最新美国发明专利第2018-03-13期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09917509B2	Charge pump circuit outputting high voltage without high voltage-endurance electric devices The charge pump circuit includes multiple boosting stages, and each stage includes following units. A first switch circuit is controlled by a first clock signal to couple a second terminal of a first capacitor to a first input terminal or a second input terminal. A third switch circuit is controlled by a second clock signal to couple a second terminal of a second capacitor to the first input terminal or the second input terminal. A second switch circuit is controlled by electric potentials on the second capacitor to couple a first terminal of the first capacitor to the first input terminal or an output terminal. The fourth switch circuit is controlled by electric potentials on the first capacitor to couple a first terminal of the second capacitor to the first input terminal or the output terminal.
US09917506B2	Boost converter maximal output power detector allowing optimal dynamic duty-cycle limitation A method and apparatus for detecting a critical duty cycle that maximizes an output power of a boost converter is provided. In the method and apparatus, the boost converter may be operated at or below the critical duty cycle. In the method and apparatus, a first voltage that is a function of an output voltage of a boost converter and voltage drops across a first set of parasitic resistances of the boost converter is detected. A second voltage that is a function voltage drops across a second set of parasitic resistances of the boost converter is also detected. The voltages are compared to determine the critical duty cycle and the boost converter is operated in accordance with a duty cycle that does not exceed the critical duty cycle.
US09917504B2	Synchronous rectifier applied to a power converter and operation method thereof A synchronous rectifier applied to a power converter includes a gate coupling effect suppressing unit. The gate coupling effect suppressing unit is used for suppressing an induced voltage coupled to a gate of a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor coupled to a secondary side of the power converter to ensure that the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is turned off when the power converter operates in a start-up condition and a power switch of the power converter is turned on. When the power converter operates in the start-up condition, a driving voltage of the secondary side of the power converter for driving the synchronous rectifier is not enough to drive the synchronous rectifier yet.
US09917503B2	Overcurrent protection circuit and power factor correction circuit comprising the same A power factor correction circuit includes an overcurrent protection circuit, and the overcurrent protection circuit detects at least one of a line input voltage, a switch current of a power factor correction circuit, and a line period peak and performs overcurrent protection operations using a detection result.
US09917496B2	Latching sector motor actuator and for a failsafe sector motor actuator having an available operating range not limited to 90° In one embodiment, a latching sector motor actuator includes a housing, a permanent magnet, and a pole piece. The permanent magnet rotates relative to the housing. The pole piece has a polarity and a pair of wound wire coils, is fixedly attached to the housing, and communicates with the permanent magnet to cause the permanent magnet to rotate one of clockwise and counterclockwise, depending upon the polarity of the pole piece. In another embodiment, a failsafe sector motor actuator has a pole piece with a singularly wound wire coil and further includes an auxiliary permanent magnet. The auxiliary permanent magnet is adjustably attached to the housing to extend rotation of the permanent magnet from 80° to 120°, depending upon location and magnitude of the auxiliary permanent magnet.
US09917493B2	Method for fixing permanent magnets of rotor A molding apparatus and method for fixing permanent magnets in a rotor core during production of drive motors for environmental vehicles, in which the permanent magnets, which are inserted into magnet insertion apertures of the rotor core, are aligned at identical positions with respect to the axial direction of the rotor core, thus contributing to an improvement in the performance of the drive motors.
US09917487B2	Rotating electric machine and electrically driven vehicle A rotating electric machine allowing a rotor and a stator thereof to assume any of various numbers of poles and any of various numbers of slots and enabling a reduction in vibration and noise is provided. The rotating electric machine according to the present invention includes a stator having a plurality of teeth and a plurality of slots, which is configured so that the shape of the front ends of the teeth and the opening width of the slots are made to change cyclically F times along the circumferential direction (F is a natural number equal to or greater than 2).
US09917486B2	Electric motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
US09917484B2	Reluctance motor having inductor pole coils located between adjacent ones of the salient poles of a rotor A reluctance motor has: a stator provided with drive coils to which multiphase drive currents are inputted; and a rotor provided with a plurality of salient poles which receive primary rotating force when magnetic fluxes generated in the drive coils are interlinked with the rotor, and the rotor has: inductor pole coils which are placed on magnetic paths on which spatial harmonic components superimposed on the magnetic fluxes generated in the drive coils are interlinked with the rotor side so that induced currents can be generated in the inductor pole coils due to the spatial harmonic components of the magnetic fluxes; rectifier elements which rectify the induced currents generated in the inductor pole coils; and electromagnet coils as defined herein, and the inductor pole coils and the electromagnet coils do not serve for each other's purposes but are placed on the rotor individually.
US09917480B1	Methods and apparatus for efficient wireless power transfer One aspect of the disclosure provides an apparatus for receiving wireless power. The apparatus includes a power receiving circuit and a processing circuit. The power receiving circuit is configured to couple to a magnetic field generated by a power transmitter during an alignment check. The processing circuit is configured to identify a first operation point of the power receiving circuit and a second operation point of the power transmitter based on the magnetic field during the alignment check. The processing circuit is further configured to adjust a duty cycle of an active component of the power receiving circuit based at least in part on one of the identified first operation point and second operation point.
US09917479B2	Wireless energy transfer for mobile device applications A current sensing system and method for wireless energy transfer may include a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board may include at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. A loop of conductive material may be included, wherein the loop of conductive material may include a diameter D3 on the second layer. A coil of conductive material may be included, wherein the coil of conductive material may have at least 2 turns, wherein a majority of the coil of conductive material may occupy the first layer and the third layer with an outer diameter D1 and an inner diameter D2, connected through each of the first, second, and third layers. The loop of conductive material may be coupled to the coil of conductive material.
US09917477B1	Systems and methods for automatically testing the communication between power transmitter and wireless receiver The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.
US09917476B2	Adaptive coupler for reactive near field RFID communication An adaptive near field electromagnetic coupler for coupling electromagnetic power to a plane metallic trace (inlay) independently of the inlay geometry and/or orientation without external control algorithms. This is achieved by employing a microstructure of phase altering elements suitable for creating a constant phase field distribution along a top surface of the coupler structure. This is advantageously applicable to printing devices having a function of encoding RFID layers printed on a medium. In view of the provided flexibility, the coupler arrangement can be employed in a variety of printers of different mechanical design.
US09917475B2	Variable neutral impedance for multi-source system A system includes a first power source and a variable neutral impedance circuit configured to vary a neutral impedance of the first power source based on presence and absence of a parallel coupling of the first power source with a second power source. The variable neutral impedance circuit may be configured to reduce a neutral current of the first power source when the first power source is operating in parallel with the second power source. The variable neutral impedance circuit may include an impedance coupled in series with the first power source, a bypass switch configured to bypass the impedance and a control circuit configured to control the bypass switch. The impedance may include a resistor.
US09917471B2	System and method for reconfiguring a solar panel for storage and transport A mobile solar array is provided which can be reconfigured between an operational (i.e. flat) configuration, and a retracted (i.e. folded) configuration. This is a two-step process. First, the structure that supports the solar array in its operation configuration on a docking pad is collapsed. This lowers the solar array toward the docking pad. Next, the solar array, which includes three sections of photovoltaic modules is folded lengthwise. Specifically, side sections of the solar array are folded out-of-plane from the center section. This places the solar array in its retracted configuration.
US09917465B2	Battery exercising device The disclosure relates to a battery exercising device configured to discharge and charge a rechargeable battery, such as a lead-acid battery, after a set amount of time has elapsed. The battery exercising device is configured to receive electrical power from a power source and periodically transfer this power into a battery connected to the battery exercising device. After a period has elapsed, for example two weeks, the device applies a discharging load to the connected battery to drain the battery to a predetermined discharge level. Thereafter, the device charges the connected battery to a predetermined charge level. Once charged to the predetermined charge level, the device again waits the set period of time and repeats the discharge/recharge sequence.
US09917460B2	Lithium ion battery pack for outdoor power equipment A battery pack for use to provide starting power of an internal combustion engine. The battery pack includes an outer housing that encloses a plurality of individual battery cells organized into two battery groups. A charging circuit is contained within the outer housing, which allows the battery cells to be recharged without the need for a charging device other than the battery pack. The charging circuit allows the battery cells to be recharged from either a wall outlet or from the alternator of the internal combustion engine. The battery pack further includes a switching circuit that can configure the battery groups in either a parallel mode or a series mode. In the series mode, the output voltage of the battery pack is increased for starting a cold engine. In the parallel mode, the amount of current available from the battery pack is increased.
US09917454B2	Instrument panel storage system incorporating a removable storage bin An instrument panel storage system is provided for a motor vehicle. That storage system includes an instrument panel having a storage cavity defining a first docking station and a removable storage bin held in the cavity at the first docking station. Further the storage system includes one or more remote docking stations that allow the removable storage bin to be positioned at different locations within the motor vehicle as desired by the vehicle occupants.
US09917452B2	Battery charger capable of efficiently cooling secondary battery in battery pack and charging circuit unit in battery charger A battery charger that is configured to charge a battery pack including a secondary battery includes: a housing; and a charging circuit unit disposed in the housing. The housing defines a first air passage in which air flows to cool the secondary battery and a second air passage in which air flows to cool the charging circuit unit. The second air passage is independent from the first air passage.
US09917451B2	Battery pack and controlling method thereof A battery pack and a controlling method thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the battery pack includes a charge/discharge control switch connected between the battery cell and a terminal of the battery pack and configured to control charge and discharge current of the battery cell. The battery pack also includes a battery management system configured to generate an operating signal to control the charge/discharge control switch, wherein the operating signal comprises a first operating signal having a varying level or a second operating signal having a constant level. The battery pack further includes a monitoring unit configured to control an on/off state of the charge/discharge control switch based at least in part the operating signal received from the battery management system, and a blocking unit configured to turn off the charge/discharge control switch based at least in part a blocking signal received from the battery management system.
US09917450B2	Electronic circuit of a battery, battery, blower filter device as well as a method for charging a battery of a blower filter device An electronic circuit (1) for charging a battery (15) of a blower filter device (20), which blower filter device (20) can be supplied with power from an external electric power source. The electronic circuit charging terminals for connection to poles of the battery via electric lines. A measuring device measures a charging current. A control unit receives a measured signal of the measuring device and monitors a flow of current through the lines and switches the circuit component to high resistance or opens the circuit in the absence of a charging current. A battery (15) of a blower filter device (20) is also provided as well as a blower filter device (20) for a blower filter system (30) as well as a method for charging a battery (15) of a blower filter device (20).
US09917445B2	Grid-tied solar photovoltaic power system with dynamic grid power stabilization The invention is an apparatus for and method of configuring a solar PV system where the output power of the system is stabilized under dynamic cloud cover conditions. The invention comprises a typical grid-tied solar photovoltaic power system which includes solar modules and a typical grid-tied DC to AC power converter and a second, semi-autonomous, bidirectional power converter coupled between the same electrical grid and storage batteries. The system also includes sensors and/or a communication link between the two power converters. The composite system acts to stabilize the amount of power into the grid by monitoring dynamic power reductions in PV power production and by supplying power from the storage batteries to the grid during a PV power dropout event, for a net smoothing of the amount of power injected into the grid over a wide range of dropout event durations.
US09917435B1	Piecewise temperature compensation for power switching devices A power switching circuit provides temperature compensation for an insulated gate power switching device. A timing circuit determines a switch timing signal comprising desired on and off switching times of the switching device. A temperature monitor quantifies a device temperature. A gate drive profile generator generates a switching device drive signal according to the switch timing signal and having a dv/dt phase and a di/dt phase. The drive signal has a profile during the di/dt phase that is adjusted in response to the device temperature, and the drive signal has a profile during the dv/dt phase that is not adjusted in response to the device temperature.
US09917432B2	System for isolating power conductors using molded assemblies An improved electrical system may be provided by electrically isolating horizontal power distribution bus bars of differing phases, disposed along a preconfigured isolated bus support molding, from one another by covering each bus bar with an electrically insulating molded assembly. The electrically insulating molded assembly has contours configured to cover a particular bus bar (with respect to another bus bar or live fastener), arranged within the constraints of the preconfigured isolated bus support molding in the electrical system (such as along the back of the isolated bus support, between the isolated bus support and a wall of the electrical system).
US09917431B2	Interruptible universal wall box, standard wall box, and methods of use thereof An electrical wall box having plurality of wire power terminals on exterior of electrical wall box, wire power terminals are electrically connected to one of plurality of insulated distribution buses within electrical wall box, each distribution buses has first quick connect terminal electrically connected thereto one distribution buses; each plurality of switch wiring terminals includes insulated electrical tap connecting one switch wiring terminals to one plurality of internal insulated distribution buses or to quick connect terminal within electrical wall box; each one or more pluggable electrical receptacles includes two or more second quick connect terminals to electrically connect thereto one of said one or more first quick connect terminals; a second wall box, a plaster ring, and cover plate.
US09917429B2	Power distribution housing A power distribution housing including a base, a cover adapted to fit onto the base, a latch member adapted to removably secure the cover to the base, the latch member having a first end pivotably connected to the base and a second end having a latch detent extending therefrom, the latch detent configured to engage a catch in the cover when the latch member is pivoted to a latched position wherein the cover is secured to the base by the latch member, and a locking member coupled to the latch member, the locking member movable between a locked position, in which a locking member extension of the locking member engages a locking member recess in the cover and prevents the latch member from being moved from the latched position to an unlatched position, and an unlocked position in which the locking member extension does not engage the locking member recess.
US09917428B2	Multiple explosion proof chambers device and method A multiple chamber explosion proof device may be configured for use in extreme environments. The enclosure includes a plurality of chambers in which a first chamber may contain equipment and at least a second chamber may be configured with other equipment. Between each chamber is an explosion proof bulkhead with thread connections used to mitigate flame paths. Each bulkhead may include access ports to allow electrical and network connections to be passed through the bulkheads. The wiring may be explosion proof. A cap for the terminal end includes threads to be secured to second bulkhead or another bulkhead and seal the enclosure. When the cap is removed, access to electrical connections for the device is provided.
US09917423B2	Laser beam combination system Provided herein is a laser beam combination system. The laser beam combination system includes a laser emitter array including a plurality of laser emitters arranged therein, a first combination lens, through which a plurality of laser beams emitted from the laser emitters are concentrated in a first axis direction, so that the plurality of laser beams are converted to each have an oval cross-section having a long axis that is parallel to a second axis, and a second combination lens disposed at a focal point of the first combination lens to combine the plurality of laser beams converted by the first combination lens at a predetermined target.
US09917421B2	P-type isolation regions adjacent to semiconductor laser facets A quantum cascade laser and its method of fabrication are provided. The quantum cascade laser comprises one or more p-type electrical isolation regions and a plurality of electrically isolated laser sections extending along a waveguide axis of the laser. An active waveguide core is sandwiched between upper and lower n-type cladding layers and the active core and the upper and lower n-type cladding layers extend through the electrically isolated laser sections of the quantum cascade laser. A portion of the upper n-type cladding layer comprises sufficient p-type dopant to have become p-type and to have become an electrical isolation region, which extends across at least a part of the thickness upper n-type cladding layer along a projection separating the sections of the quantum cascade laser. Laser structures are also contemplated where isolation regions are solely provided at the window facet sections of the laser to provide vertical isolation in the facet sections, to reduce the current into the facet regions of the laser, and help minimize potentially harmful facet heating.
US09917419B2	Low capacitance optoelectronic device An optoelectronic semiconductor device is disclosed wherein the device is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser or a photodiode containing a section, the top part of which is electrically isolated from the rest of the device. The electric isolation can be realized by etching a set of holes and selective oxidation of AlGaAs layer or layers such that the oxide forms a continuous layer or layers everywhere beneath the top surface of this section. Alternatively, a device can be grown epitaxially on a semi-insulating substrate, and a round trench around a section of the device can be etched down to the semi-insulating substrate thus isolating this section electrically from the rest of the device. Then if top contact pads are deposited on top of the electrically isolated section, the pads have a low capacitance, and a pad capacitance below two hundred femto-Farads, and the total capacitance of the device below three hundred femto-Farads can be reached.
US09917417B2	Method and system for widely tunable laser A widely tunable laser system includes a substrate, first and second lasers, an output and at least one optical combining device. The first laser is integrated with the substrate, includes a gain medium that includes a first material, and emits light at a wavelength that is tunable within a first wavelength range that is determined at least in part by the first material. The second laser is integrated with the substrate, includes a gain medium that includes a second material, and emits light at a wavelength that is tunable within a second wavelength range that is different from the first wavelength range that is determined at least in part by the second material. The at least one optical combining device is configured to direct light from one or both of the first laser and the second laser to the output.
US09917406B1	Shielding structure for a contact module having a ground clip A contact module includes a dielectric holder holding signal contacts with mating portions and a shield structure providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts. The shield structure has first and second ground shields. The ground shields have mating portions extending forward of a mating end of the dielectric holder. The shield structure has a ground clip at least partially covering the mating end of the dielectric holder and extending between sides thereof to electrically connect the mating portions of the first ground shield and the mating portions of the second ground shield immediately forward of the mating end of dielectric holder.
US09917405B2	Electrical connector with central shield An electrical connector, for mating a mating connector having two metal elastic sheets, includes: an insulation body having a base portion and a tongue located at a front end thereof; an upper and lower rows of terminals fixed to the base portion, each terminal having a contact portion exposed from an upper or lower surface of the tongue; a middle shielding sheet, fixed to the base portion and tongue, and located between the two terminal rows; two snap-fit portions disposed at two sides of the middle shielding sheet and exposed from two sides of the tongue, where the two metal elastic sheets buckle the snap-fit portions to prevent disengagement; and an outer metal casing wrapping peripheries of the base portion and tongue. When the mating connector is inserted into the electrical connector after it's assembling, the two snap-fit portions are fixed to the mating connector to ensure stable high-frequency performance.
US09917404B1	Connector covers and systems to prevent misconnections Embodiments of a connector cover are described, which are easily attached to a keyed electrical connector housing, and which prevent misconnection with a mating connector. One embodiment features a snap-on design, in which the cover simply snaps onto the keyed connector housing. A second embodiment is in the form of a two-piece cover, which snap together about the keyed connector housing. A third exemplary embodiment features a slip-on design, in which the cover slips onto the keyed connector housing. In another aspect, an electrical connector system is described, which includes the connector cover and first and second keyed electrical connectors.
US09917396B2	Device connector A device connector (10) is mounted into a mounting hole (C1) on a case (C) of a device in a vehicle, and includes terminals (50) connected to wires (W). A synthetic resin housing (30) includes a wire introducing portion (32) and a fitting portion (31). The wire introducing portion (32) receives the wires (W) and the terminals (50) while the fitting portion (31) fits into the mounting hole (C1). A metal shield shell (60) accommodates the wire introducing portion (32) and includes a lower shell (62) for covering the entire outer circumferential surface of the wire introducing portion (32). A seal ring (72) fits on an outer surface of the wire introducing portion (32) and seals between the lower shell (62) and the wire introducing portion (32). Water drainage holes (77) vertically penetrate a stepped portion (69) of the lower shell (62) above the seal ring (72).
US09917395B2	Lever-type connector A lever-type connector 10 disclosed by this specification includes a housing (20), a lever (40), a cover (50) and a lever lock portion (23) provided to extend backward from a rear end (22) of the housing (20) and hold the lever (40) at a rear position by locking an operating portion (42). The cover (50) is composed of an upper cover (52) and a lower cover (51) to be assembled below the upper cover (52). The upper cover (52) includes an upper locking portion (56) configured to cover an upper lock receiving portion (24) provided on the rear end (22) of the housing (20) from above and lock the upper lock receiving portion (24) from front and the lever lock portion (23) is arranged along an upper surface of the upper cover (52).
US09917393B1	Two sealant two phase wire connector A two sealant two-phase wire connector having sequential sealant interfaces for preventing an electrical failure through interactive sealant sharing between a twist-on electrical wire connector having a spiral cavity containing a first waterproof sealant which is immersed in a tube that contains a second water proof sealant, wherein the first water proof sealant and the second water proof sealant each form an interface that shields an electrical connection from the environment.
US09917391B2	Electrical connector having widened and added power terminals An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and two rows of terminals reversely-symmetrically arranged in the insulative housing, each terminal having a contacting portion, a securing portion, and a tail portion, each row of terminals comprising a first and a second grounding terminals and a first and a second power terminals, each row of terminals lacking two terminals to thereby form a first vacant space between the first grounding terminal and the first power terminal and lacking another two terminals to thereby form a second vacant space between the second grounding terminal and the second power terminal. For each row of terminals, the width of the securing portion of each of the first grounding terminal, the second grounding terminal, and the first power terminal is greater than that of each of the remaining terminals. Each row of terminals include a third power terminal disposed in the second vacant space.
US09917385B2	Composite window pane for a motor vehicle and production method therefor A method for producing a composite window pane, particularly a motor vehicle windscreen, includes mounting guide pins and electronic components on traces of a printed circuit board and inserting the printed circuit board between a first and a second glass plate. The guide pins are inserted in passthroughs in the first glass plate.
US09917379B2	Coupler for attaching a conduit to a wall The present disclosure relates to a conduit coupler including a hub and a lock nut that thread on the hub. In one example, the lock nut includes a ground connection location including a linear wire retention slot. The ground wire can be retained in the linear wire retention slot by a grounding bracket secured at the ground connection location by a grounding screw. The grounding bracket can be captive relative to the grounding screw. The grounding bracket can include integrated spring washer functionality. The ground connection location can be provided on a tower of the lock nut.
US09917377B2	Antenna device and antenna excitation method Disclosed is an antenna device in which an excitation phase changing unit (4) for changing the excitation phases of element antennas (2-1n) to (2-8n) by controlling phase shifters (3-1n) to (3-8n) dependently on preset phase values is disposed, and every time the excitation phases are changed by the excitation phase changing unit (4), a radiation pattern forming unit (12) shifts the phases of a sum signal and a difference signal, and forms a monopulse sum pattern by time-integrating the sum signal after phase shift and also forms a monopulse difference pattern by time-integrating the difference signal after phase shift.
US09917375B2	Broadband omni-directional dual-polarized antenna apparatus and methods of manufacturing and use In-building dual-polarized antenna apparatus components, assemblies, and methods for manufacturing and utilizing the same. In one embodiment, the dual-polarized ceiling mount antenna apparatus comprises a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) device and is constructed to meet one or more aesthetically-related design goals such as e.g., being visually appealing. Specifically, only the horizontally polarized antenna element of the exemplary MIMO apparatus is visible as the remainder of the MIMO antenna apparatus is hidden from view above a ceiling tile. Moreover, the radome of the horizontally polarized antenna element is manufactured from a substantially translucent polymer cover and includes a “thin” radiating mesh. Resident above the ceiling tile, and normally obscured from view, is a vertically polarized antenna element along with an optional reflector element. Performance characteristics of the MIMO antenna apparatus and methods of manufacturing and using the aforementioned MIMO antenna apparatus are also disclosed.
US09917373B1	Low-cost beam-forming antenna system for achieving high gain Antenna structures and methods of operating the same are described. One apparatus includes a metal housing that includes a first slot formed in a first portion of a wall of the metal housing and a second slot formed in a second portion of the wall. The apparatus includes a fin structure disposed within the metal housing. The fin structure includes fins that form a first sectorial cavity behind the first portion of the wall corresponding to the first slot and a second sectorial cavity behind the second portion of the wall corresponding to the second slot. Radio frequency (RF) circuitry is disposed on a circuit board disposed within the metal housing and is operable to radiate electromagnetic energy via the first slot and to radiate electromagnetic energy via the second slot.
US09917372B2	Integrated circuit package with radio frequency coupling arrangement An integrated circuit package comprises a dielectric material, a first stack comprising at least a first electrically isolating layer and a second electrically isolating layer arranged at a first side of the integrated circuit package, an electrically conductive material arranged on a second side opposed to the first side, and an integrated antenna structure for transmitting and/or receiving a radio frequency signal arranged between the first and second electrically isolating layers. The electrically conductive material is separated from the integrated antenna structure by at least the dielectric material and the first electrically isolating layer, arranged to partly overlap the integrated antenna structure and to reflect the radio frequency signal received by the electrically conductive material through at least the first electrically isolating layer and the dielectric material to the first side.
US09917368B2	Antenna-in-package structures with broadside and end-fire radiations Package structures are provided having antenna-in-packages that are integrated with semiconductor RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuit) chips to form compact integrated radio/wireless communications systems that operate in the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency range with radiation in broadside and end-fire directions.
US09917364B2	Antenna selection A network device communicates with one or another set of antennas depending on an orientation of the network device. The network device includes a first set of one or more antennas, a second set of one or more antennas, a processor, and memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to perform functions. The functions include (1) determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation; (2) if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas; and (3) if the determined the orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of one or more antennas.
US09917363B1	Adjustable cross-polarized antenna array elements A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically adjusting an angular orientation of cross-polarized antenna array elements to optimize select radio-frequency (RF) parameters. RF uplink signals are received from a plurality of mobile devices, and the signals are analyzed to determine parameters associated with signal strength and/or signal quality. Based on the determination, a first set of cross-polarized antenna array elements are deactivated and a second set of cross-polarized antenna array elements are activated, where the second set of antenna array elements has a different angular orientation relative to the first set of antenna array elements. Activation enables the second set of antenna array elements to transmit and receive communication signals.
US09917357B2	Antenna system Discussed herein is an antenna system that comprises a feed element and a radiating element that are formed on a dielectric substrate positioned above a circuit board which includes a feed circuit and a ground layer. Specifically, the feed element is disposed within an outer periphery defined by the radiating element. A capacitive coupling is formed between the feed element and the radiating element. With the aforesaid configuration, the antenna system is less affected by the circuit board and interference from other elements that are mounted on the circuit board. Further, manufacturing costs are reduced as compared to the case where the feed element and the radiating element are respectively formed on a front and rear surface of a resin layer.
US09917350B2	Multi loop antenna module and portable device having the same The present invention provides a multi loop antenna module that maximizes antenna performance even in a portable terminal equipped with a metallic rear cover, using an antenna pattern formed in a multi loop shape, and a portable terminal having the multi loop antenna module. The multi loop antenna module may include: an antenna sheet having a radiation pattern with two or more loops on a side; and a magnetic sheet mounted on a rear side of the antenna sheet.
US09917339B2	Non-aqueous lithium-air battery A lithium-air electrochemical cell is provided. The battery comprises: an anode compartment; a cathode compartment; and a lithium ion conductive membrane separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment. The anode compartment comprises an anode having lithium, a lithium alloy or a porous material capable of adsorption and release of lithium and a lithium ion electrolyte, while the cathode compartment comprises an air electrode, an ionic liquid capable of supporting the reduction of oxygen and a dissolved concentration of potassium superoxide. A lithium ion concentration in the cathode compartment is low in comparison to the concentration of potassium ion.
US09917338B2	Battery pack A battery pack includes a battery module including a plurality of cells, a housing that accommodates the battery module and is thermally coupled to the battery module, and a temperature adjuster that is thermally coupled and attached to the housing. The temperature adjuster changes a temperature of the housing.
US09917332B2	Power supply and electronic cigarette having same A power supply for an electronic cigarette, includes a shell; a battery assembly received in the shell; an electrode assembly arranged at an end of the shell; a first electrical contact assembly arranged between the battery assembly and the electrode assembly. The first electrical contact assembly includes a first electrode plate electrically connected to the battery assembly, and a pair of first pins electrically connected to the electrode assembly. The first pins are electrically contacting the first electrode plate. An electronic cigarette using the power supply is also provided.
US09917329B2	Fluorinated electrolytes with nitrile groups Perfluoropolyether electrolytes have either one or two terminal nitrile groups and an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal salt can be a lithium salt, a sodium salt, a potassium salt, or a cesium salt. The salt can make up between 5 and 30 wt % of the electrolyte composition. Such electrolytes have shown high ionic conductivities, making them useful as lithium cell electrolytes.
US09917323B2	Double-membrane triple-electrolyte redox flow battery design A redox flow battery is provided having a double-membrane (one cation exchange membrane and one anion exchange membrane), triple-electrolyte (one electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode, one electrolyte in contact with the positive electrode, and one electrolyte positioned between and in contact with the two membranes). The cation exchange membrane is used to separate the negative or positive electrolyte and the middle electrolyte, and the anion exchange membrane is used to separate the middle electrolyte and the positive or negative electrolyte. This design physically isolates, but ionically connects, the negative electrolyte and positive electrolyte. The physical isolation offers great freedom in choosing redox pairs in the negative electrolyte and positive electrolyte, making high voltage of redox flow batteries possible. The ionic conduction drastically reduces the overall ionic crossover between negative electrolyte and positive one, leading to high columbic efficiency.
US09917322B2	Electrical power distribution system and method for a grid-tied reversible solid oxide fuel cell system A Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (RSOFC) system includes a Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (RSOFC) unit, a bi-directional alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter, coupled to the RSOFC unit, a common bus, coupled to the bi-directional AC/DC converter and to a power grid, and a plurality of RSOFC subsystems, coupled to receive power only through the common bus. The RSOFC unit has a fuel cell mode, wherein the RSOFC unit produces electrical power from fuel, and an electrolysis mode, wherein the RSOFC unit consumes electrical power to produce the fuel. The bi-directional AC/DC converter is coupled to the RSOFC unit, and is configured to convert direct current (DC) electrical power produced by the RSOFC unit into outgoing alternating current (AC) power, and to convert incoming AC power into DC power for consumption by the RSOFC unit in electrolysis mode.
US09917321B2	Direct carbon electrochemical cell A direct carbon fuel cell DCFC system (5), the system comprising an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell (10) comprising a cathode (30), a solid state first electrolyte (25) and an anode (20), wherein, the system further comprises an anode chamber containing a second electrolyte (125) and a fuel (120). The system, when using molten carbonate as second electrolyte, is preferably purged with CO2 via purge gas inlet (60).
US09917318B2	Hydrocarbon-operable fuel cell system The invention relates to an energy generation apparatus (1), in particular for use in a vehicle, which can be operated using hydrocarbons such as diesel and the like, which comprises a fuel cell (2) and is provided with connections (3, 4, 5) for introduction of air and the hydrocarbons and for the output of electric energy. According to the invention, the energy generation apparatus has three essentially physically separate functional units (7, 8, 9), where the first functional unit (7) is configured as a supply device for media and has essentially devices for introduction of fuel and air, a second functional unit (8) is configured for reforming and has essentially devices for converting the hydrocarbons into process gas and a third functional unit (9) is configured for generation of electric energy and has essentially the fuel cell (2), where the process gas produced in the second functional unit (8) is fed to the third functional unit (9).
US09917317B2	Combined fuel cell and boiler system The present invention relates to a combined fuel cell and boiler system, and comprising: a fuel cell portion for receiving supplied outside air and raw material gas and generating electricity through a catalyst reaction; and a boiler portion comprising a latent heat exchanger, which is connected to an exhaust gas pipe of the fuel cell portion, for collecting the latent heat of self-generated exhaust gas with the latent heat of exhaust gas from the fuel cell portion. The present invention can effectively increase the efficiency of a boiler by supplying the exhaust gas from the fuel cell to the latent heat exchanger in the boiler, so as to be heat-exchanged in the latent heat exchanger with the exhaust gas from the boiler and then discharged, and can simplify the composition by unifying exhaust gas pipes.
US09917315B2	State determination device and method for fuel cell A state determination device for a fuel cell for generating power upon receiving the supply of anode gas and cathode gas, comprising: an internal impedance measurement unit configured to measure an internal impedance of the fuel cell on the basis of an alternating-current signal of a predetermined frequency output from the fuel cell; and an anode reaction resistance estimation/calculation unit configured to calculate an estimation value of a reaction resistance of an anode electrode of the fuel cell on the basis of a measurement value of the internal impedance, wherein: the predetermined frequency is selected such that a difference between the estimation value of the reaction resistance of the anode electrode during hydrogen starvation and the estimation value of the reaction resistance of the anode electrode during oxygen starvation is not smaller than a predetermined value.
US09917307B2	Doped nickelate compounds The invention relates to novel electrodes containing one or more active materials comprising: AaM1vM2wM3xM4YM5zO2−C(Formula 1) wherein A comprises either sodium or a mixed alkali metal in which sodium is the constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state less than or equal to 4+, M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state less than or equal to 4+, M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state 2+, M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state less than or equal to 4+, and M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0≦a≦1 v>0 at least one of w and y is >0 x≧0 z≧0 c>0.1 where (a, v, w, x, y, z and c) are chosen to maintain electroneutrality. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in sodium-ion battery applications. AaM1VM2WM3XM4YM5ZO2−c (Formula 1)
US09917306B2	Manufacturing method of electrode and wet granules A manufacturing method of an electrode according to the invention includes: a process of forming wet granules by stirring a mixture of an electrode active material, a binding material, and a solvent; and a process of forming an electrode material layer on a current collector by rolling the wet granules. The process of forming the wet granules includes: a process of granulating the electrode active material by stirring the mixture at a first stirring speed; and a process of stirring the granulated electrode active material at a second stirring speed that is faster than the first stirring speed so as to be refined to an average particle size of 400 μm or smaller. A stirring time at the second stirring speed is shorter than a stirring time at the first stirring speed and is shorter than 5 seconds.
US09917304B2	Protected anode, lithium air battery including the same, and method of preparing ion conductive protective layer A protected anode including: an anode including lithium or capable of reversibly incorporating lithium ions; and a lithium ion-conductive protective layer on the anode and including a ceramic composite represented by Formula 1: Li1+aAlbGe2−cMdP3+eO12+f Formula 1 wherein M is at least one element selected from titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), and germanium (Ge), 0≦a≦1, 0≦b≦1, 0≦c≦1, 0≦d≦0.5, 0≦e≦0.1, and 0≦f≦1.
US09917300B2	Hybrid energy storage devices including surface effect dominant sites A novel hybrid lithium-ion anode material based on coaxially coated Si shells on vertically aligned carbon nano fiber (CNF) arrays. The unique cup-stacking graphitic microstructure makes the bare vertically aligned CNF array an effective Li+ intercalation medium. Highly reversible Li+ intercalation and extraction were observed at high power rates. More importantly, the highly conductive and mechanically stable CNF core optionally supports a coaxially coated amorphous Si shell which has much higher theoretical specific capacity by forming fully lithiated alloy. Addition of surface effect dominant sites in close proximity to the intercalation medium results in a hybrid device that includes advantages of both batteries and capacitors.
US09917299B2	Method and material for lithium ion battery anodes Highly porous synergistic combinations of silicon and carbon materials are provided, along with articles that incorporate such materials and processes for producing the materials. The compositions have novel properties and provide significant improvements in Coulombic efficiency, dilithiation capacity, and cycle life when used as anode materials in lithium battery cells including solid state batteries.
US09917287B2	Secondary-battery porous membrane composition, secondary-battery porous membrane and secondary battery A composition for a porous membrane of a secondary battery including a non-conductive particle and a water-soluble polymer, wherein the water-soluble polymer contains 80% by weight or more of a (meth)acrylamide monomer unit, and the water-soluble polymer has a storage modulus at 150° C. of 2.0×105 Pa or more; and a porous membrane manufactured therefrom and a secondary battery including the same.
US09917281B2	Top-emitting white organic light-emitting diodes having improved efficiency and stability The present disclosure relates to an emissive construct, which can be used in various OLED applications, for example, top-emission white organic light-emitting diodes. The emissive construct can include an optional second fluorescent emissive layer having an emitter with a second T1, a first fluorescent emissive layer having an emitter with a first T1, the first T1 being greater than the second T1 value, a hole-blocking layer, and a phosphorescent emissive layer.
US09917279B2	Organic light emitting diode display and manufacturing method thereof Disclosed are an organic light emitting diode display and a manufacturing method thereof, and, more particularly, an organic light emitting diode display which includes an encapsulation layer including an inorganic layer containing carbon at a level of about 0.2 wt % to about 6.2 wt % and an organic layer and a manufacturing method thereof.
US09917277B2	Display panel and production method therefor A display panel including an EL panel unit, a CF panel unit, and a sealing resin layer. In the EL panel, a surface of a sealing layer has a non-flat surface as a whole in a Z-axis direction, with recess portions at light-emitting areas corresponding to regions between banks and protrusion portions at non-light-emitting areas corresponding to tops of the banks. D2<0.90×D1 and S>{(0.90×D1)−D2}×W are satisfied, where D1 (D1(R), D1(G), D1(B)) denotes a distance between the EL panel unit and the CF panel unit at a first recess portion, D2 denotes a distance between the EL panel unit and the CF panel unit at a protrusion portion, W denotes a width of a top of the protrusion portion, and S denotes a cross-sectional area of a second recess portion.
US09917272B2	Electronic device The present application relates to an electronic device comprising a hole-transport layer A, a doped hole-transport layer B and a hole-transport layer C, where hole-transport layers A, B and C are arranged between the anode and the emitting layer, and where hole-transport layer B is arranged on the cathode side of hole-transport layer A and hole-transport layer C is arranged on the cathode side of hole-transport layer B.
US09917271B2	Light-emitting device A light-emitting device in which different electrodes in a work function are used in a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element are provided. A light-emitting device includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The first light-emitting element includes a first electrode, an EL layer, and a second electrode in this order. The second light-emitting element includes a third electrode, the EL layer, and the second electrode in this order. The EL layer includes a first light-emitting layer, a layer, and a second light-emitting layer in this order. The structure of the first light-emitting layer is different from the structure of the second light-emitting layer. The first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element are different in a carrier-injection property.
US09917270B1	Organic electroluminescent device having an exciton quenching layer The present invention relates to a an organic electroluminescent device comprising an exciton quenching layer C located between the a light-emitting layer B and an electron-transport layer D, wherein the exciton quenching layer C comprises at least one emitter EC and at least 80% by weight of at least one electron transport material ETMD.
US09917268B1	Transistor and method of manufacturing the same A method of forming a transistor includes: forming a stack structure including a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer, a second conductive layer, and a second insulating layer on a substrate; patterning the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer, and the second insulating layer to form at least one opening passing through the first insulating layer, the second conductive layer, and the second insulating layer; forming a semiconductor layer over the second insulating layer and filling the opening; removing the portion of the semiconductor layer over the second insulating layer, in which the portion of the semiconductor layer filled in the opening constitutes at least one semiconductor channel; and forming a third conductive layer over the semiconductor channel.
US09917264B2	Organometallic complex and organic light-emitting element using the complex Provided is an organic light-emitting element having high light-emitting efficiency and a long element lifetime, the organic light-emitting element including an anode, a cathode, and an organic compound layer placed between the anode and the cathode, in which: the organic compound layer includes an emission layer; the emission layer includes a host and a guest; the host is an aromatic hydrocarbon compound; the guest is an iridium complex of a specific structure; and a content of the host is 50 wt % or more with reference to the total amount of the constituent materials for the emission layer.
US09917260B2	Compounds with terminal heteroarylcyanovinylene groups and their use in organic solar cells The present invention relates to a photoactive material comprising a donor substance and an acceptor substance, wherein the donor substance comprises or consists of one or more compounds of formula (I) described herein, or the acceptor substance comprises or consists of one or more compounds of formula (I) described herein, or the donor substance comprises or consists of a first compound of formula (I) described herein and the acceptor substance comprises a second compound of formula (I) described herein with the proviso that the first and second compound are not the same, as well as to an organic solar cell comprising said photoactive material. The present invention also relates to a photoelectric conversion device comprising or consisting of two or more organic solar cells comprising said photoactive material and to compounds of formula (I) as described herein for use as donor substance or as acceptor substance in a photoactive material, Further, the present invention relates to the use of a compound of formula (III) as described herein in the synthesis of a compound of formula (I)as described herein.
US09917257B2	Organic electronic element and an electronic device comprising it Disclosed is an organic electric element comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic material layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the organic material layer comprises the compound of Formula 1 and Formula 2 to improve driving voltage, luminous efficiency, color purity, and life span.
US09917253B2	Methods of forming memory arrays Some embodiments include a memory array having a first series of access/sense lines which extend along a first direction, a second series of access/sense lines over the first series of access/sense lines and which extend along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and memory cells vertically between the first and second series of access/sense lines. Each memory cell is uniquely addressed by a combination of an access/sense line from the first series and an access/sense line from the second series. The memory cells have programmable material. At least some of the programmable material within each memory cell is a polygonal structure having a sidewall that extends along a third direction which is different from the first and second directions. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays.
US09917250B2	Switching device, method of fabricating the same, and resistive random access memory including the switching device as a selection device A switching device includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed over a substrate, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and including a porous oxide. The switching device performs threshold switching operation on the basis of oxidation-reduction reactions of metal ions that are provided from the first electrode or the second electrode to the electrolyte layer.
US09917247B2	Structure for thermally assisted MRAM A mechanism is provided for fabricating a thermally assisted magnetoresistive random access memory device. A bottom thermal barrier is formed on a bottom contact. A magnetic tunnel junction is formed on the bottom thermal barrier. The magnetic tunnel junction includes a top ferromagnetic layer formed on a tunnel barrier. The tunnel barrier is formed on a bottom ferromagnetic layer. A top thermal barrier is formed on the top ferromagnetic layer. A top contact is formed on the top thermal barrier. The top contact is reduced to a first diameter. The tunnel barrier and the bottom ferromagnetic layer each have a second diameter. The first diameter of the top contact is smaller than the second diameter.
US09917242B2	Thermopile temperature sensor field of view narrowing using integrated light blocking layer and lens A sensor device, a sensor package, and method for fabricating a sensor device are described that include an integrated light blocker disposed on the thermopile device and a lens configured to direct light to the thermopile device. In an implementation, the thermopile device includes a substrate; a thermopile membrane disposed on the substrate, the thermopile membrane including at least one passivation layer; a thermopile disposed within the thermopile membrane, the thermopile including at least one thermocouple; and a light blocking layer disposed proximate to the thermopile membrane, the light blocking layer including an aperture disposed proximate to the thermopile.
US09917241B2	Thermoelectric conversion apparatus A thermoelectric conversion apparatus includes a substrate, and a power generation part formed on the substrate for generating a thermoelectric power. The power generation part includes a magnetic layer with magnetization and an electrode layer including a material exhibiting a spin-orbit interaction and formed on the magnetic layer. The substrate and the power generation part have flexibility, respectively. The thermoelectric conversion apparatus further includes a cover layer having flexibility and formed on the substrate so as to cover at least the power generation part. The magnetic layer includes magnetic layer pieces separated in a layer direction with a gap portion interposed between the magnetic layer pieces.
US09917236B2	Light emitting device and method for producing the same A light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting element; and a light reflective member having a multilayer structure and covering the side faces of the semiconductor light emitting element. The light reflective member includes: a first layer disposed on an inner, semiconductor light emitting element side, the first layer comprising a light-transmissive resin containing a light reflective substance, and a second layer disposed in contact with an outer side of the first layer, the second layer comprising a light-transmissive resin containing the light reflective substance at a lower content than that of the first layer.
US09917234B2	Method of manufacturing light emitting device A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes: arranging a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element, each having a pair of first and second electrodes disposed on a surface opposite to a main light emitting surface, on a base body adjacent to each other with the pair of electrodes facing upward; forming a pair of electrically conductive members each extending between one of the pair of electrodes of the first light emitting element and a corresponding one of the pair of electrodes of the second light emitting element; forming a light shielding member at least covering between the first and second light emitting elements; and cutting the pair of electrically conductive members and the light shielding member between the first and second light emitting elements, along a direction substantially perpendicular to the main light emitting surface of each of the first and second light emitting elements.
US09917231B2	Fluoride phosphor and light emitting device, and methods of manufacturing the same A fluoride phosphor may include: a fluoride represented by a composition formula: AxMFy:Mnz4+, where A is at least one selected from among Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs, M is at least one selected from among Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge and Sn, a composition ratio (x) of A satisfies 2≦x≦3, a composition ratio (y) of F satisfies 4≦y≦7, and a composition ratio (z) of Mn satisfies 0
US09917227B1	Controlling oxygen concentration levels during processing of highly-reflective contacts Techniques for controlling oxygen concentration levels during annealing of highly-reflective contacts for LED devices together with lamps, LED device and method embodiments thereto are disclosed.
US09917225B2	Black body infrared antenna array A solar antenna array may comprise an emitter that may convert visible light into black body infrared radiation, and an array of antennas that may capture and convert the black body radiation into electrical power. Methods for constructing the solar antenna array may include using thermal insulation, high-gain low-e glass, and gasses with minimal heat transfer. A black body infrared antenna array may augment the electrical power from a visible light antenna array by converting its waste heat into additional electrical power.
US09917224B2	Photovoltaic module assembly A concentrated photovoltaic receiver and backplane assembly is described herein. A thermally conductive heat spreader is configured between the receiver and the backplane for dissipating at least a portion of the thermal energy in a direction including a horizontal component towards a portion of the heat spreader which is not directly in contact with a receiver portion. In some embodiments, the heat spreader is electrically conductive and is adapted for conducting current from the receiver to the backplane. In some embodiments, a surface area of a receiver substrate is less than 5 times larger than a surface area of a solar cell that is mounted onto the receiver substrate. In some embodiments, the receiver substrate comprises vias for conducting current from a top face to a bottom face of the receiver.
US09917220B2	Buffer layer for high performing and low light degraded solar cells Methods for forming a photovoltaic device include forming a buffer layer between a transparent electrode and a p-type layer. The buffer layer includes a doped germanium-free silicon base material. The buffer layer has a work function that falls within barrier energies of the transparent electrode and the p-type layer. An intrinsic layer and an n-type layer are formed on the p-type layer. Devices are also provided.
US09917219B2	Solar cell A solar cell includes: a crystal silicon substrate of a first conductivity type including a first principal surface and a second principal surface; a first amorphous silicon film of a second conductivity type provided on a side of the first principal surface; and a second amorphous silicon film of the first conductivity type provided on a side of the second principal surface. At least one of the first amorphous silicon film and the second amorphous silicon film has a multi-layer structure comprising layers. An oxygen-rich layer is provided between any adjacent two of the amorphous silicon layers in the multi-layer structure.
US09917215B2	Double layered transparent conductive oxide for reduced schottky barrier in photovoltaic devices A device and method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a double layer transparent conductive oxide on a transparent substrate. The double layer transparent conductive oxide includes forming a doped electrode layer on the substrate, and forming a buffer layer on the doped electrode layer. The buffer layer includes an undoped or p-type doped intrinsic form of a same material as the doped electrode layer. A light-absorbing semiconductor structure includes a p-type semiconductor layer on the buffer layer, an intrinsic layer and an n-type semiconductor layer.
US09917212B1	JFET structure and manufacturing method of the same The present disclosure provides a transistor structure, including a self-aligned source-drain structure surrounded by an insulating structure and a gate of a second conductive type separated from the source and the drain by the insulating structure. The self-aligned source-drain structure includes a source and a drain of a first conductive type, a channel between the source and the drain, and a polysilicon contact over and aligned with the channel. A method for manufacturing the transistor structure is also provided in the present disclosure.
US09917210B1	FinFET transistor gate and epitaxy formation Embodiments are directed to a method of forming a semiconductor device and resulting structures that reduce shallow trench isolation (STI) undercutting, floating gates, and gate voids without degrading epitaxy quality. The method includes forming a first and second semiconductor fin on a substrate. A buffer layer is formed on a surface of the substrate between the first and second semiconductor fins and a semiconducting layer is formed on the buffer layer. The buffer layer is selectively removed and replaced with a dielectric layer. A first gate is formed over a first channel region of the first semiconductor fin and a second gate is formed over a second channel region of the first semiconductor fin. Source and drain epitaxy regions are selectively formed on surfaces of the first gate.
US09917209B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device including step of forming trench over semiconductor A miniaturized transistor is provided. A first layer is formed over a third insulator over a semiconductor; a second layer is formed over the first layer; an etching mask is formed over the second layer; the second layer is etched using the etching mask until the first layer is exposed to form a third layer; a selective growth layer is formed on a top surface and a side surface of the third layer; the first layer is etched using the third layer and the selective growth layer until the third insulator is exposed to form a fourth layer; and the third insulator is etched using the third layer, the selective growth layer, and the fourth layer until the semiconductor is exposed to form a first insulator.
US09917205B2	Oxide semiconductor thin film, thin film transistor, manufacturing method and device This disclosure discloses an oxide semiconductor thin film, a thin film transistor, a manufacturing method and a device, belonging to the field of flat panel display. The oxide semiconductor thin film is made of an oxide containing zirconium and indium. A method of manufacturing the oxide semiconductor thin film comprises preparing a target using the oxide containing zirconium and indium, and sputtering the target to obtain the oxide semiconductor thin film.
US09917204B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device of stable electrical characteristics, whose oxygen vacancies in a metal oxide is reduced, is provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film over the gate electrode, a first metal oxide film over the gate insulating film, a source electrode and a drain electrode which are in contact with the first metal oxide film, and a passivation film over the source electrode and the drain electrode. A first insulating film, a second metal oxide film, and a second insulating film are stacked sequentially in the passivation film.
US09917199B2	Method for reduced parasitic capacitance and contact resistance in extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) devices due to wrap-around structure of source/drain regions A method for forming a semiconductor device includes etching a semiconductor layer using a gate structure and spacers as a mask to protect portions of the semiconductor layer that extend beyond the gate structure. Undercuts are formed in a buried dielectric layer under the gate structure. Source and drain regions are epitaxially growing and wrapped around the semiconductor layer by forming the source and drain regions adjacent to the gate structure on a first side of the semiconductor layer and in the undercuts on a second side of the semiconductor layer opposite the first side.
US09917198B2	Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and display device The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The array substrate includes an active layer, a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode layer formed sequentially on a base substrate. The active layer includes a first heavily-doped region, a first lightly-doped region, a first non-doped region, a second lightly-doped region, a second non-doped region, a third lightly-doped region and a second heavily-doped region which are sequentially arranged in a horizontal direction.
US09917197B2	Thin film element, semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing the same An object is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device without exposing a specific layer to moisture or the like at all. A thin film element is manufactured in such a manner that a first film, a second film, and a third film are stacked in this order; a resist mask is formed over the third film; a mask layer is formed by etching the third film with the use of the resist mask; the resist mask is removed; a second layer and a first layer are formed by performing dry etching on the second film and the first film with the use of the mask layer; a fourth film is formed to cover at least the second layer and the first layer; and sidewall layers are formed to cover at least the entire side surfaces of the first layer by performing etch back on the fourth film.
US09917196B1	Semiconductor device and method of forming the semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes a fin structure comprising a cylindrical shape and including a recess formed in an upper surface of the fin structure, an inner gate formed inside the fin structure, an outer gate formed outside the fin structure, and a conductor formed in the recess and connecting the inner and outer gates.
US09917190B2	FinFET with dielectric isolation after gate module for improved source and drain region epitaxial growth A method forming a semiconductor device that in one embodiment includes forming a gate structure on a channel region of fin structures, and forming a flowable dielectric material on a source region portion and a drain region portion of the fin structures. The flowable dielectric material is present at least between adjacent fin structures of the plurality of fin structures filling a space between the adjacent fin structures. An upper surface of the source region portion and the drain region portion of fin structures is exposed. An epitaxial semiconductor material is formed on the upper surface of the source region portion and the drain region portion of the fin structures.
US09917188B2	Dielectric isolated fin with improved fin profile A method of forming a fin structure that includes forming a plurality of fin structures from a bulk semiconductor substrate and forming a dielectric spacer on a sidewall of each fin structure in the plurality of fin structure. A semiconductor spacer is formed on a sidewall of the dielectric spacer. A dielectric fill is formed in the space between the adjacent fin structures. The semiconductor spacer and a portion of the fin structures that is present below a lower surface of the dielectric spacer are oxidized. Oxidizing a base portion of the fin structures produces a first strain and oxidizing the semiconductor spacer produces a second strain that is opposite the first strain.
US09917186B2	Semiconductor device with control structure including buried portions and method of manufacturing A semiconductor device includes transistor cells and control structures. The transistor cells include source zones of a first conductivity type and body zones of a second conductivity type. The source and body zones are formed in a semiconductor mesa formed from a portion of a semiconductor body. The control structures include first portions extending from a first surface into the semiconductor body on at least two opposing sides of the semiconductor mesa, second portions between the first portions and separated from the first surface by portions of the semiconductor mesa, and third portions connecting the first and the second portions and separated from the first surface by portions of the semiconductor mesa. Constricted sections of the semiconductor mesa separate third portions neighboring each other along a horizontal longitudinal extension of the semiconductor mesa.
US09917183B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device is provided including a first electrode and a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type connected to the first electrode. The semiconductor device further includes a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type provided on the second semiconductor layer, and a second electrode provided on the third semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device further includes a third electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The semiconductor device further includes a fourth electrode having an upper end connected to the second electrode, where the fourth electrode has a higher resistivity than the second electrode.
US09917175B1	Tapered vertical FET having III-V channel A vertical field effect transistor includes a first source/drain region formed on or in a substrate. A tapered fin is formed a vertical device channel and has a first end portion attached to the first source/drain region. A second source/drain region is formed on a second end portion of the tapered fin. A gate structure surrounds the tapered fin.
US09917174B2	Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an isolation pattern may be formed on a substrate to define a plurality of active patterns. The active patterns may protrude from the isolation pattern. A preliminary polysilicon layer may be formed on the active patterns to fill a gap between adjacent ones of the active patterns. Ions having no conductivity may be implanted into the preliminary polysilicon layer to form a polysilicon layer having no void. The active patterns maintain their crystalline state during the implanting of the ions. The polysilicon layer may be patterned to form a dummy gate structure on the active pattern. A source/drain region may be formed at an upper portion of the active patterns adjacent to sides of the dummy gate structure.
US09917172B2	Semiconductor device for compensating internal delay, methods thereof, and data processing system having the same A method of manufacturing a field effect transistor using a gate last process includes providing the field effect transistor which includes a high-k dielectric formed between an elevated source and an elevated drain and surrounding a metal gate, and performing a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process on an upper surface of the elevated source, and in which a height of the metal gate becomes lower than a height of the elevated source according to the CMP process.
US09917171B2	Low-resistive, CMOS-compatible, Au-free ohmic contact to N—InP A device includes an n-doped InP layer and an ohmic contact, in contact with the n-doped InP layer. The ohmic contact includes an annealed stack of at least three, or preferably four alternating layers of Si and Ni, such that: (i) the n-doped InP layer and one of the layers of the stack in contact with the n-doped InP layer are at least partly intermixed; and (ii) any two adjacent layers of the stack are at least partly intermixed. Related fabrication methods are also disclosed.
US09917168B2	Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor having variable thickness gate dielectric A metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a substrate and a gate structure over a top surface of the substrate. The MOSFET further includes a source in the substrate on a first side of the gate structure and a drain in the substrate on a second side of the gate structure opposite the first side. The gate structure includes a variable thickness gate dielectric layer. The variable thickness gate dielectric layer includes a first portion closest to the drain, the first portion having a first thickness. The variable thickness gate dielectric layer further includes a second portion distal from the drain, the second portion having a second thickness less than the first thickness.
US09917167B2	Semiconductor structure having buried gate structure, method for manufacturing the same, and memory cell having the same A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer over a bottom surface and sidewalls of the trench; forming a work function layer over the gate dielectric layer; recessing the work function layer, and forming a gate electrode which is positioned in the trench; and exposing the gate electrode to a thermal process, and forming a dipole induction layer between the gate electrode and the gate dielectric layer.
US09917163B2	Semiconductor device comprising a field effect transistor and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device A semiconductor device comprises a field effect transistor in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The field effect transistor comprises a source region, a drain region, a body region, and a gate electrode at the body region. The gate electrode is configured to control a conductivity of a channel formed in the body region, and the gate electrode is disposed in gate trenches. The body region is disposed along a first direction between the source region and the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface. The body region has a shape of a ridge extending along the first direction, the body region being adjacent to the source region and the drain region. The semiconductor device further comprises a source contact and a body contact, the source contact being electrically connected to a source terminal, the body contact being electrically connected to the source contact and to the body region.
US09917160B2	Semiconductor device having a polycrystalline silicon IGFET A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body, having a first surface, a gate electrode structure, which includes polycrystalline silicon, of an IGFET in a first trench extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body. The device also includes a semiconductor element, which is different from the gate electrode structure of the IGFET and includes polycrystalline silicon, in a second trench extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body, wherein the polycrystalline silicon of the IGFET and of the semiconductor element different therefrom ends below a top side of an insulation layer adjoining the first surface of the semiconductor body.
US09917158B2	Device contact structures including heterojunctions for low contact resistance A semiconductor device can include a channel region with a first semiconductor material for a majority carrier in the channel region during operation (on state) of the device and a metal contact. A source/drain region can include a semiconductor material alloy including a second semiconductor material and at least one heterojunction located between the metal contact and the channel region, wherein the heterojunction forms a band-edge offset for the majority carrier that is less than or equal to about 0.2 eV.
US09917157B2	Thin film transistor, array substrate, their manufacturing methods, and display device The present disclosure provides a TFT, an array substrate, their manufacturing method, and a display device. The method for manufacturing the TFT includes a step of forming a pattern of a semiconductor active layer on a transparent substrate through a patterning process, and the pattern of the semiconductor active layer includes a lanthanum boride pattern.
US09917156B1	Nucleation layer for growth of III-nitride structures Nucleation layers for growth of III-nitride structures, and methods for growing the nucleation layers, are described herein. A semiconductor can include a silicon substrate and a nucleation layer over the silicon substrate. The nucleation layer can include silicon and deep-level dopants. The semiconductor can include a III-nitride layer formed over the nucleation layer. At least one of the silicon substrate and the nucleation layer can include ionized contaminants. In addition, a concentration of the deep-level dopants is at least as high as a concentration of the ionized contaminants.
US09917153B2	Method for producing a microelectronic device A crystalline layer is produced from a crystalline substrate made from a first material on which a masking layer has previously been deposited; the masking layer containing at least one trench forming an access to the substrate, by: forming a crystalline buffer layer situated at least partly in the trench in the masking layer, extending from the substrate and forming a projection beyond the masking layer so that an upper part of the lateral flanks of said buffer layer is left uncovered, the formation step comprising a growth of the buffer layer from the substrate, and forming a crystalline epitaxial layer in a second material, different from the material of the buffer layer, by growth from said upper part of the lateral flanks of the buffer layer left uncovered.
US09917150B2	Deep trench isolation structures and systems and methods including the same Deep trench isolation structures and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The systems include a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body, a device region, and the deep trench isolation structure. The deep trench isolation structure is configured to electrically isolate the device region from other device regions that extend within the semiconductor body. The deep trench isolation structure includes an isolation trench, a dielectric material that extends within the isolation trench, a first semiconducting region, and a second semiconducting region. The methods include methods of operating an integrated circuit device that includes a plurality of semiconductor devices that include the disclosed deep trench isolation structures.
US09917144B2	Display panel and method for manufacturing same A display panel includes an EL panel section, a CF panel section, and a sealing resin layer. In the EL panel section, the surface of a sealing layer has a projected and recessed shape in a Z-axis direction as a whole, wherein a light-emitting region corresponding to a region between banks is a recessed section, and a non-light-emitting region corresponding to a top portion of the bank is a projected section. The sealing resin layer includes a first sealing resin layer and a second sealing resin layer. Prior to performing heating or light irradiation in a step of forming the first and second sealing resin layers, the viscosity of a second non-fluid resin constituting the second sealing resin layer is lower than the viscosity of a first non-fluid resin constituting the first sealing resin layer.
US09917139B2	Resistive change element array using vertically oriented bit lines The present disclosure is directed toward carbon based diodes, carbon based resistive change memory elements, resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements and carbon based diodes, methods of making carbon based diodes, methods of making resistive change memory elements having carbon based diodes, and methods of making resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements having carbons based diodes. The carbon based diodes can be any suitable type of diode that can be formed using carbon allotropes, such as semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT), semiconducting Buckminsterfullerenes (such as C60 Buckyballs), or semiconducting graphitic layers (layered graphene). The carbon based diodes can be pn junction diodes, Schottky diodes, other any other type of diode formed using a carbon allotrope. The carbon based diodes can be placed at any level of integration in a three dimensional (3D) electronic device such as integrated with components or wiring layers.
US09917136B2	Light emitting diode chip An LED chip for use in an LED chip array forming a continuous array of LEDs. The LED chip comprises an array of LEDs on a substrate. LEDs in a row of the array are longitudinally offset from corresponding LEDs in another row. Adjacent LEDs in each row of the array are separated by a longitudinal pitch. At least part of an end face of the substrate is angled with respect to a transverse axis of the LED chip such that the LED chip is positionable adjacent another LED chip to maintain the longitudinal pitch between adjacent LEDs on different chips.
US09917134B1	Methods of fabricating an image sensor A method of fabricating an image sensor includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. A first infrared filter is formed on a first region of the substrate. A second infrared filter is deposited on the substrate and the first infrared filter. The deposited second infrared filter covers the first infrared filter. The second infrared filter is lowered to expose the first infrared filter. The lowered second infrared filter is on a second region of the substrate and neighbors the first infrared filter.
US09917133B2	Optoelectronic device with flexible substrate An optoelectronic device is disclosed. The optoelectronic device includes a flexible substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) array disposed on a first surface of the flexible substrate, a photodiode layer disposed on the TFT array, and a plurality of data lines and scan lines connected to the TFT array and disposed on the first surface of the flexible substrate. The device further includes a electronics signal module assembly disposed on a second surface of the flexible substrate opposite the TFT array, and an interconnect disposed through the flexible substrate, connecting the data lines and scan lines to the electronics signal module assembly.
US09917129B2	Semiconductor device with transistor in semiconductor subtrate and insulated contact plug extending trough the substrate A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface that face each other, and having an element region and an isolation region, the element region including a transistor in the first surface, and the isolation region including an element isolation layer surrounding the element region; and a contact plug extending from the first surface to the second surface in the isolation region of the semiconductor substrate.
US09917128B2	Semiconductor device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus A semiconductor device having a first semiconductor section including a first wiring layer at one side thereof; a second semiconductor section including a second wiring layer at one side thereof, the first and second semiconductor sections being secured together with the respective first and second wiring layer sides of the first and second semiconductor sections facing each other; a conductive material extending through the first semiconductor section to the second wiring layer of the second semiconductor section and by means of which the first and second wiring layers are in electrical communication; and an opening, other than the opening for the conductive material, which extends through the first semiconductor section to the second wiring layer.
US09917127B2	Pixel arrangement According to embodiments of the present invention, a pixel arrangement is provided. The pixel arrangement includes a plurality of pixels arranged adjacent to each other; and a substrate configured to receive the plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels comprises a plurality of optical cells electrically coupled to each other; and an electrical interconnection electrically isolated from the plurality of optical cells, the electrical interconnection arranged to provide electrical communication between two separate conducting terminals external to the pixel.
US09917122B2	Monolithic visible-infrared focal plane array on silicon A structure includes a silicon substrate; silicon readout circuitry disposed on a first portion of a top surface of the substrate and a radiation detecting pixel disposed on a second portion of the top surface of the substrate. The pixel has a plurality of radiation detectors connected with the readout circuitry. The plurality of radiation detectors are composed of at least one visible wavelength radiation detector containing germanium and at least one infrared wavelength radiation detector containing a Group III-V semiconductor material. A method includes providing a silicon substrate; forming silicon readout circuitry on a first portion of a top surface of the substrate and forming a radiation detecting pixel, on a second portion of the top surface of the substrate, that has a plurality of radiation detectors formed to contain a visible wavelength detector composed of germanium and an infrared wavelength detector composed of a Group III-V semiconductor material.
US09917117B2	Display device and method of fabricating the same A method of fabricating a display device including forming one or more thin-film transistors (“TFTs”) each configured to include an active layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on a substrate. A storage capacitor including a first storage electrode and a second storage electrode overlapping the first storage electrode with the gate insulating layer interposed there between is also formed on the substrate. A top surface of the first storage electrode may include hillocks and the gate insulating layer is formed between the first storage electrode and the second storage electrode to conform to the shape of the top surface of the first storage electrode with the hillocks.
US09917114B2	Display panel A display panel is provided, which includes a first substrate, a first insulating layer on the first substrate, a semiconductor layer on the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer has a surface in contact with the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer has a first region. The first region has a thickness of 40 nm from the surface of the second insulating layer, and the second insulating layer has a fluoride ion gain ratio of 80% to 95% in the first region.
US09917112B2	Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same Provided is a method to manufacture a liquid crystal display device in which a contact hole for the electrical connection of the pixel electrode and one of the source and drain electrode of a transistor and a contact hole for the processing of a semiconductor layer are formed simultaneously. The method contributes to the reduction of a photography step. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel formation region is formed.
US09917110B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device that is suitable for miniaturization is provided. The semiconductor device has a plurality of different transistors, active layers of the plurality of transistors are each an oxide semiconductor, and in the plurality of transistors, field-effect mobility of a transistor whose channel length is maximum and field-effect mobility of a transistor whose channel length is minimum are substantially constant. Alternatively, when channel lengths ranges from 0.01 μm to 100 μm, a reduction in field-effect mobility of a transistor whose channel length is minimum with respect to field-effect mobility of a transistor whose channel length is maximum is less than or equal to 70%.
US09917105B2	Replacement fin process in SSOI wafer A method of forming replacement fins in a complimentary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device that includes a p-type field effect transistor device (pFET) and an n-type field effect transistor device (nFET) and a CMOS device are described. The method includes forming strained silicon (Si) fins from a strained silicon-on-insulator (SSOI) layer in both an nFET region and a pFET region, forming insulating layers over the strained Si fins, and forming trenches within the insulating layers to expose the strained Si fins in the pFET region only. The method also includes etching the strained Si fins in the pFET region to expose a buried oxide (BOX) layer of the SSOI layer, etching the exposed portions of the BOX layer to expose a bulk substrate, epitaxially growing a Si portion of pFET replacement fins from the bulk substrate, and epitaxially growing silicon germanium (SiGe) portions of the pFET replacement fins on the Si portion of the pFET replacement fins.
US09917103B1	Diffusion break forming after source/drain forming and related IC structure Methods of forming a diffusion break are disclosed. The method includes forming a diffusion break after source/drain formation, by removing a gate stack of the dummy gate to a buried insulator of an SOI substrate, creating a first opening; and filling the first opening with a dielectric to form the diffusion break. An IC structure includes the diffusion break in contact with an upper surface of the buried insulator. In an optional embodiment, the method may also include simultaneously forming an isolation in an active gate to an STI in the SOI substrate.
US09917090B1	Vertical antifuse structures Semiconductor devices and methods are provided in which vertical antifuse devices are integrally formed with vertical FET devices, wherein the vertical antifuse devices are formed as part of a process flow for fabricating the vertical FET devices. For example, a semiconductor device comprises a lower source/drain region formed on a substrate, and first and second vertical semiconductor fins formed on the lower source/drain region. First and second metal gate electrodes are formed on sidewalls of the first and second vertical semiconductor fins, respectively. An upper source/drain region is formed on an upper surface of the first vertical semiconductor fin, and a vertical source/drain contact is formed in contact with the upper source/drain region formed on the first vertical semiconductor fin. An upper end of the second vertical semiconductor fin is encapsulated in an insulating material so that the upper end of the second vertical semiconductor fin is floating.
US09917087B2	Integrated circuits with a partially-depleted region formed over a bulk silicon substrate and methods for fabricating the same Integrated circuits and methods of fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a bulk silicon substrate that is lightly-doped with a first dopant type divided into a first device region and a second device region, and a well region that is lightly-doped with a second dopant type formed in the second device region. The integrate circuit further includes heavily-doped source/drain extension regions of the first dopant type aligned to a first gate electrode structure and heavily-doped source/drain extension regions of the second dopant type aligned to a second gate electrode structure, and an intermediately-doped halo region of the second dopant type formed underneath the first gate electrode structure and an intermediately-doped halo regions of the first dopant type underneath the second gate electrode structure. Still further, the integrated circuit includes heavily-doped source/drain regions.
US09917082B1	Approach to fabrication of an on-chip resistor with a field effect transistor A method of forming a resistor adjacent to a fin field effect transistor on a substrate, including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on the substrate, forming a dielectric fill layer on the plurality of vertical fins, forming at least two dummy gate structures on the plurality of vertical fins, forming a replaceable resistor structure on the dielectric fill layer over a region of the substrate unoccupied by vertical fins, forming a sidewall spacer on the at least two dummy gate structures and the replaceable resistor structure, removing the replaceable resistor structure to form a trench, and forming a resistor structure in the trench.
US09917081B2	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.
US09917074B2	Semiconductor device comprising PN junction diode and schottky barrier diode A semiconductor device includes a MOSFET including a PN junction diode. A unipolar device is connected in parallel to the MOSFET and has two terminals. A first wire connects the PN junction diode to one of the two terminals of the unipolar device. A second wire connects the one of the two terminals of the unipolar device to an output line, so that the output line is connected to the MOSFET and the unipolar device via the first wire and the second wire. In one embodiment the connection of the first wire to the diode is with its anode, and in another the connection is with the cathode.
US09917073B2	Reconstituted wafer-level package dram with conductive interconnects formed in encapsulant at periphery of the package A microelectronic package includes first and second encapsulated microelectronic elements, each of which includes a semiconductor die having a front face and contacts thereon. An encapsulant contacts at least an edge surface of each semiconductor die and extends in at least one lateral direction therefrom. Electrically conductive elements extend from the contacts and over the front face to locations overlying the encapsulant. The first and second microelectronic elements are affixed to one another such that one of the front or back surfaces of one of the first and second semiconductor dies is oriented towards one of the front or back surfaces of the other of the first and second semiconductor dies. A plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extend through the encapsulants of the first and second microelectronic elements and are electrically connected with at least one semiconductor die of the first and second microelectronic elements by the conductive elements.
US09917071B1	Semiconductor packages A semiconductor package includes: a first substrate including a first interconnection structure extending from a surface of the first substrate, the first interconnection structure including grains of a first size, a second substrate including: a second interconnection structure comprising grains of a second size, and a third interconnection structure disposed between the first interconnection structure and the second interconnection structure, the third interconnection structure including grains of a third size, a first sidewall inclined at a first angle to a reference plane and a second sidewall inclined at a second angle to the reference plane, wherein the first angle is different from the second angle, the first sidewall is disposed between the first substrate and the second sidewall, and the third size is smaller than both the first size and the second size.
US09917070B2	Method for arranging electronic switching elements, electronic switching arrangement and use of a carrier having a bonding layer A method for arranging electronic components that includes a plurality of electronic components pasted onto a first front face of a carrier having a bonding layer. The front face and/or the electronic components being provided with a plurality of bonding points and the diameter of and distance between the bonding points are selected such that each of the plurality of electronic components is attached by at least three bonding points to the carrier having the bonding layer. The method also includes arranging at least one portion of the plurality of the components on a switching element carrier and connecting the components to the carrier. The method also includes detaching a component from the carrier having a bonding layer, using a solvent or a mechanical force that separates the carrier having a bonding layer and the switching element carrier from one another.
US09917067B1	Electronic device interconnections for high temperature operability Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interconnection for extending high-temperature use in sensors and other electronic devices. The interconnection includes a semiconductor layer; an ohmic contact layer disposed on a first region of the semiconductor layer; an insulating layer disposed on a second region of the semiconductor layer, where the second region differs from the first region; a metal layer disposed above at least the insulating layer and the ohmic contact layer; and a connecting conductive region disposed on the metal layer and in vertical alignment with a third region of the semiconductor layer. The third region differs from the first region and is offset from the ohmic contact layer at the first region. The offset is configured to extend an operational lifetime of the interconnection apparatus, particularly when the interconnection apparatus is exposed to high temperature environments.
US09917066B2	Semiconductor device having stacked chips, a re-distribution layer, and penetration electrodes A lamination structure includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip stacked via a bonding section so that a rear surface of the first semiconductor chip faces the main surface of the second semiconductor chip. At least a part of a side surface of the first semiconductor chip are covered with a first resin, a distribution layer is formed on the plane formed of the main surface of the first semiconductor chip and a surface of the first resin. At least part of electrodes existing in the main surface of the second semiconductor chip is electrically connected to at least part of first external electrodes formed on the distribution layer via the penetration electrodes that penetrate the first semiconductor chip.
US09917064B2	Semiconductor device with a plate-shaped lead terminal A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element having a lower surface bonded to an insulating substrate side, and a plate-shaped lead terminal bonded to an upper surface of the semiconductor element, and having a horizontally extending portion. The horizontally extending portion in the lead terminal is bonded to the semiconductor element and includes a linearly extending portion in a planar view. The semiconductor device further includes a sealing resin that seals the semiconductor element together with the linearly extending portion in the lead terminal. A linear expansion coefficient of the sealing resin shows a value intermediate between a linear expansion coefficient of the lead terminal and a linear expansion coefficient of the semiconductor element, and the lead terminal includes a recess or a projection to horizontally and partially separate the linearly extending portion into parts.
US09917063B2	Semiconductor package structure for improving die warpage and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor die package includes a semiconductor die, a film for improving die warpage bonded to a first face of the semiconductor die, a plurality of electrically conductive bumps formed on a second face of the semiconductor die, a substrate onto which the electrically conductive bumps of the second face of the semiconductor die are bonded to electrically connect the semiconductor die and the substrate, and a mold compound applied these components to form an exposed surface of the semiconductor die package that is coplanar with an exposed surface of the film.
US09917062B1	Self-aligned transistors for dual-side processing An integrated circuit structure may include an alignment column on a front-side surface of an isolation layer. The alignment column may extend through a backside surface opposite the front-side surface of the isolation layer. The integrated circuit structure may also include front-side transistors on the front-side surface of the isolation layer. The integrated circuit structure may further include backside transistors on the backside surface of the isolation layer. A first front-side transistor is aligned with a first backside transistor according to the alignment column.
US09917061B2	Semiconductor apparatus and memory system A semiconductor apparatus includes a chip ID generation unit, a chip ID transmission unit and a chip stack information generation unit. The chip ID generation unit is configured to generate a chip ID signal. The chip ID transmission unit is configured to output the chip ID signal to a common line on the basis of whether another chip is electrically coupled therewith. The chip stack information generation unit is configured to be electrically coupled with the common line in response to the chip ID signal and generate a stack information signal.
US09917058B2	Method of forming an interconnect structure having an air gap and structure thereof A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided which utilize an air gap to help isolate conductive structures within a dielectric layer. A first etch stop layer is deposited over the conductive structures, and the first etch stop layer is patterned to expose corner portions of the conductive structures. A portion of the dielectric layer is removed to form an opening. A second etch stop layer is deposited to line the opening, wherein the second etch stop layer forms a stepped structure over the corner portions of the conductive structures. Dielectric material is then deposited into the opening such that an air gap is formed to isolate the conductive structures.
US09917045B2	Methods and apparatus for providing an interposer for interconnecting semiconductor chips Methods and apparatus are provide for an interposer for interconnecting one or more semiconductor chips with an organic substrate in a semiconductor package, the interposer including: a first glass substrate having first and second opposing major surfaces, the first glass substrate having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE1); a second glass substrate having first and second opposing major surfaces, the second glass substrate having a second coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE2); and an interface disposed between the first and second glass substrates and joining the second major surface of the first glass substrate to the first major surface of the second glass substrate, where CTE1 is less than CTE2, the first major surface of the first glass substrate operates to engage the one or more semiconductor chips, and the second major surface of the second glass substrate operates to engage the organic substrate.
US09917043B2	Semiconductor package device and method of manufacturing the same In one or more embodiments, a semiconductor package includes a redistribution layer, a conductive pad, a dielectric layer, a silicon layer, and a conductive contact. The redistribution layer includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The conductive pad is on the first surface of the redistribution layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the first surface of the redistribution layer to cover a first portion of the conductive pad and to expose a second portion of the conductive pad. The silicon layer is disposed on the dielectric layer, the silicon layer having a recess to expose the second portion of the conductive pad. The conductive contact is disposed over the silicon layer and extends into the recess of the silicon layer.
US09917042B2	2.5D microelectronic assembly and method with circuit structure formed on carrier A dielectric element has a plurality of contacts at a first surface and a plurality of first traces coupled thereto which extend in directions parallel to the first surface. A circuit structure made of a plurality of dielectric layers and electrically conductive features thereon includes a plurality of bumps at a first surface which face the contacts of the dielectric element and are joined thereto. Circuit structure contacts at a second surface opposite the first surface are electrically coupled with the bumps through second traces on the circuit structure, the circuit structure contacts configured for connection with a plurality of element contacts of each of a plurality of microelectronic elements, wherein the microelectronic elements can be assembled therewith such that element contacts thereof face and are joined with the circuit structure contacts.
US09917038B1	Semiconductor package with multiple molding routing layers and a method of manufacturing the same Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package with an internal routing circuit. The internal routing circuit is formed from multiple molding routing layers in a plated and etched copper terminal semiconductor package by using a laser to blast away un-designed conductive areas to create conductive paths on each molding compound layer of the semiconductor package.
US09917037B2	Semiconductor device including a first internal circuit, a second internal circuit and a switch circuit unit A semiconductor device PKG includes a semiconductor chip CP, a lead LD3, a wire BW5 electrically connecting a pad electrode PD2 of the semiconductor chip CP to the lead LD3, a wire BW3 electrically connecting a pad electrode PD3 of the semiconductor chip CP to the lead LD3, and a sealing body sealing them with a resin. The semiconductor chip CP includes internal circuits 5b and 5c, and a switch circuit unit SW. Signal transmission is possible between the internal circuit 5c and the pad electrode PD3. The switch circuit unit SW is a circuit capable of being set in a first state in which signal transmission is possible between the internal circuit 5b and the pad electrode PD2, and in a second state in which signal transmission is not possible between the internal circuit 5b and the pad electrode PD2. The switch circuit unit SW is fixed to the second state during operation of the semiconductor device PKG.
US09917033B2	Multicomponent heat sink with movable fin support portion A heat sink comprises a base and a fin support larger in area than the base and supporting fins that may be positioned in a plurality of orientations relative to the base. The base is adapted for being connected to a heat-generating electronic component on a circuit board, and the heat sink dissipates heat generated by the heat-generating electronic device and conducted through the base and the fin support to the fins supported thereon. The heat sink dissipates heat from the heat-generating electronic device in a first operable position and in a second operable position. The heat sink may be moved from the first to the second operable position to facilitate access to electrical contacts proximal the heat-generating electronic component.
US09917032B2	Conductive thermal compositions, uses thereof, and methods for their preparation Thermal conductive compositions, methods for their preparation, and use are provided, which include, for example, as thermal sinks, heat transfer systems, and other uses.
US09917031B2	Semiconductor device, and method for assembling semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate; a semiconductor element mounted on the insulating substrate; and a radiation block bonded to the semiconductor element. The radiation block includes a three-dimensional radiation portion and a base portion connected to the radiation portion. The radiation portion of the radiation block has a pin shape, a fin shape, or a porous shape.
US09917030B2	Semiconductor structure and fabrication method thereof The present disclosure provides semiconductor structures and fabrication methods thereof. An exemplary semiconductor structure includes an insulation material layer having a top semiconductor layer having transistor regions formed on a top surface of the insulation material layer; isolation structures formed in the top semiconductor layer between adjacent transistor regions; a first dielectric layer formed over the top semiconductor layer; a first heat-conducting layer having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the isolation structure and passing through the insulation material layer, the top semiconductor layer and the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer formed over the first dielectric layer; an interconnect structure formed in the second dielectric layer; and a bottom layer conductive via passing through the heat-conducting layer and a partial thickness of the second dielectric layer, and electrically connected with the interconnect structure.
US09917028B2	Method and apparatus for maintaining operational temperature of an integrated circuit A temperature-controlled integrated circuit configured with a secure data processing element, and method of manufacture of same, is disclosed. Specifically, the temperature-controlled integrated circuit, comprising a secure data processing element operable within a nominal operating range, is configured with a heat-transfer element which allows the secure data processing element to operate in an extended operating range.
US09917026B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor components mounted on an interposer mounted on a wiring substrate, and electrically connected to each other via the interposer. Also, a plurality of wiring layers of the interposer include first, second and third wiring layers which are stacked in order from a main surface side to be a reference. In addition, in a first region of the interposer sandwiched between the first semiconductor component and the second semiconductor component, a ratio of a reference potential wiring in the third wiring layer is higher than a ratio of a reference potential wiring in the first wiring layer. Further, in the first region, a ratio of a signal wiring in the first wiring layer is higher than a ratio of a signal wiring in the third wiring layer.
US09917022B2	Silicon single crystal wafer, manufacturing method thereof and method of detecting defects A silicon single crystal wafer is provided. The silicon single crystal wafer includes an IDP which is divided into an NiG region and an NIDP region, wherein the IDP region is a region where a Cu based defect is not detected, the NiG region is a region where an Ni based defect is detected and the NIPD region is a region where an Ni based defect is not detected.
US09917017B2	Replacement gate process for semiconductor devices Disclosed is a method of forming a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a precursor having a substrate and gate stacks over the substrate, wherein each of the gate stacks includes an electrode layer, a first hard mask (HM) layer over the electrode layer, and a second HM layer over the first HM layer. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer over the substrate and the gate stacks and filling spaces between the gate stacks; and performing a first chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process to partially remove the dielectric layer. The method further includes performing an etching process to remove the second HM layer and to partially remove the dielectric layer, thereby exposing the first HM layer. The method further includes performing a second CMP process to at least partially remove the first HM layer.
US09917013B2	Method of separating electronic devices having a back layer In one embodiment, die are singulated from a wafer having a back layer by placing the wafer onto a carrier substrate with the back layer adjacent the carrier substrate, forming singulation lines through the wafer to expose the back layer within the singulation lines, and applying a pressure substantially uniformly along the second major surface to batch separate the layer of material in the singulation lines. In one embodiment, a fluid filled vessel can be used to apply the pressure.
US09917004B2	Group III nitride composite substrate and method for manufacturing the same, and method for manufacturing group III nitride semiconductor device Provided are a group III nitride composite substrate having a low sheet resistance and produced with a high yield, and a method for manufacturing the same, as well as a method for manufacturing a group III nitride semiconductor device using the group III nitride composite substrate. A group III nitride composite substrate includes a group III nitride film and a support substrate formed from a material different in chemical composition from the group III nitride film. The group III nitride film is joined to the support substrate in one of a direct manner and an indirect manner. The group III nitride film has a thickness of 10 μm or more. A sheet resistance of a group III-nitride-film-side main surface is 200 Ω/sq or less.
US09916999B2	Methods of fabricating a semiconductor package structure including at least one redistribution layer A package structure and a method for fabricating thereof are provided. The package structure includes a substrate, a first connector, a redistribution layer, a second connector, and a chip. The first connector is disposed over the substrate. The redistribution layer is directly disposed over the first connector, and is connected to the substrate by the first connector. The redistribution layer includes a block layer, and a metal layer over the block layer. The second connector is directly disposed over the redistribution layer, and the chip is connected to the redistribution layer by the second connector.
US09916997B2	End structure of nozzle, purging device, and load port There is provided an end structure of a nozzle (11) including a gas-flow passage (13) communicable with an opening (104) provided through a bottom of a container (100) configured to contain an object, the nozzle (11) configured so that gas is injected into or discharged from the container (100) through the gas-flow passage (13) and the opening (104). The end structure includes a contact portion (19) provided at an upper end portion of the nozzle (11) and around the gas-flow passage (13), and the contact portion (19) is configured to be brought into contact with a contacted portion (103) provided around the opening (104). The contact portion (19) includes a flat portion (19b) and protruding portions (19a and 19c) each protruding upward relative to the flat portion (19b), and the flat portion (19b) is made of material softer than that of the protruding portions (19a and 19c).
US09916992B2	Systems and methods for flexible components for powered cards and devices Die may be thinned using a thinning and/or a polishing process. Such thinned die may be flexible and may change operational characteristics when flexed. The flexible die may be applied to a mechanical carrier (e.g., a PCB) of a card or device. Detection circuitry may also be provided on the PCB and may be used to detect changed operational characteristics. Such detection circuitry may cause a reaction to the changed characteristics by controlling other components on the card or device based upon the flex-induced changed characteristics. The thinned die may be stacked, interconnected, and encapsulated between sheets of laminate material to form a flexible card or device.
US09916985B2	Indium phosphide smoothing and chemical mechanical planarization processes A chemical mechanical planarization for indium phosphide material is provided in which at least one opening is formed within a dielectric layer located on a substrate. An indium phosphide material is epitaxially grown within the at least one opening of the dielectric layer which extends above a topmost surface of the dielectric layer. The indium phosphide material is planarized using at least one slurry composition to form coplanar surfaces of the indium phosphide material and the dielectric layer, where a slurry composition of the at least one slurry composition polishes the indium phosphide material selective to the topmost surface of the dielectric layer, and includes an abrasive, at least one pH modulator and an oxidizer, the at least one pH modulator including an acidic pH modulator, but lacks a basic pH modulator, and where the oxidizer suppresses generation of phosphine gas.
US09916981B2	Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, inverter circuit, driving device, vehicle, and elevator A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a SiC layer having a first and a second plane; a first electrode having a first region in the SiC layer, the inclination angle of a side surface of the first region being 60 to 85 degrees; a second electrode; a first gate electrode; a second gate electrode facing the first gate electrode; first and second gate insulating layers; a first region of a first conductivity type in the SiC layer; a second region of a second conductivity type between the first region and the first gate insulating layer; a third region of the second conductivity type between the first region and the second gate insulating layer; a sixth region of the second conductivity type between the first region and the first region; and a seventh region of the second conductivity type between the first region and the sixth region.
US09916980B1	Method of forming a structure on a substrate A method of forming a layer on a substrate is provided by providing the substrate with a hardmask material. The hardmask material is infiltrated with infiltration material during N infiltration cycles by: a) providing a first precursor to the hardmask material on the substrate in the reaction chamber for a first period T1; b) removing a portion of the first precursor for a second period T2; and, c) providing a second precursor to the hardmask material on the substrate for a third period T3, allowing the first and second precursor to react with each other forming the infiltration material.
US09916977B2	Low k dielectric deposition via UV driven photopolymerization Provided are methods and apparatus for ultraviolet (UV) assisted capillary condensation to form dielectric materials. In some embodiments, a UV driven reaction facilitates photo-polymerization of a liquid phase flowable material. Applications include high quality gap fill in high aspect ratio structures and por sealing of a porous solid dielectric film. According to various embodiments, single station and multi-station chambers configured for capillary condensation and UV exposure are provided.
US09916973B2	Photolithographic methods Provided are photolithographic methods. The method comprise: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising an organic layer to be etched; (b) applying a layer of a photoresist composition directly on the organic layer, wherein the photoresist composition comprises: a resin comprising an acid cleavable leaving group, the cleavage of which forms an acid group and/or an alcohol group; a photoacid generator; and a solvent; (c) exposing the photoresist layer to activating radiation through a patterned photomask; (d) heating the photoresist layer, wherein acid generated by the acid generator causes cleavage of the acid cleavable leaving group, thereby forming the acid group and/or the alcohol group; (d) developing the exposed photoresist composition layer with an organic solvent developer to form a negative resist pattern comprising the acid group and/or the alcohol group; (e) applying a silicon-containing composition over the resist pattern, wherein the composition comprises a silicon-containing polymer and a solvent and is free of crosslinkers; (f) rinsing residual silicon-containing composition from the substrate, leaving a portion of the silicon-containing polymer on a surface of the resist pattern; and (g) selectively etching the organic layer. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices for providing high resolution patterns.
US09916967B2	Fast response fluid control system A plasma processing apparatus and method to control a temperature of a chamber component therein are described. A process chamber may include a temperature controlled chamber component and at least one remote heat transfer fluid loop comprising a first heat exchanger having a primary side in fluid communication with a heat sink or heat source, and a local heat transfer fluid loop placing the chamber component in fluid communication with a secondary side of the first heat exchanger. The local loop may be of significantly smaller fluid volume than the remote loop(s) and circulated to provide thermal load of uniform temperature. Temperature control of heat transfer fluid in the local loop and temperature control of the chamber component may be implemented with a cascaded control algorithm. The plasma processing apparatus further includes an AC heated electrostatic chuck (ESC) assembly.
US09916966B1	Apparatus and method for minimizing thermal distortion in electrodes used with ion sources An apparatus for improving the uniformity of an ion beam is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating element to heat an edge of the suppression electrode that is located furthest from the suppression aperture. In operation, the edge of the suppression electrode nearest to the suppression electrode may be heated by the ion beam. This heat may cause the suppression electrode to distort, affecting the uniformity of the ion beam. By heating the distal edge of the suppression electrode, the thermal distortion of the suppression electrode can be controlled. In other embodiments, the distal edge of the suppression electrode is heated to create a more uniform ion beam. By monitoring the uniformity of the ion beam downstream from the suppression electrode, such as by use of a beam uniformity profiler, a controller can adjust the heat applied to the distal edge to achieve the desired ion beam uniformity.
US09916965B2	Hybrid inspectors Hybrid inspectors are provided. One system includes computer subsystem(s) configured for receiving optical based output and electron beam based output generated for a specimen. The computer subsystem(s) include one or more virtual systems configured for performing one or more functions using at least some of the optical based output and the electron beam based output generated for the specimen. The system also includes one or more components executed by the computer subsystem(s), which include one or more models configured for performing one or more simulations for the specimen. The computer subsystem(s) are configured for detecting defects on the specimen based on at least two of the optical based output, the electron beam based output, results of the one or more functions, and results of the one or more simulations.
US09916964B1	Method of operating a charged particle microscope and charged particle microscope operating according to such method A method of operating a charged particle microscope comprises: providing settings of a focus, an x-stigmator and an y-stigmator of the charged particle microscope; and then repeatedly performing adjusting the charged particle microscope to the settings, recording an image of an object using the settings, determining a sharpness measure from the recorded image, and changing at least one of the settings of the focus, the x-stigmator and the y-stigmator based on the sharpness measure until a stop criterion is fulfilled. Herein, the determining of the sharpness measure comprises: determining an orientation of an intensity gradient at each of a plurality of locations within one of the recorded image and a processed image generated by processing the recorded image, and determining the sharpness measure based on the plurality of determined orientations.
US09916962B2	Multi charged particle beam irradiation apparatus, multi charged particle beam irradiation method, and multi charged particle beam adjustment method A multi charged particle beam irradiation apparatus includes a shaping aperture array substrate, where plural openings are formed as an aperture array, to shape multi-beams by making a region including entire plural openings irradiated by a charged particle beam, and making portions of a charged particle beam individually pass through a corresponding one of the plural openings; and a plurality of stages of lenses, arranged such that a reduction ratio of multi-beams by at least one lens of a stage before the last stage lens is larger than that of the multi-beams by the last stage lens, to correct distortion of a formed image obtained by forming an image of the aperture array by the multi-beams, and to form the image of the aperture array by the multi-beams at a height position between the last stage lens and a last-but-one stage lens, and at the surface of a target object.
US09916959B2	Cathode filament assembly A cathode for an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube, a system for X-ray imaging, and a method for an assembly of a cathode for an X-ray tube include a filament, a support structure, a body structure, and a filament frame structure. The filament is provided to emit electrons towards an anode in an electron emitting direction, and the filament at least partially includes a helical structure. Further, the filament is held by the support structure which is fixedly connected to the body structure. The filament frame structure is provided for electron-optical focusing of the emitted electrons, and the filament frame structure is provided adjacent to the outer boundaries of the filament. The filament frame structure includes frame surface portions arranged transverse to the emitting direction, and the filament frame structure is held by the support structure.
US09916958B1	Alkali semi-metal films and method and apparatus for fabricating them Methods and systems for fabricating a film, such as, for example, a photocathode, having a tailored band structure and thin-film components that can be tailored for specific applications, such as, for example photocathode having a high quantum efficiency, and simple components fabricated by those methods.
US09916955B2	Device for joining a bimetal strip and a component forming a support for said bimetal strip, and electrical protection unit comprising same A device for joining a bimetal strip and a component that acts as a support for the bimetal strip in a current breaking unit, the bimetal strip being electrically connected by a free end, to a input connection area, and by another end, by way of which the bimetal strip is fixed to the support, to a output connection area. The bimetal strip is mounted to pass through the support to be fixed at different locations along the length of the bimetal strip, the bimetal strip having a first part and a second part that are situated respectively on one side and the other of the support, the first part being on the side of the free end, corresponding to the usable surface of the bimetal strip, the length of the usable surface being variable depending on the insertion length of the bimetal strip in the support, the insertion length being determined depending on the calibre of the unit to obtain a constant thermal profile, regardless of the calibre, and to an electrical protection unit with same.
US09916949B2	Electric switching device The invention relates to an electric switching device (1), comprising at least one switching-device pole filled with insulating gas and a monitoring apparatus (14). The monitoring apparatus (14) comprises a density monitor (15) and a housing part (16), wherein a gas chamber (17) is contained in the housing part (16), which gas chamber is connected to the switching-device pole and to the density monitor (15) and can be connected to a testing device for the density monitor (15), and wherein the housing part (16) contains a shut-off element (20), which can be actuated into an open position and into a closed position. The actuation of the shut-off element (20) is independent of the connection of the gas chamber (17) to the testing device.
US09916948B2	Button with flexible light conductor A button assembly configured to be illuminated is provided. The button assembly includes a movable button having a viewing surface and a back side. The button has portions defining a window in the viewing surface. A flexible light conductor is disposed on the back side of the button. The flexible light conductor has an inlet end configured to receive light, and the flexible light conductor has a light-emitting portion disposed adjacent to the window. The flexible light conductor is configured to conduct light from the inlet end to the light-emitting portion. The light-emitting portion is configured to emit light so that the light is visible through the window.
US09916946B1	Frame having a single actuator opening shared by a toggle actuator and slidable dimmer actuator A dimmer switch includes a housing having a frame having a single actuator opening therethrough. The opening has first and second portions. A controllably conductive device is disposed in the housing for adjustably controlling electrical power to a load. A pivotable toggle actuator is accessible through the first portion of the single actuator opening and pivotable between a first and second positions by a user. A slidable dimmer actuator is accessible through the second portion of the single actuator opening. The slidable dimmer actuator is slidable linearly within the second portion of the single actuator opening anywhere between first and second positions by a user. The pivotable toggle actuator is operable for controlling the controllably conductive device to turn on and off power to the load, and the slidable dimmer actuator is operable for controlling the controllably conductive device to adjustably control the level of power to the load.
US09916942B2	Sealed button for an electronic device One embodiment of the disclosure includes an electronic device including an enclosure (214), a button (106), and a processing element (not shown). The button is connected to the enclosure and includes a button cap (234) defining a user input surface, a flexible member (238) having an interior surface (270) and exterior surface. The flexible member is aligned with the button cap and is connected thereto. The button further includes a strain sensor (244) connected to the interior surface of the flexible member, the strain sensor is in communication with the processing element. When a force is exerted on the button cap, the flexible member bends and the strain sensor detects a user input corresponding to the force and provides a signal to the processing element corresponding to the user input. In some embodiments, the button may be substantially or completely waterproof.
US09916937B2	All-solid-state capacitor All-solid-state capacitor includes an inorganic solid electrolyte, and a pair of current collectors disposed so that the inorganic solid electrolyte is interposed therebetween. In the all-solid-state capacitor, the inorganic solid electrolyte has a polycrystalline structure composed of crystal particles and crystal grain boundaries formed between the crystal particles. In a first crystal particle included in the crystal particles, a domain located near the crystal grain boundaries is larger in size than a domain located near the center.
US09916934B1	Multi-rated capacitor assembly A capacitor assembly is provided having a case containing an upper capacitor and a lower capacitor in vertical alignment, each of the capacitor elements are separately sealed and provided with a pressure interrupter. A terminal board overlays the cover of the upper capacitor and is affixed to the top of the case. The terminals associated with the upper capacitor are mounted on the cover and extend through openings in the terminal board. The terminals associated with the lower capacitor are mounted on the terminal board and connected to contacts on the cover of the lower capacitor. The common leads of all of the capacitor elements are connected, thereby allowing any or all of the capacitor elements to be connected in parallel by accessing the terminals from the terminal board.
US09916924B2	Center-tapped transformer A center-tapped transformer comprises a magnetic core, and windings including a primary winding and a secondary windings. The primary winding comprises at least one layer of a primary effective conductor, and the secondary winding comprises at least one layer of a first secondary effective conductor and at least one layer of a second secondary effective conductor. The total thickness hp of the primary effective conductor and the total thickness hs of the secondary effective conductor satisfy: 0.65
US09916923B2	Controllable magnetorheological fluid temperature control device Apparatus for controlling heat transfer between two objects. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlled heat transfer is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a first and second conductive elements, a container of magnetorheological fluid disposed between the first and second conductive elements, a first electromagnet disposed about the container, wherein the electromagnet is configured to produce a first magnetic field within the container of magnetorheological fluid and conductively couple the first and second conductive elements, and a second electromagnet configured to produce a second magnetic field perpendicular to the first magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field is configured to conductively couple the first conductive element and the second conductive element.
US09916920B2	Rotary variable resistor and method for manufacturing the same A rotary variable resistor includes an insulating substrate, a resistor pattern and a current collector pattern that are provided on the insulating substrate, a rotor that is mounted on the insulating substrate in a rotatable manner, and a slider that is mounted on the rotor and makes sliding contact with the resistor pattern and the current collector pattern to cause the resistor pattern and the current collector pattern to be conducted to each other. When a maximum dimension of the resistor pattern, which defines a variable resistor, is Z [mm] and electric linearity is L [%], Z≦4.0 and Z×L<10 are satisfied.
US09916907B2	Combination of top nozzle and guide thimble for nuclear fuel assembly A combination of a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.
US09916904B2	Reducing leakage current in a memory device Memory devices and methods of reducing leakage current therein are disclosed. The memory device includes a memory core array including a plurality of bitlines, and peripheral logic configured to interface with the memory core array. The memory device further includes a footswitch configured to isolate the peripheral logic from a ground voltage, and a headswitch configured to isolate a precharge current path from the plurality of bit lines of the memory core array. Leakage current within the memory device may be reduced via the isolation provided by the footswitch and the headswitch.
US09916903B2	OTPROM for post-process programming using selective breakdown At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed involves hard-coding data into an integrated circuit device. An integrated circuit device provided. Data for hard-wiring information into a portion of the integrated circuit device is received. A stress voltage signal is provided to a portion of a transistor of the integrated circuit device for causing a dielectric breakdown of the portion of the transistor for hard-wiring the data.
US09916902B2	Method for detecting a thinning of the semiconductor substrate of an integrated circuit from its back face and corresponding integrated circuit The thinning of a semiconductor substrate of an integrated circuit from a back face is detected using the measurement of a physical quantity representative of the resistance between the ends of two electrically-conducting contacts situated at an interface between an insulating region and an underlying substrate region. The two electrically-conducting contacts extend through the insulating region to reach the underlying substrate region.
US09916901B1	Memory device including multiple gate-induced drain leakage current generator circuits Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of using and forming such apparatuses. An apparatus among the apparatuses includes first and second conductive materials located in respective first and second levels of the apparatus, a pillar including a length extending between the first and second conductive materials, memory cells and control lines located along the pillar, a first select gate and a first select line located along the pillar between the first conductive material and the memory cells, a second select gate and a second select line located along the pillar between the first conductive material and the first select line, a first transistor and a first transistor gate line located along the pillar between the first conductive material and the first select line, and a second transistor and a second transistor gate line located along the pillar between the first conductive material and the first transistor.
US09916893B2	Dual-port SRAM connection structure The present disclosure provides a static random access memory (SRAM) cell. The SRAM cell includes first and second inverters cross-coupled for data storage, each inverter including at least one pull-up device and at least two pull-down devices; at least four pass gate devices configured with the two cross-coupled inverters; at least two ports coupled with the at least four pass-gate devices for reading and writing; a first contact feature contacting first two pull-down devices (PD-11 and PD-12) of the first inverter; and a second contact feature contacting second two pull-down devices (PD-21 and PD-22) of the second inerter.
US09916890B1	Predicting data correlation using multivalued logical outputs in static random access memory (SRAM) storage cells Predicting data correlation using multivalued logical outputs in SRAM storage cells including generating a plurality of logical outputs for each of a plurality of variable sets, wherein each variable in each variable set is a data point, and wherein each logical output is a binary indication of a relationship between the data points; writing, into storage cells, each logical output of the plurality of logical outputs for each of the plurality of variable sets; and for each group of corresponding logical outputs of the plurality of logical outputs: activating a fight port for the storage cells storing corresponding logical outputs, wherein activating the fight port causes each corresponding logical output to adjust a resulting voltage based on the logical output stored in each storage cell; and measuring the resulting voltage on a bitline of the activated fight port to determine a correlation probability for the corresponding logical outputs.
US09916886B2	Circuit for generating periodic signal and memory device including same Provided is a periodic signal generation circuit including: a clock generation unit suitable for generating first to Nth clocks which have a basic period and have a phase increasing sequentially by a time interval obtained by dividing the basic period by “N”; a pulse generation unit suitable for generating first to Nth periodic pulses having an equal pulse width and having a phase increasing sequentially by a time interval obtained by dividing the basic period by “N” by combining two or more clocks among the first to Nth clocks; and a periodic signal generation unit suitable for generating a periodic signal by combining one or more periodic pulses among the first to Nth periodic pulses depending on combination information.
US09916881B2	Semiconductor system A semiconductor system may include a controller and a semiconductor memory device. The controller may provide an external command, an external address and a first external clock. The controller may be configured to transmit a second external clock and receive a third external clock for receiving/transmitting external data. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to synchronize and receive the external address and the external command with the first external clock. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to synchronize and receive the external data with the second external clock. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to transmit the external data and the third external clock to the controller.
US09916874B2	Memory architecture having first and second voltages A memory macro includes a plurality of columns and a plurality of switching circuits. A column of the plurality of columns has a plurality of voltage supply nodes corresponding to a plurality of memory cells in the column. A switching circuit of the plurality of switching circuits corresponds to a column of the plurality of columns and is configured to selectively provide a first voltage value of a first voltage source or a second voltage value of a second voltage source to the voltage supply nodes. The first voltage value and the second voltage value differ by a predetermined voltage value.
US09916873B2	Extended capacity memory module with dynamic data buffers A memory module uses dynamic data buffers for providing extended capacity for computing systems. The memory module comprises an external interface having a first set of data pins and a second set of data pins. The memory module includes a first set of memory chips and a second set of memory chips. The memory module includes a first registering clock driver to control the first set of memory chips and a second registering clock driver to control the second set of memory chips. The memory module further includes a first data buffer to connect the first set of memory chips to the first set of data pins and a second data buffer to connect the second set of memory chips to the second set of data pins.
US09916870B2	Assembly for securing a slide-in unit, mounting cage and mounting method The invention relates to an assembly for securing a slide-in unit in a mounting cage of a computer system. The mounting cage has a first side panel and a second side panel opposite the first side panel. The first side panel has at least one engagement element for engaging into a lateral fastening opening of the slide-in unit. The first side panel and the second side panel are arranged at a distance to one another such that the slide-in unit can be inserted into the mounting cage past the engagement element. After the insertion, a fastening element secured to the second side panel cooperates with the slide-in unit in such a way that the slide-in unit is pushed in the direction of the first side panel and the engagement element engages in the respective lateral fastening opening of the slide-in unit.
US09916869B1	Method for servicing a self-cooled data storage library A method of servicing a data storage library having at least one access opening and at least one access door to permit access to an interior of the data storage library, the method including providing at least one barrier configured to at least partially surround the at least one library access opening when the at least one access door is opened, wherein the at least one barrier is configured to resist environmental conditions from exterior the barrier and data storage library from intruding into the interior of data storage library when the barrier is deployed. The method also includes deploying the at least one barrier when the at least one access door is opened to form an interior working space, accessing the interior space formed by the at least one barrier, and accessing the interior of the data storage library via the at least one library access opening.
US09916867B2	Video capture and testing of media player playback of a video In one embodiment, a capture video is received that is captured during the playback of a trace video on a media player on a hardware platform. The capture video may be an external capture of a display of the trace video on the media player. To allow the external capture to be analyzed, the trace video may include visible codes on frames of the trace video that can be captured by a capture device. Particular embodiments analyze the frames of the capture video to extract identifiers associated with the visual codes on the frames. Events that occurred during playback are determined by analyzing a sequence of identifiers from the capture video to an expected sequence of identifiers from the trace video. Then, particular embodiments determine whether an API call from the media player was received that corresponds to the event while the media player was playing the trace video.
US09916866B2	Emotional timed media playback Embodiments of a system and method for emotional tagging are generally described herein. A method may include receiving, at a device, biometric data and a timestamp, analyzing the biometric data to determine an emotional reaction occurred, tagging a portion of content with an emotional content tag based on the emotional reaction, wherein the portion of content was playing during a time corresponding to the timestamp, and sending the portion of content and the emotional content tag to a server. A method may include aggregating content tagged as emotional content, generating an emotional content video segment, and providing the emotional content video segment.
US09916860B2	Azimuth actuated dual device set positioning A device for recording and/or reading data to and/or from a magnetic tape includes a read/write head which has a first device set including a first plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements and a second device set including a second plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements. The device also includes a lateral positioning actuator and an azimuth actuator. The lateral positioning actuator and azimuth actuator are used together to position both device sets on the magnetic tape. The lateral positioning actuator laterally positions the read/write head such that during write and/or read operations the first and second pluralities of magnetic data write and/or read elements align laterally to first and second pluralities of recordable and/or readable data tracks on the magnetic tape. The azimuth actuator rotates the read/write head about an azimuthal angle. such that the elements align to lateral spacings.
US09916859B2	Forward corrupted track detection and by-pass for shingled magnetic recording drives Systems and methods for forward corrupted track detection and by-pass are described. In one embodiment, a storage system comprising a storage controller performs a read operation for a target track of a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) disk drive and detects a read operation failure of the read operation for the target track. The storage controller also performs a boundary track read operation on one or more tracks including or adjacent to the target track and detect a forward corruption area based on the boundary track read operation. In another embodiment, a method is provided that includes detecting a read operation failure of a read operation for a track of a disk drive and performing a boundary track read operation on one or more tracks including or adjacent to the target track. The method also includes detecting a forward corruption area based on the boundary track read operation.
US09916858B1	Detection of Z-axis non-operation shock Systems and methods for determining an occurrence of non-operation shock (NOS) in a disc drive are described. Such determining may be used to determine whether or not the disc drive should be recalibrated or compensated to account for changes induced by NOS. Determining NOS may be based at least in part on a harmonic of the spindle of the disc drive other than the first harmonic, such as a third harmonic of the spindle. In some embodiments, determining NOS may be based on the first harmonic of the spindle and at least one other harmonic of the spindle.
US09916855B2	Spindle motor A bearing portion includes an upper dynamic pressure portion, a lower dynamic pressure portion, and an intra-bearing space defined between a lower surface of a fluid in the upper dynamic pressure portion and an upper surface of a fluid in the lower dynamic pressure portion, and not including the fluid. An airway defined in a shaft includes an inner opening arranged to be in communication with the intra-bearing space, and an outer opening arranged to be in communication with an extra-bearing space. Each of the inner and outer openings is defined in a side surface of the shaft. The extra-bearing space and the intra-bearing space are arranged to be in communication with each other through the airway. The airway is arranged to extend substantially in a straight line or lines, is angled with respect to a central axis, and has no other openings than the inner and outer openings. This contributes to preventing a gas inside of a housing from leaking out of the housing through the airway. In addition, since the airway is arranged to extend substantially in a straight line or lines to join the inner and outer openings to each other, the airway can be defined by a single process using a drill, an EDM, or the like.
US09916852B2	Optical tape with an increased track pitch for improvement of tracking performance after seam In at least one embodiment, an optical data storage tape is provided. The optical data storage tape includes a read/write data area including a plurality of writeable tracks for storing data thereon, each writeable track having a first track width. The optical data storage tape further includes a seam area positioned proximate to the read/write data area. The seam area including a plurality of non-writeable tracks, each non-writeable track including a second track width that is greater than the first track width for each writeable track.
US09916846B2	Method and system for speech detection A system and method for determining an amount of speech in an audio signal may include for example: obtaining segments of the audio signal, wherein the segments are grouped into blocks; for each one of the segments, calculating a segment value indicative of an amplitude of the audio signal of a respective segment; for each one of the blocks calculating a block value indicative of the amplitude of the audio signal of a respective block; and calculating an audio signal speech grade based on segment values and block values, wherein the audio signal speech grade is indicative of the amount of speech in the audio signal.
US09916839B1	Shared audio functionality based on device grouping Techniques are described for shared audio functionality between multiple computing devices, based on grouping the multiple computing devices into a device set. The devices may provide audio output, audio input, or both audio output and input. The devices may discover each other via transmitted radio signals, and the devices may be organized into one or more device sets based on location, supported functions, or other criteria. The shared audio functionality may enable a voice command received at one device in the device set to be employed for controlling audio output or other operations of other device(s) in the device set. Shared audio functionality between devices in a device set may also enable synchronized audio output through using multiple devices in the device set.
US09916838B2	Audio encoder and decoder with program loudness and boundary metadata Apparatus and methods for generating an encoded audio bitstream, including by including program loudness metadata and audio data in the bitstream, and optionally also program boundary metadata in at least one segment (e.g., frame) of the bitstream. Other aspects are apparatus and methods for decoding such a bitstream, e.g., including by performing adaptive loudness processing of the audio data of an audio program indicated by the bitstream, or authentication and/or validation of metadata and/or audio data of such an audio program. Another aspect is an audio processing unit (e.g., an encoder, decoder, or post-processor) configured (e.g., programmed) to perform any embodiment of the method or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame of an audio bitstream generated in accordance with any embodiment of the method.
US09916837B2	Methods and apparatuses for transmitting and receiving audio signals Methods and corresponding apparatuses for transmitting and receiving audio signals are described. A transformation is performed on the audio signals in units of frame in order to obtain transformed audio data of each frame, said transformed audio data consisting of multiple signal components in the frequency domain. These signal components of each frame are distributed into multiple adjacent packets in order to generate packets in which signal components distributed from multiple frames are interleaved. Subsequently, the generated packets are transmitted. Accordingly, in case that packet loss occurs during transmission, the audio signals can be recovered based on the received signal components without consuming additional bandwidth. Therefore, robustness against packet loss can be achieved with little overhead.
US09916836B2	Replacing an encoded audio output signal Replacement of an encoded audio output signal is disclosed. In one example, a data set comprising a first encoded audio output signal and associated pre-stored digital audio input signals captured with a microphone array of an apparatus is received. An intermediate audio signal is produced by applying an audio processing modification to the digital audio input signals. The audio processing modification utilizes apparatus specific information. The specific audio processing modification to use is determined based on user input or other information. The intermediate audio signal is encoded to produce a second encoded audio output signal. The first encoded audio output signal is replaced with the second encoded audio output signal in the data set.
US09916834B2	Method and apparatus for obtaining spectrum coefficients for a replacement frame of an audio signal, audio decoder, audio receiver, and system for transmitting audio signals An approach is described that obtains spectrum coefficients for a replacement frame of an audio signal. A tonal component of a spectrum of an audio signal is detected based on a peak that exists in the spectra of frames preceding a replacement frame. For the tonal component of the spectrum a spectrum coefficients for the peak and its surrounding in the spectrum of the replacement frame is predicted, and for the non-tonal component of the spectrum a non-predicted spectrum coefficient for the replacement frame or a corresponding spectrum coefficient of a frame preceding the replacement frame is used.
US09916830B1	Altering audio to improve automatic speech recognition Techniques for altering audio being output by a voice-controlled device, or another device, to enable more accurate automatic speech recognition (ASR) by the voice-controlled device. For instance, a voice-controlled device may output audio within an environment using a speaker of the device. While outputting the audio, a microphone of the device may capture sound within the environment and may generate an audio signal based on the captured sound. The device may then analyze the audio signal to identify speech of a user within the signal, with the speech indicating that the user is going to provide a subsequent command to the device. Thereafter, the device may alter the output of the audio (e.g., attenuate the audio, pause the audio, switch from stereo to mono, etc.) to facilitate speech recognition of the user's subsequent command.
US09916825B2	Method and system for text-to-speech synthesis There are disclosed methods and systems for text-to-speech synthesis for outputting a synthetic speech having a selected speech attribute. First, an acoustic space model is trained based on a set of training data of speech attributes, using a deep neural network to determine interdependency factors between the speech attributes in the training data, the dnn generating a single, continuous acoustic space model based on the interdependency factors, the acoustic space model thereby taking into account a plurality of interdependent speech attributes and allowing for modelling of a continuous spectrum of the interdependent speech attributes. Next, a text is received; a selection of one or more speech attribute is received, each speech attribute having a selected attribute weight; the text is converted into synthetic speech using the acoustic space model, the synthetic speech having the selected speech attribute; and the synthetic speech is outputted as audio having the selected speech attribute.
US09916821B2	Key transposition Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems to for automatic key transposition. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to determine compatibility between a known melody capable of being generated by a pitch generation system and a first performance profile associated with a first performer that performs in conjunction with the pitch generation system. Embodiments of the present invention can be further used to determine an appropriate key to update one or more pitches associated with the known melody, to be generated by the pitch generation system during the performance by the first performer, based on the compatibility between the first performance profile and the known melody.
US09916819B2	Stringed instrument system A set of tremolo devices and bridge devices for static retention of a plurality of musical instrument strings in a stringed instrument. The tremolo device has a body with an upper surface, a neck portion, and a plurality of strings anchored at a first end of the neck and extending over at least a portion and secured to the tremolo device at the other end of the neck portion and the body and possesses an inertia block mechanism with substantially solid construction disposed to receive and securely retain a plurality of raw instrument strings without removal of a ball end from each string. The inertia block has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a plurality of internal, longitudinally displaced, cylindrically shaped, string retaining chambers designed to pass through an entirety of the block mechanism. The string retaining chambers have an upper and lower portion corresponding with the upper and lower portions of the block.
US09916818B1	Nautilus shell-shaped tonal modifiers for stringed instruments A semi-hollow body of a stringed instrument is claimed the body having nautilus shell-shaped tonal modifiers modified to receive piezo electric pickups. The tonal modifiers generally create a tonal distribution that enhance sound originating from the body cavity of the stringed instrument.
US09916814B2	System on chip, operation method of the same, and mobile device including the same A system on chip (SoC) includes a display controller configured to receive data of a current frame and to determine whether the data of the current frame has been updated from data of a previous frame, and a transmitter configured to output a panel self-refresh (PSR) inactive command and the data of the current frame when the display controller determines that the data of the current frame has been updated and to transmit a panel self-refresh (PSR) active command when the display controller determines that the data of the current frame has not been updated.
US09916813B2	Image displaying method An image displaying method including: obtaining an image to be displayed, dividing equally the image into a plurality of first sub-images along a first reference direction, and then obtaining position information of a view point relative to the display device, an angle of sight line and parameter information of a first virtual section line segment of the display device, and then calculating a compensation ratio along the first reference direction for each first sub-image of the image, and then compensating each first sub-image along the first reference direction according to the compensation ratio, and displaying the image on the display device, so that the compensated first sub-images are viewed at the view point as having the same size along the first reference direction.
US09916812B2	Display apparatus including synchronized timing controllers and a method of operating the display apparatus A display apparatus includes a display panel, a first timing controller, a second timing controller and a third timing controller. The first timing controller controls an operation of a first region in the display panel, and generates a reference clock signal. The second timing controller controls an operation of a second region in the display panel, and receives the reference clock signal. The third timing controller controls an operation of a third region in the display panel, and receives the reference clock signal. The first, second and third timing controllers are synchronized with one another in response to the reference clock signal and a state synchronization signal, and operate in one of a plurality of states depending on an operation of the display apparatus.
US09916811B2	Color conversion data generation device, color conversion data generation method, and display device A color conversion data generation device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires end point correction values for correcting a color of at least one end point of a RGB color space; an end point color correction value generation unit that corrects the color of the at least one end point using the acquired end point correction values, to generate end point color correction values; a normalization unit that normalizes an intermediate color in the RGB color space using a normalization coefficient; an interpolation unit that interpolates the normalized intermediate color using the generated end point color correction values by means of same interpolation characteristic as that of a 3D LUT circuit, to generate temporary correction values; and an inverse normalization unit that inverse-normalizes the generated temporary correction values using an inverse normalization coefficient defined according to the normalization coefficient, to generate correction values of the intermediate color.
US09916810B2	Method of driving a display apparatus In a method of driving a display apparatus, an outside illuminance is sensed by an illuminance sensor. At least one first color subpixel of a plurality of first color subpixels is disabled. Remaining first color subpixels are enabled based on the sensed outside illuminance. The first color subpixels corresponding to a first color are arranged along a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction. An image is displayed on the remaining enabled first color subpixels.
US09916808B2	Distributed display device for vehicles and an object provided with a distributed display device The invention relates to a distributed display device for a vehicle comprising a set of subsystems, wherein said display device comprises at least one operator station, comprising at least one display unit arranged to receive and present information from at least one subsystem of a set of subsystems of the vehicle, wherein said at least one display unit comprises at least one dedicated safety critical input and at least one shared non safety critical input so as to be able to receive and present information from said at least one predetermined subsystem via at least one dedicated safety critical link and at least one shared non safety critical link.
US09916802B2	Display device and operation method thereof A display device includes a data driver, a gate driver, a plurality of first pixel unit and a first low-pass filter. Each first pixel unit includes a first transistor, a first storage capacitor and a first liquid crystal capacitor. The first transistor is electrically coupled to the data driver and the gate driver and from which to receive the first display data and the gate control signal, respectively. The first transistor is configured to output the first display data according to the gate control signal. The first low-pass filter is configured to have its input electrode terminal electrically coupled to the second electrode terminal of one of the plurality of first transistor and its output electrode terminal electrically coupled to the second electrode terminal of the first liquid crystal capacitor of each of the first pixel units. An operation method for the display device is also provided.
US09916800B2	Method and apparatus for calibrating the brightness for odd and even rows of a liquid crystal display device The embodiment of the invention provides a method and an apparatus for calibrating a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pixel array, each pixel of the pixel array comprises electrodes in inclined arrangement, wherein an inclined orientation of the electrodes in pixels of odd rows is different with an inclined orientation of the electrodes in pixels of even rows; the method comprises: measuring brightness of the pixels of odd rows in a plurality of gray scales and brightness of the pixels of even rows in the plurality of gray scales respectively in a predetermined direction; and adjusting data line voltages of the pixels of odd rows and/or data line voltages of the pixels of even rows, such that in the predetermined direction, in each one of the plurality of gray scales, brightness of the pixels of odd rows is equal to brightness of the pixels of even rows.
US09916796B2	Liquid crystal display device with repair function and repair type data format structure The present examples relate to a liquid crystal display device with a repair function. The present examples repair a defect of a line or a defect of a pixel, using a specialized data signal structure, wherein the data signal structure integrates channel data, which is required for channel driving of a liquid crystal display element, and repair amplifier data, which is used for repairing a defect of a line and/or a pixel. Thus, examples have a better repair function than an alternative liquid crystal display device.
US09916792B2	Pixel driving circuit and driving method thereof and display apparatus There are disclosed a pixel driving circuit and a driving method thereof and a display apparatus. The pixel driving circuit comprises: a main driving unit (11) connected to a data line; a main light-emitting device (12) connected to the main driving unit; an auxiliary driving unit (13) connected to the main driving unit (11); and an auxiliary light-emitting device (14) connected to the auxiliary driving unit (13). Herein, in an acquisition phase, the main driving unit (11) is configured to discharge through the main light-emitting device (12), and the auxiliary driving unit (13) is configured to discharge through the main light-emitting device (12). In a data storage phase, the main driving unit (11) is configured to store a data voltage; and in a light-emitting phase, the main driving unit (11) is configured to drive the main light-emitting device (12) to emit light, and the auxiliary driving unit (13) is configured to drive the auxiliary light-emitting device (14) to emit light. Since the auxiliary driving unit (13) can drive the auxiliary light-emitting device (14) to emit light in the light-emitting phase, brightness loss of the main light-emitting device (12) is remedied, so that brightness uniformity and brightness constancy of the display apparatus are raised.
US09916787B2	Content driven overdrive for display devices This application sets forth systems, methods, and apparatus for improving charge settling times for lines and pixels of a display panel. The charge settling times are improved by providing an over drive signal and a bias current to a line and/or pixel of the display panel based a comparison of content data to be output by the display panel. In this way, by initially charging the line and/or pixel with the over drive signal, the line and/or pixel can be fully charged more quickly in display panels that operate at higher refresh rates.
US09916782B2	Modular display panel Embodiments of the present invention relate to integrated modular display panels. In one embodiment, modular display panel includes a shell with a first thermally conductive material, a printed circuit board disposed in the shell, and a plurality of LEDs attached to a first side of the printed circuit board. A driver circuit is disposed in the shell and coupled to the plurality of LEDs from a second side of the printed circuit board. The panel further includes a power supply unit for powering the LEDs. The printed circuit board are disposed between the power supply unit and the plurality of LEDs. A second thermally conductive material is disposed between the power supply unit and an outer back side of the panel. A protective structure is disposed over the first side of the printed circuit board, where a display side of the panel, opposite the outer back side, is waterproof.
US09916777B2	Label The present invention relates to labels and labelstock materials, and to substances used therein, and components thereof. The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the labelstock and labels, uses thereof and products comprising them.
US09916775B2	Joint assembly for crash test dummy A joint assembly for a crash test dummy includes a first joint member for connection to a first member of the crash test dummy. The joint assembly also includes a first ball member received by the first joint member. The joint assembly includes a second ball member spaced from the first ball member. The joint assembly also includes a second joint member for connection to a second member of the crash test dummy. The second joint member receives the second ball member and is operatively connected to the first joint member. The joint assembly further includes an adjustable member operatively cooperating with the first ball member and the second ball member to move the first ball member and the second ball member toward and away from each other to adjust a friction tightness of the joint assembly.
US09916773B2	Medical device and procedure simulation and training A healthcare simulation system includes a mannequin with active physiological characteristics, a display monitor adapted for displaying physiological parameters and a computer for controlling the mannequin and the monitor. A healthcare simulation method includes the steps of programming the computer with healthcare scenarios, operating active characteristics of the mannequin and dynamically displaying physiological parameters corresponding to patient vital signs. Alternative aspects of the invention include tools, such as computers and other equipment, for obtaining and displaying information and for interconnecting and interfacing participants, subjects and controllers in training systems and methods. Glucometer simulation and training are also disclosed.
US09916770B2	Methods and systems for tactile code interpretation Methods and systems (100) for tactile code interpretation are described herein. In an embodiment, a tactile code interpretation system (100) includes a tactile code device (102) having a plurality of tactile units (106). Each of the plurality of tactile units (106) includes a tactile code (108) for representing a notation and a corresponding acoustic code (110). The acoustic code (110) encodes information pertaining to a plurality of data blocks. The plurality of data bocks includes a start block corresponding to a start pattern, an end block corresponding to an end pattern, and one or more information blocks corresponding to information pertaining to the tactile code (108). Further, the acoustic code (110), when swiped, generates a unique sound wave to facilitate semantic interpretation of the corresponding tactile code (108).
US09916765B2	Aircraft systems and methods for providing landing approach alerts A method is provided for monitoring a landing approach of an aircraft. The method includes receiving instrument landing system (ILS) signals; determining a glideslope deviation from the ILS signals; disabling, when the glideslope deviation is less than a first predetermined threshold, at least one glideslope alert function; evaluating a current glideslope condition by comparing a designated glideslope angle to a glideslope check value; and re-enabling the at least one glideslope alert function when the glideslope check value differs from the designated glideslope angle by more than a second predetermined threshold.
US09916760B1	Efficient traffic map rendering By storing an increased number of traffic conditions within existing coding uniforms, the system described herein efficiently transmits traffic conditions with a high degree of granularity and low bandwidth cost. A digital map server determines a traffic condition for a portion of a road, packages the traffic condition within a channel of an individual coding uniform of a coding language, and transmits the coding uniform to a computing device. Alternatively, the traffic condition can be encoded within the channel of the coding uniform by the computing device. The coding uniform can also store a length of the portion of road to which the traffic condition corresponds. The computing device may then access the traffic condition, and then render a visual representation of traffic patterns on a digital map. The traffic conditions may also be packaged as arrays within a picture or texture file.
US09916758B2	Traffic light for cooperative vehicle infrastructure and method for controlling the same with a module configured to locate the position of the traffic light The present disclosure provides a traffic light for cooperative vehicle-infrastructure and a method for controlling the same. The traffic light for cooperative vehicle-infrastructure includes: a communication module, a central processing module, a Global Positioning System GPS module and a scheduling module. The communication module is configured to receive a set of messages sent by vehicles periodically. The GPS module is configured to locate the position of the traffic light. The central processing module is configured to perform calculations and analyses on the received set of messages and the position of the traffic light, dynamically set lasting times of red and green lamps of the traffic light, and send a control signal carrying the set times to the scheduling module. The scheduling module is configured to control the lasting times of the red and green lamps of traffic light according to the control signal carrying the set times.
US09916751B2	Learned overrides for home security Systems and techniques are provided for learned overrides for home security. A sensor of a security system may be armed. A trip signal may be received indicating a tripping of the sensor. It may be determined that the trip signal can be automatically overridden based on matching an identity of the sensor and a state of the security system with a pattern in a model. The pattern may represent a state of the security system in which automatically overriding the trip signal from the sensor is permitted. The trip signal from the sensor may be automatically overridden without input from a user.
US09916748B1	Talking water tank minder A system for detecting and stopping flooding from a residential water heating system. A central controller is coupled to one or more flooding sensors and one or more automatic valves. In response to the sensors' detecting water, the controller causes the automatic valves to close, shutting off flow of water into or out of the water heating system. Advanced modular galvanic sensors and low-voltage, high-torque automatic ball valves may be used to improve the energy efficiency and responsiveness of the system. When flooding is detected, a variety of visual and auditory signals are generated by the controller, providing advance warning to the blind, deaf, or elderly that flooding is occurring and prompt attention is required.
US09916747B2	Allergy warning and protection system with beacon enhanced bracelet for proactive transmission and communication of allergy information An allergy warning and protection system and method to proactively warn a user and protect a dependent individual, such as a child, suffering from allergies. The system comprises a beacon housed within a wearable, such as a bracelet, that is worn by the dependent. The beacon has an associated identifier that is linked to data stored on a server that corresponds to the allergy and sensitivity levels of the dependent individual with an allergy, indicating that the child is allergic to peanuts, eggs, gluten and/or other allergens. When in use, the beacon transmits identification data to a handheld device operated by a user which is utilized to retrieve the allergy and other confidential information, such as emergency contact information, from the server and to issue an alert notification to the user. In a preferred embodiment, a layer of privacy is provided so that a user must first be “trusted” before receiving confidential information about a person with allergies.
US09916742B2	Automatic notification of a conclusion of real property showing based on user device detection A notification system, method, and/or computer program product that provides an automatic real-time notification to an owner of a property is provided. Further the notification system, method, and/or computer program determines a location with respect to an electronic lockbox associated with the property and generates a geo-fence environment with respect to the property based on the location. Then, the notification system, method, and/or computer program monitors movements of a user device with respect to the geo-fence environment to determine whether a breach of the geo-fence environment has occurred and outputs the automatic real-time notification to the property owner in response to a determination that the breach of the geo-fence environment has occurred.
US09916737B2	Modularizable register Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method, system and assembly for storing components of a point-of-sale (POS) station while keeping the electronic components live and updated. All non-electronic and electronic components of a POS station are disassembled. The non-electronic components except for a cash box with an open face are removed from the sales floor. The electronic components are stored within the inner cavity of the cash box. The open face of the cash box is securely covered using a shroud. The electronic components are kept live and updated using an network and electricity pole resting in a hollow opening of the cash box.
US09916736B2	Automated banking machine with remote user assistance In an example embodiment, an automated banking machine that allows a customer to employ a mobile wireless device for performing banking transactions. The customer may request assistance from a teller or other bank personnel at a remote location. An audio, and optionally video, communication may be initiated between the remote location and the customer. The customer may use either the automated banking machine, mobile wireless device, or both for communicating with the remote location.
US09916734B2	Gaming system and method for employing event eligibility-based equity for a wagering game A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes providing a first event eligibility-based equity relative to a first wagering game and converting the first event eligibility-based equity to an exchange medium. The exchange medium may be cash or a second event eligibility-based equity relative to a second wagering game. The first event eligibility-equity may be stored for later use on the first wagering game.
US09916733B2	Gaming device having mutable awards Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing mutable awards in gaming devices. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to include processes where various properties, functions, characteristics, displays, or other award components have some dynamic variability between game play events on a gaming system or within a gaming device. Although not all, or even one, of the award components needs to be changed or mutated between game play events, the processes are configured to allow such award components to be changed or mutated within a predefined time frame, within a defined game event, or within another measurable criterion.
US09916732B2	Amusement devices and games involving multiple operators, multiple players, and/or multiple jurisdictions Various methods and apparatus related to gaming are described. Some embodiments relate to a multi-tiered game involving multiple participants. Some embodiments relate to players from a plurality of gaming operators playing games with one another. Other embodiments are described.
US09916729B2	Digital media-based award system for gaming A method for integrating game products with sale and dissemination of digital media to players includes providing for players to purchase digital media for download at a purchase price that enters the player into a game wherein the player's downloaded digital media determines whether or not the player has won in the game. The purchased downloads are downloaded from a library, wherein a number of the digital media are stored in the library in their original format, and a defined number of the digital media stored in the library are modified from their original format to include an auditory or visual indication of a winning lottery play. The players download and listen to or view their downloaded digital media to determine if they have purchased a winning digital media in the lottery game. Players losing in the lottery game may be provided a downloaded digital media in its original format.
US09916727B2	Gaming machine, method of controlling gaming machine, and computer-readable recording medium A gaming machine, a method of controlling a gaming machine, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program wherein a first game and a second game are related to each other are provided. In a gaming machine, a first area and a second area sharing virtual reel strips are displayed, only the first area is set as a determination area in a first game, and both the first area and the second area are set as determination areas in a second game. Therefore, the first game and the second game can be provided in a form such that they are related.
US09916726B2	Gaming system, gaming controller, and a prize triggering method including additional symbol positions A gaming system includes a credit mechanism configured to receive credit input by a player for contribution to a credit balance and a display configured to display a plurality of standard symbol positions and optionally one or more additional symbol positions. The system also includes a betting module configured to determine a bet amount and game play instructions on commencement of a game input using a player interface, the bet subtracted from the credit balance. A symbol selector selects symbols for display in the plurality of standard symbol positions and, dependent on the amount wagered, further arranged to select and display symbols in the additional symbol position(s) to increase the probability of a win outcome being generated. An outcome determiner determines an outcome of the game based on the displayed symbol positions.
US09916723B2	Application credit earning interleaved wagering system An application credit earning interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive controller configured to: communicate application telemetry; receive wager outcome display instructions; display a wager outcome; receive and display eligible awards; communicate an AC award request comprising an AC award from the eligible awards; and receive AC award instructions comprising the AC award; a wager controller constructed to: receive wager request; communicate wager outcome; and the application controller operatively connecting the interactive controller and the wager controller, the application controller also operatively connected to a patron management server and an AC management device, and constructed to: receive the application telemetry; determine whether to trigger a wager request; communicate the wager request; receive the wager outcome; communicate wager outcome display instructions; communicate the application telemetry; receive an AC value amount; communicate the AC value display instructions; receive AC award data comprising the AC award; communicate the AC award instructions.
US09916720B2	Intelligent wagering game content distribution A method for selecting content for delivery to devices is described herein. In some embodiments, the method can include registering a plurality of devices of one or more device types. The method can further include receiving usage information indicating usage of the devices and affinity information indicating user affinities associated with the devices. The method can further include detecting that a device of the plurality of devices is in-use. The method can further include determining, based on the usage information and the affinity information, game content for the device currently used. The method can further include transmitting, to the device, the game content.
US09916715B2	Pharmacy medication verification system A pharmacy medication verification system is particularly useful for verifying medications to be dispensed to hospital patients while minimizing or eliminating verification by a pharmacist. Typically, a technician or robot picks the medications from storage bins in accordance with a medical prescription or stocking order and uses various sensors to ensure that the correct medication was picked and enters a medication container. The system typically provides correct and incorrect medication indicators as well as correct and incorrect entry indicators. Error reports may be generated when appropriate to communicate any relevant errors to the pharmacist, who can then verify that the correct medications are in the container. In one aspect, the containers are in the form of patient drawers which fit within a cart for delivery to hospital rooms. A containment device may be used to secure the drawer of other container during the verification process.
US09916710B2	Coin-shaped detection object discriminating device A coin-shaped detection object discriminating device may be used with a detection object in a coin shape, and the coin-shaped detection object discriminating device may include a passage through which the detection object is passed; a permanent magnet; and a magnetic sensor disposed opposite to the permanent magnet across the passage.
US09916707B2	Interacting with embedded devices within a user's environment An envoy device configured to perform a transaction with a further device. The envoy device comprises: a data store; a processor; communication circuitry for communicating with the further device; and a display. The envoy device is configured to respond to detection of the further device being within a predetermined physical proximity to trigger initiation of a transaction between the devices; and to respond to the transaction completing to display an object related to the transaction that it is determined the user may wish to select to initiate a subsequent action.
US09916702B2	Systems and methods for monitoring operative sub-systems of a vehicle A vehicle may include at least one operative sub-system that includes at least one sensor configured to output one or more sensor signals related to the at least one operative sub-system. A monitoring system is in communication with the operative sub-system(s). The monitoring system is configured to correlate the one or more sensor signals with respect to time, compile initial statistics of the one or more sensor signals with respect to a plurality of variables; and correlate the plurality of variables.
US09916701B2	Vehicle auditing and control of maintenance and diagnosis for vehicle systems A method and apparatus of performing a task on a system on a platform. A task script is received by a data processing system on the platform. The task script identifies task steps for performing the task on the system. The task script is run by the data processing system to perform the task on the system.
US09916699B2	Process for determining state of a vehicle A method for determining a corrected yaw rate for a vehicle includes receiving a first yaw rate input from a yaw rate sensor of the vehicle and determining if the vehicle is moving or stationary. If the vehicle is determined to be moving, the method includes determining a steering angle of the vehicle, and determining an offset correction value based at least in part on a determined speed of the vehicle and the determined steering angle. A yaw rate offset is determined based at least in part on the determined offset correction value and the received first yaw rate input. A second yaw rate input is received from the yaw rate sensor of the vehicle, and a corrected yaw rate value is determined based at least in part on the received second yaw rate input and the determined yaw rate offset.
US09916696B2	Transport system user inspection A method of inspecting a user device of a user of a transport system includes obtaining, by a portable inspection device, identification data of a user device of a user of a transport system; generating an inspection result of the user device, by an inspection system, in dependence on the read identification data and an item in a record within a database, wherein the record comprises a plurality of items each relating to entry data of a respective user device of a respective of users of the transport system; and conveying, by the portable inspection device, the result of the inspection.
US09916691B2	Head mounted display and control method for head mounted display A head mounted display which allows a user to visually recognize a virtual image and external scenery, and includes an image display unit that forms the virtual image which is visually recognized by the user, and a superimposition processing unit that causes the image display unit to form the virtual image based on superimposition information for superimposing invisible information which is not shown in an appearance of an object on the object included in the external scenery.
US09916690B2	Correction of displayed images for users with vision abnormalities This invention solves the problem that objects in the field of view of reading glasses using multifocal lenses for correcting ocular refractive errors such as presbyopia appear distorted. This image display device is provided with the following: a distance computation unit that computes the distance to a subject in a field-of-view image; a visual-acuity-information acquisition unit that stores visual-acuity information for the user in advance; a corrected-image generation unit that generates and outputs a corrected image on the basis of the field-of-view image and an eye image generated from the field-of-view image, the distance information, and the visual-acuity information; and a display unit that displays the corrected image by superimposing same onto the user's field of view. Since the corrected image is superimposed without the use of lenses, lenses being the cause of the abovementioned distortion, the user can see close objects clearly.
US09916689B2	Apparatus and method for estimating camera pose An apparatus for estimating a camera pose includes an image acquisition unit to acquire a photographed image, a motion sensor to acquire motion information of the apparatus for estimating the camera pose, a static area detector to detect a static area of the photographed image based on the photographed image and the motion information, and a pose estimator to estimate a camera pose based on the detected static area.
US09916687B2	Computer-readable recording medium recording information processing program, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method An example computer includes: an image acquiring unit that acquires an image of a real space captured by an imaging device; a feature detecting unit that detects a feature from the image; a determining unit that determines a virtual object, or, a virtual object and an aspect of the virtual object while changing the same in accordance with a recognition condition of the detected feature; an image generating unit that generates an image of a virtual space in which the determined virtual object or the virtual object in the determined aspect is placed on a basis of the feature; and a display controlling unit that displays an image on a display device such that the image of the virtual space is visually recognized by a user while being superimposed on the real space.
US09916685B1	System and method for depth-recovery of a face in an image A system and method for providing a fast, efficient and accurate method for recovery of depth information from a single image of a face is disclosed. The technique uses a novel thin-plate spline-based dense-correspondence method to align the face, and the representation incorporates a weighted framework, interpreting the depth recovery problem as a weighted data problem.
US09916684B2	Generating portable three-dimensional print-preview renderings of three-dimensional models The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for providing a preview that includes a visualization of various properties of an object to be printed from a three-dimensional input model. For example, systems and methods described herein involve performing one or more of a printability analysis, appearance analysis, true-visual analysis, accuracy analysis, and an integrity analysis to identify defects, visual characteristics and other properties of the object to be printed. Systems and methods described herein further relate to generating texture maps and applying the texture maps to three-dimensional renderings of the three-dimensional model to provide an interactive preview to enable a user to view and comprehend various issues associated with printing the object from the three-dimensional model.
US09916679B2	Deepstereo: learning to predict new views from real world imagery A system and method of deep learning using deep networks to predict new views from existing images may generate and improve models and representations from large-scale data. This system and method of deep learning may employ a deep architecture performing new view synthesis directly from pixels, trained from large numbers of posed image sets. A system employing this type of deep network may produce pixels of an unseen view based on pixels of neighboring views, lending itself to applications in graphics generation.
US09916672B2	Branching and merging determination apparatus A branching and merging determination apparatus includes a recognizer and a determiner. The recognizer recognizes a target present in front of an own vehicle. The determiner determines, based on a result of the recognition of the target by the recognizer, presence or absence of branching and merging of roads. Specifically, the determiner is configured to: estimate a traveling section where branching or merging of roads is probably present; and determine that no branching or merging of roads is present in a region of the estimated traveling section where there is a preceding vehicle traveling at a higher speed than the own vehicle.
US09916671B2	Spatial visualization of metrics Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices for method of providing spatial visualizations of metrics. In embodiments, the method includes referencing a spatial map having multiple spatial regions. A set of metric stacks is also referenced. The metric stacks graphically indicate values associated with multiple metrics. Further, each metric stack corresponds with one of the spatial regions based on location with which the values associated with the multiple metrics correspond. The metric stacks are overlaid on the corresponding spatial region within the spatial map such that a user can simultaneously view metrics associated with particular spatial regions.
US09916665B2	Cell tracking device and method, and storage medium non-transitory storing computer-readable cell tracking programs A cell tracking device includes first and second image acquisition units, first and second tracking units and an interpolation unit. The first image acquisition unit picks up images of a cell under a short-time exposure condition at points in time to capture short-time exposure images. The second image acquisition unit picks up images of the cell under a long-time exposure condition to capture long-time exposure images, each image of the cell under the long-time exposure condition being picked up within each interval between the points in time. The first tracking unit tracks the cell based upon the short-time exposure images. The second tracking unit tracks the cell based upon the long-time exposure images. The interpolation unit interpolates a tracking result obtained by the second tracking unit with a tracking result obtained by the first tracking unit.
US09916664B2	Multi-spectrum segmentation for computer vision A system and method for multi-spectrum segmentation for computer vision is described. A first sensor captures an image within a first spectrum range and generates first sensor data. A second sensor captures an image within a second spectrum range different than the first spectrum range and generates second sensor data. A multi-spectrum segmentation module identifies a segmented portion of the image within the second spectrum range based on: the second sensor data, a subset of the first sensor data corresponding to the segmented portion of the image within the second spectrum range, and a segmented portion of the image at the second spectrum range corresponding to the subset of the first sensor data. The multi-spectrum segmentation module identifies a physical object in the segmented portion of the image within the second spectrum range, and a device generates augmented reality content based on the identified physical object.
US09916661B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and magnetic resonance imaging system An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry selects from a plurality of diffusion-weighted images with different applied directions of a motion probing gradient magnetic field pulse or different diffusion sensitive coefficients, a diffusion-weighted image that conforms to a predetermined condition. The processing circuitry configured to register the selected diffusion-weighted image with a reference image for which the diffusion sensitive coefficient being set to a reference value to correct the selected diffusion-weighted image. The processing circuitry configured to register the corrected diffusion-weighted image with each of the other diffusion-weighted images of the plurality of diffusion-weighted images to correct each of the other diffusion-weighted images.
US09916658B2	Disease analysis apparatus, control method, and program An image acquisition unit (2020) acquires an analysis image. The analysis image is an image in which a plurality of cell nuclei in a lesion of a target person are captured. A feature-value calculation unit (2040) calculates the feature-value relating to the cell nuclei from the analysis image. An evaluation function acquisition unit (2060) acquires an evaluation function from an evaluation function storage unit (10). The evaluation function is a function with which prediction information is calculated based on the feature-value. The prediction information generation unit (2080) generates prediction information relating to a target person based on a feature-value, which has been calculated from an analysis image, and an evaluation function which has been acquired by the evaluation function acquisition unit (2060). The prediction information is information indicating a prediction of a prognosis of a disease of the target person or a prediction of malignancy of a disease of the target person.
US09916653B2	Detection of defects embedded in noise for inspection in semiconductor manufacturing One embodiment relates to an apparatus for detecting defects on a manufactured substrate. The apparatus includes an imaging tool arranged to obtain image frames from the manufactured substrate. The apparatus further includes a data processing system which includes computer-readable code configured to compute features for pixels in an image frame and divide the pixels in the image frame into feature-defined groups of pixels. The computer-readable code is further configured to select a feature-defined group, and generate a multi-dimensional feature distribution for the selected feature-defined group. Another embodiment relates to a method of detecting defects from a test images frame and multiple reference image frames. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.
US09916650B2	In-process fault inspection using augmented reality An arrangement for visual fault inspection of at least one component includes a fault identification unit for identifying a structural fault of the component and for determining at least one piece of fault information, and an overlay device connected to the fault identification unit, configured for context-dependent overlay of the fault information in a component image in real-time.
US09916644B1	Ghost artifact removal system and method A method for removing a ghost artifact from a multiple-exposure image of a scene method includes steps of generating and segmenting a difference mask, determining a lower threshold and an upper threshold, generating a refined mask, and generating a corrected image. The difference mask includes a plurality of absolute differences in luminance-values between the multiple-exposure image and a first image of the scene. The segmenting step involves segmenting the difference mask into a plurality of blocks. The lower and upper thresholds are based on statistical properties of the blocks. The method generates the refined mask by mapping each absolute difference to a respective one of a plurality refined values, of the refined mask, equal to a function of the absolute difference, the lower threshold, and the upper threshold. The corrected image is a weighted sum of the first image and the multiple-exposure image, weights being based on the refined mask.
US09916643B1	Multi-sample antialiasing optimization via edge tracking An efficient method and system for multi-sample antialiasing in graphics processing is described. Geometric edges as well as implicit edges of primitives in a bin are identified by iteratively rendering bins of pixels. Selective multi-sample antialiasing is applied to pixels that are touched by either a geometric edge or an implicit edge; pixels that are fully covered are not antialiased.
US09916638B2	Transformation of dynamic metadata to support alternate tone rendering An existing metadata set that is specific to a color volume transformation model is transformed to a metadata set that is specific to a distinctly different color volume transformation model. For example, source content metadata for a first color volume transformation model is received. This source metadata determines a specific color volume transformation, such as a sigmoidal tone map curve. The specific color volume transformation is mapped to a color volume transformation of a second color volume transformation model, e.g., a Bézier tone map curve. Mapping can be a best fit curve, or a reasonable approximation. Mapping results in metadata values used for the second color volume transformation model (e.g., one or more Bézier curve knee points and anchors). Thus, devices configured for the second color volume transformation model can reasonably render source content according to received source content metadata of the first color volume transformation model.
US09916637B1	Splitting and merging subband image data Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to image signal processing logic, and in particular, to separating an undecimated image signal data to create two components with lower resolution and full-resolution, generating an interpolation guidance information based on the two components created by separation, forming a difference image data representing the difference between the chroma and luma values of each pixel and its neighboring pixels, and merging the processed image data from the processing pipelines with the unprocessed image data using the interpolation guidance information generated. The generation of the interpolation guidance information is based on determining distances between pixel values from a group comprising pixels from interpolation nodes, pixels diagonally located adjacent to the interpolation nodes, pixels horizontally adjacent to the interpolation nodes, and pixels vertically adjacent to the interpolation nodes.
US09916634B2	Facilitating efficient graphics command generation and execution for improved graphics performance at computing devices A mechanism is described for facilitating efficient graphics command generation and execution for improved graphics performance at computing devices. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes detecting an application programming interface (API) call to perform a plurality of transactions, where the API call is issued by an application at a first command buffer, where the plurality of transactions include a first set of transactions and a second set of transactions. The method may further include creating a second command buffer and appending the second command buffer to the first command buffer, where creating further includes separating the first set transactions from the second set of transactions. The method may further include executing, via the second command buffer, the first set of transactions, prior to executing the first set of transactions.
US09916633B1	Systems and methods for one-click financials Techniques for managing services provided on behalf of a user are provided. A user profile generator accesses a first user profile, applies modifications to the first user profile, and saves the modifications as a second user profile, without modifying the first user profile, such that the first user profile remains saved without modifications. In response to a second user profile invocation input indicating that the second user profile should be invoked, a second provision of services associated with the second user profile are invoked in place of a first provision of services related to the first user profile. The first provision of services related to the first user profile are re-invoked when a determination is made that the second user profile should no longer be invoked.
US09916631B2	Multi-purpose electronic switch A multi-purpose electronic switch is disclosed herein. The multi-purpose electronic switch includes a housing having a front and a back and defining an internal volume, a switch having a default position and movable to a first position and a second position from the default position. The switch can receive a press-button input by moving from the default position to one of the first and second positions. The multi-purpose electronic switch can include a display located on the switch, and a plurality of sensors located within the internal volume of the housing. The plurality of sensors can detect a swipe input across the front of the housing. The multi-purpose electronic switch can include a processor that can control the display to generate images representing a plurality of menu items and settings within the menu items and receive inputs selecting menu items.
US09916630B2	Electricity suppressing type electricity and heat optimizing control device, optimizing method, and optimizing program An optimized operating schedule is obtained while avoiding a complexity of formulation and optimization in response to an incentive type demand response. A device includes an energy predictor setting a predicted value of energy of a control-target device within a predetermined future period, a schedule optimizer optimizing the operating schedule of the control-target device within the predetermined period in accordance with a predetermined evaluation barometer, an incentive acceptance determiner determining a time with a possibility that an incentive is receivable, an electricity suppressing schedule optimizer optimizing, for a time with a possibility that the incentive is receivable, the operating schedule of the control-target device based on a unit price of electricity fee having a unit price for calculating the incentive taken into consideration, and an adopted schedule selector selecting either one of the operating schedules.
US09916629B2	Identifying one or more relevant social networks for one or more collaboration artifacts Methods, products, apparatus, and systems may provide for identifying a set of users associated with one or more collaboration artifacts. Additionally, a set of networks including a plurality of candidate social networks may be identified. Moreover, a relationship strength may be determined between the set of users associated with the one or more collaborations artifacts and each of the candidate social networks to identify one or more relevant social networks from the candidate social networks. Determining the relationship strength may include calculating a similarity metric. In addition, at least one member affiliated with the one or more relevant social networks may become aware of the collaboration artifact.
US09916626B2	Presentation of image of source of tax data through tax preparation application Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for generating interface elements of an electronic tax preparation application to allow a taxpayer or user to view a portion of an image of a tax document that is a source of data for a field of a screen generated by the electronic tax application. The image portion displayed may be a particular box or field of a tax document for a corresponding particular field of the screen generated by the electronic tax preparation or a bounding region including one or more adjacent or surrounding boxes or fields. Embodiments allow taxpayers to view an image of a source document while viewing the data that was entered in the field from within the tax preparation application without having to consult paper copies of the tax documents.
US09916623B2	Electronic market message management with priority determination Methods, devices, and systems for managing electronic messages of an electronic trading system in which orders are extracted from the electronic messages involve executing actions associated with respect to the orders and matching orders to counter orders. Matching orders may be based on a priority determined using a market quality index of the order and an associated market participant.
US09916621B1	Presentation of credit score factors A score factor system that may generate a score factor user interface that displays summary credit information for a particular consumer in selected credit categories. The system constructs flippable score factor interfaces for such display that, when touched, may be reversed to display explanatory text on how the corresponding credit category affects their credit report.
US09916619B2	Payment system with location restrictions A method for restricting a payment from an account based on a user location includes receiving at least one payment location restriction for an account from a user device over a network. The at least one payment location restriction includes at least one authorized user location or at least one unauthorized user location for making payments using the account. The at least one payment location restriction is associated with the account in a database. A request to make a payment using the account is received over the network. A current user location is determined. The request to make the payment is then authorized or denied based, at least partly, on whether the current user location is included in the at least one authorized user location or the at least one unauthorized user location.
US09916614B2	Product display rack system, product display rack method, and product display rack program To guide other products related to a product which is taken out in hand by a customer. The present product display rack system carries out a first step for detecting an RFID number of a product taken by a customer from desired display racks 11 to 14 based upon the detection result of the RFID reader; a second step for acquiring RFID numbers of related products having related product types and functional types relative to the product type of the RFID number from the product related information data base 260 by using the detected RFID number as a key; a third step for acquiring the product display coordinates of the product type from the product coordinate data base 250 by using the acquired RFID number of the related product as a key; and a fourth step for lighting or flickering the lamp of the lamp guiding units 30 to 33 at a position close to the acquired product display coordinates.
US09916612B2	User-state mediated product selection Systems and methods may provide purchasing suggestions to consumers based on the emotional, financial, social or physiological state of the consumer. The state of a consumer is based on data that may be collected from a variety of sources, including image data and biosensor data collected at the point of sale, as well as data accessible via smart phone or stored elsewhere. The systems and methods may be practiced in the context of a vending machine, bricks-and-mortar store, on-line store, or other venue.
US09916608B1	User profile and geolocation for efficient transactions Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user's location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Promotions may be sent to the mobile device when more than a threshold number of mobile devices are located at the same merchant.
US09916597B2	Method and system for providing network based target advertising and encapsulation A telecommunication system implements a method for providing a targeted on-line advertisement to a user accessing a content provider node of the system. An ad is requested from a user node. A content provider is identified at a right of first refusal ad service based on the ad request. At least one demographic corresponding to the user node is determined. Whether an ad corresponds to the determined demographic is determined. A default ad service is determined based on the content provider. The ad request is passed to a default ad service. Retrieved content is processed.
US09916594B2	Multidimensional personal behavioral tomography A method and computer program product for identifying attributes of customers and potential customers, allowing marketing to be directed at such consumers. Information is received regarding each of a number of consumers. This information can include demographic information, data regarding spending habits, and information as to how such attributes may have changed over time. Once attributes have been determined, and any changes over time to such attributes have been determined, a correlation of the attributes is performed. Such combined attributes are denoted as composite dimensions. Given the composite dimensions, as well as attributes that may not have been correlated with any other attributes, consumers are plotted in the resulting multi-dimensional space. Sets of consumers that appear to be grouped in this multi-dimensional space are then identified. Common attributes of this consumer group are identified. Unique attributes of a given consumer in such a group are also identified.
US09916593B1	Determining and displaying item preferences associated with geographic areas This disclosure relates to determining and displaying item preferences associated with geographic areas. Each of a plurality of item selections is associated with a respective geographic location. Item selections associated with a geographic area are identified. A preference for an item from among a group of items is determined based on the identified ones of the item selections. The preference is sent to a client for rendering.
US09916592B2	Method and system for implementing implicit follow and automatic unfollow Disclosed is an approach for implementing implicit follow and automatic unfollow of objects in an enterprise application system. Automated following and unfollowing can be provided for objects in a CRM application, such as objects pertaining to sales opportunities.
US09916591B2	Systems and method for exchanging information bi-directionally A communications system and method by which information is transmitted and received bi-directionally between digital signage and individuals viewing scenes displayed on digital signage. The digital signage transmits and receives information via an RFID reader and the individual transmits and receives information via an RFID tag. The system and method are useful in providing subscribers to a product/service information database with individually customized information about products and services based on the personal profiles of the individual subscribers.
US09916583B2	System and method including indirect approval A server computer is disclosed. It comprises a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium comprises code executable by the processor for implementing a method comprising: a) receiving an authorization request message, wherein the authorization request message requests authorization to proceed with a transaction conducted between a first party and a second party using a portable device; b) analyzing the authorization request message by a server computer to determine if the portable device is enrolled in a transaction alert program; c) if the portable device is enrolled in the transaction alert program, sending a transaction alert request message to a third party requesting approval to proceed with the transaction; d) receiving a transaction alert response message from the third party; e) sending the authorization request message to an issuer associated with the portable device; f) receiving an authorization response message from the issuer; and g) sending the authorization response message to the second party.
US09916582B2	Systems and methods for generating and using a digital pass A system, method, and article of manufacture for generating a digital pass is disclosed. The method may comprise retrieving a plurality of identity attributes, and grouping a subset of identity attributes in the plurality of identity attributes to generate at least one digital pass. The method may further comprise grouping a subset of static identity attributes and a subset of dynamic identity attributes to generate a digital pass.
US09916576B2	In-market personalization of payment devices Described are methods and systems for remotely personalizing a payment device. In an embodiment, a trusted service provider (TSP) personalization server receives a payment device personalization request from a remote personalization device (RPD), determines that a hardware security token (HST) permits issuance of the payment device, and transmits a personalization data request to an issuer. The TSP personalization server then receives the requested personalization data from a Mobile Over-the-Air Provisioning Service (MOTAPS) server, generates session keys, converts data from the MOTAPS server into payment device application process data unit (APDU) data, and then transmits the personalization data and APDU data to the RPD to load onto a payment device.
US09916575B2	Systems and methods for adaptive routing for multiple secure elements A method for wireless communication is described. The method includes using a routing table for multiple secure elements. The routing table assigns a preferred secure element for a transaction type. The method also includes selecting a first secure element for a transaction based on the routing table. The method further includes updating the routing table based on a received command to use a second secure element to complete the transaction.
US09916574B2	Secure computing device and method A method and device are described for maintaining software components in a portable electronic device. The device includes memory storing software components executable from the device, with associated pairs of logical storage partitions for storing different versions of the software components, a data interface for coupling the device to a host computer, a contactless interface for receiving payment token data from a contactless payment token, and a cellular network interface for communication of data over a cellular network. An upgrade process is initiated when the device is coupled to the host computer. Data including a different version of at least one of said software components is received, installed and executed to initiate a payment transaction with a remote system. Payment token data is received via the contactless interface means and transmitted to the remote system.
US09916573B2	Wireless establishment of identity via bi-directional RFID A method, a system, and a computer program product are provided for wireless establishment of identity via bi-directional radio-frequency identification (RFID). The method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable for sending device data including at least a username and a password to a transceiver. The method also includes receiving an identifier of an access point in a wireless network from the transceiver, the transceiver sending the device data to the access point via a security server. The device data is sent to the access point based on the identifier of the access point, the access point establishing a secure connection to the computer infrastructure based on the device data received from the transceiver and the computer infrastructure.
US09916571B2	Systems and methods for providing manufacturer-based financial service accounts The disclosed embodiments include a mobile client device for providing real-time manufacturer-based financing. In one embodiment, the mobile device is configured to receive a product code associated with a manufacturer product offered for sale at a merchant location. The mobile device may further provide the product code to a financial service provider system configured to create a manufacturer-based financial service account associated with the product manufacturer. Further, the mobile device may provide, to the financial service provider system, information associated with a received account application, where the financial service provider system may create the manufacturer-based financial service account based on the received information and the product code. The mobile device may also receive a purchase code for purchasing the product using the manufacturer-based financial service account, provide it at the merchant POS location, and receive a confirmation of product purchase.
US09916568B2	Caching item information in a cloud-based point of sale system Mechanisms are provided, in a data processing system, for retrieving and utilizing item information to perform a transaction. The mechanisms receive an identification of an item present in a detection field of the item identification system. A determination is made as to whether valid item information for the item is present in a cache of the data processing system in response to detecting the item as being present in the detection field of the item identification system. If valid item information is present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from the cache. If valid item information is not present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from a remotely located cloud computing system. The transaction is performed based on the valid item information.
US09916566B2	Mobile wireless order point and pick-up station An apparatus can be employed as a mobile wireless order point and pick-up station. The apparatus can be configured to house a display device and to allow the display device to be used in many different locations for the purpose of receiving and/or picking up orders. To facilitate its mobility, the apparatus can include an integrated pallet jack and be configured with wireless communication capabilities and a portable power source. The apparatus may also include a retractable awning which can serve to provide shading to the display device to facilitate its use and to reduce heating when the apparatus is used in an outdoor environment.
US09916564B1	Computer-based systems and methods for collaborative travel planning Computer-based systems and methods for providing real-time collaborative travel planning among a group of travelers. The systems and methods may use an Internet website that provides travelers with real-time visibility into both planned and/or booked travel itineraries of the traveling companions for a particular journey. When a traveler books or selects part of the traveler's itinerary, notifications of the booking or selection may be sent to the other travelers in the group. Various embodiments of the present invention provide for real-time interactive discussions by the traveling companions about the journey. Throughout the life of the journey, each traveler may collaborate with his or her traveling companions to plan the most efficient journey utilizing real-time visibility of each traveler's itinerary.
US09916563B1	Version recall for computerized catalog management Techniques for effectuating a rollback to a previous version of a catalog associated with an entity are described. A payment processing service may receive instructions to modify a catalog associated with an entity. The payment processing service may modify the catalog based at least partly on the instructions and add an entry to a modification log. Each entry in the modification log may correspond to a previous version of the catalog and the entry may correspond to a new version of the catalog after the modification to the catalog. The payment processing service may determine that the modification to the catalog is likely to warrant a rollback and may effectuate the rollback by determining a previous entry of the modification log that precedes the entry and adding a new entry to the modification log that corresponds to the previous version of the catalog associated with the previous entry.
US09916562B1	Competitive merchandise fulfillment delivery speed monitoring This disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer-readable media related to competitive merchandise fulfillment delivery speed monitoring. Competitor merchants for a geographic region may be identified. Data for merchandise from sources associated with the competitor merchants may be obtained. A set of policies may be retrieved. The obtained data may be analyzed based at least in part on the policies to identify merchandise and an associated delivery speed available via the one or more competitor merchants. One or more suggested inventory management actions affecting the identified merchandise available via an online retailer may be generated based at least in part on the analyzed data. Implementation of at least one of the suggested inventory management actions may be facilitated. A website of the online retailer may be updated for the identified merchandise based at least in part on the implementation of the at least one of the one or more suggested inventory management actions.
US09916560B2	Inventory tracking The present disclosure extends to maintaining an item inventory status at an inventory cache management system. The inventory cache may be refreshed regularly by a threshold-based triggering mechanism. In embodiments, as item inventory breaches certain thresholds, the inventory cache may be refreshed with increased frequency to mitigate overselling or underselling scenarios and reduce overall network traffic for items having relatively high inventory levels.
US09916559B2	Mobile transceiver having selectable travel modes and a method of operation A mobile transceiver having selectable travel modes and a method of operation are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of operating a mobile transceiver having a processor, and a wireless transceiver and a satellite receiver each coupled to the processor, the method comprising: sending a message to an asset tracking service, the message from a mobile transceiver including a device identifier (ID) associated with the mobile transceiver; receiving a message from the asset tracking service, the message including an instruction for the mobile transceiver to apply a selected travel mode; and applying the selected travel mode as a current travel mode.
US09916556B2	Merchandise event monitoring via wireless tracking Item movement is determined via wireless tracking using RFID data from at least one RFID reader. The RFID data associates RFID tag information with each antenna of the RFID reader that receives the tag information. At least one processer is configured to identify a first appearance of unique tag information in the RFID data. Items may be grouped when their first appearance in RFID data and their antenna association indicates that they first appear in a location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by RFID data, and/or when they have all moved from a previous location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by different RFID data. A group designation comprises the relevant unique tag information, which may be stored in memory along with a time stamp.
US09916555B2	Location tracking with integrated identification of cargo carrier contents and related system and method Various methods and devices are provided for integrating location tracking and cargo identification. For example, an identification of a cargo carrier can be provided, such as by an identification or tracking device associated with the cargo carrier. Also, an identification of a carried asset can be provided, such as by a tag or optical code associated with the carried asset. Further, a determination can be made whether the carried asset is being added to or removed from the cargo carrier. This could be done automatically or based on user input. This information can be collected and stored in association with each other so that location information about the carried asset can be provided to users.
US09916554B2	Cloud service usage risk assessment A method of assessing a risk level of an enterprise using cloud-based services from one or more cloud service providers includes assessing provider risk scores associated with the one or more cloud service providers; assessing cloud service usage behavior and pattern of the enterprise; and generating a risk score for the enterprise based on the provider risk scores and on the cloud service usage behavior and pattern of the enterprise. The risk score is indicative of the risk of the enterprise relating to the use of the cloud-based services from the one or more cloud service providers.
US09916552B2	Workflow system and method with skip function Delay in a workflow is avoided by introducing a skip operation upon execution of the workflow. Additionally, a person in charge of the workflow eventually participates in the workflow process even if he/she has been skipped. The workflow design defines skippable activities, in advance, as well as re-execution points in order to reassign the skipped activities.
US09916551B1	Business continuity optimization Disclosed are methods and systems for optimizing business continuity in IT environments. One such method involves comparing a representation and a template. The representation represents units of computing entities, and relationships between the units of computing entities. The method determines whether a system represented by the representation meets a threshold represented by the template based on a result of the comparing, and provides a result of the determining. The threshold can established by a disaster recovery site, a service level agreement, or a configuration drift, and the result of the determining can be used to evaluate the disaster recovery site, the service level agreement, or the configuration drift.
US09916548B2	Determining a quality score for internal quality analysis An apparatus for assessing and controlling the quality of a project in a production environment is provided. The apparatus is configured to: receive a first score, wherein the first score comprises a first numerical value associated with a first level of quality, wherein the first level of quality is associated with a first deliverable; receive a second score, wherein the second score comprises a second numerical value associated with a second level of quality, wherein the second level of quality is associated with the first deliverable; and process the first score and the second score to generate a third score.
US09916543B2	Automated internet based interactive travel planning and management system An interactive rapid response Internet accessed air travel management system. The system includes a web-based planning and reservation interface system and an interactive access device. The system responds to details of a member's desired travel, to thereafter act in real time to contact the domains of associated travel service providers to arrange for every aspect of the member's trip, from airline and hotel reservations, ticket issuance, and ground transportation, to restaurant and theater reservations, and any other travel related needs of the member. The system stores identification information to verify access device possession to prohibit unauthorized use of the system and to provide security pre-clearance to system members.
US09916541B2	Predicting a consumer selection preference based on estimated preference and environmental dependence An information processing apparatus includes a history acquisition section configured to acquire history data including a history indicating that a plurality of selection subjects have selected selection objects; a learning processing section configured to allow a choice model to learn a preference of each selection subject for a feature and an environmental dependence of selection of each selection object in each selection environment using the history data, where the choice model uses a feature value possessed by each selection object, the preference of each selection subject for the feature, and the environmental dependence indicative of ease of selection of each selection object in each of a plurality of selection environments to calculate a selectability with which each of the plurality of selection subjects selects each selection object; and an output section configured to output results of learning by the learning processing section.
US09916538B2	Method and system for feature detection Specification covers new algorithms, methods, and systems for artificial intelligence, soft computing, and deep learning/recognition, e.g., image recognition (e.g., for action, gesture, emotion, expression, biometrics, fingerprint, facial, OCR (text), background, relationship, position, pattern, and object), Big Data analytics, machine learning, training schemes, crowd-sourcing (experts), feature space, clustering, classification, SVM, similarity measures, modified Boltzmann Machines, optimization, search engine, ranking, question-answering system, soft (fuzzy or unsharp) boundaries/impreciseness/ambiguities/fuzziness in language, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computing-with-Words (CWW), parsing, machine translation, sound and speech recognition, video search and analysis (e.g. tracking), image annotation, geometrical abstraction, image correction, semantic web, context analysis, data reliability, Z-number, Z-Web, Z-factor, rules engine, control system, autonomous vehicle, self-diagnosis and self-repair robots, system diagnosis, medical diagnosis, biomedicine, data mining, event prediction, financial forecasting, economics, risk assessment, e-mail management, database management, indexing and join operation, memory management, data compression, event-centric social network, Image Ad Network.
US09916535B2	Systems and methods for predictive analysis Systems and methods are provided relating to predictive analysis, and more specifically to predictive analysis of one or more data types in a data center environment. The data center environment itself includes a power manager in communication with at least one cabinet power distribution unit (CDU) that is in power-supplying communication with at least one electronic appliance in an electronic equipment rack. The predictive analysis approach estimates the rate of change over a future interval of time for at least one data type based on said historical data and predicts when said at least one data type will reach an associated user-defined threshold based on said rate of change. Results can be displayed graphically on an application program associated with the power manager.
US09916533B2	Enhancement of massive data ingestion by similarity linkage of documents A method for ingesting a plurality of content according to a statistical similarity of at least one portion of the ingested plurality of content into an information handling system capable of answering questions, whereby the ingested plurality of content is based on a received topic and ingesting the plurality of content comprises ingesting a plurality of documents associated with the received topic is provided. The method may include determining at least one similarity between each document based on a similarity criteria. The method may also include applying a statistical model to characterize the determined at least one similarity between each document. The method may further include creating at least one pair-wise link for each document. The method may additionally include mapping the created at least one pair-wise link. The method may include generating a plurality of rules for ingesting a plurality of additional content.
US09916531B1	Accumulator constrained quantization of convolutional neural networks An apparatus is described herein. The apparatus comprises an accumulator, a controller, and a convolutional neural network. The accumulator is to accumulate a plurality of values within a predetermined bit width. The controller is to determine a parameter quantization and a data quantization. The convolutional neural network is adapted to the data quantization, wherein a quantization point is selected based on the parameter quantization, data quantization, and accumulator bit width.
US09916528B2	Apparatus and method to determine a frozen state of an object as a function of an RFID tag receptionparameter A control circuit determines a reception parameter for an RFID tag that is attached to an object (such as an ice pack) and then determines a frozen state of the object as a function of that reception parameter. By one approach the RFID tag provides a transmission to support the aforementioned determinations, which transmission provides no data that explicitly represents temperature. The reception parameter can comprise, for example, an indication of received signal strength. So configured, a relatively higher indication of received signal strength can serve to determine that the object is and/or remains at least substantially frozen while a relatively lower indication of received signal strength can serve to determine that the object is not at least substantially frozen.
US09916523B2	Automatic picture classifying system and method in a dining environment An automatic classifying system in a dining environment includes a picture uploading module implemented in an electronic device for transmitting a set of pictures via the Internet, and a server for directly or indirectly receiving the set of pictures. The server has a picture analysis module for classifying one of the pictures according to at least two classifications and generating an analysis result to a web-platform system so as to display the picture and the analysis result.
US09916522B2	Training constrained deconvolutional networks for road scene semantic segmentation A source deconvolutional network is adaptively trained to perform semantic segmentation. Image data is then input to the source deconvolutional network and outputs of the S-Net are measured. The same image data and the measured outputs of the source deconvolutional network are then used to train a target deconvolutional network. The target deconvolutional network is defined by a substantially fewer numerical parameters than the source deconvolutional network.
US09916518B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program and imaging apparatus An image processing apparatus with at least one circuit provided to perform a process of determining a candidate color region including at least a partial region in an image using color information of an input image signal, prompt a user to select an extraction color region in case a plurality of color regions are determined as the candidate color region, and perform image processing on at least one of the extraction color region of the input image signal and the remaining region of the input image signal excluding the extraction color region, to obtain an output image signal.
US09916516B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory storage medium for correcting an image based on color and scattered light information At least one image processing apparatus, and at least one method, of the present invention(s) generate a corrected image obtained by removing, from a color image whose pixel values contain components derived from scattered light, at least part of the components derived from the scattered light. The at least one image processing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate the corrected image by correcting a pixel value of a first color component of each pixel in the color image by using a first reference intensity and a weight value, and by correcting a pixel value of a second color component of each pixel in the color image by using a second reference intensity and a weight value.
US09916515B2	Image processing A system for processing an image comprises a region detector (1). The region detector comprises an artifact detector (7) for detecting a region comprising an artifact in the image. The system comprises a parameter determining unit (2) for determining a parameter, based on a portion of the image excluding the detected region. The system comprises an image processing module (3) for processing the image, using the derived parameter. The system comprises a display unit (5) for displaying the processed image with an indication of the detected region. The parameter determined by the parameter determining unit (2) can comprise a normalization parameter, and the image processing module (3) can be arranged for performing a normalization of the image according to the normalization parameter.
US09916510B2	Collision warning system A method of estimating a time to collision (TTC) of a vehicle with an object comprising: acquiring a plurality of images of the object; and determining a TTC from the images that is responsive to a relative velocity and relative acceleration between the vehicle and the object.
US09916508B2	Detecting roadway objects in real-time images The disclosure includes a method that receives a real-time image of a road from a camera sensor communicatively coupled to an onboard computer of a vehicle. The method includes dividing the real-time image into superpixels. The method includes merging the superpixels to form superpixel regions. The method includes generating prior maps from a dataset of road scene images. The method includes drawing a set of bounding boxes where each bounding box surrounds one of the superpixel regions. The method includes comparing the bounding boxes in the set of bounding boxes to a road prior map to identify a road region in the real-time image. The method includes pruning bounding boxes from the set of bounding boxes to reduce the set to remaining bounding boxes. The method may include using a categorization module that identifies the presence of a road scene object in the remaining bounding boxes.
US09916507B1	Detecting orbital debris A network device determines an exposure time associated with an image sensor coupled to a spacecraft for capturing an image of a target object orbiting the Earth. The network device computes a maximum relative angular velocity associated with the target object based on the exposure time and a dimension of a pixel of the image sensor. The network device identifies a first pointing direction of the image sensor for initiating a search for the target object. The network device generates a first angular velocity probability distribution map for the target object and divides the first angular velocity probability distribution map into a first set of angular velocity regions (AVRs). The network device selects a first AVR from the first set of AVRs for scanning by the image sensor and generates a search schedule that includes a first entry for informing the spacecraft to scan the first AVR.
US09916506B1	Invisible fiducial markers on a robot to visualize the robot in augmented reality An example system includes a robotic device, at least one invisible fiducial marker on the robotic device that is detectable within a particular band of invisible light, a camera that is configured to detect the particular band of invisible light, and a control system. The control system may be configured to receive an image of the robotic device within an environment, identify at least one position within the image of the at least one invisible fiducial marker on the robotic device, determine a position of the robotic device relative to the camera, determine one or more positions within the image to overlay one or more virtual annotations, and provide for display of the image of the robotic device within the environment with the one or more virtual annotations overlaid at the one or more determined positions within the image.
US09916501B2	Smart eyeglasses with iris recognition device Smart eyeglasses with iris recognition device comprise at least one glasses frame, a glasses arm connected to a side of the glasses frame; an iris recognition device installed on the glasses frame and having a recognition unit facing an inner side of the glasses frame. A light source device installed on the glasses frame projects a light on an inner side of an outer boundary of an iris of an eyeball, and not in contact with the outer boundary of the iris. The iris is sampled more easily and clearly with luminosity compensation of the light source device for enhancing the accuracy and sampling speed.
US09916500B2	Method and system for imaging documents, such as passports, border crossing cards, visas, and other travel documents, in mobile applications A mobile computing device-implemented method of imaging an object to read information, includes capturing, by running an image capturing thread, a plurality of raw images of the object by an image capturing component of the mobile computing device and placing in an image queue in a first memory location; processing, by running an image processing thread, one or more raw images to extract one or more potential machine readable zone (MRZ) candidates and placing in a MRZ candidate queue in a second memory location; analyzing, by running an image analysis thread, an MRZ candidate to detect an MRZ and placing in an MRZ queue in a third memory location; and creating a composite MRZ if a timer has expired, or the MRZ queue has reached a predetermined threshold.
US09916498B2	Distributed document processing A system for document processing including decomposing an image of a document into at least one data entry region sub-image, providing the data entry region sub-image to a data entry clerk available for processing the data entry region sub-image, receiving from the data entry clerk a data entry value associated with the data entry region sub-image, and validating the data entry value.
US09916495B2	Face comparison device, method, and recording medium A face comparison device according to the present invention includes: an occluded-feature point estimation unit that estimates an occluded-feature point that is a feature point of an invisible face, and outputs position information of the occluded-feature point; a pseudo-feature point estimation unit that estimates a pseudo-feature point that is an erroneously detected feature point not captured within the input image due to occlusion, and outputs position information of the pseudo-feature point; and a comparison unit that generates a normalized image of the input image by using the position information of the occluded-feature point and the pseudo-feature point, generates a normalized image of an acquired comparison image, and compares the first facial feature vector extracted from the normalized image of the input image and the second facial feature vector extracted from the generated normalized image of the comparison image.
US09916491B2	Method of detecting gas-producing microbial colonies A first method comprises using an imaging device to produce a plurality of images of a culture device, analyzing a first image to identify a microorganism colony at a first location, analyzing a second image to identify a gas bubble at a second location, and determining whether the first location is proximate the second location. A second method comprises analyzing an image of a culture device to detect gas bubbles and classifying the gas bubbles according to a size parameter associated with each of the gas bubbles. A third method comprises analyzing a first area of an image of a culture device to detect a first number of gas bubbles, analyzing a second area of the image to detect a second number of gas bubbles, and comparing the first number of gas bubbles to the second number of gas bubbles.
US09916488B2	Evaluating images A method for evaluating an output pattern printed on a medium is described. A reference pattern is stored. The output pattern is printed on the medium based correspondingly on the stored reference pattern. A scan based instance of the output pattern is rendered, which has a set of features at least corresponding to the printed output pattern and zero or more features additional thereto. A difference image, having the zero or more features of the rendered scan instance, is computed based on a comparison of the rendered scan instance to the stored reference pattern. Upon the zero or more features including at least one feature, the computed difference image is evaluated in relation to a proximity of at least one feature to locations pixels of the reference pattern.
US09916487B2	Method and System for encoded information processing Methods and system for encoded information processing are described. In one embodiment, an encoded pattern may be optically detected from source media. Gaming data and associated synchronization data may be decoded from the encoded pattern. The gaming data may be synchronized for use during gaming based on the synchronization data. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
US09916485B1	Method of managing objects using an electromagnetic guided surface waves over a terrestrial medium A method of managing objects in a site includes producing a guided surface wave with a guided surface waveguide probe, the guided surface wave having sufficient energy density to power object identification tags in an entirety of a site; receiving reply signals from the object identification tags, each object identification tag associated with an object; and identifying geolocation of one or more the objects according to received reply signals from the object identification tags that are associated with the one or more of the objects.
US09916484B2	RFID tag location using synthesized-beam RFID readers Synthesized-beam RFID readers may be used to locate RFID tags. In one embodiment, a tag's response rates on different beams can be used, along with the target locations of those beams, to estimate the tag's location. The estimated tag location is within a region where beams with nonzero tag response rates overlap, and the distances of the estimated tag location from any two different beam target locations may correspond to a ratio of tag response rates on the two different beams. In another embodiment, a tag's response rates on different beam pairs configured to cooperatively power RFID tags can be used, along with the target locations of those beam pairs, to estimate the tag's location.
US09916475B2	Programmable interface for extending security of application-based operating system Methods, systems, and computer readable media for extending security of an application-based computer operating system are disclosed. One system includes a memory. The system also includes an application-based operating system security module bridge implemented using the memory. The application-based operating system security module bridge is for receiving, from a reference monitor, a registration for at least one security authorization hook, for receiving a callback when a protected event occurs, for communicating with the reference monitor that registered the at least one security authorization hook corresponding to the callback, and for receiving, from the reference monitor, an access control decision associated with the protected event.
US09916472B2	Obfuscation and protection of data rights Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for data obfuscation and right-protection. An initial matrix Xi, represents the initial data set of the application and final matrix Xf is obtained from Xi. The final matrix Xf is obtained by performing one of the following operations Xf=(P(Xi)+E)F; Xf=P(Xi)F+E; and Xf=P(XiF)+E. Where P(.) is a projection operator that projects an input initial matrix in a space having a lower dimension than the input matrix, E represents a noise matrix, and F represents a matrix as a perturbation series. The matrix F is represented as a perturbation series, whose leading term is the identity matrix I, one or more higher-order terms of the perturbation series embedding a secret, multiplicative noise, so as for a matrix multiplied by the matrix F is right-protected.
US09916470B2	Sensor sharing control A mechanism is provided for sensor sharing control dynamically. One or more sensor use permissions are received from one or more sensor provider terminals. For each sensor use permission, a sensor use permission is recorded in an authorization policy thereby forming a set of authorization policies. A use request is recorded for sensor use request information received from a sensor user terminal in a request policy. A search is performed for any authorization policy in the set of authorization policies that matches the request policy. Responsive to identifying the authorization policy that matches the request policy, a list of sensors included in the sensor use permissions of an authorization policy that matches the request policy is created. The list of sensors is transmitted to the sensor user terminal, where the search is performed again dynamically when the request policy or one of the set of authorization policies is changed.
US09916466B2	Lockout-tagout and safety compliance systems and methods The present application discloses systems and methods for systems and methods of creating, administrating, assigning, and managing lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures and other safety compliance procedures.
US09916462B1	Interception of unauthorized communications in an controlled-environment facility The present embodiments describe methods and systems for intercepting unauthorized communications in a controlled-environment facility. Unauthorized communications may originate from contraband cell phones, for example. In an embodiment, attempted communications from the contraband communication device are intercepted by the facility communication systems. The attempted communication may or may not be connected or completed, depending upon facility rules, policies, and regulations.
US09916458B2	Secure cloud-based storage of data shared across file system objects and clients Techniques to provide secure cloud-based storage of data shared across file system objects and clients are disclosed. In various embodiments, a primary encryption key is determined for an object associated with a plurality of component chunks of file system data. The primary encryption key is used to generate for each of said component chunks a corresponding chunk key, based at least in part on the primary encryption key and data comprising or otherwise associated with the chunk. The respective chunk keys are provided to a file system client configured to create and store the object at least in part by encrypting each chunk included in the plurality of component chunks using the chunk key provided for that chunk to generated encrypted chunk data, and combining the encrypted chunk data to create and store the object.
US09916457B2	Decoupled name security binding for CCN objects A data-hosting system facilitates binding a decoupled name to a data object. During operation, the system can receive a command to generate a decoupled name that binds a new name to the data object. The system generates a hash for the data object based on the data object's content, such that the hash is not generated based on a name for the data object. The system then obtains a private key for signing the data object, and generates the decoupled name for the data object by encrypting the data object's hash and the new name using the private key. This decoupled name binds the new name to the data object. When a client request the data object based on the network name, the system can return the decoupled name associated with content of the data object. The client can use the decoupled name to validate the data object.
US09916455B2	Systems and methods for assessing the compliance of a computer across a network The disclosed principles describe systems and methods for assessing the security posture of a target device, wherein the assessment is performed by a scanning computer in communication with the target device via a communication network. By employing a system or method in accordance with the disclosed principles, distinct advantages are achieved. Specifically, conducting such a remote scan allows for the scanner computer to perform a remote scan of the remote device without installing client software to the remote device. Thus, the disclosed principles reduce the need for internal IT resources to manage the deployment and updates of client software on the target device. Also, conducting a remote scan according to the disclosed principles allows for the remote scan to be performed even if the scanner computer and remote device run different operating systems.
US09916454B2	User controllable platform-level trigger to set policy for protecting platform from malware Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods to protect data stored in a storage system of a device from malware alternation are described. In some embodiments, a system receives an indication that the data is to be protected. In addition, the system further triggers an interrupt of the device and secures the data from the malware alternation.
US09916447B2	Active defense method on the basis of cloud security The present invention relates to an active defense method based on cloud security comprising: a client collecting and sending a program behavior launched by a program thereon and/or a program feature of the program launching the program behavior to a server; with respect to the program feature and/or the program behavior sent by the client, the server performing an analysis and comparison in its database, making a determination on the program based on the comparison result, and feeding back to the client; based on the feedback determination result, the client deciding whether to intercept the program behavior, terminate execution of the program and/or clean up the program, and restore the system environment. The invention introduces a cloud security architecture, and employs a behavior feature based on active defense to search and kill a malicious program, thereby ensuring network security.
US09916442B2	Real-time recording and monitoring of mobile applications Systems and methods may include monitoring data input to and output from an application on a mobile device. Such systems and methods may include storing meta-data, which describes a behavior of the data input to and output from the application, on the mobile device. Such systems and methods may include determining whether a behavior of the application is anomalous based on the meta-data stored on the mobile device. Such systems and methods may include providing detailed data, which includes the data input to and output from the application, to another device in response to determining that the behavior of the application is anomalous based on the meta-data stored on the mobile device.
US09916438B2	Determining whether continuous byte data of inputted data includes credential A system for detecting user credentials comprising an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive a plurality of data chunks. The processor is configured to determine a number of continuous bytes in the plurality of data chunks having appropriate values and, in the event that the number of the continuous bytes is greater than or equal to a threshold number of bytes, determine whether continuous byte data of the continuous bytes comprises a credential.
US09916435B2	System and method for the display of restricted information on private displays The present invention is directed to a system and method for restricting data, or portions thereof, to specific display devices when accessed by a user. Furthermore, the system and method of the invention are directed, in part, to evaluating in real time, the access level of a device and restricting the availability of sensitive information on the device according to the access level as determined by device location and hardware configuration.
US09916431B2	Context-based access verification A method, performed by an electronic device, for verifying a user to allow access to the electronic device is disclosed. In this method, sensor data may be received from a plurality of sensors including at least an image sensor and a sound sensor. Context information of the electronic device may be determined based on the sensor data and at least one verification unit may be selected from a plurality of verification units based on the context information. Based on the sensor data from at least one of the image sensor or the sound sensor, the at least one selected verification unit may calculate at least one verification value. The method may determine whether to allow the user to access the electronic device based on the at least one verification value and the context information.
US09916430B1	Authentication system and method thereof A haptic-based identification, authentication, authorization, and context aware authorization system usable with a touch-enabled device having a touch screen haptic interface, touch-enabled device receiving a plurality of inputs during interaction with a user which includes a storage space to store a first plurality of inputs corresponding to an authenticated user and a central processing unit (CPU) in communication with the storage space and the touch-enabled device to compare the first plurality of inputs with a second plurality of inputs inputted by the user, wherein the CPU authenticates the user to the touch-enabled device when the inputted second plurality of inputs is determined to be similar to the first plurality of inputs.
US09916429B2	System, method and computer program product for evaluating metadata before executing a software application Systems and methods are provided for managing license objects to applications in an application platform database system. The method includes associating an LMA with an application installed to the application platform by a developer, notifying a license manager to which the license manager application is installed of the installation of the application to the application platform, and managing subscriber access to the application using the license manager application.
US09916427B2	System and method for tracking medical articles An automatic data collection system tracks medical articles by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within an enclosure in which the articles are stored. Respective data carriers, such as RFID tags, attached to each article respond to the electromagnetic field by transmitting data identified with each article. An RFID scanner receives the transmitted RFID tag identification data and a processor compares the received identification data to a data base. The data base associates the identification data with data concerning the medical article to which the RFID tag is affixed, such as the name of the medicine, the size of the dose, and the expiration date. The processor is also programmed to keep track of the number of articles of a particular type remaining in the enclosure, to note receipt of an article in the enclosure, and to note removal of the article.
US09916426B2	Pharmacy dispensing system and method A system for filling a prescription order for a patient includes a plurality of trays each having an RFID tag for storing a unique identifier corresponding to the prescription order, and a plurality of workstations operatively linked to one another, each workstation having an antenna for detecting the unique identifier in one of the plurality of trays, where the detecting is operative to trigger displaying of a profile of at least one prescription item for the corresponding prescription order.
US09916425B2	Medical diagnosis support device, medical diagnosis support method, and information processing method The present invention provides a diagnosis support system for presenting medical support information on a case. The system includes an inference unit, an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a display control unit. The inference unit identifies a diagnostic name of the case and obtains its inferred probability in accordance with medical information including a set having a plurality of elements. The acquisition unit acquires an influence of each of first subsets contained in the set and an influence of each of second subsets contained in each of the first subsets upon the inferred probability. The determination unit determines, in accordance with the influence of each of the first subsets and the influence of each of the second subsets, a subset of the plurality of elements that is to be displayed. The display control unit allows a display unit to display the identified diagnostic name and the determined subset.
US09916421B2	Implant planning using corrected captured joint motion information The description relates to surgical computer systems, including computer program products, and methods for implant planning using corrected captured joint motion information. Data representative of a corrected limb pose at a plurality of poses within a range of motion of a joint associated with a particular individual is captured, the joint comprising a first bone and a second bone, while the first bone, the second bone, or both are subject to a corrective force aligning the first and second bones in a desired alignment. The first bone of the joint is represented. The second bone of the joint is represented. A first implant model is associated with the representation of the first bone. A second implant model is associated with the representation of the second bone. Based on the captured data, a relationship is determined between the first implant model and the second implant model at one or more poses of the plurality of poses within the range of motion of the joint. Information representative of the determined relationship is displayed.
US09916417B2	Methods, apparatuses, systems and computer readable mediums for connecting applications and tools within medical taskflows A medical image evaluation and diagnosis system to dynamically connect clinical tools, clinical applications and clinical findings includes a work context auto alignment manager (WAALM). The WAALM extracts, from a clinical application and tool initiation request, clinical application and tool information for a first clinical taskflow, and connects, with at least a first clinical application initiated in response to the clinical application and tool initiation request, at least a first clinical tool based on the extracted clinical application and tool information, the first clinical tool being independent of the first clinical application.
US09916413B2	Transistor plasma charging metal design rule generator A computer-implemented method capable of preparing a design rule indicative of a terminal metal area size of a transistor, minimizing a plasma-induced charging effect to the transistor in a plasma-based process for a dielectric layer performed on a metal layer above the transistor, is provided. The method includes a non-transitory computer readable medium, a design rule generator engine possessing a capability of accurately and swiftly simulating, evaluating and delivering design solutions for interconnect metals and dielectrics while largely saving test chip layout space, and performing the design-for-manufacturing process based on minimized plasma-induced charging effect to the transistor of the integrated circuit design. The disclosed method is applicable to all metal layers in the plasma-based process.
US09916412B2	Automatic generation of test layouts for testing a design rule checking tool A method of automatically generating a set of test layouts for testing a design rule checking tool is described. A layout is a point in a space of several coordinates, and the design rule comprises N design constraints numbered 1 to N, wherein N is greater or equal two and each design constraint is a boolean-valued function of one or more of the coordinates. The set of test layouts includes: one or more zero-error layouts; one or more one-error layouts; and one or more two-error layouts. A zero-error layout is a layout that satisfies all of the design constraints. A one-error layout is a layout that violates exactly one of the design constraints. A two-error layout is a layout that violates exactly two of the design constraints.
US09916409B2	Generating a layout for an integrated circuit In an approach for generating a file, a computer generates a modified layout for an integrated circuit. The computer receives a draft layout for an integrated circuit. The computer identifies a resonator, wherein the resonator comprises a capacitor connected to ground and an inductor connected to a clock grid. The computer creates alternative resonator wiring of the received draft layout associated with the identified resonator. The computer generates a modified draft layout based on the created alternative resonator wiring for the integrated circuit.
US09916405B2	Distributed timing analysis of a partitioned integrated circuit design A method, system, and computer program product perform distributed timing analysis of an integrated circuit design. Aspects include dividing the integrated circuit design into non-overlapping design partitions, each design partition including nodes and edges, each edge interconnecting a pair of the nodes. Aspects also include identifying speculative nodes among the nodes, each speculative node having at least one and less than all timing inputs available and being associated with a speculative processing task, and identifying non-speculative nodes among the nodes, each non-speculative node having all timing inputs available and being associated with a non-speculative processing task. Assigning each of the non-speculative processing tasks to a respective processor of a processing system specific to each design partition for timing analysis processing is done prior to assigning any of the speculative processing tasks.
US09916404B2	Dynamic bridging of interface protocols Systems and methods for protocol bridging for a system level modeling simulation (SLMS), such as a SYSTEMC simulation where the components communicate using a TLM2.0 application programming interface (API). The method includes accessing design configuration information describing a first component of the SLMS that uses a first communication protocol and a second component of the SLMS that uses a second communication protocol. Run-time bridging logic is inserted between the first component and the second component based on the design configuration information. The run-time bridging logic is inserted at initialization of the SLMS and configured to bridge the first communication protocol of the first component and the second communication protocol of the second component.
US09916399B2	Dynamic optimization of detailed flat design based on desired final structural attributes A method and system for creating a customized package design. Package design and preference information related to a shape of the package design is received. The preference information includes user-specified information related to one or more levels of one or more structural attributes of the package design. A detailed design is generated that incorporates the user-specified information and a detailed design file is generated and output. Generation of the detailed design includes identifying functional elements associated with the package that correspond to the user-specified information and altering at least one physical characteristic of the identified functional elements based upon the preference information, and incorporating the altered physical characteristic into the detailed design. A determination can be made as to whether the altered detailed design satisfies any constraints associated with the package being design, and the detailed design file can be updated accordingly.
US09916396B2	Methods and systems for content-based search A technique is provided for search. The technique includes providing content. The technique includes receiving gesture data from a user, wherein the gesture data reflects a selection of a substantially enclosed area of the display screen. The technique includes, in response to receiving the gesture information, determining one or more search criteria associated with content within the enclosed area, and providing data related to the one or more search criteria.
US09916390B2	Managing web browser cache for offline browsing Disclosed are systems and methods for managing a browser cache offline. An example method comprises storing in a cache of a web browser on a user device information about a plurality of contents of a web page visited by a user during one or more web browsing sessions; determining logical relationships among the plurality of the contents of the web page; associating the plurality of contents of the web page with a cluster based on the determined logical relationships; receiving a request to load a web page from the web browser on the user device; upon detecting that the user device is offline, determining and detecting that the requested web page is stored in the cache and is associated with a cluster, and retrieving from the cache for off-line browsing on the user device the plurality of contents of the requested web page associated with the identified cluster.
US09916389B2	Dynamic data collection A method and system. A framework, which is generated, is a table including N+1 columns and M+1 rows. A two-dimensional array within the table includes N×M intersections of the N remaining columns and the M remaining rows. A first row of the table identifies a filter including a list of K dimensions consisting of K dependent variables, and wherein N, M and K are each an integer of at least 2. The framework is transmitted to an end-user. A user-defined data collection tool is received and includes the table with the N×M intersections in the table each containing a measure of a dependent variable selected by the end-user independently from the K dependent variables. The dependent variable for each intersection is a function of the two dependent variables characterizing each intersection.
US09916385B2	Searching raw data from an external data system using a dual mode search system A search request received at a computer of a search support system is processed by analyzing the received search request to identify request parameters and connecting to a system index of the search support system that is referenced in the request parameters. An external result provider (ERP) process is initiated that establishes communication between the search support system and a data source external to the search support system, for a virtual index referenced in the request parameters. Thus, the ERP process provides an interface between the search support system and external data sources, such as by third parties. The ERP process can operate in a streaming mode (providing real-time search results with minimal processing) and/or a reporting mode (providing results with a greater delay and processing extent) and can switch between modes. The search request results are received from the connected system indexes and the referenced virtual indexes.
US09916379B2	Conversion of structured queries into unstructured queries for searching unstructured data store including timestamped raw machine data Technologies are described herein for executing queries expressed with reference to a structured query language against unstructured data. A user issues a structured query through a traditional structured data management (“SDM”) application. Upon receiving the structured query, an SDM driver analyzes the structured query and extracts a data structure from the unstructured data, if necessary. The structured query is then converted to an unstructured query based on the extracted data structure. The converted unstructured query may then be executed against the unstructured data. Results from the query are reorganized into structured data utilizing the extracted data structure and are then presented to the user through the SDM application.
US09916378B2	Selecting a structure to represent tabular information A table structure corresponding to the table is selected to describe when cells in a cell-pair in the table structure should be similar to one another. A cell similarity function is selected to compare the cells in the cell-pair and output a probability that the cell-pair includes cells that contain values that are similar to one another according to a criteria. A cell similarity probability is determined of a first cell and a second cell in a first cell-pair in the table structure being similar to each other according to the cell similarity function. A computed probability is adjusted of the table structure representing the table using the cell similarity probability. The computed probability is indicated as a probability of a first model representing the table, wherein the first model is a function of the table structure and the selected cell similarity function.
US09916375B2	Extraction of concept-based summaries from documents Embodiments of the present invention enable users to generate a summary for a document with respect to a concept, making use of inherent hierarchies present in a text document based on subject-object relationships of the sentences in the text document. In one embodiment, a text document is parsed into sentences, and a tuple is created for each sentence, the tuple comprising a subject and an object found in the sentence. The tuples may then be searched for a specified topic to identify matching tuples, as well as tuples that are related to the matching tuples based on relationships between their respective subjects and objects. A summary focused on the specified topic may then be generated using the sentences corresponding to the matching tuples and the tuples related to the matching tuples.
US09916374B2	On-the-fly calculation scenario provision during query runtime A query is received by a database server from a remote application server. The query encapsulates an on-the-fly calculation scenario that defines a data flow model that includes one or more calculation nodes. Thereafter, the database server instantiates the on-the-fly calculation scenario. The database server then executes the operations defined by the calculation nodes of the instantiated calculation scenario to result in a responsive data set so that the database server can provide the data set to the application server. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US09916373B2	Dynamic data partitioning extension Methods, systems, and computer program products are included for defining a partitioning strategy corresponding to an attribute, creating tables and inserting data into the tables according to the partitioning strategy, detecting triggering events, and responsive to the triggering events, dynamically activating tables for storing data.
US09916371B1	Methods computer readable media, and systems for copying data between mirrored systems A method includes receiving a copy command, by a primary data storage device, to copy a data portion stored on the primary data storage device to another location on the primary data storage device; determining, with a mirroring module, whether a local copy of the data portion is stored on a secondary data storage device and whether the another location on the primary data storage device is mirrored by the secondary data storage device, the secondary data storage device at least partially mirroring the primary data storage device; and if the local copy of the data portion is stored on the secondary data storage device and the another location is mirrored by the secondary data storage device, sending a second command to the secondary data storage device to copy the local copy of the data portion to another location on the secondary data storage device.
US09916370B1	Systems for crowd typing by hierarchy of influence Systems and methods for providing hierarchy scores are described. Generally, influence scores for authors of a crowd may be determined based on emotional scores and echoing of time series data strings. One or more regression lines may be determined based on the influence scores to provide a raw hierarchy score and/or a central hierarchy score. Analysis and/or comparisons of the hierarchy scores may be used to classify the crowd type and output an influential score report.
US09916369B2	System for calculating a social graph using a sugi The present invention includes a method, system, and computer-readable medium for calculating a social graph using a social utility grid interface. The method includes the following steps. First, collecting one or more types of communication data. Next, inputting the one or more types of communication data into a social utility grid infrastructure. The social utility grid infrastructure analyzes the input data to determine a multi-dimensional first-order social graph by: (1) normalizing each of the one or more types of communication data; (2) representing the each of the one or more types of communication data as a vector; (3) calculating a Euclidean Norm; and (4) generating the multi-dimensional first-order social graph. Then, providing the multi-dimensional first-order social graph to one or more software applications.
US09916367B2	Processing system search requests from multiple data stores with overlapping data In embodiments, a computer-implemented method may entail receiving a search request. A first data store and a second data store, that contains data archived from the first data store, may be identified. Data from the first data store may remain available in the first data store for a limited period of time once archived to the second data store. The first data store storing data in a first format and the second data store storing data in a second format, the first format and the second format being different from one another. Determining that a subset of data that has been archived into the second data store and is to be searched as part of the search request is still available from the first data store, and executing the search request on the subset of data utilizing the first data store. Additional embodiments are described and/or claimed.
US09916363B2	Method and apparatus for flexible diversification of recommendation results An approach is provided for diversifying recommendation results. A diversification manager determines one or more recommendation scores associated with one or more items. The one or more recommendation scores are for determining a sort order of the one or more items. The diversification manager then determines similarity information associated with the one or more items, and processes and/or facilitates a processing of the similarity information to cause, at least in part, an adjustment of the one or more recommendation scores, the sort order, or a combination thereof.
US09916361B2	Dynamically mapping zones Provided are techniques for dynamically mapping zones. For a file and a field, while receiving text characters, possible terms for the text characters are provided by querying an index. In response to receiving selection of a possible term from the possible terms, each occurrence and position of the selected term in the file is determined. In response to selection of an occurrence and position of the selected term, the file is marked to identify the selected occurrence at the position in the file. The selected term and the position are associated with the field for any other files that match a type of the file.
US09916356B2	Methods and systems for insert optimization of tiered data structures A memory controller receives request(s) to perform a plurality of memory operations on a datastore. The memory controller batches, into a set of leaf node operations, memory operations of the plurality of memory operations that are associated with keys in a range of keys, where a leaf node in a tiered data structure stored in the datastore is assigned the range of keys. The memory controller determines whether a condition is satisfied, and, in accordance with a determination that the condition is satisfied: locates the leaf node in the datastore; stores a copy of the leaf node in a cache; modifies the cached copy of the leaf node according to the set of leaf node operations so as to obtain one or more modified leaf nodes; and writes the one or more modified leaf nodes to one or more locations in the datastore with one or more write operations.
US09916355B2	System and methods for enabling arbitrary developer code consumption of web-based data A structured file includes information to bind a web data source to a web data query system. Code is embedded within the structured file and is in a code language understood by the web data query system. The code is unrestricted in function. Code language objects are exposed within the web data query system for use by the code to interface with the web data query system and the web data source. A URL is associated with the structured file to enable access of the structured file through the Internet. A unit-based quota method is implemented to manage execution of code in the structured file. The unit-based quota method collapses multiple dimensions of computing resource control into a single unit value, tracks a number of units expended by the code, and stops execution of the code when the number of units expended by the code reaches a set limit.
US09916349B2	Expansion of database search queries Systems and methods are provided for expanding database search queries. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a token that is usable in search queries for data in a database, the database including items of data stored in a tree hierarchy of categories. The method further comprises determining a synonym candidate for the token, and identifying the synonym candidate as a synonym for the token in response to a determination that the token and the synonym candidate are in a same category for a level of the tree hierarchy.
US09916346B2	Interactive command entry list A list of command entries is displayed in a search interface, each of the command entries representing one or more commands of a plurality of commands of a search query. The list of command entries are displayed in a sequence corresponding to the plurality of commands of the search query. Based on a user interaction with a designated command entry in the displayed list of command entries, the displayed list of command entries is modified with respect to the designated command. Furthermore, the search query is automatically modified with respect to the corresponding one or more commands represented by the designated command entry. The modification can include causing the designated command entry to be removed from or reordered in the displayed list of command entries and the automatic modification cam include causing the corresponding one or more commands to be removed from or reordered in the search query.
US09916344B2	Computation of composite functions in a map-reduce framework Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient systems and methods for processing large data sets using a composite function. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to compute a broad range of composite functions in a single map-reduce job. Each mapper computes an additive function G on a set of specified data partitions, and then passes the results to one or more reducers. The one or more reducers can then compute a function F, using the aggregate results of function G and data from a single partition.
US09916343B2	Efficient tracking of an alternate global update and read values using exception lists Optimizing approximation of an earliest access time of objects in a datasharing environment by maintaining a global exception list for objects that are accessed by transactions that commit infrequently. The global exception list comprises a time value representing the earliest access time for each object in the global exception list, and an object identifier. The system references the global exception list to determine whether the object is in the global exception list. If the object is in the global exception list, the system uses the time value associated with the object when determining the earliest access time for the object. If not, the system approximates the earliest access time of the object by selecting the most recent access time value from the global exception list, providing more recent access times for objects accessed by transactions that commit frequently.
US09916342B2	System and method for license reclamation The present disclosure describes systems and methods for managing and implementing an asset license reclamation program across a network. The status of an asset, such as computer software, is automatically determined and if the asset does not meet particular use criteria, the asset may be flagged for reclamation and/or redeployment, either within the same network segment or in a separate network segment.
US09916336B2	Tree-search temporal-miss handling A temporal-miss handler includes updating a data leaf in a tree-structured database of a communications processor with a plurality of threads. A search for the data leaf includes generating at least one search result for one of the plurality of threads. A sufficiency of a temporal separation, between updating the data leaf and searching for the data leaf, to retrieve the data leaf is determined. Each search result is cleared when the temporal separation is insufficient. A new search is performed when the temporal separation is insufficient.
US09916333B2	Enabling collaborative development of a database application across multiple database management systems An approach for enabling collaborative development of a database application is provided. Specifically, this approach provides a database development and collaboration tool (DDCT), which can be utilized by multiple developers involved in a particular software project, to enable automated synchronization and database version control by allowing a database development language and data changes to be stored in a metadata form that is general to more than one database management system (DBMS). Each developer is united and able to collaborate through the system, thus ensuring that a change to a database structure and/or data in a static data table created in a particular database language by one developer is automatically incorporated in the overall development process. Furthermore, the DDCT provides the opportunity to maintain a single repository entry for more than one DBMS, which simplifies synchronization.
US09916327B2	System and methods for remote image acquisition and remote image processing of a document A document processing system for remote processing an image frame of a document and methods of using thereof. The system includes a remote server, having a processing unit and a data repository unit. The system further includes a personal mobile device having an image acquisition device for acquiring at least one image frame of a document, a communication unit adapted to communicate with the processing unit and an image-transmission-management module. Upon receiving the at least one image frame of a document by the remote server from the personal mobile device, via the wireless network, the processing unit extracts textual data, image data or both from the received at least one image frame to thereby create extracted data; associates an access code to the extracted data; and stores the at least one image frame, the extracted data and the associated access code in the data repository unit.
US09916311B1	Storage of bursty data using multiple storage tiers with heterogeneous device storage Improved techniques are provided for storing bursty data, such as checkpoints, in parallel computing environments. A parallel file system is provided comprising at least first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of storage; and at least one processing device configured to store burst data from a plurality of distributed processes for a given burst operation during the given burst operation on both of the at least first and second storage tiers. The given burst operation comprises a multi-phase input/output (IO) task, such as a checkpoint, having alternating periods of idle time and bursts of write and/or storage activity. A method is also provided for provisioning a parallel file system by obtaining a specification of burst data requirements for the parallel file system and determining an amount of storage required for at least first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of storage to satisfy the burst data requirements.
US09916310B2	Data storage system with fixity end-to-end data protection during data archiving A data storage system is provided that is configured to achieve end-to-end data protection. The system includes a server running a storage archive manager with a first fixity support module, and the system includes a tape drive running a second fixity support module. During operations, the storage archive manager reads a data file with associated fixity information from a disk storage device, and the storage archive manager builds a set of blocks from the data file for writing to the tape drive. The first fixity support module checks fixity of the set of blocks by processing the fixity information associated with the data file. The processing of the fixity information includes determining whether data in the set of blocks is out of order relative to data in the data file or whether data in the set of blocks is corrupt relative to the data in the data file.
US09916306B2	Statistical linguistic analysis of source content Systems and method for statistical linguistic analysis. According to some embodiments, methods may include evaluating a source text using one or more types of statistical linguistic analysis to determine a translatability of the source text and providing the translatability of the source text to a client node.
US09916302B2	Text processing using entailment recognition, group generation, and group integration Provided is a text processing system capable of classifying a plurality of texts into groups whose overviews are able to be grasped and classifying texts semantically having entailment relation into the same group even if the texts are not determined to have the entailment relation. Entailment recognition means 71 performs entailment recognition between texts on given texts. Group generation means 72 selects an individual text and generates a group including texts entailing the selected text as members. Group integration means 73 integrates groups in the case where groups satisfy a predetermined condition based on the degree of overlap of members between groups.
US09916293B2	Module specification for a module to be incorporated into a container document A computer readable medium, an electronic document or a system that uses on of these that includes code that specifies a module for a container document using a content type element, a content element and one or more preference elements.
US09916292B2	Method of identifying a target object on a web page The methods and systems described herein relate to identifying a target object on a web page by receiving rendering instructions associated with the web page, parsing the rendering instructions to identify a target object candidate amongst the web page elements; rendering the web page based on the rendering instructions, executing a verification process to confirm that the target object candidate is the target object, applying a set of predetermined rules to the rendered version of the target object candidate and assigning a likelihood parameter indicative of a probability of the target object candidate being the target object. Other embodiments of the verification process are also disclosed herein.
US09916291B2	Method, apparatus, and terminal device for displaying multiple input boxes in a web page where display space is limited A method, an apparatus, and a terminal device for displaying multiple input boxes in a web page are provided. The method includes: obtaining, by an obtaining unit using a processor, a focus input box in a web page currently displayed by a terminal device; searching, by a searching unit using a processor, for other input boxes in the web page in a preset distance range of the focus input box; rolling, by a rolling unit using a processor, the web page and/or canvas of the display screen of the terminal device when the other input boxes are located in a lower level of an interface, so that the focus input box and the other input boxes are displayed in a visible area of the display screen of the terminal device simultaneously.
US09916289B2	Syndication of associations relating data and metadata Methods and systems for passively relating data to metadata are disclosed. Associations are created, at a first computer system, that relate data in a first database to metadata in a second database. The associations are syndicated at the computer system to a first software application associated with the data. The syndicating to cause the first software application executing at a second computer system to display a visual clue to a user in a graphical interface associated with the first software application wherein the visual clue is visually associated with a visual representation of the data. Upon detecting a user interaction with the visual clue, cause the first software application to display a first portion of the metadata in the graphical interface.
US09916285B2	Generating a preview of a web page for a mobile terminal Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for previewing a web page. The methods include: sending a web page previewing request to a middleware server in accordance with a web page previewing triggering instruction; loading, by the middleware server, a main document of a web page link requested to be previewed in accordance with the web page previewing request, and typesetting the main document; and partially capturing the typeset main document and uniformly scaling the captured typeset main document in accordance with a screen size of a mobile terminal to generate a preview image for the mobile terminal to display. With the present disclosure, a web page can be rapidly previewed, thereby reducing the waiting time of a user.
US09916280B2	Virtualizing TCP/IP services with shared memory transport A method for testing a client service locally using a shared memory transport is presented. The method may include recording a plurality of interactions between the client service located in a local host and a real server. The method may include generating a virtual server based on the recorded plurality of interactions. The method may include deploying the generated virtual server in the local host. The method may include executing the client service. The method may include receiving a TCP/IP request from the client service. The method may include converting the received TCP/IP request to a shared memory request. The method may include sending the shared memory request to the virtual server. The method may include receiving a shared memory reply from the virtual server. The method may include sending the shared memory reply to the client service.
US09916275B2	Preventing input/output (I/O) traffic overloading of an interconnect channel in a distributed data storage system Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include configuring distributed storage system resources for a distributed storage system. Examples of the storage system resources include a plurality of network segments, one or more network devices coupled to the network, and multiple nodes coupled to the network, the nodes including both frontend and backend nodes. Upon receiving, by a given frontend node in the distributed storage system, an input/output (I/O) request, one or more of the distributed storage system resources required to process the I/O request are identified, and a respective load that the I/O request will generate on each of the identified distributed storage system resources is calculated. The distributed storage system processes the I/O request upon detecting that the respective loads are less than respective available capacities of the identified distributed storage system resources.
US09916273B2	Sideband serial channel for PCI express peripheral devices Obtaining data about a peripheral device deployed in a computing environment. A method includes transmitting a primary data stream across a shared communication channel between the peripheral device and a host hosting the peripheral device. The method further includes transmitting on the shared communication channel, a secondary state information stream of consecutively occurring messages with peripheral device state information.
US09916269B1	Packet queueing for network device A packet header is received from a host and written to a header queue. A direct memory access (DMA) descriptor is received from the host and written to a packet descriptor queue. The DMA descriptor points to packet data in a host memory. The packet data is fetched from host memory and the packet header and the packet data are provided to a network interface.
US09916268B2	Data transfer using a descriptor A data processing apparatus includes a number of processor cores, a shared processor cache, a bus unit and a bus controller. The shared processor cache is connected to each of the processor cores and to a main memory. The bus unit is connected to the shared processor cache by a bus controller for transferring data to/from an I/O device. In order to achieve further improvements to the data transfer rate between the processor cache and I/O devices, the bus controller is configured, in response to receiving a descriptor from a processor core, to perform a direct memory access to the shared processor cache for transferring data according to the descriptor from the shared processor cache to the I/O device via the bus unit.
US09916267B1	Migrating interrupts from a source I/O adapter of a source computing system to a destination I/O adapter of a destination computing system Migrating interrupts from a source I/O adapter of a source computing system to a destination I/O adapter of a destination computing system, includes: collecting, by a source hypervisor of the source computing system, interrupt mapping information, were the source hypervisor supports operation of a logical partition executing on the source computing system and the logical partition is configured to receive interrupts from the source I/O adapter; configuring, by the destination hypervisor of the destination computing system, the destination computing system with the interrupt mapping information collected by the source hypervisor; placing, by a destination hypervisor of the destination computing system, the destination I/O adapter in an error state; migrating the logical partition from the source computing system to the destination computing system; and restarting the logical partition on the destination computing system, including recovering, by the logical partition, from the error state.
US09916260B2	Computer system with memory aging for high performance A memory manager in a computer system that ages memory for high performance. The efficiency of operation of the computer system can be improved by dynamically setting an aging schedule based on a predicted time for trimming pages from a working set. An aging schedule that generates aging information that better discriminates among pages in a working set based on activity level enables selection of pages to trim that are less likely to be accessed following trimming. As a result of being able to identify and trim less active pages, inefficiencies arising from restoring trimmed pages to the working set are avoided.
US09916257B2	Method and apparatus for TLB shoot-down in a heterogeneous computing system supporting shared virtual memory Methods and apparatus are disclosed for efficient TLB (translation look-aside buffer) shoot-downs for heterogeneous devices sharing virtual memory in a multi-core system. Embodiments of an apparatus for efficient TLB shoot-downs may include a TLB to store virtual address translation entries, and a memory management unit, coupled with the TLB, to maintain PASID (process address space identifier) state entries corresponding to the virtual address translation entries. The PASID state entries may include an active reference state and a lazy-invalidation state. The memory management unit may perform atomic modification of PASID state entries responsive to receiving PASID state update requests from devices in the multi-core system and read the lazy-invalidation state of the PASID state entries. The memory management unit may send PASID state update responses to the devices to synchronize TLB entries prior to activation responsive to the respective lazy-invalidation state.
US09916256B1	DDR storage adapter A method of accessing a persistent memory over a memory interface is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes allocating a virtual address range comprising virtual memory pages to be associated with physical pages of a memory buffer and marking each page table entry associated with the virtual address range as not having a corresponding one of the physical pages of the memory buffer. The method further includes generating a page fault when one or more of the virtual memory pages within the virtual address range is accessed and mapping page table entries of the virtual memory pages to the physical pages of the memory buffer. The method further includes transferring data between a physical page of the persistent memory and one of the physical pages of the memory buffer mapped to a corresponding one of the virtual memory pages.
US09916255B2	Data storage based on memory persistency Technologies are generally described for methods and systems effective to store data in a memory module. The memory module may include a volatile portion and a non-volatile portion. The methods may comprise receiving, by a processor, a request to store the data. The request may include an indication of a virtual address. The methods may further include determining, by the processor, a persistency of the data based on the virtual address. The methods may further include performing a first operation of identifying a particular portion of the memory module based on the virtual address. The methods may further include generating a command to store the data in the particular portion of the memory module. The methods may further include controlling the operating system to perform a second operation of updating a translation lookaside buffer to indicate the persistency of the data.
US09916254B2	Error detection using a logical address key A logical address key is generated based at least in part on a logical address. Encoded data is generated by systematically error correction encoding the logical address key and write data. One or more physical addresses are determined that correspond to the logical address where the physical addresses that correspond to the logical address are dynamic. At the physical addresses, the encoded data is stored with the logical address key removed.
US09916250B2	Method for using service level objectives to dynamically allocate cache resources among competing workloads A method, device, and non-transitory computer readable medium that dynamically allocates cache resources includes monitoring a hit or miss rate of a service level objective for each of a plurality of prior workloads and a performance of each of a plurality of cache storage resources. At least one configuration for the cache storage resources for one or more current workloads is determined based at least on a service level objective for each of the current workloads, the monitored hit or miss rate for each of the plurality of prior workloads and the monitored performance of each of the plurality of cache storage resources. The cache storage resources are dynamically partitioned among each of the current workloads based on the determined configuration.
US09916249B2	Space allocation in a multi-grained writeback cache In one embodiment, a system includes a cache storage device and a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to receive a write request including data to be written to the cache storage device. The logic is also configured to determine a size of the write request. Moreover, the logic is configured to select a chunk size from among a plurality of chunk sizes designated for storing data in the cache storage device. In addition, the logic is configured to allocate a fine block descriptor (FBD) having the selected chunk size to the write request.
US09916241B2	Storage controller caching using symmetric storage class memory devices Systems and techniques for performing a data transaction are disclosed that provide data redundancy using two or more cache devices. In some embodiments, a data transaction is received by a storage controller of a storage system from a host system. The storage controller caches data and/or metadata associated with the data transaction to at least two cache devices that are discrete from the storage controller. After caching, the storage controller provides a transaction completion response to the host system from which the transaction was received. In some examples, each of the at least two cache devices includes a storage class memory. In some examples, the storage controller caches metadata to the at least two cache devices and to a controller cache of the storage controller, while data is cached to the at least two cache devices without being cached in the controller cache.
US09916239B2	Multi-section garbage collection The embodiments relate to a computer system, computer program product and method for managing a garbage collection process. Processing control is obtained based on execution of a load instruction and a determination that an object pointer to be loaded indicates a location within a selected portion of memory undergoing a garbage collection process. The determination includes identifying a base address and size of a first memory block subject to the garbage collection, subdividing the first memory block into sections, assigning a binary value to each section, and determining if the first memory block corresponds to the enabled section. An image of the load instruction is obtained and a pointer address is calculated from the image. The object pointer is read and it is determined whether the object pointer is to be modified. The object pointer is modified and stored in a selected location.
US09916231B2	Modular plug-and-play system for continuous model driven testing A method for testing an application running on an electronic device includes parsing, by a test processor, a state model of the application representing relationships among a plurality nodes, each node representing an application state. The method further includes parsing, by the test processor, a test implementation file including a plurality of commands for manipulating at least one of the application and the electronic device, each of the plurality of commands associated with respective ones of the plurality of nodes, traversing, by the test processor, the state model of the application by selecting for testing an application node in accordance with the node relationships in the state model. The method also includes selecting, by the test processor, one or more of the plurality of commands for testing the application based on at least one criteria, and executing, by the test processor, the one or more selected commands.
US09916226B2	Parallel software testing A system of testing software is provided. The system comprises a first hardware system having hardware components to execute a first version of the software, and additionally comprises a second hardware system having hardware components to execute a second version of the software. Here, the first version of the software and the second version are different. In addition, the system includes a device configured to test the first hardware system and the second hardware system by providing first input data traffic to the first hardware system, providing second input data traffic to the second hardware system, and accessing performance values from the first hardware system and the second hardware system to evaluate a performance comparison between the first hardware system executing the first version of the software and the second hardware system executing the second version of the software.
US09916219B2	System for security conscious energy drain A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for detecting unanticipated consumption of power by a device. A first set of power consumption data is selected, followed by the collection of a second set of power consumption data, which respectively correspond to the consumption of a first and second amount of power by a device when it performs an authorized operation. The first and second sets of power consumption data are then compared to detect whether the second amount of power consumed is greater than the first amount of power consumed. If so, then a notification is generated, stating that the device has consumed an unanticipated greater amount of power as a result of performing the authorized operation.
US09916218B2	Method and apparatus for intercepting implanted information in application The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for intercepting implanted information in an application. The method comprises: determining an Application Programming interface API invoked by an implanted information code as a key API in accordance with information collected in advance, wherein the key API is the API provided by an implanted information provider; after starting a target application, monitoring an act of the target application invoking the key API by hooking the key API; and if the target application initiates a request to invoke the key API, determining that the implanted information code is contained in the target application and intercepting the request to invoke the key API so as to stop the implanted information code from running and to realize the interception of the implanted information in the target application.
US09916217B2	Accessing hidden diagnostic registers A system includes a CPU including a primary address decode logic module (PADLM) and a plurality of diagnostic registers, wherein the PADLM includes address bus inputs, and an enable input port. The system further includes a data flip-flop having a data input coupled to a master enable signal line, a set input coupled to an interrupt signal line, an output coupled to the enable input port of the PADLM, and a clock input. Still further, the system includes an address decode logic module having a memory address input and an output indicating whether the memory address is within a predetermined address range of the diagnostic registers, wherein the output of the address decode logic module is coupled to the clock input. Memory mapping is enabled in response to receiving an interrupt signal and determining that the memory address is within a predetermined range of memory addresses for diagnostic registers.
US09916214B2	Preventing split-brain scenario in a high-availability cluster As disclosed herein a method, executed by a computer, includes determining, by a processor, that a first node of a HA cluster is unable to communicate with a second node of the HA cluster, and initiating, by a processor, by the first node, a handshake operation with a connected client, wherein the handshake operation comprises requesting that the client determine a status of the second node and receiving, from the client, a response indicating the status of the second node. The method further includes accepting, by a processor, new requests in response to determining that the second node is unavailable, and requesting, by a processor, restoration of communications between the first node and the second node in response to determining that the second node is available. A computer system and computer program product corresponding to the above method are also disclosed herein.
US09916212B2	Method, apparatus, and system for targeted healing of write fails through bias temperature instability Method, apparatus, and system for improving semiconductor device writeability at row/bit level through bias temperature instability. Such a device may comprise a plurality of cells of an array, wherein each of the cells comprises a pass gate and a latch; a plurality of word lines, wherein each word line comprises a supply voltage line (VCS) which supplies voltage to each latch of a first number of cells; an array VCS driver electrically connected to each VCS; and a control line configured to provide an operational array supply voltage, a first array supply voltage, or a second array supply voltage to each VCS, wherein the first array supply voltage and the second array supply voltage are greater than the operational array supply voltage. By virtue of BTI, application of the first array supply voltage may lead to improved writeability of one or more cells of the device.
US09916211B2	Relational database recovery A database recovery and index rebuilding method involves reading data pages for a database to be recovered as recovery bases; retrieving all log records from stored post-backup updates and sorting the retrieved log records; as the data pages to be recovered are read, applying the sorted log records to their respective data pages; as the applying completes for individual data pages, extracting and sorting index keys from the individual data pages for which the applying is complete, until all index keys have been extracted from all individual data pages and sorted; on an individual recovered page basis, writing the recovered individual data pages into the database; and when all index keys have been extracted and sorted from all of the recovered individual data pages, rebuilding indexes of the database using the sorted index keys and writing the rebuilt indexes to the non-transitory storage.
US09916210B2	Data asset reconstruction According to an aspect, data asset reconstruction includes receiving a data lineage for a data asset, where the data lineage identifies a data source connected to the data asset by an intermediate process. It is determined whether the intermediate process can be used to reconstruct a lost data asset. Based on determining that the intermediate process can be used to reconstruct the lost data asset, reconstructing the lost data asset with the intermediate process and the data source.
US09916207B2	Data backup or restore using main memory and non-volatile storage media The invention relates to a computer implemented method for creating a backup of data by a computer system. The creation of the backup comprises: assigning a first memory space in a main memory to data and loading the data into the first memory space; allocating a second memory space in the main memory for acting as container of one or more images of the data in the first memory space; creating the one or more images of the data in the first memory space; and storing the created one or more images in the second memory space and storing a respective copy of at least one of the one or more images in the one or more non-volatile storage media.
US09916206B2	Deduplicated data distribution techniques In connection with a data distribution architecture, client-side “deduplication” techniques may be utilized for data transfers occurring among various file system nodes. In some examples, these deduplication techniques involve fingerprinting file system elements that are being shared and transferred, and dividing each file into separate units referred to as “blocks” or “chunks.” These separate units may be used for independently rebuilding a file from local and remote collections, storage locations, or sources. The deduplication techniques may be applied to data transfers to prevent unnecessary data transfers, and to reduce the amount of bandwidth, processing power, and memory used to synchronize and transfer data among the file system nodes. The described deduplication concepts may also be applied for purposes of efficient file replication, data transfers, and file system events occurring within and among networks and file system nodes.
US09916202B1	Redirecting host IO's at destination during replication A technique for providing access to a data object serving as a target of snapshot-shipping replication includes taking a system snap of the data object after completion of each of multiple snapshot-shipping updates. In response to a data storage system receiving an IO (input/output) request to read and/or write to the data object, a data storage system redirects the IO request to a previously generated system snap, so that the data storage system performs the operation specified in the IO request on the system snap rather than of the data object itself.
US09916201B2	Write performance in fault-tolerant clustered storage systems Embodiments relate to supporting transaction data committed to a stable storage. Committed data in the cluster is stored in the persistent cache layer and replicated and stored in the cache layer of one or more secondary nodes. One copy is designated as a master copy and all other copies are designated as replica, with an exclusive write lock assigned to the master and a shared write lock extended to the replica. An acknowledgement of receiving the data is communicated following confirmation that the data has been replicated to each node designated to receive the replica. Managers and a director are provided to support management of the master copy and the replicas within the file system, including invalidation of replicas, fault tolerance associated with failure of a node holding a master copy, recovery from a failed node, recovered of the file system from a power failure, and transferring master and replica copies within the file system.
US09916198B2	Erasure coding and replication in storage clusters A cluster receives a request to store an object using replication or erasure coding. The cluster writes the object using erasure coding. A manifest is written that includes an indication of erasure coding and a unique identifier for each segment. The cluster returns a unique identifier of the manifest. The cluster receives a request from a client that includes a unique identifier. The cluster determines whether the object has been stored using replication or erasure coding. If using erasure coding, the method reads a manifest. The method identifies segments within the cluster using unique segment identifiers of the manifest. Using these unique segment identifiers, the method reconstructs the object. A persistent storage area of another disk is scanned to find a unique identifier of a failed disk. If using erasure coding, a missing segment previously stored on the disk is identified. The method locates other segments. Missing segments are regenerated.
US09916196B2	Memory module with dedicated repair devices A memory module includes a substrate, and respective first, second and third memory devices. The first memory device is of a first type disposed on the substrate and has addressable storage locations. The second memory device is also of the first type, and includes storage cells dedicated to store failure address information associated with defective storage locations in the first memory device. The third memory device is of the first type and includes storage cells dedicated to substitute as storage locations for the defective storage locations.
US09916191B1	Techniques for efficiently performing a filesystem consistency check A method of efficiently checking a filesystem for errors is provided, the filesystem including a set of data blocks and a set of VBPs, the set of VBPs arranged in a set of VBP blocks, each VBP block storing a plurality of the VBPs. The method includes multiple stages, one stage including iterating through VBP blocks of the filesystem to generate a validity bitmap, and a later stage including traversing a block pointer structure associated with each of a set of files of the filesystem, the traversal making reference to the validity bitmap.
US09916187B2	Graph database system that dynamically compiles and executes custom graph analytic programs written in high-level, imperative programming language Techniques are provided for a graph database system that accepts custom graph analytic programs that are written in a high-level graph-specific programming language and compiles the programs into executables that, when executed, directly access graph data of a graph that is stored in the graph database. In this way, a low-level data-access API is avoided. Also, a graph analytic program, which only describes an abstract description of an algorithm, does not include any details regarding data access. In one technique, a user is not required to include explicit parallelization in a graph analytic program in order for the graph analytic program to take advantage of parallelization. A compiler of the graph database system identifies portions of the graph analytic program that can benefit from parallelization and, in response, generates parallelized executable code that corresponds to those portions.
US09916186B2	Managing processing associated with selected architectural facilities A facility is provided that, when installed, removes from an architecture a selected architectural function, such that the function is not able to be turned on/off regardless of other controls within the environment. When the facility is installed, the architectural function is not supported when processing in an architectural mode based on the architecture. It is as if the selected architectural function is no longer available in the architecture, and in fact, the code implementing the facility may have been deleted, bypassed, or otherwise eliminated. One such architectural function is virtual address translation, such as dynamic address translation (DAT), and the architecture is, for instance, ESA/390.
US09916184B2	Data relocation in global storage cloud environments Methods and systems for data relocation in global storage cloud environments are provided. A method includes locating a data server near a travel location of a user based on one or more travel plans of the user. The method further includes transferring data of the user from a home data server near a home location of the user to the data server near the travel location.
US09916183B2	Scheduling mapreduce jobs in a cluster of dynamically available servers There is provided a method, a system and a computer program product for improving performance and fairness in sharing a cluster of dynamically available computing resources among multiple jobs. The system collects at least one parameter associated with availability of a plurality of computing resources. The system calculates, based on the collected parameter, an effective processing time each computing resource can provide to each job. The system allocates, based on the calculated effective processing time, the computing resources to the multiple jobs, whereby the multiple jobs are completed at a same time or an approximate time.
US09916181B2	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.
US09916175B2	Multi-session zero client device and network for transporting separated flows to device sessions via virtual nodes A network of nodes transports a plurality of flows from central nodes to a plurality of display sessions executing processes that operate under the control of one or more central operating systems. A plurality of isolated virtual nodes comprises 1) a plurality of virtual graphics nodes that concurrently process graphics flows used in the plurality of display sessions at the plurality of remote zero client nodes and 2) a plurality of virtual switches that switch the concurrently processed graphic flows from the virtual graphics nodes to the plurality of remote zero client nodes. Two or more graphic flows are used simultaneously in two or more display sessions at a single remote zero client node that executes a separating operating system for separating the two or more display sessions from each other based on a a separation policy for the two or more graphics flows.
US09916173B2	Facilitating execution of MMIO based instructions A hypervisor of a host receives an indication of an exit from a guest to the hypervisor and a memory-mapped input output (MMIO) address that caused the exit to hypervisor. The hypervisor walks a page table of the guest to identify a guest address associated with the MMIO address that caused the exit to the hypervisor. The hypervisor decodes an instruction of the guest referenced by the guest address to determine a type of operation that the guest intended to execute and a location of MMIO information. The hypervisor records, in a page table entry for the MMIO address of a host page table, an association with the type of operation and the location of the MMIO information. The hypervisor executes the operation on behalf of the guest based on the type of the operation and the MMIO information.
US09916168B2	Automated testing of GUI mirroring Testing correct mirroring of a GUI. Two GUI specifications are received, one that specifies text elements in a left-to-right natural language and another that specifies text elements in a right-to-left natural language and corresponds to a horizontally mirrored counterpart of the first GUI specification. For each child element in the first specification a start position, width, and a width of its parent GUI element are determined; for the corresponding specification a start position and width for the counterpart element is determined, a horizontally mirrored start position is calculated for the child element, it is determined whether the start position and width of the counterpart child GUI element are within a predefined tolerance of the calculated horizontally mirrored start position and the width, respectively, of the child GUI element; and, if not, the second GUI specification is updated with the calculated horizontally mirrored start position or width.
US09916167B2	Automated testing of GUI mirroring Testing correct mirroring of a GUI. Two GUI specifications are received, one that specifies text elements in a left-to-right natural language and another that specifies text elements in a right-to-left natural language and corresponds to a horizontally mirrored counterpart of the first GUI specification. For each child element in the first specification a start position, width, and a width of its parent GUI element are determined; for the corresponding specification a start position and width for the counterpart element is determined, a horizontally mirrored start position is calculated for the child element, it is determined whether the start position and width of the counterpart child GUI element are within a predefined tolerance of the calculated horizontally mirrored start position and the width, respectively, of the child GUI element; and, if not, the second GUI specification is updated with the calculated horizontally mirrored start position or width.
US09916166B2	Power supply control for a processing device, array-type processing device,and information processing system, and control method thereof This invention provides an array-type processing device which can reduce power consumption and can also reduce a processing performance drop caused by switching of configuration information. An array-type processing device, which includes a first domain and a second domain, the device comprises a plurality of processing units which are allocated in the first domain, and each of which includes a plurality of processing elements and a router configured to control connections between the plurality of processing elements, a configuration information supply unit configured to supply configuration information to one or more processing units of the plurality of processing units, the configuration information supply unit being allocated in the second domain, and a power supply control unit configured to control the power supply to the plurality of processing units, the power supply control unit being allocated in the second domain.
US09916162B2	Using a global barrier to synchronize across local thread groups in general purpose programming on GPU Methods and systems may synchronize workloads across local thread groups. The methods and systems may provide for receiving, at a graphics processor, a workload from a host processor and receiving, at a plurality of processing elements, a plurality of threads that from one or more local thread groups. Additionally, the processing of the workload may be synchronized across the one or more thread groups. In one example, the global barrier determines that all threads across the thread groups have been completed without polling.
US09916160B2	Rotate instructions that complete execution either without writing or reading flags A method of one aspect may include receiving a rotate instruction. The rotate instruction may indicate a source operand and a rotate amount. A result may be stored in a destination operand indicated by the rotate instruction. The result may have the source operand rotated by the rotate amount. Execution of the rotate instruction may complete without reading a carry flag.
US09916152B2	Systems and methods for managing computer components A computer-based method for managing a plurality of computer components in an organization is provided. The method is implemented using a Component Manager (CM) computing device. The method includes receiving, from a stakeholder computing device, component data for at least one computer component of the plurality of computer components. The method also includes storing the component data in a memory block in the memory device. The method further includes assigning a first lifecycle classification, a domain, and at least one stakeholder to the at least one computer component by updating the memory block in the memory device. The method also includes causing the stakeholder computing device to electronically display an interactive dashboard that includes a graphical representation of the at least one computer component. The method further includes prompting a stakeholder to update a component utilization scheme for the computer component, by electronically displaying the graphical representation.
US09916150B2	Public network distribution of software updates Updates for an enterprise's software product are made available to user devices on-line, even when network resources of the enterprise are unavailable. Software update sets and notifications concerning the update sets may be published by an enterprise for consumption by content distribution partners of the enterprise and parties not affiliated with the enterprise. Each abstraction relating to an update, including update notifications and update sets may include a cryptographic signature for later use in authenticating the source of the abstraction. Update notifications also may include information indicative of: available update sets; and network locations at which the update sets can be accessed. Further, an update notification may be configured with a time-to-live (TTL) value indicating a value of time after which the notification expires. TTL values give the enterprise some control over the distribution of update sets by limiting the lifespan of the update notifications corresponding to the update sets.
US09916146B2	Software analysis framework Presently described is a decompilation method of operation and system for parsing executable code, identifying and recursively modeling data flows, identifying and recursively modeling control flow, and iteratively refining these models to provide a complete model at the nanocode level. The nanocode decompiler may be used to determine if flaws, security vulnerabilities, or general quality issues exist in the code. The nanocode decompiler outputs in a standardized, human-readable intermediate representation (IR) designed for automated or scripted analysis and reporting. Reports may take the form of a computer annotated and/or partially human annotated nanocode listing in the above-described IR. Annotations may include plain English statements regarding flaws and pointers to badly constructed data structures, unchecked buffers, malicious embedded code or “trap doors,” and the like. Annotations may be generated through a scripted analysis process or by means of an expert-enhanced, quasi-autonomous system.
US09916144B2	Arranging binary code based on call graph partitioning Mechanisms are provided for arranging binary code to reduce instruction cache conflict misses. These mechanisms generate a call graph of a portion of code. Nodes and edges in the call graph are weighted to generate a weighted call graph. The weighted call graph is then partitioned according to the weights, affinities between nodes of the call graph, and the size of cache lines in an instruction cache of the data processing system, so that binary code associated with one or more subsets of nodes in the call graph are combined into individual cache lines based on the partitioning. The binary code corresponding to the partitioned call graph is then output for execution in a computing device.
US09916142B2	Reducing call overhead through function splitting Embodiments disclose a method, computer program product, and system for optimizing computer functions. The embodiment may create a control flow graph from a computer function. The control flow graph may contain an entry block, an exit block, and basic blocks located between the entry block and the exit block. The embodiment may classify each of the basic blocks as an original heavy basic block or an original light basic block. The embodiment may classify the original heavy block, the exit block and each of the basic blocks that are located between each original heavy block and the exit block as a determined heavy block. The embodiment may create light computer functions and heavy computer functions from the computer function. Each heavy computer function contains the basic blocks classified as determined heavy. The light computer functions contains the remaining basic blocks, the exit block and calls to the heavy computer functions.
US09916135B2	Scaling a cloud infrastructure A method for scaling a cloud infrastructure, comprises receiving at least one of resource-level metrics and application-level metrics, estimating parameters of at least one application based on the received metrics, automatically and dynamically determining directives for scaling application deployment based on the estimated parameters, and providing the directives to a cloud service provider to execute the scaling.
US09916131B2	Techniques and devices for performing arithmetic A two-operand adder circuit is provided. The two-operand adder circuit may be configured to receive a bit of a second addend, a carry-in bit, and one or more bits encoding a bit of a first addend, and to provide an output representing a sum of the bit of the first addend, the bit of the second addend, and the carry-in bit.
US09916128B2	Visual and voice co-browsing framework A computer system may include logic configured to enable voice-enabled web pages. The logic may be configured to receive a request for a web page that includes Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) content and voice browser content from an HTML browser running on a user device; generate a co-browsing session identifier based on the received request; provide a response to the HTML browser, wherein the response includes the HTML content, the generated co-browsing session identifier, and an instruction to establish a Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) connection with an interactive voice response (IVR) system associated with the voice browser content; receive an indication from the IVR system that the WebRTC connection has been established for the co-browsing session identifier; and provide the voice browser content to a voice browser in the IVR system, in response to receiving the indication that the WebRTC connections has been established for the co-browsing session identifier.
US09916127B1	Audio input replay enhancement with closed captioning display Provided are techniques for audio input replay enhancement. It is determined that an audio input has been replayed a pre-determined number of times. In response to the determination, a key segment in the audio input is identified and a preferred language of a user listening to the audio input is identified. In response to determining that a language of the audio input is not the preferred language of the user, the key segment is translated into the preferred language of the user. While replaying the audio input, playing of the key segment is automatically slowed down and closed captioning is displayed for the key segment in the preferred language of the user.
US09916126B2	Smart audio settings Embodiments described herein provide for smart configuration of audio settings for a playback device. According to an embodiment, while a playback device is a part of a first zone group that includes the playback device and at least one first playback device, the playback device applies a first audio setting. The embodiment also includes the playback device joining a second zone group that includes the playback device and at least one second playback device. The embodiment further includes the playback device applying a second audio setting based on an audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.
US09916124B2	System and method for controlling and monitoring a sound masking system from an electronic floorplan A system and mechanism for monitoring and/or controlling a sound masking system from a computer aided design drawing. According to an embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to “click” sound masking components on the design drawing and view operating/configuration settings, and/or edit, change or modify the operating/configuration settings, which are then applied via an interface to the associated physical sound masking component in the sound masking system. According to another embodiment, the system is configured to allow an operator to design or configure sound masking components on a design drawing. The sound masking components correspond to physical sound masking components in a sound masking system and comprise one or more active sound masking elements, which are configured to be responsive to an input and allow an operator to monitor, change and/or modify operating/configuration settings for physical sound masking component via the sound masking element in the design drawing.
US09916122B2	Methods, systems, and media for launching a mobile application using a public display device Methods, systems, and media for launching a mobile application using a public display device are provided. In some implementations a method for presenting content on a public display device, the method comprising: initiating, by a user device, communication with display devices; selecting a display device of the display devices; establishing communication with the selected display device; causing applications of a first group to be presented more prominently using a touchscreen of the display device and applications of a second group to be presented less prominently using the touchscreen; receiving a selection of an application of the first group; causing a user interface for the application to be presented using the touchscreen; receiving input corresponding to a portion of the user interface via the touchscreen; generating an updated user interface based on the input; and causing the updated user interface to be presented using touchscreen.
US09916119B2	Multiple display method with multiple communication terminals, machine-readable storage medium and communication terminal A multiple display method to be performed by two or more communication terminals to expand visibility is provided. A first communication terminal establishes a wireless connection with a second communication terminal, receives device information of the second communication terminal, generates first screen data based on the device information for configuring a first screen of the first communication terminal and second screen data for configuring a second screen of the second communication terminal in association with the first screen. The second screen data is transmitted to the second communication terminal.
US09916118B2	Medical imaging system and operating method therefor In a medical imaging system and an operating method therefor, in order to simplify the operation of the medical imaging system, a framework condition for the creation of image information is selected on the basis of one or more acquisition sequences, and a computer of the imaging system automatically preselects multiple parameter sets for the at least one acquisition sequence as a function of the selected framework condition. For each of the preselected parameter sets, at least one characteristic from the acquisition sequence or from image information assigned to the acquisition sequence is visually presented. A parameter set is selected on the basis of the presented characteristic.
US09916114B2	Deterministically sharing a plurality of processing resources A method for deterministic sharing of a plurality of processing resources with respect to one or more distributed network actionable items begins by the plurality of processing resources executing a scoring function using one or more properties of the one or more distributed network actionable items and one or more properties of each of the plurality of processing resources to produce a plurality of scoring resultants. The method continues with each of the plurality of processing resources independently determining a first priority processing resource of the plurality of processing resources based on a corresponding one of the plurality of scoring resultants for a first distributed network actionable item of the one or more distributed network actionable items. The method continues with the first priority processing resource assuming by responsibility for the first distributed network actionable item and executing one or more functions regarding the first distributed network actionable item.
US09916113B2	System and method for mirroring data Disclosed is a data processing and/or storage system. The data processing and/or storage system includes at least two interfaces, wherein each of the at least two interfaces includes a non-dedicated communication port for communicating data to and form external data systems or clients based on a rule base.
US09916112B1	Efficient file copy that avoids data duplication A copy technique involves generating, upon receiving a command to copy at least a portion of a source file, a set of pointers for a destination file that point to a set of pointers for the source file (“physical block pointers”), which in turn point to physical blocks storing data of the file in a storage system. In response to the copy command, a storage processor allocates an inode from an inode table of a file system for the destination file and stores a set of inode pointers in the inode of the destination file that point to the set of pointers for the source file. Thus, instead of creating a redundant copy of the data of the source file, the improved creates technique creates pointers that point to the data stored for the source file.
US09916104B2	Techniques for entry to a lower power state for a memory device Examples are given for techniques for entry to a lower power state for a memory device or die. The examples to include delaying transitions of the memory device or die from a first higher consuming power state to a second relatively lower power state using one or more programmable counters maintained at or with the memory device.
US09916102B1	Managing data storage reservations on a per-family basis A technique for managing storage space in a data storage system generates liability values on a per-family basis, with each family including files in the file system that are related to one another by snapping. Each family thus groups together files in the file system that share at least some blocks among one another based on snapshot activities. Distinct files that do not share blocks based on snapping are provided in separate families. The file system leverages the snap-based relationships among family members to produce more accurate estimates of liability than would otherwise be feasible.
US09916100B2	Push-based piggyback system for source-driven logical replication in a storage environment The disclosed techniques enable push-based piggybacking of a source-driven logical replication system. Logical replication of a data set (e.g., a snapshot) from a source node to a destination node can be achieved from a source-driven system while preserving the effects of storage efficiency operations (deduplication) applied at the source node. However, if missing data extents are detected at the destination, the destination has an extent pulling problem as the destination may not have knowledge of the physical layout on the source-side and/or mechanisms for requesting extents. The techniques overcome the extent pulling problem in a source-driven replication system by introducing specific protocols for obtaining missing extents within an existing replication environment by piggybacking data pushes from the source.
US09916098B2	Reducing read latency of memory modules Example implementations relate to using an alternative memory (AltMem) to reduce read latency of a memory module having a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). In example implementations, write data may be written to the DRAM and to the AltMem. A read command may be issued to the AltMem if a DRAM read latency time for executing the read command is greater than an AltMem read latency time for executing the read command. Data read from the AltMem in response to the read command may be received.
US09916088B2	Memory system and operating method thereof A memory system includes a memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, wherein each of the plurality of memory blocks includes a plurality of pages, wherein each of the plurality of pages includes a plurality of memory cells electrically coupled to a plurality of word lines, wherein read data and write data requested from a host are stored in the plurality of memory cells; and a controller configured to (i) program first data corresponding to a write command/read command received from the host in a first page of a first memory block selected among the plurality of memory blocks (ii) record position information of second data in the first page, and (iii) program the second data in a second page next to the first page in the first memory block.
US09916086B2	Content-addressable memory device Techniques described herein are generally related to storing and retrieving data from a content-addressable memory (CAM). A data value to be stored in the CAM may be received, where the data value has two or more bits. The CAM may include a plurality of memory sets. An index corresponding to the data value may be determined. The index may be determined based on a subset of bits of the data value that correspond to an index bit set. A memory set of the CAM may be identified based on the determined index and the data value may be stored in a storage unit of the identified memory set.
US09916083B2	Lock release method and apparatus An method for releasing a lock of an electronic device including a touch screen and an electronic device using the same is provided. The electronic device includes a touch screen display and a processor configured to receive two or more touch inputs in a locked state of the electronic device and to release the locked state when the two or more touch inputs coincide with a pattern stored in advance. The processor is further configured to receive a first touch input through the display in the locked state of the electronic device, receive a second touch input through the display after receiving the first touch input, determine whether the second touch input is within a selected region with respect to one or more imaginary axes passing through a position of the first touch input, and determine whether the second touch input coincides at least partly with the stored pattern, based on whether the second touch input is within the selected region.
US09916079B2	Method and system for enabling the sharing of information between applications on a computing device A method and system for enabling the sharing of information between a first application and a second application on a computing device are described herein. The method includes the steps of receiving a global search request through the first application and—in response to the reception of the global search request—prompting for a search term from a user. The method further includes the steps of receiving the search term and—based on the received search term—automatically presenting one or more corresponding candidate elements associated with the second application for selection by the user. In addition, the method includes the steps of receiving the selection of at least one of the candidate elements and linking the selected candidate element with the first application such that a user may access the selected candidate element from the first application.
US09916075B2	Formatting content for a reduced-size user interface The present disclosure generally relates to displaying content on a reduced-size user interface. An electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a display, receives content associated with a designated area of the display, where the content is associated with a plurality of available display formats stored in the memory. The device determines a size of the designated area and determines a first display format for the content from the plurality of available display formats based on at least the content and the size of the designated area. The device displays a representation of the content according to the first display format.
US09916074B2	Adjustment mechanisms for virtual knobs on a touchscreen interface The disclosure herein provides for interpreting and facilitating user input to virtual knobs on a touchscreen interface. Aspects of the disclosure provide for the interpretation of a contact with a virtual knob of a device represented on a touchscreen interface. In response to the contact, a state change associated with the virtual knob may be made, or an annular input icon displayed around the virtual knob. The annular input icon may guide an adjustment of the virtual knob.
US09916072B2	Application and notification window display management in a mobile terminal A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present disclosure includes a touchscreen configured to display a window of an application and a controller, when the window is shifted into a specific region of the touchscreen, reducing and transforming the window into an icon and controlling the touchscreen to display the icon within the specific region. Accordingly, after a window of an application has been displayed on a screen, when the window is shifted into a specific region within the screen, the screen is displayed in a manner of being reduced and transformed into an icon.
US09916070B1	Architectures and methods for creating and representing time-dependent imagery The present invention pertains to geographical image processing of time-dependent imagery. Various assets acquired at different times are stored and processing according to acquisition date in order to generate one or more image tiles for a geographical region of interest. The different image tiles are sorted based on asset acquisition date. Multiple image tiles for the same region of interest may be available. In response to a user request for imagery as of a certain date, one or more image tiles associated with assets from prior to that date are used to generate a time-based geographical image for the user.
US09916069B2	User interface with dynamic transition times An adaptive user interface of a computing device receives a user input triggering an animation in the user interface. The animation is configured to progress from an animation start to an animation finish in a transition time dynamically selected from a range of possible transition times based on a duration between the user input triggering the animation and an immediately previous user input. The animation is presented with the dynamically selected transition time.
US09916060B2	System and method for rearranging icons displayed in a graphical user interface An electronic device capable of rearranging icons on a graphic user interface is described. The electronic device provides a method that allows icons that are displayed on one of a plurality of pages to be moved from one page to any other page. The icons can be dragged to a page indicator associated with the page it is to be moved to.
US09916057B2	Touch panel, display device having the same, and method of manufacturing the touch panel A touch panel, a display device having the same, and a method of manufacturing the touch panel are disclosed. In one aspect, the touch panel includes a base substrate and a first sensing portion extending in a first direction and formed over the base substrate. The first sensing portion including a plurality of first fine lines defining a plurality of spaces therebetween. The touch panel also includes a second sensing portion extending in a second direction crossing the first direction and formed over the base substrate and a first insulating layer covering the first fine lines. The first insulating layer defines a plurality of openings therein corresponding to the spaces between the first fine lines. The second sensing portion crosses the first sensing portion with the first insulating layer interposed therebetween.
US09916052B2	Capacitive controller and sensor The present invention provides a capacitive controller for detecting at least one detecting plate and at least one reference plate surrounding each detecting plate. All of the reference plates are electrically coupled to the same first wire, and each reference plate is electrically coupled to a second wire. When an electrical signal is provided to the first wire and each second wire, one or more detecting plates touched or approached can be detected simultaneously based on the signal difference between each second wire and the first wire.
US09916049B2	Touch sensing system and display apparatus The present disclosure is related to a touch sensing system and a display apparatus including: a touch screen panel defining sensor nodes by first lines and second lines formed in crossing directions, a loop type antenna, and a touch processor that performs a first touch process by receiving a signal with respect to driving pulses applied to each of the first lines and the second lines, through the antenna, and performs a second touch process by sequentially applying the driving pulses to each of two or more selected lines among the first lines and the second lines and by receiving a signal through the antenna.
US09916041B2	Low power operation of an optical touch-sensitive device for detecting multitouch events An optical touch-sensitive device is able to determine the locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams. Detection schemes define the operation of the touch capability. Different detection schemes consume different amounts of power and may be used in combination to reduce overall power consumption.
US09916037B2	Method and system for mobile device splash mode operation and transition thereto A computing device includes a housing and a display assembly having a screen. The housing at least partially circumvents the screen so that the screen is viewable and a set of touch sensors are provided with the display assembly. A processor is provided within the housing to detect a gesture via the set of touch sensors, and to interpret the gesture as one of a plurality of user inputs. The processor further detects a presence of extraneous objects on a surface the screen of the display assembly, and adjusts one or more settings of the computing device in response to detecting the presence of extraneous objects. For example, the processor may adjust the one or more settings by reconfiguring a set of actions to be performed in response to the plurality of user inputs.
US09916033B2	Liquid crystal display device To provide a liquid crystal display device with a touch detection function in which any drive method can be adopted. The liquid crystal display device is provided with: a liquid crystal element arrangement that has a plurality of liquid crystal display elements arranged in a matrix shape; a plurality of scanning lines that are arranged in each row of the liquid crystal element arrangement, and supply scanning signals to a plurality of liquid crystal display elements arranged in a corresponding row; a plurality of signal lines that are arranged in each column of the liquid crystal element arrangement, and supply an image signal to a plurality of liquid crystal display elements arranged in a corresponding column; a plurality of touch detection drive electrodes which are arranged in a column of the liquid crystal element arrangement, and to which a drive signal for detecting a touch is supplied; and a touch control part that specifies a touch detection drive electrode from the a plurality of touch detection drive electrodes. Here, the drive signal is supplied to the touch detection drive electrode specified by the touch control part.
US09916032B2	System and method of knob operation for touchscreen devices A touchscreen display includes a first planar surface that comprises a first value-indicating virtual button showing a first value displayed in a first area of the first planar surface, a touch sensor operably coupled with the first planar surface, wherein the touch sensor is configured to detect a touch within the first area of the first planar surface, a second planar surface that is non-coplanar with respect to the first planar surface, the first and second planar surfaces forming a first common edge, a first swipe sensor operably coupled with the second planar surface, wherein the first swipe sensor is configured to detect a swiping motion in a first direction or in a second direction along the second planar surface, the second direction being opposite the first direction. The touchscreen display can be implemented in a vehicle, such as an aircraft.
US09916029B2	Sensor controller, sensor device including sensor controller, electronic apparatus equipped with sensor device, and application software recovery method Disclosed herein is a sensor controller that controls a sensor device that gives input information to a computer. The sensor controller includes a non-volatile memory that stores application software for accepting and processing touch input, an activation program that checks an activation state of the application software at a time of activation, a recovery program that executes recovery processing of the application software, and information indicating the activation state. The sensor controller further includes a processor that activates the activation program at the time of activation and executes the recovery program when the activation state indicates that activation of the application software is a second or subsequent activation and indicates that touch input has not been processed normally by the application software at a time of past activation.
US09916026B2	Electronic device and control method for electronic device An electronic device (1) is provided with a display unit (20), a contact detection unit (30) that detects contact, a vibration unit (40) that vibrates the contact detection unit (30), and a control unit (10), such that the contact detection unit (30) detects contact, the control unit (10) changes a display page of information displayed on the display unit (20) and causes the vibration unit (40) to vibrate the contact detection unit (30) in accordance with the change of the display page.
US09916025B2	Performing searches using computing devices equipped with pressure-sensitive displays Techniques include receiving a pressure input from a user of a user device at a pressure-sensitive display of the device and determining that the display is covered (e.g., obscured from the user's view) using the device. The techniques further include, in response to receiving the pressure input and determining that the display is covered, receiving a search query from the user at the device via voice input, transmitting the query to a search system via a network using the device, and receiving search results from the system at the device subsequent to transmitting the query. The techniques also include performing one or more actions associated with the search results using the user device (e.g., displaying the results to the user at the display, providing a text-to-speech or playback output for the results to the user, and/or forwarding the results to another computing device for display and/or text-to-speech or playback output).
US09916023B2	Touch display panel and touch display device A display panel and a display device, where the display panel includes a display region and a frame region surrounding the display region. The display panel includes a peripheral touch structure disposed in the frame region and an internal touch structure disposed in the display region.
US09916020B2	System, method and computer program for operating a plurality of computing devices A computing system includes a computing device and an image composing unit for generating a common video signal for a display device. The computing device is adapted to partition a display area of the display device into a plurality of sections. One of the sections is related to another computing device. The computing device is further adapted to receive an input signal from an input device. The input signal is relatable to a position within the display area. The computing device is further adapted to provide the other computing device with the input signal depending on the position being in one of the sections related to the other computing device.
US09916019B2	Digital pen, touch system, and method for providing information thereof A digital pen, a touch system and a method for providing information thereof are provided. The touch system may include a display apparatus and a digital pen having a battery. The digital pen may be configured to sense a battery status of the battery, generate a signal indicating a location of the stylus with respect to the display apparatus. The signal may have a frequency corresponding to the battery status, and transmit the signal to the display apparatus. The display apparatus may be configured to receive the signal, analyze the signal, and acquire the location of the stylus and the battery status.
US09916016B2	Method of inputting user input by using mobile device, and mobile device using the method Provided are a method of inputting a user input by using a mobile device and a mobile device using the method. The method of performing operations of the mobile device according to a plurality of input modes, the method being performed by the mobile device, includes operations of, determining whether the mobile device is placed on a surface, if the determining of whether the mobile device is placed on the surface indicates that the mobile device is placed on the surface, changing an input mode of the mobile device, and performing a preset operation that corresponds to the changed input mode.
US09916014B2	Display module with integrated proximity sensor A display module includes an electronic display screen and a sensor operable to detect radiation reflected to a surface of the electronic display screen. A method of detecting an object is also disclosed.
US09916013B2	Control unit for in-flight entertainment system An in-flight entertainment system remote controller has a control unit with a generally planar configuration. The control unit has a gaming controls side, an opposed keyboard side, and a top edge segment between the gaming controls side and the keyboard side. A dock is mounted to a passenger seat structure, and defines an open receptacle that is receptive to the control unit. The dock defines an insertion axis that is substantially coplanar with the remote control unit when oriented for mounting. The top edge segment is exposed while the gaming controls side and the keyboard side are concealed, with the control unit in a retracted position.
US09916011B1	Force measurement system that includes a force measurement assembly, a visual display device, and one or more data processing devices A force measurement system includes a force measurement assembly with a top surface configured to receive at least one portion of the body of a subject and at least one force transducer configured to sense forces and/or moments being applied to the top surface; at least one visual display device having an output screen, the output screen comprising an overhanging top portion so that a top edge of the output screen is not readily visible to the subject; and one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the force measurement assembly and the at least one visual display device. In one or more embodiments, the force measurement assembly may be in the form of an instrumented treadmill. In one or more further embodiments, the force measurement system may additionally comprise a motion capture system configured to detect the motion of one or more body gestures of the subject.
US09916009B2	Non-tactile interface systems and methods Methods and systems for processing an input are disclosed that detect a portion of a hand and/or other detectable object in a region of space monitored by a 3D sensor. The method further includes determining a zone corresponding to the region of space in which the portion of the hand or other detectable object was detected. Also, the method can include determining from the zone a correct way to interpret inputs made by a position, shape or a motion of the portion of the hand or other detectable object.
US09916001B2	Sport equipment input mode control An apparatus comprises a sensor to be carried by a piece of sporting equipment and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program logic that operates different operational modes. The program logic receives signals from the sensor, determines from the signals whether the piece of sporting equipment is in a sport action state or a mode input state, records a sport action result in response to determination that the piece of sporting equipment is in a sport action state, and switches the program logic to a different operational mode in response to determination that the piece of sporting equipment is in a mode input state.
US09915999B2	Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium An information processing apparatus operable in a first power state and a second power state includes a noncontact communication unit configured to be driven by power of a radio wave from a mobile terminal and to communicate with the terminal, a storage unit configured to store data necessary for authentication, which the noncontact communication unit has received from the terminal in the second power state, a control unit configured to recover, when the noncontact communication unit receives data from the terminal in the second power state, the information processing apparatus from the second power state to the first power state, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, after the information processing apparatus has been recovered to the first power state by the control of the control unit, the data necessary for authentication stored in the storage unit to an authentication unit.
US09915996B2	Method of controlling processor, information processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium A method of controlling a processor includes determining an operational mode of the processor in a time period and an operational frequency of the processor in second data processing based on a completion deadline of the second data processing and an amount of data processing in the second data processing which is performed by the processor after first data processing is completed by the processor, the time period being from completion of the first data processing to start of the second data processing, controlling the processor in the determined operational mode after the first data processing is completed by the processor, and performing the second data processing using the processor that operates with the determined operational frequency after the controlling of the processor in the operational mode.
US09915991B2	System and method of use for energy efficient applications driven by multiple context clocks for personal energy footprint management A power state management system of an electronic system is coupled to a plug load device and a method for operation of the same. The system includes a context clock to adjust a duty cycle of the electronic system for controlling the power states of the electronic system for more efficient use of electricity. The context clock is responsive to user input, multiple event driven activities or an external protocol determined policy or command. Interface circuitry communicates user input, multiple event driven activities or an external protocol determined policy or command to the context clock. Interface circuitry also communicates commands to the managed plug load device or devices.
US09915985B1	Chassis for providing distributed airflow A computing system includes a chassis having an airflow entrance and an airflow exhaust, a duct structure disposed in the chassis, and a redirection mechanism located on a wall of the duct structure and extending through a cutout in the wall of the duct structure. In the computing system, the duct structure has a first end facing the airflow entrance and a second end facing the airflow exhaust. The redirection mechanism has a deflector having an inlet airfoil extending away from the duct structure towards the airflow entrance and at least one exhaust airfoil extending into the duct structure.
US09915983B2	Drive carrier coupling system A component carrier coupling system includes a carrier base including a carrier wall. A handle is coupled to the carrier wall by a plurality of link elements that each include a first end rotatably connected to the handle and a second end rotatably connected to the carrier wall. The handle is maintained in a substantially parallel orientation to the carrier wall when the plurality of link elements are rotated in a first direction that moves the handle away from the carrier wall, and in a second direction that is opposite the first direction and that moves the handle immediately adjacent the carrier wall. A cam element is provided on at least one of the plurality of link elements and engages a component enclosure when the carrier base is located in the component enclosure and the plurality of link elements are rotated in the second direction.
US09915982B2	Display device and display device manufacturing method A display device is provided which suppresses cost increases attributable to design changes and so forth for things disposed on the inside of a product when a plurality of products of different screen size are developed, or when the screen size is changed. A display device 5 includes a display panel 11, a first board attachment component 13, a display panel board 18, a second board attachment component 21, a main board 22, a third board attachment component 23, and a power supply board 24. The main board 22 stores a plurality of display programs that produce an image to be displayed on the display panel 11, according to the screen size of the display panel 11. The first board attachment component 13, the display panel board 18, the second board attachment component 21, the main board 22, the third board attachment component 23, and the power supply board 24 are disposed in this order, starting from the display panel 11 side, on the rear side of the display panel 11.
US09915981B2	Hinge device applicable to soft display module A hinge device applicable to soft display module includes a joint unit assembly. The joint unit assembly has a main section, a first side, a second side and a top section. The joint unit assembly has multiple shaft guide sections and shaft fixing sections positioned on the main section and respectively assembled with the motional shafts. A rotary shaft and a socket are formed on the first and second sides of the joint unit assembly along the top section. A (soft) display module is disposed on the top section of the joint unit assembly. The shaft guide section of the joint unit assembly is defined with a first position and a second position. When operating and opening/closing the display module, the rotary shafts serve as rotational fulcrums, whereby the motional shafts are relatively rotatable between the first and second positions of the shaft guide section.
US09915969B2	Coherent timer management in a multicore or multithreaded system In a processing system, a method includes transmitting a timer expiration notification from a timer management component of a processor to one or more other components of the processor in response to expiration of a timer. The method further includes transmitting, from a component of the processor that requested instantiation of the timer, a timer release confirmation message to the timer management component in response to the timer expiration notification, the timer release confirmation message confirming that the component has released the timer. The method also includes preventing reallocation of a timer identifier (ID) associated with the timer to another timer after the expiration of the timer and until receipt of the timer release confirmation message at the timer management component.
US09915968B2	Systems and methods for adaptive clock design The present disclosure is directed to mitigating voltage droops. An aspect includes outputting, by a clock module coupled to a multiplexor, a first clock signal to the multiplexor, the first clock signal generated by a clock delay component of the clock module, receiving, by the clock module, a second clock signal from a phase-locked loop (PLL), wherein the PLL outputs a third clock signal to a processor coupled to the PLL and the multiplexor, selecting, by the multiplexor, the first clock signal to output to the processor based on detecting a droop in voltage on a power supply, and selecting, by the multiplexor, the third clock signal to output to the processor based on detecting that the droop in the voltage on the power supply has passed, wherein the clock module and the processor are coupled to the power supply.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10