| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09911837B2 |
Heterojunction bipolar transistor
A heterojunction bipolar transistor, comprising an elongated base mesa, an “H” shaped emitter, two base electrodes, an elongated collector, and two elongated collector electrodes. The “H” shaped emitter is formed on the base mesa and has two parallel bars connected by a cross-bar. Two elongated emitter electrodes are formed respectively on the two parallel bars of the “H” shaped emitter. The “H” shaped emitter has two recesses respectively on two opposite sides of the cross-bar between the two parallel bars. The two base electrodes are formed on the base mesa respectively at the two recesses of the “H” shaped emitter, each of which has a base via hole near a center of the base mesa. The elongated collector is formed below the base mesa. The two elongated collector electrodes are formed on the collector respectively at two opposite sides of the base mesa. |
| US09911835B2 |
Tunneling field effect transistors (TFETs) for CMOS architectures and approaches to fabricating N-type and P-type TFETs
Tunneling field effect transistors (TFETs) for CMOS architectures and approaches to fabricating N-type and P-type TFETs are described. For example, a tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) includes a homojunction active region disposed above a substrate. The homojunction active region includes a relaxed Ge or GeSn body having an undoped channel region therein. The homojunction active region also includes doped source and drain regions disposed in the relaxed Ge or GeSn body, on either side of the channel region. The TFET also includes a gate stack disposed on the channel region, between the source and drain regions. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric portion and gate electrode portion. |
| US09911833B2 |
Semiconductor structures and fabrication methods thereof
A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of first fin structures in a peripheral region of a substrate and a plurality of second fin structures in a core region of the substrate, forming a first dummy gate structure including a first dummy oxide layer and a first dummy gate electrode layer on each first fin structure and a second dummy gate structure including a second dummy oxide layer and a second dummy gate electrode layer on each second fin structure. The method further includes removing each first dummy gate structure together with each second dummy gate electrode layer, forming a first gate oxide layer on the exposed portion of each first fin structure, and then removing each second dummy gate oxide layer. The method further includes forming a first gate structure on each first fin structure and a second gate structure on each second fin structure. |
| US09911832B2 |
Method to improve gate dielectric quality for FinFET
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate structure comprising a substrate, a plurality of fins on the substrate and a hardmask on the fins, forming an insulating layer on the substrate structure covering the fins and the hardmask, removing a portion of the insulating layer by etching to expose the hardmask, removing the hardmask, and performing a fluorine ion implantation into a top portion of the fins. The implanted fluorine ions passivate dangling bonds in the top portion of the fins, thereby improving the reliability of the semiconductor device. |
| US09911827B2 |
SBFET transistor and corresponding fabrication process
A process for manufacturing a Schottky barrier field-effect transistor is provided. The process includes: providing a structure including a control gate and a semiconductive layer positioned under the gate and having protrusions that protrude laterally with respect to the gate; anisotropically etching at least one of the protrusions by using the control gate as a mask, so as to form a recess in this protrusion, this recess defining a lateral face of the semiconductive layer; depositing a layer of insulator on the lateral face of the semiconductive layer; and depositing a metal in the recess on the layer of insulator so as to form a contact of metal/insulator/semiconductor type between the deposit of metal and the lateral face of the semiconductive layer. |
| US09911826B2 |
Devices with strained source/drain structures
A device includes a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate, and source/drain (S/D) features in the substrate and interposed by the gate structure. At least one of the S/D features includes a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material, and a third semiconductor material over the second semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material has a composition different from the first semiconductor material and the third semiconductor material. The first semiconductor material includes physically discontinuous portions. |
| US09911825B2 |
Integrated circuits with spacer chamfering and methods of spacer chamfering
Semiconductor devices and methods for forming the devices with spacer chamfering. One method includes, for instance: obtaining a wafer with at least one source, at least one drain, and at least one fin; forming at least one sacrificial gate with at least one barrier layer; forming a first set of spacers adjacent to the at least one sacrificial gate; forming at least one second set of spacers adjacent to the first set of spacers; and etching to remove a portion of the first set of spacers above the at least one barrier layer to form a widened opening. An intermediate semiconductor device is also disclosed. |
| US09911823B2 |
POC process flow for conformal recess fill
A method of filling trenches between gates includes forming a first and a second dummy gate over a substrate, the first and second dummy gates including a sacrificial gate material and a hard mask layer; forming a first gate spacer along a sidewall of the first dummy gate and a second gate spacer along a sidewall of the second dummy gate; performing an epitaxial growth process to form a source/drain on the substrate between the first and second dummy gates; disposing a conformal liner over the first and second dummy gates and the source/drain; disposing an oxide on the conformal liner between the first and second dummy gates; recessing the oxide to a level below the hard mask layers of the first and second dummy gates to form a recessed oxide; and depositing a spacer material over the recessed oxide between the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate. |
| US09911822B2 |
Method for manufacturing vertically integrated semiconductor device
A vertically integrated semiconductor device in accordance with various embodiments may include: a first semiconducting layer; a second semiconducting layer disposed over the first semiconducting layer; a third semiconducting layer disposed over the second semiconducting layer; and an electrical bypass coupled between the first semiconducting layer and the second semiconducting layer. |
| US09911821B2 |
Semiconductor device structure and method for forming the same
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a metal gate electrode structure over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes an insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the metal gate electrode structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first metal nitride layer over a first top surface of the metal gate electrode structure and in direct contact with the metal gate electrode structure. The first metal nitride layer includes a nitride material of the metal gate electrode structure. |
| US09911820B2 |
Method for fabrication of a field-effect with reduced stray capacitance
A method of fabrication, including the steps for supplying a substrate including a layer of semiconductor material covered by a sacrificial gate including a sacrificial gate insulator including a middle part, and edges covered by sacrificial spacers and having a thickness tox; removal of the sacrificial gate insulator and the sacrificial gate material; formation of a conformal deposition of thickness thk of dielectric material inside of the groove formed in order to form a gate insulator, with tox>thk≧tox/2; formation of a gate electrode within the groove; removal of the sacrificial spacers so as to open up edges of the gate insulator layer; formation of spacers on the edges of the gate insulator layer on either side of the gate electrode, these spacers having a dielectric constant at the most equal to 3.5. |
| US09911816B2 |
Semiconductive device and associated method of manufacture
A semiconductive device comprising a body having: a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first semiconductive layer adjacent to the first surface; an active region comprising: a plurality of active trenches in the first surface, extending from the first surface into the first semiconductive layer, and having an active trench width, and a plurality of active cells; and a termination region at a periphery of the first surface comprising: at least one termination trench extending from the first surface into the first semiconductive layer, wherein the termination region has a width that is greater than the active trench width; and a number of termination trench separators having a width that is less than a width of the active cells, wherein the active trenches and the at least one termination trench each comprise a first insulator layer adjacent to the first semiconductive layer of the body. |
| US09911812B2 |
Semiconductor device having a fin shell covering a fin core
According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a fin structure is provided. The method includes the following operations: etching a first dielectric layer to form at least one recess and a first core portion of a fin core; form an oxide layer as a shallow trench isolation layer in the recess; etching back the oxide layer to expose a portion of the fin core; and forming a fin shell to cover a sidewall of the exposed portion of the fin core. |
| US09911809B2 |
Semiconductor device having impurity region
A semiconductor device having an impurity region is provided. The semiconductor device includes a fin active region having protruding regions and a recessed region between the protruding regions. Gate structures overlapping the protruding regions are disposed. An epitaxial layer is disposed in the recessed region to have a height greater than a width. An impurity region is disposed in the fin active region, surrounds side walls and a bottom of the recessed region, has the same conductivity type as a conductivity type of the epitaxial layer, and includes a majority impurity that is different from a majority impurity included in at least a portion of the epitaxial layer. |
| US09911804B1 |
Vertical fin field effect transistor with air gap spacers
A fin field effect transistor device with air gaps, including a source/drain layer on a substrate, one or more vertical fin(s) in contact with source/drain layer, a gate metal fill that forms a portion of a gate structure on each of the one or more vertical fin(s), and a bottom void space between the source/drain layer and the gate metal fill. |
| US09911802B2 |
Display device and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a display device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, includes forming a semiconductor of a transistor on a substrate, forming a gate insulating layer on the semiconductor, forming a control electrode and a first pad on the gate insulating layer, forming an interlayer insulating layer on the control electrode and the first pad, forming a first photosensitive film on the interlayer insulating, forming a plurality of first contact holes and a second contact hole by etching the interlayer insulating layer using the first photosensitive film patterns as a mask, removing a first portion of the interlayer insulating layer, forming a metal layer on the interlayer insulating layer, forming a second photosensitive film pattern on the metal layer, forming an input electrode and an output electrode, and removing the second photosensitive film pattern and a second portion of the interlayer insulating layer. |
| US09911800B2 |
Light emitting device
An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting device in which variations in an emission spectrum depending on a viewing angle with respect to a side from which luminescence is extracted are decreased. A light emitting device according to the invention has a transistor, an insulating layer covering the transistor and a light emitting element provided in an opening of the insulating layer. The transistor and the light emitting element are electronically connected through a connecting portion. Additionally, the connecting portion is connected to the transistor through a contact hole penetrating the insulating layer. Note that the insulating layer may be a single layer or a multilayer in which a plurality of layers including different substances is laminated. |
| US09911799B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of repairing the same
Provided is an organic light-emitting display apparatus and a method of repairing the same. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: an emission device comprising a plurality of sub-emission devices; an emission pixel circuit configured to supply a driving current to the emission device; a dummy pixel circuit configured to supply the driving current to the emission device; and a repair line coupling the emission device to the dummy pixel circuit, wherein the emission device is configured to receive the driving current from the emission pixel circuit or the dummy pixel circuit. |
| US09911798B2 |
Display device having a wavy line
A display device includes a substrate including an outer area neighboring a border; and an insulating layer positioned over the substrate and including a plurality of openings positioned over the outer area. The openings are arranged to be spaced from each other in a direction. The display device further includes a wavy line extending in the direction and passing the plurality of openings. |
| US09911779B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a laminated semiconductor chip configured to be obtained by bonding two or more semiconductor chip sections to each other and be obtained by bonding at least a first semiconductor chip section in which a pixel array and a multilayer wiring layer are formed and a second semiconductor chip section in which a logic circuit and a multilayer wiring layer are formed to each other in such a manner that the multilayer wiring layers are opposed to each other and are electrically connected to each other; and a light blocking layer configured to be formed by an electrically-conductive film of the same layer as a layer of a connected interconnect of one or both of the first and second semiconductor chip sections near bonding between the first and second semiconductor chip sections. The solid-state imaging device is a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device. |
| US09911776B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a solid-state imaging device photoelectrically converting light taken by a lens; and a light shielding member shielding part of light incident on the solid-state imaging device from the lens, wherein an angle made between an edge surface of the light shielding member and an optical axis direction of the lens is larger than an incident angle of light to be incident on an edge portion of the light shielding member. |
| US09911758B2 |
Display substrate, display device and display device identification method
A display substrate, a display device and a method to identify a display device are provided. The display substrate comprises a display region and a periphery region. The periphery region comprises a plurality of first bonding pads electrically connected to metal wires disposed at the display region and a plurality of second bonding pads including at least two identification bonding pads. The at least two identification bonding pads are electrically connected to voltage-level signal lines respectively, and are labeled with identify information according to voltage-level signals provide by the voltage-level signal lines. |
| US09911757B2 |
Semiconductor device and display device including the semiconductor device
Provided is a novel semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor comprises a first gate electrode; a first insulating film over the first gate electrode; a first oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film; a first source electrode and a first drain electrode over the first oxide semiconductor film; a second insulating film over the first oxide semiconductor film, the first source electrode, and the first drain electrode; and a second gate electrode over the second insulating film. The second transistor comprises a first drain electrode; the second insulating film over the second drain electrode; a second oxide semiconductor film over the second insulating film; a second source electrode and a second drain electrode over the second oxide semiconductor film; a third insulating film over the second oxide semiconductor film, the second source electrode, and the second drain electrode; and a third gate electrode over the third insulating film. The first oxide semiconductor film partly overlaps with the second oxide semiconductor film. |
| US09911756B2 |
Semiconductor device including transistor and electronic device surrounded by layer having assigned band gap to prevent electrostatic discharge damage
To provide a semiconductor device that is not easily damaged by ESD in a manufacturing process thereof. A layer whose band gap is greater than or equal to 2.5 eV and less than or equal to 4.2 eV, preferably greater than or equal to 2.7 eV and less than or equal to 3.5 eV is provided to overlap with a dicing line. A layer whose band gap is greater than or equal to 2.5 eV and less than or equal to 4.2 eV, preferably greater than or equal to 2.7 eV and less than or equal to 3.5 eV is provided around the semiconductor device such as a transistor. The layer may be in a floating state or may be supplied with a specific potential. |
| US09911754B1 |
3D memory structure
A process for fabricating a 3D memory is shown. Linear stacks, each of which includes alternately stacked gate lines and insulating layers, are formed. A charge trapping layer is formed covering the linear stacks. An amorphous semiconductor layer is formed on the charge trapping layer. An ultra-thin cap layer is formed on the amorphous semiconductor layer. The amorphous semiconductor layer is annealed to form a crystalline channel layer, wherein agglomeration of the material of the amorphous semiconductor layer is suppressed by then ultra-thin cap layer. |
| US09911752B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a stacked body provided on the semiconductor substrate and including a plurality of electrode films being disposed to be separated from each other along a vertical direction, a first semiconductor member provided inside the stacked body and contacting the semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor member provided on the first semiconductor member inside the stacked body, contacting the first semiconductor member and extending in the vertical direction, and an insulating film provided between the second semiconductor member and the electrode films. A configuration of a contact surface between the first semiconductor member and the second semiconductor member is convex downward. |
| US09911750B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices including asymmetric word line pads
Semiconductor memory devices may include a semiconductor substrate, a first stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate and a second stack disposed on the first stack. The first stack may include a plurality of first word lines with a plurality of first line pads stacked in a stair form, and the second stack may include a plurality of second word lines with a plurality of second line pads stacked in a stair form. The second stack may be shifted on the first stack such that sides of the plurality of first word line pads are exposed. |
| US09911747B2 |
Integration of a memory transistor into high-k, metal gate CMOS process flow
Memory cells including embedded SONOS based non-volatile memory (NVM) and MOS transistors and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the method includes: forming a gate stack of a NVM transistor in a NVM region of a substrate including the NVM region and a plurality of MOS regions; and depositing a high-k dielectric material over the gate stack of the NVM transistor and the plurality of MOS regions to concurrently form a blocking dielectric comprising the high-k dielectric material in the gate stack of the NVM transistor and high-k gate dielectrics in the plurality of MOS regions. In one embodiment, a first metal layer is deposited over the high-k dielectric material and patterned to concurrently form a metal gate over the gate stack of the NVM transistor, and a metal gate of a field effect transistor in one of the MOS regions. |
| US09911745B2 |
Three-dimensionally integrated circuit devices including oxidation suppression layers
A vertically integrated circuit device can include a substrate having a first region reserved for first functional circuits of the vertically integrated circuit device, where the first functional circuits has a substantially constant top surface level across the first region and having a second region reserved for second functional circuits of the vertically integrated circuit device and spaced apart from the first region. The second functional circuits can have a varied top surface level across the second region. A doped oxidation suppressing material can be included in the substrate and can extend from the first region to the second region at an interface of the substrate with the first functional circuits and the second functional circuits, respectively. |
| US09911744B2 |
Methods and apparatus for SRAM cell structure
An SRAM cell structure. In one embodiment, a bit cell first level contacts formed at a first and a second CVdd node, a first and a second CVss node, at a bit line node, at a bit line bar node, at a data node and at a data bar node; and second level contacts formed on each of the first level contacts at the first and second CVdd nodes, the first and second CVss nodes, the bit line node and the bit line bar node; wherein the first level contacts formed at the data node and the data bar node do not have a second level contact formed thereon. In another embodiment, a word line is formed and bit lines and a CVdd and a CVss line are formed overlying the SRAM cell and coupled to the corresponding ones of the nodes. Methods are disclosed for forming the cell structure. |
| US09911735B2 |
Fin-like field effect transistor (FinFET) device and method of manufacturing same
A FinFET device and method for fabricating a FinFET device is disclosed. An exemplary device includes a fin structure formed over a semiconductor substrate. The fin structure includes a source region and a drain region that include a first material layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate, a second material layer disposed over the first material layer, and a third material layer disposed over the second material layer. The first, second, and third material layers are different from each other. The fin structure also has a channel defined between the source and drain regions. The channel includes the first material layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor material layer disposed over the first material layer. |
| US09911731B2 |
Operational gallium nitride devices
A power circuit is described that includes a semiconductor body having a common substrate and a Gallium Nitride (GaN) based substrate. The GaN based substrate includes one or more GaN devices adjacent to a front side of the common substrate. The common substrate is electrically coupled to a node of the power circuit. The node of the power circuit is at a particular potential that is equal to, or more negative than, a potential at one or more load terminals of the one or more GaN devices. |
| US09911722B2 |
Method and structure for receiving a micro device
A method and structure for receiving a micro device on a receiving substrate are disclosed. A micro device such as a micro LED device is punched-through a passivation layer covering a conductive layer on the receiving substrate, and the passivation layer is hardened. In an embodiment the micro LED device is punched-through a B-staged thermoset material. In an embodiment the micro LED device is punched-through a thermoplastic material. |
| US09911720B1 |
Power switch packaging with pre-formed electrical connections for connecting inductor to one or more transistors
In some examples, device includes an integrated circuit (IC) inside a first insulating layer, an inductor, and a second insulating layer arranged between the first insulating layer and the inductor. The first insulating layer shares an interface with the second insulating layer, and the inductor is attached to the second insulating layer. The device further includes a conductive path configured to conduct electricity between the IC and the inductor, wherein the conductive path is inside the second insulating layer. |
| US09911719B2 |
Semiconductor component, lighting device and method for producing a semiconductor component
The invention relates to a semiconductor component (1) comprising: a plurality of semiconductor chips (2), each having a semiconductor layer sequence (200) with an active region (20) for generating radiation; a radiation output side (10) that runs parallel to the active regions (20); a mounting side surface (11) which is provided for securing the semiconductor component, and which runs in a transverse or perpendicular direction to the radiation output side; a molded body (4) which is shaped in places on the semiconductor chips, and which at least partially forms the mounting side surface; and a contact structure (50) which is arranged on the molded body, and which connects at least two semiconductor chips of the plurality of semiconductor chips in an electrically conductive manner. The invention also relates to a lighting device (9) and to a method for producing a semiconductor component. |
| US09911718B2 |
‘RDL-First’ packaged microelectronic device for a package-on-package device
Methods and apparatuses relate generally to a packaged microelectronic device for a package-on-package device (“PoP”) with enhanced tolerance for warping. In one such packaged microelectronic device, at least one redistribution layer includes first interconnect pads on a lower surface and second interconnect pads on an upper surface of the at least one redistribution layer. Interconnect structures are on and extend away from corresponding upper surfaces of the second interconnect pads. A microelectronic device is coupled to an upper surface of the at least one redistribution layer. A dielectric layer surrounds at least portions of shafts of the interconnect structures. The interconnect structures have upper ends thereof protruding above an upper surface of the dielectric layer a distance to increase a warpage limit for a combination of at least the packaged microelectronic device and one other packaged microelectronic device directly coupled to protrusions of the interconnect structures. |
| US09911715B2 |
Three-dimensional package structure and the method to fabricate thereof
The present invention discloses a three-dimensional package structure which can achieve a relatively high utilization of an internal space thereof, so that the size of electronic package structure can be reduced. The three-dimensional package structure comprises a substrate, a first plurality of discrete conductive components and a connecting structure. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface. The first plurality of discrete conductive components are disposed over the bottom surface of the substrate. The connecting structure is disposed over the bottom surface of the substrate for encapsulating the first plurality of discrete electronic components. The connecting structure comprises at least one insulating layer and a plurality of conductive patterns separated by the at least one insulating layer. The plurality of conductive patterns are disposed over the first plurality of discrete electronic components for electrically connecting the first plurality of discrete electronic components. |
| US09911708B2 |
Conductive pillar shaped for solder confinement
A method of fabricating a pillar-type connection includes forming, on a bond pad, a first conductive layer including a hollow core. A second conductive layer is formed on a first conductive layer to define a conductive pillar that includes a non-planar top surface defining a recess aligned with the hollow core. |
| US09911705B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor element, a surface electrode formed on a surface of the semiconductor element, a metal film formed on the surface electrode so as to have a joining portion and a stress relieving portion formed so as to border on and surround the joining portion, solder joined to the joining portion while avoiding the stress relieving portion, and an external electrode joined to the joining portion through the solder. |
| US09911700B2 |
Embedded packages
A structure consisting of at least one die embedded in a polymer matrix and surrounded by the matrix, and further consisting of at least one through via through the polymer matrix around perimeter of the die, wherein typically the at least one via has both ends exposed and where the die is surrounded by a frame of a first polymer matrix and the at least one through via passes through the frame; the die is positioned with terminals on a lower surface such that the lower surface of the chip is coplanar with a lower surface of the frame, the frame is thicker than the chip, and metal is directly attached to and covers at least part of the upper surface of the chip. |
| US09911698B1 |
Metal alloy capping layers for metallic interconnect structures
A semiconductor device is provided which comprises a metal interconnect structure having a metal alloy capping layer formed within a surface region of the metal interconnect structure, as well as methods for fabricating the semiconductor device. For example, a method comprises forming a metal interconnect structure in a dielectric layer, and applying a surface treatment to a surface of the metal interconnect structure to form a point defect layer in the surface of the metal interconnect structure. A metallic capping layer is then formed on the point defect layer of the metal interconnect structure, and a thermal anneal process is performed to convert the point defect layer into a metal alloy capping layer by infusion of metal atoms of the metallic capping layer into the point defect layer. The resulting metal alloy capping layer comprises an alloy of metallic materials of the metal capping layer and the metal interconnect structure. |
| US09911697B2 |
Power strap structure for high performance and low current density
The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that uses a metal strap to improve performance and reduce electromigration by coupling a middle-end-of-the-line (MEOL) layer to a power rail. In some embodiments, the integrated chip has an active area with a plurality of source/drain regions. The active area contacts a MEOL structure extending in a first direction. A first metal wire extends in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, at a location overlying the MEOL structure. A metal strap extending in a first direction is arranged over the first metal wire. The metal strap is configured to connect the first metal line to a power rail (e.g., which may be held at a supply or ground voltage), which extends in the second direction. By connecting the MEOL structure to the power rail by way of a metal strap, parasitic capacitance and electromigration may be reduced. |
| US09911695B2 |
Wiring board including multiple wiring layers that are different in surface roughness
A wiring board includes an insulating layer, a first wiring layer, and a second wiring layer. The first wiring layer is formed in a first surface of the insulating layer, and includes a pad on which a semiconductor chip is to be mounted and a wiring pattern. The second wiring layer is formed on a second surface of the insulating layer opposite to the first surface. The roughness of a surface of the first wiring layer exposed at the first surface of the insulating layer is smaller than the roughness of a surface of the second wiring layer exposed on the second surface of the insulating layer. |
| US09911691B2 |
Interconnection structure and manufacturing method thereof
An interconnection structure includes a first dielectric layer, at least one first conductor, and an etch stop layer. The first conductor is disposed partially in the first dielectric layer and has a portion protruding from the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer and covers the protruding portion of the first conductor. The etch stop layer has a cap portion on a top surface of the protruding portion of the first conductor and a spacer portion on at least one sidewall of the protruding portion of the first conductor, and the spacer portion is thicker than the cap portion. |
| US09911690B2 |
Interconnect structures with fully aligned vias
A structure having fully aligned via connecting metal lines on different Mx levels. The structure may include a first metal line and a second metal line in a first ILD, a cap covering the first ILD, the second metal line and a portion of the first metal line, a second ILD on the cap, and a via that electrically connects the first metal line to a third metal line, wherein the third metal line is above the first metal line and runs perpendicular to the first metal line, the via is fully aligned to the first metal line and the third metal line, and the via electrically connects the first metal line to the third metal line. |
| US09911686B2 |
Source down semiconductor devices and methods of formation thereof
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming device regions in a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side. The device regions are formed adjacent the first side. The method further includes forming a seed layer over the first side of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a patterned resist layer over the seed layer. A contact pad is formed over the seed layer within the patterned resist layer. The method further includes removing the patterned resist layer after forming the contact pad to expose a portion of the seed layer underlying the patterned resist layer, and forming a protective layer over the exposed portion of the seed layer. |
| US09911683B2 |
Film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor
The film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor according to the present invention is a film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor to be formed on a back surface of a semiconductor element having been flip-chip connected onto an adherend, wherein a tensile storage elastic modulus at 23° C. after thermal curing is 10 GPa or more and not more than 50 GPa. According to the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor of the present invention, since it is formed on the back surface of a semiconductor element having been flip-chip connected onto an adherend, it fulfills a function to protect the semiconductor element. In addition, since the film for back surface of flip-chip semiconductor according to the present invention has a tensile storage elastic modulus at 23° C. after thermal curing of 10 GPa or more, a warp of the semiconductor element generated at the time of flip-chip connection of a semiconductor element onto an adherend can be effectively suppressed or prevented. |
| US09911682B2 |
Phase changing on-chip thermal heat sink
A method of forming an on-chip heat sink includes forming a device on a substrate. The method also includes forming a plurality of insulator layers over the device. The method further includes forming a heat sink in at least one of the plurality of insulator layers and proximate to the device. The heat sink includes a reservoir of phase change material having a melting point temperature that is less than an upper limit of a design operating temperature of the chip. |
| US09911679B2 |
Semiconductor package with integrated output inductor on a printed circuit board
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor die comprising a control transistor and a sync transistor, an integrated output inductor comprising a winding around a core, and coupled to the semiconductor die. The winding comprises a plurality of conductive clips situated above a printed circuit board (PCB) and connected to a plurality of conductive segments in the PCB. The control transistor and the sync transistor are configured as a half-bridge. The integrated output inductor is coupled to a switched node of the half-bridge. At least one of the plurality of conductive clips includes a partially etched portion and a non-etched portion. The semiconductor die is attached to the integrated output inductor by a die attach material. The semiconductor die and the integrated output inductor are encapsulated in a molding compound. |
| US09911678B2 |
Substrate with integrated heat spreader
The present disclosure relates to a substrate with an integrated heat spreader. The disclosed substrate includes a substrate core, at least one connecting structure, and a heat spreader. The substrate core has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface of the substrate. The at least one connecting structure extends through the substrate core from the top surface of the substrate core to the bottom surface of the substrate core. And the heat spreader extends through the substrate core from the top surface of the substrate core to a bottom level that is below the bottom surface of the substrate core. |
| US09911674B2 |
Molding structure for wafer level package
Apparatus, and methods of manufacture thereof, in which a molding compound is formed between spaced apart microelectronic devices. The molding compound comprises micro-filler elements. No boundary of any of the micro-filler elements is substantially parallel to a substantially planar surface of the molding compound, or to a substantially planar surface of any of the microelectronic devices. |
| US09911671B2 |
Encapsulation system and method having variable output for heating encapsulant
The present disclosure discloses an encapsulation system and an encapsulation method, the encapsulation system including a thickness detection unit, an output control unit and an energy output unit, the thickness detection unit being connected with the output control unit, and the output control unit being connected with the energy output unit. The thickness detection unit is configured to detect a thickness of an encapsulant at a to-be-heated location in a component to be encapsulated and generate corresponding thickness information. The output control unit is configured to generate corresponding output control information depending on the thickness information. The energy output unit is configured to output, depending on the output control information, to the encapsulant at the to-be-heated location energy for heating the encapsulant. |
| US09911670B1 |
Integrated circuit including NCEM-enabled, via-open/resistance-configured fill cells, with NCEM pads formed from at least three conductive stripes positioned between adjacent gate
An integrated circuit, in the form of a wafer, die, or chip, includes multiple standard cell-compatible fill cells, configured to enable non-contact electrical measurements. Such fill cells include mesh pads that contain at least three conductive stripes disposed between adjacent gate stripes. Such fill cells further include geometry to enable non-contact evaluation of via opens and/or resistances. |
| US09911669B1 |
Integrated circuit including NCEM-enabled, diagonal gap-configured fill cells, with NCEM pads formed from at least three conductive stripes positioned between adjacent gates
An integrated circuit, in the form of a wafer, die, or chip, includes multiple standard cell-compatible fill cells, configured to enable non-contact electrical measurements. Such fill cells include mesh pads that contain at least three conductive stripes disposed between adjacent gate stripes. Such fill cells further include geometry to enable non-contact evaluation of diagonal shorts and/or leakages. |
| US09911664B2 |
Substrate features for inductive monitoring of conductive trench depth
A substrate for use in fabrication of an integrated circuit has a layer with a plurality of conductive interconnects. The substrate includes a semiconductor body, a dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor body, a plurality of conductive lines of a conductive material disposed in first trenches in the dielectric layer to provide the conductive interconnects, and a closed conductive loop structure of the conductive material disposed in second trenches in the dielectric layer. The closed conductive loop is not electrically connected to any of the conductive lines. |
| US09911657B2 |
Semiconductor device including finFET and fin varactor
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a fin-type field effect transistor (finFET) on a first region and a fin varactor on a second region. The finFET includes a first semiconductor fin that extends from an upper finFET surface thereof to the upper surface of the first region to define a first total fin height. The fin varactor includes a second semiconductor fin that extends from an upper varactor surface thereof to the upper surface of the second region to define a second total fin height that is different from the first total fin height of the finFET. |
| US09911655B2 |
Method of dicing a wafer and semiconductor chip
A method of dicing a wafer may include forming a plurality of active regions in a wafer, each active region including at least one electronic component, the active regions extending from a first surface of the wafer into the wafer by a height and being separated by separation regions, forming at least one trench in the wafer by plasma etching in at least one separation region from the first surface of the wafer. The at least one trench is extending into the wafer farther than the plurality of active regions. The method may further include processing a remaining portion of the wafer in the separation region to separate the wafer into individual chips. |
| US09911650B2 |
Semiconductor device with an interconnect structure and method for forming the same
A method for forming a semiconductor device structure includes providing a substrate and forming a gate electrode on the substrate. A first contact structure is formed in and on the gate electrode. The first contact structure comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is formed in the gate electrode, and the second portion is formed on the first portion. |
| US09911644B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same
The present disclosure describes semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same. The method includes forming an interlayer insulating layer on a substrate and forming conductive patterns in the interlayer insulating layer. A pore density of an upper portion of the interlayer insulating layer is higher than that of a lower portion of the interlayer insulating layer, and a pore density of an intermediate portion of the interlayer insulating layer gradually increases toward the upper portion of the interlayer insulating layer. An air gap is provided between the conductive patterns. |
| US09911636B1 |
Multiple diameter in-vacuum wafer handling
An electrostatic chuck and gripping system are configured for clamping and processing workpieces having differing diameters. An ion implantation apparatus selectively provides ions to a first workpiece and a second workpiece in a process chamber, where a diameter of the first workpiece is greater the second workpiece. A chuck supports the respective first or second workpiece within the process chamber during exposure to the ions. A load lock chamber isolates a process environment from an external environment and has a workpiece support for the respective first or second workpiece during a transfer of the first or second workpiece between the process chamber and the external environment. A vacuum robot transfers the first or second workpiece between the chuck and workpiece support, and has a gripper mechanism configured to selectively grip the first or second workpiece between a plurality of stepped guides. |
| US09911635B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, method of manufacturing semiconductor device and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a substrate container transfer device configured to transfer a substrate container accommodating a substrate and purge an inside of the substrate container; a purge gas supply unit installed at the substrate container transfer device and configured to supply a purge gas into the substrate container; a substrate container standby unit configured to accommodate the substrate container; a contact preventing unit installed at the substrate container standby unit and configured to prevent a contact between the purge gas supply unit and the substrate container standby unit when the substrate container is transferred to the substrate container standby unit by the substrate container transfer device; and a control unit configured to control the substrate container transfer device and the purge gas supply unit. |
| US09911634B2 |
Self-contained metrology wafer carrier systems
A self-contained metrology wafer carrier systems and methods of measuring one or more characteristics of semiconductor wafers are provided. A wafer carrier system includes, for instance, a housing configured for transport within the automated material handling system, the housing having a support configured to support a semiconductor wafer in the housing, and a metrology system disposed within the housing, the metrology system operable to measure at least one characteristic of the wafer, the metrology system comprising a sensing unit and a computing unit operably connected to the sensing unit. Also provided are methods of measuring one or more characteristics of a semiconductor wafer within the wafer carrier systems of the present disclosure. |
| US09911633B2 |
Semiconductor processing boat design with pressure sensor
Presented herein is a device processing boat comprising a base and at least one unit retainer disposed in the base. The device further comprises a cover having at least one recess configured to accept and retain at least one unit. The at least one recess is aligned over, and configured to hold the at least one unit over, at least a portion of the at least one unit retainer. The cover is retained to the device processing boat by the at least one unit retainer. At least one pressure sensor having at least one sensel is disposed in the base. The sensel is configured to sense a clamping force applied by the cover to the at least one unit. |
| US09911630B2 |
Apparatus for treating surfaces of wafer-shaped articles
A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber providing a gas-tight enclosure, and a rotary chuck located within the closed process chamber. The closed process chamber comprises an annular duct surrounding the rotary chuck and extending along a first direction radially outwardly of the rotary chuck and obliquely to a rotary axis of the rotary chuck, from an inlet end that communicates with the rotary chuck to an outlet end that communicates with an exhaust duct. The annular duct comprises a duct section extending between the inlet and outlet ends that is defined by an inner chamber wall spaced apart from an outer chamber wall. The extent of the duct section along the first direction is at least twice a spacing of the inner and outer chamber walls throughout the duct section, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US09911629B2 |
Integrated passive device package and methods of forming same
An embodiment device package includes a first die, a second die, and a molding compound extending along sidewalls of the first die and the second die. The package further includes redistribution layers (RDLs) extending laterally past edges of the first die and the second die. The RDLs include an input/output (I/O) contact electrically connected to the first die and the second die, and the I/O contact is exposed at a sidewall of the device package substantially perpendicular to a surface of the molding compound opposite the RDLs. |
| US09911628B2 |
Semiconductor device leadframe
For so called film assisted molding (FAM) device processing techniques there is provided lead frame for a semiconductor device, comprising a base portion and a connection lead, said base portion arranged for mounting a semiconductor die, said connection lead comprising a horizontal portion for external connection and an angled portion for connection to said semiconductor die, wherein the angled portion has a positive angle with respect to the base portion. The connection lead may comprise a recessed portion. |
| US09911625B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, an oxide insulating layer is formed so as to be in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer. Then, oxygen is introduced (added) to the oxide semiconductor layer through the oxide insulating layer, and heat treatment is performed. Through these steps of oxygen introduction and heat treatment, impurities such as hydrogen, moisture, a hydroxyl group, or hydride are intentionally removed from the oxide semiconductor layer, so that the oxide semiconductor layer is highly purified. |
| US09911620B2 |
Method for achieving ultra-high selectivity while etching silicon nitride
Methods of selectively etching silicon nitride on a semiconductor substrate by providing silicon to the plasma to achieve high etch selectivity of silicon nitride to silicon-containing materials are provided. Methods involve providing silicon from a solid or fluidic silicon source or both. A solid silicon source may be upstream of a substrate, such as at or near a showerhead of a process chamber, or in a remote plasma generator. A silicon gas source may be flowed to the plasma during etch. |
| US09911617B2 |
Etching method
The invention discloses a novel dry etching method, which comprises the following steps: forming a to-be-etched layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a masking material on the to-be-etched layer; carrying out dry etching on the masking material and the to-be-etched layer; simultaneously carrying out lateral etching (parallel to the surface of the substrate) of a masking layer and longitudinal etching (vertical to the surface of the substrate) of the to-be-etched layer; and obtaining the inclination angle (the included angle between a slope surface and the surface of the substrate) of the corresponding etched slope surface by accurately controlling the speed ratio. The method can flexibly adjust the inclination angle of the etched slope surface within a large range (0-90 degrees), and especially has advantages in the field of the application with a small inclination angle (smaller than 20 degrees) of the etched slope surface in comparison with a conventional etching method. |
| US09911616B2 |
Process for treating a structure
The disclosure relates to a process for treating a structure, the structure comprising, from its back side to its front side, a carrier substrate, an insulating layer and a useful layer, the useful layer having a free surface, the structure being placed in an atmosphere containing chemical species, the chemical species being capable of reacting chemically with the useful layer. This treatment process is noteworthy in that the useful layer is heated by a pulsed laser beam, the beam sweeping the free surface, the wavelength of the beam differing by, at most, plus or minus 15 nm from a central wavelength, the central wavelength being chosen so that the sensitivity of the reflectivity of the structure relative to the insulating layer is zero. |
| US09911612B2 |
Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices including impurity regions
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate is prepared. Boron-containing ions are generated by reacting a borane-based compound and a halogen-containing source with each other. The borane-based compound includes boron having a mass number of 11 (11B). The boron-containing ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate to form an impurity region. |
| US09911607B2 |
Method of processing target object
A controllability of a size of a mask can be improved in a multi-patterning method. A process of forming a silicon oxide film on a first mask and an antireflection film is performed. In this process, plasma of a first gas including a silicon halide gas and plasma of a second gas including an oxygen gas are alternately generated. Then, a region of the silicon oxide film is removed such that only a region along a side wall of the first mask is left, and then, the first mask is removed and the antireflection film and an organic film is etched. |
| US09911603B2 |
Pattern decomposition for directed self assembly patterns templated by sidewall image transfer
After forming spacers over a hard mask layer using a sidewall image transfer process, a neutral material layer is formed on the portions of the hard mask layer that are not covered by the spacers. The spacers and the neutral material layer guide the self-assembly of a block copolymer material. The microphase separation of the block copolymer material provides a lamella structure of alternating domains of the block copolymer material. |
| US09911602B2 |
Embedded gallium-nitride in silicon
A method and structure for integrating gallium nitride into a semiconductor substrate. The method may also include means for isolating the gallium nitride from the semiconductor substrate. |
| US09911597B2 |
Trench metal insulator metal capacitor with oxygen gettering layer
A method including forming an oxygen gettering layer on one side of an insulating layer of a deep trench capacitor between the insulating layer and a substrate, the oxygen gettering layer including an aluminum containing compound, and depositing an inner electrode on top of the insulating layer, the inner electrode including a metal. |
| US09911593B2 |
NAND flash memory and fabrication methods thereof
A method for fabricating an NAND flash memory includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a core region and a peripheral region, forming a plurality of discrete gate stack structures in the core region with neighboring gate stack structures separated by a first dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a flowable dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and the gate stack structures, and forming a solid dielectric layer through a solidification treatment process performed on the flowable dielectric layer. Voids and seams formed in the top portion of the first dielectric layer are filled by the solid dielectric layer. The method also includes removing the solid dielectric layer and a portion of the first dielectric layer to expose a top portion of the gate stack structures, and forming a metal silicide layer on each gate stack structure. |
| US09911590B2 |
Methods of forming dielectric films, new precursors and their use in semiconductor manufacturing
Method of deposition on a substrate of a dielectric film by introducing into a reaction chamber a vapor of a precursor selected from the group consisting of Zr(MeCp)(NMe2)3, Zr(EtCp)(NMe2)3, ZrCp(NMe2)3, Zr(MeCp)(NEtMe)3, Zr(EtCp)(NEtMe)3, ZrCp(NEtMe)3, Zr(MeCp)(NEt2)3, Zr(EtCp)(NEt2)3, ZrCp(NEt2)3, Zr(iPr2Cp)(NMe2)3, Zr(tBu2Cp)(NMe2)3, Hf(MeCp)(NMe2)3, Hf(EtCp)(NMe2)3, HfCp(NMe2)3, Hf(MeCp)(NEtMe)3, Hf(EtCp)(NEtMe)3, HfCp(NEtMe)3, Hf(MeCp)(NEt2)3, Hf(EtCp)(NEt2)3, HfCp(NEt2)3, Hf(iPr2Cp)(NMe2)3, Hf(tBu2Cp)(NMe2)3, and mixtures thereof; and depositing the dielectric film on the substrate. |
| US09911587B1 |
Methods and systems for quantitative mass analysis
A method of quantitative mass analysis of precursor species of different mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios from the same ion injection event is disclosed. A plurality of precursor ion species is introduced into a mass spectrometer at the same time, and isolated. A first subset of the isolated precursor ions having a first m/z ratio and a second subset of the isolated precursor ions having a second m/z ratio are fragmented. The fragmented ions are analyzed at the same time. A mass spectrum is generated for the fragment ions of the first and second subsets of precursor ions. |
| US09911581B2 |
Spherical device for detecting particles or radiation
A device for detecting includes a cathode forming a hollow sphere, filled with an ionisation and amplification gas, and an anode placed at the centre of the hollow sphere by the intermediary of a maintaining cane, wherein the anode is formed by an insulating ball and by at least two conductive balls positioned around the insulating ball and at the same predetermined distance from the insulating ball. |
| US09911580B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and baffle structure of the substrate processing apparatus
A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber. |
| US09911578B2 |
Small plasma chamber systems and methods
A plasma deposition chamber is disclosed. A substrate support for supporting a surface to be processed is in the chamber. A processing head including an array of plasma microchambers is also in the chamber. Each of the plasma microchambers includes an open side disposed over at least a first portion of the surface to be processed. The open side has an area less than an entire area of the surface to be processed. A process gas source is coupled to the chamber to provide a process gas the array of plasma microchambers. A radio frequency power supply is connected to at least one electrode of the processing head. The array of plasma microchambers is configured to generate a plasma using the process gas to deposit a layer over the at least first portion of the surface to be processed. A method for performing a plasma deposition is also disclosed. |
| US09911574B2 |
Scanning probe lithography methods utilizing an enclosed sinusoidal pattern
Provided among other things are a scanning electron microscope, scanning transmission electron microscope, focused ion beam microscope, ion beam micromachining device, or scanning probe nanofabrication device, wherein the microscope or device is configured to move a substrate and a scanning modality relative to one another with an enclosed sinusoidal trajectory, and methods of operation. |
| US09911573B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, systems and software for treatment of a specimen by ion-milling
Methods, apparatuses, systems and software for ion beam milling or machining are disclosed. The apparatus includes a specimen holder, a table, one or more ion sources, rotatable ion optics, and an imaging device. The specimen holder is configured to hold a specimen in a stationary position during milling or machining. The table is configured to change the stationary position of the specimen holder in any of three orthogonal linear directions and an angular direction. The rotatable ion optics are configured to emit an ion beam towards a predetermined location on the specimen from any of the one or more ion sources at any angle around an axis that is orthogonal to a horizontal surface of the table when the angular direction of the table is 0°. The imaging device is configured to generate an image of the specimen including the predetermined location, thereby enabling real-time monitoring of the milling or machining process. |
| US09911572B2 |
Method for controlling an interaction between droplet targets and a laser and apparatus for conducting said method
A method for controlling an interaction between droplet targets and a high power and high-repetition-rate laser beam at a laser focus position of the laser beam including providing a droplet generator for generating a train of droplets as a droplet target with a predetermined droplet frequency and velocity in a predetermined direction; providing a high power, high-repetition-rate laser for emitting a pulsed laser beam, which is focused in the laser focus position; aligning the droplet generator such that the train of droplets runs through the laser focus position; generating a train of droplets as a droplet target; and emitting a pulsed laser beam in synchronization with the train of droplets, such that the droplet target interacts with the pulsed laser beam at the laser focus position. |
| US09911570B2 |
Antiwetting coating for liquid metal
Technology is described for an antiwetting coating attached to a substrate (e.g., metal substate) on a liquid metal container. In one example, the liquid metal container includes a first enclosure member, a second enclosure member, liquid metal, and an antiwetting coating. The first enclosure member includes a first substrate with a first surface. The second enclosure member includes a second substrate with a second surface. The first enclosure member is positioned proximate to the second enclosure member such that a gap is formed between the first surface and the second surface. The liquid metal positioned within the gap. An antiwetting coating attached to the first surface and/or the second surface. The antiwetting coating includes chromium nitride (CrN), dichromium nitride (Cr2N), chromium (III) oxide (Cr2O3), and/or titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) attached to the first surface and/or the second surface. |
| US09911565B2 |
Sealed modular power distribution apparatus
Provided are approaches for modularized power distribution. In one approach, an apparatus may include a module extending into an interior cavity of a housing assembly through an opening formed in a base section of the housing assembly. The module may include a component grid at one end for receiving one or more components (e.g., fuses, relays, circuit breakers, diodes, etc.), and a wiring alignment cover at an opposite end operable with a terminal. The apparatus may further include a mechanical sealing element disposed along one or more surfaces of the module to provide a seal between the module and the base section defining the opening. In another approach, a plurality of modules may be disposed within a plurality of openings formed in the base section. In another approach, the apparatus may include a bracket configured to releasably connect the base section and the cover. |
| US09911564B2 |
Pressure-compensated fuse assembly
A pressure-compensated fuse assembly may include a first chamber housing a first fluid and a plurality of solid particles. Additionally, the fuse assembly may include a second chamber housing a second fluid. Further, the fuse assembly may include a pressure compensator disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The pressure compensator may be configured to transfer pressure from the second fluid in the second chamber to the plurality of solid particles in the first chamber. |
| US09911563B2 |
MEMS switch device and method of fabrication
A MEMS switch device including: a substrate layer; an insulating layer formed over the substrate layer; and a MEMS switch module having a plurality of contacts formed on the surface of the insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer includes a number of conductive pathways formed within the insulating layer, the conductive pathways being configured to interconnect selected contacts of the MEMS switch module. |
| US09911560B2 |
Electrical interruption switch, in particular for interrupting high currents at high voltages
An electrical interruption switch having a casing which surrounds a contact unit which defines the path of the current through the interruption switch, and having a propellant charge having a gas-generating activatable material. The contact unit has a first and a second connection contacts, an upsetting region, a separation region and a sabot. An extinguishing agent is provided in such a way that the motion of the sabot and/or the upsetting of the upsetting region reduces the volume for receiving the extinguishing agent in such a way that the extinguishing agent is injected through at least one discharge channel that connects the volume for receiving the extinguishing agent to the chamber in which the separation region is located, in order to extinguish or to prevent the formation of an electric arc between the ends of the separation region. |
| US09911558B2 |
Switch contact chamber seal
An electrical switch element is disclosed. The electrical switch element includes a housing having a switch chamber, an opening to the switch chamber, electrical switch contacts arranged in the switch chamber, and at least one positive-locking counter-element extending at least partially around the opening. The electrical switch element also includes a cover having at least one positive-locking element engaging the at least one positive-locking counter-element, the cover extending over the opening. |
| US09911557B2 |
SF6 insultated circuit breaker system with heater
A sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulated circuit breaker system having a controller coupled to at least two different sensor devices and operative to control a heat output of an SF6 heater based on signals from the sensor devices. An SF6 insulated circuit breaker system includes a controller coupled to a circuit breaker position indicator and operative to control an SF6 heater based on a signal from the contact position indicator sensor. An SF6 insulated circuit breaker system has a controller coupled to an SF6 density monitor and operative to control an SF6 heater based on a signal from the SF6 density monitor. |
| US09911556B2 |
Control knob having image output part
A control knob having an image output part is provided. The control knob having an image output part of the present invention includes: a head part through which an image is output; a body part into which a portion of the head part is inserted; a guide part which is provided inside the body part and coupled to the head part so as to guide the horizontal movement of the head part; and a returning part which is connected to the head part with the guide part and guides the head part horizontally moved along the guide part to the central portion of the body part. |
| US09911555B2 |
Click mechanism for electric part
The click mechanism comprises a spring 50 made of a plate material and disposed on a rotatable plate 40 that rotates integrally with a rotationally-manipulated shaft 10 of an electric part; two cylindrical click pieces 60 disposed on an outer perimeter of the rotatable plate 40 in positions forming an angle of 180° with respect to each other so as to retractably protrude from the positions at different heights on the outer perimeter in an axial direction; and projections and depressions 32 and 33 formed on an inner perimeter of a housing 30 in a circumferential direction, in two upper and lower tiers in the axial direction. The projections and depressions 32 and 33 in the two upper and lower tiers are staggered and the two click pieces 60 are biased by the spring 50 to be in resilient contact with the projections and depressions 32 and 33. |
| US09911554B2 |
Keyframe module for an input device
System and methods for providing a keyframe module for a input device are disclosed. In an embodiment, the input device includes a keyframe having a key opening, and a key disposed within the key opening. The key includes a keycap having a bottom surface, a plurality of tabs that extend laterally from the bottom surface of the keycap, and a protrusion extending from the bottom surface of the keycap. A compressible dome structure is disposed underneath the protrusion, and a plate is coupled to the keyframe and disposed underneath the compressible dome structure. A plurality of openings is disposed within the plate, where a location of the plurality of openings corresponds to a location of the plurality of tabs such that one or more of the plurality of tabs pass through one or more of the plurality of openings in response to the depression of the key. |
| US09911551B2 |
Concealed apparatus for communicating with an electronic device
An electronic device has a concealed external electrical connector that may be activated by a pin of a mating connector. When the pin applies a force to an electrically conductive and flexible region of an exterior housing of an electronic device the electrically conductive region deflects inwards coupling to a contact within the electronic device. A bi-directional communications path is then established from the pin of the connector, through the conductive portion of the housing, to the contact and to circuitry within the housing of the electronic device. |
| US09911549B2 |
Key structure and portable computer using the same
A key structure includes a supporting board, a base board, a pre-stressing force applying assembly, a key cap, a pivot assembly, an attractable element and a magnetic element. The pre-stressing force applying assembly is connected to the supporting board or the base board. When the magnetic element is under the first attractive position, the first end of the attractable element is attracted by the magnetic force and moved to the first attractive position, and the pre-stressing force applying assembly generates a first pre-stressing force; when the magnetic element is under the second attractive position, the second end of the attractable element is attracted by the magnetic force and moved to the second attractive position, and the pre-stressing force applying assembly generates a second pre-stressing force. The first pre-stressing force or the second pre-stressing force reduces the resistance during the sliding of the base board or the supporting board. |
| US09911546B2 |
Current collector, electrode structure, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, electrical storage device, and nitrocellulose resin material
A current collector which is suitable for discharging and charging at a large current density is provided. The present invention provides a current collector including a conductive substrate and a conductive resin layer provided on one side or both sides of the conductive substrate. The conductive resin layer contains a soluble nitrocellulose-based resin and a conductive material. |
| US09911544B1 |
Metal oxide vertical graphene hybrid supercapacitors
A metal oxide vertical graphene hybrid supercapacitor is provided. The supercapacitor includes a pair of collectors facing each other, and vertical graphene electrode material grown directly on each of the pair of collectors without catalyst or binders. A separator may separate the vertical graphene electrode materials. |
| US09911541B2 |
Supercapacitor
Embodiments provide a hybrid supercapacitor exhibiting high energy and power densities enabled by a high-performance lithium-alloy anode coupled with a porous carbon cathode in an electrolyte containing lithium salt. Embodiments include a size reduced silicon oxide anode, a boron-doped silicon oxide anode, and/or a carbon coated silicon oxide anode, which may improve cycling stability and rate performance. Further embodiments include a hybrid supercapacitor system using a Li-active anode in an electrolyte including LiPF6 in a mixture of ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and dimethyl carbonate (EC:DEC:DMC, 2:1:2 by vol.) and 10 wt % fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), which may reduce the self-discharge rate. |
| US09911540B1 |
Piezoelectric-based solar cells
In one embodiment, a solar cell includes a transparent electrode, a photoactive layer, and an electron transport layer positioned between the transparent electrode and the photoactive layer, the electron transport layer being made of a piezoelectric material that is mechanically deformed such that it generates a voltage or charge that modifies an energy barrier between the electron transport layer and the photoactive layer. |
| US09911539B2 |
Integrated photovoltaic-battery device and related methods
Provided are FeS2 based photovoltaic battery devices comprising a transparent substrate, an active layer disposed over the transparent substrate, the active layer comprising a porous film of FeS2 nanocrystals and a halide ionic liquid infiltrating the porous film, and an electrode disposed over the active layer. The device may be configured such that under exposure to light, photons incident on the active layer are absorbed by the FeS2 nanocrystals, generating a current and a voltage, whereby a separation of charge within the active layer is created, which is discharged in the absence of the light. |
| US09911538B2 |
Energy storage assembly comprising an electrically insulating elastic ring
The invention concerns an electrical energy storage assembly (capacitor or battery) comprising: -an envelope (20) including: *at least one lateral wall (21), and *an open end, -an electrochemical element (30) intended to be contained in the envelope (20) and -at least one cover (40) intended to be positioned at the open end of the envelope (20), each cover (40) including: *a cover wall (41, 45) intended to cover the open end of the envelope (20), *a lateral face (42, 43) at the periphery of the cover wall (41, 45) and intended to be facing the lateral wall (21) of the envelope (20), -at least one electrically insulating elastic annular ring (50) intended to be positioned between the lateral wall (21) of the envelope (20) and the lateral wall (42, 43) of the cover (40). |
| US09911537B2 |
Ceramic electronic component
A ceramic electronic component includes a laminated body including ceramic layers and conductor layers stacked alternately; and first and second external electrodes provided on portions of the laminated body. Each of the first and second external electrodes includes a sintered metal layer provided on the laminated body, a conductive resin layer covering the sintered metal layer, and a plated layer covering the conductive resin layer. The maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on the second principal surface is shorter than the maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on each of the first and second side surfaces. |
| US09911534B2 |
Multilayer capacitor and manufacturing method for same
A manufacturing method for a multilayer capacitor includes alternately laminating dielectric layers and conductor layers including less than 50 included in a first arrangement and a second arrangement different from the first arrangement when viewed from a lamination direction to form a laminate in which at least one pair of the conductor layers adjacent to each other with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween are included in the first or second arrangement, pressing the laminate to stretch the conductor layers in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the lamination direction, pressing the laminate to bend the conductor layers in the lamination direction, and forming first and second outer electrodes on laminate surfaces such that the first outer electrode is connected to the conductor layers included in the first arrangement and the second outer electrode is connected to the conductor layers included in the second arrangement. |
| US09911522B2 |
Wiring harness and coaxial wire
A wiring harness includes an electric wire having a conductor part and an insulator, the insulator covering an outer periphery of the conductor part and containing a plasticizer, and a coaxial wire having an internal conductor, an internal insulator, an external conductor, and a sheath, the internal insulator provided on an outer periphery of the internal conductor, the external conductor provided on an outer periphery of the internal insulator, and the sheath covering an outer periphery of the external conductor. The coaxial wire is arranged adjacent to the electric wire. The coaxial wire comprises a film layer which is provided between the internal insulator and the external conductor and which prevents transfer of the plasticizer. A contact force between the internal insulator and the film layer is 1N or more. |
| US09911521B2 |
Curable composition for electrical machine, and associated method
A curable composition for an electrical machine is presented. The curable composition includes: (A) about 10 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of a polyfunctional cyanate ester; (B) about 25 weight percent to about 60 weight percent of a first difunctional cyanate ester, or a prepolymer thereof; (C) about 10 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of a second difunctional cyanate ester, or a prepolymer thereof, and (D) about 5 weight percent to about 25 weight percent of a thermally conductive filler comprising boron nitride. An associated method is also presented. |
| US09911520B2 |
Alkylamine-gold nanoparticles having tunable electrical and optical properties
Disclosed herein are monolayers comprising alkylamine-gold nanoparticles that have tunable electrical and optical properties. Also disclosed is a method for forming the monolayers that comprises self-assembly of the nanoparticles. |
| US09911511B2 |
Fuel rods with wear-inhibiting coatings and methods of making the same
Nuclear reactor components are treated with thermal methods to increase wear resistance. Example treatments include thermal treatments using particulate or powderized materials to form a coating. Methods can use cold spray, with low heat and high velocities to blast particles on the surface. The particles impact and mechanically deform, forming an interlocking coating with the surface and each other without melting or chemically reacting. Materials in the particles and resultant coatings include metallic alloys, ceramics, and/or metal oxides. Nuclear reactor components usable with methods of increased wear resistance include nuclear fuel rods and assemblies containing the same. Coatings may be formed on any desired surface, including fuel rod positions where spacer contact and fretting is most likely. |
| US09911504B2 |
Non-volatile memory array using electromechanical switches for cell storage
A data storage cell for storing data is disclosed. In one aspect, the data storage cell comprises a first nano electromechanical switch comprising a first moveable beam fixed to a first anchor, a first control gate and a second control gate, a first output node against which the first moveable beam can be positioned. The data storage cell also comprises a second nano electromechanical switch comprising a second moveable beam fixed to a second anchor, a third control gate and a fourth control gate. The second moveable beam can be positioned against the first output node. Further, the first nano electromechanical switch and the second nano electromechanical switch are configured for selecting a first or a second state of the data storage cell and are configured for having their moveable beam complementary positioned to the first output node. A memory arrangement of such data storage cells is also disclosed, as well as methods for writing data to the data storage cells and for reading data from the data storage cells. |
| US09911500B2 |
Dummy voltage to reduce first read effect in memory
Techniques are provided for improving the accuracy of read operations of memory cells, where the threshold voltage (Vth) of a memory cell can shift depending on when the read operation occurs. In one aspect, a dummy voltage is applied to the word lines to cause a coupling up of the word lines and weak programming. This can occur when a specified amount of time has elapsed since a last program or read operation, or when a power on event is detected for the memory device. A number of read errors can also be considered. The dummy voltage is similar to a pass voltage of a program or read operation but no sensing is performed. The word line voltages are therefore provided at a consistently up-coupled level so that read operations are consistent. The coupling up occurs due to capacitive coupling between the word line and the channel. |
| US09911499B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and memory system
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cells, a word line, and first and second bit lines. The first and second bit lines are electrically connected to one ends of the first and second memory cells, respectively. In retry reading, a voltage applied to the first bit line is different from a voltage applied to the second bit line. |
| US09911495B2 |
Memory cell having resistive and capacitive storage elements
A technique including using an array of memory cells for data storage. A given cell of the memory cells includes a capacitive storage element and a resistive storage element that is coupled in series with the capacitive storage element. The technique includes accessing the given memory cell to write a value to the given memory cell or read a value stored in the memory cell. The accessing includes applying a time varying voltage to the memory cell. |
| US09911491B2 |
Determining a resistance state of a cell in a crossbar memory array
According to an example, in a method for determining a resistance state of a cell in a crossbar memory array, a first read voltage may be applied across a cell to sense a first cell current. In addition, a second read voltage may be applied across the cell to sense a second cell current. A difference value between the first cell current and the second cell current may be identified and a resistance state of the cell may be determined based on the difference value. |
| US09911489B2 |
Memory cells, memory systems, and memory programming methods
Memory cells, memory systems and methods are described. In one embodiment, a memory cell includes electrodes and a memory element, and a first electrically conductive structure is formed within dielectric material providing the memory element in a low resistance state as a result of a first voltage of a first polarity being applied across the electrodes. Additionally, the first electrically conductive structure is removed from the dielectric material providing the memory element in a high resistance state as a result of a second voltage of a second polarity, which is opposite to the first polarity, being applied across the electrodes. A permanent and irreversible electrically conductive structure is formed within the dielectric material providing the memory element in the low resistance state as a result of a third voltage of the second polarity and having an increased potential compared with the second voltage being applied across the electrodes. |
| US09911484B2 |
Oscillator controlled random sampling method and circuit
Various embodiments comprise methods and apparatuses for selecting a randomly-chosen seed row from among a stream of available data in a memory system. A refresh operation is then performed on at least one selected row of memory in the memory system based on the randomly-chosen seed row. Additional apparatuses and methods are described. |
| US09911483B1 |
Thermally-assisted spin transfer torque memory with improved bit error rate performance
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) storage element having a reference layer formed from a reference layer material having a fixed magnetization direction, along with a free layer formed from a free layer material having a switchable magnetization direction. The MTJ is configured to receive a write pulse having a write-pulse and spin-transfer-torque (WP-STT) start time, a WP-STT start segment duration and a write pulse duration. The WP-STT start segment duration is less than the write pulse duration. The fixed magnetization direction is configured to form an angle between the fixed magnetization direction and the switchable magnetization direction. The angle is sufficient to generate spin torque electrons in the reference layer material at the WP-STT start time. The spin torque electrons generated in the reference layer material is sufficient to initiate switching of the switchable magnetization direction at the WP-STT start time. |
| US09911482B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjustment of current through a magnetoresistive tunnel junction (MTJ) based on temperature fluctuations
A non-volatile memory system includes a first circuit and a second circuit both coupled to a magnetoresistance tunnel junction (MTJ) cell to substantially reduce the level of current flowing through the MTJ with rise in temperature, as experienced by the MTJ. The first circuit is operable to adjust a slope of a curve representing current as a function of temperature and the second circuit is operable to adjust a value of the current level through the MTJ to maintain current constant or to reduce current when the temperature increases. This way sufficient current is provided for the MTJ at different temperatures to prevent write failure, over programming, MTJ damage and waste of current. |
| US09911480B2 |
Semiconductor device chip selection
A method for accessing a plurality of DRAM devices each having a plurality of banks, the plurality of DRAM devices being interconnected to receive common address and command signals. The method includes receiving a first chip selection address and a first bank address with an active command to activate a first bank in a first DRAM device of the plurality of DRAM devices. A first bank active flag is set, corresponding to the first bank address, in the first DRAM device of the plurality of DRAM devices. A second bank address with a column command is received. A second bank is accessed in a second DRAM device of the plurality of DRAM devices having a set bank active flag corresponding to the second bank address. |
| US09911479B2 |
Semiconductor memory device outputting read-busy signal and memory system including the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells; a peripheral circuit suitable for controlling the memory cells, and operating in first and second modes respectively corresponding to enablement and disablement of a chip selection signal; and a ready-busy signal generator suitable for biasing a ready-busy line according to whether the peripheral circuit is in a ready or busy state during the enablement of the chip selection signal. Communication between the semiconductor memory device and an external device is allowed in the first mode. The communication between the semiconductor memory device and the external device is not allowed in the second mode. |
| US09911478B1 |
Method and apparatus for auto-calibration of delay settings of memory interfaces
In some aspects, a calibration method includes performing a write/read test for each one of multiple combinations of write/read delay settings, wherein each one of the multiple combinations of write/read delay settings includes one of a plurality of write delay settings of a first delay device and one of a plurality of read delay settings of a second delay device. The method also includes obtaining test results for the write/read tests, determining a pass region based on the test results, determining a center of the pass region, and selecting one of the multiple combinations of write/read settings based on the center of the pass region. |
| US09911477B1 |
Memory controller architecture with improved memory scheduling efficiency
Integrated circuits that include memory interface and controller circuitry for communicating with external memory are provided. The memory interface and controller circuitry may include a user logic interface, a memory controller, and a physical layer input-output interface. The user logic interface may be operated in a first clock domain. The memory controller may be operated in a second clock domain. The physical layer interface may be operated in a third clock domain that is an integer multiple of the second clock domain. The user logic interface may include only user-dependent blocks. The physical layer interface may include memory protocol agnostic blocks and/or memory protocol specific blocks. The memory controller may include both memory protocol agnostic blocks and memory protocol dependent blocks. The memory controller may include one or more color pipelines for scheduling memory requests in a parallel arbitration scheme. |
| US09911475B1 |
Semiconductor device which performs an active operation
A semiconductor device includes an information signal conversion circuit suitable for generating a flag signal from an external control signal in response to an information signal, and an implicit precharge signal generation circuit suitable for generating an implicit precharge signal for performing a precharge operation between successive active operations, in response to the flag signal. |
| US09911471B1 |
Input buffer circuit
Apparatuses for receiving an input signal in a semiconductor device are described. An example apparatus includes: a first amplifier that provides first and second intermediate voltages responsive to first and second input voltages; first and second voltage terminals; a circuit node; a first transistor coupled between the first voltage terminal and the circuit node and is turned on responsive to at least one of the first and second intermediate voltages; a second amplifier including first and second inverters, at least one of the first and second inverters being coupled between the circuit node and the second voltage terminal; and first and second output nodes, the first output node being coupled to an input node of the first inverter and an output node of the second inverter, and the second output node being coupled to an output node of the first inverter and an input node of the second inverter. |
| US09911470B2 |
Fast-bypass memory circuit
A memory circuit that presents input data at a data output promptly on receiving a clock pulse includes upstream and downstream memory logic and selection logic. The upstream memory logic is configured to latch the input data on receiving the clock pulse. The downstream memory logic is configured to store the latched input data. The selection logic is configured to expose a logic level dependent on whether the upstream memory logic has latched the input data, the exposed logic level derived from the input data before the input data is latched, and from the latched input data after the input data is latched. |
| US09911468B2 |
Memory with deferred fractional row activation
Row activation operations within a memory component are carried out with respect to subrows instead of complete storage rows to reduce power consumption. Further, instead of activating subrows in response to row commands, subrow activation operations are deferred until receipt of column commands that specify the column operation to be performed and the subrow to be activated. |
| US09911467B2 |
Resistance variable memory apparatus and operating method thereof
A resistance variable memory apparatus may include a memory cell array and a controller. The memory cell array may include a plurality of resistance variable memory cells. The controller may control a current path flowing through any one memory cell and a current path flowing through the other memory cell to be formed differently from each other in response to at least two address signals. |
| US09911464B2 |
Hard drive carrier
In some implementations, a hard drive carrier is configured to couple and decouple a hard drive to/from a chassis (e.g., motherboard). The hard drive carrier can receive and house a hard drive in a base securing portion, the base securing portion adapted to slide and tilt in relation to a base of the hard drive carrier. The hard drive carrier can include a pivoting lever comprising a handle that can be used to couple and decouple the hard drive from the motherboard. Using the handle to pivot the lever into an open position causes the hard drive to tilt upwards to decouple from the chassis and facilitate insertion or removal of the hard drive to/from the hard drive carrier. Pivoting the lever into a closed position causes the hard drive to lie flat and couple to the chassis. |
| US09911463B2 |
Variable scoping capability for physical tape layout diagnostic structure of tape storage device
According to one embodiment, a controller-implemented method collecting data relating to operation of a tape drive, storing the collected data in wrap sections of a tape map, where the wrap sections of the tape map correlate to physical lengths of tape. The method also includes and storing a subset of the collected data in a slice region upon at least one of experiencing a first trigger condition and reaching a predefined location on a tape. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments. |
| US09911461B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating a custom track
A method and system for creating and editing video and/or audio tracks is described. The method includes providing at least one artist, venue, and track available for selection and providing at least one clip associated with the at least one artist, venue, and track. The method also includes allowing a user to create a custom track from the at least one clip. The system includes a plurality of video cameras for recording a live performance at a plurality of positions. The system also includes at least one server for storing a plurality of video clips created from the plurality of video cameras and an application stored on the at least one server for allowing a user to access the plurality of video clips via the Internet. |
| US09911459B2 |
Information processing device and method, recording medium, and program
The present technology relates to an information processing device and method, a recording medium, and a program, which can improve a data transfer speed. In the recording medium, a recording area is divided into a plurality of simulated zones and a set of the plurality of simulated zones composes a simulated zone group. Then, an address is set to each area in the simulated zones so that the addresses are interleaved between the simulated zones composing the simulated zone group. By interleaving the addresses between the simulated zones in this manner, a local seek operation or a rotational delay can be reduced and the data transfer speed can be improved when recording or reproducing data to the recording medium in more than one channel at the same time. The present technology can be applied to an optical disk. |
| US09911458B1 |
Apparatus for minimizing cross track interference for optical tape
In at least one embodiment, an optical data storage tape including a plurality of tracks is provided. The plurality of tracks include a first track having a plurality of first informational fields configured to store one of first positional information indicative of a location on an optical tape and a first predetermined sequence of data. The plurality of tracks further include a second track located adjacent to the first track and having a plurality of second informational fields configured to store one of second positional information indicative of the location on the optical tape and a second predetermined sequence of data. The first positional information is located adjacent to the second predetermined sequence of data on the optical tape to minimize cross track interference during a read operation. |
| US09911456B2 |
Spindle motor and disk drive apparatus
A cup portion of a base member includes a cylindrical portion and a bottom plate portion. The cylindrical portion is arranged to be coaxial or substantially coaxial with a central axis extending in a vertical direction. The bottom plate portion is defined integrally with the cylindrical portion, and is arranged to close a lower portion of the cylindrical portion. A bearing mechanism is arranged inside of the cup portion. An outer circumferential surface of the bearing mechanism and an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion have an adhesive layer arranged therebetween. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a communicating hole passing through the cylindrical portion in a direction that crosses an axial direction is defined in the vicinity of a junction of the cylindrical portion and the bottom plate portion. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base member includes a communicating hole passing through the bottom plate portion in the axial direction. |
| US09911450B1 |
Optical storage system divider based draw verification with automatic bias or delay adjustment
An optical storage system includes an optical head and a controller. The optical head is configured to split a light beam into a higher power main beam and a lower power side beam. The controller is configured to write data to an optical medium via the higher power main beam, and read, directly after writing, feedback from the optical medium containing the written data and noise caused by the higher power main beam. The controller is also configured to process the feedback using data indicative of the higher power main beam to remove the noise and generate output indicative of the written data, and automatically adjust a delay of the feedback or the data indicative of the higher power main beam based on a signal quality of the output. |
| US09911448B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording medium, method of manufacturing the same, and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to an embodiment includes a substrate and perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer includes a recording portion and non-recording portion. The recording portion has patterns regularly arranged in the longitudinal direction, and includes magnetic layers containing Fe or Co and Pt as main components, and at least one additive component selected from Ti, Si, Al, and W. The non-recording portion includes oxide layers formed by oxidizing the side surfaces of the magnetic layers, and nonmagnetic layers formed between the oxide layers. |
| US09911443B2 |
Aligned shingled writing for magnetic recording media and media having shingle edge positioned tracks
A method according to one embodiment includes gathering information about how an array of writers write and/or are expected to write to a magnetic medium during shingled recording, and computing, using the gathered information, data describing a lateral writing position to use during writing such that shingled track edges are aligned according to a format. A method according to another embodiment includes obtaining a lateral offset from a nominal writing position, and applying the lateral offset for repositioning a writing position of an array of writers relative to a nominal writing position during writing in a first direction. A product according to one embodiment includes a magnetic recording medium; and data indicative of whether a lateral writing position offset was used while writing. |
| US09911439B2 |
Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) free layer damping reduction
In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor, the sensor having a free layer, a ferromagnetic spin sink layer spaced from the free layer, the spin sink layer being operative to reduce a spin-induced damping in the free layer during operation of the sensor, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer positioned between the free layer and the spin sink layer, the spacer layer having a long spin-diffusion length. |
| US09911432B2 |
Frequency band extension in an audio signal decoder
The invention relates to a method for extending the frequency band of an audio signal during a decoding or improvement process comprising a step of decoding or extracting, in a first so-called low frequency band, an excitation signal and coefficients of a linear prediction filter. The method comprises the following steps: —obtaining a signal extended in at least a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band from an oversampled excitation signal extended in at least a second frequency band; —scaling the extended signal by means of a gain defined by subframe on the basis of an energy ratio of a frame and of a subframe; —filtering said scaled extended signal with a linear prediction filter of which the coefficients are derived from the coefficients of the low frequency band filter. The invention also relates to a frequency band extension device implementing the described method and a decoder comprising such a device. |
| US09911428B2 |
Noise suppressing apparatus, speech recognition apparatus, and noise suppressing method
A noise suppressing apparatus calculates a phase difference on the basis of a first and second sound signal obtained by a microphone array; calculates a first sound arrival rate on the basis of a first phase difference area and the phase difference and a second sound arrival rate on the basis of a second phase difference area and the phase difference; calculates a dissimilarity that represents a level of difference between the first sound arrival rate and the second sound arrival rate; determines whether the pickup target sound is included in the first sound signal on the basis of the dissimilarity; and determines a suppression coefficient to be applied to the frequency spectrum of the first sound signal, on the basis of a result of the determination of whether the pickup target sound is included and on the basis of the phase difference. |
| US09911425B2 |
Device and method for quantizing the gains of the adaptive and fixed contributions of the excitation in a CELP codec
A device and method for quantizing a gain of a fixed contribution of an excitation in a frame, including sub-frames, of a coded sound signal, wherein the gain of the fixed excitation contribution is estimated in a sub-frame using a parameter representative of a classification of the frame. The gain of the fixed excitation contribution is then quantized in the sub-frame using the estimated gain. The device and method is used in jointly quantizing gains of adaptive and fixed contributions of an excitation in a frame of a coded sound signal. For retrieving a quantized gain of a fixed contribution of an excitation in a sub-frame of a frame, the gain of the fixed excitation contribution is estimated using a parameter representative of a classification of the frame, a gain codebook supplies a correction factor in response to a received, gain codebook index, and a multiplier multiplies the estimated gain by the correction factor to provide a quantized gain of the fixed excitation contribution. |
| US09911420B1 |
Behavior adjustment using speech recognition system
Methods, systems, and apparatus are described for inducing a user of a speech recognition system to adjust their own behavior. For example, in one implementation, a speech recognition system that allows children to control electronic devices can improve the child's speech development, by encouraging the child to speak more clearly. To do so, the speech recognition system can generate a phonetic representation of a term spoken by the child, and can determine whether the phonetic representation matches a particular canonical pronunciation of the particular term that is deemed age-appropriate for the child. Upon determining that the particular canonical pronunciation that matches the phonetic representation of the term spoken by the child is not age-appropriate, the speech recognition system can select and implement a variety of remediation strategies for inducing the child to repeat the term using a pronunciation that is considered age-appropriate. |
| US09911417B2 |
Internet of things system with voice-controlled functions and method for processing information of the same
An internet of things (IOT) system includes an IOT server and multiple IOT devices and a voice-controlled device connected to the IOT server and the multiple IOT devices. The voice-controlled device receives a voice-controlled message of environmental sound information through a voice control interface, and broadcasts the voice-controlled message to neighboring IOT devices to drive a corresponding IOT device according to the voice-controlled message. When failing to recognize the voice-controlled message, the voice control interface uploads the voice-controlled message to a cloud server for query through the IOT server, and broadcasts a result of the query returned from the cloud server. A way of chain broadcasting is employed by the voice-controlled device to drive selected IOT device or receive returned information so as to enhance operational convenience in using IOT devices. |
| US09911416B2 |
Controlling electronic device based on direction of speech
A method for controlling an electronic device in response to speech spoken by a user is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input sound by a sound sensor. The method may also detect the speech spoken by the user in the input sound, determine first characteristics of a first frequency range and second characteristics of a second frequency range of the speech in response to detecting the speech in the input sound, and determine whether a direction of departure of the speech spoken by the user is toward the electronic device based on the first and second characteristics. |
| US09911415B2 |
Executing a voice command during voice input
Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for executing a voice command during voice input. A voice module detects a voice command intended to interrupt a first voice-related task using a voice input device associated with an information handling device. A pause module pauses the first voice-related task in response to the interrupt voice command. A command module executes a second voice-related task associated with the interrupt voice command. The second voice-related task does not correct voice input received by the first voice-related task. |
| US09911414B1 |
Transient sound event detection
Techniques are described for detecting and/or validating audible taps, double-taps, or other tapped audio sequences generated by a user. A predicted voice signal is subtracted from an audio signal to produce a prediction error signal. The prediction error signal is analyzed in terms of dynamics and periodicity to determine whether it contains an audio pulse. In certain cases, prediction error signals corresponding to multiple microphones are analyzed to determine position information regarding the individual taps of a double-tap. A double-tap is validated and acted upon when the individual taps originate from the same location and the taps occur within a given time period. |
| US09911413B1 |
Neural latent variable model for spoken language understanding
A linguist classifier, for instance intent or slot classifier, is updated using data with only partial annotation indicating overall correctness rather that specific correct intent or slot values, which are treated as “latent” (i.e., unknown) variables. Full annotation of the data is not required. A small amount of fully annotated data may be combined with a substantially larger amount of partially annotated data to update the linguistic classifier. In a specific implementation, the linguistic classifier is a neural network and the weights are trained using a reinforcement learning approach. |
| US09911409B2 |
Speech recognition apparatus and method
A speech recognition apparatus includes a processor configured to recognize a user's speech using any one or combination of two or more of an acoustic model, a pronunciation dictionary including primitive words, and a language model including primitive words; and correct word spacing in a result of speech recognition based on a word-spacing model. |
| US09911406B2 |
Method and system for large scale audio system
Audio loudspeaker 100 can be arranged in various vertical arrays, such as 102 or 104. Each loudspeaker 100 includes a generally trapezoidal-shaped housing 120 composed of two forwardly projecting lobe sections 122. A pair of low-frequency cone transducers 130 are housed in the lobe sections 122. A vertically arranged set 132 of high-frequency compression drivers are positioned centrally in the housing to project in the forward direction. Three mid-frequency cone transducers 134 are vertically arranged along opposite sides of the high frequency drivers 132. Each of the low-, mid-, and high-frequency transducers are individually powered and controlled by a separate DSP channel. |
| US09911404B2 |
Combined active noise cancellation and noise compensation in headphone
The disclosure relates to combined active noise cancellation and noise compensation in a headphone. An audio processing device includes a selector and a noise compensation unit. The selector can select one of a plurality of first transfer functions based on at least one feature of at least one of an external noise and a content audio signal representing a sound to be reproduced through the headphone. The noise compensation unit can compute a second audio signal by applying the selected first transfer function to a first audio signal, and derive gains for the noise compensation at least based on the second audio signal. The at least one feature can be used to distinguish at least two of the first transfer functions. Each of the first transfer functions can transform the first audio signal to the second audio signal which is assumed as representing a version of the sound represented by the first audio signal, which arrives at an eardrum of a listener wearing the headphone. The first audio signal is one of a noise signal representing the external noise and the content audio signal. |
| US09911402B1 |
Dynamic drum beater
A drum beater shaft with a flexible coupling means disposed between the base portion of the shaft and the head portion of the shaft is disclosed. The base portion of the shaft is fixed and hingedly attached, typically, to a pedal operated actuator. The head portion of the shaft contains a striking device used to contact the drum when actuated by the pedal. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means disposed between the base portion and head portion of the drum beater shaft takes the form of a spring surrounded by an elastic sheath. In another preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means takes the form of a universal joint surrounded by an elastic sheath, In yet another preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means takes the form of a ball an socket joint surrounded by and elastic sheath. |
| US09911401B2 |
Electric guitar
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to guitars or other string instruments (10) that incorporate materials that are lighter than wood. Rather than achieving weight reduction by solely removing wood, which can weaken the structural integrity of the guitar and negatively alter sound quality, this disclosure provides replacement of removed wood with materials (16) commonly used in aerospace. |
| US09911399B2 |
Method of image processing, image processor performing the method and display device having the image processor
A method of image processing includes determining a supplement pixel and original pixels adjacent to the supplement pixel, deriving luminance data of the original pixels from input image data, calculating a difference value among the luminance data of the original pixels, selecting an original pixel of the original pixels as an effective pixel when the difference value of luminance data of the original pixel and a nearest original pixel to the supplement pixel is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, setting a weighted value of the effective pixel based on a distance between the supplement pixel and the effective pixel, and calculating luminance data of the supplement pixel based on luminance data of the effective pixel and the weighted value. |
| US09911395B1 |
Glare correction via pixel processing
A system and method for generating a corrected input to a display to offset glare is provided. The system determines a location of a user's head and calculates a reflection vector based on a head vector from a device to a point on the user's head. The system identifies light sources using a camera and determines display pixels on a display of the device affected by the reflection of the light sources based on head detection and locations of the light sources. The system dynamically adjusts pixel brightness to account for a detected glare, thus improving the user's experience operating the UI. |
| US09911388B2 |
Pixel structure, array substrate and display device comprising the same
The present application discloses a pixel structure, an array substrate and a display device comprising the same. The pixel structure comprises a pixel array comprising a first array section and a second array section alternatively arranged along a first direction; the first array section comprises at least one first pixel sequence extending along a second direction and at least one second pixel sequence extending along the second direction; the second array section comprises at least one third pixel sequence extending along the second direction and at least one fourth pixel sequence extending along the second direction. According to the present application, the brightness centers are uniformly distributed in the pixel array, thereby resulting in a more uniform brightness and a reduction of the sub-pixels' dark state light leakage when an image is displayed. |
| US09911386B2 |
Efficient luminous display
In one embodiment a display assembly comprises a liquid crystal module, a backlight assembly comprising an array of light emitting diodes, a timing controller, and a backlight controller coupled to the timing controller. The backlight controller comprises logic to initiate a power activation cycle at the beginning of an image presentation timing cycle and terminate the power activation cycle at the termination of the image presentation timing cycle. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US09911383B2 |
Pixel circuit and display device
A pixel circuit able to prevent a spread of the terminal voltages of drive transistors inside a panel and in turn able to reliably prevent deterioration of uniformity, wherein a source of a TFT serving as a drive transistor is connected to an anode of a light emitting element, a drain is connected to a power source potential, a capacitor is connected between a gate and source of the TFT, and a source potential of the TFT is connected to a fixed potential through a TFT serving as a switch transistor and wherein pixel circuit lines are connected by an upper line and bottom line and are arranged in parallel with pixel circuit power source voltage lines so as not to have intersecting parts. |
| US09911376B2 |
Display device
A display device including plural timing controllers is provided. The display device includes a display panel, first and second data drive circuits, first and second timing controllers. The display panel includes pixels and data lines. The first data drive circuit supplies data voltages to a part of the data lines. The second data drive circuit supplies data voltages to the other of the data lines. The first and second timing controllers controls the display panel according to a first inversion scheme when images displayed by first and second image data do not include predetermined problem patterns, and controls the display panel according to an inversion scheme other than the first inversion scheme when the images displayed by the first and second image data include at least one of the predetermined problem patterns. |
| US09911368B2 |
Tag holder
A pet tag holder supports from a pet collar a pet tag having a hole. The pet tag holder comprises a flexible, resilient body including a major front wall, an opposed major rear wall, side edge walls interconnecting the front and rear walls, a top edge wall, and a bottom edge wall. The top and bottom edge walls are continuous with the side edge walls and interconnect the front and rear walls. The body defines a hollow sleeve having an interior cavity adapted for receiving and enclosing at least one pet tag and a slot for inserting the tag into the sleeve. |
| US09911366B2 |
Shield strip having a plurality of printable identification plates and magazine for inserting shield strips into a printing device
A shield strip includes an elongated central web, a plurality of printable identification plates for identifying electrical components, the plurality of identification plates being arranged on two sides of the central web in each case in succession along the central web and being connected to the central web via connecting webs, and at least two holding pins of a different shape and/or size being arranged on the central web, wherein the at least two holding pins are formed in each case for engagement in an associated mounting of a magazine of a printing device. |
| US09911365B2 |
Virtual neonatal echocardiographic training system
A neonatal echocardiography training apparatus including (i) a computer; (ii) a life-sized doll mannequin; (iii) a magnetic tracking system including (a) a control module connected to the computer; (b) a magnetic pulse wave generator positioned behind the mannequin and connected to the control module; (c) a sensor-fitted transducer configured to detect magnetic pulse waves from the generator and connected to the control module; and wherein the control module reads data from the generator and transducer and transmits the data to the computer. A method of displaying continuous video clips obtained from slicing of multiple 4D echocardiographic image volumes and 2D video clips activated from the coordinates of specific slices of 4D volumes is described. These echocardiographic images are displayed when a trainee positions the transducer on the desired cardiac acoustic window on the mannequin. |
| US09911364B2 |
Resettable auto injector training device with a releasably locking shield and a resetting cap
A resettable injection training device having a an outer shell including a proximal end and a distal end, the outer shell defining a chamber there within, an actuation member near a proximal end, and a plunger slidable within the chamber is provided. The device further including a safety shield having an extended locked position, an extended unlocked position and a retracted position, a locking sleeve configured to interact with the safety shield, and a reset shuttle disposed within the safety shield at a distal end of the device, wherein the reset shuttle is slidable relative to the safety shield, such that movement of the reset shuttle toward the proximal end of the device unlocks the safety shield. |
| US09911363B1 |
Dental arch models
An arch model has a set of teeth and a wall which bridges the set of teeth and has a surface opposite the set of teeth. A cover which contains informational material about the dental arch model separably attaches to the wall of the dental arch model. Different informational material can be presented by removing the cover and replacing it with another cover which contains the different informational material. |
| US09911361B2 |
Apparatus and method for analyzing images
An apparatus is provided for audibly reading text retrieved from a captured image. In one implementation, the apparatus comprises an image sensor configured to capture image data from an environment of a user, and at least one processor. The processor is configured to determine an existence of a pointing trigger in the image data, the trigger being associated with a user's desire to hear text read aloud, and wherein the trigger identifies an intermediate portion of the text a distance from a level break in the text. The processor is further configured to perform a layout analysis on the text to identify a level break associated with the trigger; and cause the text to be read aloud from the level break associated with the trigger. |
| US09911360B2 |
Virtual testing and inspection of a virtual weldment
Arc welding simulations that provide simulation of virtual destructive and non-destructive testing and inspection of virtual weldments for training purposes. The virtual testing simulations may be performed on virtual weldments created using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system). The virtual inspection simulations may be performed on “pre-canned” (i.e. pre-defined) virtual weldments or using virtual weldments created using a virtual reality welding simulator system. In general, virtual testing may be performed using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system), and virtual inspection may be performed using a standalone virtual weldment inspection (VWI) system or using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system). In accordance with certain enhanced embodiments of the present invention, virtual testing may also be performed on a standalone VWI system. |
| US09911356B2 |
Audio bible players with a numerical indexing system and a multiple bible version playback function
Audio bible players with a 6-digit numerical indexing system to the chapter level or a 9-digit numerical indexing system to the verse level are disclosed. Users can not only find a particular chapter or verse of the bible quickly, but also can switch to the same chapter or verse of a different translation easily for comparison study. They are easy and convenient to use, and are great tools for bible study, bible memorization, language study, and sharing bible with people in other languages, etc. |
| US09911353B2 |
Dynamic content manipulation engine
A content delivery system is disclosed herein. The content delivery system includes a content management server, a survey server, and a database server that are communicatingly connected with a plurality of user devices. The database server includes a plurality of databases that are organized in a tiered memory such that prioritized data is placed in memory tier having faster components and non-prioritized data is placed in a memory tier having relatively slower components. The content distribution system can generate an evaluation and evaluation data by identifying a cohort for receipt of the evaluation, compiling the evaluation, and receiving evaluation results. |
| US09911351B2 |
Tracking objects during processes
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to tracking one or more objects during a process that utilizes the objects. For example, one embodiment provides a method for monitoring performance of a process involving one or more objects, wherein the method includes receiving a set of rules defining one or more portions of the process and receiving object identification information regarding the one or more objects. The method further includes, for a selected portion of the process, receiving image information of a physical scene, identifying from the image information and the object identification information an operation performed with an identified object in the physical scene, and taking an action based upon whether the operation satisfies a rule of the set of rules associated with the selected portion of the process. |
| US09911349B2 |
System and method for language instruction using visual and/or audio prompts
A system and method for language instruction for implementation on a language instruction system that includes a computer system, is disclosed, wherein the method may include identifying a speech segment in a target language, that is susceptible to mispronunciation by language learners; selecting an auditory attribute for use in playing the identified speech segment by the language instruction system; altering a level of the auditory attribute to differ from a naturally occurring level of the attribute; and playing a first text sequence by the language instruction system, including at least one instance of the identified speech segment, using the altered level of the auditory attribute. |
| US09911348B2 |
Neuroplasticity games
A game delivery system delivers a plurality of games in a training program. The training program is configured to systematically drive neurological changes to overcome cognitive deficits associated with a neurological disorder. In one embodiment, the training program includes an initial batch of games that predominantly exercise elemental, lower-level cognitive processes and sensory deficits. After a game participant progresses through the initial batch of games, the training program provides games that impose comparatively greater higher-order cognitive processing requirements on the participant. A clinician portal provides remote access to a clinician to data about the game participant's compliance and performance with the training program. The clinician portal also enables the administrator to configure the training program. |
| US09911342B2 |
Aircraft wake turbulence awareness
An avionics wake turbulence awareness system and method for use in an aircraft includes an ADS-B receiver that is adapted to be positioned in an equipped aircraft and receives ADS-B transmissions from other aircraft. A control system is responsive to the ADS-B receiver and determines an identity for each of the other aircraft and determines a movement of each of the other aircraft relative to the equipped aircraft. The control system determines a flight path history of each of the other aircraft from their respective identities and movements relative to the equipped aircraft. An output device is responsive to the control system to provide guidance to a pilot of the equipped aircraft to avoid an encounter with a wake turbulence caution area that is defined by a flight path history of another aircraft. The control system evaluates the relative risk of the equipped aircraft encountering the respective wake turbulence caution areas of each of the other aircraft, and after selecting an aircraft of the other aircraft with a highest priority, provides guidance to the pilot of the equipped aircraft to avoid an encounter with a wake turbulence caution area of the selected aircraft. |
| US09911338B2 |
Comprehensive flight planning tool
A system for providing a flight planning tool is disclosed. The system may include at least one memory device for storing flight information and one or more hardware processors. The one or more hardware processors may be configured to provide an Application Program Interface (API) for facilitating communication between the system and at least one of a client device and one or more third-party devices, receive, via the API, a request including first information related to a flight, collect, via the API and based on the first information, second information from one or more third-party devices, generate flight trip data based on the first and second information, wherein the flight trip data includes information and graphics associated with the flight, and provide, via the API, one or more user interfaces to the client device for communicating the flight trip data. |
| US09911332B1 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for parking likelihood estimation based on probe data collection
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for estimating parking likelihood in an area based on probe data points. A method may include: receiving probe data points associated with a plurality of vehicles; determining location data, heading data, and speed data from each probe data point; categorizing a probe data point as a driving probe data point in response to the heading data corresponding with heading data of a road proximate the location of the probe data point and the speed data of the probe data point being above a predefined value; categorizing a probe data point as a parking probe data point in response to the heading data failing to correspond with heading data of a road; determining a ratio of driving probe data points to parking probe data points; and providing an indication of parking locations in at least one region of a map in response to the parking likelihood for the locations satisfying a predetermined criteria. |
| US09911322B2 |
Electronic apparatus, control method thereof, remote control apparatus, and control method thereof
An electronic apparatus, control method thereof, remote control apparatus that controls the electronic apparatus, and control method thereof. The remote control apparatus includes a communication unit which communicates with the electronic apparatus; a user input unit which receives a user button selection indicating an input button; a sensing unit which senses movement of the remote control apparatus; and a control unit which controls the communication unit to transmit information about the user button selection to perform a function corresponding to the input button if the remote control apparatus is in a button input mode, and to transmit information about the movement of the remote control apparatus to the electronic apparatus to control the electronic apparatus by the movement if the remote control apparatus is in a motion recognition mode. Accordingly, controlling a game or a multimedia content is easier, and the user is provided with a new and interesting experience. |
| US09911319B2 |
Automatic security system mode selection
Systems and techniques are provided for automatic security system mode selection. A set of signals may be received from sensors distributed in an environment with a security system. The security system may be in a first mode. An occupancy model may be received. An occupancy estimate may be generated for the environment based on the set of signals from the sensors and the occupancy model. Mode rules may be received. The mode rules associate occupancy estimates with modes of the security system. A second mode for the security system may be determined based on the occupancy estimate and mode rules. The second mode may be different from the first mode. The mode of the security system may be automatically changed from the first mode to the second mode. |
| US09911318B2 |
Configuring a smart home controller
A method performed at a computer system includes: receiving current location data for a user; receiving door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; receiving current occupancy data for the dwelling; determining a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the received current location data for the user, the received door lock activation data for the door, and the received current occupancy data for the dwelling; if the door was locked from inside the dwelling and the user is present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set a configuration of the controller to a first configuration; and, if the door was locked from outside the dwelling and the user is not present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set the configuration of the controller to a second configuration, distinct from the first configuration. |
| US09911315B2 |
Personalized real time outdoor guidance application for mass evacuation
A system including is provided that includes a cloud application executing on a cloud processor that detects an evacuation message, a portable device that receives a notification from the cloud application of the evacuation message, a processor of the cloud application that determines a current geographic location of the portable device and an evacuation destination for the portable device and that downloads a map to the portable device showing a route from the current location to the evacuation destination, and a processor that updates the map based upon real-time events occurring along the route. |
| US09911314B2 |
Consumer alarm with quiet button
An alarm system is disclosed. The alarm system includes an enclosure; at least one sensor, the sensor is configured to communicate a signal to the enclosure; and at least one of a wireless transceiver positioned in the enclosure, the transceiver configured to receive an activation signal and transmit an alarm signal. |
| US09911312B2 |
Hygiene monitoring system
A system and method is provided for monitoring hygiene compliance. |
| US09911311B1 |
Tracking device location and management
A tracking system determines that a first device of an owner of a tracking device is not within a proximity of the tracking device, that a second device is within a proximity of the tracking device, and whether a tracking application is not running on the first device. Responsive to determining that the tracking application is not running on the first device, the tracking system generates a notification informing the owner that the tracking application is not running on the first device. Responsive to determining that a location of the second device within a proximity of the tracking device is more than a threshold distance from a last known location of the tracking device, the tracking system generates a another notification informing the owner that the tracking device may be lost. The tracking system provides one or both of the notifications to the first device for display to the owner. |
| US09911310B2 |
System and method for locating a hearing aid
A smart phone including a computer readable storage medium to store a hearing aid locator application and a processor coupled to the computer readable storage medium to execute the hearing aid locator application to track a last known location of a hearing aid. |
| US09911309B1 |
Personal proximity warning device which detects motion proximate a user
A personal proximity warning device for alerting a user to an approaching object includes a housing that defines an interior space. The housing is configured to couple to an article that is coupled to a user. A power module and a transmitter are coupled to the housing and positioned in the interior space. The transmitter is operationally coupled to the power module and is configured to communicate an alert to an electronic device of the user. The electronic device is configured to audibly communicate the alert to the user through one or more speakers that are coupled to the user, such as earbuds and headphones. A sensor is coupled to the housing and operationally coupled to the power module and the transmitter. The sensor is configured to detect motion in an area proximate to the user and to compel the transmitter to communicate the alert upon detection of the motion. |
| US09911308B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for locating and interacting with medicament delivery systems
In some embodiments, a method includes producing, from an adapter, a first wireless signal characterized by a first communication mode with a computing device when a portion of at least one of a medicament delivery device or a simulated medicament delivery is disposed within the adapter. An indication is received when the portion of the medicament delivery device or the simulated medicament delivery device is removed from the adapter. A second wireless signal characterized by a second communication mode with the computing device is produced in response to the indication. The second communication mode is different from the first communication mode. The second communication mode can be, for example, a hold mode, a sniff mode or a park mode. |
| US09911307B1 |
Water leak alarm assembly
A water leak alarm assembly for identifying a water leak in a toilet includes a first housing that is mounted to a tank of a toilet. An alert unit is positioned within the first housing and the alert unit selectively generates an audible alarm. A second housing is provided and the second housing is positioned on a fluid supply line on the toilet. A detection unit is positioned within the second housing to detect the sound of water flowing through the fluid supply line. The detection unit is electrically coupled to the alert unit. The alert unit emits the audible alarm when the detection unit detects the sound of water flowing through the fluid supply line for a duration of time that exceeds a trigger duration of time. |
| US09911301B1 |
Lost child notification system
The lost child notification system is a transponder based alarm system that monitors the position of a tracked person relative to an appropriate authority who should be in the vicinity of the person. The lost child notification system comprises a supervisory bracelet and a tracking bracelet. The supervisory bracelet is a finding that is worn or carried by the appropriate authority. The tracking bracelet is worn or carried by the tracked person. The supervisory bracelet sends out a first electromagnetic signal that stimulates the tracking bracelet to respond to the supervisory bracelet with a second electromagnetic signal. If the supervisory bracelet does not detect the second electromagnetic signal, the supervisory bracelet generates an alarm. The tracking bracelet further detects whether the security of the tracking bracelet has been compromised. If the tracking bracelet has been compromised, the tracking bracelet generates the second electromagnetic signal. |
| US09911298B2 |
Notification system for providing awareness of an interactive surface
A system for providing awareness of an interactive surface is disclosed. The system may include a processor that is communicatively linked to an interactive surface. The processor may determine a position and a velocity of an object that is within range of the interactive surface based on one or more of media content, vibrations, air movement, sounds and, global positioning data associated with the object. Additionally, the processor may determine if the object has a trajectory that would cause the object to collide with the interactive surface based on the information associated with the object. If the processor determines that the object has a trajectory that would cause the object to collide with the interactive surface, the processor can generate a notification. |
| US09911297B2 |
Threat detection system having multi-hop, WiFi or cellular network arrangement of wireless detectors, sensors and sub-sensors that report data and location non-compliance, and enable related devices while blanketing a venue
A data sensing and threat detection network comprising a plurality of wireless sensor devices and their related wireless sub-sensor devices, for communication with wireless detector units/gateways in a network arrangement to allow transmission of data there between in optimized paths, such wireless detector units to communicate, by secure means, to and from a Central Monitoring Unit that manages the sensing and alert process, based upon wireless sensor and wireless sub-sensor values and location data, data “rate of change”, and the like, and enables related devices, as and when required. |
| US09911296B2 |
Systems and methods for asset tracking using an ad-hoc mesh network of mobile devices
An asset includes a short range transmitter that broadcasts a first signal that includes a unique identifier associated with the asset. Each asset is carried by one of number of mobile devices, and each asset is freely exchangeable between any of the number of mobile devices. Each of at least some of the mobile devices carries a receiver to receive the first signals within reception range of the receiver. Each of at least some of the mobile devices aggregates the received unique identifiers. Each of at least some of the mobile devices carries a transmitter that transmits a second signal that includes data representative of a geolocation of the respective mobile device and data indicative of the unique identifiers received by the respective mobile device to a back-end system. The back-end system uses the data included in the received second signals to track and locate assets within a geographic area. |
| US09911295B2 |
Cordless indicia reader with a multifunction coil for wireless charging and EAS deactivation
A cordless indicia reader including a multifunction coil that can be configured to either transmit or receive electromagnetic energy is disclosed. In this way, the multifunction coil facilitates both the wireless charging of a battery and the wireless deactivation of electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags. The multifunction coil and a plurality of modules to perform these functions are integrated within the cordless indicia reader's hand-supportable housing. |
| US09911294B2 |
Warning system and method using spatio-temporal situation data
The warning system using spatiotemporal situation data according to the present invention comprises: a situation detection unit including a sensor module for sensing human-related data in environments requiring an early warning concerning security and anti-crime situations; a situation recognition unit which is configured to set a sensing region to be sensed by the situation detection unit and event conditions according to the spatiotemporal situation data, set a human subject as a human sensing condition according to the spatiotemporal situation data, and determine the occurrence of an event by comparing the human-related data sensed by the situation detection unit with data about the set sensing region, the event condition data according to the spatiotemporal situation data. |
| US09911293B2 |
Security device for integration into a security system
This invention relates to an apparatus and retrofit method for integrating a safe into a security system, said apparatus comprising a wireless transmitter that transmits the condition of the safe to the receiver of a security system. The apparatus comprises at least one battery-operated transmitter in wireless communication with at least one receiver through an antenna concealed on the exterior surface of the safe and sensors connected to the transmitter. The design of the safe body and the integration with a wireless interface allows for flexibility and portability of the safe while maintaining strong security. |
| US09911292B1 |
Smart material for haptic feedback
This disclosure relates to haptic actuators, and suitably haptic actuators based on repulsion and attraction between a coil and a magnet. Such haptic actuators are useful in structural materials, such as elements of wearables or accessories. |
| US09911290B1 |
Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices for tracking retail interactions with goods and association to user accounts
Devices, systems, and method are provided for tracking items in a store for processing a cashier-less purchase transaction. In one example, a method includes receiving sensor data regarding items associated with shelves of a store. The method also includes identifying a user entering the store. The identifying uses at least a device having wireless communication. The device has an application that is executed in associated with a user account of the user. Also, tracking the user movements while in the store. The tracked movements include detecting proximity of the user to a shelf having an item. And, detecting interaction data for the item on the shelf of the store by the user. The interaction data is configured to identify a type of said item and enable add said item to an electronic shopping cart of the user having said user account for enabling processing of said cashier-less purchase transaction. The method includes receiving data indicative of said user leaving an area of the store while the item is in the electronic shopping cart. Leaving is indicative that the user intends to purchase the item. An exit of the area includes one or more sensors for confirming that the user has left the area. The method includes processing an electronic charge to a payment service associated with the user account of the user for the item based on said confirming. |
| US09911287B2 |
Game device, game control method, and storage medium storing a program
A game device includes a first setting unit, a lottery unit, a decision unit, and a determination unit. The first setting unit sets a first character for a first player and a second character different from the first character, both belonging to a first group. The lottery unit decides stop positions of spinning slot reels of a reel group displayed on a display. The decision unit decides a battle action of the first group. The determination unit decreases hit points of an enemy character in response to the battle action and decreases hit points of at least one of the first and second characters in response to another battle action by the enemy character, so as to determine a winner based on respective remaining amounts of the hit points. |
| US09911283B2 |
Pari-mutuel-based skill wagering interleaved game
A pari-mutuel based interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate element request data associated with an interactive application; communicate an element request; receive element instructions comprising elements; and execute the interactive application using the elements; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request instructions; place wagers; determine wager outcomes for wagers; and communicate wager outcome data; and the application controller constructed to: receive the element request data; scan the element request data to determine the element selection; generate the wager request instructions; instruct the wager controller by communicating the wager request instructions; receive wagering acknowledgment data; associate the wagers with the element selection; receive the wager outcome data; receive the application element request; scan the application element request to determine a request for the selected element; generate real credit element instructions; and instruct the interactive controller by communicating the real credit element instructions. |
| US09911280B2 |
Gaming device and methods of allowing a player to play a gaming device having selectable awards
A gaming machine for providing a slot game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a display device and a controller for displaying a game to a player. The controller is configured to randomly determine an outcome of the game and display the outcome on the display device, determine a first award as a function of the outcome, and determine a second award as a function of the first award. The first award includes a first number of free games and a first award multiplier. The second award includes a second number of free games and a second award multiplier. The controller allows the player to select one of the first award and the second award and responsively provides the selected one of the first award and the second award to the player. |
| US09911276B2 |
Universal jackpot controller for gaming devices and gaming systems
A universal jackpot controller permits jackpots to be implemented at unlimited combinations of gaming machines and systems, including different types of gaming devices and systems of different operators and including land-based and online systems. |
| US09911273B2 |
Facilitating access to a target device
The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques for facilitating access to a target device. During operation, a target device presents a unique code to a user device that is located in proximity to the target device. The user device presents this unique code to a management server that is associated with the target device to gain access to the target device, with the management server linking the two devices. The target device receives notification that the user device has been linked and displays a set of received user account information on a display. Subsequently, the target device receives notification from the management server that the linked user device has applied a credit to the target device, and initiates an operation that is associated with consuming the credit. |
| US09911272B2 |
Controlling a user interface of a computer device
A computer implemented game has a game code module. The game code module generates a group game mode for user engagement at a user interface, the group game mode providing user selectable game objects on an initial game board on the display. The game code module is configured to receive from a server remote user game data generated by other user devices of users engaged in the group game mode. The display displays a progress indicator which indicates cumulative progress of the user and other users, using the game data generated by the user device and the remote user game data. |
| US09911269B2 |
Gaming method and apparatus for facilitating a game involving 2D and 3D play areas
Various embodiments are disclosed concerning games that use both 2D and 3D play areas. Various embodiments concern representing a 3D structure composed of a plurality of 3D shapes having a plurality of faces, presenting a plurality of elements, marking the plurality of faces and the elements, identifying a first set of one or more combinations of corresponding markings, moving the shapes of the three dimensional structure relative to the elements, and identifying a second set of one or more combinations of corresponding markings, each of the combinations of corresponding markings from the first set and the second set composed of markings from at least one of the elements and multiple faces of the shapes. |
| US09911267B2 |
Systems and methods for providing network access
Some embodiments are associated with receiving, by a vending machine, a request from a customer to initiate a communication session, establishing a first communication link between the vending machine and a device associated with the customer, and establishing a second communication link between the vending machine and a remote network device, such that a communication session is established between the device associated with the customer and the remote network device. Some embodiments are associated with receiving, by a vending machine, an indication of a selection of a product sold by the vending machine, receiving, from a customer, payment for the selected product, dispensing the product to the customer, the product comprising an indication of a communication session activation code, receiving, by the vending machine, an indication of the communication session activation code, and establishing a communication session between a device associated with the customer and a remote network device. |
| US09911265B2 |
Financial device
Provided is a financial device. The financial device comprises an upper module and a lower module disposed under the upper module. The upper module comprises a medium depositing and withdrawing unit through which media to be counted, media to be deposited, and media to be withdrawn are accepted and withdrawn and a discrimination unit connected to the medium depositing and withdrawing unit through a transfer path. The lower module comprises an additional function cassette and a medium storage unit which are capable of storing media. |
| US09911252B2 |
Apparatus, method and article for providing to a user device information regarding availability of portable electrical energy storage devices at a portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machine
A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Availability of charged portable electrical energy storage devices available at a collection, charging and distribution machine are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle. Once the mobile device of a user or a user's vehicle comes within close proximity of the collection, charging and distribution machine or within a particular area surrounding the collection, charging and distribution machine, the collection, charging and distribution machine or a collection, charging and distribution machine management system communicates an alert (e.g., over a cellular network, short range wireless signal or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network) to the mobile device or vehicle indicating how many portable electrical energy storage devices are available at the distribution machine. |
| US09911250B2 |
Sensor unit for a vehicle
The disclosure relates to a sensor arrangement for a vehicle having at least one rotation-speed detection apparatus, which continuously detects a state variable and outputs said state variable to an evaluation and control unit which receives and evaluates signals which are output by a rotation-speed detection apparatus, wherein the evaluation and control unit carries out a first evaluation process with the detected state variable and ascertains a rotation speed of at least one vehicle wheel, the rim of said vehicle wheel being fastened to a corresponding wheel hub by means of wheel fastening means. According to the disclosure, the evaluation and control unit carries out a second evaluation process and identifies and monitors, on the basis of the continuously detected state variable, mechanical play between the vehicle wheel and the corresponding wheel hub in order to detect detached wheel fastening means. |
| US09911243B2 |
Real-time customization of a 3D model representing a real product
A computer implemented method for visualization of a 3D model of an object, wherein the method includes: generating and displaying a first view of the 3D-model; receiving an user input, the user input are one or more interaction commands comprises interactions for customization of 3D model by at least one of adding, removing, replacing, scaling, or changing geometry, or combination thereof, of mechanical, electronic, digital, or pneumatic part/s of the 3D model by changing texture and/or graphics data of the part identifying one or more interaction commands; in response to the identified command/s, rendering of corresponding interaction to 3D model of object with or without sound output using texture data, computer graphics data and selectively using sound data of the 3D-model of object; and displaying the corresponding interaction to 3D-model. |
| US09911241B2 |
Rendering plausible images of 3D polygon meshes
Methods and computer systems for rendering plausible images of 3D polygon mesh(es) in a computer simulation comprising a computer generated environment. On a 3D polygon mesh defined using a plurality of vertices providing a plurality of rendering faces, determining an anchor point from at least three of the plurality of vertices, for each one of the rendering faces of the 3D polygon mesh, determining whether a path exists towards the anchor point and/or whether the one rendering face is on an unstable part of the 3D polygon mesh. When the path does not exist or when the part is unstable, removing the one rendering face from the 3D polygon mesh into an updated 3D polygon mesh. Rendering the updated 3D polygon mesh for display comprising a subset of the plurality of rendering faces using a visual texture, the subset being determined from the field of view of the computer simulation. |
| US09911234B2 |
User interface rendering in augmented or virtual reality systems
An augmented reality display system comprises a passable world model data comprises a set of map points corresponding to one or more objects of the real world. The augmented reality system also comprises a processor to communicate with one or more individual augmented reality display systems to pass a portion of the passable world model data to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems, wherein the piece of the passable world model data is passed based at least in part on respective locations corresponding to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems. |
| US09911233B2 |
Systems and methods for using image based light solutions for augmented or virtual reality
An augmented reality display system comprises a passable world model data comprises a set of map points corresponding to one or more objects of the real world. The augmented reality system also comprises a processor to communicate with one or more individual augmented reality display systems to pass a portion of the passable world model data to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems, wherein the piece of the passable world model data is passed based at least in part on respective locations corresponding to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems. |
| US09911232B2 |
Molding and anchoring physically constrained virtual environments to real-world environments
An “Anchored Environment Generator” generates a physically constrained virtual environment that is molded and anchored to a real-world environment around a user (or multiple users). This molding and anchoring of the physically constrained virtual environment ensures that at least a portion of the physically constrained virtual environment matches tactile truth for one or more surfaces and objects within the real-world environment. Real objects and surfaces in the real-world environment may appear as different virtual objects, and may have different functionality, in the physically constrained virtual environment. Consequently, users may move around within the physically constrained virtual environment while touching and interacting with virtual objects in the physically constrained virtual environment. In some implementations, the physically constrained virtual environment is constructed from virtual building blocks that are consistent with a theme-based specification (e.g., French bistro, space station, starship, alternate real-world environments, alien world, apocalyptic wasteland, medieval village, hospital, castle, etc.). |
| US09911226B2 |
Method for cleaning or processing a room by means of an autonomously mobile device
A method for cleaning or processing a room uses an autonomously mobile device. In order the relieve the user of the task of finding the exact subarea to which the device must travel, or avoid, on a map of the room, the user in order to select a subarea takes a photograph of the subarea and transmits it to a processing unit. In this way a method is provided that is less time-consuming and more convenient for the user. |
| US09911225B2 |
Live capturing of light map image sequences for image-based lighting of medical data
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for live capturing of light map image sequences for image-based lighting of medical data. Patient volume scan data for a target area is received over time by a processor. Lighting environment data for the target area is captured over time by a camera. The camera transmits the lighting environment data to the processor over time. The processor lights the patient volume scan data with the lighting environment data into lighted volume data over time. The processor renders an image of the lighted volume data over time. |
| US09911221B2 |
Animated page turning
A digital reading device includes reader functionality and displays a page turn animation. The digital reading device includes a display displaying a digital content page. The display may include touch-sensitive functionality. Page turn input information including location information is received at the digital reading device. A virtual cylinder is generated based on the information. A corresponding cylinder surface location is determined for each of one or more page locations. The generated cylinder is rendered on the display and the digital content of each of the one or more page locations is textured on the rendered cylinder at the corresponding cylinder surface locations. The digital reading device adaptively tracks the movement of a page input on the display and produces a page turn animation that responds to the movement of the page turn input. |
| US09911214B2 |
Display control method and display control apparatus
Embodiments of the present application disclose a display control method and a display control apparatus, relating to the field of near-to-eye display technologies. The method includes: determining a first display area, in the FOV of a user, of an image displayed on a main display device; and using at least one near-to-eye display device according to the first display area to display augmentation information related to the image. In the method and apparatus of the embodiments of the present application, at least one near-to-eye display device is used to supplement a display that is provided at a suitable viewing distance of a user by a device but cannot fully fill the FOV of the user, and augmentation information is used to fill the FOV of the user as far as possible, so that good immersion media viewing experience can be provided. |
| US09911212B2 |
Resetting of dynamically grown accelerated data structure
A circuit arrangement, program product and method are provided for resetting a dynamically grown Accelerated Data Structure (ADS) used in image processing in which an ADS is initialized by reusing the root node of a prior ADS and resetting at least one node in the prior ADS to break a link between the reset node and a linked-to node in the prior ADS. By doing so, the memory allocated to the prior ADS may be reused for the new ADS, without having to clear or wipe out all of the allocated memory. In addition, in some instances, given the similarity of many image frames, often some or all of the node structure of a prior ADS may be reused for a new ADS, requiring only the contents of nodes to be cleared, instead of having to clear out all of the nodes in the prior ADS. As a result, the processing overhead associated with initializing a new ADS can be significantly reduced. |
| US09911211B1 |
Lens-based user-interface for visualizations of graphs
Provided is a process of adjusting a visualization of a graph in response to user interactions with the visualization, the process including: obtaining a graph; causing a visualization of the graph to be presented on one or more displays having a display area; receiving a request for a lens be applied to the visualization; selecting a first portion of the graph based on the first portion being presented within the region specified by the lens; and transforming the first portion of the graph. |
| US09911210B1 |
Raster log digitization system and method
A system and method for well log vectorization are described that assist geologists or other technicians to rapidly and accurately vectorize well log curves that are visually evident in a raster well log image. The resulting digital well log curves are instrumental for qualitative interpretation and quantitative analysis of geologic information measured along well bores. The system and method simplifies and makes more efficient and accurate the process of vectorizing well log curves that are displayed in a digital raster log image. |
| US09911208B2 |
Apparatus and method of iterative image reconstruction using regularization-parameter control
A method and apparatus is provided to predict a regularization parameter for regularized iterative reconstruction of radiation detection data (e.g., computed tomography (CT) data or positron-emission tomography (PET) data) to generate a reconstructed image having specified statistical properties. The predicted regularization parameter is determined using a root-finding method performed on a transcendental objective function. The objective function is calculated using a three-dimensional Fourier transforms of an approximation to a shift invariant Hessian matrix and of matrix products between the forward-projection and back projection matrices of the system model and various (statistical) weight matrices. The specified statistical properties can include the standard deviation within a region of interest, a local spatial resolution, a low-contrast-detectability metric, etc. In addition to the specified statistical properties, the prediction of the regularization parameter accounts for the statistical properties of the radiation detection data, the display field of view, and the system model. |
| US09911203B2 |
System and method for size estimation of in-vivo objects
A system, method and virtual tool for size estimation of in-vivo objects includes receiving and displaying a two-dimensional image of in-vivo objects obtained by in-vivo imaging device; receiving indication of a selected area representing a point of interest from the user via a user input device; estimating depth of a plurality of image pixels around the selected area; calculating three-dimensional coordinates representation of the plurality of image points, based on the estimated depths; casting a virtual tool of a known size onto the three-dimensional representation; and projecting the virtual tool onto the two-dimensional image to create a cursor having a two-dimensional shape on the displayed image. |
| US09911196B2 |
Method and apparatus to generate haptic feedback from video content analysis
A system includes an image capture device configured to capture images, and a processor programmed with one or more computer program modules. When executed, the one or more computer program modules are configured to receive the images captured by the image capture device, generate a control signal for a haptic output device as the images are received, synchronize the images and the control signal, and output a video with the synchronized images and the control signal. |
| US09911192B2 |
Scene change detection in a dimensioner
A package dimensioner is disclosed. A change in the pose of the package dimensioner is detected by background modeling the area of a measurement platform and then determining if a number of points in a scene are different in distance from the background model. Change in the pose can also be detected by comparing a count of support points in a 3D container generated from images taken in a training process with a count of support points in a subsequent images and determining how many support points are different. |
| US09911191B2 |
State estimation apparatus, state estimation method, and integrated circuit with calculation of likelihood data and estimation of posterior probability distribution data
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a state estimation apparatus that appropriately estimates the internal state of an observation target by determining likelihoods from a plurality of observations. An observation obtaining unit of the state estimation system obtains, at given time intervals, a plurality of observation data obtained from an observable event. The observation selecting unit selects a piece of observation data from the plurality of pieces of observation data obtained by the observation obtaining unit based on a posterior probability distribution data obtained at a preceding time t−1. The likelihood obtaining unit obtains likelihood data based on the observation data selected by the observation selecting unit and predicted probability distribution data obtained through prediction processing using the posterior probability distribution data. The posterior probability distribution estimation unit estimates posterior probability distribution data representing a state of the observable event based on the predicted probability distribution data obtained by the likelihood obtaining unit and the likelihood data. The prior probability distribution output unit outputs prior probability distribution data based on the posterior probability distribution data estimated by the posterior probability distribution estimation unit as prior probability distribution data at a next time t+1. |
| US09911180B2 |
Computational imaging with uncalibrated pupil phase
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving image quality by modifying received radiation wavefronts with one or more uncalibrated variable phase plates at the pupil plane of the optical system, to produce an atmospheric-like blurred image on the focal plane with an effective increase in the sampling parameter Q. Real-time image restoration algorithms may then be applied to data sets sampled from the blurred image formed on the detector array. Numerous phase plate embodiments are provided for modifying the wavefront. |
| US09911178B2 |
System and method for content-adaptive super-resolution via cross-scale self-learning
A display system converts Full-High Definition (FHD) image content into Ultra-High Definition (UHD) image content. The display system includes an interface that provides image content to a display having a first resolution. The display system also includes a processor that converts an input image from a second resolution to the first resolution. The first resolution is greater than the second resolution. The processor generates a first value corresponding to a lost high-frequency component (HFC) of the input image; generates an initial component of an output image; selects a patch of the input image; estimates a lost HFC of the patch of the initial component based on a portion of the lost HFC of the input image that corresponds to the selected patch; and generates the output image based on a sum of the patch of the initial component and the estimated lost HFC of the patch of the initial component. |
| US09911173B2 |
Method and device for displaying images
A method for displaying a plurality of images is provided. The method includes: obtaining one or more image sets based on the plurality of images, wherein a similarity degree between each pair of images in each image set is greater than a similarity threshold; identifying an operation instruction triggered on at least one of the image sets; if the operation instruction triggered on the at least one of the image sets satisfies a predetermined updating condition, updating the similarity threshold; and displaying the plurality of images based on the updated similarity threshold. |
| US09911168B2 |
Entity location management using vehicle logistics information
Physical location information for a specified user is corrected according to vehicle location and trajectory analysis. Vehicles, such as delivery vehicles, produce physical location information for the vehicle during delivery events to the specified user and a surrounding physical area. The physical location information for the vehicle is accessed to correct erroneous physical location information for the specified user. |
| US09911167B2 |
Clinical content-driven architecture systems and methods of use
Certain examples provide methods, systems and apparatus of content-driven clinical information management. An example method includes facilitating authoring of content and combination of the content into a content-based application, wherein content represents a parameterization of instructions to instruct the content-based application how to operate, the content formulated according to one or more detailed clinical models. The example method includes packaging and deploying the content-based application using a processor to one or more targets for installation. The example method includes facilitating installation of the packaged content-based application at the one or more targets. The example method includes managing the content-based application remotely from the one or more targets. In the example method, content is to be created, stored, deployed, and retrieved independently of the creation and deployment of the content-based application consuming data based on the content. |
| US09911166B2 |
Systems and methods for three-dimensional interaction monitoring in an EMS environment
A method for tracking interactions in an emergency response environment according to embodiments of the present invention includes receiving color images and depth information from within a field of view of a sensor array; maintaining an emergency encounter record; monitoring one or both of a position of an object and movement of the object in the emergency response environment based on the color images and depth information received by the sensor array; and recording an occurrence of a condition in the emergency encounter record, wherein the condition is based on the one or both of the position of the object and the movement of the object. |
| US09911165B2 |
Computational systems and methods for health services planning and matching
Systems and methods are described relating to detecting an indication of at least one attribute of an individual; accepting sensor data about the individual; and presenting a set of health care options at least partially based on the detecting an indication of at least one attribute of the individual and the accepting sensor data about the individual. |
| US09911162B2 |
Cognitive marketing based on social networking of positive reviewers
A method for online marketing provides that one or more processors receive content from an online social media site that is a review of a product of a product type. One or more processors determine a reviewer of the content that generates at least one positive review associated with the product of the product type and determines a reputation score of the reviewer based, at least in part, on the quantity of positive reviews and response data associated with the positive reviews, and one or more processors determine whether the reputation score of the reviewer of the at least one positive product review meets a predetermined threshold condition. |
| US09911157B2 |
Derivatives trading methods that use a variable order price
Methods and systems for an exchange to handle variable derivative product order prices are disclosed. The price of a derivative product order (bid or offer) is updated based on changes in the price of a related underlying product. Price determination variable(s), such as delta and gamma, are used to determine the price of the order. The exchange may periodically recalculate the price without requiring the trader to transmit additional information to the exchange. |
| US09911156B2 |
Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing reverse auction transport services
A method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing reverse auction services are provided. A reverse auction request for transportation or a reverse auction request for delivery is received from a communications device. Geographical location information of an origination location and a destination location for the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is received from the communications device. The reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is transmitted. Bids to the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery are received. The bids to the request for transportation or delivery are transmitted to the communications device. |
| US09911155B1 |
Generation of electronic shopping lists for recurring item purchases based on consumer location and schedule
A host computer is coupled to a source of item-level transaction data and a consumer computing device such as a Smartphone. A purchase program determines respective purchase intervals of respective items purchased by consumer from respective merchants using respective item-level electronic transaction data representing prior purchases of respective items by consumer. A shopping list program receives a location of consumer and/or data of an electronic calendar of consumer at host computer, identifies at least one merchant within a pre-determined distance of the received location and/or at which consumer has time to shop as determined from received calendar or schedule data, generates at least one electronic shopping list comprising at least one item previously purchased by consumer from the at least one merchant, and transmits the electronic shopping list from the host computer through a network to a computing apparatus of consumer. |
| US09911143B2 |
Methods and systems that categorize and summarize instrumentation-generated events
The current document is directed to methods and systems that receive instrumentation-generated events and that employ statistical inference to discover event topics and to assign a topic or category to each of a number of events. In a described implementation, the events comprise key/value pairs. A seeded local/global-topic latent Dirichlet allocation methods is used to discover topics and assign topics to a set of events. The topic-assigned events are then processed to generate topic signatures, using which the methods and systems assign topics to subsequently received messages. |
| US09911142B2 |
Centralized deployment of advertising code
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for centralized deployment of advertising code. Advertising code is stored for use by a web page, the advertising code comprising at least one of vendor advertising code or vendor reporting code. An application programming interface is provided for the web page to access the advertising code, the application programming interface allowing the advertising code to be updated such that updated advertising code is automatically provided to the web page without changing source code that the web page uses to accesses the advertising code. A request for advertising code is received from the web page using the application programming interface. The advertising code is determined to be a most recently updated version of advertising code stored by the computing device. A response to the request can be generated using the advertising code. The response can be transmitted to the web page. |
| US09911140B2 |
Keyword price recommendation
An system can include a server that includes or is associated with a keyword price recommendation module. The module can be configured to recommend an optimal price for a keyword, per referral event, in a search engine marketing campaign. For making such a recommendation, the module can be configured to determine revenue generated per referral event for the keyword according to a number of referral events for the keyword for a plurality of users and revenue generated for the keyword by the plurality of users. It can also be configured to select a return on investment percentage for the keyword, and determine the optimal price for the keyword according to the revenue generated per referral event and the return on investment percentage. Additionally or alternatively, the keyword price recommendation module can be configured to calculate the return on investment percentage for the keyword according to at least one market condition. |
| US09911136B2 |
Method and system for providing sign data and sign history
Methods and systems include determining that a device is proximate to a sign, providing sign identification information associated with the sign, and providing a sign history. A request for sign data associated with the sign identification information may be received, and sign data may be provided. Determining that a sign is proximate to a device may be based on a signal from the sign and/or the device. Additionally, a location of a device may be received and it may be determined that the device is proximate to a sign based on determining a location of the sign and determining that the difference in the location of the device and the location of the sign is less than a given threshold. A request for sign data associated with the sign may be sent. In response, sign data may be received, stored, and displayed. |
| US09911135B2 |
Online advertising with enhanced publisher involvement
Techniques are provided for use in connection with online advertising exchanges. Methods are provided in which information is obtained, including, for each of multiple publisher sites, a set of publisher site tags, and for each of multiple advertisements, a set of advertisement tags. Methods are provided that include, in selection of an advertisement to be served in connection with a serving opportunity, utilizing, as a factor in the selection, matching of publisher site tags, associated with a publisher site associated with the serving opportunity, with advertisement tags of the advertisement. |
| US09911134B2 |
Recipient centric messaging system and protocols to implement it over data networks
A method of communicating messages between a sender and a recipient using a communications protocol over a data network, which includes: (a) receiving communication preferences specified by the recipient that includes constraints required to be met for delivery of a message, (ii) publishing the profile with visible preferences from the communication preferences of the recipient when the sender selects the recipient to send the message, (iii) processing a request received from the sender to send the message to the recipient, (iv) generating a customized message form based on the communication preferences of the recipient to enable the sender to compose the message, (v) providing an indication to the sender if any of the constraints are not met, and (vi) delivering the message to the recipient when the constraints specified by the recipient and any constraints applied by a messaging system are met by the message. |
| US09911131B1 |
Method and system for obtaining leads based on data derived from a variety of sources
A method and system for obtaining leads based on data derived from a variety of sources is disclosed. The method is executed by a system that includes a data processing module within a leads management system, among others system components. The data processing module scans one or more external data sources; collects lead data from those sources; analyzes the data collected; identifies attributes of interest about one or more potential quality leads; identifies one or more high quality leads; creates a profile for those high quality leads; stores those profiles in an internal database; and generates a list of one or more high quality leads. |
| US09911130B1 |
Attribution modeling using regression analysis
Online retailers may provider various content to the electronic commerce website such as advertisements. Content on the electronic commerce website may be optimized by assigning attribution value to the content where the attribution values correspond to the influence the content may have on a customer's decision making. The attribution values may be calculated using one or more regression models. |
| US09911129B2 |
Facilitating demographic assessment of information using targeted location oversampling
Demographic assessment of information is facilitated using targeted location oversampling. In one example, a device determines mobile devices communicatively coupled to a base station device associated with a first defined region, wherein the first defined region is relative to a defined location of interest. The device can transmit a set of instructions to the mobile devices that instruct the mobile devices to power on respective location information components configured to transmit location information. The respective location information can be configured to transmit respective global positioning system information for the mobile devices. The device can also determine which ones of the mobile devices are within a second defined region based on respective location information received from the mobile devices. |
| US09911128B2 |
Systems and methods for determining and sending a preferred of two electronic mail communications
Systems and methods for determining and sending a preferred of two electronic mail communications or messages (‘emails’) to a group to increase likelihood of its review. Information for conducting a test between two emails, referred to as A email and B email, is collected. The information may identify a particular group, and segments A and B of the group. The information may provide content for the emails and include differentiation information between the emails. Determination information on how to select one of the emails as the preferred email and when to select the preferred email may be collected. The information is used to send the A email to the segment A, to send the B email to the segment B, to determine the preferred email between the A email and the B email, and to send the preferred email to at least a portion of the particular group. |
| US09911127B1 |
Ratable video advertisements
A system, method and various user interfaces enable association of advertising content with requested shared video content for access via a web-based video player. Advertising content is provided selectively in conjunction with playback of video content. A rating system allows users to rate advertisements. Correspondence is then established between the video clips and the advertising content responsive to the selected rating. |
| US09911122B2 |
Audio-based electronic transaction authorization system and method
Methods and systems for facilitating and authorizing electronic transactions with various devices and systems are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention utilize audio messages to initiate, process and complete transactions between two or more parties, allowing users to efficiently and effectively enter into and complete financial transactions with businesses and other users. The need to utilize text-based entry as part of the verification process—an inefficient, error-prone and insecure authorization mechanism—is minimized and, in some embodiments, avoided altogether. Unlike recently developed authorization methods, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using any number of existing devices including, analog or digital televisions, radios, smartphones, tablets computers, and other devices. Embodiments of the present invention may also be utilized to facilitate authorization for various other transactions including to access to an account, website or other locations, to accept or propose trades, to sign a legal or non-legal document, and to verify identity. |
| US09911117B1 |
Systems and methods for time variable financial authentication
The systems and methods of the invention provide a technique for authenticating a finance related transaction. The method may include providing a token which contains a token counter, the token counter periodically advancing to generate a changing token value, the token counter being synchronized to a base counter that generates an authenticating value; transforming the token value into a token output sequence using logic; and outputting at least part of the token output sequence to an authenticating authority, the authenticating authority having access to the authenticating value. Further, the method includes the authenticating authority verifying the validity of the transaction based on the token output sequence and the authenticating value, from which the authenticating authority obtains a verification sequence using the logic, the verifying the validity including the authenticating authority comparing the token output sequence to the verification sequence to determine if there is a match between the token output sequence and the verification sequence. |
| US09911116B1 |
Fraud protection in payment card transactions
Introduced here is a technology that enables fraud detection and protection in financial transactions using a communication signal identification mechanism. The technology eliminates the uncertainties as to the authenticity of a payment card and/or a customer involved in a financial transaction, such as a payment transaction. In at least some embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for facilitating establishment of a card presence through communication with a payment card being used in a transaction instantiated on a merchant's POS device. The payment card can be in the form of a smartcard with embedded BLE or any other smart chip (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi, 4G, LTE, etc.) capable of transmitting a communication signal that contains identifying information, which can be used to establish the card presence. |
| US09911115B1 |
Systems and methods for conducting transactions with a customer using text messages
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for conducting transactions with a customer using text messages. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first text message from a mobile communication device associated with a customer. The first text message includes a request from the customer to receive one or more text messages from a vendor. The method also includes adding the customer to a set of consenting customers in a customer database in response to receiving the first text message. The set of consenting customer including customers that consent to receiving text messages from the vendor. The method also includes sending a second text message to the mobile communication device. The second text message is associated with a service offered by the vendor. |
| US09911109B2 |
Method of enhancing point-of-sale systems
A method of operating a point-of-sale (POS) system (1), the POS system comprising a POS terminal (3) having a software module (17, 21) thereon for enabling a retailer to process transactions within a transaction environment, and a peripheral device (5, 7) in communication with the POS terminal (3), the POS system (1) further comprising a driver software module (40) installed between the POS terminal (3) software module (17, 21) and the peripheral device (5, 7), the method comprising: receiving, at the driver software module (40), data sent between the software module (17, 21) and the peripheral device (5, 7) in communication with the POS terminal (3); communicating with a further device (44, 60, 64) in dependence on the data received at the driver software module (40); receiving modified data from the further device (44, 60, 64); and outputting the modified data. |
| US09911108B2 |
Process of facilitating financial transactions at point-of-sale employing electronic drop safes and point-of-sale terminals
An electronic system and process for facilitating a financial transaction comprising a drop safe and a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, disposed at a retailer location, in communication with one another in which the POS terminal receives, from a user, a request to commence a drop request and, in response, instructs the drop safe to commence a drop request, whereupon after acceptance of the drop request the drop safe accepts, via a currency acceptor, currency that is identified and authenticated, and upon completion of the drop, the drop safe ascertains the total amount of accepted currency and transmits the ascertained amount to the POS terminal which then completes the transaction. The drop request may occur during a transaction with a customer for the purchase of goods or services or at other times. Other features are disclosed. |
| US09911107B2 |
Automated secure check-out and drop-off return of products using mobile device
Generally, this disclosure describes a method and system for automated check-out and drop-off return of products using a mobile device. A method may include purchasing at least one product of a plurality of products wherein each product is located at a respective associated product location in a store that sells the plurality of products and a point of sale of each purchased product corresponds to the respective associated product location. |
| US09911106B2 |
System and method for charging services using effective quanta units
Embodiments are provided for enabling dynamic pricing of services to users. The amount of usage all or different services are quantized into quanta of minimum usage units, such as to an amount of effective bits (eBits) in communications services. The amount of usage of the different services is weighted differently, such as according to service cost or demand, to obtain corresponding amount of quanta of usage or eBits for each service. The amount of quanta of usage or eBits for the different services is summed up to provide a total amount of quanta of usage or eBits. The total amount of quanta of usage or eBits is converted into a total charge, as a product of the total amount of quanta of usage or eBits, or a monotonic function of the total amount, and a fixed charge rate per quanta of usage or eBit. |
| US09911105B1 |
Syncing media content
Technology is described for receiving a portion of the media content. A media content item associated with the portion of media content may be identified. A location marker may be generated for the media content item that corresponds to the portion of media content. |
| US09911102B2 |
Application for device evaluation and other processes associated with device recycling
Software application systems and associated methods for recycling, purchasing, and/or performing other processes with mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices at a kiosk are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with an electronic device to facilitate a consumer-operated kiosk processing (e.g., purchasing) the electronic device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a mobile app to identify an electronic device, evaluate the electronic device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the electronic device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein. |
| US09911100B1 |
Controlling performance of location-based tasks by mobile task performers
Techniques are described for facilitating performance of tasks supplied by task requesters, such as by a task exchange server interacting with mobile task performer users available to perform tasks at various geographical locations. Some or all of the tasks may each be associated with geographical locations and/or other device-related criteria related to the performance of the task, and one or more mobile task performer users may be identified as being appropriate to perform the task based on the location of, qualifications of, and/or characteristics of mobile device(s) of the user. Such identified task performer users may then be notified of such appropriate tasks in various ways, such as by sending one or more electronic messages with information about the tasks to one or more mobile devices of the users, and may in some situations use one or more of their mobile devices as part of the task performance. |
| US09911093B2 |
Intelligent service management and process control using policy-based automation and predefined task templates
Mechanisms are provided for dynamically determining one or more automation levels for tasks of a workflow. The mechanisms receive a workflow from a source component and receiving context and state information for an environment in which the workflow is to be performed. One or more tasks and associated task attributes are identified in the workflow and applying one or more automation rules to the context and state information and the task attributes to generate one or more automation level settings from the one or more tasks. The one or more tasks are performed in the environment in accordance with the one or more automation level settings. The automation level settings specify a degree of automation to be used when performing the one or more tasks. |
| US09911092B2 |
Systems and methods for a real-time workflow platform
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for enabling design, generation, and execution of real-time workflows. Such embodiments provide a graphical designer including a plurality of shapes representing the various objects of a workflow that are used to model the workflow. In addition, various embodiments of the graphical designer provide shapes to model aspects of the workflow not found in previous graphical designers. Various embodiments also provide a code generator that converts the representation of the workflow into executable code for multiple target languages. Various embodiments also provide a workflow engine based on a Petri net model responsible for executing the workflow and for delegating tasks to be performed for the workflow to an operating system. In various embodiments, the workflow engine further includes a platform abstraction layer that provides a transition layer from the Petri net language to the operating system language. |
| US09911090B2 |
Collaborative expertise networking system and method
Embodiments are directed to an apparatus or method that includes among other features, a search engine configured to permit a user to search the profiles of other users, a storage medium configured to store the profile of the users such that the profiles include at least one of text, picture, audio and video, wherein the profile displays tasks that were performed by the user in the past and a team creation module configured to form a team of a group of users such that a skill for performing a task associated with the group of users is generated based on the combined skill of the group of users. |
| US09911089B2 |
Email client with ERP task integration
Various arrangements for handling enterprise resource planning (ERP) tasks external from ERP software are presented. An email client, executed on a user computer system, may retrieve ERP tasks that are assigned to a user from an ERP computer system. The email client executed on the user computer system may integrate the ERP tasks retrieved from the ERP computer system into an email client task list such that the email client task list displays the ERP tasks assigned to the user. The email client executed on the user computer system may display the email client task list that comprises the ERP tasks retrieved from the ERP computer system. |
| US09911088B2 |
Optimizing task recommendations in context-aware mobile crowdsourcing
A “Context-Aware Crowdsourced Task Optimizer” provides various processes to optimize task recommendations for workers in mobile crowdsourcing scenarios by automatically identifying and recommending bundles of tasks compatible with workers' contexts (e.g., worker history, present or expected locations, travel paths, working hours, skill sets, capabilities of worker's mobile computing devices, etc.). The Context-Aware Crowdsourced Task Optimizer bundles tasks to both maximize expected numbers of completed tasks and to dynamically price tasks to maximize the system's utility, which is a function of task values and task completion rates. Advantageously, the resulting task identification and recommendation process incentivizes individual workers to perform more tasks in a shorter time period, thereby helping tasks to complete faster, even with smaller budgets. While such optimization problems are NP-hard, the Context-Aware Crowdsourced Task Optimizer exploits monotonicity and submodularity of various objective functions to provide computationally feasible task identification and recommendation algorithms with tight optimality bounds. |
| US09911084B2 |
Autonomous vehicle scheduling system for pickup and drop-off of passengers
An aspect of the disclosure includes a method, a system and a computer program product for scheduling a pickup of a passenger with an autonomous vehicle at a facility with a plurality of egress locations. The method includes receiving a pickup request for a passenger from a facility having a plurality of egress locations. A first pickup time is determined for each of the plurality of egress locations. A first egress location is selected from the plurality of egress locations based at least in part on the first pickup time at the first egress location, a position of the passenger and a queue time. A first signal is transmitted that includes a proposed pickup time and location to the passenger. An autonomous vehicle is moved from a first location to the first egress location. The passenger is picked up at the first egress location. |
| US09911077B2 |
Persistent nodes for RFID
An RFID transponder in one embodiment comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, processing logic coupled to the RF transceiver, a switch coupled to the processing logic, a tunneling device coupled to the switch and a differential sensing circuit having a first input coupled to the tunneling device and a second input coupled to a predetermined reference voltage. In one embodiment, the tunneling device can discharge to a voltage below the predetermined reference voltage. |
| US09911075B1 |
RFID transponder and method for supplying energy thereto
A RFID transponder includes an active load modulation unit and an energy harvesting unit coupled to the active load modulation unit. The active load modulation unit performs active load modulation on transmitted signals. The energy harvesting unit harvests RF energy from the ambient environment, converts the RF energy to DC energy, stores the DC energy, and supplies the DC energy to the active load modulation unit. |
| US09911069B1 |
Processing images using deep neural networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for image processing using deep neural networks. One of the methods includes receiving data characterizing an input image; processing the data characterizing the input image using a deep neural network to generate an alternative representation of the input image, wherein the deep neural network comprises a plurality of subnetworks, wherein the subnetworks are arranged in a sequence from lowest to highest, and wherein processing the data characterizing the input image using the deep neural network comprises processing the data through each of the subnetworks in the sequence; and processing the alternative representation of the input image through an output layer to generate an output from the input image. |
| US09911067B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method of processing image, and program
An image processing apparatus calculating to determine one category, to which an input image data belongs, among categories, which are provided to classify image data, includes a convolution processing unit which performs a convolution process using a first coefficient used for calculating to determine the one category and previously learnt; total combination processing units which are prepared for each category performs a total combination process for a processing result obtained by the convolution processing unit using a second coefficient used for calculating to determine the one category and previously learnt, and calculates to determine the one category; and a normalization unit which performs normalization of a processing result obtained by the total combination processing unit for each category, wherein the convolution processing unit performs learning of the first coefficient in common with the categories, and the total combination processing unit performs learning of the second coefficient for each category. |
| US09911059B1 |
Process for recovering an unmanned vehicle
A process for recovering a vehicle includes obtaining a red green blue (RGB) image comprising a target on a recovery device. An input received from a user designates a target hue value and a target luminance value. The RGB image is converted to a hue value saturation (HSV) color model. The HSV color model is split into a hue value plane and a luminance value plane. A hue band pass filter and a luminance band pass filter are configured with appropriate thresholds. The configured hue band pass filter and the luminance band pass filter are applied to the hue value plane and the luminance value plane, respectively. The filtered hue value plane and the filtered luminance value planes are combined to yield a plurality of potential target pixel groupings. The most probable target is determined from the plurality of potential target pixels. The vehicle is directed to the target. |
| US09911057B2 |
Method and apparatus for image collection and analysis
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that can detect an event, access location information for a group of mobile communication devices that are each automatically capturing images, and identify a subset of the group of mobile communication devices that are in proximity to the event based on the location information. The processor can provide first image analysis criteria to the subset of the group of mobile communication devices without providing the first image analysis criteria to remaining devices of the group of mobile communication devices where the first image analysis criteria includes first characteristics associated with an object. The processor can receive a first target image that includes the object from a first mobile communication device of the subset of the group of mobile communication devices. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09911056B2 |
Method of generating a training image for an automated vehicle object recognition system
In a method of generating a training image for teaching of a camera-based object recognition system suitable for use on an automated vehicle which shows an object to be recognized in a natural object environment, the training image is generated as a synthetic image by a combination of a base image taken by a camera and of a template image in that a structural feature is obtained from the base image and is replaced with a structural feature obtained from the template image by means of a shift-map algorithm. |
| US09911050B2 |
Driver active safety control system for vehicle
A driver active safety control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of image capture sensors, a video display screen, a central driver active safety control module and at least one non-imaging sensor. The control module at least includes an image processor, a vision core and a fusion core. The image processor processes image data captured by and received from at least a forward viewing image capture sensor for at least one of (i) automatic headlamp control, (ii) lane departure warning and (iii) traffic sign recognition. The vision core is operable to manipulate image data captured by and received at least from rearward and sideward viewing image capture sensors to form video images for displaying on the video display screen. The fusion core is operable to process inputs received to enhance control by the control module of a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle. |
| US09911048B2 |
Stocking level indication apparatus and method
In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are described herein including a shelf assembly that utilizes the accumulated weight of products stocked thereon to compress a compression member disposed within the assembly. An electronic imaging device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and can be oriented to capture an image of the compression member to determine whether a particular shelf needs to be restocked and avoid having to manipulate or remove products from a shelf to determine a current stock level. |
| US09911047B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method and recording medium
In the image processing device, the method and the recording medium according to the present invention, the characteristic information extractor extracts the number of times the same subject appears in the still images. The target object detector detects the target subject which appears the number of times not less than the threshold value. The image analysis condition determiner sets the image analysis condition for the portion of the moving image where the target subject is absent to be rougher than that where the target subject is present. The frame image analyzer extracts frame images from the moving image in accordance with the image analysis condition. The frame image output section calculates the evaluation value of the frame images based on the result of the image analysis and output the frame image having the evaluation value not less than the threshold value. |
| US09911038B2 |
Survey data processing device, survey data processing method, and program therefor
The efficiency of work for identifying reference points included in photographed images is improved. A survey data processing device includes a data receiving unit 103 that receives data of two still images, an operation information receiving unit 104 that receives a selection of reference points among multiple reference points which are included in both of the two still images and have known location information, an exterior orientation parameter calculating unit 106 that calculates exterior orientation parameters of a camera, a coordinate integrating unit 110 for obtaining an integrated coordinate system for describing both the locations of an unselected reference point and the camera, a back-projected image generating unit 111 for generating a back-projected image by back-projecting the unselected reference point in the integrated coordinate system, and a target position estimating unit 112 that estimates a position of the unselected reference point in a still image. |
| US09911036B2 |
Focusing method for optically capturing an iris image
Methods and systems describe calculating an estimated focal point for a feature of interest within an ocular area of a subject using acquired test images and focal points. A curve is approximately fit to the defocus measurements located at different focal points. A maximum of the curve is identified that corresponds to an estimated focal point of the subject's iris. An image capture device can then record an approximately focused image of the iris using the estimated focal point. This reduces the time and computing resources needed to capture an image iris that is in focus where the subject may be located at a variable, unknown standoff distance. These methods and systems can be used for biometric identification using iris imaging, among other applications where quickly focusing an imaging system is advantageous. |
| US09911030B1 |
System and method for evaluating the perception system of an autonomous vehicle
A method and apparatus are provided for optimizing one or more object detection parameters used by an autonomous vehicle to detect objects in images. The autonomous vehicle may capture the images using one or more sensors. The autonomous vehicle may then determine object labels and their corresponding object label parameters for the detected objects. The captured images and the object label parameters may be communicated to an object identification server. The object identification server may request that one or more reviewers identify objects in the captured images. The object identification server may then compare the identification of objects by reviewers with the identification of objects by the autonomous vehicle. Depending on the results of the comparison, the object identification server may recommend or perform the optimization of one or more of the object detection parameters. |
| US09911025B2 |
Sensor screen and display device including the same
A sensor screen and a display device including the same are described. The sensor screen can include a first base member including a first active area and a first bezel area and having a first thickness, a second base member which is positioned opposite the first base member and has a second thickness less than the first thickness, and at least one fingerprint sensor disposed in a portion of the first bezel area of one of the first and second base members. The fingerprint sensor can include a plurality of first fingerprint electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second fingerprint electrodes, which are insulated from the first fingerprint electrodes and are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction. |
| US09911023B2 |
Indicia reader having a filtered multifunction image sensor
An indicia reader that utilizes its image sensor for more than one function is disclosed. The image sensor's functionality is derived by designating areas on the image sensor according to function and then filtering the light focused onto each area according to the area's particular function. The data (i.e., pixel information) from each area may then be processed accordingly to facilitate a variety of functions such as image capture and object detection. |
| US09911021B2 |
Customized electronic product configuration
An electronic product can be configured by a method that includes attaching a machine-readable identification (ID) tag containing an ID code to a hardware unit of the electronic product. The ID code is associated with a particular configuration of the electronic product, and can be read or scanned with a mobile device configured to send the ID code to a provider server device. In response to receiving the ID code, the provider server device can send product configuration instructions and a product configuration application to the mobile device. The product configuration instructions can guide a user through a customized series of electronic product configuration operations. The product configuration application can assist the user in performing configuration operations, can provide customized configuration help, and can establish a wireless link between the mobile device and the electronic product, allowing the user to interact with the electronic product. |
| US09911018B1 |
RFID tags with digital signature subportions
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag integrated circuit (IC) stores a subportion of a digital signature and a subportion indicator that may be used to authenticate the IC, a tag including the IC, and/or an item associated with the tag. The subportion of the digital signature is generated, at least in part, by applying a cryptographic function to an identifier associated with the IC, the tag, and/or the item. |
| US09911016B2 |
Radio frequency identification tag delivery system
A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop. |
| US09911013B2 |
Systems and methods for correction of on-strip coding
Systems and methods of making a diagnostic test strip, the method including marking a machine-readable pattern onto the diagnostic test strip which contains information that allows a meter designed to work with the test strip to convert raw signal data from the diagnostic test strip into a meaningful concentration value for an analyte of interest. The method further includes printing the machine-readable pattern having a modified based code that is different from a base code of the diagnostic test strip being produced, wherein the modified based code is based on a strip geometry parameter, a chemistry parameter or both the strip geometry and chemistry parameters that are measured for the diagnostic test strip. |
| US09911011B1 |
Communications device that logically connects an upstream signal line to a downstream signal line
The system describes one aspect of an apparatus configured to implement a security state for preventing access to a storage device, including a communications hub including an upstream port and a plurality of downstream ports. A first downstream port of the plurality of downstream ports is connected to the storage device, and one or more other downstream ports of the plurality of downstream ports are configured to connect to one or more external devices. The apparatus includes one or more processors configured to monitor the upstream port, determine a connection state of the upstream port, and implement the security state for preventing access to the storage device based on the determined connection state. |
| US09911010B2 |
Secure field-programmable gate array (FPGA) architecture
A method and system for configuring a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) includes receiving an encrypted FPGA load-decryption key at an FPGA from a remote key-storage device. The remote key-storage device may be external to and operatively connected with the FPGA. The encrypted FPGA load-decryption key is decrypted using a session key, which may be stored at both the FPGA and the remote key-storage device. Encrypted FPGA-configuration data is received at the FPGA, and decrypted and authenticated using the decrypted FPGA load-decryption key. The decryption of the FPGA-configuration data may indicate a cryptographic state associated with the FPGA-configuration data, which may be used in recurring authentication of the FPGA-configuration data. For recurring authentication, a challenge message may be received at the FPGA from an authentication device, which may be encrypted using the cryptographic state and the session key to generate a response message. The response message may then be sent to the authentication device to determine authenticity of the FPGA-configuration data. |
| US09911001B2 |
Automatic SQL query modification for data restriction
A method of automatically modifying a computer data query is disclosed herein. The modification of the computer data query can be performed to restrict access to data. The computer data query can be modified by receiving the computer data query, identifying tables in the query and retrieving providers associated with the tables identified in the query. These providers can be linked to one or several predicates. These predicates can be retrieved and used to modify the query. The modified query can then be used to retrieve data from one or several tables identified within the query. |
| US09910999B1 |
Methods and apparatus for encrypted indexing and searching encrypted data
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to receive an index file that associates a characteristic in a set of documents with a set of information associated with the characteristic in the set of documents. The processor is further configured to generate an index identifier associated with the index file and calculate a set of pseudorandom logical block identifiers associated with a set of storage locations of a database based on the index identifier. The processor is then configured to parse the index file into a set of index data portions and send a signal to the database to write each index data portion from the set of index data portions at a different storage location within the database as indicated by a different identifier from the set of pseudorandom logical block identifiers. |
| US09910998B2 |
Deleting information to maintain security level
A method, system, mediation server, client, and computer program for deleting a copied file in which a master file is duplicated while maintaining a certain level of security. A mediation server receives and stores a copied file in which a master file stored in a server is duplicated, generates private-key information and public-key information, and transmits the generated public-key information and the copied file to a client. The client receives and stores the copied file and the public-key information. In a case where the copied file is updated, the client encrypts difference information on the difference arising in the updating using the public-key information and transmits the difference information to the mediation server. The client determines whether the condition for being secure is satisfied when a process for updating the copied file becomes possible. When determining that the condition is not satisfied, the client deletes the copied file. |
| US09910996B2 |
Mass storage device memory encryption methods, systems, and apparatus
Mass storage devices and methods for securely storing data are disclosed. The mass storage device includes a communication interface for communicating with a connected host computer, a mass-memory storage component for storing data, a secure key storage component adapted to securely store at least one master secret, and an encryption-decryption component different from the secure key storage component and connected to the secure key storage component and the mass-memory storage component. The encryption-decryption component may be adapted to encrypt data received from the host computer using an encryption algorithm and at least one encryption key and to write the encrypted data into the mass-memory storage component. The encryption-decryption component may also be adapted to decrypt encrypted data stored in the mass-memory storage component for returning the data to the host computer in response to a read data command from the host computer using a decryption algorithm and at least one decryption key the security of which is protected using a master secret securely stored in the secure key storage component. |
| US09910994B1 |
System for assuring security of sensitive data on a host
Described are techniques for determining and mitigating leakage of sensitive data into log data. An application programming interference (API) is instrumented to recognize data classification tags indicative of sensitive data in a message to or from a service. Values associated with the data classification tags may be sampled and added to a dictionary of watch data. Log data may be searched for the values in the dictionary. If the occurrence of one or more of these values in the log data exceeds a threshold value mitigation actions may be taken. Also described is a system to sample non-sensitive information about the API interactions known to have occurred. The log data may be inspected to find these interactions, with their absence indicative of a failure in the logging system. |
| US09910987B2 |
Malware detection method and apparatus
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a malware detection method implemented within a computer. The method includes, for a given electronic file, determining if the file is associated with a valid digital signature. If the file is associated with a valid digital signature, then verifying that the signature belongs to a trusted source. If the signature does belong to a trusted source then not performing a malware scan of said file, and if the signature cannot be verified as belonging to a trusted source then performing said scan. |
| US09910986B1 |
Methods and apparatus for machine learning based malware detection
Apparatus and methods describe herein, for example, a process that can include receiving a potentially malicious file, and dividing the potentially malicious file into a set of byte windows. The process can include calculating at least one attribute associated with each byte window from the set of byte windows for the potentially malicious file. In such an instance, the at least one attribute is not dependent on an order of bytes in the potentially malicious file. The process can further include identifying a probability that the potentially malicious file is malicious, based at least in part on the at least one attribute and a trained threat model. |
| US09910981B2 |
Malicious code infection cause-and-effect analysis
A malware analysis system for automating cause and effect analysis of malware infections is provided. The malware analysis system monitors and records computer system activities. Upon being informed of a suspected malware infection, the malware analysis system creates a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that were conducted within a time frame prior to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system may also create a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that are conducted within a time frame subsequent to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system provides the created snapshot or snapshots for further analysis. |
| US09910977B2 |
Data sharing between multiple applications running on a mobile device
A method and a computer system for data sharing between multiple applications running on a mobile device are provided. The method comprising: receiving from a second application among the multiple applications an access request to first data in a first application among the multiple applications; in response to the access request, enabling the second application to access the first data via a sharing zone between the first application and the second application; and wherein the sharing zone is built by obtaining an access right over the first data, obtaining an access policy assigned by the first application to the second application for access to the first data, and building the sharing zone according to the access policy by using the access right. By means of the method and the computer system of the present invention, data can be shared between various applications running on a mobile device without changing developed applications. |
| US09910976B2 |
Processing mesh communications
A communication device comprising: a first processing function for performing protocol processing of received datagrams; a second processing function for performing protocol processing for received datagrams at a higher level than the first processing function; and a power controller; the device being configured such that the power controller can place the second processing function in a low power state while the first processing function remains capable of performing protocol processing of received datagrams; and the first processing function comprising a mesh datagram processing function configured to process datagrams of a mesh protocol by analyzing received datagrams of the mesh protocol, determining a subset of those datagrams for retransmission, and causing the device to retransmit the determined ones of those datagrams. |
| US09910975B2 |
Method for authenticating user using icon combined with input pattern, and password input device
A password input device comprises a storage unit for storing character strings according to each icon; an input window generation unit for generating and displaying an input window on which a plurality of icons are arranged; a secret icon recognition unit which confirms a shift coordinate value and recognizes icons, which are arranged on coordinates inversely moved up to the shift coordinate value from a coordinate value at which a selected icon is arranged, as secret icons selected by the user if the user selects the icon; and an authentication processing unit which confirms a character string corresponding to each secret icon recognized in the secret icon recognition unit, generates a combined character string in which the one or more confirmed character strings are arranged, and authenticates the user by confirming whether the generated combined character string is consistent with the user's password stored in the storage unit. |
| US09910972B2 |
Remote trust attestation and geo-location of servers and clients in cloud computing environments
Methods and systems may provide for selecting a hypervisor protocol from a plurality of hypervisor protocols based on a communication associated with a remote agent. The selected hypervisor protocol may be used to conduct a trust analysis of one or more digitally signed values in the communication, wherein a cloud attestation request may be processed based on the trust analysis. Processing the cloud attestation request may involve generating a trustworthiness verification output, a geo-location verification output, etc., for a cloud computing node corresponding to the remote agent. |
| US09910970B2 |
Enabling a software application to be executed on a hardware device
The invention provides a method, a hardware circuit and a hardware device for enabling a software application to be executed on a hardware device in dependence of the hardware circuit, while preventing the execution of a binary copy of the application in another hardware device. Challenge data originating from the software application is input to a hardware circuit of the hardware device, wherein the hardware circuit is configured to perform a deterministic function. Response data is generated by the hardware device, which is used to manipulate at least a part of the software application to thereby enable the software application to be executed. |
| US09910969B2 |
System, method, and device for delivering communications and storing and delivering data
A system, method, and device includes a platform data storage that stores a wrap that secures an executable controller and executable sensors. The wrap is verified, optionally through a downloaded authentication driver. After verifying the wrap, the wrap is opened and a sister of the executable controller is installed into the platform memory to cooperate with the executable controller. Additionally or alternatively, the authentication driver may cooperate with the executable controller. The executable controller allows the platform processor to access data secured in a vault and/or verify the platform to create a connection to an application server. |
| US09910968B2 |
Automatic notifications for inadvertent file events
A content management system can detect file events that are suspected to be in error, and notify users having access to files affected by the detected file events of the detected events. The content management system can maintain a log of file events including a plurality of file identifiers. The file identifiers identify files that are associated with a namespace, a file event, and a user account responsible for the file event. An analytics module can analyze the log of file events and notify the user of a suspected error when it may be that the file events were inadvertent. A notification can include a link to restore (undo) the file events if the user confirms that the file events were in error. |
| US09910967B2 |
File origin determination
A file validation method and system is provided. The method includes retrieving from an authoritative source system, an artifact file. Identification information identifying a requesting user of the artifact file is recorded and associated metadata and a modified artifact file comprising the metadata combined with the artifact file are generated. An encryption key including a first portion and a second portion is generated and the first portion is stored within a central key store database. An encrypted package comprising the modified artifact file and the second portion of the key is generated. |
| US09910965B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program product for monitoring interactions with a medication storage device
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are provided for monitoring the stocking and dispensing of medications from an automated medication storage device. In this regard, a method may cooperate with the automated medication storage device to facilitate surveillance of internal components and users of the medication storage device. For example, a user and/or the user's interactions can be imaged by one or more cameras while the user is interacting with the automated medication storage device. |
| US09910963B2 |
Market measures and outcomes for app prescribing
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for receiving and aggregating anonymized data reports about when prescribers provide wireless device applications to patients. The disclosure discusses ways of analyzing the data reports in combination with other electronic medical information to generate useful conclusions about scenarios in the health care process. |
| US09910962B1 |
Genetic and environmental risk engine and methods thereof
Risk engines and related methods may benefit patients and their physicians. For example, patients may benefit from being able to determine their personal genetic, environmental, and behavioral risks. Moreover, physicians may be able to provide statistically-driven individual recommendations based on a risk engine's determination of such risks. A method can include selecting one or more candidate genetic variants associated with a phenotype from the scientific literature. The method can also include scoring a genetic association between the one or more candidate genetic variants and the phenotype. The method can further include selecting one or more high-scoring genetic variants. Selecting a best genetic variant within each of at least one linkage disequilibrium (LD) block can also be included in the method. The method can additionally include calculating risk associated with the best genetic variant from the at least one LD block. |
| US09910954B2 |
Programmable clock division methodology with in-context frequency checking
A method, system, and compute program product use a generalized macro or a generalized macro timing abstract for a timing analysis in a specific timing context. The method includes setting up a timer, and determining a divide ratio of each external clock divider of one or more external clock dividers associated with the generalized macro or the generalized macro timing abstract programmatically as a function of another value. The method also includes performing the timing analysis using the divide ratios of the one or more external clock dividers. Obtaining a physical implementation of an integrated circuit is based on the timing analysis. |
| US09910943B2 |
Distributed state and data functional coverage
This application discloses a computing system to implement a design verification tool and simulate a circuit design with a test bench. The computing system can correlate transactions captured during simulation of a circuit design to distributed states for multiple components in the circuit design. The computing system can identify at least a portion of the distributed states for the multiple components correspond to system level coverage events. The computing system can generate a graphical presentation to illustrate the portion of the distributed states for the multiple components in the circuit design that correspond to system level coverage events. |
| US09910940B2 |
Pipeline flow modeling method
A method of modeling a segment of a pipeline transporting a product comprising defining within the segment a plurality of discrete cells, each disposed between knots, preparing a system of equations relating the conservations of mass, momentum and energy for each cell along with equations for the liquid phase flow area of cells with tight, slack and minimum area flow modes, providing data relating to the product and the location and elevation of the cells, sensing a plurality of conditions within known cells, solving the system of equations, initiating a re-stepping process by re-assessing the flow modes of each cell and re-setting flow modes for cells with unstable flow modes, and resolving the system of equations using stable flow modes. An embodiment of the method includes excepting one or more cells from the re-stepping portion where a recurrent pattern of flow mode change is detected. |
| US09910938B2 |
Shale gas production forecasting
A method can include providing data for at least one shale gas formation; performing a statistical analysis on the data for each of the at least one shale gas formation; providing a simulation model; history matching the simulation model for each of the at least one shale gas formation based at least in part on the performed statistical analysis to generate a history matched model for each of the at least one shale gas formation; and forecasting production for another shale gas formation by plugging in data for the other shale gas formation into each generated history matched model. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US09910936B2 |
Systems and methods for process design and analysis
Systems and methods for process design and analysis of processes that result in products or analytical information are provided. A hypergraph data store is maintained and comprises versions of each process. A version comprises a hypergraph with nodes, for stages of the process, and edges. Stages have parameterized resource inputs associated with stage input properties, and input specification limits. Stages have resource outputs with output properties and output specification limits. Edges link the outputs of nodes to the inputs of other nodes. A run data store is maintained with a plurality of process runs, each run identifying a process version, values for the inputs of nodes in the corresponding hypergraph, their input properties, resource outputs of the nodes, and obtained values of output properties of the resource outputs. When a query identifies one or more inputs and/or outputs present in the run data store, they are formatted for analysis. |
| US09910930B2 |
Scalable user intent mining using a multimodal restricted boltzmann machine
A method for scalable user intent mining is provided. The method includes detecting named entities from a plurality of query logs in a public query log dataset and generating features of the plurality of query logs based on the detected named entities. The method also includes applying a multimodal restricted boltzmann machine (RBM) on the generated features of the plurality of query logs to train a public multimodal RBM and generating a plurality of public query representations. Further, the method includes receiving a search query from a user, determining whether there are a plurality of history queries of the user. When there is no history query, user intent is predicted using the public multimodal RBM. When there are the history queries, the public multimodal RBM is applied on the plurality of history queries to train a personalized multimodal RBM, and the user intent is predicted using the personalized multimodal RBM. |
| US09910927B2 |
Interactive mirror displays for presenting product recommendations
Example embodiments of the present disclosure include a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a computer-implemented method for providing an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) on an interactive mirror display. Consistent with some embodiments, the method may include identifying an item based on an identification device affixed to the item and accessing product information for the item from a product database. The method may further include generating a recommendation for an additional item related to the item. The method may further include generating the interactive GUI using the product information and the recommendation and causing the interactive GUI to be presented on the interactive mirror display. |
| US09910918B2 |
Presenting tags of a tag cloud in a more understandable and visually appealing manner
A method, system and computer program product for presenting tags of a tag cloud in a more understandable and visually appealing manner. Tags of a tag cloud that are associated with an object (e.g., web page) are retrieved. The retrieved tags are then assigned to parts of speech (e.g., noun, verb, adjective, adverb). Combinations of the tags are then generated based on the parts of speech assigned to the tags. For example, the combinations of the tags may be based on a template, such as |
| US09910917B2 |
Presenting tags of a tag cloud in a more understandable and visually appealing manner
A method, system and computer program product for presenting tags of a tag cloud in a more understandable and visually appealing manner. Tags of a tag cloud that are associated with an object (e.g., web page) are retrieved. The retrieved tags are then assigned to parts of speech (e.g., noun, verb, adjective, adverb). Combinations of the tags are then generated based on the parts of speech assigned to the tags. For example, the combinations of the tags may be based on a template, such as |
| US09910916B1 |
Digital content excerpt identification
Described herein are techniques for identifying and displaying key excerpts of a digital work and related key excerpts of other digital works. Key excerpts are identified by evaluating (a) the number of interactions by human readers within each of the key excerpts and (b) the number of reviews that reference each of the key excerpts. Related excerpts from other books can be identified by comparing the key excerpts of the other books. Excerpts can be displayed by subject, and links are provided to move from one subject to another. |
| US09910915B2 |
Preference based system and method for multiple feed aggregation and presentation
A method for improving the presentation of social media data from multiple social network feeds is provided. The method may include aggregating social media content received from the multiple social network feeds. The method may also include generating filtered data by eliminating repetitive data from among the received aggregated social media content. The method may further include analyzing the filtered data for determining at least one data category and presenting a digest of social media content based on the determined at least one data category. |
| US09910909B2 |
Method and apparatus for extracting journey of life attributes of a user from user interactions
Embodiments of the invention relate to managing user interactions and, more particularly, to performing analysis on data generated by user interactions. Embodiments of the invention use text mining to extract personal information of users from user interactions automatically. A topic model is used to reduce the number of dimensions required to represent the text, yet all the information of interest is highly pronounced. This enables a lower dimensional representation of the data leading to significantly faster computations. |
| US09910906B2 |
Data synchronization using redundancy detection
Managing data in a cloud computing environment, including data transfers. File level and block level similarities are identified, including for archive and nested archive files, residing on datacenters and regional repositories. A replication plan is generated based on receiving a replication instruction, and further based on similarity clusters by transferring unique data blocks and files from best available sources including regional repositories. |
| US09910903B1 |
Autonomous decision support system using configuration inflation based ETL and content modeling
A computer-implemented method is disclosed which detects a change in a set of data sources of a DSS, such as addition of a new data source, removal of an existing data source, or a schema change of an existing data source in the set. A first set of DSS updates for pending ETL jobs of an ETL engine of the DSS are automatically determined based on the change in the set of data sources. The method automatically updates, without canceling, the pending ETL jobs of the ETL engine based on the first set of DSS updates. A second set of DSS updates for a semantic layer of a BI engine of the DSS are automatically determined based on the change in the set of data sources and based on the first set of DSS updates. The semantic layer is automatically updated based on the second set of DSS updates. |
| US09910900B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing search result
A method and an apparatus for providing a search result are provided. The method can include obtaining at least one search result card, in a computer memory, according to an input search term, in which each of the at least one search result card comprises a first surface and a second surface, and a search result is recorded on the first surface and/or the second surface. The first surface of each of the at least one search result card can be displayed on a display. A request to turn a first search result card over can be determined to have been received, in which the first search result card is the search result card firstly selected from the at least one research result card. The first search result card can be visually turned over to display the second surface of the first search result card on the display. |
| US09910899B1 |
Systems and methods for electronically mining intellectual property
A data analysis method and computer system electronically mines potential intellectual property related to enterprise business needs. The method and system may utilize various text mining techniques to perform associative discovery, where existing enterprise documents or data are harvested and correlated with the latest industry trends in order to inspire new insights and stimulate the discovery of new or potential intellectual property. In one aspect, an area of interest may be identified. After which, identifiers associated with the area of interest, e.g., keywords and/or linking terms, may be determined. An enterprise database may be searched using the identifiers. The documents flagged by the search may be ranked with respect to their relevance to the area of interest based upon which and/or how many identifiers are contained within each respective document. The identification of highly relevant documents associated with an area of interest may lead to discovery of intellectual property. |
| US09910896B2 |
Suspending and resuming continuous queries over data streams
In an embodiment, a method comprises processing an input data stream as the data stream is streamed and producing a derived stream therefrom; storing the input data stream in an input archive; suspending processing of the input data stream; subsequent to suspending processing, resuming processing of the input data stream, wherein resuming comprises: storing newly received data in the input data stream in a buffer, as the input data stream is streamed; determining a first timestamp; determining a second timestamp; searching the input archive to find a data item that matches the first timestamp of the last processed data item; processing data in the input archive having timestamps that are greater than the first timestamp until arriving at data with a third timestamp that is greater than the second timestamp; processing the input data stream from the buffer; continuing processing the input data stream as the input stream is streamed. |
| US09910887B2 |
Variable search query vertical access
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from a user of an online social network a search query input comprising a character string having a number of characters; accessing one or more verticals that each store objects associated with the online social network, where if the number of characters is less than or equal to a threshold number, then accessing a first set of verticals, and if the number of characters is greater than the threshold number, then accessing the first set of verticals and a second set of verticals; searching each accessed vertical to identify one or more objects associated with the vertical that substantially match the character string; and sending to the user references to the identified objects. |
| US09910883B2 |
Enhanced batch updates on records and related records system and method
A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving, by a computing device, a selection of a set of records to edit in a multi-record update operation. A selection is received of at least one record of the set of records on which to capture one or more changes. At least one aspect of the at least one record of the set of records is captured. The at least one aspect is played back on one or more remaining records of the set of records. |
| US09910880B2 |
System and method for managing enterprise user group
According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for generating an enterprise user group is provided. The method may include receiving a set of attributes for an enterprise network user; receiving one or more enterprise group member identification rules including a similarity distance threshold and a set of target attributes; calculating, using a hardware processor, a similarity assessment score based on the set of target attributes and the set of attributes; and determining, using the hardware processor, whether the enterprise network user is an enterprise group member based on the similarity assessment score and the similarity distance threshold. |
| US09910879B2 |
Managing data records
Data records may be managed in a relational database by monitoring, a record length for a first data record in a page of memory, an amount of free space in the page, and a page length. In response to receiving an operator command to replace the first data record with a second data record, a database management system may determine whether an estimated record length of a compressed second data record is outside of the amount of free space in the page. In response to determining the estimated record length of a compressed second data record is outside of the amount of free space in the page, the database management system may determine whether an estimated length of a compressed page is outside of the page length. In response to determining the estimated length of a compressed page is within the page length, the page may be compressed. |
| US09910877B2 |
Query handling in a columnar database
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for processing a query in a column database is provided. The method for analyzing test results may include a computer, associating a first set of metadata values with a set of records in a table, wherein each record has an associated state indicated by a metadata value. The method may further include the computer receiving a query to return one or more records of the set of records. The method may further include the computer determining that one or more records in the set of records satisfies the query. The method may further include the computer determining whether at least a first record in the one or more records that satisfies the query is in a returnable state based, at least in part, on the metadata value. |
| US09910875B2 |
Best-value determination rules for an entity resolution system
Primary value determination rules may be used by entity resolution system to select a “best” or “primary” value of an attribute from a plurality of attribute values. For example, the “best” name, address, phone number, etc. to use in presenting a summary of information about that entity may be determined. Further, the primary value determination rules may each be configured to assign a confidence score to the “best” values selected for of a given entity. Doing so allows a selection of a “best” value for a given attribute made by one rule to be overridden by a selection of another “best” value made by another rule for that same attribute. |
| US09910873B2 |
Efficient sorting of large data set with duplicate values
Techniques are disclosed for sorting an input data set. A sort tool determines a distribution of values of a data set that includes a plurality of data records. The sort tool partitions the data set into a plurality of subsets based on the distribution. Each of the data records is inserted into one of the subsets based on a corresponding sort value of the data record. The sort tool identifies one or more of the subsets that contain at least two distinct sort values. In each of the identified subsets, the data records are sorted by a corresponding sort value of the data record. |
| US09910871B2 |
Transparent database table replacement
A table can be replaced with a view transparently to the application. For example, a data dictionary can specify that the view is to be substituted for the table. At runtime, application operations on the table are redirected to be performed on the view. Validation can be performed to ensure congruence between the table and the view. Can be useful for situations where a view with enhanced functionality is desired to be used in place of the table without re-coding the application. |
| US09910855B2 |
Reordering of database records for improved compression
According to embodiments of the present invention, apparatus, systems, methods and computer program products for sorting and compressing an unordered set of data records from a structured database are provided. Fields of the unordered set of data records are prioritized based on an impact of those fields to a compression scheme for column-oriented compression. The unordered set of data records are sorted based on the prioritized field(s) with a greatest impact on the performance metric. Data of the sorted data records are compressed according to a compression scheme. In some embodiments, prioritizing the fields may be based on an anticipated level of usage of data within those fields and/or a cost function associated with a performance metric as well as optimization of compression. A performance metric may include a faster computational time, reduced I/O computation, faster scan time, etc. |
| US09910850B2 |
System and method of localizing assets using text substitutions
A system and method for translating a phrase for video game development for games to be made available in a plurality of natural languages is disclosed. The method includes determining that code for a video game being developed has been created or modified. The method further includes inspecting the code to determine whether a phrase to be displayed or to be spoken during game play is present therein, wherein the phrase comprises a plurality of words. The method further includes comparing the entire phrase to a collection of phrases for which one or more translations to another natural language are already available, and if an exact match is determined, then reusing the one or more available translations for one or more corresponding languages. |
| US09910847B2 |
Language identification
A plurality of documents in each of a plurality of languages can be received. A Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) index can be created from the plurality of documents. A language classification model can be trained from the LSI index. A document to be identified by language can be received. A vector in the LSI index can be generated for the document to be identified by language. The vector can be evaluated against the language classification model. |
| US09910844B2 |
Entity-relation based passage scoring in a question answering computer system
According to an aspect, a query and a passage are parsed by a language parser to detect noun-centric phrases and verb-centric phrases in the query and the passage. Entities, including at least one untyped entity, are identified based on the noun-centric phrases and relations are identified based on the verb-centric phrases. Entity pairs are created that include an entity identified in the query and an entity identified in the passage, each pair satisfies a matching criteria. Relation pairs are created that include a relation identified in the query and a relation identified in the passage, each pair satisfies a matching criteria. A passage score that indicates the likelihood that an answer to the query is contained in the passage is determined based on the entity pairs, the matching criteria satisfied by each entity pair, the elation pairs, and the matching criteria satisfied by each relation pair. |
| US09910834B2 |
Converting terminal-based legacy applications to web-based applications
Map files associated with a terminal-based legacy application, such as a Customer Information Control System (CICS) application, are converted to views and models of a web-based application, such as an application implemented with a Java Platform Enterprise Edition (JEE) compliant server. A hybrid application server executes the legacy application in a first runtime, such as a CICS runtime, in response to a user request received through the web-based application executing in a second runtime, such as a JEE runtime. When a terminal command is identified in the executing legacy application, data associated with the terminal command is packetized and forwarded to the web-based application through an established socket without creating a data stream. The web-based application invokes the models associated with the terminal command and presents a web page responsive to the terminal command to the user. |
| US09910833B2 |
Automatically rendering web and/or hybrid applications natively in parallel
An embodiment includes causing elements to be recognized that correspond to one or more browser-supported programming languages in an application. The recognized elements are those elements that can be converted to native user interface elements in the operating system and rendered on a display of a computing device. The elements in the one or more browser-supported programming languages are converted to native user interface elements. The native user interface elements are caused to be rendered on the display of the computing device. Methods, apparatus, software, and computer program products are disclosed. |
| US09910828B2 |
Spectrometer for personal context
A method of performing context inference is described. The method includes collecting ambient light at a spectrometer sensor integrated in a portable device, characterizing the collected light to obtain optical information, comparing the optical information to optical data predetermined to match one or more contexts, inferring at least one characteristic of a specific context based on the comparison, and determining a probability that the portable device is in the specific context. |
| US09910827B2 |
Vector-matrix multiplications involving negative values
Examples herein relate to circuits for computing vector-matrix multiplications involving negative values. A first memory crossbar array may be mapped to a first matrix which includes the positive values of an input matrix. A second memory crossbar array may be mapped to a second matrix which includes the negative values of the input matrix. An analog-to-digital converter may generate digital intermediate multiplication results based on analog results computed by the memory crossbar arrays. The digital intermediate multiplication results may include an intermediate result corresponding to a multiplication of each of the first vector and second vector with each of the first matrix and the second matrix. A controller may aggregate the digital intermediate results to generate a combined multiple result that represents the vector-matrix multiplication of the input vector and the input matrix. |
| US09910822B2 |
Network interface for a SoC comprising an improved communication controller
A network interface for a first network on chip resource capable of interfacing a data processing unit in the first resource with the network, the network interface including an output communication controller including a mechanism detecting an indicator marking an end of communication between the first resource and at least one second resource with which a communication link is set up, and a mechanism outputting a signal indicating closure of the link to be sent to the second resource, after detection of an end of communication indicator. |
| US09910821B2 |
Data processing method, distributed processing system, and program
A storage device stores results of first data processing previously performed. A splitting unit splits, with reference to the storage device, data into a first segment for which the results stored in the storage device are usable and a plurality of second segments for which the results stored in the storage device are not usable. A control unit assigns the plurality of second segments to a plurality of nodes, and uses the plurality of nodes in parallel to perform the first data processing on the plurality of second segments. A control unit exercises control so as to perform second data processing on a previous result corresponding to the first segment, which is stored in the storage device, and results obtained from the plurality of second segments using the plurality of nodes. |
| US09910814B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for single-ended communication of transaction layer packets
Techniques and mechanisms for exchanging single-ended communications with a protocol stack of an integrated circuit package. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a protocol stack comprising a transaction layer which performs operations compatible with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express™ (PCIe™) specification. Transaction layer packets, exchanged between the transaction layer and a link layer of the protocol stack, are compatible with a PCIe™ format. In another embodiment, a physical layer of the protocol stack is to couple the IC chip to another IC chip for an exchange of the transaction layer packets via single-ended communications. A packaged device includes both of the IC chips. |
| US09910813B1 |
Single function using multiple ports
An electronics adapter, system, and methods for using multiple interface ports to execute a single function are disclosed herein. The electronics adapter may include multiple interface ports, each having a transmission capacity for data transmitted via each interface port. Processing logic may be coupled to the two or more interface ports, to execute processes associated with the multiple interface ports utilizing a bandwidth. The electronics adapter may further include a controller to configure and merge the data from the multiple interface ports based at least in part on the transmission capacities for the multiple interface ports to support the bandwidth of the processes. |
| US09910812B2 |
Initiating multiple data transactions on a system bus
Initiating data transactions on a system bus is disclosed. In some implementations, a controller receives first information from a first peripheral requesting a first data transaction. The first information is received over a first communication link between the controller and the first peripheral. The controller receives second information from a second peripheral requesting a second data transaction. The second information received over a second communication link between the controller and the second peripheral. The controller determines first and second ranks for the first and second data transactions, respectively, based on the first and second information, and initiates based on the first and second ranks, the first and second data transactions on a system bus. |
| US09910811B2 |
Hot swap circuit
In one embodiment, a hot swap circuit is disclosed. The hot swap circuit includes a capacitor in parallel with an input line to a power system. The hot swap circuit also includes a switch in parallel with the input line to the power system and coupled to the capacitor. The hot swap circuit further includes circuitry configured to pre-charge the capacitor to a first voltage while the switch is open. The switch is operable to cause the capacitor to be charged from the first voltage to a second voltage when the switch is closed. |
| US09910810B1 |
Multiphase I/O for processor-based emulation system
Systems and methods of emulating application-specific integrated circuits using multiple execution phases, where different inputs and outputs are used or produced by components of the emulation system are disclosed. For example, an OMUX may select and transmit different data over a serial bus based on the execution phase of the emulator system. In another example, a processor or cluster may capture outputted data during a first execution phase, execute instructions for a second execution phase, and then return to the capture outputted data for further processing during a next cycle of the first execution phase. |
| US09910806B2 |
Universal serial bus (USB) hub for switching downstream ports between host mode and slave mode
Embodiment of present disclosure relates to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub for switching downstream ports between host mode and slave mode comprising upstream port connectable to host port of host, downstream port and switching module. The downstream port is connectable to device port of peripheral device and acts in host mode and said device port acts in slave mode. The switching module comprises master port, switching port and control unit. The master port is connectable to upstream port. The switching port is connectable to other end of downstream port, the switching port acts in host mode. The control unit receives switch command from host to switch downstream port from host mode to slave mode; switches switching port to slave mode and enables downstream port to act in the slave mode when host emulates functionality of slave mode as required by peripheral device using vendor specific USB class. |
| US09910805B2 |
Patch panel and distribution amplifier with configurable input/output module
A combination patch panel and distribution amplifier within a single housing composed of a plurality of card modules which may have a data format interface with a configurable input/output module known as small footprint plugables for the transmission and distribution of signals, data, and the like, in either serial digital mode, internet protocol mode or other signals, each card module configurable to provide for any front panel jack functioning as a repeater output from external source, input distribution amplifier, output distribution amplifier, or destination jack. |
| US09910803B2 |
Multi master arbitration scheme in a system on chip
A multi master system on chip (SoC) includes a plurality of masters comprising a first master and a second master, each configured to generate a request. A next state generator in the multi master SoC is configured to generate a next state of a round robin pointer in response to the request and a current state of the round robin pointer. The round robin pointer is configured to generate an enable signal to enable a priority encoder for the first master in response to the current state of the round robin pointer. Further, the next state of the round robin pointer is generated such that a priority is maintained for the first master until there is a request from the second master. |
| US09910802B2 |
High bandwidth low latency data exchange between processing elements
Direct communication of data between processing elements is provided. An aspect includes sending, by a first processing element, data over an inter-processing element chaining bus. The data is destined for another processing element via a data exchange component that is coupled between the first processing element and a second processing element via a communication line disposed between corresponding multiplexors of the first processing element and the second processing element. A further aspect includes determining, by the data exchange component, whether the data has been received at the data exchange element. If so, an indicator is set in a register of the data exchange component and the data is forwarded to the other processing element. Setting the indicator causes the first processing element to stall. If the data has not been received, the other processing element is stalled while the data exchange component awaits receipt of the data. |
| US09910795B2 |
Access of virtual machines to storage area networks
A method for managing access of virtual machines executed by a host computer system to storage area networks, the storage area networks connecting the host computer system with storage systems via switches, where the host computer system includes one or more host ports to connect with a switch each, and where one or more port names are assigned to each virtual machine. The method includes, for each storage area network connected with the host computer system, sending the port names of a virtual machine and a target port name as part of a validate access command to the respective switch; and when receiving the validate access command by the switch, the switch returning success information to the sending host computer system in case all received virtual machine port names have access to a target port assigned to the received target port name, otherwise returning a fail information. |
| US09910792B2 |
Composite field scaled affine transforms-based hardware accelerator
A processing system includes a memory and a cryptographic accelerator operatively coupled to the memory. The cryptographic accelerator performs a split substitute byte operation within two paths of a cryptographic round by determining a first output from a first path by applying a mapped affine transformation to an input bit sequence represented by an element of a composite field of a finite-prime field, wherein the first output is represented by a first element of the composite field of the finite-prime field, and a second output from a second path by applying a scaled mapped affine transformation to the input bit sequence, wherein the second output is represented by a second element of the composite field and is equal to a multiple of the first output in the composite field. |
| US09910789B2 |
Electrical and optical memory access
A processor issues a command to a memory through an electrical memory link and performs a process according to the command through the electrical memory link. The processor issues a routing command to an optical circuit switch (OCS) through an OCS control line. In response to the routing command, the OCS establishes a routing of an optical memory link from the processor to the BDM. In response to the establishment of the optical memory link from the processor to the BDM, the processor (or a BDM (internal/dedicated) controller) switches from performing the process through the electrical memory link to performing a process through the optical memory link (continuously without an interruption between the successive processes). Corresponding systems are also disclosed herein. |
| US09910788B2 |
Cache access statistics accumulation for cache line replacement selection
A processor device includes a cache and a memory storing a set of counters. Each counter of the set is associated with a corresponding block of a plurality of blocks of the cache. The processor device further includes a cache access monitor to, for each time quantum for a series of one or more time quanta, increment counter values of the set of counters based on accesses to the corresponding blocks of the cache. The processor device further includes a transfer engine to, after completion of each time quantum, transfer the counter values of the set of counters for the time quantum to a corresponding location in a system memory. |
| US09910784B2 |
Methods and systems for directly mapping a backend block address into a physical address of a caching device
A storage device made up of multiple storage media is configured such that one such media serves as a cache for data stored on another of such media. The device includes a controller configured to manage the cache by consolidating information concerning obsolete data stored in the cache with information concerning data no longer desired to be stored in the cache, and erase segments of the cache containing one or more of the blocks of obsolete data and the blocks of data that are no longer desired to be stored in the cache to produce reclaimed segments of the cache. |
| US09910777B2 |
Enhanced integrity through atomic writes in cache
A system and method facilitate processing atomic storage requests. The method includes receiving, from a storage client, an atomic storage request for a first storage device that is incapable of processing atomic write operations. The method also includes processing the atomic storage request at a translation interface. The method also includes storing the atomic storage request in one or more storage operations in a second storage device capable of processing the atomic storage request. |
| US09910775B2 |
Computing system with adaptive back-up mechanism and method of operation thereof
A computing system includes: an adaptive back-up controller configured to calculate an adaptive back-up time based on a reserve power source for backing up a volatile memory to a nonvolatile memory; and a processor core, coupled to the adaptive back-up controller, configured to back up at least a portion of the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory within the adaptive back-up time based on a back-up priority. |
| US09910771B2 |
Non-volatile memory interface
In an embodiment, a memory interface may send an indication that a request is being sent. The indication may be sent to a non-volatile memory via a point-to-point bus between a memory interface and the non-volatile memory. The memory interface may send the request to the non-volatile memory via the bus. The request may include an address that may be used to identify a location for storing or reading data. The non-volatile memory may acquire the request from the bus and process the request. After processing the request, the non-volatile memory may send an indication to the memory interface that indicates the non-volatile memory has a response to send to the memory interface. The memory interface may grant access to the bus to the non-volatile memory. After being granted access to the bus, the non-volatile memory may send the response to the memory interface. |
| US09910767B2 |
Leveraging instruction RAM as a data RAM extension during use of a modified Harvard architecture processor
On-chip instruction RAM is leveraged as an extension of on-chip data RAM during normal use of a modified Harvard Architecture processor. Unused space in an instruction RAM is detected in a modified Harvard Architecture processor. During operation of the processor this unused space is used to load and store data normally loaded and stored in an on-chip data RAM. A performance penalty associated with swapping out to external memory is reduced. The type of data stored in the unused portion of the instruction RAM may be selected to optimize performance. In one implementation, the unused space in the instruction RAM is used to load and store only a single type of data, such as heap, stack, initialized or uninitialized data. |
| US09910760B2 |
Method and apparatus for interception of synchronization objects in graphics application programming interfaces for frame debugging
An aspect of the present invention proposes a solution for correctly intercepting, capturing, and replaying tasks (such as functions and methods) in an interception layer operating between an application programming interface (API) and the driver of a processor by using synchronization objects such as fences. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the application will use what appears to the application to be a single synchronization object to signal (from a processor) and to wait (on a processor), but will actually be two separate synchronization objects in the interception layer. According to one or more embodiments, the solution proposed herein may be implemented as part of an module or tool that works as an interception layer between an application and an API exposed by a device driver of a resource, and allows for an efficient and effective approach to frame-debugging and live capture and replay of function bundles. |
| US09910757B2 |
Semiconductor device, log acquisition method and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor device includes a CPU access detection unit configured to detect a predetermined access among accesses from a CPU to the semiconductor device, based on an access detection condition; an internal signal detection unit configured to detect a predetermined internal signal among internal signals from a function module in the semiconductor device, based on an event detection condition, the predetermined access and the predetermined internal signal being subjects for the log acquisition; an internal memory unit configured to store at least one of log data for the predetermined access detected by the CPU access detection unit and log data for the predetermined internal signal detected by the internal signal detection unit; a setting input unit configured to receive an input of setting data; and a detection condition setting unit configured to set the access detection condition and the event detection condition based on the setting data. |
| US09910752B2 |
Reliable map-reduce communications in a decentralized, self-organizing communication orbit of a distributed network
Method and system for providing message communications with failure detection and recovery are disclosed. At a respective node of a non-static collection of nodes forming a linear communication orbit: the node identifies, from among the non-static collection of nodes, a set of forward contacts distributed in a forward direction along the linear communication orbit; the node monitors a propagation state of a first query that has departed from the respective node to travel in the forward direction along the linear communication orbit; and upon detecting a propagation failure of the first query based on the monitoring, the node sends the first query directly to a first forward contact among the set of forward contacts to initiate a failure recovery process within at least part of a segment of the linear communication orbit between the respective node and the first forward contact of the respective node. |
| US09910750B2 |
Storage controlling device, storage controlling method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A storage controlling device including a memory and a processor configured to obtain information on each of a plurality of remaining lives of each of a plurality of storage devices included in a redundancy storage system, determine each of a plurality of timings for replacement of each of the plurality of storage devices so that a number of the timings for replacement included in a predetermined time range is less than a predetermined number, each of a plurality of timings for replacement being determined to be earlier than each of the plurality of timings that malfunctions occur in each of the plurality of storage devices corresponding to each of a plurality of timings for replacement, each of the plurality of timings that malfunctions occur being specified based on the obtained information, and output information that indicates at least one of the plurality of determined timings for replacement. |
| US09910748B2 |
Rebuilding process for storage array
When a drive in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) fails, for a first stripe unit stored in the failed drive, a RAID controller obtains from a bitmap a first indicator indicating whether the first stripe unit contains written data, wherein the bitmap contains a plurality of indicators corresponding to stripe units stored in the failed drive, and the first stripe unit belongs to a first stripe stored in the RAID system; if the first indicator indicates that the first stripe unit does not contain written data, write zeros into a first replacement stripe unit in a replacement drive, wherein the first replacement stripe unit replaces the first stripe unit in the first stripe. Without performing XOR operations for the stripe units indicated no data by the table, a time consumed for rebuilding can be significantly reduced, recovering the RAID array healthy sooner and reducing the impact on system bandwidth usage and host I/O performance impact during the rebuild process. |
| US09910747B2 |
Parallel mirrored copying with write consistency
A method, computer program product and/or system for facilitating data access that performs the following steps (not necessarily in the following order): (i) generating a Mirror Write Consistency (MWC) record associated with a data portion stored on a data storage device (ii) saving a dynamic copy of the MWC record in a manner such that the MWC record is more readily accessible for read and write operations than the data portion stored on the data storage device. At least the generating and making step is performed by computer software running on computer hardware. |
| US09910746B2 |
Storage device with error recovery indication
Various embodiments are provided that enable a controller of a storage device having storage media to perform one or more error recovery operations on the storage media, and to convey, while performing the one or more error recovery operations, a message indicating a status of the one or more error recovery operations to a host processor in communication with the storage device. Storage devices implementing embodiments of the present invention include hard disk drives and solid state disk drives comprising a disk head having a magnetoresistive (MR) element configured to read and write data to and from the storage media, and coupled to an analog/digital (A/D) converter, and the error recovery operations are selected from a list of changing an automatic gain control of the A/D converter, positioning the disk head off-track in order to read the data, and adjusting a bias value of the MR element. |
| US09910742B1 |
System comprising front-end and back-end storage tiers, data mover modules and associated metadata warehouse
An information processing system comprises a plurality of front-end storage tiers, a plurality of back-end storage tiers, a plurality of data mover modules arranged between the front-end and back-end file storage tiers, and a metadata warehouse associated with the data mover modules and the front-end and back-end storage tiers. The data mover modules are configured to control movement of data between the storage tiers. The metadata warehouse is configured to store for each of a plurality of data items corresponding metadata comprising movement information characterizing movement of the data item between the storage tiers. The movement information for a given data item illustratively comprises locations, timestamps and checksums for different stages of movement of the given data item. Other types of metadata for the given data item illustratively include lineage information, access history information and compliance information. |
| US09910740B1 |
Concurrent recovery operation management
The present disclosure relates to managing concurrent recovery operations. Operation state may be stored in a repository managed by a service. The service may query the repository as requests come in, and take appropriate actions based on an identified state. |
| US09910737B2 |
Implementing change data capture by interpreting published events as a database recovery log
A method for implementing a change capture system using an event publishing system as a database recovery log is provided. The method may include determining a set of data based on a description of events for which change capture is possible. The method may also include selecting at least one item of data from within the determined set of data, wherein the at least one item of data requires change capture to be performed. Additionally, the method may include identifying at least one published event, wherein the at least one published event is produced by the event publishing system. The method may include instructing the event publishing system to deliver the at least one identified published event to the change capture system. Furthermore, the method may include receiving the at least one identified published event. The method may also include processing the at least one published event. |
| US09910734B2 |
Checkpoint and restart
A method of performing a checkpoint on a set of connected processors and memories comprises the steps of creating one or more statefiles for one or more of the processors, querying available processing and/or memory resources, allocating data from one or more statefiles to the available resources, compressing the allocated data, storing the compressed data, and repeating the querying, allocating, compressing and storing steps until all of the statefile(s) are compressed and stored. |
| US09910732B2 |
Maintaining a desired number of storage units
A method includes receiving, from a user device, a data object for storage. The method further includes determining dispersed storage error encoding parameters for the data object based on the virtual storage vault. The method further includes determining to adjust the pillar width number based on activation status of storage units in the set of storage units and others. When it is determined to adjust the pillar width number, adjusting the pillar width. The method further includes dispersed storage error encoding the data object in accordance with the decode threshold number, the encoding function, and the adjusted pillar width number. The method further includes sending a subset of encoded data slices from each of the sets of encoded data slices to active storage units of the set of storage units and sending an encoded data slice from each of the sets of encoded data slices to an active storage unit. |
| US09910730B2 |
System for handling erratic word lines for non-volatile memory
A non-volatile storage system identifies a word line with an open neighbor word line and determines whether data stored in non-volatile memory cells connected to the identified word line has an error condition. If the data does have an error condition, then an attempt is made to fix the data and the open neighbor word line is checked for errors. If the open neighbor word line has errors, then memory cells connected to the open neighbor word line are programmed with pseudo data. |
| US09910726B2 |
System dump analysis
Technical solutions are described for analyzing a system dump. An example computer implemented method includes determining a fingerprint of the system dump, which identifies a model of the system and a type of the system dump. The method further includes receiving, from a first user device, a request to identify system dumps matching a set of system dump criteria and identifying the first user device based on the fingerprint of the system dump matching the set of system dump criteria specified, and sending access information of the system dump. The method also includes recording a query and its result as executed by the first user device against the system dump and sending, for receipt by a second user device, access information of the result of the query in the database, in response to the second user device requesting identification of system dumps matching said set of system dump criteria. |
| US09910725B2 |
Error-specific advertisement display in electronic device
A method includes determining that an error has occurred. The error includes a hardware error in a computer, a network error in a network connected to the computer and/or a software error for software executing on the computer. The computer determines that the error has occurred. The method includes identifying a type of computer system in which the error has occurred. The computer system type includes a manufacturer and/or a brand for the computer. The method includes identifying, in response to determining that the error has occurred, an advertisement for a product or service relating to resolution of the error and to the type of computer system. The computer identifies the advertisement and generates an error message. The error message includes the advertisement and information regarding the error. The computer displays the error message with the advertisement on an electronic display connected to the computer. |
| US09910723B2 |
Event detection through text analysis using dynamic self evolving/learning module
A system and method for detecting events based on input data from a plurality of sources. The system may receive input from a plurality of sources containing information about possible events. A method for event detection involves pre-processing and normalizing a data input from a plurality of sources, extracting and disambiguating events and entities, associate event and entities, correlate events and entities associated from a data input to results from a different data source to determine if an event has occurred, and store the detected events in a data storage. |
| US09910721B2 |
System and method for execution of application code compiled according to two instruction set architectures
Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with execution of application code having multiple ISAs, are disclosed. In various embodiments, a runtime environment may execute application code having multiple instruction set architectures. The runtime environment may be configured to execute first code of the application code according to a first instruction set architecture, while also configured to execute second code of the application code according to a second instruction set architecture that extends the first instruction set architecture. Using gates, the runtime environment may be adapted to adapt an interaction from the first code to the second instruction set architecture and/or adapt an interaction from the second code to the first instruction set architecture and, subsequently, return to executing the application code according to the first instruction set architecture or the second instruction set architecture, respectively. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed. |
| US09910720B2 |
Method and apparatus for a mobile device based cluster computing infrastructure
A mobile computing apparatus including a processor coupled to a wireless communications interface, wherein the processor is configured to execute an init process, wherein the init process comprises a container manager. The processor creates, using the container manager, a plurality of secure containers and executes, in a first secure container of the plurality of secure containers, a first mobile device process. The processor executes, in a second secure container of the plurality of secure containers, a cluster node process, wherein the cluster node process is configured to operate as a node of a cloud service infrastructure. |
| US09910718B2 |
Selective locking of operations on joint and disjoint sets
A management controller in a distributed network switch may operate on sets of ports such that sets of ports containing a same port are processed serially, and sets that do not contain any of the same ports can be processed in parallel. When receiving a set of ports for processing, the management controller organizes the ports into lanes that each correspond to a unique port. If any of the lanes overlap, subsequent port sets are blocked from proceeding until the lanes of preceding port sets are cleared. If no lanes overlap, the sets may be deemed disjoint, and subsequent port sets may be processed in parallel. |
| US09910716B2 |
Synchronization in a multi-processor computing system
In one aspect, a method implemented by a first sync controller includes receiving sync information, wherein the sync information (i) identifies a first sync process, (ii) indicates that the first sync controller is not a master controller of the first sync process, and (iii) identifies a group of components executing the first sync process, the group comprising a first processing device; receiving a first sync indication from the first processing device; storing an indication, associated with the first sync process, that the first sync indication was received from the first processing device; determining that a sync indication has been received from all components of the first group of components; and transmitting a second sync indication to a second sync controller. |
| US09910715B2 |
Synchronization safeguards for detecting race conditions in multithreaded programs
Each of a plurality of accesses by a multithreaded program to shared data structures stored within a database is monitored. The accesses are implemented by varying application programming interface (API) methods. Thereafter, it is determined, based on pre-defined synchronization safeguards, whether each of the accesses is valid or invalid based on the utilized corresponding API method. Those accesses to the shared data structures that were determined to be valid are allowed to proceed while those accesses to the shared data structures that were determined to be invalid are prevented from proceeding. |
| US09910714B2 |
Scriptable dynamic load balancing in computer systems
The described embodiments include a system for executing a load using a first processor and a seond processor in a computer system. During operation, a load balancer executing on the first processor obtains one or more attributes of a load to be executed on the computer system. Next, the load balancer applies a set of configurable rules to the one or more attributes to select a processor from the first and second processors for executing the load. Finally, the system executes the load on the selected processor. |
| US09910712B2 |
Replication of a virtualized computing environment to a computing system with offline hosts
In an example, a method of replication between computing systems includes replicating virtual machine files from primary storage in a primary computing system to secondary storage in a secondary computing system. The virtual machine files implement a plurality of virtual machines in the primary computing system and a plurality of replica virtual machines in the secondary computing system. The method further includes replicating configuration data, from virtualization software in the primary computing system to secondary virtualization software installed on a host computer in the secondary computing system, through a platform management system in the host computer while the host computer is in a low-power state. |
| US09910711B1 |
Method and computing device for managing size of thread pool dynamically
A method for managing a thread pool size dynamically using elemental task throughputs is provided. The method includes steps of: a computing device (a) calculating a first representative task throughput corresponding to a first group including elemental task throughputs during the first time section, and then increasing a maximum thread value for the first time section and setting it as a maximum thread value for the second time section; (b) calculating a second representative task throughput corresponding to a second group including elemental task throughputs during the second time section; and (c) comparing the first and the second representative task throughput and then, if the latter is greater than the former by an amount equal to or greater than a preset first threshold value, increasing the maximum thread value for the second time section and setting it as a maximum thread value for a third time section. |
| US09910710B2 |
Prioritising event processing based on system workload
Event processing is prioritized based on system workload. A time constraint attribute is defined in an event rule. The event rule uses one or more events. An event processing system is monitored to determine when the system is under a predefined level of stress. If the system is determined to be under the predefined level of stress, the time constraint attribute in the event rule is used to establish when the processing of a received event used in an event rule must be carried out. |
| US09910706B2 |
Managing asset placement with respect to a shared pool of configurable computing resources
Disclosed aspects include managing asset placement with respect to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. A first set of first resource values is detected with respect to a set of assets. The first set of first resource values includes a first value. A second set of first resource values is detected with respect to the set of assets. The second set of first resource values includes a second value. The second value exceeds the first value. A set of asset weight values is detected with respect to the set of assets. The set of asset weight values indicates an asset utilization arrangement. A placement arrangement is determined for the set of assets using the first set of first resource values, the second set of first resource values, and the set of asset weight values. Accordingly, the set of assets is placed based on the placement arrangement. |
| US09910701B2 |
Preemptive operating system without context switching
A device, such as a constrained device that includes a processing device and memory, schedules user-defined independently executable functions to execute from a single stack common to all user-defined independently executable functions according to availability and priority of the user-defined independently executable functions relative to other user-defined independently executable functions and preempts currently running user-defined independently executable function by placing the particular user-defined independently executable function on a single stack that has register values for the currently running user-defined independently executable function. |
| US09910696B2 |
Machine learning for virtual machine migration plan generation
Embodiments relate to generating a virtual machine (VM) migration plan. An initial mapping of VMs to hosts is determined as an origin state and a final mapping of VMs to hosts as a goal state. Candidate paths are generated from the initial mapping to the final mapping. The candidate paths are evaluated based on a heuristic state transition cost from the origin state through intermediate states to the goal state by recursively obtaining a list of transitions that a parent state underwent. A heuristic goal cost is identified to reach the goal state from the intermediate states based on a fewest number of VM movements. The VM migration plan is generated based on the heuristic state transition cost of the candidate paths in combination with the heuristic goal cost of a sequence of transitions from the origin state to the goal state having a lowest total cost. |
| US09910695B2 |
Automatic virtual machine termination in a cloud
Managing a cloud computing environment including a plurality of resources adapted to host at least one virtual machine includes, in a virtual machine, determining a period of inactivity of the operating system for a user of the virtual machine and comparing, using a processor, the period with a defined threshold. From the virtual machine, a virtual machine termination request is sent to the cloud computing environment responsive to the period exceeding the defined threshold. |
| US09910689B2 |
Dynamic single root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) processes system calls request to devices attached to host
A system and method for providing dynamic I/O virtualization is herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a device capable of performing hypervisor-agnostic and device-agnostic I/O virtualization includes a host computer interface, memory, I/O devices (GPU, disk, NIC), and efficient communication mechanisms for virtual machines to communicate their intention to perform I/O operations on the device. According to one embodiment, the communication mechanism may use shared memory. According to some embodiments, the device may be implemented purely in hardware, in software, or using a combination of hardware and software. According to some embodiments, the device may share its memory with guest processes to perform optimizations including but not limited to a shared page cache and a shared heap. |
| US09910686B2 |
Bridging between network segments with a logical router
Some embodiments provide a system that includes a first set of virtual machines belonging to a first overlay network and a second set of virtual machines belonging to a second overlay network. The first and second sets of virtual machines operate in several host machines, each of which includes a managed physical routing element (MPRE) for routing data packet between virtual machines in different overlay networks. A particular MPRE is configured as a bridge for routing packets between virtual machines that are in different overlay networks but in a same IP (internet protocol) subnet. |
| US09910684B2 |
Extensible firmware abstraction
A method for extensible firmware abstraction includes creating a null library and adding null library dependencies to the null library's build file. The null library is associated with a shared firmware module that depends on the null library dependencies for successful execution. A computer processor executes the build file, null library, and shared firmware module to impose the null library dependencies on execution of the shared firmware module. |
| US09910683B2 |
Dynamic application optimization
For dynamic application optimization, a method is disclosed that includes detecting, by use of a processor, an altered need for a resource in an executing application, identifying one or more configuration parameters for configuring an operating environment for the application, and applying the one or more configuration parameters in response to detecting the altered need. |
| US09910675B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for low power computational imaging
The present application discloses a computing device that can provide a low-power, highly capable computing platform for computational imaging. The computing device can include one or more processing units, for example one or more vector processors and one or more hardware accelerators, an intelligent memory fabric, a peripheral device, and a power management module. The computing device can communicate with external devices, such as one or more image sensors, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other suitable sensor devices. |
| US09910674B2 |
Data processor with extended instruction code space including a prohibition combination pattern as a separate instruction
In the data processor in which a combination of multiple specific instructions is prohibited, an instruction set is employed that additionally defines that prohibition combination pattern as a separate instruction. With respect to the prohibition combination pattern additionally defined as the separate instruction, for example, in order to make a definition in such a manner that an instruction dispatch mechanism for the instruction set that is present before the additional definition is used as is, the instruction to be additionally defined by the prohibition combination pattern is limited to an instruction type that is the same as the instruction defined only with a latter-half code of the instruction in a case of an instruction set in which the instruction set that is present before the additional definition includes a prefix code. |
| US09910673B2 |
Reconfigurable microprocessor hardware architecture
A reconfigurable, multi-core processor includes a plurality of memory blocks and programmable elements, including units for processing, memory interface, and on-chip cognitive data routing, all interconnected by a self-routing cognitive on-chip network. In embodiments, the processing units perform intrinsic operations in any order, and the self-routing network forms interconnections that allow the sequence of operations to be varied and both synchronous and asynchronous data to be transmitted as needed. A method for programming the processor includes partitioning an application into modules, determining whether the modules execute in series, program-driven parallel, or data-driven parallel, determining the data flow required between the modules, assigning hardware resources as needed, and automatically generating machine code for each module. In embodiments, a Time Field is added to the instruction format for all programming units that specifies the number of clock cycles for which only one instruction fetch and decode will be performed. |
| US09910669B2 |
Instruction and logic for characterization of data access
A processor includes a front end to receive an instruction, a decoder to decode the instruction, a core to execute the first instruction, and a retirement unit to retire the first instruction. The core includes logic to execute the first instruction, including logic to repeatedly record a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) until a designated number of records are determined, and flush the TLB after a flush interval. |
| US09910668B2 |
Sensor-driven eventing and two stage notification
A computer-implemented method for reducing network traffic in an event-driven infrastructure by a two-stage notification subscription mechanism may be provided. The method includes subscribing, by client components to notifications for topics at a client-side hub, opening, a connection to a server-side notification server initiated by the client-side hub and subscribing, by the client-side hub to the server-side notification server for a united set of topics client components subscribed to at the client-side hub. The method also comprises, based on the subscriptions, a communicating, a united set of data relating to the united set of topics from the server-side notification server to the client-side hub, wherein the united set of data comprises data the client components subscribed to at the client-side hub such that the network traffic is reduced. |
| US09910665B2 |
Simultaneous operation of multiple versions of an application using bidirectional synchronization and separated read write channels
An upgrade of a first version of a database application to a second version of a database application that both have a same data schema is initiated. The first database application has a first access schema such that at least one table in the data schema is linked to the first access schema. The second version of the database application has a second access schema such that at least one table in the data schema is linked to the second access schema. The first access schema differs from the second access schema. Subsequently, concurrent access is provided for each access schema to at least one database table in the data schema to both the first version of the database application and the second version of the database application. The concurrent access is enabled by using separate read and write channels. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US09910664B2 |
System and method of online firmware update for baseboard management controller (BMC) devices
A system includes a baseboard management controller (BMC), capable of online update of the BMC without shutting down any services. The BMC includes a processor, a volatile memory configured to perform multiple service instances, and a non-volatile memory storing a computer executable code and a root file system. The root file system includes multiple service modules as origin of the service instances. The computer executable code, when executed at the processor, is configured to: receive an update command and perform an update process based on the update command. The update process includes: copying the root file system from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory; switching the origin of the service instances to the copy of the root file system; receiving an update root file system code; and writing the update root file system code to the non-volatile memory to obtain an updated root file system. |
| US09910663B1 |
Network-independent modular applications
Systems and methods are described for a platform that allows efficient creation and distribution of application templates. The application templates enable a modular application to run in different application environments. Configuration data is initially downloaded by an electronic device over a computer network from a server system. The configuration data enables the electronic device to execute a locally stored instance of an application on the electronic device. A determination that the electronic device is unable to establish communications with the server system over the computer network is made. In response, the locally stored instance of the application is executed on the electronic device based on the configuration data stored on the electronic device. Data collected by the locally stored instance of the application is then transmitted to the server system. |
| US09910662B2 |
Selectively migrating applications during an operating system upgrade
Techniques are described for segregating a monolithic computing device that contains many installed applications into separate application storage volumes that can be attached or detached from the computing device as needed. Once the monolithic device has been segregated, the application storage volumes can be managed remotely from a management server and can be enabled or disabled on the device based on instructions from an administrator. Additionally, the administrator is enabled to select which application storage volumes are migrated during an operating system (OS) upgrade on the computing device. |
| US09910656B2 |
Updating software products on virtual machines with software images of new levels
A solution for updating at least one software product installed on a virtual machine, including providing a software image of at least one new virtual disk storing a new level of the software product together with new metadata including an indication of at least one new activation procedure of the new level of the software product, and replacing a current level of the software product with the new level of the software product, the current level of the software product being stored in at least one current virtual disk of the virtual machine together with current metadata including current activation information of the current level of the software product, where the replacing includes removing at least one current virtual disk from the virtual machine; adding at least one new virtual disk to the virtual machine; and running at least one new activation procedure according to the current activation information. |
| US09910652B2 |
Deploying applications
A method, executed by a computer, for deploying an application includes receiving a deployment description that indicates the one or more deployment configurations and an artifact corresponding to a deployment, accessing a repository that contains the deployment configurations and the artifact that correspond to the deployment, enabling a user to select a subset of deployment configurations, and deploying the subset of deployment configurations and artifact to a processing environment. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the above method are also disclosed herein. |
| US09910647B2 |
Field size calculation and color coding display options usable in an emulated integrated development environment (IDE)
A method and apparatus for allowing for field size calculation and color coding display options usable in an emulated integrated development environment (IDE). A user may be able to quickly and accurately calculate the field size of variables in a code structure, irrespective of the length of the structure or the number of variables selected. The user may also be able to match the variables with their redefinitions accurately and easily when required. A user may also be able to easily identify the names of sections, paragraphs, referenced variables, and unreferenced variables visually in a code editor. The users may also be able to assign colors of his choice to the sections, paragraphs, referenced variables, and unreferenced variables. |
| US09910644B2 |
Integrated note-taking functionality for computing system entities
A computing system comprises, in one example, a display system configured to generate user interface displays, a first application configured to define an entity in the computing system, an interface component configured to control a second application to generate a notebook component corresponding to the entity, and an association component configured to generate and store an association between the entity and the notebook component. The first application is configured to control the display system to generate a first application user interface display that displays data for the entity in the first application and includes a user input mechanism corresponding to the notebook component in the second application based on the association. |
| US09910643B2 |
Program for program editing
A program for program editing for editing a program described using a symbol on a program editing screen causes an information processing apparatus to function as input-gesture-characteristic-information acquiring unit for acquiring input gesture characteristic information including coordinate information and a track of the coordinate input on the program editing screen, and as processing executing unit for specifying an operation target and specifying a command applied to the operation target on the basis of the input gesture characteristic information, executing the command, and for displaying the result of execution of the command on the program editing screen. |
| US09910641B2 |
Generation of application behaviors
Examples of the disclosure provide a system and method for receiving a component at a design surface, the component representing a user interface element of an application. A selection of the component is received and a selection of at least a portion of a first target component is detected. Based on the selection of the first target component, a first property of the first target component is determined to use in an expression, the expression to be dynamically evaluated at runtime of the component. The expression automatically generated to change a property of the component based on the first property of the first target component. |
| US09910631B2 |
Display screen, spliced display screen and drive method for the same
The present disclosure provides a display screen, comprising a non-display region which comprises at least one frame rim and a display region which comprises a plurality of pixels, wherein a plurality of regional units each provided with electrochromic material is formed on a surface of the frame rim, and, each of the regional units is configured to display a color corresponding to a color displayed on one of the pixels adjacent to the regional unit when the regional unit is supplied with a voltage associated with the color displayed on the one of the pixels adjacent to the regional unit during a displaying of a picture on the display screen. Meanwhile, the present disclosure also provides a spliced display screen consisted of a plurality of the abovementioned display screen, and a drive method for the abovementioned display screen. |
| US09910625B2 |
Method for creating specifications for a combined print product processing system
A method for creating and processing specifications for a combined print product includes determining a plurality of parts needed to produce the combined print product, selecting a corresponding digital representation of the determined part from a digital representation collection, displaying the digital representations, and creating a digital hierarchical structure of the digital representations. An order in the digital hierarchical structure defines usage of the parts, appliance of the parts and a combination of the parts in a production process of the combined print product. Each part of the plurality of parts belongs to a part category out of a set of part categories, and the plurality of parts includes at least two resources, at least one device action, at least one finishing action, at least one combination action, at least one device and at least two logical concepts. A combined print product processing system is configured to apply the method. |
| US09910623B2 |
Training of storage devices in computing systems and environments
Storage devices and components, including memory components (e.g., non-volatile memory) can be trained by executable code that facilitates and/or performs reads and/or write requests to one or more storage sub-modules of a storage component (e.g., memory configured on a memory channel) made up of multiple storage components (e.g., DIMMs). The executable code can also train multiple storage components at the same time and/or in parallel. |
| US09910620B1 |
Method and system for leveraging secondary storage for primary storage snapshots
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, a system, and a computer program product for leveraging secondary storage for primary storage snapshots. The method includes creating a current first snapshot of a volume at a current first time in a primary storage. The method then may determine differences between the current first snapshot at the current first time and a previous second snapshot created at a previous second time. The differences then may be sent to a secondary storage. |
| US09910619B2 |
Dual buffer solid state drive
A solid state drive includes a dual buffer for buffering incoming write data prior to committal to a non-volatile memory. The buffer is operated to provide a temporary backup of dirty data pending successful completion of a host transfer. The dual buffer may be operated as a primary buffer and a secondary buffer. The primary buffer may be used as the default buffer during normal operation. The secondary buffer is written to during a host transfer that is a cache write to dirty data. A copying process may be used to copy data between the primary and the secondary buffer to preserve the backup data pending successful completion of the host transfer. |
| US09910614B2 |
Storage network data distribution
A method of allocating data to a storage block included in a storage network may include determining a plurality of characteristics associated with a storage block included in a storage network. The plurality of characteristics may include storage capacity of the storage block, available storage space of the storage block, likelihood of loss of data stored on the storage block, availability of the storage block with respect to the storage network, and use of the storage block. The method may further include allocating data to the storage block based on the plurality of characteristics. |
| US09910613B2 |
Volume admission control for high-performance distributed data storage system
New storage volumes are registered to a data storage environment. Registering new storage volumes is controlled based on the performance requirements of the storage volumes compared to the capacity of the data storage environment. |
| US09910611B2 |
Access control for memory protection key architecture
A processing system includes a processing core to execute a task and a memory management unit, coupled to the core. The memory management unit includes a protection key register comprising a plurality of fields. Each field comprising a set of bits reflecting a memory access permission for each of a plurality of memory domains. The memory management unit also includes a plurality of protection key mask registers. Each of the protection key mask registers comprising a mask having a plurality of bits, each bit reflecting an access permission to a corresponding field of the protection key register by a code page residing in a memory domain of the plurality of memory domains identified by an index of the protection key mask register. The memory management unit is, responsive to receiving a request to modify the protection key register by the code page residing in the memory domain, to select a protection key mask register among the plurality of protection key mask registers and to apply a mask comprised by selected protection key mask register indexed by an identifier of the memory domain. |
| US09910610B2 |
Protected mode for global platform complaint smart cards
A multiple application smart card uses hardware firewalls and an internal communications scheme to isolate applications from different service providers. A first application from a first service provider is stored within a first supplemental security domain of a memory device on the multiple application smart card. A second application from a second service provider is stored within a second SSD of the memory device. A hardware firewall is located between the first and second applications of the first and second SSDs. The hardware firewall prevents direct data access between the first and second applications of the first and second SSDs. |
| US09910607B2 |
Method of managing a memory, and a memory system
In one embodiment, the method includes determining whether a selection transistor of a currently programmed memory string in the memory has deteriorated, and copying data in the currently programmed memory string to a different memory string of the memory if the determining determines the selection transistor has deteriorated. |
| US09910604B2 |
Refresh parameter-dependent memory refresh management
Apparatus, systems, and methods to manage memory refresh operations are described. In one embodiment, an electronic device comprises a processor and memory controller logic to determine a memory refresh frequency for a memory system and transmit refresh commands to a refresh control logic in at least one memory bank coupled to the memory controller according to the memory refresh frequency. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US09910602B2 |
Device and memory system for storing and recovering page table data upon power loss
A virtual memory management apparatus of an embodiment is embedded in a computing machine 80 and is provided with an application program 21, an operating system 22, a volatile memory 11, and a nonvolatile memory 12. The volatile memory 11 is provided with a plurality of clean pages. The nonvolatile memory 12 is provided with a plurality of dirty pages and a page table memory unit 51. The operating system 22 is provided with a virtual memory management unit 23 which includes a page transfer unit 25. |
| US09910596B2 |
Electronic device and method for fabricating the same
Provided is an electronic device including a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory may include: an interlayer dielectric layer formed over a substrate and having a contact hole; a contact plug formed in a lower part of the contact hole; a contact pad formed in an upper part of the contact hole; an amorphous buffer layer interposed between the contact plug and the contact pad; and a variable resistance element formed over the contact pad. |
| US09910594B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for concurrently accessing multiple memory planes of a memory during a memory access operation
Apparatuses and methods for performing concurrent memory access operations for multiple memory planes are disclosed herein. An example method may include receiving first and second command and address pairs associated with first and second plane, respectively, of a memory. The method may further include, responsive to receiving the first and second command and address pairs, providing a first and second read voltages based on first and second page type determined from the first and second command and address pair. The method may further include configuring a first GAL decoder circuit to provide one of the first read voltage or a pass voltage on each GAL of a first GAL bus. The method may further include configuring a second GAL decoder circuit to provide one of the second read level voltage signal or the pass voltage signal on each GAL of a second GAL bus coupled to the second memory plane. |
| US09910592B2 |
System and method for replicating data stored on non-volatile storage media using a volatile memory as a memory buffer
A system for replicating data comprising includes a first and a second computing device. The first computing device has a first storage unit configured to store block level data, a second storage unit and a volatile memory. The second computing device has a third storage unit and a fourth storage unit configured to store block level data, the third storage unit being communicatively coupled to the second storage unit. The first computing device is configured to receive write requests each containing payload data, write the payload data of the write requests to the volatile memory and append the payload data to the second storage unit, and acknowledge the write requests prior to writing the respective payload data to the second storage unit. The second computing device is configured to detect new data in the third storage unit and apply the new data to the fourth storage unit. |
| US09910588B2 |
Touchscreen keyboard providing word predictions in partitions of the touchscreen keyboard in proximate association with candidate letters
A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard displayed on a display, generating a set of predicted input characters based on the input character, and displaying the generated set of characters in partitions of the virtual keyboard in proximate association with candidate letters is disclosed. An electronic device and a keyboard configured to perform the method are also disclosed. |
| US09910587B2 |
Gesture recognition and control based on finger differentiation
An embodiment of a computer implemented method of performing a processing action includes detecting an input from a user via an input device of a processing device, the input including a touch by at least one finger of a plurality of fingers of the user, estimating a gesture performed by the at least one finger based on the touch, measuring at least part of a fingerprint of the at least one finger, and identifying the at least one finger used to apply the input by the user based on stored fingerprint data that differentiates between individual fingers of the user. The method also includes identifying an action to be performed based on the estimated gesture and based on the identified at least one finger, and performing the action by the processing device. |
| US09910581B2 |
Video scrolling
A system for video scrolling may allow a user to control speed and/or direction of video playback through user inputs. Such user inputs can include swiping one or more fingers on a touch-sensitive surface, clicking and dragging a computer mouse, or other input actions comprising lateral movements. The rate of playback can be configured based on the speed of the input action. In one embodiment, the user may play the video backward by reversing direction of the input action. |
| US09910576B2 |
Automated multimedia content editing
Disclosed is a method for editing multimedia content, the multimedia content comprising a demonstration of actions performed in utilizing a computer application, the computer application having an “undo” history, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an “undo” history from the computer application; detecting an indication of an action being removed from the “undo” history; adding an end marker to a timeline associated with the multimedia content at a time corresponding to such detection; adding a start marker to said timeline at a time corresponding to the action which was removed from the “undo” history; and removing a portion of the multimedia content corresponding to that located between the start marker and the end marker. |
| US09910572B2 |
Duplication of objects with positioning based on object distance
A method of graphically duplicating graphic objects through the steps of a computer: receiving a selection of at least two objects and a direction of duplication along an axis. A zero axis point, a farthest axis point for the objects based on the direction of duplication, and a proximal object is determined. A proximal offset point equivalent to a farthest point on the proximal object from the zero axis point is set. A distal object is determined from the objects based on the direction of duplication along the axis, with a starting point of the distal object being designated as a distal offset point. An offset distance equal to a distance between the distal offset point and the proximal offset point is determined. The selection of the objects is duplicated and placed immediately after the farthest axis point plus the offset distance from the farthest axis point. |
| US09910562B2 |
Skimming to and past points of interest in digital content
A client (e.g., an eReader) includes a reader application module for presenting content to a user of the client. The reader application module displays an interface including a plurality of pages of a digital content to a user of a client. The reader application module identifies a point of interest included in a page of the plurality of pages of the digital content and assigns a physics model to the identified point of interest. The physics model may be selected from a plurality of physics models based on a type of the point of interest. The reader application module receiving an interaction from the user wanting to skim through the plurality of pages of the digital content and applies the physics model responsive to receiving the interaction from the user. |
| US09910558B2 |
Methods and devices for user interactive interfaces on touchscreens
The present application is directed to devices and methods for touchscreen interactive interface. The method may comprise steps of combining two or more single-function buttons on the user interface of the touchscreen device into one multifunction button; monitoring a real-time touch operation with the multifunction button by a user; determining the type of the touch operation according to the time of the touch operation; and unfolding the two or more single-function buttons one after another around the multifunction button according to the type of the touch operation. |
| US09910557B2 |
Intent-based graphical user interface window control
An apparatus and method for controlling an in-focus window in a graphical user interface (GUI) are disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes a processor and a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform operations including displaying a plurality of windows that is overlaid on top of one another in the GUI, receiving a control operation intended for the in-focus window while a cursor of the GUI is over an area of an out-of-focus window that is adjacent to the in-focus window, analyzing one or more parameters to determine an intent of the control operation and applying the control operation to the in-focus window. |
| US09910554B2 |
Assisting graphical user interface design
A method for assisting graphical user interface design includes extracting a first interface element from a first GUI under a first cultural background; searching in a rule repository for at least one transformation rule corresponding to the first interface element, where each of the at least one transformation rule includes at least an action taken on the first interface element; based on the at least one transformation rule, transforming the first interface element into a second interface element under a second cultural background; and providing a second user interface comprising at least the second interface element. |
| US09910548B2 |
On-cell touch display panel with touch structure arranged on outermost surface of color filter substrate and display device
The present disclosure provides a touch display panel and a display device including the touch display panel. The touch display panel includes a display panel, a touch layer and a touch driving circuit board. The display panel includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate arranged opposite to the array substrate to form a cell. The touch layer is arranged at an outer surface of the color filter substrate away from the array substrate, an electrode at the touch layer is connected to a wire through a conductor penetrating through the color filter substrate, and the wire is connected to the touch driving circuit board. |
| US09910542B2 |
Touch location correction for touchscreen devices
Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed having methods for correcting a location of a touch sensed by a capacitive touch screen when using a stylus, especially an active electronic stylus. The various corrector methods correct touch locations such as manufacturer's built-in offset designed for fingertips, touchscreen drive/sense electrode banding, stylus angle offset, parallax, long linear stroke smoothing, and/or loop smoothing. The corrector methods used may depend on the stylus model and/or the tablet model detected. The corrector methods may configure themselves to conform to the stylus model and/or tablet model detected. |
| US09910539B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling flexible display and electronic device adapted to the method
A method and an apparatus for controlling a flexible display, and an electronic device adapted to the method are provided. The method includes determining, when a user input is made while screen display data is displayed on the flexible display, whether the flexible display includes a bent area, calculating, when the flexible display includes the bent area, coordinates from the bent area and a bent angle, and compensating data displayed on the bent area with preset compensation and displaying the data. |
| US09910534B2 |
Time based touch screen input recognition
A time based touch screen input recognition system detects a touch on a touch screen display by receiving a first signal indicating a start of the touch and starts a timer in response to the first signal. The system monitors a length of the touch as the touch continues, determines a current time period covering the length of the touch using a current value of the timer and identifies a first function corresponding to a current time period. The system further identifies a second function corresponding to a second signal indicating an end of the touch and causes a processing device to implement the corresponding function. |
| US09910530B2 |
Display panel with touch detection function
Provided is a display panel including: a plurality of pixel electrodes divided into a plurality of groups; and a plurality of common electrodes arranged at a ratio of one to a plurality of pixel electrodes included in one of the plurality of groups. Each of a plurality of sensor electrode lines overlaps with corresponding one of a plurality of data signal lines in plan view. The plurality of sensor electrode lines and each of the plurality of common electrodes overlap each other in plan view. The each of the plurality of common electrodes is electrically connected to the plurality of sensor electrode lines. At least one insulating film is formed between each of a region between the data signal lines and the sensor electrode lines, a region between the sensor electrode lines and the common electrodes, and a region between the common electrodes and the pixel electrodes. |
| US09910524B1 |
Devices and methods for processing and disambiguating touch inputs using intensity thresholds based on prior input intensity
An electronic device detects a change in intensity of an input on an input element that includes detecting an increase in intensity followed by a decrease in intensity, and recognizes at least a portion of the change in intensity of the input as a first input event that is associated with a first operation, for example a single click operation. After recognizing the first input event, the device delays performance of the first operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a second input event, wherein the delay is limited by a default delay time period. If the second event is recognized before default delay time period has elapsed, a second operation is performed and the first operation is not performed. However, if early-confirmation criteria for the first input event are met before the default delay period elapses, the first operation is performed. |
| US09910522B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus having a touch panel display includes a first detection unit configured to detect that an object touches the touch panel display, and a second detection unit configured to detect that the object touches an area of a display item on the touch panel display and then detect that the object moves outside the area of the display item while touching the touch panel display. When the display item is in a flick or drag operation detectable area, the information processing apparatus performs control not to carry out processing associated with the display item in response to the detection by the second detection unit. |
| US09910519B2 |
Method and apparatus for operation designation
Method for receiving an indication of an input from a separate apparatus comprising beads, determining that the separate apparatus is associated with a designated operation of a designated program, and performing the designated operation based on the bead input. |
| US09910512B1 |
Systems and methods for using cursor movement profiles
Provided are systems and methods for receiving a plurality of response speed profiles associated with an application, selecting a first response speed profile from the plurality of response speed profiles, causing rendering of an on-screen display based at least in part on the first response speed profile, determining that a response speed profile change condition exists, selecting a second response speed profile from the plurality of response speed profiles, and causing rendering of an on-screen display based at least in part on the second response speed profile. |
| US09910510B1 |
Medical coding keyboard
A keyboard specifically designed to reduce errors in medical coding and aid in the coding process by making it easier to locate only the keys needed to accomplish coding. The keyboard moving the I and O to a different location than the remaining 24 alphabetic characters, and arranges those 24 characters in alphabetic sequence. The keyboard may have a first key group having the alphabetic keys inclusive of all the letters of the alphabet except for the letters I and O, a second key group including the numeric keypad and the letters I and O, and a third key group having only function keys. The keyboard increases coding volume by requiring less time than searching a standard QWERTY keyboard for the necessary keys and consequently helps to cut down on coding errors. |
| US09910508B2 |
Movement detection apparatus for detecting a hand movement
The invention relates to movement detection apparatus (1) for detecting a hand movement like a hand gesture which may be used for controlling a computer or another device. A light emitting device emits light into tissue at the wrist (5) of a person and a light detection device detects light, which has travelled through the tissue, at the wrist and generates a light detection signal based on the detected light, wherein a hand movement determination unit determines the hand movement based on the light detection signal. When the hand moves, i.e., for instance, when it rotates or when a finger moves, the composition of the tissue, through which the light travels, and hence the light detection signal change. This change in the light detection signal can be used to reliably determine the respective movement of the hand in a way which is very convenient for the person. |
| US09910506B2 |
Method for interacting with an object displayed on data eyeglasses
The invention relates to a method for interacting with an object that is displayed to a user by smart glasses, which includes a display. The method includes displaying the object for the user using the display, detecting that the user closes a first eye and keeps the first eye closed during a predetermined period of time using a first camera, recording a hand of the user using a second camera determining that the user performs an input action during the predetermined period of time, wherein the input action includes the hand assuming an attitude, and a position from a perspective of a second eye of the user with respect to the object, that meet a predetermined condition, and performing an action with respect to the object, wherein the action is associated with the input action in advance. |
| US09910505B2 |
Motion control for managing content
Approaches are described for managing content via an electronic device. In particular, various embodiments enable single-handed approaches to adjusting content provided by a computing device. For example, the computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) or other portable computing device can detect a touch-based gesture input (e.g., a tap and hold) on a display screen to activate a content control mode (e.g., a zoom control mode, a panning control mode, a volume control mode). As the device is moved relative to user of the device or some other reference point, the device can cause a zooming, panning, or audio function to be executed. In this way, as the user holds the device and tilts, rotates, or otherwise changes the orientation of the device, or as the user's relative position or orientation changes with respect to the device, the content can appear to be zoomed-in or zoomed-out on, panned, or otherwise adjusted based at least in part on the function executed. |
| US09910503B2 |
Gesture recognition method, apparatus and device, computer program product therefor
In an embodiment, hand gestures, such as hand or finger hovering, in the proximity space of a sensing panel are detected from X-node and Y-node sensing signals indicative of the presence of a hand feature at corresponding row locations and column locations of a sensing panel. Hovering is detected by detecting the locations of maxima for a plurality of frames over a time window for a set of X-node sensing signals and for a set of Y-node sensing signals by recognizing a hovering gesture if the locations of the maxima detected vary over the plurality of frames for one of the sets of X-node and Y-node sensing signals while remaining stationary for the other of the sets of X-node and Y-node sensing signals(Y). Finger shapes are distinguished over “ghosts” generated by palm or fist features by transforming the node-intensity representation for the sensing signals into a node-distance representation, based on the distances of the detection intensities for a number of nodes under a peak for a mean point between the valleys adjacent to the peak. |
| US09910501B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing retail processes based on machine-readable images and user gestures
Systems and methods for implementing retail processes based on machine-readable images and user gestures are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes capturing one or more images including a machine-readable image and a user gesture. The method also includes identifying the machine-readable image as being associated with a product. Further, the method includes determining whether the user gesture interacts with the machine-readable image in accordance with a predetermined gesture. The method also includes implementing a predetermined retail process in association with the product in response to determining that the user gesture interacts with the machine-readable image in accordance with the predetermined gesture. |
| US09910499B2 |
System and method for detecting three dimensional gestures to initiate and complete the transfer of application data between networked devices
An apparatus and method for detecting a three-dimensional gesture are provided. The method includes detecting, by at least one three dimensional motion sensing input device embedded in a network having a plurality of interconnected hardware, a three-dimensional gesture of a user, selecting, based on the detected gesture, application data corresponding to an application being executed, stored or displayed on a first device in the network to be transmitted to a second device in the network, transmitting the selected application data to hardware and software associated with the second device, and performing at least one of executing, storing or displaying the selected application data on the second device, wherein the at least one three dimensional motion sensing input device comprises gesture detection hardware and software. |
| US09910496B2 |
Systems and methods for mapping message contents to virtual physical properties for vibrotactile messaging
Systems and methods for mapping message contents to virtual physical properties for vibrotactile messaging are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor configured to detect an interaction with a messaging device, determining a virtual physical property of a virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the virtual physical parameter; and generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect. |
| US09910495B2 |
Automatic remote sensing and haptic conversion system
A system is provided that automatically converts an input into one or more haptic effects in near real-time. The system senses the input in near real-time. The system automatically converts the sensed input into one or more haptic signals in near real-time. The system generates the one or more haptic effects based on the one or more haptic signals. |
| US09910492B2 |
Stereoscopic touch device and display device
A stereoscopic touch device and a display device are provided. The stereoscopic touch device is arranged in the front of the stereoscopic display panel and comprises: an air injection panel which comprises a plurality of air injection holes in array distribution thereon; an image processing chip which generates a control signal for controlling strengths of airflows from respective air injection holes depending on a stereoscopic image signal; an airflow regulating device which is in signal connection with the image processing chip and is configured for providing air with the airflow strengths to the respective air injection holes depending on the control signal. |
| US09910491B2 |
Device and method for detecting the handling of at least one object
The invention concerns a device for detecting the handling of at least one object, the device including a deformable enclosure, to which are attached at least one sensor for the detection of a grasping of objects and at least one wireless radio transmitter, the sensor being able to provide either one from among a first signal for detection of the grasping of an object and a second signal for detection of the absence of grasping of an object. The invention is characterized in that the transmitter includes first means for wireless radio transmission of a third signal, allowing determination of a localization of the enclosure towards a receiver remote from the deformable enclosure, as well as second means for wireless radio transmission of the first or second signal towards said receiver. |
| US09910489B2 |
Transit vending machine with automatic user interface adaption
Techniques are disclosed for providing a transit vending machine that accommodates its users by automatically adjusting a layout of the user interface based on information determined about the user as obtained from image information of the user. Information about the user can be indicative of user height, hand used to interact with the touchscreen display, an offset of user input, and the like. |
| US09910488B2 |
Motion guide presentation method and system therefor, and motion guide presentation device
A motion guide display device includes a head-mountable image display device that displays an image, a camera that takes a self image from a first person perspective, an image display processing unit that displays a reference image from a first person perspective as a following target and the self image at the display unit alternately in a time-dividing manner under the condition generating a blending feeling, and a display mode setting unit that lets the image display processing unit operate within the range of cycles (frequencies) and self-other ratios as the condition generating a blending feeling. This can bring the blending feeling with the reference image, and can support the continuation of spontaneous following motion. |
| US09910487B1 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for guiding users through task flow paths
A current task flow path of a user is identified based on task flow nodes of the current task flow path, and a data context of the task flow nodes. The task flow nodes may include actions performed by the user with one or more software applications. A suggestion point of the current task flow path is detected. The suggestion point may be detected based upon a user action indicating that the user needs assistance to proceed with the current task flow path. A candidate task flow node is selected responsive to a comparison of the current task flow path to historical task flows. A suggestion is displayed to the user based on the candidate task flow node. |
| US09910486B2 |
Controlling power allocation in a server system that utilizes supplemental batteries
This invention provides a server system in which a plurality of servers are divided into a plurality of groups in accordance with a physical arrangement. The server system includes at least one system power provider that distributes and provides system power to each of the plurality of groups, a battery that corresponds to each of the plurality of groups and provides stored power to at least two servers included in the group, and a controller that controls each of the servers included in one group based on power providable by the system power provider and the battery. |
| US09910485B2 |
Performance of services based on power consumption
Technology for performing services based on power consumption is disclosed. A plurality of power consumption levels can be identified at a service area. The plurality of power consumption levels can be characterized into current power consumption behavior. The current power consumption behavior can be compared to at least one power consumption behavioral model, the power consumption behavioral model including historical power consumption behaviors for the service area. A service can be performed when the current power consumption behavior diverges from the power consumption behavioral model outside of a predefined threshold. |
| US09910480B2 |
Monitoring and real-time adjustment of power consumption settings
Customers in a multi-tenant environment can obtain energy consumption information for a set of resources or other computing components used by those customers, including time-accurate accounting for various components of those resources utilized on behalf of the customer. A customer can also have the ability to specify how the resources are to be operated when used for the customer, in order to manage the amount of energy consumption. The accounting can be performed even when the resources are shared among multiple users or entities. Various hardware components or agents can be used to provide detailed energy consumption information for those components that is associated with a particular customer. The information can be used not only for accounting and monitoring purposes, but also to make dynamic adjustments based on various changes in usage, energy consumption, or other such factors. |
| US09910478B2 |
Collation system, node, collation method, and computer readable medium
A collation system includes a first node, a second node and a third node. The first node includes: an encryption unit; a distance calculation unit t; and a collation data generation unit. The second node includes: a key generation unit; and a collation unit. The third node includes: a storage unit; and a collation information generation unit. |
| US09910471B1 |
Reconfigurable array of backup battery units
An array of backup battery units that can be reconfigured to provide different currents and/or voltages depending upon load conditions. The backup battery units are attached to a bus and can be reconfigured, for example, between a configuration in which the battery backup units are wired in series to a configuration where the battery backup units are wired in parallel. Additional embodiments are directed to an array of backup battery units that can isolate a single battery backup unit so that the battery backup unit can be removed from the bus while the bus is under load. The removed battery backup unit can then be tested, maintained, and/or replaced. |
| US09910468B2 |
Holder and mobile terminal
A holder and a mobile terminal including the holder are disclosed. The holder is located in the mobile terminal, the holder includes a heat conduction area and a heat insulation area, the heat insulation area is close to an edge of the holder, the heat insulation area is adjacent to the heat conduction area, and a heat emitting element in the mobile terminal is proximate to the heat conduction area. The heat insulation area is provided on the holder and the heat insulation area is close to the edge of the holder and is adjacent to the heat conduction area, so that, in a process of transferring heat in the heat conduction area to the edge of the holder, the heat is impeded by the heat insulation area, thereby reducing heat at the edge of the holder. |
| US09910466B1 |
Memory module mounting system
A memory module mounting system includes a bracket assembly configured to engage a system board. The bracket assembly includes: a standoff assembly that is configured to position a memory module a desired distance from the system board, and an alignment pin assembly configured to position the bracket assembly on the system board. A tether assembly is flexibly coupled to the bracket assembly. A screw assembly is held captive by the tether assembly and configured to pass though the bracket assembly and releasably engage the system board. |
| US09910464B2 |
Magnetic simulated hinge for attaching a tablet computer to a base
An information handling system includes a tablet computer and a base. The tablet computer includes a first plurality of closing magnets, first and second holding magnets, and a rounded edge. The base includes a hinge area, a second plurality of closing magnets, and third and fourth holding magnets located a bottom portion of the hinge area. The hinge area receives the tablet computer when the tablet computer is rotated from a closed position to an opened position, and holds the tablet computer in the opened position. The second closing magnets align with the first closing magnets, align the tablet computer on the base, and hold the tablet computer in the closed position. The third and fourth holding magnets attract the first and second holding magnets to ensure an alignment of the tablet computer within the base when the tablet computer is rotated from the closed position to the opened position. |
| US09910461B2 |
Circuit board attachment structure and electronic device adopting the same
According to one embodiment, a circuit board attachment structure comprise a housing to which a circuit board is attached, a mount provided on the housing and provided outside a portion of the housing where the circuit board is attached, holding piece detachably attached to the mount and pressing the circuit board against the housing with a predetermined force, and fixing unit for detachably fixing the holding piece to the mount. |
| US09910459B2 |
Thermal insulator and radiation shield
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus for minimizing heat transfer may include a first member substantially planar in shape, a second member substantially planar in shape and substantially perpendicular to the first member, and a gasket mechanically coupling the first member to the second member. The apparatus may be formed such that the first member, second member, and the gasket define a plenum wherein the first member, the second member, and the gasket prevent transfer of fluid between an interior and exterior of the plenum. |
| US09910457B2 |
Expansion device and electronic apparatus
An expansion device includes: a housing onto which an electronic device including a first connector is placed; a second connector, provided on the housing, configured to couple to the first connector; and a positioning member, including a projecting portion that projects from the housing, configured to displace, by a sliding operation with the electronic device being engaged, from a standby position in which the positioning member is restricted to sink into the housing to a coupling position in which the positioning member is allowed to sink into the housing and the first connector and the second connector are capable of coupling with each other. |
| US09910456B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device is disclosed. The information processing device includes a first chassis and a second chassis that are connected rotatably via a hinge, and includes a connector to connect the first chassis to the hinge. The first chassis includes a laminated part having a lamination of a set of fiber-reinforced plastic layers in each of which resin is reinforced by fibers arranged in a predetermined direction. The connector is attached and fixed to a recess in the laminated part, with the recess having a shape corresponding an outer shape of the connector. Directly attached to the connector, one of the fiber-reinforced plastic layers making up a bottom of the recess and is a layer in which fibers are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a rotary axis of the hinge. |
| US09910452B2 |
Reference-voltage circuit
Provided is a reference voltage circuit capable of adjusting an arbitrary output voltage to have arbitrary temperature characteristics. The reference voltage circuit includes: a reference current generating circuit configured to convert a difference between forward voltages of a plurality of PN junction elements into current to generate a first current; a current generating circuit configured to use the first current generated by the reference current generating circuit to generate a second current; and a voltage generating circuit including a first resistive element and a second resistive element, the first resistive element being configured to generate a first voltage having positive temperature characteristics when the first current flows through the first resistive element, the second resistive element being configured to generate a second voltage having negative temperature characteristics when the first current and the second current flow through the second resistive element. The reference voltage circuit outputs a reference voltage obtained by adding the first voltage to the second voltage. |
| US09910448B2 |
Pressure-based gas flow controller with dynamic self-calibration
A method of measuring a molecular rate of gas flow from an upstream source of gas at a pressure higher than a pressure of a destination includes flowing the gas through an upstream valve into a cavity of known volume, then through a restrictor element before proceeding to the destination, controlling the upstream valve to vary a flow rate of the gas through the upstream valve in a determined manner such that its average pressure in the cavity correlates with an average level of gas flow and such that variations in pressure in the cavity induced by varying the flow rate of gas through the upstream valve in the determined manner induce instantaneous pressure variations smaller than 30% of the average pressure in that cavity; and using the variations in the pressure in the cavity associated with varying the flow rate of gas through the upstream valve in the determined manner to determine the molecular rate of gas flow to the destination in real time. |
| US09910446B2 |
Modular valve system
A modular valve system (10) to be mounted to a support, in particular a support in an electric control cabinet, comprises at least two individual valve modules (12) which can be fluidly connected to each other and to which at least one control valve unit (16) can be coupled in each case. The modular valve system (10) includes a process fluid section (90) comprising process fluid lines (78) through which a process fluid can flow, a control fluid section (32) comprising control fluid lines in at least some of the valve modules (12) through which a control fluid can flow, and a membrane (80) which is shared by at least some of the valve modules (12) and designed for controlling the process fluid in the process fluid section (90) while forming membrane valves (50) and for sealing off the control fluid section. |
| US09910444B2 |
Systems and methods for VSLAM optimization
The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Advantageously, such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are economically practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. Certain embodiments contemplate improvements to the front-end processing in a SLAM-based system. Particularly, certain of these embodiments contemplate a novel landmark matching process. Certain of these embodiments also contemplate a novel landmark creation process. Certain embodiments contemplate improvements to the back-end processing in a SLAM-based system. Particularly, certain of these embodiments contemplate algorithms for modifying the SLAM graph in real-time to achieve a more efficient structure. |
| US09910443B1 |
Drive control apparatus and method for autonomous vehicle
A drive control apparatus and method for an autonomous vehicle is provided. The drive control method includes: determining whether a subject vehicle has entered a pocket lane area during autonomous driving; determining whether the subject vehicle enters a pocket lane according to pocket lane conditions that are determined on the basis of surrounding environment information of the subject vehicle when the subject vehicle enters the pocket lane area; generating a tracking path with respect to a front vehicle when it is determined to enter the pocket lane; and performing the autonomous driving by controlling the subject vehicle to follow the front vehicle according to the tracking path with respect to the front vehicle. |
| US09910442B2 |
Occluded area detection with static obstacle maps
Ray tracing and static obstacle maps can be used in the operation of a vehicle. Sensor data of at least a portion of an external environment of the vehicle can be acquired. A dynamic obstacle in the external environment of the vehicle can be detected based on the acquired sensor data. In response to detecting a dynamic obstacle, it can be determined whether a secondary occluded area is located behind the dynamic obstacle relative to a current location of the vehicle based on a static obstacle map. Responsive to determining that a secondary occluded area is located behind the dynamic obstacle relative to a current location of the vehicle based on a static obstacle map, a driving maneuver for the vehicle can be determined based on at least the dynamic obstacle and the secondary occluded area. The vehicle can be caused to implement the determined driving maneuver. |
| US09910436B1 |
Autonomous data machines and systems
Autonomous data machines and systems may be provided, which may be deployed in an environment. The machines may roam within the environment and collect data with aid of one or more sensors. The data may be sent to a control center, which may optionally receive information from additional data sources, such as other on-site sensors, existing static data, or real-time social data. The control center may send instructions to the machines to perform one or more reaction based on the received information. The autonomous data machines may be capable of reacting autonomously to one or more detected condition. In some instances, the autonomous data machines may be employed for security or surveillance. |
| US09910435B2 |
Vehicle control device
In a vehicle control device that is configured to be capable of switching from an automatic travel of the vehicle to manual travel by a driver, a manual driving adaptation degree of a driver during an automatic travel is calculated based on a driver state (S16), a notification timing is set such that the notification timing is earlier as the manual driving adaptation degree becomes lower (S18), and the automatic travel end notification is given to the driver at the set notification timing (S20). |
| US09910432B1 |
System and method for human operator intervention in autonomous vehicle operations
An autonomous vehicle system is configured to receive vehicle commands from one or more parties and to execute those vehicle commands in a way that prevents the execution of stale commands. The autonomous vehicle system includes a finite state machine and a command counter or stored vehicle timestamp, which are used to help reject invalid or stale vehicle commands. |
| US09910429B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting target manufacturing parameters on an absorbent product converting line
Systems and processes herein may be configured to correlate manufacturing parameters and performance feedback parameters with individual absorbent articles manufactured by a converting apparatus. Embodiments of the systems herein may include inspection sensors configured to inspect substrates and/or component parts advancing along the converting line and communicate inspection parameters to a controller and historian. The systems may also include process sensors configured to monitor equipment on the converting line and communicate process parameters to the controller and historian. The systems herein may also be adapted to receive performance feedback parameters based on the packaged absorbent articles. The systems may correlate inspection parameters, process parameters, and/or performance feedback parameters with individual absorbent articles produced on the converting line. The controller may also be configured to perform various functions based on the performance feedback parameters. |
| US09910424B2 |
Automatic monitoring interval-setting device, machine tool, and automatic monitoring interval-setting method
An automatic monitoring interval-setting device, a machine tool, and an automatic monitoring interval-setting method by which a monitoring interval monitoring a load applied to a tool is able to be automatically set are provided. An automatic monitoring interval-setting device includes a control device including a memory section which stores a program including G1 to G3 for processing a workpiece by using a tool, and a calculating section which is able to edit the program and executes a monitoring interval setting step of respectively inserting starting monitoring of a load applied to the tool into the front of G1 to G3 and ending the monitoring of the load into the rear of G1 to G3 with respect to the program. |
| US09910422B2 |
Error identification method of machine tool
An error identification method of a machine tool includes an initial position measurement step of indexing a main spindle head rotation axis to an initial angle to measure an initial position of a measured jig, a table reference angle calculation step of calculating a reference angle of the table, a reference position measurement step of indexing the table rotation axis to the reference angle and indexing the main spindle head rotation axis to the initial angle, a relative position measurement step of respectively indexing the table rotation axis and the main spindle head rotation axis to a plurality of predetermined angles, an arc approximation step of approximating the plurality of measured position values into an arc, and an error calculation step of calculating an error of a center position of the rotation axis, a tilt error of the rotation axis, or a tilt error of the translational axis. |
| US09910420B2 |
Expansion module for programmable logic controller using USB communication
An expansion module for a PLC, used in such a manner that at least one expansion module is sequentially connected to a basic unit in order to exchange massive data at high speed by using USB communication, is provided. Each of the expansion module includes a USB hub and a USB device, and is allocated with an exchange number from a USB host of the basic unit by activating the USB device according to input of a trigger signal. In addition, whether the USB hub is to be used is determined by deciding whether the expansion through the USB hub is required according to the allocated exchange number. Thus, a user needs only to arrange each of the expansion modules by a designation. |
| US09910418B2 |
Method and programming system for programming an automation component
A method and programming system for programming an automation component of an industrial automation arrangement, the automation component being provided with at least one special main memory, such as a cache or a tightly coupled memory, with faster access, wherein a user is provided with an input option for assigning priority values to individual tasks of the automation program when creating the program, all of those program parts which are called when executing at least the task with the highest priority assigned by the user are automatically identified, and the identified program parts being permanently storable in the special main memory such that important program parts and routines are executable in a reproducible manner at high execution speed and with a short latency time. |
| US09910416B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing automated confirmation of completion of repair services on environmental control systems in monitored buildings
A system and method are provided for implementing an automated scheme for consistently confirming completion of repair and post-repair operating parameters for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to improve consistency of diagnostic analyzes, services provided by available or pre-selected HVAC repair facilities or contractors and confirmation of repair services performed by those HVAC repair facilities or contractors. A system-based automated solution is provided for confirmation of completion and efficacy of repairs in HVAC systems. HVAC system and component operations are confirmed to be within specified ranges. System operations are quantitatively assessed in real time and in comparison with an earlier assessment that caused the system repairs to be effected and with available historical data regarding system performance to determine whether the repairs (1) were successfully completed in the manner required, and/or (2) otherwise induced some additional anomalies or difficulties in the HVAC system that should be addressed. |
| US09910413B2 |
Automatic tuning control system for air pollution control systems
An automatic tuning control system and method for controlling air pollution control systems such as a dry flue gas desulfurization system is described. The automatic tuning control system includes one or more PID controls and one or more supervisory MPC controller layers. The supervisory MPC controller layers are operable for control of an air pollution control system and operable for automatic tuning of the air pollution control systems using particle swarm optimization through simulation using one or more dynamic models, and through control system tuning of each of the PID controls, MPC controller layers and an integrated MPC/PID control design. |
| US09910408B2 |
Image forming device including fan with ducted airflow
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a printing paper transport path in which printing paper is transported; a secondary transfer unit and a fixing section both disposed on the printing paper transport path; an open/close cover that, when opened, exposes the printing paper transport path in a main body of the apparatus; a pressure roller, disposed in the fixing section, that presses the printing paper on a side thereof facing the open/close cover against the printing paper transport path; and cooling fans that cool down the pressure roller, wherein the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans are attached to the open/close cover and disposed at such positions that the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans move following overlapping paths when the open/close cover is opened/closed. |
| US09910406B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method
An image forming apparatus is provided with an image holder that holds an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image of the image holder, a biasing unit that biases the developing unit toward the image holder; and a holding member that holds the biasing unit and is disposed so that a part which is opposite to a biasing direction of the biasing unit is in contact with an image forming apparatus main body directly or via another member. |
| US09910402B2 |
Transmitting assembly of toner cartridge
A transmitting assembly of a toner cartridge is provided. The transmitting assembly comprises a gear member, a tubular member disposed at the gear member and having an axial hole, an axial member provided with a shaft portion inserting into the axial hole and a head portion, an elastic member applying force on the axial member away from the gear member, two engaging claws provided with body portions disposed at the head portion and claw portions located at the body portions, and a torsional member connected with the engaging claws and applying force turning the engaging claws outward. The claw portions are located at two sides of the axial member, and abutting ends of the body potions are located at a center of the head portion. Accordingly, the transmitting assembly can be engaged with and separated from a driving member of an electronic image forming apparatus with ease and smoothness. |
| US09910400B2 |
Opening/closing unit and image forming apparatus including the same
Provided is an opening/closing unit including a cover member and a conveying unit. The cover member is provided to one side surface of an apparatus main body so as to open and close a sheet conveying path. The conveying unit is provided inside of the cover member in the apparatus main body. The sheet conveying path includes a first conveying path formed between the conveying unit and the apparatus main body, and a second conveying path formed between the conveying unit and the cover member. When an operating lever of the cover member is rotated to a second position, opening operation of the cover member is enabled. When the operating lever is rotated to a first position in a state where the cover member is opened, the conveying unit rotates with respect to the cover member so that the second conveying path is opened. |
| US09910393B1 |
Image forming apparatus for executing post processing and processing method
An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section, a second image forming section, a first processing section, a second processing section and a controller. The first image forming section uses a color material for non-removal. The second image forming section uses a color material for removal. The first processing section carries out a first processing for making a hole in the image receiving medium. The second processing section carries out a second processing which does not make a hole in the image receiving medium. The controller executes the second processing at the time of executing a job if the job contains formation of the image with the color material for removal and carries out the first processing. |
| US09910387B2 |
Remanufacturing method of developer accommodating unit
Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the flexible container. |
| US09910384B2 |
Image forming apparatus and drum cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge having a toner supply port; and a developing unit including: a developing roller; a developing frame; and a conveyance portion capable of conveying toner contained in the toner cartridge to the developing frame. The conveyance portion including: a coupling tube capable of being coupled to the toner cartridge and having a toner receiving port that faces the toner supply port in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge; a conveyance tube fixed to the developing frame, the conveyance tube being movable with respect to the coupling tube, in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge and the toner receiving port faces the toner supply port; and a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position. |
| US09910380B1 |
Image forming apparatus configured to form an image on an image receiving medium with a specific material which emits visible light through irradiation by specific light
In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section and a specific light source. The image forming section forms an image on an image receiving medium with a specific material which emits visible light through irradiation by specific light. The specific light source emits the specific light to the image receiving medium at a downstream side of the image forming section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium. |
| US09910378B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of shortening time required for start-up, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus which, to the extent possible, prevents an operation for protecting a printer engine from being uncompleted before power to the printer engine is shut down due to cancellation of a process that should be carried out by the printer engine. When a predetermined time period has elapsed since an instruction to reduce power consumption was detected, power to the printer engine is shut down. When the instruction is detected, a canceling instruction for canceling the process that should be carried out by the printer engine is issued to the printer engine. Responsive to this, a cancellation process for the process is started, and an engine protecting instruction for protecting the printer engine without waiting for completion of the cancellation process is issued to the printer engine. After the operation for protecting the printer engine is carried out, power to the printer engine is shut down. |
| US09910377B1 |
Toner formulation having a silane surface treated on its outer surface and method of preparing the same
A method for producing core shell toner for electrophotography according to one embodiment, includes surface treating the outer surface of a core shell toner particle with a alkoxysilane hydrocarbon or combination of different alkoxysilane hydrocarbons using a hydrolytic deposition process after the core shell toner particle is fully formed. This method results in the bonding of the alkoxysilane hydrocarbon or combination of different alkoxysilane hydrocarbons to the outer surface of the core shell toner particle. In an alternative method, the outer surface of the toner is surface treated with the alkoxysilane hydrocarbon solution and then fused to form toner particles. The alkoxysilane hydrocarbon surface treated core shell toner also can be mixed with magnetic carrier beads to form a developer mix to be used in a dual component development electrophotographic printer. |
| US09910376B1 |
Toner formulation having a silane surface treated on its outer surface and method of preparing the same
A chemically prepared toner composition according to one example embodiment includes a core including a first polymer binder, a colorant and a release agent; a shell that is formed around the core that includes a second polymer binder; and a borax coupling agent between the core and the shell and an alkoxysilane hydrocarbon or combination of different alkoxysilane hydrocarbons that are bonded to the outer surface of the shell using a hydrolytic deposition process. This successful alkoxysilane hydrocarbon surface treatment on the outer surface of the toner particle results in attaining a desirable charge stability in hot and humid environments and ultimately improving the quality of the toner, especially by reducing toner dusting, toner fuming and ultra-fine particles generation. |
| US09910372B2 |
Electrostatic charge image developing toner, electrostatic charge image developer, and toner cartridge
An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes: toner particles; first silica particles having an average circularity of 0.9 to 1.0, a particle size distribution index of 1.05 to 1.25, and a compression aggregation degree of 60% to 95%; and second silica particles having an average circularity of 0.9 to 1.0, a particle size distribution index of 1.05 to 1.25, and a compression aggregation degree of 60% to 95%, wherein, when an average primary particle diameter of the first silica particles is set as Da (nm) and an average primary particle diameter of the second silica particles is set as Db (nm), relationships of the following Expressions (A1) to (A3) are satisfied: Expression (A1): 80≦Da≦120, Expression (A2): 120≦Db≦200, and Expression (A3): 10≦Db−Da≦120. |
| US09910371B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus obtains information on a relationship between a moving amount of a substrate stage in the first direction and an amount of a positional shift in an image of a mask-side reference mark projected on a substrate-side reference mark by a projection optical system in the second direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the projection optical system with respect to the substrate-side reference mark. A controller determines a focus position based on the measurement result by causing the measurement device to measure the light amount while, together with driving the substrate stage in the first direction and the second direction based on the information. |
| US09910370B2 |
Environmental system including a transport region for an immersion lithography apparatus
An immersion lithography apparatus includes an optical assembly including an optical element, and configured to project a beam onto a substrate through immersion liquid, a containment member surrounding a path of the beam, a stage on which the substrate is held and moved below a bottom surface of the containment member with the substrate spaced from the bottom surface of the containment member, and a support system having an actuator to support and move the containment member. The containment member includes a first supply opening via which water as the immersion liquid is released, a recovery opening via which the immersion liquid is recovered from a gap between the containment member and the substrate and/or the stage, and a second supply opening via which the water is released to the gap, the second supply opening being provided radially inward of the recovery opening. |
| US09910369B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device producing method
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a liquid-immersion-area-forming-member having an opening through which an exposure light is projected, the-liquid-immersion-area-forming-member having a first liquid supply inlet facing downward, a second liquid supply inlet provided opposite to an outer surface of the final optical element, and a first removal outlet facing downward. A liquid immersion area is formed on a portion of an upper surface of a substrate while performing a liquid supply via the first liquid supply inlet to a gap between the liquid-immersion-area-forming-member and the upper surface of the substrate, a liquid supply via the second liquid supply inlet to a gap between the liquid-immersion-area-forming-member and a final optical element of a projection system and a liquid removal via the first removal outlet from the gap between the liquid-immersion-area-forming-member and the upper surface of the substrate. |
| US09910367B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, method for positioning an object in a lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus including: a first object, a second object which is moveable relative to the first object in a moving direction, a set of cables and/or tubing arranged between the first object and the second object, a guiding drum to guide the set of cables and/or tubing, the guiding drum being rotatable about a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the moving direction, a drum positioning device to position the guiding drum such that it follows movement of the set of cables and/or tubing caused by movement of the second object relative to the first object and a guiding structure to guide movement of the guiding drum in the moving direction. |
| US09910353B2 |
Method of negative tone development using a copolymer multilayer electrolyte and articles made therefrom
Disclosed herein is a multi-layered article, comprising a substrate; and two or more layers disposed over the substrate, wherein each said layer comprises a block copolymer comprising a first block and a second block, wherein the first block comprises a repeat unit containing a hydrogen acceptor or a hydrogen donor, and the second block comprises a repeat unit containing a hydrogen donor when the repeat unit of the first block contains a hydrogen acceptor, or a hydrogen acceptor when the repeat unit of the first block contains a hydrogen donor; wherein the first block of an innermost of said two or more layers is bonded to the substrate, and the first block of each layer disposed over the innermost layer is bonded to the second block of a respective underlying layer; and wherein the hydrogen donor or hydrogen acceptor of the second block of an outermost said two or more layers is blocked. |
| US09910349B2 |
Agglutinant for pellicle and a pellicle using it
A pellicle is proposed in which the agglutinant layer which enables the pellicle to adhere to a photomask is doped with a de-foaming agent which depends on a reactive fluorine-modified silicone oil for its anti-foaming performance, and typically such reactive fluorine-modified silicone oil has a vinyl group at both ends of its molecular chain. |
| US09910345B2 |
Projector housing for underwater projection
A housing apparatus for projection in a liquid environment includes an enclosure adapted to be positioned in the liquid environment and an exhaust tube connected to the enclosure and air environment to dissipate heat generated by a projector placed inside of the enclosure by air exchange. The projector is adapted to project an image on a projection surface in the liquid environment. |
| US09910339B2 |
Method and system for linearizing non-linear optics
A method and a system for nonlinear optical interaction in a nonlinear medium, comprising interacting at least one input beam in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane. The method and system allows generating output photons from input photons, the output photons having properties that linearly depend on the properties of the input photons and that are mutually independent, comprising interacting the input photons in a nonlinear medium located at a spectrally dispersed plane. |
| US09910337B2 |
Electro-optic media produced using ink jet printing
Ink jet printing can be used in the production of electro-optic displays for (a) forming a layer of a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic medium on a substrate; (b) forming a color electro-optic layer; (c) forming a color filter; and (d) printing electrodes and/or associated conductors on a layer of electro-optic material. |
| US09910336B2 |
Spacers and connectors for insulated glass units
This disclosure describes insulated glass units (IGUs) that incorporate electrochromic devices. More specifically, this disclosure focuses on different configurations available for providing an electrical connection to the interior region of an IGU. In many cases, an IGU includes two panes separated by a spacer. The spacer defines an interior region of the IGU and an exterior region of the IGU. Often, the electrochromic device positioned on the pane does not extend past the spacer, and some electrical connection must be provided to supply power from the exterior of the IGU to the electrochromic device on the interior of the IGU. In some embodiments, the spacer includes one or more holes (e.g, channels, mouse holes, other holes, etc.) through which an electrical connection (e.g., wires, busbar leads, etc.) may pass to provide power to the electrochromic device. |
| US09910332B2 |
Display device
A display device, enhanced in luminance uniformity by forming a horizontal electric field and a fringe electric field, includes a first substrate, a first gate line on the first substrate, first and second data lines intersecting the first gate line, a first thin film transistor connected to the first gate line and the first data line, a second thin film transistor connected to the first gate line and the second data line, a first passivation layer on the first and second thin film transistors, a lower common electrode on the first passivation layer, a second passivation layer covering the lower common electrode, and a first pixel electrode including a first sub-pixel electrode connected to the first thin film transistor and a second sub-pixel electrode connected to the second thin film transistor. |
| US09910326B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a pixel electrode that includes a first central portion and a first stem portion and sequentially disposed on one side of a reference line extending in a first direction, and a second central portion and a second stem portion sequentially disposed on the other side, where the first stem portion extends at a first oblique angle in which a center line of a line width has a positive sign with respect to the first direction, the first central portion extends from one end of the first stem portion and has a shape in which a center line of the line width is inclined at a second oblique angle having a positive sign with respect to the first direction, and a line width of the first central portion is smaller than the line width of the first stem portion. |
| US09910324B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first insulating substrate. A pixel electrode is formed on a top surface of the first insulating substrate. The pixel electrode has a first opening pattern at each pixel area. The pixel electrode is substantially rectangular in shape with first and second long sides, and first and second short sides. The pixel electrode is divided into an upper region defined by the first and second long sides and first short side, and a lower region defined by the first and second long sides and second short side. A common electrode is formed on a bottom surface of a second insulating substrate, and has a second opening pattern at each pixel area. The first and second opening patterns each have a plurality of openings, the openings of the first opening pattern and the second opening pattern being alternately arranged parallel to each other. |
| US09910320B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device includes a base substrate, a first color filter on the base substrate, the first color filter extending in a direction, a plurality of second color filters on the base substrate, the plurality of second color filters being adjacent to the first color filter, a passivation layer on the base substrate, the first color filter, and the plurality of second color filters, a light blocking portion on the passivation layer, a main column spacer protruding from the light blocking portion, and a sub-column spacer spaced apart from the main column spacer and protruding from the light blocking portion where the main column spacer overlaps the first color filter, and the sub-column spacer is disposed between two of the plurality of second color filters that are adjacent to each other. |