serve a second function as features that can improve polish uniformity in place of conventional dummy structures. Use of such modular arrays provides flexibility to integrated circuit designers. |
| US09905504B1 |
Carrier base material-added wiring substrate
A carrier base material-added wiring substrate includes a wiring substrate and first to third carrier base materials. The first carrier base material is adhered by a first adhesive layer to a lower surface of the wiring substrate and includes an opening that exposes a product area of the wiring substrate. The second carrier base material is arranged in the opening of the first carrier base material and contacts the lower surface of the wiring substrate. The third carrier base material is adhered by a second adhesive layer to the first carrier base material and the second carrier base material. The third carrier base material covers the opening of the first carrier base material. The second adhesive layer is formed entirely on an upper surface of the third carrier base material. |
| US09905503B2 |
Package stucture and method of fabricating the same
A package structure and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The method includes forming a first wiring layer on a carrier board, forming a plurality of first conductors on the first wiring layer, encapsulating the first wiring layer and the first conductors with a first insulating layer, forming a second wiring layer on the first insulating layer, forming a plurality of second conductors on the second wiring layer, encapsulating the second wiring layer and the second conductors with a second insulating layer, and forming at least one opening in the second insulating layer. The at least one opening extends to a second surface of the first insulating layer, such that at least one electronic component can be disposed in the at least one opening. With forming two insulating layers first followed by forming the at least one opening, there is no need to stack or laminate the substrate that already has an opening, and the electronic component is free of displacement due to any compression. Therefore, a package structure thus fabricated has an increased yield rate. |
| US09905500B2 |
Semiconductor component and method of manufacture
In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor component includes a support having a first device receiving structure and a second device receiving structure and a contact extension that is common to the first and second device receiving structures. The first device receiving structure includes a device receiving area and the second device receiving structure includes a drain contact area. A III-N based semiconductor chip has a drain bond pad bonded to the drain contact area and a source bond pad bonded to the contact extension and a gate bond pad bonded to an interconnect. A portion of the silicon based semiconductor chip is bonded to the support device receiving area. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor component includes coupling a III-N based semiconductor chip to a portion of the support a silicon based semiconductor chip to another portion of the support. |
| US09905499B2 |
Semiconductor device
[Object] A semiconductor device is configured to release heat from semiconductor chips more efficiently. [Means for Solution] A semiconductor device includes: a die pad 11 which has a die pad main surface 111 and a die pad rear surface 112; a semiconductor chip 41 mounted on the die pad main surface 111; a sealing resin portion 7 formed with a recess 75 for exposure of the die pad rear surface 11 and covering the die pad 11 and the semiconductor chip 41; and a heat releasing layer 6 disposed in the recess 75. The recess 75 has a recess groove 753 outside the die pad 11 in a direction in which the die pad rear surface 112 extends, and the recess groove 753 is closer to the die pad main surface 111 than to the die pad rear surface 112. The heat releasing layer 6 has a junction layer which is in contact with the die pad rear surface 112 and having part thereof filling the recess groove 753. |
| US09905495B2 |
Thermal module
A thermal module is disclosed. The thermal module includes a radiating fin assembly and a base. The base has a bottom and a plurality of slot vertically extending through the base in a thickness direction thereof. The radiating fin assembly includes a plurality of radiating fins, each of which has a heat-dissipation end and a heat-absorption end. The heat-absorption ends are correspondingly extended through the slots and bent to bear on the bottom for contacting with a heat-producing element. Heat produced by the heat-producing element is absorbed by the heat-absorption ends and directly transferred from the heat-absorption ends to the heat-dissipation ends without the problem of thermal resistance. Therefore, upgraded heat transfer efficiency and excellent heat dissipation effect can be achieved with the thermal module. |
| US09905490B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device including an insulating substrate on which a semiconductor chip is mounted and a case that is adhered to the insulating substrate. The case includes a recess portion that is provided with an adhesive agent and into which a front surface side of the insulating substrate is inserted. The insulating substrate includes, in a side surface along a thickness direction, a front-side notched portion formed on the front surface side and a back-side notched portion formed on a back surface side. Length from a peak located between the front-side notched portion and the back-side notched portion to the front surface in the thickness direction is greater than or equal to 30% of an less than or equal to 70% of length of the recess portion of the case in the thickness direction. |
| US09905488B2 |
Array substrate, method for manufacture the same, and display device
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, its manufacturing method and a display device. The array substrate includes operating circuit interfaces, testing interfaces, and testing lines connecting the operating circuit interfaces and the testing interfaces. Each testing line includes at least one cut-off point, and conductive contacts extending to an upper surface of the array substrate are arranged at two sides of each cut-off point of the testing line. When testing an operating circuit, electrically connecting the conductive contacts at two sides of each cut-off point enables the testing line to be conductive. |
| US09905485B2 |
Method of monitoring output intensity of laser beam in bevel etching apparatus
Disclosed is an etching processing method using a bevel etching apparatus for etching a substrate by irradiating a laser beam, the bevel etching apparatus including a laser generator and an image capturing unit. The method includes a process, by the image capturing unit, of capturing an image of an inner part of a processing container by illuminating the inner part of the processing container by scattered light of the laser beam emitted from the laser generator; a process of calculating brightness of an image of a predetermined area out of the captured image of the inner part of the processing container; and a process of monitoring, based on data indicating a correlation between an output value of the laser beam output from the laser generator and the brightness, the output value of the laser beam with respect to the calculated brightness. |
| US09905482B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and inspecting an electrical characteristic thereof using test socket terminals
Improvement in yield of a semiconductor device is obtained. In addition, increase in service life of a socket terminal is obtained. A projecting portion PJ1 and a projecting portion PJ2 are provided in an end portion PU of a socket terminal STE1. Thus, it is possible to enable contact between a lead and the socket terminal STE in which a large current is caused to flow, at two points by a contact using the projecting portion PJ1 and by a contact using the projecting portion PJ2, for example. As a result, the current flowing from the socket terminal STE1 to the lead flows by being dispersed into a path flowing in the projecting portion PJ1 and a path flowing in the projecting portion PJ2. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress increase of temperature of a contact portion between the socket terminal STE1 and the lead even in a case where the large current is caused to flow between the socket terminal STE1 and the lead. |
| US09905478B2 |
Co-integration of tensile silicon and compressive silicon germanium
Integrated circuits are disclosed in which the strain properties of adjacent pFETs and nFETs are independently adjustable. The pFETs include compressive-strained SiGe on a silicon substrate, while the nFETs include tensile-strained silicon on a strain-relaxed SiGe substrate. Adjacent n-type and p-type FinFETs are separated by electrically insulating regions formed by a damascene process. During formation of the insulating regions, the SiGe substrate supporting the n-type devices is permitted to relax elastically, thereby limiting defect formation in the crystal lattice of the SiGe substrate. |
| US09905477B2 |
Inverters and manufacturing methods thereof
Inverters and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, an inverter includes a substrate and a first tunnel FET (TFET) disposed over the substrate. The first TFET is a first fin field effect transistor (FinFET). A second TFET is over the first TFET. The second TFET is a second FinFET. A junction isolation region is disposed between a source of the first TFET and a source of the second TFET. |
| US09905472B1 |
Silicon nitride CESL removal without gate cap height loss and resulting device
A method of removing the CESL from small canyon TS structures of a MOSFET device while maintaining gate cap height and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include providing two gates laterally separated over and perpendicular to a fin of a semiconductor device, each gate having sidewall spacers and a nitride cap; forming a conformal SiN CESL on bottom and side surfaces of a trench formed between opposing spacers between the gates; filling the trench with oxide; planarizing the spacers, nitride caps, oxide, and CESL; removing the oxide; forming a topological flat-SiN layer over the spacers, nitride caps, and CESL; removing the topological flat-SiN layer from side and bottom surfaces of the trench; removing the CESL and the topological flat-SiN layer down to a top surface of the spacers; and performing contact metallization. |
| US09905467B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first insulating structure, a second insulating structure, at least one first active semiconductor fin, and at least one second active semiconductor fin. The first insulating structure and the second insulating structure are disposed on the substrate. The first active semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate and has a protruding portion protruding from the first insulating structure. The second active semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate and has a protruding portion protruding from the second insulating structure. The protruding portion of the first active semiconductor fin and the protruding portion of the second active semiconductor fin have different heights. |
| US09905466B2 |
Wafer partitioning method and device formed
A method of partitioning a wafer includes defining a scribe line surrounding a set of dies. The method further includes etching a plurality of trenches into the wafer, wherein each trench of the plurality of trenches is located between adjacent dies of the set of dies, and a width of each trench of the plurality of trenches is less than a width of the scribe line. The method further includes thinning the wafer to expose a bottom surface of the plurality of trenches. The method further includes cutting along the scribe line to separate the set of dies from another portion of the wafer. |
| US09905465B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method for forming the same
Various embodiments provide semiconductor structures and methods for forming the same. In an exemplary structure, a substrate has a device region, a seal ring region surrounding the device region, and a dielectric layer disposed thereon. A first seal ring structure is located within the dielectric layer on the seal ring region, and includes a plurality of first connection layers overlappingly disposed and separated by the dielectric layer. At least one first connection layer is formed by a plurality of discrete sub-connection layers. The first seal ring structure further includes a plurality of first conductive plugs between vertically adjacent first connection layers. A top of each first conductive plug is connected to an upper first connection layer. A bottom of each first conductive plug between at least two vertically adjacent first connection layers extends into the dielectric layer between horizontally adjacent sub-connection layers of a lower first connection layer. |
| US09905464B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device and method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a first and second fin shaped structures, a first and second gate structures and a first and second plugs. The first and second fin shaped structures are disposed on a first region and a second region of a substrate and the first and second gate structure are disposed across the first and second fin shaped structures, respectively. A dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate, covering the first and second gate structure. The first and second plugs are disposed in the dielectric layer, wherein the first plug is electrically connected first source/drain regions adjacent to the first gate structure and contacts sidewalls of the first gate structure, and the second plug is electrically connected to second source/drain regions adjacent to the second gate structure and not contacting sidewalls of the second gate structure. |
| US09905463B2 |
Self-aligned low dielectric constant gate cap and a method of forming the same
According to an embodiment of the present invention, self-aligned gate cap, comprises a gate located on a substrate; a gate cap surrounding a side of the gate; a contact region self-aligned to the gate; and a low dielectric constant oxide having a dielectric constant of less than 3.9 located on top of the gate. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a self-aligned contact comprises removing at least a portion of an interlayer dielectric layer to expose a top surface of a gate cap located on a substrate; recessing the gate cap to form a recessed area; depositing a low dielectric constant oxide having a dielectric constant of less than 3.9 in the recessed area; and polishing a surface of the low dielectric constant oxide to expose a contact area. |
| US09905458B2 |
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a via structure and an interconnection structure
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device include forming a lower interlayer insulating layer and a conductive base structure, and forming a middle interlayer insulating layer covering the lower interlayer insulating layer and the conductive base structure. The methods include etching the middle interlayer insulating layer to form a via hole and an interconnection trench vertically aligned with the via hole, and forming a via barrier layer on inner walls of the via hole and an interconnection barrier layer on inner walls and a bottom of the interconnection trench, the via barrier layer not being formed on an upper surface of the conductive base structure The methods include forming a via plug on the via barrier layer to fill the via hole, forming a seed layer on the interconnection trench and the via plug, forming an interconnection electrode on the seed layer, and forming an interconnection capping layer on the interconnection electrode. |
| US09905457B2 |
High boiling temperature solvent additives for semiconductor processing
A method for forming an interconnect structure includes forming a patterned layer over a substrate, the patterned layer having an opening therein. A dielectric material is filled in the opening. The dielectric material has a precursor and a solvent, the solvent having a boiling point temperature greater than a precursor cross-linking temperature. A thermal treatment is performed on the dielectric material to form a dielectric layer. |
| US09905454B2 |
Substrate transfer mechanisms
In one embodiment, a substrate support assembly includes a susceptor for supporting a substrate, and a supporting transfer mechanism coupled to the susceptor, the supporting transfer mechanism having a surface for supporting a peripheral edge of the substrate, the supporting transfer mechanism being movable relative to an upper surface of the susceptor. |
| US09905453B2 |
Protective sheeting for use in processing a semiconductor-sized wafer and semiconductor-sized wafer processing method
A protective sheeting for use in processing a semiconductor-sized wafer has a substantially circular base sheet and a substantially annular adhesive layer applied to a peripheral portion of a first surface of the base sheet. The inner diameter of the adhesive layer is smaller than the diameter of the wafer. Further, the outer diameter of the adhesive layer is larger than the inner diameter of an annular frame for holding the wafer. A related method includes attaching the protective sheeting to a front side or a back side of the wafer via the adhesive layer on the first surface of the base sheet so that an inner peripheral portion of the adhesive layer adheres to an outer peripheral portion of the front side or the back side of the wafer, and processing the wafer after the protective sheeting has been attached to the front side or the back side thereof. |
| US09905451B2 |
Sheet for semiconductor-related-member processing and method of manufacturing chips using the sheet
As a semiconductor-related-member processing sheet which can stably achieve to enhance the removability of the semiconductor-related-member processing sheet and to suppress the reliability degradation of members comprising chips manufactured from a semiconductor-related member using the semiconductor-related-member processing sheet, there is provided a semiconductor-related-member processing sheet, comprising a base material and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer provided on or above one surface of the base material, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises one or more types of energy ray polymerizable compounds having an energy ray polymerizable functional group, wherein at least one type of the energy ray polymerizable compounds is a polymerizable branched polymer that is a polymer having a branched structure, wherein a contact angle on a measurement target surface is 40° or less when measured using a water droplet under an environment of 25° C. and a relative humidity of 50%. |
| US09905450B2 |
Wafer processing base
Provided is a substrate for processing a wafer. The present invention can provide a substrate having excellent heat resistance and dimensional stability. The present invention can provide a substrate that has excellent stress relaxation properties, and therefore can prevent a wafer from being destroyed due to residual stress. Also, the present invention can provide a substrate that can prevent a wafer from being damaged or fried off due to a non-uniformly applied pressure during the wafer processing process, and that exhibits excellent cuttability. For these reasons, the substrate can be useful as a sheet for processing a wafer in various wafer preparation processes such as dicing, back-grinding, and picking-up. |
| US09905447B2 |
Sealed substrate carriers and systems and methods for transporting substrates
An electronic device manufacturing system is disclosed. The system includes a processing tool having one or more processing chambers each adapted to perform an electronic device manufacturing process on one or more substrates; a substrate carrier adapted to couple to the system and carry one or more substrates; and a component adapted to create a sealed environment relative to at least a portion of the substrate carrier and to substantially equalize the sealed environment with an environment within the substrate carrier. Methods of the invention are described as are numerous other aspects. |
| US09905445B2 |
Apparatus for removing a ring-shaped reinforcement edge from a ground semiconductor wafer
An apparatus for removing a ring-shaped reinforcement, edge from a ground semiconductor wafer, which is cohesively connected to an elastic carrier film and is fixed to a circumferential wafer frame via the carrier film, includes a holding device, which has a support having suction openings for holding the semiconductor wafer on the support surface of the support, and a separating device, which includes a device for integrally detaching the reinforcement edge from the carrier film. In order to be able to detach the reinforcement edge from the carrier film without damage, the holder device has a clamping device encompassing the support and serving for clamping the wafer frame and/or the carrier film, wherein the clamping device interacts with the support to stretch the carrier film, and the separating device has a tool guide with a dividing tool for moving the dividing tool between carrier film and reinforcement edge in order to detach the reinforcement edge in one piece from the carrier film stretched by interaction of clamping device and support. |
| US09905443B2 |
Reflective deposition rings and substrate processing chambers incorporating same
Apparatus for improving temperature uniformity across a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a deposition ring for use in a substrate processing system to process a substrate may include an annular body having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a central opening passing through the first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface is configured to be disposed over a substrate support having a support surface to support a substrate having a given width, and wherein the opening is sized to expose a predominant portion of the support surface; and wherein the first surface includes at least one reflective portion configured to reflect heat energy toward a central axis of the annular body, wherein the at least one reflective portion has a surface area that is about 5 to about 50 percent of a total surface area of the first surface. |
| US09905442B2 |
Heat treatment apparatus, heat treatment method, and program
Disclosed is a heat treatment apparatus including: a heating unit that heats an inside of a processing chamber that accommodates a plurality of workpieces; a temperature drop rate model storing unit that stores a temperature drop rate model; and a heat treatment performing unit that sets the temperature drop rate model stored in the temperature drop model storing unit and sets the inside of the processing chamber to the temperature and the time represented in the temperature drop rate model. The temperature drop rate model storing unit stores a plurality of temperature drop rate models, each of which has a different temperature drop rate. The processing chamber is divided into a plurality of zones, and the temperature drop rate mode is set for each of the zones. The heat treatment performing unit sets different temperature drop rate models in a plurality of zones to heat the plurality of workpieces. |
| US09905441B2 |
Oxidation process apparatus, oxidation method, and method for manufacturing electronic device
An oxidation process apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate holder provided in a processing chamber and having a substrate holding surface; a gas introduction unit for introducing an oxygen gas; a cylindrical member; and a substrate holder drive unit for changing relative positions of the substrate holder and the cylindrical member to allow the substrate holding surface and the cylindrical member to form an oxidation process space. The cylindrical member is provided so as to form a gap between the cylindrical member and the substrate holder during formation of the space. The oxygen gas is introduced restrictively into the space. The oxygen gas introduced from the gas introduction unit is evacuated through the gap. |
| US09905437B2 |
Method of producing bonded body and method of producing power module substrate
A method of producing a bonded body is disclosed in which a ceramic member made of ceramics and a Cu member made of Cu or a Cu alloy are bonded to each other, the method including: a laminating step of laminating the ceramic member and the Cu member in a state where a Cu—P-based brazing filler material containing 3 mass % to 10 mass % of P and an active metal material are interposed therebetween; and a heating step of heating the ceramic member and the Cu member which are laminated. |
| US09905435B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device comprising oxide semiconductor film
In a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, a change in electrical characteristics is inhibited and reliability is improved. The semiconductor device is manufactured by a method including first to fourth steps. The first step includes a step of forming an oxide semiconductor film, the second step includes a step of forming an oxide insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, the third step includes a step of forming a protective film over the oxide insulating film, and the fourth step includes a step of adding oxygen to the oxide insulating film through the protective film. In the first step, the oxide semiconductor film is formed under a condition in which an oxygen vacancy is formed. The oxygen from the oxide insulating film fills the oxygen vacancy after the fourth step. |
| US09905433B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device including a nitride semiconductor layer
An ion implantation results in defects generated in a nitride semiconductor layer. If the nitride semiconductor layer is set at a particular temperature for a predetermined time period after the ion implantation, the defects may probably be clustering. Provided is a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including a nitride semiconductor layer comprising: implanting impurities in the nitride semiconductor layer; and increasing a temperature of the nitride semiconductor layer from an initial temperature to a target temperature and annealing the nitride semiconductor layer at the target temperature for a predetermined time period; wherein in the annealing, in at least part of temperature regions below a first temperature between the initial temperature and the target temperature, the nitride semiconductor layer is annealed at a temperature increase speed lower than in a temperature region not lower than the first temperature. |
| US09905423B2 |
Soft landing nanolaminates for advanced patterning
Methods for depositing nanolaminate protective layers over a core layer to enable deposition of high quality conformal films over the core layer for use in advanced multiple patterning schemes are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods involve depositing a thin silicon oxide or titanium oxide film using plasma-based atomic layer deposition techniques with a low high frequency radio frequency (HFRF) plasma power, followed by depositing a conformal titanium oxide film or spacer with a high HFRF plasma power. |
| US09905415B2 |
Methods for depositing silicon nitride films
Methods for forming silicon nitride films are disclosed that comprise the steps of: providing a substrate in a reactor; introducing into the reactor an at least one organoaminosilane having a least one SiH3 group described herein wherein the at least one organoaminosilane reacts on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate to provide a chemisorbed layer; purging the reactor with a purge gas; introducing a plasma comprising nitrogen and an inert gas into the reactor to react with at least a portion of the chemisorbed layer and provide at least one reactive site wherein the plasma is generated at a power density ranging from about 0.01 to about 1.5 W/cm2. |
| US09905412B2 |
Method and solution for cleaning InGaAs (or III-V) substrates
Embodiments described herein generally relate to improved methods and solutions for cleaning a substrate prior to epitaxial growth of Group III-V channel materials. A first processing gas, which includes a noble gas and a hydrogen source, is used to remove the native oxide layer from the substrate surface. A second processing gas, Ar/Cl2/H2, is then used to create a reactive surface layer on the substrate surface. Finally, a hydrogen bake with a third processing gas, which includes a hydrogen source and an arsine source, is used to remove the reactive layer from the substrate surface. |
| US09905409B2 |
Devices and methods for performing mass analysis
Embodiments of the present invention feature devices and methods for performing mass analysis. One embodiment of the device comprises an inlet housing for mounting on the first wall between the area of low pressure and the area of high pressure. The inlet housing has passages and restrictions which can be adjusted with respect to a sample plume or changed by substituting alternative inlet housings. |
| US09905397B2 |
Ion implantation apparatus and scanning waveform preparation method
An ion implantation apparatus includes a beam scanner that provides reciprocating beam scanning in a beam scanning direction, a beam measurer that measures a beam current intensity distribution in the beam scanning direction at a downstream of the beam scanner, and a controller. The controller includes a scanning waveform preparing unit that determines whether or not a measured beam current intensity distribution measured by the beam measurer with use of a given scanning waveform fits a target non-uniform dose amount distribution, and that, in a case of fitting, correlates the given scanning waveform with the target non-uniform dose amount distribution. |
| US09905395B2 |
Method for structuring an object with the aid of a particle beam apparatus
Methods for structuring objects with a particle beam apparatus are disclosed. |
| US09905393B2 |
Stage apparatus with braking system for lens, beam, or vibration compensation
A stage apparatus is provided including a base, a table that is movable relative to the base, a drive mechanism that moves the table, a pressing mechanism that presses the table, a position detection device that detects a location of the table, and a control device that controls the pressing mechanism. The table is moved in a predetermined moving direction relative to the base by the drive mechanism. The table is pressed by the pressing mechanism in a direction different from the moving direction. The control device, which is connected to the position detection device, controls the pressing mechanism to press the table at a stop position of the table. The control device controls the pressing mechanism based on locations of the table before and after being pressed, a correction amount indicating a difference between the locations, and a target location of the table. |
| US09905392B2 |
Method and apparatus for a porous electrospray emitter
An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip. |
| US09905391B2 |
System and method for imaging a sample with an electron beam with a filtered energy spread
A selectively configurable system for directing an electron beam with a limited energy spread to a sample includes an electron source to generate an electron beam having an energy spread including one or more energies, an aperture having an on-axis opening and an off-axis opening, a first assembly of one or more electron lenses with selectively configurable focal powers positioned to collect the beam from the source and direct the beam to the aperture, a second assembly of one or more selectively configurable electron lenses positioned to collect the beam, a sample stage, and an electron inspection sub-system including electron optics positioned to direct the beam onto one or more samples. The first assembly includes an off-axis electron lens for interacting with the beam at an off-axis position and introducing spatial dispersion to the beam when configured with a nonzero focal power, thus filtering the energy spread. |
| US09905390B2 |
Cooling mechanism for high-brightness X-ray tube using phase change heat exchange
A mechanism for cooling the anode of an x-ray tube using a phase change material to transfer heat away from the anode. The x-ray tube is joined to a sealed heat exchange chamber which contains a liquid metal as a liquid to vapor phase change material (L-V PCM). The back side of the anode is exposed to an interior of the heat exchange chamber, and a jet sprayer inside the heat exchange chamber sprays a liquid of the metal onto the back side of the heated anode. The L-C PCM evaporates on that surface to carry away the heat, and the vapor then condenses back into the liquid on the cool surfaces of the heat exchange chamber. The surfaces of the heat exchange chamber may be cooled by convection cooling. Optionally, pipes containing a circulating cooling fluid may be provide inside the heat exchange chamber. |
| US09905384B2 |
Systems and methods for quick release electromagnetic relays
An electromagnetic relay is provided. The electromagnetic relay includes a first port and a second port, a first coil and a second coil, a movable armature coupled between the first port and the second port constructed to connect and disconnect the first port and the second port, a switch circuit, and a coil control circuit. The switch circuit is constructed to connect the first coil to an external power source to induce the first coil to create a first magnetic field having a first direction and disconnect the first coil from the external power source to cause the first magnetic field to collapse. The coil control circuit is constructed to induce the second coil to create a second magnetic field having a second direction responsive to the switch circuit being in the second state, the second direction being opposite the first direction. |
| US09905383B2 |
Conduction-breaking device
A conduction-breaking device breaks conduction between a pair of devices in an electric circuit. The conduction-breaking device includes a conductive body having a cuttable portion, an arc-extinguishing chamber having a pair of fixed blades, a gas generator, a cutting member having a pair of movable blades, and a deforming mechanism. When the cuttable portion is cut at two positions by the fixed blades and the movable blades, the cuttable portion forms a separated piece, which is separated from the electric circuit, and first and second remaining portions, which remain connected with the electric circuit. The separated piece has cut ends at opposite ends. The deforming mechanism deforms the separated piece such that the cut ends of the separated piece are located on a leading side in a moving direction of the cutting member with respect to a part of the separated piece between the cut ends. |
| US09905382B2 |
Swaging structure
A swaging structure for which swaging process is easy, generation of wrinkles can be prevented, and which has high pressure-resistant performance is provided. In a swaging structure including at least a to-be-swaged member required to have airtightness to a surrounding environment and a swaging member constituted to retain the to-be-swaged member by a swaging processing, the swaging member has an annular side wall surrounding the to-be-swaged member, and a groove is formed in the annular side wall. |
| US09905377B2 |
Circuit breaker
The invention relates to a circuit breaker comprising a first and a second contact assembly, wherein one of the contact assemblies comprises contact fingers arranged in a finger cage configuration and the other contact assembly comprises a tube or rod contact. The contact fingers comprise an impact point where the tube or rod impacts the contact fingers for the first time during electrical connection establishment, and a contact zone which contacts the tube or rod when the electrical connection is established. The contact zone comprises two contact points separated from one another and arranged on a line which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. |
| US09905375B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolytic solution for electric double layer capacitor
Provided is a nonaqueous electrolytic solution that provides an electric double layer capacitor having excellent durability. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution is prepared by dissolving a quaternary ammonium salt as an electrolyte in a nonaqueous solvent, and the nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprises a diethylpyrrolidinium salt and/or a 1-ethyl-1,3-dimethylpyrrolidinium salt. |
| US09905366B2 |
Lead terminal for capacitor
A lead terminal for a capacitor which is less likely to be broken even when the capacitor implemented on a substrate is continuously subjected to vibration, has excellent in vibration resistance and lifetime characteristics and capable of being manufactured inexpensively, is provided. The lead terminal 1 for a capacitor has an aluminum wire 2 having a round bar portion 2a and a flat portion 2b, and a metal wire 3 welded to the round bar portion 2a of the aluminum wire 2. Furthermore, the lead terminal 1 for a capacitor has a curved portion 2c at a boundary section between the round bar portion 2a and the flat portion 2b, and a curvature radius R of the curved portion 2c is set to be equal to or greater than 0.5 mm. |
| US09905364B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component and method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic electronic component
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a multilayer body including ceramic layers and inner electrode layers, the inner electrode layers being disposed on interfaces between the ceramic layers, and an outer electrode on an external surface of the multilayer body and electrically connected to first end portions of the inner electrode layers exposed to the external surface of the multilayer body. Each of the ceramic layers includes a thin portion with a continuously reducing thickness near the first end portion. Each inner electrode layer includes a thick portion near a connection with the outer electrode, the thick portion having a thickness continuously increasing toward the connection on a first side in accordance with a shape of the thin portion in the ceramic layer. A distance between a second end portion in the inner electrode layer not joined to the outer electrode, and the thick portion adjacent to the second end portion is equal to or longer than an interlayer distance between the inner electrode layers. |
| US09905360B2 |
Transmitter coils for contactless energy transmission systems with coupling enhancement and stray field reduction
Transmitter coils (1, 1a . . . 1f) for contactless energy transmission systems (8) include a winding (2) with a number of turns of at least one conductor. Such winding (2) occupies ring area (3) between an outer larger unequilateral rectangle (4) and an inner smaller unequilateral rectangle (5). This ring area (3) is wider on the longer side (x1) of the outer rectangle (4) than it is on shorter side (x2). Transmitters (6) with such transmitter coils (1, 1a . . . 1f) may include a number of conductors and a number of power supplies (7, 7a, 7b) that may be switched and/or controlled independently of each other. Energy transmission systems (8) with such transmitter coils (1a . . . 1f)/such transmitters (6) as well as receiver coils (10) installed in motor vehicles (9), are also disclosed. |
| US09905358B2 |
Contactless power feeding apparatus and contactless power feeding system
A contactless power feeding apparatus includes a power source portion, a power feeding coil, and a power feeding apparatus side control portion, and the power feeding apparatus side control portion is configured to perform feeding voltage control in order to control the feeding voltage value of the power source portion on the basis of a coupling coefficient such that power transmission efficiency to a power receiving apparatus including a power receiving coil is in the vicinity of a maximum. |
| US09905354B2 |
Electrical device with integrated transformer and common mode choke
An electrical device includes a core structure having a first core section, a second core section, and a third core section. The electrical device further includes a first coil electrically coupled to the first core section and the second core section to form a choke and a primary winding of a transformer. The choke is configured to reduce common mode noise for an electrical signal received by the electrical device, and the primary winding of the transformer is configured to induce a magnetic field on the third core section. The electrical device also includes a second coil electrically coupled to the third core section, which forms a secondary winding of the transformer and receives electromagnetic energy from the magnetic field induced by the primary winding of the transformer. |
| US09905340B2 |
Resistive element and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a chip resistive element including a substrate, a resistor formed on the substrate, and electrodes connected to opposite ends of the resistor, the method including an electrode forming step of forming the electrodes on the substrate. The electrode forming step includes a step of forming a first electrode layer on the substrate using a first electrode material containing silver, and a step of forming a second electrode layer on the first electrode layer using a second electrode material containing silver and palladium. The first electrode material has a higher silver content than the second electrode material. |
| US09905338B2 |
Insulated electric cable
An insulated electric cable 10 has a core member 1 formed by stranding a plurality of core wires 4, each of the core wires 4 including a conductor 5 and an insulating layer 6 covering the conductor 5, an inner sheath 7 covering the core member 1, an outer sheath 8 covering the inner sheath 7, and a paper tape 2 disposed between the core member 1 and the inner sheath 7 in a state that it is wrapped around the core member 1, in which the outer sheath 8 is formed by a flame-retardant polyurethane resin, and a cross-sectional area of each of conductors 5 is within 0.18-3.0 mm2. |
| US09905337B2 |
Sealing structure of multicore cable
A sealing structure of a multicore cable includes the multicore cable, a rubber stopper, a cap, and a holder. The multicore cable includes first to fourth electric wires covered with a sheath. The rubber stopper is fitted on an end of the sheath and first to fourth through holes through which the first to the fourth electric wires are passed, respectively. The cap is fitted on the rubber stopper and presses the rubber stopper inward. The holder includes a sheath holding portion for holding the sheath and a cap holding portion for holding the cap. |
| US09905335B2 |
Water stop treatment method and insulating covered electric wire
A water stopping treatment simply and assuredly prevents water from moving or entering to a circuit board or the like. A one end of a core wire (41) is exposed from an insulation cover (42). An exposing part (A) that is peeled off from the insulation cover (42) and exposed from the insulation cover (42) is formed at an arbitrary position from the one end to the other end of the core wire. A water stopping agent (48) is filling from the exposing part (A) toward the other end of the core wire (41). |
| US09905331B2 |
Composite electric wire structure and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are a composite electric wire structure wherein a carbon material island structure is formed on a surface of a metal wire and a method for manufacturing the same. The carbon material/metal composite electric wire is capable of solving stability problem and preventing a decrease in electrical properties, mechanical properties, etc. In addition, the composite electric wire structure may be produced in commercially viable large scale. |
| US09905330B2 |
Flexible cable
A flexible cable includes an outer sheath at an outermost portion. The outer sheath includes an inner layer made of an elastomer containing polypropylene resin, and an outer layer surrounding the inner layer and made of polypropylene resin. |
| US09905328B2 |
Resin composition for printed wiring board material and prepreg, resin sheet, metal foil-clad laminate, and printed wiring board using the same
A resin composition used as a material of an insulating layer of a printed wiring board including the insulating layer and a conductor layer formed on a surface of the insulating layer by plating, the resin composition including: an epoxy compound; a cyanate compound; a maleimide compound; an inorganic filler; and an imidazole silane, wherein the maleimide compound includes a predetermined maleimide compound, a content of the maleimide compound is 25% by mass or less based on 100% by mass of a total content of the epoxy compound, the cyanate compound, and the maleimide compound, and the imidazole silane includes a compound represented by the formula (3). |
| US09905326B2 |
Semiconductive resin composition and power transmission cable using same
A semiconductive resin composition is composed of a base polymer including an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with a vinyl acetate content of not lower than 60 percent by weight, two or more of fatty acid zinc, oleic acid bisamide and trimellitic acid ester, a peroxide-based crosslinking agent having a one hour half-life temperature of not lower than 130 degrees C., and a carbon having a DBP (dibutyl phthalate) adsorption capacity of not larger than 150 mg/g. |
| US09905324B2 |
Methods of fabricating a metal nanowire dispersion solution and methods of fabricating a transparent conductor using the same
A method of fabricating a metal nanowire dispersion solution includes heating a first solution including a metal compound, a catalyst, an organic protection agent and menstruum, thereby forming metal nanowires in the first solution, performing a first cleaning process providing a first solvent into the metal nanowire, thereby separating the organic protection agent surrounding the metal nanowires from the metal nanowires, separating the metal nanowires from the first solution by vacuum-filtering, and dispersing the separated metal nanowires in a dispersion solvent. |
| US09905321B2 |
Method for operating a pressurized water reactor during load monitoring
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a pressurized water reactor (100) comprising the steps that involve measuring the effective power (Pe) of the nuclear reactor; acquiring a reference value for the desired power (Pc); acquiring an estimated duration (DURATION) for the increase in power in order to achieve said reference value of the target power (Pc) desired, said estimated duration (DURATION) corresponding to the time taken for the power to increase from said effective power (Pe) to said reference value for the target power (Pc); determining the reference position (Z) of at least one control rod cluster among said plurality of control rod clusters (40) in order to achieve said reference value for said target power (Pc) desired as a function of said estimated duration (DURATION), of said measured effective power (Pe) and of said reference value for said target power (Pc); monitoring the position of said at least one control rod cluster so as to position it in its reference position (Z). |
| US09905315B1 |
Error-resilient memory device with row and/or column folding with redundant resources and repair method thereof
An error-resilient memory device includes sets of memory blocks and redundant memory blocks for storing a set of data bits. A memory block includes a set of memory cells, each memory cell is adjacent to at least two other memory cells, and a memory block is formed by a matrix of the set of memory cells. In a row-folded implementation, a word line is connected to each memory cell, and a set of bit lines is connected to the corresponding set of memory cells. In a column-folded implementation, a bit line is connected to each memory cell, and a set of word lines is connected to the corresponding set of memory cells. A redundant memory block is used to store the set of data bits when the memory block includes a fault. |
| US09905310B2 |
Method for controlling magnetic domain wall of magnetic structure and magnetic memory device using same
The present invention provides a method for controlling a magnetic domain wall of a magnetic structure and a magnetic memory device using same. The method includes: a first step of applying a first magnetic field in a first direction to a magnetic structure having a plurality of magnetic domains and a magnetic domain wall between the magnetic domains, and applying a second magnetic field in a second direction to the magnetic structure, the first direction being parallel to the magnetization direction of the magnetic domain wall and the second direction being parallel to the magnetization direction of the magnetic domain wall; and a second step of applying a third magnetic field in a direction opposite to the first direction to the magnetic structure and applying a fourth magnetic field in a direction opposite to the second direction to the magnetic structure, wherein the magnetic domain wall can be moved uniformly in a direction parallel to the magnetization direction of the magnetic domain wall or the magnetization direction of the magnetic domains. |
| US09905307B1 |
Leakage current detection in 3D memory
Technology is described herein for detecting a leakage current between a block select line and a conductive region that exists in multiple blocks of memory cells in a plane. The conductive region may be shared by at least one memory cell in multiple blocks. One example of the conductive region is a common source line that includes one or more local source lines and one or more global source lines. If the leakage current were to become high enough, the electrical short between the conductive region and the block select line could cause a plane level failure. If the leakage current is less than an amount that would cause a plane failure, but that indicates that the non-volatile memory device is susceptible to a plane failure, data may be moved out of the plane before the plane failure occurs. Thus, data loss may be prevented. |
| US09905306B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes: a NAND string with a first set of memory cells including a first memory cell; and a second set of memory cells including a second memory cell disposed above the first memory cell. The number of memory cells included in the first set is different from that of memory cells included in the second set. During a program verify operation when a data item of a level is written to a memory cell of the first set and a memory cell of the second set, a first verify voltage is applied to the gate of the memory cell of the first set and a second verify voltage different from the first verify voltage is applied to the gate of the memory cell of the second set. |
| US09905305B2 |
Reducing hot electron injection type of read disturb in 3D non-volatile memory for edge word lines
Read disturb due to hot electron injection is reduced in a 3D memory device by controlling the magnitude and timing of word line and select gate ramp down voltages at the end of a sensing operation. In an example read operation, a predefined subset of word lines includes source-side and drain-side word lines. For the predefined subset of word lines, word line voltages are ramped down before the voltages of the select gates are ramped down. Subsequently, for a remaining subset of word lines, word line voltages are ramped down, but no later than the ramping down of the voltages of the select gates. The timing of the ramp down of the selected word line depends on whether it is among the predefined subset or the remaining subset. The predefined subset can include a number of adjacent or non-adjacent word lines. |
| US09905304B2 |
Memory system and program operation method based on program speed information
There are provided a memory system having improved reliability and an operating method thereof. A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array having a plurality of pages, and a controller for sequentially transmitting, to the semiconductor memory device, physical block addresses of pages to be programmed among the plurality of pages. In the memory system, the semiconductor memory device selects a page corresponding to each of the physical block addresses among the plurality of pages according to previously stored program speed information, and performs a program operation on the selected page. |
| US09905302B2 |
Read level grouping algorithms for increased flash performance
A plurality of flash memory wordlines of a flash storage device are divided into a plurality of wordline groups based on read error counts associated with the wordlines and a plurality of read level offsets. Each wordline group is associated with one of a plurality of read level offsets determined while dividing the plurality of flash memory wordlines, and associations between the plurality of read level offsets and the plurality of wordline groups are stored for use in connection with read levels to read the flash memory wordlines of the respective wordline groups. |
| US09905301B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of operating the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell, a bit line, a page buffer, and a control logic. The page buffer is connected to the memory cell through the bit line and the page buffer is configured to precharge the bit line to perform a desired operation. The desired operation may be one of a read operation and a verify operation. The control logic is configured to control bit line development time differently according to a temperature after precharging the bit line during the desired operation. The control logic is configured to determine the bit line development time according to a period of a reference clock signal that includes a different frequency depending on the temperature and/or a temperature compensation pulse signal including a pulse width that varies based on the temperature. |
| US09905297B2 |
Hybrid volatile and non-volatile memory device having a programmable register for shadowed storage locations
A method of controlling a memory device includes receiving an address value that indicates a range of addresses within the memory device, each address within the range of addresses corresponding to storage locations within each of two distinct storage dice within the memory device. The address value is stored within a programmable register within the memory device. |
| US09905292B2 |
Three dimensional dual-port bit cell and method of using same
A three dimensional dual-port bit cell generally comprises a first portion disposed on a first tier, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of port elements. The dual-port bit cell also includes a second portion disposed on a second tier that is vertically stacked with respect to the first tier using at least one via, wherein the second portion includes a latch. |
| US09905289B1 |
Method and system for systematic read retry flow in solid state memory
In general, embodiments of the technology relate to improving read performance of solid-state storage by using decoding parameters deemed particularly suitable for the read operation that is currently being performed. More specifically, embodiments of the technology relate to using different decoding parameters when a read operation needs to be repeated because the initial read operation has failed. |
| US09905288B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices and methods of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a control logic circuit. The control logic circuit controls access to the memory cell array based on a command and an address. The semiconductor memory device performs a write operation to write data in the memory cell array and performs a read operation to read data from the memory cell array in synchronization with a clock signal from an external memory controller. The semiconductor memory device performs the write operation and the read operation in different data strobe modes in which the semiconductor memory device uses different numbers of data strobe signals according to a frequency of the clock signal. |
| US09905287B2 |
Asymmetrical emphasis in a memory data bus driver
An apparatus includes an interface and a circuit. The interface may be configured to generate a read signal that carries read data from a memory channel. The circuit may be configured to (i) modify the read signal with a de-emphasis on each pull up of the read signal and a pre-emphasis on each pull down of the read signal and (ii) transfer the read signal as modified to a memory controller. |
| US09905283B2 |
Self-referenced MRAM cell and magnetic field sensor comprising the self-referenced MRAM cell
A self-referenced MRAM cell including a reference layer having a fixed reference magnetization, a sense layer having a free sense magnetization, a tunnel barrier, a biasing layer having bias magnetization and a biasing antiferromagnetic layer pinning the bias magnetization in a bias direction when MRAM cell is at temperature equal or below a bias threshold temperature. The bias magnetization is arranged for inducing a bias field adapted for biasing the sense magnetization in a direction opposed to the bias direction, such that the biased sense magnetization varies linearly in the presence of the external magnetic field, when the external magnetic field is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the one of the reference magnetization. The present disclosure further concerns a magnetic field sensor including a plurality of the self-referenced MRAM cell and a method for programming the magnetic field sensor. |
| US09905282B1 |
Top electrode dome formation
Methods of fabricating a dome-shaped MTJ TE and the resulting devices are provided. Embodiments include forming a MRAM stack having a laterally separated MTJ structures and the MRAM and a logic stack each having a SiN layer; forming first trenches through the MRAM stack to a portion of the SiN layer above an MTJ structure; forming second trenches through the SiN layer fully landing on an upper portion of the MTJ structures and removing the SiN layer of the logic stack; forming a TaN layer over the MRAM and logic stack; removing portions of the TaN layer on opposite sides of the MTJ structures and therebetween; forming an oxide layer over the MRAM and logic stacks; and forming vias through the oxide layer of the MRAM stack down the TaN layer above MTJ structures and a via through the logic stack. |
| US09905279B2 |
Systems, circuits, and methods for charge sharing
Systems, circuits, and methods are disclosed for charge sharing. In one such example system, a first line is configured to be driven to a first voltage representative of data to be placed on the first line and then precharged to a first precharge voltage. A second line is configured to be driven to a second voltage representative of data to be placed on the second line and then precharged to a second precharge voltage. A charge sharing device is coupled between the first line and the second line. The charge sharing device is configured to selectively allow charge from the first line to flow to the second line after the first and second lines are driven to the respective first and second voltages representative of data to be placed on the respective lines. |
| US09905277B2 |
Memory controlling method and memory system
A memory system comprises a memory controller and a memory device having one or more memory ranks and multiple memory electrically connected to the one or more memory ranks. The memory controller includes at least one analysis module and at least one switching determination module. The analysis module analyzes states of multiple memory control commands corresponding to a particular memory rank to generate a control parameter. The switching determination module determines whether at least one switching command is sent according to the control parameter, a current operation mode of the particular memory rank, and an operation state of the particular memory rank. When the memory device receives a first switching command of the at least one command, the particular rank and at least one part of the memory internal circuits are switched from the normal voltage operation mode to the low voltage operation mode. |
| US09905276B2 |
Control of sensing components in association with performing operations
Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods related to performing a loop structure for operations performed in memory. An example apparatus might include an array of memory cells. An example apparatus might also include a plurality of sensing components coupled to the array and comprising a first group of sensing components coupled to a controller via a first number of control lines and a second group of sensing components coupled to the controller via a second number of control lines wherein the controller is configured to activate at least one of the first number of control lines and the second number of control lines. |
| US09905272B2 |
Video capture system, information processing terminal, video checking method, and program
Provided is a video capture system including: an information processing terminal; and an image pickup apparatus configured to be capable of communicating with the information processing terminal and capture a video in response to an instruction from the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal includes: a stop instruction unit configured to instruct the image pickup apparatus to stop capturing the video; a display still image acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of display still images in response to a stop instruction from the stop instruction unit, in which the plurality of display still images are extracted from the video captured by the image pickup apparatus; and a display unit configured to display a list of the plurality of display still images acquired by the display still image acquisition unit. |
| US09905271B2 |
Real-time positioning of current-playing-position marker on progress bar and index file generation for real-time content
Embodiments are directed towards presenting a current-playing-position marker on a progress bar along with real time content. An initial timeline value of the content may be determined, along with an initial presentation timestamp value for the first frame of the content. For each next frame of the content, a next timeline value may be determined based on a difference between a next presentation timestamp value for a corresponding next frame and the initial presentation timestamp value, and mapping of the next presentation timestamp value for the corresponding next frame and the next timeline value in the index file. The content and a progress bar may be displayed to the user on a remote device based on the index file. A position of the current-playing-position marker on the progress bar for each frame of the content may be determined based on the next timeline value for each corresponding frame. |
| US09905269B2 |
Multimedia content duration manipulation
Average pixel luminosity is calculated for each frame comprising a content item. For each pair of adjacent frames, an IFD is calculated. The IFD represents the difference between a baseline pixel luminosity associated with each of the two frames. An initial set of cut frames is selected based on IFD values that are less than a minimum value IFDmin, or that are greater than a maximum value IFDmax. The positions of these initial cut frames are optimized using a numerical optimization technique that favors removal of frames corresponding to IFD extrema, but that also attempts to maintain a minimum time gap between cut frames. Selecting frames for removal is approached as a constraint minimization problem. Once an optimized set of cut frames is established, audio is cut and crossfaded in a temporal window surrounding cut frame positions. |
| US09905260B2 |
Method for manufacturing optical information recording medium
Method for manufacturing an optical information recording medium includes: preparing a substrate material where a first guide groove has been formed on a first side of the substrate material; forming a second guide groove by applying an energy-curable resin material between a second side of the substrate material opposite to the first side and a stamper and subsequently curing the energy-curable resin material to form a substrate; providing at least one recording layer and a cover layer on a first side of the substrate where the first guide groove has been formed, while holding the substrate with the stamper left unremoved from the substrate to protect the second guide groove; and exposing the second guide groove by removing the stamper and providing at least one recording layer and a cover layer on a second side of the substrate where the second guide groove has been formed. |
| US09905259B2 |
Imprint template and methods thereof
Provided herein is a method, including forming a first template including a first pattern, wherein forming the first template includes self-assembly of diblock copolymers guided by an initial pattern; forming a second template including a second pattern, wherein the second pattern corresponds to a servo pattern; and forming a master template from the first template, wherein the master template includes one or more portions of the first pattern combined with the second pattern. |
| US09905255B1 |
Bond pad sharing for powering multiple heaters of a magnetic recording head
A slider of a magnetic recording head comprises a ground pad and a plurality of electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources. A component of the slider is coupled between first and second bond pads. A first heater of the slider is coupled between the first bond pad and the ground pad. A second heater of the slider is coupled between the second bond pad and the ground pad. A first diode is disposed on the slider and coupled in series with the first heater. A second diode is disposed on the slider and coupled in series with the second heater. |
| US09905253B1 |
C-shaped near-field transducer including a peg for heat-assisted magnetic recording device
An apparatus includes a near-field transducer (NFT) of a heat-assisted magnetic recording head. The NFT includes a substantially C-shaped portion and a peg portion extending from the substantially C-shaped portion. A planar member is disposed adjacent the NFT. The planar member includes a bottom surface configured to support surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) that resonantly excite the NFT. A barrier member is installed within the planar member and is arranged to encompass at least a tip portion of the peg. |
| US09905251B2 |
Write current switching in a data storage device
Method and apparatus for enhancing write current switching efficiencies during data write operations in a data storage device. In some embodiments, write data are described in the form a sequence of symbols of nT length where T is a channel clock rate and n is an integer over a selected range. Bi-directional write currents are applied to a write element to record the sequence of symbols to a storage medium. The write currents are switched between a first rail current and a second rail current for alternating symbols. The write currents are further transitioned to an intermediate current value for at least one channel clock period immediately preceding a next occurrence of a symbol boundary between an adjacent pair of symbols in the sequence. |
| US09905248B2 |
Inferring user intentions based on user conversation data and spatio-temporal data
Systems and methods are provided for inferring explicit user intentions based on user conversation data and associated spatial-temporal data of the user. For example, a method includes detecting a named entity in a conversation of a user communicating on a mobile computing device of the user, obtaining spatio-temporal information associated with the user, wherein the spatio-temporal information comprises information regarding one or more locations of the user and timing of the user's presence at the one or more locations, and utilizing the spatio-temporal information to disambiguate the named entity detected in the conversation of the user. The disambiguated named entity and the spatio-temporal data associated with the user are utilized to determine user intentions and to generate or update user profile information associated with the user. |
| US09905247B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, medium apparatus, signal processing method, and signal processing program
There is proposed a signal processing apparatus for enhancing a target signal and suppressing the remaining components without increasing an array size or the number of sensors. This signal processing apparatus includes a first array processor that generates a first array processing signal by enhancing a predetermined signal among signals received from a plurality of sensors, and a decorrelator that generates a decorrelated signal by removing, from the first array processing signal, a signal component correlated with a signal received from an auxiliary sensor different from the plurality of sensors. |
| US09905243B2 |
Speech processing system, speech processing method, speech processing program, vehicle including speech processing system on board, and microphone placing method
A system of this invention is directed to a speech processing system that efficiently performs noise suppression processing for a plurality of noise sources spreading in a lateral direction with respect to a speaker of interest. The speech processing system includes a microphone array including a plurality of microphones, each of which inputs a sound mixture including speech of a speaker of interest and noise from a noise source region including a plurality of noise sources placed in a lateral direction with respect to the speaker of interest, and outputs a mixture signal including a speech signal and a noise signal, the plurality of microphones being arranged such that a difference between respective distances from the plurality of microphones to the speaker of interest becomes different from a difference between respective distances from the plurality of microphones to the noise source region, and a noise suppressor that suppresses the noise based on the mixture signals output from the plurality of microphones. |
| US09905240B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for intelligent speech recognition and processing
Systems, methods, and devices for intelligent speech recognition and processing are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for improving intelligibility of a speech signal may include (1) at least one processor receiving an incoming speech signal comprising a plurality of sound elements; (2) the at least one processor recognizing a sound element in the incoming speech signal to improve the intelligibility thereof; (3) the at least one processor processing the sound element by at least one of modifying and replacing the sound element; and (4) the at least one processor outputting the processed speech signal comprising the processed sound element. |
| US09905238B2 |
Backward-compatible communication system components
A base station for use in a communication system is configured to determine whether a set of access information provided by an end unit is acceptable to the base station. The access information facilitates identification by the base station of one or more codecs used by the end unit to encode and decode digital audio signals. Other end units may use different codecs to encode and decode digital audio signals. The base station is configured to simultaneously handle multiple different codecs. The communication system also comprises at least one end unit configured to determine the codec used by the base station, request registration to the base station, and set the determined codec as the codec to use for communications with the base station. |
| US09905237B2 |
Decoding of encoded audio bitstream with metadata container located in reserved data space
Apparatus and methods for generating an encoded audio bitstream, including by including program loudness metadata and audio data in the bitstream, and optionally also program boundary metadata in at least one segment (e.g., frame) of the bitstream. Other aspects are apparatus and methods for decoding such a bitstream, e.g., including by performing adaptive loudness processing of the audio data of an audio program indicated by the bitstream, or authentication and/or validation of metadata and/or audio data of such an audio program. Another aspect is an audio processing unit (e.g., an encoder, decoder, or post-processor) configured (e.g., programmed) to perform any embodiment of the method or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame of an audio bitstream generated in accordance with any embodiment of the method. |
| US09905232B2 |
Device and method for encoding and decoding of an audio signal
The present technology relates to an encoding device and method, a decoding device and method, capable of improving audio signal transmission efficiency. An identification information generation unit determines whether or not an audio signal is to be encoded on the basis of the audio signal. The identification information generation unit generates identification information indicating the determination result. An encoding unit encodes only the audio signals which are determined to be encoded. A packing unit generates a bit stream containing the identification information and encoded audio signals. As a result of storing only encoded audio signals and the identification information indicating whether or not the respective audio signals are to be encoded in the bit stream, the transmission efficiency of the audio signals can be improved. The present technology can be applied to an encoder and a decoder. |
| US09905231B2 |
Audio signal processing method
The present invention relates to an audio signal processing method, comprising the steps of: receiving a bit-stream containing a normal channel signal and an exceptional channel signal; decoding the normal channel signal and the exceptional channel signal from the received bit-stream; generating correlation information using the decoded normal channel signal and the decoded exceptional channel signal; generating a gain value by at least one of a first downmix method applying the same downmix gain value using the correlation information and a second downmix method applying variable gain values over time; and outputting the exceptional channel signal as a plurality of channel signals using the gain value. |
| US09905230B2 |
Advanced stereo coding based on a combination of adaptively selectable left/right or mid/side stereo coding and of parametric stereo coding
The application relates to audio encoder and decoder systems. An embodiment of the encoder system comprises a downmix stage for generating a downmix signal and a residual signal based on a stereo signal. In addition, the encoder system comprises a parameter determining stage for determining parametric stereo parameters such as an inter-channel intensity difference and an inter-channel cross-correlation. Preferably, the parametric stereo parameters are time- and frequency-variant. Moreover, the encoder system comprises a transform stage. The transform stage generates a pseudo left/right stereo signal by performing a transform based on the downmix signal and the residual signal. The pseudo stereo signal is processed by a perceptual stereo encoder. For stereo encoding, left/right encoding or mid/side encoding is selectable. Preferably, the selection between left/right stereo encoding and mid/side stereo encoding is time- and frequency-variant. |
| US09905225B2 |
Voice recognition processing device, voice recognition processing method, and display device
A voice recognition processing apparatus includes a voice acquirer, a first voice recognizer, a second voice recognizer, a sorter, a storage device, and a processor. The voice acquirer acquires a voice uttered by a user and outputs voice information. The first voice recognizer converts the voice information into first information. The second voice recognizer converts the voice information into second information. The sorter sorts third information and fourth information from the second information. The storage device stores the first information, the third information, and the fourth information. The processor performs processing based on the first information, the third information, and the fourth information. If there are one or two pieces of missing information in the first information, the third information, and the fourth information, the processor complements the missing information by using information stored in the storage device and performs processing. |
| US09905223B2 |
System and method for using semantic and syntactic graphs for utterance classification
Disclosed herein is a system, method and computer readable medium storing instructions related to semantic and syntactic information in a language understanding system. The method embodiment of the invention is a method for classifying utterances during a natural language dialog between a human and a computing device. The method comprises receiving a user utterance; generating a semantic and syntactic graph associated with the received utterance, extracting all n-grams as features from the generated semantic and syntactic graph and classifying the utterance. Classifying the utterance may be performed any number of ways such as using the extracted n-grams, a syntactic and semantic graphs or writing rules. |
| US09905217B2 |
Active cancellation of noise in temporal bone
A noise-canceling device includes a processing circuit configured to detect vibrational noise sound waves near a listener's ear using a vibration sensor, generate a vibrational noise-canceling signal, and control operation of a speaker to provide a desired sound signal and the vibrational noise-canceling signal to at least partially cancel the vibrational noise sound waves. |
| US09905214B2 |
Extruded sonar chassis
An aluminum transducer chassis prepared by a process having the following steps: performing an extrusion using a die and an aluminum billet to create an extruded chassis, wherein the die has a cross sectional shape of the transducer chassis; and cutting the extruded chassis to a plurality of predetermined lengths, each length corresponding to the length of a transducer chassis. |
| US09905213B2 |
Solar guitar
A musical instrument, having; at least one solar panel which corresponds to the body of the musical instrument, where the at least one solar panel is outwardly facing the sun; a battery to store solar energy; a power control board; an amplifier; an interactive display for monitoring a plurality of levels corresponding to a variety of components of the musical instrument; a strap connected to the musical instrument; the strap has at least one solar panel; at least one speaker for emitting sound; a bridge; a port; a stand, where the stand has at least one solar panel; and a carrying case; where the carrying case has at least one solar panel. |
| US09905211B1 |
Guitar effector loop and multi-type guitar effector using the same
Provided is a guitar effector loop in which a plurality of foot switches (600) are installed in a body so that the plurality of foot switches (600) are connected to a guitar (a), an amplifier (b), and a plurality of compactors (500), and various combinations of the compactors (500) are obtained. In a state in which the No. 1 alternative switch (611) and the No. 2 alternative switch (612) are turned off, or the No. 2 alternative switch (612) is turned on, when the No. 1 alternative switch (611) is turned on, the compactor (500) set by the No. 1 alternative switch (611) is turned on, and the compactor (504) set by only the No. 2 alternative switch (612) is turned off. Thus, the number of combinations of the guitar effectors may increase without increasing the number of switches. |
| US09905210B2 |
Synthesized percussion pedal and docking station
An apparatus for facilitating control of midi-sequence generation is disclosed. The apparatus may include a midi-sequence module configured for generating midi-sequences. Further, the apparatus may also include a foot-operated switch configured to operate the midi-sequence module. Additionally, the apparatus may include a docking station configured to connect the apparatus to a mobile device. Accordingly, the midi-sequence module may be controlled through the mobile device. Further, in some embodiments the midi-sequence module may be included in the mobile device instead of the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus may include a switch port configured to electrically couple the foot-operated switch with the mobile device in order to control the midi-sequence module included in the mobile device. |
| US09905208B1 |
System and method for automatically forming a master digital audio track
A method for automatically forming a master digital audio track is disclosed. A processing device of a digital audio workstation (DAW) may receive a plurality of audio tracks. For each audio track of a plurality of audio tracks, the processing device may place one or more split points at one or more locations on the audio track to produce a plurality of segments that are free of sudden changes in one or more properties of a waveform corresponding to the track. For each audio track of a plurality of audio tracks, the processing device may score each segment of the plurality of segments according to at least one of how closely a pitch of the corresponding waveform is in tune and a degree to which the waveform in the segment surpasses a pre-determined threshold of volume. The processing device may align the plurality of segments of each track of the plurality of audio tracks according to corresponding split points across the plurality of audio tracks. The processing device may select one or more best scoring segments from the plurality of aligned segments to produce a suggested master digital audio track. The processing device may present the suggested master digital audio track in an editing window of a monitor associated with the DAW. |
| US09905207B2 |
Device and a system for producing musical data
The invention relates to a device for producing musical data, which includes a glove equipped with touch sensors and a terminal device. In the glove there are touch sensors in at least two rows the format of a selected musical scale, which touch sensors are arranged to be pushed with a finger of the other hand, connection means for connecting the touch sensors to a selected terminal device in order to produce musical data according to the format. The touch sensors are arranged in such a way that in an order from the index finger to the little finger, the tips of the fingers correspond to the consecutive notes of a first octave C, D, E, F, so that the semitone E-F is located between the ring finger and the little finger. |
| US09905204B2 |
Pivotal supporting structure for fallboard of keyboard musical instrument
First and second pivot sections pivotally support left and right end portions of a fallboard on left and right side boards of a keyboard musical instrument, respectively. At least one of the first and second pivot sections includes: a damper mechanism provided on one of the side board and an end portion of the fallboard and having a driven member to receive pivotal movement; and a driving member engageable with the driven member and operable in interlocked relation to the other thereof. The damper mechanism generates a load against pivotal force from the driven member. At least one of the first and second pivot sections includes: a pivoting member pivotally supported on one of the side board and the end portion of the fallboard; and a retainer fixed to the other thereof to position and retain the pivoting member at a predetermined position. |
| US09905201B2 |
Display control method and device for application program interface
A display control method for an application program interface is provided. The method includes: determining an appropriate resolution corresponding to the application program to be executed from at least two selectable resolutions; determining configuration information according to the appropriate resolution; establishing a display window having a size equal to a size corresponding to the appropriate resolution according to the configuration information, and loading a resource file corresponding to the application program interface; and rendering the application program interface in the display window on the a display device according to the appropriate resolution and the resource file. Through the above method, the present invention is capable of selecting an appropriate resolution for displaying an application program interface. |
| US09905198B2 |
Display panel, optical sensor, and measurement method
A display panel includes a first substrate, a shading module, a second substrate, optical sensors, and a parallel-to-serial converter. The shading module is disposed on the first substrate. The second substrate is disposed corresponding to the first substrate. The optical sensors are disposed on the second substrate, and are disposed corresponding to the shading module. The optical sensors are configured to output sensing signals according to an offset amount between the optical sensors and the shading module. One of the optical sensors includes a first switch and a second switch, in which the first switch and the second switch are coupled in cascade. The parallel-to-serial converter is configured to generate the serial signal according to the sensing signals. |
| US09905191B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device and a driving method therefor includes a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix form, a plurality of gate lines extending in a row direction and connected to the unit pixels, respectively, pluralities of first and second data lines extending in a column direction and connected to the unit pixels, respectively, a plurality of charge control lines extending in the row direction and connected to the unit pixels, respectively, a plurality of gate connection lines connected to at least two adjacent gate lines, respectively, and a plurality of charge connection lines connected to at least two adjacent charge control lines, respectively. |
| US09905188B2 |
Gate driving circuit and display device having the same
Provided is a gate driving circuit including driving stages which provide a plurality of pixels of a display panel with gate signals, wherein any one of the driving stages includes a thin film transistor including a first control electrode, an activation part overlapping the first control electrode, an input electrode overlapping the activation part, an output electrode overlapping the activation part, and a second electrode disposed on the first control electrode and the activation part; and a capacitor including a first electrode disposed on the layer on which the first control electrode is disposed, a second electrode, which overlaps at least a portion of the first electrode and is disposed on the layer on which the input electrode is disposed, and a third electrode which overlaps the first and second electrodes and is electrically connected to the first electrode. |
| US09905187B2 |
Method of driving display panel and display apparatus for performing the same
A method of driving a display panel comprises applying a first set of pixel voltages including a positive pixel voltage (+) and a negative pixel voltage (−) to subpixels of a display panel in an N-th frame, applying a second set of pixel voltages having polarities opposite to polarities of the first set of the pixel voltages to the subpixels of the display panel in an (N+1)-th frame and applying compensating values which are varied for respective data lines of the display panel. N is a natural number. A corresponding display panel is also disclosed. |
| US09905184B2 |
Display panel and display apparatus
Provided are a display panel and a display apparatus. The display panel includes a plurality of first and second signal lines intersecting with and insulated from each other, pixel units are defined at positions where the first and second signal lines intersect with each other, the first signal lines are open-ring signal lines, the plurality of first signal lines are arranged one by one from inside to outside and spaced apart from each other, and each of the first signal lines surrounds a preceding one of the first signal lines. The display panel further includes a driving unit provided in a region defined by any one of the first signal lines. The driving unit is connected to the second signal lines, and is connected to the first signal lines via the signal introducing lines, so as to provide driving signals to the first and second signal lines. |
| US09905183B2 |
Gate driver circuit and display device apply circuit thereof
The present disclosure provides a gate driver circuit, which cascades each even-numbered stage GOA circuit; corresponding to said odd-numbered stage GOA provides an odd-numbered stage scan signal, and odd-numbered stage startup signal, an odd-numbered stage timing signal; corresponding to said even-numbered stage GOA circuit provides an even-numbered stage scan signal, an even-numbered stage startup signal, an even-numbered stage timing signal; through controlling the potential of odd-numbered stage scan signal and even-numbered stage scan signal, coordinating with odd-numbered stage startup signal and even-numbered stage startup signal with different timing, it can control odd-numbered stage GOA circuit and even-numbered stage GOA circuit to respectively carry on forward scanning or reverse scanning. The present disclosure also provides a display device applying said gate driver circuit. |
| US09905180B2 |
Gate driving circuit and display module
A gate driving circuit for providing a scan signal to a LCD panel is disclosed. The gate driving circuit includes at least one positive level shifter, at least one negative level shifter, a pair of P-type transistor and an N-type transistor. The positive level shifter is utilized for shifting up agate control signal to generate a positive control signal. The negative level shifter is utilized for shifting down the gate control signal to generate a negative control signal. The pair of transistors is utilized for outputting a positive power voltage or a negative power voltage as the scan signal according to the positive control signal and the negative control signal. The positive power voltage minus the positive control signal is less than six volts. The negative control signal minus the negative power voltage is less than six volts. |
| US09905177B2 |
Pixel structure, array substrate, display panel and display device
A pixel structure, an array substrate, a display panel and a display apparatus are disclosed. The pixel structure includes: a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode which are arranged along a first direction, and a TFT between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode. The first pixel electrode includes a first extension electrode extending toward the second pixel electrode, and the second pixel electrode includes a second extension electrode extending toward the first pixel electrode; the TFT includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, a first drain electrode and a second drain electrode which are insulated from each other; the source electrode includes a first opening and a second opening, the first drain electrode is connected with the first extension electrode and extends into the first opening, and the second drain electrode is connected with the second extension electrode and extends into the second opening. |
| US09905176B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a display panel including a plurality of pixels and a plurality of dots having a pixel set including n pixels of the plurality of pixels as a unit; a signal controller configured to receive input image signals for the pixels and process the input image signals to generate output image signals; and a data driver configured to convert the output image signals into data voltages and apply the data voltages to the display panel, wherein the data driver is configured to apply data voltages having different polarities to a first dot and a second dot of the plurality of dots, the second dot being positioned in a row that is the same as a row in which the first dot is positioned to neighbor the first dot. |
| US09905172B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and related alignment method
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel, a multiplexer, an alignment circuit and a short bar circuit. The multiplexer is configured to provide a plurality of output data signals according to a plurality of switch control signals and an input data signal. During the alignment period, the alignment circuit is configured to provide a curing voltage to the display panel, and the short bar circuit is configured to couple the multiplexer to a predetermined voltage. |
| US09905171B2 |
Display, display drive circuit, display drive method, and electronic apparatus
Correction processing is provided for a display having pixel circuits respectively including a display element and a drive transistor that is configured to provide a drive current to the display element according to a luminance information value. A control transistor is disposed on a current path that provides the drive current to a unit pixel group that includes two or more of the pixel circuits, and a correction processing section is configured to obtain a correction factor that is a function of the luminance information values respectively corresponding to each of the pixel circuits in the unit pixel group, and to perform a correction of the luminance information value for at least one of the pixel circuits in the unit pixel group based on the correction factor. |
| US09905170B2 |
Control of LED array in a liquid crystal display assembly
A display assembly includes a display unit having a liquid crystal layer and an LED array configured to illuminate the liquid crystal layer. A driver circuit is operatively connected to the LED array and configured to control a luminance of the LED array. A control module is operatively connected to the display unit and includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for controlling the LED array in the display unit. The control module is programmed to obtain a junction temperature (TJ) of the LED array, via the driver circuit. The junction temperature (TJ) is based at least partially on a first voltage (V1), a second voltage (V2) and a predetermined coefficient (Tcoefficient). The control module may be programmed to enter one of a plurality of stages based at least partially on the junction temperature (TJ). |
| US09905168B1 |
Luminance-based non-uniformity correction for display panels in head-mounted displays
A method for correcting non-uniformities of one or more display panels of a HMD (e.g., a VR headset or an AR headset) is disclosed, where the method is based on a luminance level of content being displayed. The method includes obtaining the calibration data for correcting non-uniformity of a display panel of the HMD at various brightness levels and storing the data. In response to receiving a request for providing content to be presented on the HMD, the host applies the calibration data based on a luminance level of content being rendered to correct for any non-uniformities of the one or more display panels while rendering the content for display. |
| US09905165B2 |
Display device
A display device comprises a display panel including a plurality of active pixels and a plurality of dummy pixels adjacent to the plurality of active pixels and a control unit controlling a pixel driving circuit formed in each of the active pixels and a dummy driving circuit formed in each of the dummy pixels. The dummy driving circuit includes a dummy driving transistor, an A dummy transistor, and a B dummy transistor, and a control terminal of the A dummy transistor is connected to a control terminal of the dummy driving transistor, and an input terminal of the A dummy transistor is connected to an output terminal of the B dummy transistor, and an output terminal of the A dummy transistor is connected to an output terminal of the dummy driving transistor. |
| US09905164B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device for pixel current sensing in the sensing mode and pixel current sensing method thereof
An Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display device can include a display panel, a pixel circuit, and a data line and a power line connected in parallel and to the pixel circuit; a data driver for supplying a data voltage to the data line in display and sensing modes; and a sensing unit for supplying a high-potential voltage to the power line to drive the pixel circuit, cutting off supplying the high-potential voltage to the power line in a sensing duration of the sensing mode, sensing a voltage corresponding to a pixel current of the pixel circuit using the power line. A capacitor can be connected in parallel with the power line is charged according to the pixel current flowing through the power line, and the sensing unit senses the sensing voltage on the power line by sampling and holding the charged voltage in the capacitor. |
| US09905163B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of driving the same
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: a pixel coupled to a scan line, a data line, a control line, and a power line, the pixel comprising an organic light-emitting diode configured to emit light in response to a data voltage; and a power supply unit configured to apply power source voltages of different levels during one frame period, wherein the pixel is configured to increase an anode voltage of the organic light-emitting diode in a scan period when the data voltage is inputted. |
| US09905161B2 |
Emission driver and organic light emitting display device having the same
An organic light emitting display device includes a display panel including a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of emission lines, and a plurality of pixels, a scan driver configured to provide a scan signal to the pixels via the scan lines, a data driver configured to provide a data signal to the pixels via the data lines, an emission driver including a plurality of emission stages for providing an emission signal to the pixels via the emission lines, and a controller configured to control the scan driver, the data driver, and the emission driver, wherein each of the emission stages includes a plurality of sub-stages dependently connected to each other, and wherein one of the sub-stages is configured to output the emission signal to one of the emission lines. |
| US09905155B2 |
Gate driver circuit, its driving method, array substrate and display device
The present disclosure provides a gate driver circuit including at least one set of clock signal lines and multiple levels of shift registers arranged in a cascaded manner. Each set of the clock signal lines includes two clock signal lines. The multiple levels of shift registers is divided into at least one set, and each set of the clock signal lines corresponds to a set of the shift registers. One clock signal line in each set of the clock signal lines is connected to a resetting signal input end of a last-level shift register in the set of the shift registers corresponding to the set of the clock signal lines. The present disclosure further provides an array substrate, a display device and a method for driving the gate driver circuit. |
| US09905150B2 |
Display apparatus and control method of display apparatus
During displaying a moving image on a liquid crystal panel, when the brightness of the pixel in an image to be displayed is a prescribed setting value or more, the display apparatus performs the overdrive control for changing the brightness of the pixel from the brightness in one previous image to a middle value between the brightness in the one previous image and the brightness to be displayed, and then changing to the brightness to be displayed. The setting value is, for example, a maximum value of a displayable brightness or a value near the maximum value. If the brightness of the pixel in the one previous image is a first threshold value or less, the display apparatus performs the same overdrive control. Even when the brightness of the pixel in the one previous image is misidentified as other values of the first threshold value or less with a minimum displayable value, the same overdrive control as the case in which the brightness of the one previous image is the minimum value is performed. |
| US09905149B2 |
Driving circuit, driving method, and display device
Embodiments of the present application disclose a driving circuit, a driving method, and a display device, and pertain to the field of display. The driving circuit comprises: a gate driving unit for sequentially inputting a gate voltage to gates of pixel cells in each row on a display panel, the display panel being divided into a plurality of regions along a gate scanning direction, each region including at least one row of pixel cells controlled by a gate line; and a control unit for controlling the gate driving unit to input different gate voltages to gates in at least two different regions, and to input the same gate voltage to gates in the same region. |
| US09905147B2 |
Display device
A display device is provided. The display device comprises a display comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a display plane. The display device is configured to determine a virtual plane at which a long-sighted user of the display device who is looking at the display sees sharp. Further, the display device is configured to determine a first contiguous group of pixels of the display which are located within a first optical path from a first virtual pixel of the virtual plane to an eye of the long-sighted user, and to determine a second contiguous group of pixels of the display which are located within a second optical path from a second virtual pixel of the virtual plane to the eye of the long-sighted user. |
| US09905141B2 |
Image output apparatus and computer-readable recording medium
An image output apparatus is disclosed that is capable of switching between a normal status and a low power status in which consumption power is lower than that in the normal status. The image output apparatus includes an interface for acquiring an image signal; a signal detector configured to detect a signal at the interface; and a switching controller configured to switch a status from the low power status to the normal status based on a detection result of the signal in the low power status. |
| US09905139B2 |
Creased adhesive in-store marketing signage
An in-store adhesive marketing signage method that allows semi-rigid and rigid store signage cards to conform to store shelves includes placing a crease/score on the cards above a bump on a label holder. The crease/score then relieves force on the cards and thereby eliminates the initiation of peeling away from the label holder. |
| US09905136B2 |
Role based history in a modular learning system
A modular learning system provides user histories to a viewing user. The modular learning system maintains a database of activity items associated with a set of user roles allowed to view and interact with the activity items. The activity items are generated as users perform actions on the modular learning system. The modular learning system receives a request for a user history from a viewing user. The modular learning system verifies a viewing user's role and identified activity items that are accessible to the viewing user based on the viewing user role. The identified activity items are used to generate histories that are provided to the viewing user. |
| US09905133B1 |
Controlling autonomous vehicles to provide automated emergency response functions
Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling autonomous vehicles to provide automated emergency response functions. A computing platform may receive vehicle data associated with a vehicle from an on-board vehicle monitoring system associated with the vehicle. Subsequently, the computing platform may detect an occurrence of an emergency at a location. Thereafter, the computing platform may select an autonomous vehicle to respond to the emergency at the location based on autonomous vehicle state information. Then, the computing platform may generate one or more dispatch commands directing the autonomous vehicle to move to the location and execute one or more emergency response functions. Subsequently, the computing platform may send, to an on-board autonomous vehicle control system associated with the autonomous vehicle, the one or more dispatch commands directing the autonomous vehicle to move to the location and execute the one or more emergency response functions. |
| US09905130B2 |
Method and system for identifying a parking space
A computer-implemented method, a computer-implemented process, and a system for identifying a parking space may provide a computer application to allow communication between an arriving user and exiting user. An arrival time that may correspond to the arriving user and exit time that may correspond to the exiting user may be matched to identify a parking space in an authorized location common to the arriving user and the exiting user. The arriving user may be provided a trade identification that may include information that may describe an exiting vehicle. The exiting user may remove the exiting vehicle from the parking space, and an arriving user may park an arriving vehicle in the parking space. |
| US09905126B2 |
Home environment management method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations for a system to manage a home environment. In one instance, an apparatus for managing a home environment may be configured to detect variations in parameters of signals provided by RFID tags disposed in the home environment to monitor the home environment. The apparatus may identify one or more conditions of an area of the home environment in which the RFID tags are disposed, based at least in part on the variations in the one or more parameters and respective locations of the RFID tags in the area of the home environment. The apparatus may select one or more actions, from a plurality of actions associated with the home environment, based at least in part on the identified conditions. The selected actions may be performed to respond to the identified conditions. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09905125B2 |
Remote control with microphone used for pairing the remote control to a system and method of using the same
According to the principles as disclosed herein, a remote control contains a microphone. The microphone inside the remote control picks up the audio content of all surrounding sound in the room in which is it located. Specifically, if a program is being presented for viewing and listening on a particular A/V system, a remote control with a microphone will hear the program which is being presented at the same time that the system is sending the signal to its own speakers. The A/V system then receives a signal from the remote control providing the audio signal that that remote control has received. If the audio signal which the remote control has received matches the audio signal which the A/V system output to its speakers to broadcast into the room, then the A/V system will switch to be able to receive input from that particular remote control. |
| US09905123B2 |
System and method for distinguishing leaks from a disengaged canister condition in a reduced pressure treatment system
A method of distinguishing leak detection and canister disengagement in a reduced pressure treatment system includes monitoring an actual power level and a source pressure of a reduced pressure pump. The actual power level is compared to a target power level, and the source pressure is compared to a first alarm pressure and a second alarm pressure. A leak alarm is indicated when the actual power level is greater than the target power level and the source pressure is greater than the first alarm pressure. A canister disengaged alarm is indicated when the actual power level is greater than the target power level and the source pressure is less than the second alarm pressure. |
| US09905120B1 |
Alarm initiation when sensor is intentionally jammed
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for alarm initiation when a sensor is intentionally jammed. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a connected home system can include a controller device and a sensor device. The sensor device can include a processor and memory. The memory can store sensor instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the sensor device to perform sensor operations. In particular, the sensor device can detect a jamming signal originating, for example, from a jamming device that is intentionally attempting to jam operations of the sensor device. The sensor device can determine whether the jamming signal is above a jamming alarm threshold. If the sensor device determines that the jamming signal is above the jamming alarm threshold, the sensor device can generate a jamming alarm event that is directed to the controller device. The sensor device can send the jamming alarm event to the controller device. |
| US09905119B2 |
Fire alarm system
A fire alarm control and monitoring system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the fire alarm and control system may include a plurality of fire alarm control panels connected together through a communication network. In some embodiments, the fire alarm control panels may communicate using a token passing protocol yet be arranged in a tree network topology. |
| US09905106B2 |
Ergonomics awareness chairs, systems, and methods
Ergonomics awareness chairs, systems, and methods are disclosed. Methods include reading sensor values from sensors in an ergonomics awareness chair, calculating a posture type based on the sensor values, determining a time the user has been continuously sitting properly, and, if the time is greater than a predetermined threshold time, alerting the user to take a break. Systems include a user-interface computer and an ergonomics awareness chair with a controller. The ergonomics awareness chair includes a shoulder sensor, a lumbar sensor, a buttocks sensor, a thigh sensor, and an armrest sensor in each of the armrests. The controller is configured to acquire sensor values from the sensors. The user-interface computer is programmed to determine at least two types of postures based on the sensor values. The types of postures may include sitting properly and sitting improperly (e.g., slouching, hunching, straining shoulders, leaning, sitting on edge, and crossing legs). |
| US09905100B2 |
Remote initiation of interaction by a computing entity
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for interactive deliveries are provided. For an upcoming service point that is associated with a service point device, it is determined whether the item to be delivered to the service point is within an activation zone for activating the service point device. Responsive to determining that the item is within the activation zone, the service point device is remotely activated. Remotely activating the service point device triggers dynamical provision of an alert interface. An indication of user interaction via the user interface indicating availability of the user to receive the item is received. A notification of the indication of the user interaction is provided. If the notification indicates that the individual is available to receive the item at the service point, the item is delivered to or picked-up from the service point. |
| US09905099B2 |
Magnetic field sensor for use in a security alarm system
A proximity sensor comprises a magnet which generates a magnetic field and a magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor includes a radio and an antenna which can transmit an output signal on a plurality of output frequencies. A microprocessor is programmed with a plurality of data protocols. Each of the output frequencies operates on at least one of the data protocols. There is a dip switch which is actuated to provide a code to the microprocessor. A data protocol is implemented by the microprocessor based on the code. There is a MEMS oscillator programmed to a discrete frequency based on the data protocol implemented by the microprocessor. The MEMS oscillator provides the discrete frequency to the radio. The radio is provided with single phase-locked loop which generates the output signal based on the discrete frequency. The single phase-locked loop may be a ×32 multiplier. |
| US09905098B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for security services
Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Sensor data is received from an alarm sensor, and an alarm controller determines an alarm condition. Video data associated with the alarm sensor is retrieved. An alarm message may be sent over a wireless network connection, while the video data may be sent over a wireline broadband connection. |
| US09905096B2 |
Apparatus and method of monitoring moving objects
In a monitoring apparatus, a monitoring area is scanned by an area sensor device to detect objects. Moving objects are identified among the detected objects, and, among the identified moving objects, a moving object which is the closest to a priority monitoring object which is preset in the monitoring area is set as a tracking target. The object which is set to be tracked is automatically tracked by a camera device. As a result, even if there are present a plurality of moving objects in the monitoring area, tracking targets are switched from one to another, so that it is possible to set a moving object desired by an observer. |
| US09905095B2 |
Method and system for movement detection and service server
A method for moving detection includes: a service server acquiring a first surveillance image captured by a camera at a preset first moment, and calculating a first moving angle of a pan-tilt; acquiring a second surveillance image captured by the camera at a preset second moment, and calculating a second moving angle of the pan-tilt; and determining by comparison whether common images in the first surveillance image and the second surveillance image are consistent according to the first moving angle and the second moving angle; if inconsistent, triggering a moving detection alarm. The embodiments of the present document also disclose a corresponding system and a service server. The disclosed solution of the embodiments of the present document is applied to implement moving detection when a camera is in moving state, ensures the accuracy of moving detection alarm in a great extent. |
| US09905092B2 |
Bipolar lightning protection apparatus having light emitting unit
The present invention relates to a bipolar lightning protection apparatus having a light emitting unit, and in the bipolar lightning protection apparatus configured of a rod member charged with ground charges and a charging plate or a charging tube charged by a thundercloud, the bipolar lightning protection apparatus includes a light emitting unit electrically connected between the rod member and the charging plate or the charging tube and emitting light by electrical energy charged in the charging plate or the charging tube by the thundercloud.Accordingly, a psychological sense of safety can be given to a user by allowing the user to clearly confirm with naked eyes that a normal operation of safely flowing impulse current of lightning to the earth is performed. |
| US09905090B2 |
Automatic fitting of haptic effects
A system is provided that automatically generates one or more haptic effects from source data, such as audio source data. The system fits the one or more haptic effects to the source data by analyzing the source data and identifying one or more haptic effects that are the most similar to the source data. The system matches the identified one or more haptic effects with the source data. The system subsequently outputs the identified one or more haptic effects. |
| US09905086B1 |
Monitoring cash supply-related information and managing refill of a cash supply
A device may determine that a cash supply associated with an automated teller machine (ATM) device needs to be refilled. The device may provide, to user devices, a notification requesting cash to refill the cash supply. The device may receive, from each of one or more user devices of the user devices, a response to the notification. The response, from a user device of the one or more user devices, may include information identifying a capability of an individual, associated with the user device, to: provide an amount of cash to refill the cash supply, provide the cash during a time period, or provide particular denominations of cash. The device may select at least one individual to refill the cash supply with the cash. The device may provide another notification related to refilling the cash supply to notify whether the individual has been selected to refill the cash supply. |
| US09905084B2 |
Automated transaction machine with articulated note acceptor-presenter
An automated transaction machine has a customer interface for operation of the machine and an opening in the customer interface through which notes may be deposited into or withdrawn from the machine via an articulated note acceptor-presenter located in an upper unit of the machine and operative to extend at least partially through the opening in the customer interface. |
| US09905081B2 |
Gaming system, gaming device and method for displaying multiple concurrent games using dynamic focal points
The gaming system disclosed herein changes the focal point of a display device at different points in time to assist the player in focusing on different simultaneously or concurrently played games at different points in time. Specifically, the gaming system displays a plurality of simultaneously or concurrently played games on a display device. In response to a designated event occurring in association with a specific one of the plurality of simultaneously or concurrently played games, the gaming system changes the focal point of the display device to draw the player's focus or attention to that specific one of the simultaneously or concurrently played games. Put differently, the gaming system dynamically allocates and/or indicates different portions of a display device to different simultaneously or concurrently played games at different points in time to account for different events occurring in such simultaneously or concurrently played games. |
| US09905079B2 |
Systems for showing movement of icons along a path
Provided systems include a display that presents a player with icons. The display is animated to show movement of the icons along a path. The icons move in and out of active and inactive regions on the display and the path, based on the shape and arrangement of the active and inactive regions and the shape and arrangement of the active and inactive portions of the path. The outcome is determined based on the position and arrangement of the icons on the display and the path. The system receives player instructions and game outcomes may be random or may be predetermined. An outcome for the game may be determined from a set of potential game outcomes and visually presented to the player and an associated award or prize may be provided to the player. |
| US09905075B2 |
Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices. |
| US09905073B2 |
Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with shifting symbols between multiple symbol display position matrices
A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices or grids. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions, wherein at least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions associated with a plurality of different symbol display positions of a plurality of the symbol display position matrices. |
| US09905072B2 |
Vending devices having ad-watching as consideration
Systems and methods for vending devices having ad-watching as consideration are described. In some implementations, a vending apparatus includes a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product (e.g. electricity) to a user; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content (e.g. an advertisement) to the user; and a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion. The control system receives a signal indicative of a consent by the user to receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product, and after receipt of the signal, causes the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and causes the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user. In further implementations, the apparatus may include a monitoring system operable to determine whether the user is receiving or reviewing the communicable content. |
| US09905071B2 |
Paper currency handling device
In order to improve the ability to feed paper currency from a deposit unit and to reduce the height of the device, this paper currency handling device (100) has a paper currency recognition unit (170) and a paper currency storage unit (200) (which does not include a deposit unit (120) and a withdrawal unit (140)) accommodated within a chassis section (112) of a vault (110), so that deposited paper currency is transported to the paper currency storage unit (200) and withdrawn paper currency is transported from the paper currency storage unit (200) as the paper currency passes through the chassis section (112). When the paper currency (B) is fed to a feed path unit (124) connecting the deposit unit (120) and an upstream deposit path (181), the vanes (129) of impellers (128) make contact with the paper currency (B) retained in the deposit unit (120), with the contact being on the feed path unit (124) side. |
| US09905070B2 |
Method for providing measurement data to an apparatus for processing valuable documents and valuable document processing apparatus
A method for supplying measuring data of a value-document processing apparatus for processing value documents of stipulated different processing types, has a sensor device, a control device, and a display device. Data sets are read, which respectively contain, for at least two of the processing types, processing-type data by means of which the processing types can be distinguished and the number of the value documents of the respective processing type that are to be fed to the value-document processing apparatus, and display data for actuating the display device are so established from the data sets that, upon actuation with the display data, the display device displays the processing types and the numbers of the value documents. The display device is actuated with the display data, and measuring data are respectively captured by means of the sensor device in accordance with the displayed processing types. |
| US09905068B2 |
Key fob with foam lock status indicator
A lock button status indicator member for use with a key fob having a depressable lock button for remotely activating a locking mechanism communicating with a door. The lock button status indicator member is formed of a viscoelastic polyurethane foam having a slow recovery time. The lock button status indicator member has a base configured to abut the upper surface of the lock button. An adherent, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, is located on the lower surface of the base of the lock button status indicator member, and is adapted to adhere the lower surface of the base to the upper surface of the lock button. |
| US09905066B2 |
Key device and associated method, computer program and computer program product
It is presented a key device comprising: a mechanical interface for mechanically maneuvering a lock device upon successful access control. The mechanical interface comprises a connector for powering the lock device and for communication with the lock device such that the lock device is able to perform electronic access control using the key device. The key device further comprises a clock; a memory; a radio communication module; and a controller arranged to, using the radio communication module communicate online with an access control device and use the memory as temporary storage for offline communication between the access control device and one or more lock devices. A corresponding method, computer program and computer program product are also presented. |
| US09905061B2 |
Vehicle state monitoring system, and portable terminal device
In a monitoring system, when a warning lamp lights up or blinks, a DA device transmits failure data corresponding to the lighting or blinking to a portable terminal. The portable terminal, when the received failure data indicates renewed lighting or blinking, creates a message corresponding to the failure data and causes a display unit of the DA device to display the message, while transmitting the failure data to a server. Upon termination of reception of the failure data, the portable terminal transmits all of the failure data to the server. |
| US09905058B2 |
Workshop diagnostic system
A method for supporting the troubleshooting on a technical object, in particular on a motor vehicle, includes receiving first diagnostic data from at least one object control device and transmitting the data to a diagnostic server; forming, from particular transmitted first diagnostic data, at least one set of first diagnostic data and assigning at least one first diagnostic result to the set of first diagnostic data; storing the first diagnostic data sets generated in the course of successive diagnoses in a first database; comparing the diagnostic data and/or the diagnostic result of each diagnostic data set of the first diagnostic data sets with the diagnostic data and/or the diagnostic result of predefined second diagnostic data sets, which are stored in a second database and each of which contains a set of second diagnostic data and a second diagnostic result assigned to the set of second diagnostic data. |
| US09905057B2 |
Driving behavior monitoring system
A driving behavior monitoring system (11) comprising an on-board diagnostics module (3) adapted to be mounted in a vehicle, the on-board diagnostics module comprising a vehicle usage monitor operative to monitor usage of the vehicle and to generate vehicle usage data based on at least one usage characteristic of the vehicle, the system further comprising a controller (5) and a driving behavior scoring server (9) arranged to be in real-time communication with the controller via a telecommunications network, the on-board diagnostics module further comprising a transceiver operative to transmit the vehicle usage data to the server via the controller, the server comprising a database (12) on which vehicle usage data is stored, the server further comprising a data processor controlled by an algorithm such that the server is operative to generate an alert signal by processing the vehicle usage data generated by the on-board diagnostics module, the alert signal being indicative of a driving behavior score, and wherein the server is operative to transmit the alert signal from the server to the controller for review by the driver. |
| US09905053B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and computer program product
An information processing device includes: circuitry configured to: obtain a captured image including position identification information identifying a position at which a virtual abject representing a target to be placed is to be displayed; generate a composite image in which the virtual object is combined at a position on the captured image, the position identified by the position identification information; receive an operation causing the virtual object included in the composite image, to operate; and control display depicting operation of the virtual object based on display setting information including specification information defining specifications of the target to be placed, in response to the operation receiving unit receiving the operation causing the virtual object to operate. |
| US09905052B2 |
System and method for controlling immersiveness of head-worn displays
Systems and methods are provided for controlling immersiveness of head-worn displays. A virtual-reality headset includes at least one panel on the virtual reality headset that is capable of being adjusted to increase or decrease opacity of the panel. A control device in communication with the at least one panel is capable of adjusting the opacity of the at least one panel in response to a command to increase or decrease the opacity of the panel so that a system user's immersiveness in the virtual world displayed by the virtual-reality headset is capable of being automatically controlled while the system user wears the virtual-reality headset. |
| US09905050B2 |
Method of processing image and electronic device thereof
A method of operating an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a movement of the electronic device, and changing a scale of a displayed image based on the movement. |
| US09905048B2 |
System for authoring and providing augmented reality contents
Disclosed is a system for authoring and providing augmented reality contents, which includes a database storing a plurality of place models expressing an inherent physical place, a positioning unit for determining a current position of a user, a place model processing unit for searching and loading a place model corresponding to the current position of the user from the database, and a virtual object processing unit for disposing a virtual object expressed through a HTML document at a predetermined location in the loaded place model, wherein the plurality of place models is hierarchically stored so that at least one place model has at least one another place model of a subordinate concept. |
| US09905047B2 |
Method and systems for generating a three dimensional model of a subject by iteratively generating meshes
In one embodiment a method of generating a three dimensional model of a subject is disclosed. The method comprises receiving point cloud data for a subject; receiving user inputs indicating a plurality of cubes, and a grouping of the cubes into a plurality of blocks to form a representation of a class of subjects; generating a first mesh comprising a plurality of quadrilaterals by subdividing patches corresponding to faces of blocks of the plurality of blocks; fitting the first mesh to the point cloud data to generate a fitted mesh; iteratively generating further meshes, each comprising a plurality of quadrilaterals by subdividing patches of the fitted mesh from the previous iteration and fitting the further mesh to the point cloud data; and outputting as the three dimensional model of the subject the iteratively generated fitted mesh. |
| US09905045B1 |
Statistical hair scattering model
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for rendering images of hair using a statistical light scattering model for hair that approximates ground truth physical models. The model is significantly faster than other implementations of the Marschner hair model. The statistical light scattering model includes all the features of Marschner such as eccentricity for elliptical cross-sections, and extends them by adding azimuthal roughness control, consideration of natural fiber torsion, and full energy preserving. Adaptive Importance Sampling (AIS) is specialized to fit easily sampled distributions to bidirectional curve scattering density functions (BCSDFs) of the model. |
| US09905042B2 |
Method and visualization apparatus for the volumetric visualization of a three-dimensional object
A three-dimensional object is provided within a light probe, at least one intensive light source of the light probe is detected and selected. Furthermore, a multiplicity of rays are simulated for a respective visualization pixel. For a respective ray entering into an object volume, i) a scattering position is determined, ii) a scattering direction is selected, with a decision being made depending on a first random process as to whether the ray is scattered in the direction of the intensive light source or in a scattering direction to be selected depending on a second random process, and iii) the ray is scattered in the selected scattering direction. Steps i) to iii) are repeated until the ray is absorbed in the object volume or emerges from the object volume and impinges on the light probe. |
| US09905041B2 |
Depth of field synthesis using ray tracing approximation
Techniques are disclosed for synthesizing depth of field effects in a digital image using ray tracing approximation. For each target pixel in the image, an aperture-shaped kernel is centered about a reference pixel. A cone of rays is traced through the aperture toward the image scene. The trajectory of the rays and the intersections between the rays and objects in the scene are approximated for a given scene depth, focal depth and aperture shape. The color of the pixel lying at the intersection, which may be offset from the target pixel, is sampled. This sampling process is repeated for several apertures bounding the target pixel, where each aperture is centered about a different reference pixel. The resulting color of the target pixel is acquired by integrating the colors of the pixels at each of the resulting intersections. |
| US09905038B2 |
Customizable state machine for visual effect insertion
A computing system, driver and method for inserting an extra visual effect into a rendering pipeline of an application are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: 1) loading into a driver a state machine that is customized for a particular application being rendered at a rendering pipeline; 2) identifying a point in the rendering pipeline to insert an extra visual effect using the state machine; and 3) inserting the extra visual effect into the rendering pipeline at the point. |
| US09905036B2 |
Graphics processing unit for adjusting level-of-detail, method of operating the same, and devices including the same
A graphics processing unit includes a shader configured to perform one operation among tessellation and texturing. The shader generates level-of-detail (LOD) using geometry information for the tessellation or texturing and adjusts the LOD using non-geometry information for the tessellation or texturing. |
| US09905035B2 |
Automated video looping with progressive dynamism
Various technologies described herein pertain to generating a video loop. An input video can be received, where the input video includes values at pixels over a time range. An optimization can be performed to determine a respective input time interval within the time range of the input video for each pixel from the pixels in the input video. The respective input time interval for a particular pixel can include a per-pixel loop period and a per-pixel start time of a loop at the particular pixel within the time range from the input video. Moreover, an output video can be created based upon the values at the pixels over the respective input time intervals for the pixels in the input video. |
| US09905020B2 |
Method and circuitry for performing census transforms
Methods of stitching data generated by a plurality of census transforms are disclosed. The methods include performing a plurality of census transforms on an array of pixels in a first direction. First and second code words of the census transform results are stored in arrays. The arrays are transposed and interleaved. The first and second code words are stitched by reading a vertical column of the array of interleaved code words. |
| US09905014B2 |
Method and system for the examination of a sample by means of thermography
The invention provides a method for a non-destructive, non-contacting and image forming examination of a sample by means of heat flow thermography. The method comprises exciting the sample at least twice independently from each other by means of the heat pulses from the excitation source; taking a first thermal image of the surface of the sample at a first time distance Δt1 from a first triggering of the heat pulse which first time distance Δt1 is characteristic for gradients in heat flow velocity in a first depth below the surface of the sample; taking a second thermal image of the surface of the sample at a 1 second time distance Δt2 from a second triggering of the heat pulse which second time distance Δt2 is characteristic for gradients in heat flow velocity in a second depth below the first depth; and taking any thermal images of the surface of the sample at a further time distances Δtn from any subsequent triggering of the heat pulse which further time distances Δtn are characteristic for gradients in heat flow velocity in further depths lying deeper as the second depth; and extracting from the thermal images an indication of the presence of any gradients of heat flow velocity at the respective depth distances from a surface of the sample. The system is configured to carry out the above method. |
| US09905013B2 |
Speed calculating device and speed calculating method, and collision determination device
A speed calculating device calculates the speed of an object around a moving body and includes: an image detection unit that captures an image of the surroundings of the moving body and detects the object from the captured image; and a speed calculation unit that calculates the speed of the object, using a moving body speed indicating the speed of the moving body and an image speed, which indicates the speed of the object and is calculated from the image, at a ratio corresponding to a distance from the moving body to the object. The speed calculation unit calculates the speed of the object using the moving body speed and the image speed such that the ratio of the moving body speed increases as the distance to the object increases and the ratio of the image speed increases as the distance to the object decreases. |
| US09905000B2 |
Method and system for surgical tool localization during anatomical surgery
Various aspects of a method and system to localize surgical tools during anatomical surgery are disclosed herein. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the method is implementable in an image-processing engine, which is communicatively coupled to an image-capturing device that captures one or more video frames. The method includes determination of one or more physical characteristics of one or more surgical tools present in the one or more video frames, based on one or more color and geometric constraints. Thereafter, two-dimensional (2D) masks of the one or more surgical tools are detected, based on the one or more physical characteristics of the one or more surgical tools. Further, poses of the one or more surgical tools are estimated, when the 2D masks of the one or more surgical tools are occluded at tips and/or ends of the one or more surgical tools. |
| US09904995B2 |
System and method for patch based inspection
An inspection system that may include a processor and a memory module; wherein the memory module is configured to store a first image of an area of an object and a second image of the area of the object; wherein the processor is configured to generate a synthetic image of the area of the object, and to compare the synthetic image to the second image to provide defect detection results. |
| US09904988B2 |
Image processing method and image processing program
In an image processing method, first, one point is designated on input image data as a start point of a retrieval line by external input. Subsequently, one point, which is different from the start point, is designated on the input image data as an endpoint of the retrieval line by the external input. Subsequently, a cumulative line profile of the retrieval line is prepared by calculating a cumulative sum of luminance values on the retrieval line. Subsequently, an edge position on the retrieval line is calculated based on the cumulative line profile of the retrieval line. |
| US09904976B2 |
High performance portable convulational neural network library on GP-GPUs
Systems and methods are disclosed for speeding up a computer having a graphics processing unit (GPU) and a general purpose processor (GP-GPU) by decoupling a convolution process for a first matrix into a row part and a column part; expanding the row part into a second matrix; performing matrix multiplication using the second matrix and a filter matrix; and performing reduction on an output matrix. |
| US09904975B2 |
Scaling for virtualized graphics processing
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for scaling for virtualized graphics processing are disclosed. A first virtual GPU is attached to a virtual compute instance of a provider network. The provider network comprises a plurality of computing devices configured to implement a plurality of virtual compute instances with multi-tenancy. The first virtual GPU is replaced by a second virtual GPU based at least in part on a change in GPU requirements for the virtual compute instance. The first and second virtual GPUs are implemented using physical GPU resources that are accessible to the virtual compute instance over a network. Processing for the virtual compute instance is migrated from the first virtual GPU to the second virtual GPU. An application is executed using the second virtual GPU on the virtual compute instance. |
| US09904970B2 |
Multi-thread graphics processing system
A graphics processing system comprises at least one memory device storing a plurality of pixel command threads and a plurality of vertex command threads. An arbiter coupled to the at least one memory device is provided that selects a pixel command thread from the plurality of pixel command threads and a vertex command thread from the plurality of vertex command threads. The arbiter further selects a command thread from the previously selected pixel command thread and the vertex command thread, which command thread is provided to a command processing engine capable of processing pixel command threads and vertex command threads. |
| US09904967B1 |
Automated secondary linking for fraud detection systems
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automated secondary linking for fraud detection systems. According to one embodiment, a system includes a parsing logic configured to receive an incoming fraud report based on a first fraud detection strategy. The parse logic is also configured to parse the incoming fraud report into fraud data. The system further includes a search logic configured to search a set of fraud reports to identify instances of the fraud data. The system also includes an alert logic configured to generate an alert in response to an instance of the fraud data being identified in the set of fraud reports. |
| US09904962B1 |
Distance-based social message pruning
Correspondences in a social networking system are analyzed to determine at least one topic. An activity stream with the at least one topic is analyzed. A target audience for the activity steam is identified. The activity stream is analyzed according to a uniqueness and a relationship criteria to form an assessment. The assessment is analyzed to a predetermined action criteria. Performing an action responsive to determining the assessment satisfies the predetermined action criteria. |
| US09904959B2 |
Descriptor exchange
The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for creating and managing a descriptor repository. In certain aspects, a method of the subject technology includes steps for receiving a descriptor label for a merchant, receiving a plurality of descriptor definitions for the descriptor label, and storing the plurality of descriptor definitions in a database. In certain aspects, a method of the subject technology can further include steps for receiving relevance indications for one or more of the descriptor definitions, and associating one or more of the descriptor definitions with the descriptor label based on the one or more relevance indications. |
| US09904956B2 |
Identifying payment card categories based on optical character recognition of images of the payment cards
A user captures an image of a payment card via a user computing device camera. An optical character recognition system receives the payment card image from the user computing device. The system performs optical character recognition and visual object recognition algorithms on the payment card image to extract text and visual objects from the payment card image, which are used by the system to identify a payment card type. The system may categorize the payment card as a credit card or a non-credit card. In an example embodiment, the system determines that the payment card type is a credit card and transmits fee structure to the user. The user selects a second payment card for use in the transaction and the transaction is processed using financial account information associated with the second payment card. |
| US09904951B2 |
Remote refill product ordering system and shopping cart processes
A shopping cart system and processes are disclosed which allow replenishment of small parts inventory without part numbers, scanners, bar codes, salesman, writing, written purchase orders, and put away without knowing what your are ordering or putting away as a “remote refill” process for mobile computing devices. In some embodiments, the shopping cart program is implemented as a web page shopping cart. In some embodiments, the shopping cart program is implemented as a coded messaging program comprising one of fax, SMS text messaging, and voice calls. |
| US09904946B2 |
Reverse showrooming and merchant-customer engagement system
Systems and methods for providing a merchant-customer engagement system include a physical merchant location in which a customer may be tracked to determine products within the physical merchant location that the customer is interested in. A merchant may use a wearable merchant device that is configured to identify the customer via a camera that captures an image of the customer, and that image may be used to retrieve customer account information for that customer. Using the customer account information and the products that the customer is showing interest in, the wearable merchant device may be used to display merchant-customer engagement information next to a view of the customer to allow the merchant to help the customer while utilizing a variety of displayed information about the customer including, for example, past purchases, products browsed in-store and previously browsed online, time spent in an area of the physical merchant location, etc. |
| US09904944B2 |
System and method for domain name query metrics
A system and method for providing users an assessment tool for determining the level of demand for domain names. The assessment tool is configured to receive, by a server communicatively coupled to a network, a request from a requester. The request is used to identify a domain name and determine whether the domain name is registered. When the domain name is not registered, a search metric for the domain name is determined and a first user interface listing the domain name and the search metric is displayed. The first user interface enables the requester to purchase the domain name. |
| US09904938B2 |
Methods and systems to determine consumer locations based on navigational voice cues
Methods and systems to determine consumer locations based on navigational voice cues are disclosed. An example method includes identifying, with a processor, a route point designated by a navigational voice cue output by a navigation system providing directions to an operator of a vehicle. The example method also includes determining, with the processor, at least one of a location or an anticipated location of an occupant of the vehicle based on the route point. |
| US09904935B2 |
System and method for instantaneous fingerprint recognition and analysis resulting in a targeted output
A fingerprint analysis device is presented including a chemical analysis mechanism for creating a chemical signature of a subject by identifying a select number of molecules or molecular compounds from an impression of a fingerprint of the subject to derive distinguishing characteristics therefrom and an output mechanism outputting one or more messages based on the chemical signature. |
| US09904925B2 |
Asset targeting system for limited resource environments
The present invention provides targeted asset system implementations in contexts where there is limited or no ability to use a real-time return channel for communications from user equipment devices (e.g., STB) to the network. In one arrangement, a household classifier is generated and delivered to user equipment devices. The household classifiers are generated based on third party data and/or network usage information associated with the household. The system and method allow for generating highly accurate household classifications that may be forwarded to individual households where the user equipment device may implant the classifiers to select appropriate assets for delivery to the household. |
| US09904920B1 |
Systems and methods for customer authentication and determination of relevant services
A computer-implemented method and system for authenticating identification of a customer during interaction with a company representative. Data is received and stored relating to the customer at a computer. The data includes one or more identification attributes associated with the customer and one or more authentication data attributes associated with the customer. An interaction is commenced between the customer and the company representative. Captured is one or more identification attributes and authentication data attributes relating to customer from the interaction between the customer and the company representative. The customer is identified by matching a captured identification attribute with a stored identification attribute. The customer is authenticated by matching a captured authentication data attribute with a like stored authentication data attribute associated with the identified customer. |
| US09904918B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method therefor
A mobile terminal and a control method therefor are disclosed. The mobile terminal and the control method therefor of the present invention can: broadcast, to at least one external electronic device, advertising data and a signal for requesting the activation of a second layer included in a communication unit of the at least one external electronic device through a first layer related to low-power near field communication technology; pair with a specific electronic device through a second layer related to specific near field communication technology distinguished from the low-power near field communication technology, if a response to the activation request is received from the specific electronic device among the at least one external electronic device; and transmit data to the paired specific electronic device. According to the present invention, pairing can be performed so as to form a communication channel using second near field communication technology by using first near field communication technology of low energy, when a specific event occurs. |
| US09904915B2 |
Virtualized ATM
A method and apparatus are disclosed for operating an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). The method includes the steps of receiving access to a virtualized operating system and ATM application at an ATM and performing a customer transaction at the ATM using the access to the virtualized operating system and ATM application. A recovery program may be provided to control the ATM if a communication link fails between the ATM and a server providing the access. |
| US09904911B2 |
Secondary market and vending system for devices
A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface. |
| US09904903B1 |
Drive-thru system implementing location tracking
Embodiments are disclosed to determine customer's prescription information and their position while waiting in a drive-thru lane. The drive-thru lane may have one or more transmitters installed at predetermined locations. By utilizing an application installed on each customer's mobile computing device, each mobile computing device may transmit customer information and ranging data when within range of one or more of the transmitters. The ranging data may include an indication of a range between each of the customer's mobile computing device and one or more proximate transmitters. By correlating the customer information to prescription information from recently filled and/or called in prescriptions, each customer's prescription order may be retrieved. Furthermore, by analyzing the ranging data, the position of each customer in the drive-thru lane may be determined. A drive-thru computing device is disclosed that may display each customer's position in the drive-thru lane along with their prescription order information. |
| US09904901B2 |
Delivery location determination
A method and system for determining a delivery location is provided. The method includes enabling a UAV delivery application specifying a delivery location for delivery of a package. A street address defining the delivery location is received and an eyewear based video device is enabled and directed towards a geographical area associated with the delivery of the package. GPS data associated with the geographical area is retrieved from the eyewear based video device and first GPS coordinates identifying a location of an embedded computing device are retrieved from a GPS system. A distance between the first GPS coordinates and the geographical area is calculated. Additionally, second GPS coordinates identifying the geographical area are calculated based on the GPS data, the distance, and the first GPS coordinates and it is determined if the second GPS coordinates are located within a specified perimeter surrounding the street address defining the delivery location. |
| US09904899B2 |
Systems and/or methods for reactive, distributable, and extensible process execution
Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for executing business processes in a distributed computer system (e.g., cloud-based) environment. A representation of the business process is decomposed into executable components. The executable components each have assigned thereto process and sequence identifiers, and each is classified as having an executable component types. The executable component types including integration, task, and data flow types. The integration flow type represents activities to be performed in connection with external computer systems, the task flow type represents human-interactive activities, and the data flow type represents activities to be performed on data relevant to the business process. The executable components are deployed to nodes in the distributed computing environment such that the executable components are performed in sequence identifier order using processing resources of the respective nodes to which they are deployed, except executable components with the same sequence identifiers are performed in parallel on different nodes. |
| US09904897B2 |
Generation of social business insights by fractal analysis
Generating a social business insight is provided. An analysis parameter is selected. The analysis parameter represents a characteristic of a plurality of entities. A first data stream is retrieved. The first data stream is associated with a first entity of the plurality of entities and includes data from at least a CRM platform, a media platform, or a company asset database. A second data stream is retrieved. The second data stream is associated with a second entity of the plurality if entities and includes data from the media platform. A fractal analysis is performed based on the first data stream, the second data stream, and the analysis parameter. A fractal map is generated, where the fractal map depicts a relationship between the first data stream and the second data stream. |
| US09904892B2 |
Multiple choice decision engine for an electronic personal assistant
To simplify assisting a user in their day-to-day activities, a communication for performing an action may be sent to a user in the form of a query, where the query includes the most likely set of choices for the action arranged in a group of dichotomous (e.g., yes/no) or multiple choice answers. In this manner, a user may respond to the query by simply selecting one of the dichotomous or multiple choice answers. Historical logs of past actions, responses, queries, and so forth, may be used to predict future user actions or needs, and to formulate future queries for sending to the user. These techniques may be implemented, for example, through a remote coordination server or directly through a user's personal electronics device. |
| US09904891B2 |
Multiple choice decision engine for an electronic personal assistant
To simplify assisting a user in their day-to-day activities, a communication for performing an action may be sent to a user in the form of a query, where the query includes the most likely set of choices for the action arranged in a group of dichotomous (e.g., yes/no) or multiple choice answers. In this manner, a user may respond to the query by simply selecting one of the dichotomous or multiple choice answers. Historical logs of past actions, responses, queries, and so forth, may be used to predict future user actions or needs, and to formulate future queries for sending to the user. These techniques may be implemented, for example, through a remote coordination server or directly through a user's personal electronics device. |
| US09904886B2 |
Method of identifying, locating, tracking, acquiring and selling tangible and intangible objects utilizing predictive transpose morphology
The present invention causes an active display or the adapter driving the display to emit RFID formatted QR code information (or bar code information) in sync with displayed QR or Bar codes to allow portable devices in reasonable proximity to acquire the QR code data without physical scanning, without taking a picture and without taking a video, allowing for a fully automated QR code acquisition system. |
| US09904884B2 |
Method and systems for detecting turbocharger imbalance with an RFID circuit
Various methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a rotating device. In one example, a system includes a rotating device and a RFID circuit coupled to the rotating device. The RFID circuit includes a RFID chip, an antenna, and a mechanical link designed to change impedance with a changing input from the rotating device. |
| US09904882B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling it. The apparatus performs, in a case where at least one function out of a plurality of functions of the apparatus ceases to be usable, degeneracy control for operating to provide functions other than the at least one function, and stores information indicating a degeneracy control state is entered. The apparatus controls so as to activate without initialization operation of an image forming mechanism in a case where it is determined that the activation is due to the return from a power saving mode and the information is stored and so as to activate with the initialization operation when the activation is due to a power of the apparatus being turned on. |
| US09904880B2 |
Printing control device and method according to sheet sizes
There is provided a printing control device. A setting unit sets a sorting priority mode that causes a printing device to perform printing using a recording sheet in which the difference from the recording sheet size designated by a current print job mounted on the printing device is within a predetermined range, in a case where a recording sheet with a same size as the recording sheet designated by the current print job is not mounted on the printing device, and a recording sheet which has a recording sheet size that is printable without reducing the printing range, and for which the difference from the size of the recording sheet designated by the current print job is within a predetermined range is mounted on the printing device in a sheet feed direction different from the sheet feed direction of the recording sheet of the previous print job. |
| US09904878B2 |
Printer, printing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for printing data based on a predicted performance of generating the data to be printed
A printer includes an intermediate-data processor and an output-print-data generating unit. The intermediate-data processor performs a process in such a manner that intermediate data is generated from input print data. The output-print-data generating unit generates output print data from the intermediate data. The intermediate-data processor specifies one from intermediate-data generating schemes for a component of an object, on a basis of predicted generation performance of the output-print-data generating unit, and generates the intermediate data. The predicted generation performance is predicted for respective cases of generating the intermediate data by using the intermediate-data generating schemes. |
| US09904870B2 |
Registration and comparison of three-dimensional objects
Information of different scans of physical objects may require comparison, for example to determine if the scans are of the same object or if an object has changed, or better information for a three dimensional model may be desired. Different scans of physical objects may be compared by determining lines or planes tangent to a surface at a discrete number of points, registering three dimensional information provided by the scans using the tangent lines or planes, and determining a measure of discrepancy between the surfaces. Three dimensional information of different scans of the same object may also be merged after determining lines or planes tangent to a surface at a discrete number of points and performing registration and merging. |
| US09904869B2 |
Automatically computing emotions aroused from images through shape modeling
Shape features in natural images influence emotions aroused in human beings. An in-depth statistical analysis helps to understand the relationship between shapes and emotions. Through experimental results on the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) dataset, evidence is presented as to the significance of roundness-angularity and simplicity-complexity on predicting emotional content in images. Shape features are combined with other state-of-the-art features to show a gain in prediction and classification accuracy. Emotions are modeled from a dimensional perspective in order to predict valence and arousal ratings, which have advantages over modeling the traditional discrete emotional categories. Images are distinguished vis-a-vis strong emotional content from emotionally neutral images with high accuracy. All of the methods and steps disclosed herein are implemented on a programmed digital computer, which may be a stand-alone machine or integrated into another piece of equipment such as a digital still or video camera including, in all embodiments, portable devices such as smart phones. |
| US09904864B2 |
Method for recommending one or more images and electronic device thereof
A method for displaying one or more images in an electronic device is provided, which includes displaying a first image; retrieving at least one second image on the basis of additional information of the first image; comparing at least one first feature point of the first image with at least one second feature point of the at least one second image; displaying information on whether at least one recommended image with respect to the first image exists, based on a result of the comparison; and if the at least one recommended image exists, displaying the at least one recommended image according to a user input. |
| US09904863B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method, program recording medium thereof
An information processing apparatus comprising an obtaining unit configured to obtain biological information of a person and a determination unit configured to determine, based on a state of the biological information of a plurality of persons including a specific person, processing allowed for a person who is not the specific person. The processing is performed by the information processing apparatus. The determination unit is configured to determine processing which is allowed for the person other than the specific person in relation to positional relation between the specific person and the information processing apparatus. |
| US09904859B2 |
Object detection enhancement of reflection-based imaging unit
Imaging system and method, the system including a main detection unit, an auxiliary detection unit, an image processor, and a controller. The main detection unit includes a light source that emits light pulses and a gated image sensor that receives reflections of the light pulses reflected from a selected depth of field in the environment and converts the reflections into a reflection-based image. The auxiliary detection unit includes a thermal sensor that detects infrared radiation emitted from the environment and generates an emission-based image. The image processor processes and detects at least one region of interest in the acquired reflection-based image and/or acquired emission-based image. The controller adaptively controls at least one detection characteristic of a detection unit based on information obtained from the other detection unit. The image processor detects at least one object of interest in the acquired reflection-based image and/or acquired emission-based image. |
| US09904858B2 |
Obstacle detection apparatus
In an obstacle detection apparatus, a signal output unit is configured to output a signal if an obstacle meets at least one preset signal output condition. A condition setting unit is configured to set at least one element of the at least one signal output condition to a value in dependence on a user entry value. A misalignment detection unit is configured to detect misalignment of an axial direction of a sensor with a longitudinal direction of a vehicle carrying the apparatus. In the apparatus, an allowable range limiting unit is configured to, if a degree of misalignment exceeds a predetermined misalignment threshold, limit an allowable range of values of the at least one element of the at least one preset signal output condition so as to make the at least one preset signal output condition less prone to be met. |
| US09904857B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting object for vehicle
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for detecting an object for a vehicle, the apparatus including: a camera unit configured to output a surrounding image of a vehicle; an object candidate extracting unit configured to extract an object candidate from the output surrounding image of the vehicle; a height reference filtering unit configured to output a filtered image by excluding an object having a height equal to or smaller than a threshold value from the extracted object candidate; and an object recognizing unit configured to detect a specific object from the output filtered image. |
| US09904848B1 |
Character count determination for a digital image
An image processing system or electronic device may implement processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may receive an image, such as financial document image. The processing circuitry may determine a character count for the financial document image or particular portions of the financial document image without recognizing any particular character in the financial document image. In that regard, the processing circuitry may determine a top left score for pixels in the financial document, the top left score indicating or representing a likelihood that a particular pixel corresponds to a top left corner of a text character. The processing circuitry may also determine top right score for image pixels. Then, the processing circuitry may identify one or more text chunks using the top left and top rights scores for pixels in the financial document image. The processing circuitry may determine a character count for the identified text chunks. |
| US09904845B2 |
Body feature detection and human pose estimation using inner distance shape contexts
A system, method, and computer program product for estimating human body pose are described. According to one aspect, a human figure silhouette is segmented from a depth image of a human actor. Contour points are sampled along the human figure silhouette. Inner Distance Shape Context (IDSC) descriptors of the sample contour points are determined and compared to IDSC descriptors of the feature points in an IDSC gallery for similarity. For each of the feature points, the sample contour point with the IDSC descriptor that is most similar to an IDSC of the feature point is identified as that feature point in the depth image. An estimated pose of a human model is estimated based on the detected feature points and kinematic constraints of the human model. |
| US09904843B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
An information processing device and method can detect facial feature point positions with high accuracy. The information processing device includes: a facial image input unit receiving a facial image; a facial feature point reliability generation unit generating, based on a plurality of classifiers for computing the suitability of feature points of a face, a reliability image indicating the suitability for each feature point from the facial image; a facial feature point candidate position computation unit obtaining a candidate position of the feature point in the facial image based on the reliability image; and a facial shape model conformity computation unit determining a feature point that satisfies conditions based on a position corresponding to each of the feature points of one facial shape model selected from a plurality of statistically generated facial shape models and the candidate position of the feature point, and calculating a conformity to the facial shape model. |
| US09904842B2 |
System and method for classification of particles in a fluid sample
A particle classifier system and a method of training the system are described. The particle classifier system is suitable for classification of particles in a liquid sample, said particle classifier system comprises—an optical detection assembly comprising at least one image acquisition device with an optical axis, the image acquisition device is configured to acquire images of an image acquisition area perpendicular to said optical axis; —a sample device comprising at least one sample container suitable for holding a sample in liquid form; —a translating arrangement configured to translate said image acquisition area through at least a part of said sample container; —a control system configured to controlling said optical detection assembly and said translating unit to acquire images of a plurality of image acquisition areas; —an image analyzing processing system programmed to analyze said acquired images by a method comprising creating objects (sub-images) of individual particles captured by said acquired images, creating stacks of objects of each individual particle, identifying complete stacks of objects comprising at least one object wherein said particle is in-focus, and two objects wherein said particle is out-of-focus, and determining, for each of said complete stacks of objects, a set of values for a set of features of at least N features, wherein N is larger than or equal to 1, and wherein the determination of said values of said set of features involve data obtained from said at least one object wherein said particle is in-focus, and/or said at least two objects wherein said particle is out-of-focus; and —an artificial intelligent processing system programmed to associate said set of values for said determined set of features for each individual particle to a particle classification. |
| US09904841B2 |
Method and system for estimating finger movement
The present invention relates to a method of estimating a finger movement direction of a finger, comprising the steps of: a) acquiring a reference fingerprint image; b) acquiring at least one candidate fingerprint image at each acquisition time in a time sequence of acquisition times; c) determining, for each of the acquisition times, a match parameter value for each of a plurality of candidate finger movement directions, the match parameter value being indicative of a correlation between a reference fingerprint image portion and a candidate fingerprint image portion corresponding to displacement in the candidate finger movement direction; d) determining, for each of the candidate finger movement directions, a local extremum match parameter value indicating a maximum correlation for the time sequence of acquisition times; and e) estimating the finger movement based on an evaluation of the determined local extremum match parameters. |
| US09904837B2 |
Touch device with fingerprint identification function
A touch device with fingerprint identification function includes a touch unit and a fingerprint identification unit. The touch unit has a touch section and a non-touch section. The non-touch section is disposed around the touch section in adjacency to the touch section. The fingerprint identification unit is disposed on the non-touch section of the touch unit. The fingerprint identification unit is integrated with the touch unit. Therefore, it is unnecessary to additionally form a perforation or a channel on the touch device for arranging the fingerprint identification unit as in the conventional touch device. In this case, the structural strength of the touch device will not be deteriorated. Also, the manufacturing cost can be lowered. |
| US09904833B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing different decoding algorithms using number of attempts
A method and apparatus for decoding codes applied to objects for use with an image sensor that includes a two dimensional field of view (FOV), the method including the steps of providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of obtaining an image of the FOV, attempting to decode a code candidate in the image using a first decode algorithm, and where the attempt to decode the code candidate fails, maintaining the image in memory. The method including repeating the above steps until one of a threshold number of attempts to decode the code candidate have failed and the code candidate has been successfully decoded. Further, the method includes accessing the images maintained in memory and attempting to decode the code candidate in at least a subset of the images stored in memory using a second decode algorithm that is different than the first decode algorithm. |
| US09904831B2 |
Method of detecting the position of a cassette and its device
The method of detecting and referencing two-dimensional position of a cassette in a drawer of compartments distributed according to columns and rows includes positioning at least one inserted cassette with the upper face turned towards the top within a compartment. Systematic detection of all compartments is performed automatically by verifying the presence of a cassette and by verifying the presence of a cassette within each compartment. The detection can be optical and include displacing an optical sight relatively with respect to the top of the drawer according to at least one trajectory passing through all compartments. When detecting a cassette within a compartment, the two-dimensional position is identified by coordinates, according to column and row. If an error occurs during a first pass, the detection and reading are displaced directly to the position where the error occurrence was noted and previously recorded, without undertaking a new detection of all compartments. |
| US09904829B1 |
System controlled by data bearing records
A system controlled responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records is operative to cause vehicle repair parts to be determined and furnished. Data read by a reader from a tag associated with a damaged vehicle is used to determine vehicle identifying data. A repair estimate calculation circuit (RECC) operates responsive to the read data to produce a needed parts record (NPR). The records produced by the RECC are operative to cause a vehicle repair entity (VRE) to be furnished the vehicle repair parts. |
| US09904824B2 |
Millimetre-wave image-based chipless RFID system
A mm-wave RFID tag interrogation apparatus includes multiple transmitting antennas, and multiple receiving antennas. The transmitting and receiving antennas are spatially distributed and oriented in orthogonal polarization states. A transmitter is coupled to the transmitting antennas, and transmits a corresponding multiple number of separable mm-wave signals. A receiver coupled to the receiving antennas is configured to extract separable components of received mm-wave signals. A processing unit processes the extracted signal components using a synthetic aperture algorithm. An RFID tag, readable by the interrogation apparatus, includes meander-line conductive elements arranged to encode information spatially on a substrate. |
| US09904820B2 |
Communication device, communication method, integrated circuit, and electronic instrument
The present technology relates to a communication device, a communication method, an integrated circuit, and an electronic instrument, which are capable of reducing a manufacturing cost of a communication device having both functions of an RF tag and reader/writer or an electronic instrument equipped with the communication device. A transmitting circuit transmits transmission data to a communication target by performing load modulation of changing an impedance of an antenna unit according to the transmission data using a first carrier generated in the antenna unit when the transmitting circuit operates in a first operation mode in which the transmitting circuit operates as an RFID reader/writer is performed, and the transmitting circuit transmits the transmission data to the RFID reader/writer by performing the load modulation of changing the impedance of the antenna unit according to the transmission data using a second carrier received by the antenna unit when the transmitting circuit operates in a second operation mode in which the transmitting circuit operates as a communication target of the RFID reader/writer is performed. For example, the present technology can be applied to a communication device having both functions of a reader/writer and an RF tag or an electronic instrument equipped with the communication device. |
| US09904815B2 |
Secure smartcard reader
A secure smartcard reader including a smartcard connector and a flexible printed circuit board wrapped around and at least partially surrounding the smartcard connector and at least partially defining a security volume enclosing the smartcard connector, the wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining on an outer-facing surface thereof a plurality of keypad contacts, the wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining electrical conductors connecting the plurality of keypad contacts to connector pads and the wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining a protective anti-tamper mesh protecting the electrical conductors. |
| US09904813B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device comprising a control unit which, when a predetermined automatic label generation condition is satisfied by data being input, generates or selects electronic label information having a preset content correlated with an application identification information of an application in operation at time of the input of the data and the automatic label generation condition. The control unit is configured so that, when the control unit generates or selects the electronic label information, the control unit correlates and stores the generated or selected electronic label information with the input data as associated information and the application identification information in a predetermined memory. |
| US09904810B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device with data protection features in case of unauthorized disassembly includes top cover, bottom cover, a printed circuit board (PCB) fixed on the top cover, and a plate coupled to the bottom cover. The PCB includes a plurality of terminal couplers and a protruding portion. The plate includes a plurality of terminal grooves and a latching member. At least two signal terminals are correspondingly received in at least two of the plurality of terminal grooves. When the signal terminals are electrically connected to the terminal couplers, a first relation signal, which is dependent upon the electrical paths defined by the signal terminals in the terminal grooves, is generated to enable the electronic device. When the signal terminals are not connected to the original terminal couplers, a second and different relation signal is generated by the PCB to disable the electronic device. |
| US09904809B2 |
Method and system for multi-level security initialization and configuration
Aspects of a method and system for multi-level security initialization and configuration are provided. A security system may comprise a security processor, a host processor, and at least one security component, such as a descrambler. The security processor may enable a security component based on information stored within a non-volatile memory integrated within the security processor. The host processor may enable generation of at least one configuration command communicated to the security processor for configuring the enabled security component. The configuration command may correspond to a security control operational mode for the security component that may indicate, for example, activation or deactivation of the security component. The security processor may authenticate a digital signature in the configuration command. Initialization and configuration may be performed during a system boot sequence of the security system. |
| US09904807B2 |
Memory system and information processing system
A memory system includes a controller configured to write data to a nonvolatile memory. The controller includes a buffer unit configured to hold write data including a plurality of pieces of unit data, a sequencer configured to receive the write data from the buffer unit and individually output the plurality of pieces of unit data sequentially, and a plurality of cores, each being configured to encrypt at least one of the pieces of unit data output from the sequencer. The buffer is further configured to output the plurality of pieces of unit data sequentially to the sequencer, such that a last piece of unit data is output consecutively after a preceding piece of unit data is output. |
| US09904806B2 |
Hardware security module, method of updating integrity check value stored in hardware security module, and method of updating program stored in terminal by using hardware security module
Provided is a method of updating an integrity check value (ICV) stored in a hardware security module (HSM). The method includes storing user authentication information of the terminal transferred from the terminal to preregister a user of the terminal, transferring an authentication information request message, requesting the user authentication information, to the terminal in response to an update request message which is transferred from the terminal and includes an update value of the ICV, comparing the user authentication information transferred from the terminal with the stored user authentication information to perform an authentication operation on the user of the terminal according to the authentication information request message; and when the user of the terminal is successfully authenticated, updating the stored ICV by using the update value. |
| US09904805B2 |
Cryptographic cache lines for a trusted execution environment
Memory security technologies are described. An example processing system includes a processor core and a memory controller coupled to the processor core and a memory. The processor core can receive a content read instruction from an application. The processor core can identify a cache line (CL) from a plurality of CLs of a cryptographic cache block (CCB) requested in the content read instruction. The processor core can load, from a cryptographic tree, tree nodes with security metadata. The processor core can retrieve, from the memory, the CCB. The processor core can generate a second MAC from the CCB. The processor core can compare the first MAC with the second MAC. The processor core can decrypt the CCB using security metadata when the first MAC matches the second MAC. The processor core can send at least the identified CL from the decrypted CCB to the application. |
| US09904794B2 |
Processing secure data
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first control module including a normal module and a security module, and a second control module distinct from the first control module. The normal module sets a secure memory which the security module and the second control module access, and the security module determines validity of the set secure memory. |
| US09904793B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide private information retrieval
Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide private information retrieval. A disclosed example system includes a first trusted processing unit to store a first portion of data such that entities other than the first trusted processing unit are unable to access the first portion of the data in the first trusted processing unit; a second trusted processing unit to store a second portion of the data such that entities other than the second trusted processing unit are unable to access the second portion of the data in the second trusted processing unit; and a third trusted processing unit to: determine that a data element specified in a request is stored in the first trusted processing unit; request the data element from the first trusted processing unit; send a dummy request to the second trusted processing unit; and send the data element to a requester. |
| US09904785B2 |
Active response security system for industrial control infrastructure
An industrial controller resistant to malicious attacks may provide a graduated response employing the elements of the control system to reduce access to the control system, log data, and announce intrusion based on a dynamically evolving assessment of the severity of any detected security issues. |
| US09904784B2 |
Kernel-level security agent
A kernel-level security agent is described herein. The kernel-level security agent is configured to observe events, filter the observed events using configurable filters, route the filtered events to one or more event consumers, and utilize the one or more event consumers to take action based at least on one of the filtered events. In some implementations, the kernel-level security agent detects a first action associated with malicious code, gathers data about the malicious code, and in response to detecting subsequent action(s) of the malicious code, performs a preventative action. The kernel-level security agent may also deceive an adversary associated with malicious code. Further, the kernel-level security agent may utilize a model representing chains of execution activities and may take action based on those chains of execution activities. |
| US09904780B2 |
Transparent detection and extraction of return-oriented-programming attacks
Systems and methods for detection and prevention of Return-Oriented-Programming (ROP) attacks in one or more applications, including an attack detection device and a stack inspection device for performing stack inspection to detect ROP gadgets in a stack. The stack inspection includes stack walking from a stack frame at a top of the stack toward a bottom of the stack to detect one or more failure conditions, determining whether a valid stack frame and return code address is present; and determining a failure condition type if no valid stack frame and return code is present, with Type III failure conditions indicating an ROP attack. The ROP attack is contained using a containment device, and the ROP gadgets detected in the stack during the ROP attack are analyzed using an attack analysis device. |
| US09904778B2 |
Function performing apparatus and portable device
A function performing apparatus includes a function performing unit performing a specific function, a processor, and memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the function performing apparatus to perform, in response to receiving a user authentication information when the user authentication information has been registered in an authentication memory, transitioning a state of the apparatus from a non-permission state to a permission state, registering, in the authentication memory, a device authentication information in association with the user authentication information upon establishing a first connection with a portable device, and transitioning the state of the apparatus from the non-permission state to the permission state when a second connection with the portable device is established and the device authentication information is obtained from the portable device. |
| US09904777B2 |
System for automated login initialization on detection of identification device
A system for automating a data device login procedure having a network, a system backend communicable with the network having a backend processor configured to control a simplified login procedure and a database of login information accessible by the backend processor, a data reader communicable with the system backend configured to receive a credential data from an identification device, and a fungible portable data device communicable with the backend configured to receive a login information from the system backend for completing a login procedure. The data reader is configured to initiate the login procedure upon receipt of the credential data from the identification device and communicate the credential data to the backend. The backend is configured to determine the login information associated with the credential data comprising personalization information for the fungible portable data device and the system backend completes the login procedure to the fungible portable data device. |
| US09904776B2 |
Fingerprint sensor pixel array and methods of forming same
A device package includes a sensor die, one or more additional dies adjacent the sensor die, and a molding compound encircling the sensor die and the one or more additional dies. The device package further includes redistribution layers over the sensor die, the one or more additional dies, and the molding compound. The redistribution layers include first conductive features in a first dielectric layer. The first conductive features electrically connect the sensor die to the one or more additional dies. The redistribution layers further include an array of electrodes in a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the sensor die. |
| US09904774B2 |
Method and device for locking file
A method for locking a file includes: acquiring biological feature recognition information of a user, the biological feature recognition information including at least one of fingerprint information, voiceprint information, iris information, or face information; and locking a designated file using the biological feature recognition information. |
| US09904770B2 |
Information-gathering device
To provide a user-friendly information-gathering device enabling users to select buttons easily. An information-gathering device has a plurality of selection buttons, a communication module, and a cancel button. The communication module has an IC chip and a button cell. The IC chip has a storage which stores information for identifying the pressed selection button and information about the time of the press, in chronological order, a controller which performs control to store the information in the storage, and a wireless communication unit. When the cancel button is pressed, the controller stores, in the storage, information requesting to cancel press information about the selection button pressed immediately before the cancel button is pressed. |
| US09904764B2 |
Medical measuring device and medical measuring system
In a housing configured to mount thereon a biosensor in an attachable and detachable manner in which the biosensor is configured to have a liquid sample of a biological object deposited thereon, the medial measuring device includes a measuring component operable to measure biological information from the liquid sample of the biological object, a recording component operable to store a result measured by the measuring component, and an information protection component operable to determine an access limitation to personal information data stored in the recording component. With this configuration of the device, it is possible to properly protect personal information stored in the device. |
| US09904756B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer program product for implementing DRC clean multi-patterning process nodes with lateral fills in electronic designs
Disclosed are techniques for implementing DRC clean multi-patterning process nodes with lateral fills. These techniques identify design rules governing multi-patterning and track patterns by accessing a rule deck to retrieve the design rules, identify a first shape and a second shape sandwiching a space and characteristics of the first and second shapes by examining design data of the electronic design, insert one or more lateral fill shapes in the space by implementing the one or more lateral fill shapes along one or more routing tracks of a legal track pattern while automatically complying with the design rules, and perform post-lateral fill or post-layout operations to improve the layout and to prepare the layout for manufacturing. |
| US09904753B2 |
Methods for designing a layout of a semiconductor device including at least one risk via
A method of designing a layout of a semiconductor device includes preparing a layout for a semiconductor integrated circuit, the preparing of the layout including providing lower and upper metal patterns and via patterns, which are vertically interposed between the lower and upper metal patterns, performing a retargeting process on the lower and upper metal patterns, classifying the via patterns to extract at least one risk via from the via patterns and changing a position of the risk via. During the changing of the position of the risk via, all of the via patterns, other than the risk via, are unchanged in position thereof. Related systems and computer program products are disclosed. |
| US09904749B2 |
Configurable FPGA sockets
A method of emulating a circuit design using an emulator is presented. The method includes allocating one or more spare routing resources to one or more field programmable gate array (FPGA) routing sockets when compiling a plurality of FPGAs disposed in the emulator in preparation for emulating the circuit design, and using the one or more spare routing resources to provide one or more routings among the FPGAs in response to one or more changes made to the circuit design. |
| US09904747B2 |
Agricultural terrain forming based on soil modeling
Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing mass haul optimization for agricultural terrain forming, based at least in part on three-dimensional soil modeling. In some embodiments, a computer system might determine desired soil conditions (including minimum topsoil depth, maximum and minimum slope, etc.) for an agricultural area. The computer system might also identify, based on 3-D topographical surveys and 3-D soil profiles, deficient locations within the agricultural area that do not possess at least the minimum topsoil depth, excess locations that possess greater than the minimum topsoil depth, sloped locations that exceed the maximum slope, and/or flat locations whose slopes are less than the minimum slope. Costs and volumes of topsoil and/or subsurface material may be calculated, and based on such calculations it may be determined how much topsoil and/or subsurface material to relocate or order to achieve the desired topsoil depth and slope at the identified locations. |
| US09904736B2 |
Determining key ebook terms for presentation of additional information related thereto
Systems and methods for rendering automatic annotation for electronic books with external information provided by an information database. A computer implemented method is used to automatically determine key terms and match the key terms with correct information from external information sources for presentation at an e-book page. The key terms can be detected based on a TF-IDF based content analysis process. The detected key terms can be processed by a disambiguation process to select the pertinent definition for multi-sense terms according to one or more selected information sources. Hyperlinks can be embedded in the key terms for direct and convenient link to the matching external information in response to user interactions. |
| US09904735B2 |
Camera-activated data transfer from a source computing device to a target computing device
Mechanisms for transferring data from a source computing device to a target computing device are provided. A filename identifier (ID) that identifies a file stored on the source computing device is presented on a display device. A selection of the filename ID is received. A unique identifier is generated, and association data that associates the unique identifier with the file is generated. The unique identifier is encoded into a coded image. The coded image is presented on the display device. A first file transfer request is received via a communications interface from a target computing device to transfer the file via the communications interface to the target computing device. The first file transfer request includes an identifier. Responsive to receiving the first file transfer request, the file is sent to the target computing device. |
| US09904731B2 |
Direct service launch on a second display
Apparatus and methods to implement a technique for using a second display with a network-enabled television. In one implementation, this feature allows the native application on the second display to directly launch the second display application with a requested search term so that the user is immediately brought to a search page with relevant search results. The search term may be derived from the native application which in turn derives from the context of the IP TV. Such a context could be metadata from a currently playing BD from a BD player or TV channel. The second display application may be a web application or a native remote controller application. The second display could be a smart phone that can often be found beside the user, or a laptop or tablet PC, a desktop PC, or the like. |
| US09904730B2 |
Queue identification
Example techniques relate to a playback device that facilitates queue identification. In an example implementation, a playback device stores an association between a playback queue and a first application identifier. After storing the association between the playback queue and the first application identifier, the playback device receives, from a first computing device, a first message comprising a second application identifier. The playback device determines that the second application identifier corresponds to the first application identifier, and responsive to determining that the second application identifier corresponds to the first application identifier, transmits, to the first computing device, a queue identifier associated with the playback queue. |
| US09904729B2 |
System, method, and computer program for a consumer defined information architecture
Techniques are described for performing synthesis of relationships between a plurality of concept definitions automatically derived from a faceted domain of information. Some embodiments involve identifying at least one facet attribute in an active concept definition specified by user input. In response to determining that at least one explicit relationship and/or at least one implicit relationship exist(s) between the active concept definition and a first concept definition of the plurality of concept definitions, a relationship is synthesized between the active concept definition and the first concept definition. |
| US09904725B1 |
Computer system for generation, storage, and analysis of connection data and utilization of connection data in scoring and distribution systems
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for generating a set of connection data indicating the connections between entities received by a profile management system. Connections may be automatically generated to indicate duplicate, referral, or company connections between one or more entities. Furthermore, the connection data may be used to predict the likelihood of particular outcomes in response to contacting an entity associate with a particular profile, distribution of profiles to appropriate entities, and prioritization of profiles for an entity. |
| US09904721B1 |
Source-side merging of distributed transactions prior to replication
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing source-side merging of distributed transactions prior to replication, wherein a distributed transaction occurs at a plurality of nodes. A first node includes a database and an audit trail that stores database change events from the database of the first node. One or more other nodes each include a database and an audit trail that stores database change events from the database of the respective node. In use, a transaction is initiated which updates the database of the first node and the database at one or more of the other nodes. The database updates are captured in the audit trails of the respective nodes involved with the transaction. The first node receives and merges the database change events from the audit trails of each of the nodes involved in the transaction. The merged database change events are replicated via a replication engine only from the first node. |
| US09904720B2 |
Generating offline content
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a user of a client computing device and when the client computing device is disconnected from an on-line service, input associated with the on-line service. The method further includes locally storing or modifying locally stored content associated with the on-line service based on the input. The client computing device may determine data contemporaneous with the content and locally associate the data with the content. The method further includes automatically uploading the content as locally stored or modified and the data locally associated with the content to the on-line service when the client computing device is connected to the on-line service. |
| US09904718B2 |
System and method for streaming events in a transaction-based system
A system is provided that permits events to be propagated between systems in near real time for the purpose of ensuring consistency in a transaction-based environment. In one implementation, transactions are streamed between systems using a lightweight protocol shortly after they are processed, rather than being communicated in a one-way batch mode as is typically done in conventional retail store systems. |
| US09904716B2 |
Optimal analytic workflow
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer program product for optimizing data analysis. A set of analytics are received and a plurality of subsets of the set of analytics is generated. An optimization goal(s) is defined. The plurality of subsets of analytics are applied to a set of data. The output of applied analytics are recorded on a data storage device by the computer. Performance values of the computer applying the plurality of subsets of analytics are recorded and displayed. An optimal subset of the plurality of subsets of analytics is calculated, using recorded performance values and outputs of the applied plurality of subsets of analytics, being based on the optimization goal. A set of applied analytics are displayed, where the set of applied analytics includes a number of subsets of analytics of the plurality of analytics that meet the criteria of the optimal subset. |
| US09904713B2 |
Proposing a copy area in a document
Information on a cursor or pointer position is obtained, indicating a first content on a document displayed on a screen. A plurality of second contents are retrieved from a history information, each of the second contents comprising the first content. The history information comprises sets of contents, each of the sets comprising a content in the document which was copied by one or more users, and position information of this content. The sets are ranked in a predetermined order. A copy area is proposed based on one or more second contents in the predetermined order among the retrieved second contents. |
| US09904708B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing query in database with hybrid storage
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for processing a query in a relational database system having a hybrid storage of a memory tablespace and a disk tablespace, with the configuration of the present invention, by extending a table partitioning technology in order for the relational database system to use the disk tablespace and memory tablespace in a hybrid manner, it is possible to implement data discrimination due to different data storages in one logical table and create scan plans in compliance with the difference in the storages, thereby establishing an optimal scan plan to the query intended to access the storages having different properties. |
| US09904704B2 |
System and method for controlling audience data and tracking
In a computing device executing a master tag embedded in a webpage, identifying a first subsequent tag in the webpage; identifying a second subsequent tag called by the first subsequent tag; identifying information collected by one or more of the first and second subsequent tag; identifying a location to which the collected information is sent; and indicating to a user the information collected and the location to which the collected information is sent. In addition, the master tag may determine a number of cookies dropped by the first subsequent tag; determine one or more characteristics of each cookie dropped by the first subsequent tag; and indicate to the user the number of cookies dropped and the one or more characteristics of each cookie dropped. |
| US09904699B2 |
Generating an implied object graph based on user behavior
An online system generates implied links between objects distributed by the online system based on a plurality of users' behaviors with respect to the objects. For a behavior of a user with respect to an object that satisfies a link criterion, the online system identifies a connection between the user and the object. Local object graphs are generated to represent the relationships between the objects connected to each user, and the local object graphs are merged into a global object graph. An adjacency matrix is extracted from the global object graph as a representation of the strength of relationships between the objects distributed by the online system. The online system may then apply graph analysis techniques to the adjacency matrix, thereby analyzing the relationships between the objects without relying upon explicit links between the objects. |
| US09904697B2 |
Managing versions of cases
A computer system records a plurality of cases. Each case is used with a software system. The version of the software system is the same for each case. Each case includes a set of input data. Each case includes an identification of a parent case from which input data in the case was copied unless the case is an original case. The identification of the parent case creates a parent/child relationship between the case and the parent case. The computer system creates a hierarchy of the parent/child relationships among the plurality of cases. The computer system displays a subset of the plurality of cases in response to a search of the plurality of cases. A smaller subset of the plurality of cases is selected as a chosen model for an environment in which an activity is to be performed. |
| US09904691B2 |
Information processing device and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing device includes a creating unit that creates correspondence information that, based on reproduction history information representing a date and time of reproduction of content information and photographing history information representing a date and time of photographing of image information, associates the content information with the image information. |
| US09904687B2 |
Storage apparatus and data management method
The present invention relates to a storage apparatus that executes de-duplication processing. Specifically, a storage apparatus includes a storing apparatus configured to provide a first storage area and a second storage area and a control unit. The control unit determines, on the basis of a result of comparison of a compression ratio of compressed data with a threshold, whether first duplication determination for determining whether data same as the data compressed without being stored in the first storage area is stored in the second storage area is executed or second duplication determination for determining whether data same as the data compressed after being stored in the first storage area is stored in the second storage area is executed. Further, the control unit changes the threshold on the basis of a state of the storage apparatus. |
| US09904685B2 |
Enterprise level data management
A system for identifying data of interest from among a multiplicity of data elements residing on multiple platforms in an enterprise, the system including background data characterization functionality characterizing the data of interest at least by at least one content characteristic thereof and at least one access metric thereof, the at least one access metric being selected from data access permissions and actual data access history and near real time data matching functionality selecting the data of interest by considering only data elements which have the at least one content characteristic thereof and the at least one access metric thereof from among the multiplicity of data elements. |
| US09904684B2 |
Datacenter workflow automation scenarios using virtual databases
Information from multiple databases is retrieved and stored on a database storage system. Multiple point-in-time copies are obtained for each database. A point-in-time copy retrieves data changed in the database since the retrieval of a previous point-in-time copy. A virtual database (VDB) is created by creating a set of files in the data storage system. Each file in the set of files created for a VDB is linked to the database blocks on the database storage system associated with a point-in-time copy of the source database. The set of files associated with the VDB are mounted on a database server allowing the database server to read from and write to the set of files. Workflows based on VDBs allow various usage scenarios based on databases to be implemented efficiently, for example, testing and development, backup and recovery, and data warehouse building. |
| US09904682B2 |
Content-aware filter options for media object collections
A method and apparatus are provided for navigating through a media object collection using a mobile device. Users navigate to the target media objects by repeatedly specifying filters. After a user specifies a filter, the filter is applied in combination with all previously specified filters to produce a filtered set of media objects. After a filter is applied, a display level is selected for each hierarchical dimension for which the media objects have metadata. The selection of the display level may be based on the number of distinct values that the media objects in the filtered set have for each level of the hierarchical dimension. Single-action controls are then displayed for each of the values that the media objects in the filtered set have for the selected display level. |
| US09904674B2 |
Augmented text search with syntactic information
An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates syntactic annotation tokens that correspond to syntactic relationships between terms included in a source document. The knowledge manager creates a knowledge structure that stores the syntactic annotation tokens in parallel fields and stores the source document terms in original text fields, which align to the parallel fields. In turn, the knowledge manager utilizes the knowledge structure to generate answers to questions based upon the syntactic annotation tokens. |
| US09904671B2 |
System and method for computerized psychological content analysis of computer and media generated communications to produce communications management support, indications and warnings of dangerous behavior, assessment of media images, and personnel selection support
At least one computer-mediated communication produced by or received by an author is collected and parsed to identify categories of information within it. The categories of information are processed with at least one analysis to quantify at least one type of information in each category. A first output communication is generated regarding the at least one computer-mediated communication, describing the psychological state, attitudes or characteristics of the author of the communication. A second output communication is generated when a difference between the quantification of at least one type of information for at least one category and a reference for the at least one category is detected involving a psychological state, attitude or characteristic of the author to which a responsive action should be taken. |
| US09904670B2 |
Apparatus and method for helping in the reading of an electronic message
An apparatus and method for determining whether the meaning of a word included in an electronic message needs to be presented to a user, according to a dynamic determination whether the user currently knows the meaning of the word. In a client, a communication control unit receives a message sent between users, a morphological analysis unit extracts a word from the message, and a history acquisition unit acquires history information on viewing, usage, or the like of the word. A display determination unit determines whether the meaning of the word needs to be displayed, according to the acquired history information, the language level of a user stored in a user level storage unit, and the difficulty level of the word stored in a dictionary storage unit. An input/output control unit performs control such that the meaning of the word is presented to the user according to the determination result. |
| US09904668B2 |
Natural language processing utilizing transaction based knowledge representation
Mechanisms are provided for processing logical relationships in natural language content. A logical parse of a first parse of the natural language content is generated by identifying latent logical terms within the first parse indicative of logical relationships between elements of the natural language content. The logical parse comprises nodes and edges linking nodes. At least one knowledge value is associated with each node in the logical parse. The at least one knowledge value associated with at least a subset of the nodes in the logical parse is propagated to one or more other nodes in the logical parse based on propagation rules. The propagating of the at least one knowledge value generates transaction records in a transaction knowledgebase data structure. A reasoning operation is executed based on the transaction knowledgebase data structure. |
| US09904662B2 |
Real-time agreement analysis
Techniques for informing a user about an agreement including agreement terms and trustworthiness of data source are described herein. In some examples, a processor receives agreement document data while the data is in route to a client device. A system receives network sources and content data of the agreement document. The network sources are to be processed by the processor with traffic analytics, and the content data is to be processed with text analytics. The output of these analytics is used to generate an agreement risk event for delivery to the client device with the original agreement document data. |
| US09904661B2 |
Real-time agreement analysis
Techniques for informing a user about an agreement including agreement terms and trustworthiness of data source are described herein. In some examples, a processor receives agreement document data while the data is in route to a client device. A system receives network sources and content data of the agreement document. The network sources are to be processed by the processor with traffic analytics, and the content data is to be processed with text analytics. The output of these analytics is used to generate an agreement risk event for delivery to the client device with the original agreement document data. |
| US09904659B1 |
Technique for identifying association variables
An apparatus determines patterns of occurrence of compound variables based on a set of mathematical interactions and patterns of occurrence of a set of electrical signals. Then, the apparatus calculates statistical relationships corresponding to a pattern of occurrence of neural activity of one or more organisms and the patterns of occurrence of the compound variables. Moreover, the apparatus determines numbers of occurrences of electrical signals that were used to determine compound variables in at least a statistically significant subset of the compound variables, and determines numbers of different mathematical interactions that were used to determine the compound variables in the subset for the electrical signals that are associated with the corresponding numbers of occurrences. Next, the apparatus identifies one or more of the electrical signals as one or more association variables based on the numbers of occurrences and/or the numbers of different mathematical interactions. |
| US09904657B2 |
Method for representing and solving algebraic equations with a physical or virtual gear system
A method for representing and solving algebraic equations that allows a user to view and solve algebraic equations through a novel user-interface. The user-interface includes a primary cog and a plurality of secondary cogs as parts of a gear system. The primary cog represents a range of outcomes for the gear system and contains a plurality of teeth that is quantitatively greater than a numerical constant of the algebraic equation; amongst the teeth is a target tooth that represents the numerical constant. Each of the secondary cogs represent a term of the algebraic equation and includes a coefficient and a variable. Each of the secondary cogs contains a number of teeth equal to the coefficient. The equation is solved by rotating the secondary cogs until the target tooth is aligned with a fixed pointer where rotation of the secondary cog represents a value input for the variable of a term. |
| US09904653B2 |
Scaled PCI express credits
The disclosure provides a PCI Express Scaled Port, a computing device and a method of communicating between PCI Express components. In one embodiment, the PCI Express Scaled Port includes: (1) an interface configured to communicate flow control negotiating packets with another PCI Express Port and (2) a FCC Controller configured to generate the flow control negotiating packets, wherein the flow control negotiating packets include a flow control credit for PCI Express packets and a scaling factor for the flow control credit. |
| US09904652B2 |
System and method of sending data via additional secondary data lines on a bus
A serial low-power inter-chip media bus communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple Integrated Circuit devices. Communications capabilities of a device coupled to the communications link may be determined and configuration or framing message may be sent to the first device based on the capabilities. The messages may be transmitted on a primary data line of the communications link with a clock used to control timing of transmission on at least the primary data line. The communications capabilities can include information identifying a number of data wires supported by or coupled to the device. A first device may be configured to communicate with a second device over a secondary data line, which may be reserved for such direct communication. Communications on the secondary data line may be synchronized using the clock signal and may be controlled by a different protocol than the protocol used for the primary data line. |
| US09904651B2 |
Operating method of controller for setting link between interfaces of electronic devices, and storage device including controller
An operating method includes sensing a connection of the first electronic device to an interface circuit of the second electronic device; receiving an identification code from the first electronic device; and setting a state of the interface circuit as an express linkup state corresponding to the received identification code. The identification code has a value different from values defined and reserved in an interface protocol which defines an operating procedure of the interface circuit. The value of the identification code varies with an attribute of the first electronic device. |
| US09904646B2 |
Virtual general purpose input/output for a microcontroller
A microcontroller includes a general purpose input/output (GPIO) port having a plurality of bits coupled to a plurality of external pins; a first set of registers for providing at least one of first control and data input/output functionality of the GPIO port; a second set of registers for providing at least one of second control and data input/output functionality of the GPIO port; and a multiplexer and associated select register for controlling the multiplexer to control said GPIO port through either said first or second register set. |
| US09904645B2 |
Multicore bus architecture with non-blocking high performance transaction credit system
This invention is a bus communication protocol. A master device stores bus credits. The master device may transmit a bus transaction only if it holds sufficient number and type of bus credits. Upon transmission, the master device decrements the number of stored bus credits. The bus credits correspond to resources on a slave device for receiving bus transactions. The slave device must receive the bus transaction if accompanied by the proper credits. The slave device services the transaction. The slave device then transmits a credit return. The master device adds the corresponding number and types of credits to the stored amount. The slave device is ready to accept another bus transaction and the master device is re-enabled to initiate the bus transaction. In many types of interactions a bus agent may act as both master and slave depending upon the state of the process. |
| US09904641B2 |
Power control device and method
A switch control device includes a switch device and a control device. The switch device includes first and second input terminals, an output terminal, a processor, and a plurality of delays. The processor is configured to detect period of an input voltage from the first input terminal, and to determine whether the input voltage is normal. A delay time can be computed by the processor, according to the period of the input voltage and a release time of the each delay. If the input voltage from the first input terminal is abnormal, the processor detects a zero voltage crossing signal or a peak of voltage signal, and delays the zero voltage crossover signal or the peak of voltage signal for a delay time, to control the delays coupled to the first input terminal to turn off. Therefore, an arc discharge resulted by the relay can be avoid or reduce. |
| US09904640B2 |
Program loading system for multiple motherboards
A program loading system effective for several different types of motherboard includes a first storage module, a first control module, first switch module, and a type module. The first control module is coupled between the first storage module and the first switch module. The first switch module is coupled between the first switch module and the type module. When a program stored in the first storage module is needed to be loaded, the first switch module is turned on. The type module outputs a motherboard type signal to the first control module through the first switch module. The first control module loads the program selectively according to the type signal received. |
| US09904638B2 |
Techniques for escalating interrupts in a data processing system to a higher software stack level
A technique for handling interrupts in a data processing system includes maintaining, at an interrupt presentation controller (IPC), an interrupt acknowledge count (IAC). The IAC provides an indication of a number of times a virtual processor thread implemented at a first software stack level has been interrupted in response to receipt of event notification messages (ENMs) from an interrupt source controller (ISC). In response to the IAC reaching a threshold level, the IPC transmits an escalate message to the ISC. The escalate message includes an escalate event number that is used by the ISC to generate a new ENM that targets a second software stack level that is different than the first software stack level and is associated with another virtual processor thread. |
| US09904633B2 |
Display system and operation optimization method
The present disclose provides a display system. The display system comprises a signal source unit a signal source unit, a transmission unit and a display unit. The signal source unit is complied with a first standard and used for providing an image signal. The transmission unit is coupled to the signal source unit, and used for transmitting the image signal, wherein the transmission unit has a plurality of pins. The display unit is complied with a second standard and coupled to the transmission unit. The display unit comprises a detection unit and a determination unit. The detection unit is used for detecting the plurality of pins. The determination unit is couple to the detection unit and used for determining voltage levels of the pins, determining the first standard according to the voltage level of the pins and configuring the display device into a corresponding mode according to the first standard. |
| US09904630B2 |
Finite automata processing based on a top of stack (TOS) memory
A method, and corresponding apparatus and system are provided for optimizing matching of at least one regular expression pattern in an input stream by storing a context for walking a given node, of a plurality of nodes of a given finite automaton of at least one finite automaton, the store including a store determination, based on context state information associated with a first memory, for accessing the first memory and not a second memory or the first memory and the second memory. Further, to retrieve a pending context, the retrieval may include a retrieve determination, based on the context state information associated with the first memory, for accessing the first memory and not the second memory or the second memory and not the first memory. The first memory may have read and write access times that are faster relative to the second memory. |
| US09904628B2 |
Memory system, host system, and method of performing write operation in memory system
A write operation is performed in a memory system by encoding, in the memory system, original data transmitted from a host system, according to a first type of host command, to produce an encoding result, transmitting information about the encoding result to the host system after the encoding, and writing the encoding result or the original data into a nonvolatile memory device, according to a second host command, wherein the second host command is transmitted from the host system based on the information about the encoding result. |
| US09904626B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor system and system on chip
At least one example embodiment discloses a semiconductor device including a direct memory access (DMA) system configured to directly access a memory to write first data to an address of the memory, wherein the DMA system includes an initializer configured to set a data transfer parameter for writing the first data to the memory during a flushing period of second data from a cache to the address by a processor, a creator configured to create the first data based on the set data transfer parameter, and a transferer configured to write the first data to the address of the memory after the flushing period based on the data transfer parameter. |
| US09904623B2 |
Early cache prefetching in preparation for exit from idle mode
A system includes a functional unit, at least one cache coupled to the functional unit, and a power management unit coupled to the functional unit and the at least one cache, the power management unit configured to trigger the functional unit to initiate prefetching of data to repopulate the at least one cache prior to a predicted exit of the functional unit from an idle mode to an active mode. The system further may include a prediction unit to predict the exit from the idle mode for the functional unit as occurring a predetermined duration from an entry into the idle mode. The prediction unit may determine the predetermined duration based on a history of idle mode durations indicative of durations of previous instances in which the functional unit was in the idle mode. |
| US09904622B2 |
Control method for non-volatile memory and associated computer system
A control method for a non-volatile memory in a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a central processing unit; a system memory; a first memory controller; and a storage device including a non-volatile memory and a second memory controller for controlling access to the non-volatile memory. The method includes the steps of: utilizing the first memory controller to divide the system memory into a first data pool and a second data pool, wherein the first data pool stores temporary data for accessing the storage device by the central processing unit, and the second data pool stores flash translation layer data for use by the second memory controller; and when the central processing unit is to access the storage device, utilizing the second memory controller to access the non-volatile memory according to the flash translation layer data from the second data pool. |
| US09904620B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method for writing data to a storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to obtain the number of files to be written to a storage medium whose storage area configured in units of a predetermined block and whose stored data is erased in units of the predetermined block, and to determine a policy for selecting, based on the obtained number of files, the block to which the one or more files are to be written. |
| US09904613B2 |
Method for performance monitoring using a redundancy tracking register
Embodiments include a system for performance monitoring, the system includes a processor configured to perform a method. The method includes detecting, by a redundancy register, a change to a counter value corresponding to one of a plurality of hardware counters, wherein the redundancy register comprises a plurality of memory locations; storing, in each of the plurality of memory locations, a value indicating a change was detected for the counter value corresponding to the plurality of hardware counters, wherein each of the plurality of hardware counters map to one of the plurality of memory locations; performing read operation on a subset of the hardware counters, wherein members of the subset of the hardware counters are determined based upon the value indicating that the change was detected for the counter value corresponding to the plurality of hardware counters; and resetting the value stored in all the memory locations to a default value. |
| US09904612B2 |
Dynamic voltage/frequency scaling for multi-processors using end user experience metrics
A system and method for dynamic voltage and frequency scaling for processors based on end-user experience metrics is disclosed. In an embodiment, a method in a data processing system for controlling a processor includes monitoring at least one end-user experience metric; obtaining at least one device policy, the device policy specifying a device constraint or measurable device condition; and adjusting at least one operating point for a processor according to at least one end-user experience metric and at least one device policy. |
| US09904607B2 |
Logical to physical table restoration from stored journal entries
A controller-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: restoring a valid snapshot of a LPT from the non-volatile random access memory, examining each journal entry from at least one journal beginning with a most recent one of the journal entries in a most recent one of the at least one journal and working towards an oldest one of the journal entries in an oldest one of the at least one journal, the journal entries corresponding to updates made to one or more entries of the LPT, determining whether a current LPT entry which corresponds to a currently examined journal entry has already been updated, using the currently examined journal entry to update the current LPT entry in response to determining that the current LPT entry has not already been updated, and discarding the currently examined journal entry in response to determining that the current LPT entry has already been updated. |