最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US09954150B2 Light-emitting semiconductor component and method for producing a light-emitting semiconductor component
The invention relates to a light-emitting semiconductor component comprising a light-emitting semiconductor chip with a semiconductor layer series, a light out-coupling surface, a rear surface lying opposite said light out-coupling surface and lateral surfaces, and a support body with a shaped body that directly covers the lateral surfaces in form-locked manner, two electric contact layers and a thermal contact layer being provided on the rear surface. The thermal contact layer is electrically insulated from the electric contact layers and the semiconductor layer series, the support body has electric connection elements in direct contact with the electric contact layers and a thermal connection element in direct contact with the thermal contact layer on the rear surface and the thermal connection element at least partially forms an assembly surface of the semiconductor component facing away from the semiconductor chip. The invention further relates to a method for producing a semiconductor component.
US09954146B2 Phosphor, manufacturing method thereof, and light-emitting device using the phosphor
The present invention provides a red-light emitting phosphor having high luminous efficacy and also a manufacturing method thereof. The phosphor is a red-light emitting phosphor mainly comprising potassium fluorosilicate and having a basic surface composition represented by the formula (A): KaSiFb. The disclosed phosphor is characterized by being activated by manganese and also characterized in that the amount of manganese on the surface is not more than 0.2 mol % based on the total amount of all the elements on the surface. This phosphor can be manufactured by washing with a weak acid a product obtained by placing a silicon source to react in contact with a reaction solution containing potassium permanganate.
US09954145B2 White light apparatus with enhanced color contrast
A lighting apparatus for emitting white light including a semiconductor light source emitting radiation with a peak emission between from about 250 nm to about 500 nm and a first phosphor having a peak emission between about 550 and 615 nm, wherein an overall emission spectrum of the lighting apparatus has a depression between about 550 and 615 nm, whereby the red-green color contrast is increased versus a reference illuminant.
US09954142B2 Material layer stack, light emitting element, light emitting package, and method of fabricating light emitting element
Disclosed herein are a material layer stack, a light emitting element, a light emitting package, and a method of fabricating a light emitting element. The material layer stack includes: a substrate having a first lattice constant; and a semiconductor layer grown on the substrate, the semiconductor layer having a second lattice constant that is different from the first lattice constant. Using the material layer stack, a light emitting element having a low leakage current, a low operation voltage, and an excellent luminous efficiency can be obtained.
US09954139B2 Multiple transfer assembly process
This disclosure is related to a manufacturing method for a plurality of photovoltaic cells comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of photovoltaic cells placed at a first distance from each other; attaching a stretching material to the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and stretching the stretching material such that the plurality of photovoltaic cells result at a second distance from each other, wherein the second distance is greater that the first distance.
US09954137B2 Photodetector and methods of manufacture
Photodetector structures and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming undercuts about detector material formed on a substrate. The method further includes encapsulating the detector to form airgaps from the undercuts. The method further includes annealing the detector material causing expansion of the detector material into the airgaps.
US09954136B2 Cassette optimized for an inline annealing system
An apparatus for carrying a plurality of photovoltaic structures is provided. The apparatus can include a pair of end plates, a set of stationary posts coupling together the end plates, and a wafer-locking mechanism that can be engaged when the apparatus changes orientation. At least one stationary post can be shaped like a comb and have a first array of comb teeth for separating the photovoltaic structures. The wafer-locking mechanism can be configured to lock the photovoltaic structures in position, thereby preventing motion-induced damage to the photovoltaic structures.
US09954133B1 P-type chalcogenide and N-type silicon heterojunction infrared photodiodes and method of manufacturing thereof
A photodetector comprising a region of a p-type phase-change chalcogenide material forming a heterojunction with a region of n-type Silicon; wherein the p-type phase-change chalcogenide material comprises one of GeTe and SbTe.
US09954130B2 Thin film type solar cell and fabrication method thereof
A method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming a doped portion having a first conductive type on a semiconductor substrate, growing an oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of recess portions in the oxide layer, further growing the oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a doped portion having a second conductive type on areas of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the recess portions, forming a first conductive electrode electrically coupled to the doped portion having the first conductive type, and forming a second conductive electrode on the semiconductor substrate and electrically coupled to the doped portion having the second conductive type, wherein a gap between the doped portions having the first and second conductive types corresponds to a width of the oxide layer formed by further growing the oxide layer.
US09954129B2 Systems for efficient photon upconversion
Described herein are materials and systems for efficient upconversion of photons. The materials may be disposed in a system comprising two semiconductor materials with an interface therebetween, the interface comprising a valence and/or conduction band offset between the semiconducting materials of about −0.5 eV to about 0.5 eV, including 0, wherein one of the semiconductor materials is a material with discrete energy states and the other is a material with a graded composition and/or controlled band gap. The system can upconvert photons by: a) controlling energy levels of discrete energy states of a semiconducting material in a system to direct tunneling and exciton separation; b) controlling a compositional profile of another semiconducting material in the system to funnel charges away from an upconversion region and into a recombination zone; and c) utilizing the discrete energy states of the semiconducting material in the system to inhibit phonon relaxation.
US09954128B2 Structures for increased current generation and collection in solar cells with low absorptance and/or low diffusion length
The present disclosure generally relates to a solar cell device that a first Bragg reflector disposed below a first solar cell and a second Bragg reflector disposed below the first Bragg reflector, wherein the first solar cell comprises a dilute nitride composition and has a first bandgap, wherein the first Bragg reflector is operable to reflect a first range of radiation wavelengths back into the first solar cell and the second Bragg reflector is operable to reflect a third range of wavelengths back into the first solar cell, and the first Bragg reflector and the second Bragg reflector are operable to cool the solar cell device by reflecting a second range of radiation wavelengths that are outside the photogeneration wavelength range of the first solar cell or that are weakly absorbed by the first solar cell.
US09954127B1 Solar module clamp
A solar module configured in a frame assembly with multi-configuration attachment member(s), which has locking and unlocking characteristics.
US09954121B2 Monolithic integration techniques for fabricating photodetectors with transistors on same substrate
Examples of the various techniques introduced here include, but not limited to, a mesa height adjustment approach during shallow trench isolation formation, a transistor via first approach, and a multiple absorption layer approach. As described further below, the techniques introduced herein include a variety of aspects that can individually and/or collectively resolve or mitigate one or more traditional limitations involved with manufacturing PDs and transistors on the same substrate, such as above discussed reliability, performance, and process temperature issues.
US09954118B2 Method of producing a high-voltage semiconductor drift device
The method comprises implanting a deep well of a first type of electrical conductivity provided for a drift region in a substrate of semiconductor material, the deep well of the first type comprising a periphery, implanting a deep well or a plurality of deep wells of a second type of electrical conductivity opposite to the first type of electrical conductivity at the periphery of the deep well of the first type, implanting shallow wells of the first type of electrical conductivity at the periphery of the deep well of the first type, the shallow wells of the first type extending into the deep well of the first type; and implanting shallow wells of the second type of electrical conductivity adjacent to the deep well of the first type between the shallow wells of the first type of electrical conductivity.
US09954115B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A highly reliable semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device is manufactured with a high yield, so that high productivity is achieved. In a semiconductor device including a transistor in which a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are provided over and in contact with an oxide semiconductor film, entry of impurities and formation of oxygen vacancies in an end face portion of the oxide semiconductor film are suppressed. This can prevent fluctuation in the electric characteristics of the transistor which is caused by formation of a parasitic channel in the end face portion of the oxide semiconductor film.
US09954113B2 Transistor including oxide semiconductor, semiconductor device including the transistor, and electronic device including the transistor
A transistor with favorable electrical characteristics is provided. A transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device having a high degree of integration is provided. Side surfaces of an oxide semiconductor layer in which a channel is formed are covered with an oxide semiconductor layer, whereby impurity diffusion from the side surfaces of the oxide semiconductor into the inside can be prevented. A gate electrode is formed by a damascene process, whereby transistors can be miniaturized and formed at a high density.
US09954111B2 Semiconductor device
Provided is a highly integrated semiconductor device, a semiconductor device with large storage capacity with respect to an area occupied by a capacitor, a semiconductor device capable of high-speed writing, a semiconductor device capable of high-speed reading, a semiconductor device with low power consumption, or a highly reliable semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor. A conductor penetrates and connects the first transistor, the capacitor, and the second transistor. An insulator is provided on a side surface of the conductor that penetrates the capacitor.
US09954110B2 EL display device and electronic device
Provided is an EL display device which is provided with a power supply line driver circuit including a transistor having capability in supplying a large amount of current over an insulating substrate where a pixel portion is formed. An active matrix EL display device includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of signal lines, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of power supply lines over an insulating substrate; a transistor formed using an oxide semiconductor with a field-effect mobility of at least higher than or equal to 80 cm2/Vs, preferably higher than or equal to 120 cm2/Vs over the insulating substrate; and a power supply line driver circuit including the transistor as a component.
US09954109B2 Vertical transistor including controlled gate length and a self-aligned junction
A vertical transistor includes a gate structure interposed between a proximate spacer doped with a first dopant-type and a distal spacer doped with the first dopant-type. The proximate spacer is formed on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. At least one channel region extends vertically from the proximate doping source layer to the distal doping source layer. A proximate S/D extension region is adjacent the proximate spacer and a distal S/D extension region is adjacent the distal spacer. The proximate and distal S/D extension regions include dopants that match the first dopant-type of the proximate and distal doping sources.
US09954108B2 Semiconductor device including fin shaped structure including silicon germanium layer
A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a fin shaped structure and a shallow trench isolation. The fin shaped structure includes a top portion which protrudes from a bottom surface of the fin shaped structure and the fin shaped structure is directly disposed on the silicon substrate. The bottom surface of the fin shaped structure covers an entire top surface of the silicon substrate. The fin shaped structure further includes a silicon germanium (SiGe) layer extending within the fin shaped structure and occupying the whole top portion of the shaped structure. The fin shaped structure is a semiconductor fin shaped structure, and the material of the silicon substrate is different from the material of the silicon germanium layer The shallow trench isolation is disposed on the top portion and the bottom surface of the fin shaped structure.
US09954106B2 III-V fin on insulator
A method of forming a semiconductor structure in which a III-V compound semiconductor channel fin portion is formed on a dielectric material is provided. The method includes forming a III-V material stack on a surface of a bulk semiconductor substrate. Patterning of the III-V material stack is then employed to provide a pre-fin structure that is located between, and in contact with, pre-pad structures. The pre-pad structures are used as an anchoring agent when a III-V compound semiconductor channel layer portion of the III-V material stack and of the pre-fin structure is suspended by removing a topmost III-V compound semiconductor buffer layer portion of the material stack from the pre-fin structure. A dielectric material is then formed within the gap provided by the suspending step and thereafter a fin cut process is employed.
US09954101B2 Precise junction placement in vertical semiconductor devices using etch stop layers
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a first of a source region and a drain region comprised of a first semiconductor material, wherein an etch stop layer of a second semiconductor material present within the first of the source region and the drain region. A channel semiconductor material is present atop the first of the source region and the drain region. A second of the source and the drain region is present atop the channel semiconductor material. The semiconductor device may be a vertically orientated fin field effect transistor or a vertically orientated tunnel field effect transistor.
US09954099B1 Transistor structure
A transistor structure including a gate, a first dielectric layer, a first contact and a second contact is provided. The gate is disposed on a substrate. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The first dielectric layer covers a portion of a top surface of the gate. The first contact is electrically connected to the gate. The second contact is disposed on the first dielectric layer. The second contact is electrically connected with the first contact.
US09954098B1 Semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor structure and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes at least a substrate, an isolated structure, a gate, a source, a drain, a deep well, and a body well. The deep well extends under the isolated structure, and the body well is formed in the deep well between the gate and the isolated structure, wherein the body well has a convex region extending under the isolated structure. The deep well has a drive-in region outside the convex region of the body well, and the drive-in region has a lower doping concentration than remainder of the deep well.
US09954097B2 Methodology and structure for field plate design
The present disclosure relates to a transistor device having a field plate, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the transistor device has a gate electrode disposed over a substrate between a source region and a drain region. One or more dielectric layers laterally extend from over the gate electrode to a location between the gate electrode and the drain region. A field plate is located within an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer overlying the substrate. The field plate laterally extends from over the gate electrode to over the location and vertically extends from the one or more dielectric layers to a top surface of the ILD layer. A conductive contact is arranged over the drain region and is surrounded by the ILD layer. The conductive contact extends to the top surface of the ILD layer.
US09954093B2 Method of manufacturing a super junction semiconductor device and super junction semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is manufactured by: i) forming a mask on a process surface of a semiconductor layer, elongated openings of the mask exposing part of the semiconductor layer and extending along a first lateral direction; ii) implanting dopants of a first conductivity type into the semiconductor layer based on tilt angle α1 between an ion beam direction and a process surface normal and based on twist angle ω1 between the first lateral direction and a projection of the ion beam direction on the process surface; iii) implanting dopants of a second conductivity type into the semiconductor layer based on tilt angle α2 between an ion beam direction and the process surface normal and based on twist angle ω2 between the first lateral direction and a projection of the ion beam direction on the process surface; and repeating i) to iii) at least one time.
US09954087B2 Field effect transistor, and multilayered epitaxial film for use in preparation of field effect transistor
In a group III nitride-type field effect transistor, the present invention reduces a leak current component by conduction of residual carriers in a buffer layer, and achieves improvement in a break-down voltage, and enhances a carrier confinement effect (carrier confinement) of a channel to improve pinch-off characteristics (to suppress a short channel effect). For example, when applying the present invention to a GaN-type field effect transistor, besides GaN of a channel layer, a composition-modulated (composition-gradient) AlGaN layer in which aluminum composition reduces toward a top gradually or stepwise is used as a buffer layer (hetero buffer). To gate length Lg of a FET to be prepared, a sum a of layer thicknesses of an electron supply layer and a channel layer is selected so as to fulfill Lg/a≥5, and in such a case, the layer thickness of the channel layer is selected in a range of not exceeding 5 times (about 500 Å) as long as a de Broglie wavelength of two-dimensional electron gas accumulated in the channel layer in room temperature.
US09954085B2 Group III-Nitride compound heterojunction tunnel field-effect transistors and methods for making the same
A tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a p-type GaN source layer, an ntype GaN drain layer, and an interlayer interfaced between the source-layer and the drain layer. These devices employ polarization engineering in GaN/InN heterojunctions to achieve appreciable interband tunneling current densities. In one example, the interlayer includes an Indium Nitride (InN) layer. In one example, the interlayer includes a graded Indium gallium nitride layer and an InN layer. In one example, the interlayer may include a graded Indium gallium nitride (InxGa1-xN) layer and an Indium gallium nitride (InGaN) layer. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes an in-line configuration. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a side-wall configuration. In one example, the tunnel field-effect transistor device includes a nanowire cylindrical gate-all-around geometry to achieve a high degree of gate electrostatic control.
US09954081B2 Fin field effect transistor, semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof
A substrate is patterned to form trenches and a semiconductor fin between the trenches. Insulators are formed in the trenches and a first dielectric layer is formed to cover the semiconductor fin and the insulators. A dummy gate strip is formed on the first dielectric layer. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the dummy gate strip. The dummy gate strip and the first dielectric layer underneath are removed until sidewalls of the spacers, a portion of the semiconductor fin and portions of the insulators are exposed. A second dielectric layer is conformally formed to cover the sidewalls of the spacers, the exposed portion of the semiconductor fin and the exposed portions of the insulators, wherein a thickness of the first dielectric layer is smaller than a thickness of the second dielectric layer. A gate is formed on the second dielectric layer and between the spacers.
US09954076B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes first and second FETs including first and second channel regions, respectively. The first and second FETs include first and second gate structures, respectively. The first and second gate structures include first and second gate dielectric layers formed over the first and second channel regions and first and second gate electrode layers formed over the first and second gate dielectric layers. The first and second gate structures are aligned along a first direction. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are separated by a separation plug made of an insulating material. A width of the separation plug in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a width of the first gate structure in the second direction, when viewed in plan view.
US09954074B2 Insulated gate bipolar transistor and manufacturing method therefor
An insulated gate bipolar transistor and a manufacturing method therefor. The insulated gate bipolar transistor comprises a semiconductor substrate (1) of a first conductive type, which is provided with a first major surface (1S1) and a second major surface (1S2), wherein the semiconductor substrate (1) comprises a primitive cell area (2) and a terminal protection area (4) which is located outside the primitive cell area; a first semiconductor layer (5) of a first conductive type which is formed at the side of the first major surface of the semiconductor substrate (1), wherein the doping concentration of the first semiconductor layer (5) is higher than the doping concentration of the semiconductor substrate (1); and an insulated gate transistor unit which is formed at the side of the first major surface of the first semiconductor layer (5) in the primitive cell area, wherein the insulated gate transistor unit is conducted, a channel of a first conductive type is formed. Compared with the prior art, the present invention not only can improve the voltage resistance reliability of the insulted gate bipolar transistor, but also can reduce the forward conductive voltage drop of the insulated gate bipolar transistor.
US09954071B2 Method for preparing titanium-aluminum alloy thin film
A method for preparing a TiAl alloy thin film, wherein a reaction chamber is provided, in which at least one substrate is placed; an aluminum precursor and a titanium precursor are introduced into the reaction chamber, wherein the aluminum precursor has a molecular structure of a structural formula (I); and the aluminum precursor and the titanium precursor are brought into contact with the substrate so that a titanium-aluminum alloy thin film is formed on the surface of the substrate by vapor deposition. The method solves the problem of poor step coverage ability and the problem of incomplete filling with regard to the small-size devices by the conventional methods. Meanwhile, the formation of titanium-aluminum alloy thin films with the aid of plasma is avoided so that the substrate is not damaged by plasma.
US09954069B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming vertical structure
A semiconductor device includes a source/drain region, a barrier layer, and an interlayer dielectric. The barrier layer surrounds the source/drain region. The interlayer dielectric surrounds the barrier layer. As such, the source/drain region can be protected by the barrier layer from oxidation during manufacturing of the semiconductor device, e.g., the formation of the interlayer dielectric.
US09954062B2 Stacked planar double-gate lamellar field-effect transistor
A method of making a field-effect transistor device includes providing a substrate with a fin stack having: a first sacrificial material layer on the substrate, a first semiconductive material layer on the first sacrificial material layer, and a second sacrificial material layer on the first semiconductive material layer. The method includes inserting a dummy gate having a second thickness, a dummy void, and an outer end that is coplanar to the second face. The method includes inserting a first spacer having a first thickness and a first void, and having an outer end that is coplanar to the first face. The method includes etching the first sacrificial material layer in the second plane and the second sacrificial material layer in the fourth plane. The method includes removing, at least partially, the first spacer. The method also includes inserting a second spacer having the first thickness.
US09954059B1 Semiconductor wafer and method of manufacturing semiconductor element
A semiconductor wafer is provided with a thick region extending along its outer circumferential surface and being greater in thickness than its central region. A main surface of the wafer includes a slope surface located between the central region and the thick region. The slope surface has an inner circumferential edge and an outer circumferential edge, and slopes such that the thickness of the wafer increases from the inner circumferential edges to the outer circumferential edge. The slope surface includes an inner circumferential portion including the inner circumferential edge, an outer circumferential portion including the outer circumferential edge and an intermediate portion located between the inner and the outer circumferential portions. At least one of slope angles of the inner and the outer circumferential portions is smaller than a slope angle of the intermediate portion.
US09954051B2 Structure and method of fabricating three-dimensional (3D) metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and resistor in semi-additive plating metal wiring
Methods of processing a substrate include: providing a substrate having a polymer dielectric layer, a metal pad formed within the polymer dielectric layer and a first metal layer formed atop the polymer dielectric layer; depositing a polymer layer atop the substrate; patterning the polymer layer to form a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings comprises a first opening formed proximate the metal pad; depositing a first barrier layer atop the polymer layer; depositing a dielectric layer atop the first barrier layer; etching the dielectric layer and the first barrier layer from within the first opening and a field region of the polymer layer; depositing a second barrier layer atop the substrate; depositing a second metal layer atop the substrate wherein the second metal layer fills the plurality of openings; and etching the second metal layer from a portion of the field region of the polymer layer.
US09954046B2 Display apparatus, manufacturing method of display apparatus, and electronic device
A display apparatus including: a display region provided with a plurality of pixel portions; wires installed to the respective pixel portions within the display region from an outside of the display region for transmitting a signal to drive the respective pixel portions; connection pads provided on the outside of the display region and serving as input portions to provide the wires with a signal while electrically conducting with the wires; switch elements provided on the outside of the display region in a middle of the wires; and a light shielding covering portion shielding the switch elements from light and formed to cover the connection pads while electrically conducting with the connection pads.
US09954043B2 Flexible organic light emitting diode display having edge bending structure
The present disclosure relates to a flexible organic light emitting diode display having an edge bending structure. The organic light emitting diode display according to an embodiment includes a flexible plate including a display area, a non-display area surrounding the display area, and an edge bending area near the display area in the non-display area; a first line disposed in the non-display area on the flexible plate; a first buffer layer covering the first line; a second line on the first buffer layer in the non-display area; a second buffer layer covering the second line; gate elements disposed on the second buffer layer; an intermediate insulating layer covering the gate elements; data elements, and a connecting electrode connecting the first line to the second line on the intermediate insulating layer; and a plurality of trenches disposed at the edge bending area and penetrating the intermediate insulating layer, the second buffer layer and the first buffer layer.
US09954041B2 Organic electroluminescence display device
An organic electroluminescence display device includes a substrate; a thin film transistor that is formed on the substrate; a light emitting region that has a lower electrode, a light emitting layer, and an upper electrode formed for each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix shape on the thin film transistor; and a contact hole that is formed on the outside of the light emitting region in one corner portion of the pixel and connects the thin film transistor and the lower electrode for each pixel in a plan view. Only one pair of pixels of four pixels that share an intersection point of boundaries of the pixels arranged in the matrix shape, which are arranged in a diagonal manner have the contact holes at the corner portions having the intersection point.
US09954040B2 Organic light-emitting display apparatus
Provided are an organic light-emitting display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a display substrate; a thin film transistor (TFT) on the display substrate; an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) electrically connected to the TFT and including a first electrode on sub-pixels of the display substrate, an intermediate layer on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the intermediate layer; a pixel-defining layer which includes an opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode and defines each sub-pixel; and a sealing substrate covering the OLED, the intermediate layer including a plurality of stacked layers, and a cross-sectional width of the intermediate layer gradually decreasing in a direction perpendicular to the display substrate.
US09954039B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device can include a substrate; an anode electrode on the substrate; an organic emitting layer on the anode electrode; a cathode electrode on the organic emitting layer; an auxiliary electrode connected to the cathode electrode; a bank provided on either side of the auxiliary electrode; and a partition spaced apart from the bank and provided on the auxiliary electrode, in which the partition includes a plurality of first partitions provided on the auxiliary electrode and spaced apart from each other, and the partition further includes a second partition provided on the plurality of first partitions, and a width of an upper surface of the second partition is larger than a width of a lower surface of the second partition.
US09954035B2 Organic light emitting diode with a plurality composite electrode having different thicknesses
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) array substrate, a display device and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The array substrate includes: a substrate and pixel units disposed on the substrate. Each pixel unit includes a plurality of subpixel units; each subpixel unit includes a composite electrode, an organic material functional layer and a first electrode sequentially disposed on the substrate; thicknesses of the composite electrodes of different subpixel units are different; and the composite electrode, the organic material functional layer and the first electrode in a same subpixel unit constitute a microcavity structure.
US09954034B2 Image sensor, method for manufacturing the same, and image processing device having the image sensor
An image sensor comprising: a first layer having a plurality of groups of photodiodes formed in a semiconductor substrate, each group representing a 2×2 array of photodiodes, with 2 first pixels configured to detect light of a first wavelength and 2 second pixels configured to detect light of a second wavelength, each first pixel positioned adjacent to the second pixels; and a second layer overlapping the first layer, the second layer is organic, having a plurality of organic photodiodes configured to detect light of a third wavelength, each organic photodiode positioned to partially overlap 2 first photodiodes and 2 second photodiodes of the first layer.
US09954031B2 Semiconductor device structure useful for bulk transistor and method of manufacturing same where a substrate extends commonly over a transistor, an element region, and a separation region
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate with a first surface and a second surface facing each other, the semiconductor substrate having an element region in which a transistor is provided on the first surface, and a separation region in which an element separating layer surrounding the element region is provided; a contact plug extending from the first surface to the second surface, in the element region of the semiconductor substrate; and an insulating film covering a periphery of the contact plug.
US09954030B2 Semiconductor apparatus including magnetoresistive device
A semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate, a first insulating layer on a logic region and a memory region of the substrate, a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer, a base insulating layer between the first insulating layer and second insulating layer over the logic region and the memory region, first interconnection structures passing the first insulating layer, second interconnection structures passing through the second insulating layer, a base interconnection structure passing through the base insulating layer over the logic region, and a variable resistance structure in the base insulating layer over the memory region. The variable resistance structure includes a lower electrode, a magnetoresistive device, and an upper electrode, which are sequentially stacked. The lower electrode and the upper electrode are electrically connected to one of the first interconnection structures and one of the second interconnection structures, respectively, over the memory region.
US09954026B2 Imaging apparatus and imaging system
An imaging apparatus includes a pixel configured to generate a signal in accordance with an incident light by a photoelectric conversion; a differential amplifier including a first input terminal to which a voltage based on the signal from the pixel is input, and a second input terminal to which a reference voltage is input; a current supply unit configured to supply a bias current to the differential amplifier; and a comparing unit configured to compare the voltage of the first input terminal of the differential amplifier with a threshold voltage, and configured to output a control signal based on a comparison result to the current supply unit, and the current supply unit changes a magnitude of the bias current supplied to the differential amplifier in accordance with the control signal input from the comparing unit.
US09954016B2 Germanium-silicon light sensing apparatus
An image sensor array including a carrier substrate; a first group of photodiodes coupled to the carrier substrate, where the first group of photodiodes include a first photodiode, and where the first photodiode includes a semiconductor layer configured to absorb photons at visible wavelengths and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; and a second group of photodiodes coupled to the carrier substrate, where the second group of photodiodes include a second photodiode, and where the second photodiode includes a germanium-silicon region fabricated on the semiconductor layer, the germanium-silicon region configured to absorb photons at infrared or near-infrared wavelengths and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons.
US09954015B2 Method of manufacturing thin film transistor array substrate
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor array substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor array substrate may comprise a substrate which has a plurality of gate lines extending in a column direction along a boundary of pixels, a plurality of data lines extending in a row direction along the boundary of the pixels, and at least one thin film transistor formed in the pixel region; a first insulating film which covers the thin film transistor; a color organic film which is disposed on the first insulating film and has a valley area formed with a valley by partial superimposition of organic films of different colors based on the data lines; a second insulating film which covers the color organic film and the valley area; and a pixel electrode which is disposed on the second insulating film and connected to the thin film transistor via a contact hole, wherein the thin film transistor array substrate is provided with a separating organic film which extends from the color organic film and is disposed between the valley area and the contact hole.
US09954014B2 Thin film transistor substrate and display using the same
A thin film transistor substrate having two different types of thin film transistors on the same substrate, and a display using the same are discussed. The thin film transistor substrate can include a substrate, a first thin film transistor (TFT), a second TFT, a first storage capacitor electrode, an oxide layer, a nitride layer, a second storage capacitor electrode, a planar layer and a pixel electrode. The first TFT is disposed in a first area, the second TFT is disposed in a second area, and the first storage capacitor electrode is disposed in a third area on the substrate respectively. The oxide layer covers the first and second TFTs, and exposes the first storage capacitor electrode. The nitride layer is disposed on the oxide layer and covers the first storage capacitor electrode. The second storage capacitor electrode overlaps with the first storage capacitor electrode on the nitride layer. The planar layer covers the first and second TFTs, and the second storage capacitor electrode. The pixel electrode is disposed on the planar layer.
US09954013B2 Display device and method of manufacturing the same
This invention aims at reducing the probability of short-circuiting between terminals in a display device in which an IC driver is connected by COG. Terminals for connection with the IC driver are formed in a terminal region of a TFT substrate (100). The terminals are each comprised of a terminal metal (60), a first through-bole formed in a first insulation film (107), a second through-hole formed in a second insulation film (109), a first ITO (20) formed in the first through-hole and being in contact with the terminal metal (60), and a second ITO (30) formed over the first ITO (20). The second ITO (30) is formed within an area where the second ITO is in contact with the first ITO but is not formed outside the second through-hole. This ensures that the distance between the ITOs of the adjacent terminals can be enlarged, whereby the probability of short-circuiting between the terminals can be lowered.
US09954010B2 Liquid crystal display device and electronic device
To provide a circuit used for a shift register or the like. The basic configuration includes first to fourth transistors and four wirings. The power supply potential VDD is supplied to the first wiring and the power supply potential VSS is supplied to the second wiring. A binary digital signal is supplied to each of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. An H level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VDD, and an L level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VSS. There are four combinations of the potentials of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. Each of the first transistor to the fourth transistor can be turned off by any combination of the potentials. That is, since there is no transistor that is constantly on, deterioration of the characteristics of the transistors can be suppressed.
US09954007B2 Transistor and display device
It is an object to manufacture a highly reliable display device using a thin film transistor having favorable electric characteristics and high reliability as a switching element. In a bottom gate thin film transistor including an amorphous oxide semiconductor, an oxide conductive layer having a crystal region is formed between an oxide semiconductor layer which has been dehydrated or dehydrogenated by heat treatment and each of a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer which are formed using a metal material. Accordingly, contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor layer and each of the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer can be reduced; thus, a thin film transistor having favorable electric characteristics and a highly reliable display device using the thin film transistor can be provided.
US09954006B2 Thin film transistor array substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A TFT array substrate includes a semiconductive oxide layer disposed on an insulating substrate and including a channel portion, a gate electrode overlapping the semiconductive oxide layer, a gate insulating layer interposed between the semiconductive oxide layer and the gate electrode, and a passivation layer disposed on the semiconductive oxide layer and the gate electrode. At least one of the gate insulating layer and the passivation layer includes an oxynitride layer, and the oxynitride layer has a higher concentration of oxygen than that of nitrogen in a location of the oxynitride layer closer to the semiconductive oxide layer.
US09954005B2 Semiconductor device comprising oxide semiconductor layer
A semiconductor device includes a pixel portion having a first thin film transistor and a driver circuit having a second thin film transistor. Each of the first thin film transistor and the second thin film transistor includes a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer, and a drain electrode layer. Each of the layers of the first thin film transistor has a light-transmitting property. Materials of the gate electrode layer, the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer of the first thin film transistor are different from those of the second transistor, and each of the resistances of the second thin film transistor is lower than that of the first thin film transistor.
US09954004B2 Semiconductor device
The degree of integration of a semiconductor device is enhanced and the storage capacity per unit area is increased. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor provided in a semiconductor substrate and a second transistor provided over the first transistor. In addition, an upper portion of a semiconductor layer of the second transistor is in contact with a wiring, and a lower portion thereof is in contact with a gate electrode of the first transistor. With such a structure, the wiring and the gate electrode of the first transistor can serve as a source electrode and a drain electrode of the second transistor, respectively. Accordingly, the area occupied by the semiconductor device can be reduced.
US09954000B2 Multi-level ferroelectric memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A ferroelectric memory device may include a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of ferroelectric layers, a source, a drain and a gate. The semiconductor substrate may have a recess. The ferroelectric layers may be formed in the recess. The source may be arranged at a first side of the recess. The drain may be arranged at a second side of the recess opposite to the first side. The gate may be arranged on the ferroelectric layers. The ferroelectric layers may be polarized by different electric fields.
US09953992B1 Mid-plane word line switch connection for CMOS under three-dimensional memory device and method of making thereof
A three-dimensional memory array device can include mid-plane terrace regions between a pair of memory array regions. The electrically conductive layers of the three-dimensional memory array device continuously extend between the pair of memory array regions through a connection region, which is provided adjacent to the mid-plane terrace regions. Contact via structures contacting the electrically conductive layers can be provided in the mid-plane terrace regions, and through-memory-level via structures that extend through the alternating stack and connected to underlying lower metal interconnect structures and semiconductor devices can be provided through the mid-plane terrace region and/or through the connection region. Upper metal interconnect structures can connect the contact via structures and the through-memory-level via structures.
US09953988B2 Method of forming static random-access memory (SRAM) cell array
A static random-access memory (SRAM) cell array forming method includes the following steps. A plurality of fin structures are formed on a substrate, wherein the fin structures include a plurality of active fins and a plurality of dummy fins, each PG (pass-gate) FinFET shares at least one of the active fins with a PD (pull-down) FinFET, and at least one dummy fin is disposed between the two active fins having two adjacent pull-up FinFETs thereover in a static random-access memory cell. At least a part of the dummy fins are removed. The present invention also provides a static random-access memory (SRAM) cell array formed by said method.
US09953984B2 Tungsten for wordline applications
Disclosed herein are methods and related apparatus for formation of tungsten wordlines in memory devices. Also disclosed herein are methods and related apparatus for deposition of fluorine-free tungsten (FFW). According to various embodiments, the methods involve deposition of multi-component tungsten films using tungsten chloride (WClx) precursors and boron (B)-containing, silicon (Si)-containing or germanium (Ge)-containing reducing agents.
US09953983B2 Vertical gate-all-around TFET
A vertical tunneling FET (TFET) provides low-power, high-speed switching performance for transistors having critical dimensions below 7 nm. The vertical TFET uses a gate-all-around (GAA) device architecture having a cylindrical structure that extends above the surface of a doped well formed in a silicon substrate. The cylindrical structure includes a lower drain region, a channel, and an upper source region, which are grown epitaxially from the doped well. The channel is made of intrinsic silicon, while the source and drain regions are doped in-situ. An annular gate surrounds the channel, capacitively controlling current flow through the channel from all sides. The source is electrically accessible via a front side contact, while the drain is accessed via a backside contact that provides low contact resistance and also serves as a heat sink. Reliability of vertical TFET integrated circuits is enhanced by coupling the vertical TFETs to electrostatic discharge (ESD) diodes.
US09953981B2 Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices having buried contacts and related semiconductor devices
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming bit line structures spaced apart from each other by first groove disposed in first direction, extending in first direction, and spaced apart from each other in second direction perpendicular to first direction, on substrate in which word line is buried; forming multilayer spacer on both sidewalls of bit line structure; forming sacrificial layer to fill first groove; forming second grooves spaced apart from each other in first direction and second direction, by patterning sacrificial layer; etching outermost spacer of multilayer spacer located in second groove; forming first supplementary spacer in second groove; forming insulating layer to fill second groove; and forming third grooves spaced apart from each other in first direction and second direction, on both sides of first supplementary spacer, by removing sacrificial layer and insulating layer.
US09953980B2 Operational amplifier circuit
In an output amplifier stage of an operational amplifier circuit, the first p-well of the first nMOSFET and the second p-well of the second nMOSFET are connected to the fourth node. Further, the first n-well of the first pMOSFET and the second n-well of the second pMOSFET are connected to the fifth node. At least one of the fourth node and the fifth node is connected to an output terminal VOUT.
US09953974B2 Tipless transistors, short-tip transistors, and methods and circuits therefor
An integrated circuit can include a plurality of first transistors formed in a substrate and having gate lengths of less than one micron and at least one tipless transistor formed in the substrate and having a source-drain path coupled between a circuit node and a first power supply voltage. In addition or alternatively, an integrated circuit can include minimum feature size transistors; a signal driving circuit comprising a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled between a first power supply node and an output node, and a second transistor of a second conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled between a second power supply node and the output node, and a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor, wherein the first or second transistor is a tipless transistor.
US09953972B2 Semiconductor system, device and structure
An Integrated Circuit device, including: first transistors and second transistors, where the first transistors and the second transistors each include a single crystal channel, where at least one of the second transistors overlays at least one of the first transistors with less than 1 micron distance apart, and where at least one of the second transistors is a dopant segregated schottky barrier transistor.
US09953967B2 Integrated circuit with dual stress liner boundary
An integrated circuit with DSL borders perpendicular to the transistor gates primarily inside the nwell and with DSL borders parallel to the transistor gates primarily outside the nwell. A method for forming an integrated circuit with DSL borders perpendicular to the transistor gates primarily inside the nwell and with DSL borders parallel to the transistor gates primarily outside the nwell.
US09953964B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor package
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor package including providing a first semiconductor package including a first package substrate and a first solder ball, the first package substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first solder ball on the first surface, providing a second semiconductor package including a second package substrate and a second solder ball, the second package substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, the second solder ball on the third surface, forming a depression in the first solder ball, applying flux to the first solder ball to fill the depression, aligning the first semiconductor package and the second semiconductor package with each other such that the second solder ball is inserted into the depression, and performing a reflow process to combine the first solder ball with the second solder ball may be provided.
US09953961B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device can reduce the number of bonding wires. The semiconductor device includes two or more semiconductor elements each of which has electrodes on a first main surface and a second main surface, an electrode plate that has one surface which is bonded to electrodes on the first main surfaces of the semiconductor elements, with a first bonding material layer interposed therebetween, and extends over the electrodes on the first main surfaces of the two or more semiconductor elements, and a conductive plate that includes a first lead terminal and a semiconductor element bonding portion which is bonded to electrodes on the second main surfaces of the semiconductor elements. A second bonding material layer is interposed therebetween, and is connected to the electrodes on the second main surfaces of the two or more semiconductor elements.
US09953959B1 Metal protected fan-out cavity
A metal protected fan-out cavity enables assembly of a package-on-package (PoP) integrated circuit while reducing PoP solder spacing and overall z-height. A horizontal fan-out conductor provides a contact between a die contact and a lower package via. A metal protection layer may be used during manufacture to protect the fan-out conductor, such as providing a laser stop during laser skiving. The metal protection layer materials and an etching solution may be selected to allow for subsequent removal via etching while leaving the fan-out conductor intact. The metal protection layer and fan-out conductor materials may also be selected to reduce or eliminate formation of an intermetallic compound (IMC) between the metal protection layer and the fan-out conductor.
US09953955B2 Integrated fan-out package structures with recesses in molding compound
A package includes a first die and a second die. The first die includes a first substrate and a first metal pad overlying the first substrate. The second die includes a second substrate and a second metal pad overlying the second substrate. A molding compound molds the first die and the second die therein. The molding compound has a first portion between the first die and the second die, and a second portion, which may form a ring encircles the first portion. The first portion and the second portion are on opposite sides of the first die. The first portion has a first top surface. The second portion has a second top surface higher than the first top surface.
US09953951B2 Method of providing a flexible semiconductor device and flexible semiconductor device thereof
Some embodiments include a method. The method can comprise: providing a carrier substrate; providing an adhesion modification layer over the carrier substrate; providing a device substrate; and coupling the device substrate and the carrier substrate together, the adhesion modification layer being located between the device substrate and the carrier substrate when the device substrate and the carrier substrate are coupled together. In these embodiments, the adhesion modification layer can be configured so that the device substrate couples indirectly with the carrier substrate by way of the adhesion modification layer with a first bonding force that is greater than a second bonding force by which the device substrate couples with the carrier substrate absent the adhesion modification layer. Other embodiments of related methods and devices are also disclosed.
US09953950B2 Nitride-enriched oxide-to-oxide 3D wafer bonding
A semiconductor structure comprising a first semiconductor structure; a second semiconductor structure; and a silicon-nitride layer configured to bond the first semiconductor structure and second semiconductor structure together. The first semiconductor structure comprises a first wafer; a first dielectric layer; a first interconnect structure; and a first oxide layer. The second semiconductor structure comprises a second wafer; a second dielectric layer; a second interconnect structure; and a second oxide layer. The structure further comprises a first nitride layer residing on a top surface of the first oxide layer formed by a nitridation process of the top surface of the first oxide layer; and a second nitride layer residing on a top surface of the second oxide layer formed by the nitridation process of the top surface of the second oxide layer. Further, the silicon-nitride layer comprises the first nitride layer and the second nitride layer.
US09953945B2 Adhesive resin compostition for bonding semiconductors and adhesive film for semiconductors
The present invention relates to an adhesive resin composition for bonding semiconductors, including: a (meth)acrylate-based resin including more than 17% by weight of (meth)acrylate-based repeating units containing epoxy-based functional groups; an epoxy resin having a softening point of more than 70° C.; and a phenol resin having a softening point of more than 105° C., wherein the weight ratio of the (meth)acrylate-based resin is 0.48 to 0.65 relative to the total weight of the (meth)acrylate-based resin, the epoxy resin, and the phenol resin, an adhesive film for semiconductors obtained from the resin composition, a dicing die-bonding film including an adhesive layer that includes the adhesive film for semiconductors, a semiconductor wafer including the dicing die-bonding film, and a dicing method for the semiconductor wafer using the dicing die-bonding film.
US09953926B2 Methods of depositing cobalt manganese films
Described are semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices with a barrier layer comprising cobalt and manganese nitride. Also described are semiconductor devices and methods of making same with a barrier layer comprising CoMn(N) and, optionally, an adhesion layer.
US09953924B2 Semiconductor devices including a capping layer
Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device may include forming a capping layer on a metal pattern and on an adjacent portion of an insulating layer, the capping layer comprising a first etch selectivity, with respect to the insulating layer, on the metal pattern and a second etch selectivity, with respect to the insulating layer, on the portion of the insulating layer. Moreover, the method may include forming a recess region adjacent the metal pattern by removing the capping layer from the portion of the insulating layer. At least a portion of the capping layer may remain on an uppermost surface of the metal pattern after removing the capping layer from the portion of the insulating layer. Related semiconductor devices are also provided.
US09953922B2 Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing the same, method for generating mask data, mask and computer readable recording medium
A multilayer semiconductor device includes first wirings extending in a first direction adjacent to each other in a second direction. Dummy wirings are arranged between the first wirings and a second wiring at crossing points between first virtual linear lines extending in a third direction and second virtual linear lines extending in a fourth direction. The dummy wirings have a first dummy wiring, a second dummy wiring, a third dummy wiring, a fourth dummy wiring, and a fifth dummy wiring. When the dummy wirings are rotated around a center of the first dummy wiring through 90 degrees, centers of the second, third, fourth, and fifth dummy wirings are aligned with centers of the fourth, fifth, third, and second dummy wirings prior to being rotated.
US09953921B2 Semiconductor device and semiconductor package
A semiconductor device may include a first metal line; a second metal line; a first insulating layer formed between the first metal line and the second metal line; a first driving unit coupled to the first metal line, the first driving unit being suitable for driving the first metal line in response to first data; and a second driving unit coupled to the second metal line, the second driving unit being suitable for driving the second metal line in response to second data obtained by inverting and delaying the first data.
US09953920B2 Interconnect structure and method
An apparatus comprises an interlayer dielectric layer formed on a first side of a substrate, a first photo-sensitive dielectric layer formed over the interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the first photo-sensitive dielectric layer comprises a first metal structure and a second photo-sensitive dielectric layer formed over the first photo-sensitive dielectric, wherein the second photo-sensitive dielectric layer comprises a second metal structure having a bottom surface coplanar with a top surface of the first metal structure.
US09953918B2 Method of fabricating anti-fuse for silicon on insulator devices
A method includes depositing a first hard mask layer on a first substrate; lithographically patterning and etching the first substrate to form a semiconductor link connected to an anode semiconductor region and a cathode semiconductor region; removing the first hard mask layer from the first substrate; depositing a second hard mask layer on the first substrate; patterning a photoresist on the first substrate and etching to form an opening in the semiconductor link; etching to remove portions of the second hard mask layer to expose a portion of a sidewall of the semiconductor link; removing the photoresist from the first substrate and the semiconductor link; and recessing the sidewalls of the semiconductor link forming first anti-fuse tip and second anti-fuse tip to form an anti-fuse with an opening between the first and second anti-fuse tips.
US09953917B1 Electronics package with embedded through-connect and resistor structure and method of manufacturing thereof
An electronics package includes an insulating substrate, a semiconductor device having a top surface coupled to a first side of the insulating substrate, and a pass-through structure coupled to the first side of the insulating substrate. The pass-through structure includes an insulating core, a resistor disposed proximate a top surface of the insulating core, and at least one through-hole structure forming at least one conductive pathway through a thickness of the insulating core. A patterned metallization layer is formed on a second side of the insulating substrate. The patterned metallization layer is electrically coupled to at least one first conductive pad of the semiconductor device and electrically couples at least one second conductive pad of the semiconductor device to a through-hole structure of the at least one through-hole structure through the resistor.
US09953915B2 Electrically conductive interconnect including via having increased contact surface area
An interconnect structure includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer each extending along a first axis to define a height and a second axis opposite the first axis to define a length. A capping layer is interposed between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. At least one electrically conductive feature is embedded in at least one of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. At least one electrically conductive via extends through the second dielectric layer and the capping layer. The via has an end that contacts the conductive feature. The end includes a flange having at least one portion extending laterally along the first axis to define a contact area between the via and the at least one conductive feature.
US09953913B1 Electronics package with embedded through-connect structure and method of manufacturing thereof
An electronics package includes an insulating substrate, a semiconductor device having a top surface coupled to a first side of the insulating substrate, and a pass-through component coupled to the first side of the insulating substrate. The pass-through component includes an insulating core and at least one through-hole structure comprising a conductive body extending through the thickness of the insulating core. A metallization layer is formed on a second side of the insulating substrate and extends through at least one via in the insulating substrate to electrically couple at least one conductive pad on the top surface of the semiconductor device to the at least one through-hole structure. An insulating material surrounds the semiconductor device and the insulating core of the pass-through component.
US09953911B2 Fan-out package structure and method
A method includes attaching a semiconductor structure on a carrier, depositing a molding compound layer over the carrier, wherein the semiconductor structure is embedded in the molding compound layer, exposing a first photo-sensitive material layer and a second photo-sensitive material layer to light, developing the first photo-sensitive material layer and the second photo-sensitive material layer to form an opening having a first portion in the first photo-sensitive material layer and a second portion in the second photo-sensitive material layer, wherein a width of the second portion is greater than a width of the first portion, filling the opening with a conductive material to form a via in the first photo-sensitive material layer and a redistribution layer in the second photo-sensitive material layer and forming a bump over the redistribution layer.
US09953910B2 Demountable interconnect structure
An electronic component includes a base insulative layer having first and second surfaces; an electronic device having first and second surfaces; at least one I/O contact located on the first surface of the electronic device; an adhesive layer disposed between the first surface of the electronic device and the second surface of the base insulative layer; a first metal layer disposed on the I/O contact; and a removable layer disposed between the first surface of the electronic device and the second surface of the base insulative layer, and located adjacent to the first metal layer. The base insulative layer secures to the electronic device through the first metal layer and removable layer. The first metal layer and removable layer can release the base insulative layer from the electronic device when the first metal layer and removable layer are exposed to a temperature higher than their softening points or melting points.
US09953906B2 Method of manufacturing element chip, method of manufacturing electronic component-mounted structure, and electronic component-mounted structure
In a plasma processing step that is used in the method of manufacturing the element chip for manufacturing a plurality of element chips by dividing a substrate which has a plurality of element regions and of which an element surface is covered by insulating film, the substrate is divided into element chips by exposing the substrate to a first plasma, element chips having first surface, second surface, and side surface are held spaced from each other on carrier, insulating film is in a state of being exposed, recessed portions are formed by retreating insulating film by exposing element chips to second plasma for ashing, and then recessed portions are covered by protection films by third plasma for formation of the protection film, thereby suppressing creep-up of the conductive material to side surface in the mounting step.
US09953905B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor element, a terminal and a solder outflow prevention part. The semiconductor element is fixed on one side of the substrate via a first solder layer. The terminal that is fixed on the one side of the substrate via a second solder layer. The solder outflow prevention part is formed between the semiconductor element and the terminal in the one side of the substrate and is configured to prevent the first solder layer and the second solder layer from outflowing. A distance between the solder outflow prevention part and the semiconductor element is longer than a thickness of the first solder layer.
US09953904B1 Electronic component package with heatsink and multiple electronic components
An electronic component package that includes a heat spreader with a die pad. An electronic component is attached to each side of the die pad where each electronic component includes conductive terminals on a side facing away from the die pad. Conductive terminals of the top electronic component are wirebonded to conductive surfaces of a package substrate and conductive terminals of the bottom electronic component are physically and electrically attached to conductive surfaces of the package substrate. The heat spreader structure includes tie structures that extend in a direction away from the second electronic component.
US09953903B2 Heatsink very-thin quad flat no-leads (HVQFN) package
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method for preparing an integrated circuit (IC) device having enhanced heat dissipation. The method comprises providing a lead frame array, of a first thickness, with a plurality of die placement areas each die placement area with bond pad landings, the bond bad landings situated about a die placement area on one or multiple sides, the bond pad landings having upper surfaces and opposite lower surfaces, placing a heat sink assembly of a second thickness, having at least two mounting tabs of the first thickness, in each die placement area and attaching the at least two mounting tabs onto corresponding bond pad landings serving as anchor pads, die bonding a device die on the heat sink device assembly, conductively bonding device die bond pads to corresponding bond pad landings, and encapsulating the wire bonded device die, heat sink assembly and lead frame array in a molding compound.
US09953900B2 Transistor structures gated using a conductor-filled via or trench
Device structures involving a conductor-filled via or trench, methods of forming such device structures, and methods of operating such device structures. A doped region is formed in the substrate. An opening, such as a via or trench, is formed that extends through the doped region and into a portion of the substrate beneath the doped region. A conductive plug in formed in the opening to provide the conductor-filled via or trench. The opening is positioned and dimensioned relative to a position and dimensions of the doped region to divide the doped region into a first section and a second section that is disconnected from the first section by the opening.
US09953897B2 Fluid-filled microchannels
A device comprises a first layer of a die. The first layer comprises a microchannel. The microchannel is partially filled with a liquid and partially filled with air. The die also comprises a second layer. The second layer of the die seals a top of the microchannel of the first layer.
US09953896B2 Heat dissipating module, heat dissipating system and circuit module
The present application provides a heat dissipating module, a heat dissipating system and a circuit module. The heat dissipating module adapted to be used with a heat element. The heat dissipating module comprises a heat exchanger which has a heat exchanging zone contacted with the heat element; a securing structure; and a fluid driving unit which is communicated with the heat exchanger for guiding a working fluid into the heat exchanger and is secured to the heat exchanger by the securing structure, wherein the fluid driving unit and the second heat exchanger are separately installed and communicated with each other.
US09953889B1 Process for making semiconductor dies, chips, and wafers using non-contact measurements obtained from DOEs of NCEM-enabled fill cells on test wafers that include multiple means/steps for enabling NC detection of GATECNT-GATE via opens
Improved processes for manufacturing semiconductor wafers, chips, or dies utilize in-line data obtained from non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”) of fill cells that contain structures configured to target/expose a variety of open-circuit, short-circuit, leakage, and/or excessive resistance failure modes. Such processes include evaluating one or more Designs of Experiments (“DOEs”), each comprised of multiple NCEM-enabled fill cells, in at least two variants, targeted to the same failure mode. Such DOEs include multiple means/steps for enabling non-contact (NC) detection of GATECNT-GATE via opens.
US09953888B1 Electromagnetic detection device and semiconductor manufacturing system
An electromagnetic detection device is provided. The electromagnetic detection device includes an induction coil, a converter, and a controller. The induction coil is utilized to sense an RF signal and generate a sensing RF signal by electromagnetic induction of the induction coil which is proportional to the RF signal. The RF signal is transmitted to a shower head to perform a semiconductor process on a wafer for manufacturing an IC in association with the RF signal. The converter is utilized to convert the sensing RF signal into a DC signal. The controller is utilized to determine whether the semiconductor process is normal or abnormal according to the DC signal during the semiconductor process. The semiconductor process will be terminated when the semiconductor process is determined as abnormal.
US09953887B2 Measuring individual layer thickness during multi-layer deposition semiconductor processing
In situ wafer metrology is conducted to reliably obtain deposition thickness for each successive layer in a multi-layer deposition. A wafer to be processed is positioned in a processing station of a deposition process tool, the process tool having a reflectometer metrology apparatus for optically determining thickness of a deposited layer on the wafer. Prior to commencing a deposition, the wafer is aligned in the processing station such that an optical metrology spot generated by the reflectometer metrology apparatus will align with an unpatterned central region of a die on a wafer during a deposition conducted on the wafer in the tool. Thereafter, the thickness of a deposited layer on the wafer is reliably measured and monitored in situ.
US09953883B2 Semiconductor device including a field effect transistor and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor layer on a substrate, the semiconductor layer including a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, patterning the semiconductor layer to form a preliminary active pattern, oxidizing at least two sidewalls of the preliminary active pattern to form an oxide layer on each of the at least two sidewalls of the preliminary active pattern, at least two upper patterns and a semiconductor pattern being formed in the preliminary active pattern when the oxide layers are formed, the semiconductor pattern being disposed between the at least two upper patterns, and removing the semiconductor pattern to form an active pattern, the active pattern including the at least two upper patterns. A concentration of the second semiconductor material in each of the at least two upper patterns is higher than a concentration of the second semiconductor material in the semiconductor pattern.
US09953871B2 Wafer processing method
A laser beam is applied to the front side of a wafer along division lines, to form grooves having a depth corresponding to a finished thickness of device chips. Molding resin is laid on the front side of the wafer and embedded in the grooves. A protective member is attached to a front side of the molding resin, and a back side of the wafer is ground to expose the grooves and to expose the molding resin embedded in the grooves on the back side of the wafer. The wafer is divided along the grooves by a cutting blade having a thickness smaller than the width of the grooves, a central portion in a width direction of the molding resin being exposed along the grooves, thereby dividing the wafer into individual device chips each having a periphery surrounded with the molding resin.
US09953870B2 3D semiconductor device and system
A 3D integrated circuit device, including: a first transistor; a second transistor; and a third transistor, where the third transistor is overlaying the second transistor and the third transistor is controlled by a third control line, where the second transistor is overlaying the first transistor and the second transistor is controlled by a second control line, where the first transistor is part of a control circuit controlling the second control line and the third control line, and where the second transistor and the third transistor are self-aligned.
US09953869B2 Semiconductor device with reduced via resistance
A semiconductor interconnect structure that has a first portion included in an upper interconnect level and a second portion included in a lower interconnect level. The semiconductor interconnect structure has a segment of dielectric capping material that is in contact with the bottom of the first portion, which separates, in part, the upper interconnect level from a lower interconnect level. The second portion is in electrical contact with the first portion.
US09953867B2 Method for forming seed layer on high-aspect ratio via and semiconductor device having high-aspect ratio via formed thereby
Disclosed are a method of forming a seed layer on a high-aspect ratio via and a semiconductor device having a high-aspect ratio via formed thereby. Thus, efficient Cu filling-plating is possible, and plating adhesion of the seed layer to filling-plated Cu can be simply and profitably enhanced, thus imparting high durability upon forming metal wiring for electronic components. Moreover, stress of the seed layer can be lowered, thereby enhancing plating adhesion.
US09953865B1 Structure and method to improve FAV RIE process margin and electromigration
A method of forming fully aligned vias in a semiconductor device includes forming an Mx level interconnect line embedded in an Mx interlevel dielectric (ILD). The Mx level interconnect is recessed below the Mx interlevel dielectric or a dielectric is selectively deposited on the Mx interlevel dielectric. The method also includes laterally etching the exposed upper portion of the Mx interlevel dielectric bounding the recess or laterally etching the selectively deposited dielectric. A dielectric cap layer and an Mx+1 level interlevel dielectric is deposited on top of the Mx interlevel dielectric, and a via opening is formed.
US09953862B2 Plasma processing method and plasma processing apparatus
A plasma processing method performs an etching process of supplying a fluorine-containing gas into a plasma processing space and etching a target substrate, in which a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film is formed on a surface of a metal silicide film, with plasma of the fluorine-containing gas (process S101). Then, the plasma processing method performs a reduction process of supplying a hydrogen-containing gas into the plasma processing space and reducing, with plasma of the hydrogen-containing gas, a metal-containing material deposited on a member, of which a surface is arranged to face the plasma processing space, after the etching process (process S102). Thereafter, the plasma processing method performs a removal process of supplying an oxygen-containing gas into the plasma processing space and removing metal, which is obtained by reducing the metal-containing material in the reduction process, with plasma of the oxygen-containing gas (process S103).
US09953858B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same
To provide a semiconductor device having improved performance. The semiconductor device has a first insulating film formed on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate and a second insulating film formed on the first insulating film. The semiconductor device further has a first opening portion penetrating through the second insulating film and reaching the first insulating film, a second opening portion penetrating through the first insulating film and reaching the semiconductor substrate, and a trench portion formed in the semiconductor substrate. A first opening width of the first opening portion and a second opening width of the second opening portion are greater than a trench width of the trench portion. The trench portion is closed by a third insulating film while leaving a space in the trench portion.
US09953855B2 Process for transferring layers
The invention relates to a process for transferring an active layer to a final substrate using a temporary substrate, the active layer comprises a first side having a three-dimensional surface topology, the process comprising: a first step of bonding the first side of the active layer to one side of the temporary substrate; a second step of bonding a second side of the active layer to the final substrate; and a third step of separating the active layer and the temporary substrate; the process being characterized in that the side of the temporary substrate possesses a surface topology complementary to the surface topology of the first side of the active layer, so that the surface topology of the temporary substrate encapsulates the surface topology of the first side of the active layer in the bonding first step.
US09953848B2 Substrate liquid processing apparatus
A substrate liquid processing apparatus of the present disclosure supplies a plurality of processing liquids from a processing liquid supplying unit in a switching manner to a substrate held on a substrate holding unit. An elevatable inner cup surrounds the substrate holding unit laterally and forms a first drain path that drains the first processing liquid. An outer cup surrounds the inner cup and forms a second drain path that drains the second processing liquid. A cover covers the outside of the outer cup, includes an eaves portion that extends inwardly from an upper side, and forms an exhaust path between the cover and the outer cup. The exhaust path is connected to the first drain path and the second drain path above inlets of the first drain path and the second drain path.
US09953847B2 Apparatus and method for cleaning
A semiconductor structure includes a molding compound, a conductive plug, and a cover. The conductive plug is in the molding compound. The cover is over a top meeting joint between the conductive plug and the molding compound. The semiconductor structure further has a dielectric. The dielectric is on the cover and the molding compound.
US09953846B2 Method for fabricating a semiconductor chip panel
A method for fabricating a semiconductor chip is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a carrier, providing a plurality of semiconductor chips, the semiconductor chips each including a first main face and a second main face opposite to the first main face and side faces connecting the first and second main faces, placing the semiconductor chips on the carrier with the second main faces facing the carrier, and applying an encapsulation material to the side faces of the semiconductor chips.
US09953845B2 Methods and systems for forming electronic modules
A method of manufacturing an electronic module includes providing a conductive strip and a dielectric material. The method includes coating the dielectric material and the conductive strip to form a layered structure having a conductive layer defined by the conductive strip and a dielectric layer defined by the dielectric material. The method includes applying a carrier strip to the layered structure. The method includes processing the conductive layer to form a circuit while the layered structure is on the carrier strip. The method includes removing the carrier strip from the layered structure. The method includes applying the layered structure with the circuit to an electronic module substrate.
US09953842B2 Methods of forming a portion of a memory array having a conductor having a variable concentration of germanium
An embodiment of a method of forming a portion of a memory array includes forming a conductor with a concentration of germanium that decreases with an increasing thickness of the conductor, removing a portion of the conductor at a rate governed by the concentration of germanium to form a tapered first opening through the conductor, removing a sacrificial material below the conductor to form a second opening contiguous with the tapered first opening, and forming a semiconductor in the contiguous first and second openings, wherein a portion of the semiconductor pinches off within the first opening adjacent an upper surface of the conductor before the contiguous first and second openings are completely filled with the semiconductor.
US09953841B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including the following steps. A substrate is provided. A material layer having an opening is formed on the substrate. A first passivation material layer is formed on sidewalls of the opening and on the substrate. A treatment process is performed to the first passivation material layer to form a second passivation material layer. A first surface of the second passivation material layer and a second surface (at an inner side) of the second passivation material layer are differ in a property, and the first surface is located at a side of the second passivation material layer relatively away from the material layer.
US09953839B2 Gate-stack structure with a diffusion barrier material
This invention relates to an apparatus, system, and method for creating a high-k gate stack structure that includes a passivation layer. The passivation layer can be constructed from a deposition of silicon carbide. The silicon carbide provides robustness against oxidation, which can reduce the capacity of the stack. The silicon carbide is thermodynamically stable during the deposition process and results in a clean interface.
US09953837B2 Transistor having a gate comprising a titanium nitride layer and method for depositing this layer
A MOS transistor having a gate insulator including a dielectric of high permittivity and a conductive layer including a TiN layer, wherein the nitrogen composition in the TiN layer is sub-stoichiometric in its lower portion and progressively increases to a stoichiometric composition in its upper portion.
US09953836B2 Barrier layer above anti-punch through (APT) implant region to improve mobility of channel region of fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure
A fin field device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The FinFET device structure includes a substrate and a fin structure extending from the substrate. The FinFET device structure also includes an anti-punch through implant (APT) region formed in the fin structure and a barrier layer formed on the APT region. The barrier layer has a middle portion and a peripheral portion, and the middle portion is higher than the peripheral portion. The FinFET device structure further includes an epitaxial layer formed on the barrier layer.
US09953835B2 Damage free enhancement of dopant diffusion into a substrate
A method of doping a substrate. The method may include implanting a dose of a helium species into the substrate through a surface of the substrate at an implant temperature of 300° C. or greater. The method may further include depositing a doping layer containing a dopant on the surface of the substrate, and annealing the substrate at an anneal temperature, the anneal temperature being greater than the implant temperature.
US09953834B1 Method of making self-aligned continuity cuts in mandrel and non-mandrel metal lines
A method includes providing a structure having a dielectric layer, a 1st hardmask layer, a 2nd hardmask layer and a 1st mandrel layer disposed respectively thereon. A 1st mandrel plug is disposed in the 1st mandrel layer. A 2nd mandrel layer is disposed over the 1st mandrel layer. The 1st and 2nd mandrel layers are etched to form a plurality 1st mandrels, wherein the 1st mandrel plug extends entirely through a single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrel plug is etched such that it is self-aligned with sidewalls of the single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrels are utilized to form mandrel metal lines in the dielectric layer. The 1st mandrel plug is utilized to form a self-aligned mandrel continuity cut in a single mandrel metal line formed by the single 1st mandrel.
US09953831B1 Device structures with multiple nitrided layers
Device structures for field-effect transistors and methods of forming device structures for a field-effect transistor. A first dielectric layer is formed on a semiconductor layer and nitrided. A nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at a first interface between the first dielectric layer and the semiconductor layer. Another nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at a second interface between the semiconductor layer and a second dielectric layer. Device structures may include field-effect transistors that include one, both, and/or neither of the nitrogen-enriched layers.
US09953828B2 Frame and mask assembly having the same
A frame and a mask assembly having the same. The frame supports both ends of each unit mask, each unit mask applying a tensile force in a first direction. The frame includes a frame main body part forming an opening exposing the unit mask, and a first through hole formed by passing through the frame main body part.
US09953826B2 Substrate cleaning method, substrate cleaning system, and memory medium
A method for cleaning a substrate includes supplying to a substrate a film-forming processing liquid which includes a volatile component and forms a film on the substrate, vaporizing the volatile component in the film-forming processing liquid such that the film-forming processing liquid solidifies or cures on the substrate and forms a processing film on the substrate, supplying to the substrate having the processing film a strip-processing liquid which strips the processing film from the substrate, and supplying to the processing film formed on the substrate a dissolving-processing liquid which dissolves the processing film after the supplying of the strip-processing liquid.
US09953822B1 Chromatographic offline sample preparation and storage for sample analysis
A system includes a sample selector device, a chromatographic column selectively connectable to the sample selector device, and a spectrometry analysis device selectively connectable to the sample selector device. The sample selector device is configured to supply multiple individual samples to the chromatographic column to separate components of the individual samples. The sample selector device is also configured to store the separated components of the individual samples. The sample selector device is further configured to supply the separated components of the individual samples to the spectrometry analysis device. In embodiments of the disclosure, the components of the individual samples can be chromatographically separated while the spectrometry analysis device is offline.
US09953818B2 Sensor apparatus and method for use with gas ionization systems
An ion mobility gas detector apparatus including a detector core, an inlet gas path, an exhaust gas path, a source of diluent gas, and at least one or more sensors for measuring temperature, pressure and humidity of gas streams. Further included is a mixing mechanism adapted to mix at least first and second gas streams in response to one or more sensor measurements. A controller is provided for applying drive signals to the detector core.
US09953815B2 Fast-switching high voltage waveform generator
A high-voltage waveform generator comprising a power source, a transformer unit comprising a magnetic core, attached to the power source, a plurality of power switch cards, each having an aperture that allows said magnetic core to pass therethrough, one or more control switches located on each power card, and a control means for actuating the control switches, a power output; wherein the power switch cards are connected in series, wherein each of the apertures in the power switch cards is surrounded by conductive windings, whereby when the power source is activated, the magnetic core induces a current in each of the conductive windings, and wherein the control means activates the control switches simultaneously in under 100 nanoseconds to generate a pulse.
US09953811B2 Plasma processing method
A plasma processing method for performing a plasma process on a processing target substrate is provided. The plasma processing method includes: segmenting a RF antenna into an inner coil, an intermediate coil, and an outer coil with gaps therebetween in a radial direction, respectively, the inner coil, the intermediate coil and the outer coil being electrically connected to one another in parallel between a first node and a second node; providing a variable intermediate capacitor and a variable outer capacitor between the first node and the second node, the variable intermediate capacitor being electrically connected in series to the intermediate coil, the variable outer capacitor being electrically connected in series to the outer coil, no reactance device being connected to the inner coil; and controlling plasma density distribution on the processing target substrate by selecting or variably adjusting electrostatic capacitances of the intermediate capacitor and the outer capacitor.
US09953809B2 Apparatus for coating a film in a container and method for coating the film
An apparatus for coating a film in a container and a method for coating a film are provided. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing having a containing space penetrating through both ends thereof; a first arc-shaped electrode and a second arc-shaped electrode surrounding and covering an outer side of the cylindrical housing with a gap formed between the first and second arc-shaped electrodes such that the first arc-shaped electrode is free from electrically connected to the second arc-shaped electrode; a first conductive ring and a second conductive ring surrounding on the first and second arc-shaped electrodes, respectively; an upper supporting seat and a lower supporting seat disposed at the both ends of the cylindrical housing, respectively, to form a sealed environment for the containing space; and a valve component furnished at the upper supporting seat and inserted into the container for providing a processing gas in a film-coating process.
US09953807B2 Method for producing patterns by ion implantation
A method for forming reliefs on the surface of a substrate, including a first implantation of ions in the substrate according to a first direction; a second implantation of ions in the substrate according to a second direction that is different from the first direction; at least one of the first and second implantations is carried out through at least one mask having at least one pattern; an etching of areas of the substrate having received by implantation a dose greater than or equal to a threshold, selectively to the areas of the substrate that have not received via implantation a dose greater than said threshold; the parameters of the first and second implantations being adjusted in such a way that only areas of the substrate that have been implanted both during the first implantation and during the second implantation receive a dose greater than or equal to said threshold.
US09953806B1 Substrate alignment detection using circumferentially extending timing pattern
Apparatus and method for aligning a rotatable substrate to a support mechanism such as a turntable. The substrate has a circumferentially extending timing pattern comprising at least spaced apart first and second timing marks disposed on opposing sides of a center point of the substrate. The substrate is configured to be mounted to and rotated by the support mechanism about a central axis. The center point of the substrate may be offset from the central axis by an offset distance due to mechanical tolerances associated with the substrate mounting operation. The offset distance may be determined through successive detection of the first and second timing marks by a detector over at least one rotation of the support mechanism and the substrate. A write beam may be adjusted using the determined offset distance to write a second feature to the substrate in alignment with a previously written first feature.
US09953805B2 System for imaging a secondary charged particle beam with adaptive secondary charged particle optics
A secondary charged particle imaging system for imaging a secondary charged particle beam emanating from a sample by impingement of a primary charged particle beam is provided. The system includes a detector arrangement, and an adaptive secondary charged particle optics. The detector arrangement comprises a first detection element for detecting a first secondary charged particle sub-beam of the secondary charged particle beam, and a second detection element for detecting a second secondary charged particle sub-beam of the secondary charged particle beam. The adaptive secondary charged particle optics comprises an aperture plate including a first opening for letting the first secondary charged particle sub-beam pass through and a second opening for letting the second secondary charged particle sub-beam pass through; a lens system for mapping the secondary charged particle beam onto the aperture plate, the lens system comprising a first lens and a second lens; and a controller for controlling the excitation of the first lens and the excitation of the second lens. The controller is configured to independently control the excitation of the first lens and of the second lens to map the secondary charged particle beam onto the aperture plate so that the first secondary charged particle sub-beam passes through the first opening and the second secondary charged particle sub-beam passes through the second opening independent of a variation of at least one first operating parameter selected from a group comprising: landing energy of the primary charged particle beam on the sample, extraction field strength for the secondary charged particle beam at the sample, magnetic field strength of an objective lens that focuses the primary charged particle beam onto the sample, and working distance of the objective lens from the sample.
US09953804B2 High-voltage supply unit and circuit arrangement for generating a high voltage for a particle beam apparatus
The system described herein relates to a high-voltage supply unit for providing an output voltage for a particle beam apparatus, wherein the particle beam apparatus is embodied as, for example, an electron beam apparatus and/or an ion beam apparatus. The system described herein is based on the fact that it was recognized that a bipolar voltage supply unit can be formed by means of a unipolar first current source and a unipolar second current source, said bipolar voltage supply unit enabling a load current in two directions. The high-voltage supply unit according to the system described herein can be operated in the 4-quadrant operation. In the 4-quadrant operation, a first voltage source for supplying the first current source and a second voltage source for supplying the second current source are embodied as different voltage sources.
US09953803B2 Local alignment point calibration method in die inspection
A calibration method for calibrating the position error in the point of interest induced from the stage of the defect inspection tool is achieved by controlling the deflectors directly. The position error in the point of interest is obtained from the design layout database.
US09953798B2 Method and apparatus for generation of a uniform-profile particle beam
The present invention pertains to an apparatus for generating a charged particle beam comprising a magnetic element for controlling the profile of the beam in a predetermined plane. A cathode can be provided for emitting charged particles and an anode for accelerating the charged particles along an axis of travel. The present invention also pertains to a method for generating a particle beam that has a uniform profile in a predetermined plane comprising inducing emission of charged particles from an emitter, accelerating those particles along and toward an axis of beam travel, generating a magnetic field with a component aligned with the axis of beam travel but different in the predetermined plane than at the emitter, and modifying the beam profile.
US09953797B2 Flexible flat emitter for X-ray tubes
A flat emitter configured for use in an X-ray tube is presented. The X-ray tube includes a first conductive section including a first terminal. Further, the X-ray tube includes a second conductive section including a second terminal. Also, the X-ray tube includes a third conductive section disposed between the first conductive section and the second conductive section, wherein the third conductive section is configured to emit electrons toward a determined focal spot, and wherein the third conductive section includes a plurality of slits subdividing the third conductive section into a winding track coupled to the first conductive section and the second conductive section, wherein at least two of the plurality of slits are interwound spirally to compose the winding track, and wherein the winding track is configured to expand and contract based on heat provided to the third conductive section.
US09953795B2 Fuse cutout insulator
A fuse cutout insulator for use in power distribution systems includes three electrically conductive pieces spaced apart and encapsulated by a dielectric material. The conductive components include a top hood, bottom pin, and central pin. The central pin is generally tube shaped and includes an outwardly extending flange to facilitate attachment of the fuse cutout to a utility pole. The top hood and bottom hinge include the traditional components for operable holding of a fuse tube member. The top hood and bottom hinge are accepted in opposite ends of the central pins bore and sealed in spaced relationship during manufacturing by the dielectric material added for fabricating the weathersheds.
US09953791B1 Sealed fuse
A sealed fuse in accordance with the present disclosure may include a tubular fuse body, a trench formed in an exterior of the fuse body, and an electrically conductive endcap that fits over an end of the fuse body and is fastened to the fuse body by an electrically conductive material having a lip portion that extends into the trench to provide a barrier that extends between the fuse body and the endcap. In an embodiment, the trench may be formed in an end face of the fuse body and may extend entirely around an opening in the end of the fuse body. In another embodiment, the trench may be formed in an outwardly-facing surface of a sidewall of the fuse body and may extend entirely around the fuse body.
US09953790B1 Electrical switching apparatus and sensing assembly therefor
A sensing assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a base having a pocket portion, and a bus bar coupled to the base. The sensing assembly includes a housing structured to be coupled to the pocket portion, a power harvester coupled to the housing, a current sensor coupled to the housing, and a voltage sensing circuit located internal with respect to the housing and being structured to be electrically connected to the bus bar.
US09953783B2 Fuse having an explosion chamber
Embodiments disclose a fuse comprising a one power lead, an explosion chamber and an isolating chamber, wherein the fuse is designed such that a power lead can be broken into at least two parts by an explosion triggered in an explosion chamber. The two parts are separated from each other in an associated isolating chamber by a respective electrically insulating partition. Embodiments disclose a method comprising a power lead, an explosion chamber and an isolating chamber, wherein an explosion is triggered in the explosion chamber so that the power lead is broken into at least two parts and bent into the isolating chamber such that at least two parts are separated from one another by an electrically insulating partition. The present disclosure can be applied to pyrotechnic fuses for vehicles and to high-voltage fuses.
US09953781B2 Resettable sensor assembly and system
A resettable sensor assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein. The assembly includes a divider disposed within the cavity and in contact with the housing, at least one electrical contact disposed within the cavity and extending through the divider, and a pin reversibly translatable within the cavity along the axis. The assembly includes at least one actuator element disposed within the cavity and abutting the housing. The element is configured for translating the pin along the axis between a first position wherein the pin contacts the electrical contact and a second position wherein the pin is spaced apart from the electrical contact. The actuator element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the pin between the first and second positions.
US09953769B2 Composite electronic component and board having the same
A composite electronic component includes an insulation sheet, a tantalum capacitor including a body part containing a sintered tantalum powder and a tantalum wire, a portion of which is embedded in the body part, and disposed on the insulation sheet, a multilayer ceramic capacitor including a ceramic body including a plurality of dielectric layers, first and second internal electrodes, and first and second external electrodes, and disposed on the insulation sheet, and a molded portion enclosing the tantalum capacitor and the multilayer ceramic capacitor. The first internal electrode includes a first lead portion led out to upper and lower surfaces and a first end surface of the ceramic body in a length direction, and the second internal electrode includes a second lead portion led out to the upper and lower surfaces and a second end surface of the ceramic body in the length direction.
US09953768B2 Metal-complex dye, photoelectric conversion element, dye-sensitized solar cell, and dye solution containing metal-complex dye
A photoelectric conversion element, a photoelectric conversion element, a dye-sensitized solar cell and a dye solution, having an electrically conductive support, a photoconductor layer containing an electrolyte, a charge transfer layer containing an electrolyte, and a counter electrode, wherein the photoconductor layer contains semiconductor fine particles carrying a metal complex dye; and wherein the metal complex dye has at least a carboxyl group and a salt of the carboxyl group, the salt being selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt, a lithium salt, and a cesium salt, and the ratio α of the number of the salt of the carboxyl group divided by the total number of the carboxyl group and the salt of the carboxyl group to be found in one molecule of the metal complex dye, lying in the range of 0.1 to 0.9.
US09953767B2 Conductive polymer dispersion liquid, a conductive polymer, and use thereof
There is provided a conductive polymer having high conductivity with excellent heat resistance. Using the conductive polymer, there can be provided solid electrolytic capacitors having low ESR, high reliability, and less leakage current. There can be also provided conductive films having high conductivity and superior heat resistance. There is provided a conductive polymer dispersion liquid obtained by a method in which in the presence of a copolymer from styrenesulfonic acid, and at least one kind of a non-sulfonic acid monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylate, acrylate, and an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing alkoxysilane compound or its hydrolysate, thiophene or its derivative is polymerized by oxidation polymerization in water, or in an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of water and a water miscible solvent to produce the conductive polymer dispersion liquid. Using the conductive polymer as solid electrolyte, a solid electrolyte capacitor can be provided. Also, using the conductive polymer, a conductive film can be provided.
US09953765B2 Laminated ceramic electronic component mounting structure
A laminated ceramic electronic component mounting structure includes a laminated ceramic electronic component including a ceramic body, first and second inner electrodes in the ceramic body including opposed portions including at least portions of which are opposed to each other in a thickness direction of the ceramic body, a first terminal electrode electrically connected to the first inner electrode, and a second terminal electrode electrically connected to the second inner electrode; and a circuit board including first and second electrode lands electrically connected to the first and second terminal electrodes and on which the laminated ceramic electronic component is mounted, wherein widths of the first and second electrode lands are smaller than widths of the first and second inner electrodes at the opposed portions.
US09953758B2 Magnetic element
A magnetic element is disclosed, and includes a magnetic core, at least one winding set and at least one heat conduction pipe. The magnetic core includes two magnetic columns arranged oppositely, and two magnetic plates arranged oppositely. The magnetic plates respectively cover two opposite end surfaces of each magnetic column to mutually form a closed magnetic flux path with the magnetic columns. Each of the magnetic columns includes a plurality of first magnetic blocks stacked together. Each of the magnetic plates includes at least one second magnetic block. The winding set binds one of the magnetic columns. The heat conduction pipe is disposed internally in one of the magnetic columns.
US09953753B2 Electronic component
An electronic component includes a magnetic body having internal coil patterns. The magnetic body includes a core part including the internal coil patterns; and upper and lower cover parts disposed above and below the core part, respectively. Magnetic wires are disposed in the core part, and magnetic plates are disposed in the upper and lower cover parts.
US09953748B2 Electric wire protecting device
An electric wire protecting device is used in order to be capable of being installed in a narrow wiring area like one in a small aircraft, and to minimize a risk of an electric arc inside electric wire bundles at low costs. To this end, the electric wire protecting device includes: power wire groups each of which is an assembly of one or more power wires at the same potential; a tape for binding the power wire groups at different potentials from one another into one bundle at a constant pitch; and a spacer extending in a direction of extension of the power wire groups, and inserted in boundaries between the power wire groups.
US09953746B2 Insulated wire and cable
An insulated wire includes a conductor, and an insulation layer provided around the conductor. The insulation layer includes an inner layer located on a conductor side and an outer layer provided around the inner layer. The inner layer includes a halogen-free resin composition including a base polymer (A). The outer layer includes a cross-linked body obtained by cross-linking a halogen-free flame-retardant resin composition including a base polymer (B) and a halogen-free flame retardant. The base polymer (A) includes a thermoplastic resin (a1) having an aromatic ring in a backbone chain. The base polymer (B) includes a polyolefin component. A thickness of the inner layer is not less than 0.03 mm and not more than 70% of a thickness of the insulation layer.
US09953745B2 Shielded wire and wire harness
A shielded wire includes an electrical wire including a conductor portion and a covering portion, a shield braid in which electrically conductive wire members are braided, and which covers an outer circumference of the electrical wire, a tubular sheath disposed on an outer circumference of the shield braid and made of an insulating resin.
US09953744B2 Electrical insulating paper and stationary induction electrical apparatus using the same
Electrical insulating paper according to an embodiment of the present invention is used while being immersed in electrical insulating oil, and includes a paper base material mainly containing cellulose, an adsorption layer formed on an entire surface of the paper base material by adsorption, and a moisture barrier layer formed by being chemically bonded to the adsorption layer. The moisture barrier layer includes an amphipathic molecule containing both a hydrophobic hydrocarbon group and a hydrophilic functional group in one molecule. The amphipathic molecule is chemically bonded to the adsorption layer via the hydrophilic functional group. The hydrophobic hydrocarbon group covers the surface of the paper base material.
US09953742B2 Foamed polymer separator for cabling
A cable separator comprising a preshaped article having a longitudinal length, wherein said preshaped article is substantially entirely formed of a foamed polymer material having a glass transition temperature greater than 160° C. and being halogen-free is provided. A data communications cable comprising a plurality of conductors and the cable separator of the present invention, wherein said cable separator separates the plurality of conductors is provided. A method of manufacturing a cable comprising the separator of the invention is also provided.
US09953735B2 X-ray reflective lens arrangement
An X-ray lens arrangement for forming a radiation pattern as a focal track is disclosed. The pattern comprises at least one 3-dimensional focal track of radiation. The aforesaid lens arrangement has a main axis passing through intensity weighted centroids of the X-ray source and the pattern. The lens arrangement includes at least one reflecting surface of continuously varying Rowland arcs. Each point belonging to the focal track is linked to each elemental point composing an emitting surface of said source by a corresponding Rowland arc.
US09953732B2 Radiation protection curtain
The invention concerns a radiation protection curtain including at least two layers arranged parallel to each other, for use with a means of transporting objects to be scanned on a production line in a direction through the radiation protection curtain. At least one first layer is configured as a radiation protection layer. This at least one first radiation protection layer is preceded in the transport direction outwards by at least one additional separate stand-alone layer. This at least one additional layer is configured as a mechanical protection layer for the purpose of protecting the radiation protection layer behind it from mechanical effects, and the at least one additional mechanical protection layer includes at least one segment that is located on an already-installed radiation protection layer at predefined positions in such a way that it can be replaced individually.
US09953731B2 Radiation protection arrangement
The present invention relates to a radiation protection arrangement, in particular for attachment to a support rail, which is attached to a side of a treatment table, comprising: a holder on which a radiation protection drape is arranged, wherein the holder is attachable to the support rail and comprises a fastening means with which the holder can be fastened to the support rail. The fastening means is formed on a side of the holder and comprises at least one first bracket part and at least one second bracket part. The first and the second bracket parts each have an L-shaped profile with a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first and the second bracket parts are arranged such that the first legs are aligned in parallel and the second legs face each other. The first bracket part is arranged at an upper edge of the holder and the second bracket part is arranged at the lower edge of the holder. Consequently, the first bracket part is arranged relative to a longitudinal direction of the holder at a first distance from the second bracket part such that the holder in a first position in which the holder is pivoted relative to the support rail can be brought into contact with the support rail. With a pivoting motion the holder can be brought into a second position in which the holder is fastened to the support rail.
US09953727B1 Circuit and method for detecting time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) shorts and signal-margin testing
The present disclosure relates to a structure which includes a twin-cell memory which is configured to program a plurality of write operations, a current sense amplifier which is connected to the twin-cell memory and is configured to sense a current differential and latch a differential voltage based on the current differential, and at least one current source which is connected to the current sense amplifier and is configured to add an offset current to the current sense amplifier to create the differential voltage.
US09953725B2 Semiconductor memory devices and methods of operating the same
A method of operating a semiconductor memory device is provided. In a method of operating a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array which includes a plurality of bank arrays, memory cells in a first region of the memory cell array are tested to detect one or more failed cells in the first region, a fail address corresponding to the detected one or more failed cells is determined and the determined fail address is stored in a second region different from the first region, in the memory cell array.
US09953721B2 Gate driver circuit, touch display device and touch display driving method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a gate driver circuit, a touch display device and a touch display driving method. The gate driver circuit includes a plurality of GOA unit groups arranged successively and control units arranged between every two adjacent GOA unit groups, each of the GOA unit groups comprising a plurality of shift registers which are cascaded. The control unit is configured to output a start control signal at a high level to a signal input end of a first stage shift register of a next GOA unit group corresponding thereto, after a last stage shift register of a previous GOA unit group corresponding thereto completes driving for a corresponding gate line and a predetermined time elapses, so as to pre-charge the first stage shift register of the next GOA unit group.
US09953720B2 Implementing hidden security key in eFuses
A method and circuit for implementing a hidden security key in Electronic Fuses (eFuses), and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The circuit includes a race condition circuit coupled to a latching structure. The race condition circuit is characterized including respective driver strengths of each stage in the race as well as a sampling clock during chip testing. The data is used to store drive strengths for each stage in eFuses and is used to get a logical one or logical zero out of the final latching stage of the race condition circuit.
US09953717B2 NAND structure with tier select gate transistors
Systems and methods for improving performance of a non-volatile memory by utilizing one or more tier select gate transistors between different portions of a NAND string are described. A first memory string tier may comprise a first set of memory cell transistors that may be programmed to store a first set of data and a second memory string tier may comprise a second set of memory cell transistors that are arranged above the first set of transistors and that may be programmed to store a second set of data. Between the first set of memory cell transistors and the second set of memory cell transistors may comprise a tier select gate transistor in series with the first set of memory cell transistors and the second set of memory cell transistors. The tier select gate transistor may comprise a programmable transistor or a non-programmable transistor.
US09953716B2 Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, there is provided a non-volatile semiconductor storage device including a non-volatile memory, a monitoring section, a determining section, and a notification processing section. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of memory cells driven by word lines and a voltage generating section that generates a read voltage to be applied to the word lines. The monitoring section monitors a change in a threshold distribution of the plurality of memory cells upon performing a read processing to read data from the plurality of memory cells by applying the read voltage to the word lines. The determining section determines a degree of deterioration of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a monitoring result by the monitoring section. The notification processing section notifies a life of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a determining result by the determining section.
US09953712B2 Nonvolatile memory device and storage device including the nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array having memory cells, a row decoder circuit connected to the memory cells through word lines, a page buffer circuit connected to the memory cells through bit lines, and a control circuit controlling the row decoder circuit and the page buffer circuit to repeatedly perform an erase loop including an erase and an erase verification with respect to the memory cells. The control circuit is configured to select one of an increase and a decrease of an erase voltage according to a result of the erase verification of a current erase loop and apply the controlled erase voltage to the memory cells in the erase operation of a subsequent erase loop.
US09953710B2 Memory devices with a connecting region having a band gap lower than a band gap of a body region
Memory devices are shown that include a body region and a connecting region that is formed from a semiconductor with a lower band gap than the body region. Connecting region configurations can provide increased gate induced drain leakage during an erase operation. Configurations shown can provide a reliable bias to a body region for memory operations such as erasing, and containment of charge in the body region during a boost operation.
US09953701B1 SRAM architecture with bitcells of varying speed and density
An SRAM with a first bitcell array having a first density and a first access speed, and a second bitcell array having a second density larger than the first density and a second access speed less than the first access speed. The SRAM further includes a first set of wordline drivers coupled to the first bitcell array, a second set of wordline drivers coupled to the second bitcell array, and a row decoder coupled to both the first and second bitcell arrays.
US09953700B2 Data output circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
A data output circuit includes: a first data latch unit enabled in response to a first bank selection signal including clock information, for storing first lower bank data and first upper bank data in response to a first input control signal, and outputting lower preliminary output data and upper preliminary output data in response to an output control signal; a second data latch unit enabled in response to a second bank selection signal including clock information, for storing second lower bank data and second upper bank data in response to a second input control signal, and outputting the lower preliminary output data and the upper preliminary output data in response to the output control signal; and a data output unit for driving the lower preliminary output data to send rising output data, and synchronizing the upper preliminary output data with the clock to send falling output data.
US09953696B2 Refresh control circuit for target refresh operation of semiconductor memory device, and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device may include: a memory cell region including a plurality of memory cells coupled between a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines; and a refresh control block suitable for performing a first refresh operation onto the plurality of the word lines in response to a refresh signal, counting the number of active signals that are inputted between at least two neighboring refresh signals and when the counted number of the active signals is equal to or greater than a reference number, performing a second refresh operation onto a word line corresponding to a target address.
US09953695B2 Semiconductor device, electronic device, and semiconductor wafer
A semiconductor device capable of stably holding data for a long time is provided. A transistor including a back gate is used as a writing transistor of a memory element. In the case where the transistor is an n-channel transistor, a negative potential is supplied to a back gate in holding memory. The supply of the negative potential is stopped while the negative potential is held in the back gate. In the case where an increase in the potential of the back gate is detected, the negative potential is supplied to the back gate.
US09953694B2 Memory controller-controlled refresh abort
A memory subsystem enables a refresh abort command. A memory controller can issue an abort for an in-process refresh command sent to a memory device. The refresh abort enables the memory controller to more precisely control the timing of operations executed by memory devices in the case where a refresh command causes refresh of multiple rows of memory. The memory controller can issue a refresh command during active operation of the memory device, which is active operation refresh as opposed to self-refresh when the memory device controls refreshing. The memory controller can then issue a refresh abort during the refresh, and prior to completion of the refresh. The memory controller thus has deterministic control over both the start of refresh as well as when the memory device can be made available for access.
US09953693B2 Fast exit from DRAM self-refresh
Embodiments of the invention describe a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device that may abort a self-refresh mode to improve the exit time from a DRAM low power state of self-refresh. During execution of a self-refresh mode, the DRAM device may receive a signal (e.g., a device enable signal) from a memory controller operatively coupled to the DRAM device. The DRAM device may abort the self-refresh mode in response to receiving the signal from the memory controller.
US09953688B1 Precharge control device and semiconductor device including the same
A precharge control device includes a pulse generator, a bank address controller, and a precharge signal generator. The pulse generator generates a write precharge signal in response to a write burst end signal activated after a write burst operation and a read precharge signal in response to a read burst end signal activated after a read burst operation. The bank address controller generates a write address and a read address designating an address for the precharge operation in response to a write bank address and a read bank address. The precharge signal generator generates a precharge signal for performing the precharge operation in a bank selected in response to the write address when the write precharge signal is activated, or generates a precharge signal for performing the precharge operation in a bank selected in response to the read address when the read precharge signal is activated.
US09953685B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a memory device, and a select transistor. The memory device is located on the substrate. The select transistor is located on the substrate and electrically connected to the memory device. The select transistor includes a select gate, a first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer. The select gate is located on the substrate. The first dielectric layer is adjacent to the second dielectric layer, and located between the select gate and the substrate. The first dielectric layer is closer to the memory device than the second dielectric layer. The thickness of the first dielectric layer is greater than the thickness of the second dielectric layer.
US09953684B2 Adhesive cover seal for hermetically-sealed data storage device
A method of assembling a data storage device comprises forming an enclosure by overlapping each of a plurality of sidewalls of a cover with a corresponding sidewall of a base part, dispensing a liquid adhesive between the respective sidewalls of the cover and base part in such a quantity at each of a plurality of locations to promote capillary flow of the liquid adhesive to form a continuous film of liquid adhesive between the sidewalls, and curing the continuous film of liquid adhesive to form a hermetic seal between the cover and the base part. Embodiments may include surface treating the sidewall surface(s), which can help promote the capillary flow of the liquid adhesive. The hermetic seal provides for a lighter-than-air gas to be held therein.
US09953682B2 Apparatus and method for providing sensory effects for vestibular rehabilitation therapy
A system for providing sensory effects according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an apparatus for providing vestibular rehabilitation videos configured to correct playback time of sensory effect metadata included in a plurality of integrated files based on start time of transport stream, and generate transport stream including the sensory effect metadata; and a gateway configured to receive the transport stream from the apparatus for providing vestibular rehabilitation videos, extract audio data, video data and the sensory effect metadata from the transport stream, transmit the audio data and the video data to a video player, and transmit the sensory effect metadata to an apparatus for providing sensory effects based on the corrected playback time.
US09953680B2 Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of capturing videos, and a method of controlling the same. The mobile terminal includes a display unit capable of outputting a first video captured in response to a preset user input, and outputting a timeline of the first video in a camera preview mode, a camera capable of capturing a second video consecutive to the first video, in response to a preset user input, and a controller capable of storing the first video and the second video as one full video, and outputting a timeline of the full video, which a timeline of the second video follows the timeline of the first video, in the camera preview mode.
US09953678B1 Servo gray code quality detector
Various embodiments provide a Gray code detector that is not designed to look for a specific defect signature, but rather looks for wedges that are in error or close to being in error, as determined through a probabilistic analysis that considers the mean and sigma of a minimum Viterbi Metric Margin (minVMM) distribution of a servo wedge relative to a defined threshold for a Wedge Error Rate (WER).
US09953677B1 Device for multiple disc load and unload with a plurality of telescopic sections
The present disclosure relates to a storage and transfer apparatus for mass transfer of a plurality of data discs to trays of a plurality stacked disc drives. The storage and transfer apparatus may store a plurality of discs with the disc hold pins retracted and the telescopic sections collapsed over each other. In such a configuration, the stored discs may lie in contact with each other. The storage and transfer apparatus may transfer the plurality of discs to the trays of the plurality of stacked disc drives with the discs holding pins extended and the telescopic sections extended relative to each other.
US09953674B2 Characterizing a sensing circuit of a data storage device
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk, a head for accessing the disk, and a sensor for generating an alternating sensor signal. The sensor is disconnected from an input of a sensing circuit and while the sensor is disconnected an alternating calibration signal is injected into the input of the sensing circuit, wherein the alternating calibration signal comprises a predetermined offset and amplitude. A response of the sensing circuit to the alternating calibration signal is evaluated to detect at least one of an offset and a gain of the sensing circuit.
US09953665B1 Systems and methods for applying electric fields during ultraviolet exposure of lubricant layers for hard disk media
Systems and methods for applying electric fields during ultraviolet exposure of lubricant layers for hard disk media. One such method involves inserting a magnetic medium into a chamber, the magnetic medium including a lubricant on an outer surface thereof, and applying an electric field and an ultraviolet radiation to the lubricant within the chamber. Another such method involves inserting a magnetic medium into a chamber, depositing a lubricant on the medium within the chamber, and applying an electric field and an ultraviolet radiation to the lubricant within the chamber.
US09953664B1 Automatic record player
A novel automatic record player for playing a phonograph record includes a base, a turntable, an upper hub, a lower hub, a tonearm, a drive unit, a pinion, a control cam, a main arm, an auxiliary arm, first and second micro-switches, a clutch member, a first clutch actuating member, a switch activating member, an actuating pin, a synchronizing unit, a position guide, an angular position setting unit, and an elongated member. With the provision of the angular position setting unit, when the clutch member is actuated by the first clutch actuating member, a forward free end of the tonearm can be more precisely positioned on an outermost groove of the phonograph record.
US09953663B2 Method of and apparatus for evaluating quality of a degraded speech signal
The present invention relates to a method of evaluating quality of a degraded speech signal received from an audio transmission system conveying a reference speech signal. The method comprises sampling said signals into reference and degraded signal frames, and forming frame pairs by associating reference and degraded signal frames with each other. For each frame pair a difference function representing disturbance is provided, which is then compensated for specific disturbance types for providing a disturbance density function. Based on the density function of a plurality of frame pairs, an overall quality parameter is determined. The method provides for compensating the overall quality parameter for the effect that the impact of noise in frequency bands where there is only marginal speech activity when compared to natural speech is not correctly modelled in the current measurement standards.
US09953661B2 Neural network voice activity detection employing running range normalization
A “running range normalization” method includes computing running estimates of the range of values of features useful for voice activity detection (VAD) and normalizing the features by mapping them to a desired range. Running range normalization includes computation of running estimates of the minimum and maximum values of VAD features and normalizing the feature values by mapping the original range to a desired range. Smoothing coefficients are optionally selected to directionally bias a rate of change of at least one of the running estimates of the minimum and maximum values. The normalized VAD feature parameters are used to train a machine learning algorithm to detect voice activity and to use the trained machine learning algorithm to isolate or enhance the speech component of the audio data.
US09953658B2 Data decoding method and apparatus
A data decoding method and device as well as an intelligent cipher key token are provided. The data decoding method includes: receiving a sinusoidal wave via an audio interface, wherein the sinusoidal wave has a waveform with at least one period, and different periods represent different bit values; processing the sinusoidal wave so as to obtain a first square wave, wherein the first square wave carries data to be decoded; determining whether there is a glitch waveform in the first square wave, based on a preset threshold or based on an adaptive threshold, wherein the adaptive threshold is calculated according to synchronization head data carried in the sinusoidal wave; if there is a glitch waveform in the first square wave, eliminating the glitch waveform from the first square wave so as to obtain a second square wave; and decoding the second square wave so as to obtain decoded data.
US09953655B2 Optimizing frequent in-band signaling in dual SIM dual active devices by comparing signal level (RxLev) and quality (RxQual) against predetermined thresholds
A method includes: receiving a first speech frame; identifying a first codec mode based at least in part on a Codec Mode Command (CMC) comprising the first speech frame; identifying a second codec mode based at least in part on a downlink (DL) Codec Mode Indication (DCMI) comprising the first speech frame; determining, based at least in part on a current uplink (UL) codec mode, to apply one of the first codec mode, the second codec mode, and a third codec mode having a higher bit rate than the first codec mode; and applying one of the first codec mode, the second codec mode, and the third codec mode. Apply the first codec mode when the RxLev and RXQual are determined not to exceed a predetermined threshold, and applying second or third codec modes otherwise.
US09953654B2 Voice command recognition apparatus and method
A voice command recognition apparatus and method thereof are described. The voice command recognition apparatus includes audio sensors placed at different locations; a context determiner configured to determine user context based on a voice received at the audio sensors, wherein the context comprises a vocalization from a user. A command recognizer in the voice command recognition apparatus is configured to activate to recognize a voice command or remain inactive according to the recognized context.
US09953651B2 Speed podcasting
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to podcasting and provide a method, system and computer program product for speed podcasting. In an embodiment of the invention, a speed podcasting method can include speech recognizing an audio portion of a podcast, parsing the speech recognized audio portion to identify essential words, and playing back only audio segments and corresponding video segments of the podcast including the essential words while excluding from playback audio segments and corresponding video segments of the podcast including non-essential words.
US09953650B1 Systems, apparatus and methods for using biofeedback for altering speech
Biofeedback is used to alter subsequent speech of one or more participants engaged in a discussion. Biofeedback signals can range from simplistic (beeps, flashes, vibrations, etc.) to more complicated images, videos, and music. In one aspect, feedback signals can be rendered to the participant(s) based on the extent to which the discussion relates to one or more goals. Signals can be rendered in any suitable manner, including a visual image rendered by a virtual reality headset or other device, an electronically generated auditory sound, other tactilely perceptible vibrations or other movements, preferably in substantially near real-time.
US09953649B2 System and method for processing multi-modal device interactions in a natural language voice services environment
A system and method for processing multi-modal device interactions in a natural language voice services environment may be provided. In particular, one or more multi-modal device interactions may be received in a natural language voice services environment that includes one or more electronic devices. The multi-modal device interactions may include a non-voice interaction with at least one of the electronic devices or an application associated therewith, and may further include a natural language utterance relating to the non-voice interaction. Context relating to the non-voice interaction and the natural language utterance may be extracted and combined to determine an intent of the multi-modal device interaction, and a request may then be routed to one or more of the electronic devices based on the determined intent of the multi-modal device interaction.
US09953644B2 Targeted clarification questions in speech recognition with concept presence score and concept correctness score
A system, method and computer-readable storage devices are disclosed for using targeted clarification (TC) questions in dialog systems in a multimodal virtual agent system (MVA) providing access to information about movies, restaurants, and musical events. In contrast with open-domain spoken systems, the MVA application covers a domain with a fixed set of concepts and uses a natural language understanding (NLU) component to mark concepts in automatically recognized speech. Instead of identifying an error segment, localized error detection (LED) identifies which of the concepts are likely to be present and correct using domain knowledge, automatic speech recognition (ASR), and NLU tags and scores. If at least concept is identified to be present but not correct, the TC component uses this information to generate a targeted clarification question. This approach computes probability distributions of concept presence and correctness for each user utterance, which can apply to automatic learning for clarification policies.
US09953643B2 Selective transmission of voice data
Systems and methods that provide for voice command devices that receive sound but do not transfer the voice data beyond the system unless certain voice-filtering criteria have been met are described herein. In addition, embodiments provide devices that support voice command operation while external voice data transmission is in mute operation mode. As such, devices according to embodiments may process voice data locally responsive to the voice data matching voice-filtering criteria. Furthermore, systems and methods are described herein involving voice command devices that capture sound and analyze it in real-time on a word-by-word basis and decide whether to handle the voice data locally, transmit it externally, or both.
US09953641B2 Speech collector in car cabin
An apparatus includes a first microphone disposed near a first seat in a car cabin, the first seat configured to seat a first occupant, a second microphone disposed near a second seat in the car cabin, the second seat configured to seat a second occupant, a processor, and a memory storing a computer program. The computer program, when executed, causes the processor to execute operations including: estimating a first mixed speech using a second signal acquired by the second microphone, the first mixed speech including a first speech that has been uttered by the second occupant and has entered the first microphone, and removing the first mixed speech from a first signal acquired by the first microphone.
US09953635B2 Relative excitation features for speech recognition
Relative Excitation Features, in all conditions, are far superior to conventional acoustic features like Mel-Frequency Cepstrum (MFC) and Perceptual Linear Prediction (PLP), and provide much more speaker-independence, channel-independence, and noise-immunity. Relative Excitation features are radically different than conventional acoustic features. Relative Excitation method doesn't try to model the speech-production or vocal tract shape, doesn't try to do deconvolution, and doesn't utilize LP (Linear Prediction) and Cepstrum techniques. This new feature set is completely related to human hearing. The present invention is inspired by the fact that human auditory perception analyzes and tracks the relations between spectral frequency component amplitudes and the “Relative Excitation” name implies relative excitation levels of human auditory neurons. Described herein is a major breakthrough for explaining and simulating the human auditory perception and its robustness.
US09953629B2 Flexible waveguide band
A flexible waveguide band is provided for that may be worn by a user around their neck, for example. The flexible waveguide band includes a spine, such as a pliable rod; a plurality of vertebrae mounted on the spine, with each vertebra including at least one waveguide channel guide; and an encapsulating potting material. The flexible waveguide band may also be attached to an acoustic pod, including an acoustic driver that may radiate sound waves into said waveguide channels and exit via a sound outlet opening in the flexible band.
US09953626B2 Providing ambient naturalness in ANR headphones
In an active noise reducing headphone, a signal processor applies filters and control gains of both the feed-forward and feedback active noise cancellation signal paths. The signal processor is configured to apply first feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path and apply first feedback filters to the feedback signal path during a first operating mode providing effective cancellation of ambient sound, and to apply second feed-forward filters to the feed-forward signal path during a second operating mode providing active hear-through of ambient sounds with ambient naturalness.
US09953625B2 Electrostatic capacitance transducer, probe, and subject information acquiring device
An electrostatic capacitance transducer includes: multiple elements each having a cell including a first electrode, and a vibrating film including a second electrode, formed across a gap from the first electrode; a first flexible printed circuit having multiple first lines; and a second flexible printed circuit having multiple second lines. Part of the multiple elements are grouped into a first element group, each one thereof being electrically connected to a different one of the first lines. Part of the multiple elements other than the first element group are grouped into a second element group, each one thereof being electrically connected to a different one of the second lines. The intervals between adjacent lines in at least part of the plurality of first and second lines are wider at an opposite side from a connection side where the lines have been connected to the multiple elements, than at the connection side.
US09953624B2 Dynamic music authoring
In some implementations, a computing device can be configured to present a graphical user interface that enables the dynamic authoring of music by a user of the computing device. The computing device can present a grid of cells, where each cell represents a music segment. The cells can be configured to playback the music segment once or playback the music segment in a repeating loop. The user can select (e.g., touch) one or more cells in the grid to cause the corresponding music segment to play. While playing selected cells, the user can provide input selecting various musical effects to apply to the playing music. The user can record a dynamically selected sequence of cells and musical effects to create an original musical product.
US09953623B2 Marching drum which enables forwards and downwards visibility
[Problem] To provide a marching drum which ensures forwards and downwards visibility and ensures the field of view during marching. [Solution] [Effect] By eliminating all or some members of the body of the drum, or by adopting transparent members, this marching drum which enables forwards and downwards visibility ensures the performer's field of view during marching.
US09953621B2 Method and apparatus for shortening image delay, and virtual reality apparatus
A method for shortening image delay includes, but is not limited to refreshing a current frame image from a frame buffer area to the display screen from top to bottom, and notifying an application to draw next frame image when the current frame image is refreshed to a predetermined row. The method further includes updating content in predetermined rows from top of next frame image drawn by the application to the frame buffer area of the system, and replacing content in the predetermined rows of the current frame image that have already been displayed The method further includes updating the content in the remaining rows of next frame image drawn by the application to the frame buffer area, and replacing content in the remaining rows of the current frame image that have already been displayed.
US09953616B2 Re-configuring the standby screen of an electronic device
An electronic device including a user interface having a display for displaying a standby screen when the device is in an idle state and a user input device, wherein the user interface provides a menu system, for re-configuring the standby screen, that is navigated using the user input device.
US09953610B2 Method for regulating common voltage, regulating device and display device
A method for regulating a common voltage, a regulating device and a display device. It relates to the display field, which ensures the flicker in the center region of the display panel being relative small meanwhile improving the flicker situation of the edge region of the display panel, thereby improve the flicker uniformity of the display panel. The present disclosure provides a method for regulating a common voltage including: arranging sampling points which at least include: sampling points arranged in the center region of the display panel and sampling points arranged in the edge region of the display panel; optimizing the common voltage value written into the driving chip, such that the flicker values of the sampling points located in the display panel are less than or equal to a first threshold when the common voltage value is applied to the display panel for display.
US09953603B2 Display device and method for driving same
An object of the present invention is to prevent occurrence of abnormality such as display misalignment at the time of image update even when pause drive is performed in a display device where data signal lines are driven by a plurality of driver ICs. In a liquid crystal display device which includes a master IC (300L) and a slave IC (300R) as driver ICs and performs pause drive, upon detection of refresh start timing by a REF (Half) of the master IC (300L), the master IC (300L) transmits a refresh control signal RfC to the slave IC (300R), and starts refreshing a left active area of a display portion. Upon receipt of a refresh detection signal RfD indicating refresh start timing detected by a REF (Half) of the slave IC (300R), the master IC (300L) transmits the refresh control signal RfC to the slave IC (300R), and starts refreshing the left active area of the display portion. Upon receipt of the refresh control signal RfC, the slave IC (300R) starts refreshing a right active area of the display portion.
US09953601B2 Bending action recognition device and flexible display device
The present invention discloses a bending action recognition device and a flexible display device, the bending action recognition device comprises: a first electrode, a second electrode, a current detecting unit and a plurality of electrical conductors, a first voltage is applied on the first electrode, a second voltage is applied on the second electrode, first ends of all the electrical conductors are connected to the first electrode, different electrical conductors are located at different positions on the flexible substrate, and different electrical conductors have different resistances; when the flexible substrate is bent backward, at least one electrical conductor is electrically connected to the second electrode, and a first current is generated on the first electrode and the second electrode, and when different electrical conductors are electrically connected to the second electrode, the first current has different current values.
US09953600B2 Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A display apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a switching element and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element. A display panel driver applies a driving signal to the display panel. The display panel driver includes a printed circuit board including a first bonding pad and a flexible substrate electrically connecting the printed circuit board with the display panel. The flexible substrate includes a second bonding pad. The second bonding pad is electrically connected to the first bonding pad of the printed circuit board. The first bonding pad overlaps the second bonding pad. At least a portion of the first bonding pad and at least a portion of the second bonding pad extend in a direction which is at an acute angle with respect to a first direction parallel with a relatively longer side of the display panel.
US09953598B2 Method of controlling display driver IC with improved noise characteristics
Provided is a method of controlling a display driver IC. The method includes controlling an application processor to operate in a frequency range, which is changed from an operating frequency range of a preset specification and is a range in which data noise is decreased, through a plurality of frequency noise filtering operations.
US09953595B2 Liquid crystal display device and method for driving the same
A liquid crystal display device whose power consumption is reduced while image quality is prevented from being degraded is provided. Further, a method for driving a liquid crystal display device whose power consumption is reduced while image quality is prevented from being degraded is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a transistor whose leakage current in an off state is reduced and a liquid crystal element. The capacitance of a pixel satisfies the formula (1) and the formula (2).
US09953592B2 Display component and electronic device
The application provides a display component and an electronic device using the display component. The display component comprises: a light source unit configured to emit source light; a polarization unit configured to at least partially convert the source light into a first polarized light with a first polarization direction; a first reflecting unit configured to at least partially convert the first polarized light into a first reflected light on a first reflective surface; and a display unit configured to receive the first reflected light and adjust the first reflected light to become initial light by adding information of an image to be displayed into the first reflected light.
US09953589B2 Reset drive voltage to enhance grey scale resolution for an electrowetting display device
An electrowetting display device may comprise pixels that include: a hydrophobic layer portion disposed on a first electrode, electrowetting fluids overlying the hydrophobic layer portion, and a thin film transistor (TFT) that is in electrical contact with the first electrode. The electrowetting display device also comprises a display control circuit in electrical contact with a drain or a source of the TFT of each of the pixels to provide a drive voltage to the drain or the source of the TFT of each of the pixels, and a reset control circuit in electrical contact with the drain or the source of the TFT of each of the pixels to provide a reset voltage pulse to the drain or the source of the TFT of each of the pixels. A magnitude of the reset voltage pulse may be based, at least in part, on the drive voltage.
US09953582B2 Gray-scale voltage generating circuit and display unit
A gray-scale voltage generating circuit includes a ladder resistor circuit and a constant current source. The ladder resistor circuit includes a plurality of resistors connected in series to one another, and is configured to output a plurality of gray-scale voltages with different voltage values from ends of the respective resistors. The constant current source is configured to be connected in series to the ladder resistor circuit.
US09953579B2 Acousto-optic element array, display apparatus including an acousto-optic element array and method for driving an acousto-optic element array
An acousto-optic element array includes: acousto-optic elements each including an acousto-optic generator, a light supply, and a wave transducer; a gate driver that selects an acousto-optic element to be driven from among the acousto-optic elements; an electrical data driver that is connected to an electrical wire and transmits electrical data to an electro-optic modulator configured to control the acousto-optic generator of the selected acousto-optic element; and a wave data driver that is connected to a waveguide and transmits wave data to the wave transducer of the selected acousto-optic element.
US09953577B2 Gate drive integrated circuit used in image display device, image display device, and organic EL display
A gate drive integrated circuit includes: clock terminals; a bidirectional buffer that is located between the clock terminals and controls the input-output direction of a clock signal; a connection mode control terminal that receives a connection mode control signal; and a pair of signal direction control terminals that receive a signal direction control signal, wherein the bidirectional buffer fixes the input-output direction of the clock signal to one direction in the case where the logic state of the connection mode control signal is a first logic state, and switches the input-output direction of the clock signal depending on the logic state of the signal direction control signal in the case where the logic state of the connection mode control signal is a second logic state different from the first logic state.
US09953576B2 Organic light-emitting diode display
An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a display substrate including a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. Scan lines are formed over the display substrate and configured to transmit a scan signal, data lines and driving voltage lines crossing the scan lines are configured to respectively provide a data signal and a driving voltage, and switching elements are electrically connected to the scan lines and data lines. Pixel electrodes are electrically connected to the switching elements, an organic emission layer is formed over the pixel electrodes, and a common electrode is formed over the organic emission layer. A common voltage line is formed substantially parallel to the data lines and configured to transmit a common voltage to the common electrode.
US09953575B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
Disclosed is a method of driving a display device that includes, for example, generating a gate control signal, a data control signal and an image data using an image signal; generating a data voltage using the data control signal and the image data; generating a gate voltage using the gate control signal; and sequentially applying the gate voltage of a high level to q groups of the plurality of gate lines during q frames, respectively, where q is an integer greater than 1.
US09953573B2 Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and method of setting initialization voltage in the same
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including an OLED and a driving transistor, the OLED configured to emit light based on an emission current, the driving transistor configured to control the emission current based on a data signal applied to a gate electrode of the driving transistor. The display also includes a power supply configured to apply a driving voltage to the pixels, apply an initialization voltage to a first electrode of the OLED, control the driving voltage within a first range, and control the initialization voltage such that a voltage difference between the driving voltage and the initialization voltage is substantially constant.
US09953571B2 Pixel driving circuit, a pixel driving method for the same, and a display apparatus
The present disclosure provide a pixel driving circuit, a pixel driving method for the same, and a display apparatus. A voltage related to a threshold voltage of a driving unit is stored in a storage unit by a charge controlling unit at a compensating phase for the pixel driving circuit, such that the driving unit can be compensated by the storage unit at a driving phase for the pixel driving circuit. Thus, an influence of the threshold voltage of the driving unit on an operating current of the driving unit can be eliminated, and the problem of uneven brightness of light emitting elements resulted from the threshold voltages being different can be solved, thereby improving a display quality of the display apparatus.
US09953570B2 Display device
A display device is provided that includes a plurality of pixel circuits that are arranged in a matrix and supplied with power through a first power supply line maintained at a first voltage and a second power supply line maintained at a second voltage having a positive value less than the first voltage. The display device also includes a first power supply circuit of a synchronous rectification type that outputs the first voltage to the first power supply line by chopping an input voltage. The display device further includes a second power supply circuit of the synchronous rectification type that outputs the second voltage to the second power supply line by chopping the first voltage.
US09953569B2 Pixel circuit, organic electroluminescent display panel, display apparatus and driving method thereof
The present invention discloses a pixel circuit, an organic electroluminescent display panel, a display apparatus and a driving method thereof. The pixel circuit performs initialization on a first node and a third node in an initialization phase, performs compensation on a threshold voltage of a drive module for the first node in a compensation phase, and performs data writing on the first node in a data writing phase.
US09953566B2 Pixel circuit and driving method thereof, display device
The present invention discloses a pixel circuit and a driving method thereof, and a display device. The pixel circuit comprises a reference voltage set up sub-circuit, a charging sub-circuit and a driving sub-circuit. The reference voltage set up sub-circuit and the charging sub-circuit are connected with the driving sub-circuit respectively, and the reference voltage set up sub-circuit being used for, within a first period of time, providing for the driving sub-circuit, the charging sub-circuit being used for, within a second period of time, providing for the driving sub-circuit a data signal voltage. The driving sub-circuit comprises a driving transistor for driving the light emitting device to emit light, and a first capacitor for maintaining the reference voltage and the data signal voltage. Within a third period of time, the first capacitor discharges so that the driving transistor is turned on to drive the light emitting device to emit light.
US09953560B2 Display device with solar cell module
The present disclosure provides a display device. A solar cell module is integrated into a body of the display device. A photosensitive control module is configured to detect a brightness value of current ambient light being incident on the display device, and when the detected brightness value meets a predetermined condition, switch a power supply of the display device from a local cell to the solar cell module, so as to supply the electric energy stored in the solar cell module to the display device.
US09953551B2 Door handle display member
A door handle display member including a first bracket assembly and a graphics panel. The first bracket assembly is configured to releasably engage a door handle and includes a first member, a second member, and a third member. The first member has a first leg and a second leg. The second member is configured to releasably engage the first leg and the second leg of the first member. The third member is configured to threadably engage the first leg and the second leg of the first member, and is configured to releasably engage the second member. The graphics panel is configured to releasably engage the first bracket assembly.
US09953547B2 Wearable device to guide a human being with at least a partial visual impairment condition around an obstacle during locomotion thereof
A wearable device includes a receiver circuit embedded within a dress accessory of a human being to receive a scattered component of a signal from a transmitter circuit, and a distance sensor circuit to sense distance between the human being and an obstacle responsible for the scattered component during locomotion of the human being. The human being is associated with at least partial visual impairment. The wearable device also includes a communication circuit embedded within the dress accessory or another dress accessory of the human being to communicate a varying distance between the human being and the obstacle through varying a time interval between communicative actions to be sensed by the human being. If the obstacle is determined to be a new static obstacle through a central server, data related to the obstacle is added to one or more database(s) associated with the central server.
US09953546B1 Physical coding blocks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating a sequence of commands from interconnected code blocks. In one aspect, a system includes a sequencer block that connects to a sequence of coding blocks representative of a control flow and establish data communication with the sequence of coding blocks. The sequencer block includes coding circuitry that receives coding data from the sequence of coding blocks coding data, the coding data representative of instruction code to which the coding blocks corresponds, and generates from the received coding data command data that is representative of a sequence of commands that corresponds to a control flow of which the code blocks in data communication with the sequencer block are representative and a communication subsystem that provides the command data to a controlled system that is external to the code blocks.
US09953545B2 Musical-performance-information transmission method and musical-performance-information transmission system
A musical-performance-information transmission method using a first instrument and a second instrument, wherein the first instrument produces sounds in accordance with a user's musical performance and generates musical-performance data in accordance with the produced sounds and the second instrument produces sounds by receiving the musical performance data via a communication means. In the musical-performance-information transmission method, a mixed-sound signal is generated in accordance with a mixture of sounds produced by the first instrument and sounds that are different from the sounds produced by the first instrument, a reference signal is generated in accordance with the sounds produced by the first instrument, and on the basis of the mixed-sound signal and the reference signal, the reference signal is removed from the mixed-sound signal, generating a separated signal, and sound is emitted on the basis of said separated signal.
US09953533B1 Road hazard warning system
A hazard warning system for vehicles including hazard detection sensors and a primary transmitter for a primary vehicle configured to transmit information regarding a hazard and a path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary receiver for a secondary vehicle is configured to receive the information regarding the hazard detected by the hazard detection sensors, and the path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary vehicle control module is configured to notify a driver of the secondary vehicle of the hazard when the secondary vehicle is traveling along a path similar to that of the primary vehicle.
US09953532B2 Obstacle warning apparatus
An obstacle warning apparatus in a vehicle specifies a position of an obstacle relative to the vehicle based on a detection result by an obstacle sensor. A warning determination section determines whether a warning about the obstacle needs to be executed, based on the specified position of the obstacle. The warning determination section determines that the warning about the obstacle does not need to be executed when an overlap determination section determines that a vehicle range overlaps with a range where the obstacle exists.
US09953527B1 Intersection communication systems and methods
An intersection communications system includes a vehicle intersection traffic movement indicator; a traffic movement surface indicator positioned behind an edge of the vehicle traffic intersection; a pedestrian lane surface indicator; one or more traffic direction surface indicators positioned within the vehicle traffic intersection; and a communications server configured to transmit a first signal to a first traffic movement surface indicator when a first monitored event occurs, transmit a second signal to a first right-turn traffic direction surface indicator directing the first vehicle to turn right from a first street to a second street when a second monitored event occurs, transmit a third signal to a second left-turn traffic direction surface indicator directing the first vehicle to turn left from the first street to the second street when a third monitored event occurs, and transmit a fourth signal to the pedestrian lane surface indicator when a fourth monitored event occurs.
US09953526B2 System and associated methods for operating traffic signs
A system for controlling activation of a traffic warning sign. The system receives a signal generated from a local sensor indicating presence of an automobile and sends an activate signal command in response. The system will activate a local interface logic controller in response to receiving the activate signal command. The system further generates a Wi-Fi connect request with an SSID in response to activating the interface logic controller. The system sends the Wi-Fi connect request to a remote system. The system further determines if the traffic warning sign should be activated and if a positive determination is made, activate the traffic warning sign. Determination is made by determining if a Wi-Fi remote connect request is received. If it is determined a remote connect request has been received, a traffic warning message is generated and sent to a terminal for display or activation.
US09953525B2 Approach detection device
An approach detection device for motor vehicles includes a sensor carrier and a sensor electronic system disposed in a receiving space therein. The device includes a capacitive approach sensor coupled to an evaluation circuit which has a capacitive surface for detecting approaches. The device is mounted via a carrier frame, including a fastening section, to a vehicle body part and includes a detection opening. The sensor carrier is fastened to the carrier frame such that the active capacitive surface of the sensor is oriented toward the detection opening. A receiving space is defined by the detection opening and the sensor carrier and is formed in the region of the detection opening. A sealing element is disposed in the receiving space on the sensor carrier.
US09953521B2 Protected transmission of independent sensor signals
The present disclosure relates to a communication system configured to independently introduce channel protection data into a plurality of different channels prior to transmission. In some embodiments, the system has a plurality of sensors configured to independently generate digital sensor signals, each sensor signal corresponding to a sensed quantity. A plurality of channel protection elements are respectively configured to receive one of the digital sensor signals output from an individual one of the sensors and to introduce channel protection data (CPD) into the received digital sensor signal to generate an individual channel protected sensor signal (CPS). A shared communication interface is configured to receive the individual CPS signals from the plurality of channel protection elements and to assemble selected ones of the individual CPS signals into a data frame.
US09953517B2 Risk early warning method and apparatus
The present application discloses a risk early warning method and apparatus. An implementation of the method includes: monitoring, in real time, search traffic for a predetermined location from users using an online map within a preset period; determining whether the search traffic exceeds a preset search traffic threshold; and sending early warning information of a crowd gathering risk if the search traffic exceeds the preset search traffic threshold. The implementation effectively utilizes the map search traffic capable of reflecting the intention of users and realizes the early warning for the crowd gathering risk.
US09953513B2 Offshore security monitoring system and method
A waterborne vessel includes a monitoring system configured to monitor the plurality of offshore properties such that the waterborne vessel is configured to respond to an alert signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of offshore properties when the monitoring system receives the alert signal. An offshore security monitoring system includes the waterborne vessel and a base module deployed at each of the plurality of offshore properties. A security monitoring method may include monitoring the security of the plurality of offshore properties by the monitoring system of the waterborne vessel according to various embodiments, receiving an alert signal from the at least one of the plurality of offshore properties, and responding to the alert signal. A security monitoring unit includes, a plurality of waterborne vessels according to various embodiments, and a control center in communication with the plurality of waterborne vessels.
US09953507B1 Monitoring a wearing of a wearable device
A device for determining whether a user is wearing a wearable monitoring device is disclosed. The wearable monitoring device includes an accelerometer and a processor. The accelerometer detects a three-dimensional motion of the monitoring device and generates accelerometer data for each axis corresponding to the three-dimensional motion. The wearable monitoring device accesses the accelerometer data, detects a presence of a rhythmic pulse in one or more axes of the accelerometer data, and determines that the user is wearing the monitoring device in response to detecting the presence of the rhythmic pulse in the one or more axes.
US09953505B1 Time and temperature band
A time and possibly a temperature device connects to a container with a band extending circumferentially around a portion of the container. The device has an input, a processor and a display permitting a countdown timer to be initiated relating to a status of goods in the container. For some embodiments, if temperature exceeds set ranges for specific times, step reductions, such as 10% or more can be deducted from the remaining time. The display can provide an indication of the status of the material in the container, and some embodiments provide for remote alerting to a remote communications device, such as a phone.
US09953504B2 Fire alarm device
A fire alarm device includes: a base portion; a press portion capable of moving relative to the base portion to deviate away from the base portion or close to the base portion; an alarm switch capable of moving relative to an alarm circuit, to control turn-on and turn-off of the alarm circuit; and a plurality of buttons mounted on the base portion and capable of converting movement of the press portion to movement of the alarm switch; wherein the device has an alarm enable position, wherein, the press portion deviates close to the base portion, to press the plurality of buttons and indirectly press the alarm switch to turn on the alarm circuit; and an alarm disable position, wherein, the press portion deviates away from the base portion, to release the plurality of buttons and indirectly release the alarm switch to turn off the alarm circuit.
US09953500B2 Methods, systems, and products for security services
A sensor associated with a security system determines an electrically open circuit. An identifier identifies the open circuit, which may then be used to retrieve video data trained to a surveillance area associated with the sensor.
US09953498B2 Wrap for an item of merchandise
A merchandise security device configured for use with an electronic key for locking and/or unlocking a lock mechanism is provided. The merchandise security device may include a housing operably coupled with a cable, wherein the cable is configured to be extended and retracted relative to the housing and to at least partially surround an item of merchandise. The security device may also include a lock mechanism configured to releasably secure the cable relative to the housing for locking the cable about the item of merchandise. In addition, the lock mechanism is configured to receive electrical power for unlocking the lock mechanism so that the housing and the cable may be removed from the item of merchandise.
US09953495B2 Active automated anti-boarding device and maritime asset security system
An active automated anti-boarding device for a maritime asset security system includes a housing for mounting the device on a maritime asset. The deterrence device includes visual and sound deterrence emitters within said mount to disperse a directional fan pattern of sight and visual deterrence response outward from the housing to unauthorized boarders. An active automated anti-boarding maritime asset security system includes detection devices configured to mount to maritime asset, the detection devices each including emitters and receivers for generating and detection beams that form a virtual fence to form a detection network on a portion or around an entire maritime asset. Deterrence devices responsive to the interruption of the spaced apart detection beams produce a deterrent response that is non lethal. The deterrence response can be a law enforcement level of deterrence, it can induce discomfort and/or disorientation to deter unauthorized boarders. The deterrence response can be strong enough to cause physical pain in an authorized boarder.
US09953491B2 System and method for conducting a game including a computer-controlled player
A system and method for conducting a game between at least one live player and at least one computer-controlled player includes executing a training program between at least two agents to generate probability weights correlating actions or meta-actions representing a set or sequenced set of actions with a probability that the action or meta-action will produce a game outcome meeting a specified criterion or specified criteria. A game is conducted in which at least one live player plays against at least one computer-controlled player in which the computer-controlled player selects actions at one or more of the decision nodes in the game based, at least in part, on the probability weights.
US09953485B2 Variable opacity reel in an interactive game
A gambling hybrid game that provides a reel game having a display with changeable opacity is disclosed. The gambling hybrid game includes an entertainment system engine that provides an entertainment game to a user, a real world engine that provides reel games to the user, and a game world engine that monitors the entertainment game and provides the reel game when appropriate. The real world engine provides the reel game including generating a display of the reel game. During provision of the gambling game, the real world engine determines the state of the game and changes the opacity of the display based upon the state of the game.
US09953484B2 Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller
An electronic method of gaming includes displaying an evaluation area having columns of symbol display positions divided between first and second game instances by a border such that positions on a first side of the border are allocated to the first game instance and positions on a second side of the border are allocated to the second game instance. The method includes selecting symbols for the first and second game instances and displaying the selected symbols in response to initiation of a round of gaming. The method includes determining a winning game instance associated with the round. The winning instance is determined based on a round number and a position of the border divider. The method includes moving the border divider based on the determination of the winning game instance. The method includes determining an award based on symbols displayed at the symbol positions after the border divider is moved.
US09953481B2 Jukebox with associated video server
In certain example embodiments, jukebox systems that have associated video servers for displaying video content on one or more displays or groups of displays external to the jukebox and/or directly on the jukebox are provided. Such video servers may effectively off-load at least some of the video processing load from the jukebox device. Accordingly, video content may be provided to complement and/or further enhance the interactive experience that jukeboxes currently provide, while also enabling patrons not directly in front of the jukebox to participate in the interactive process. Content may be distributed to the jukeboxes and/or video servers via a network. In addition to creating a compelling entertainment experience for patrons, it also is possible to create new revenue opportunities for customers. For example, operators and national account customers and advertising partners may provide additional value to venues through the innovative use of managed video content.
US09953475B2 4D barcode
A mobile device including a communications interface, a memory, a display screen, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to retrieve a first key of an asymmetric key pair. A second key of the asymmetric key pair is stored on an access control device. The processing unit is configured to generate a plurality of barcodes. Each of the barcodes includes data that is encrypted using the first key and the current date and time. At least some of the barcodes are distinct from one another. At least one of the barcodes includes access information. The processing unit is configured to sequentially display the barcodes such that only a single one of the barcodes is displayed on the display screen of the mobile device at a single time. The barcodes are read and decrypted by the access control device using the second key and the current date and time.
US09953473B2 System and method for creating profile of fuel quality
Various system and method for creating profiles of fuel quality are described herein. A system to create profiles of fuel quality comprises a receiving module arranged to receive vehicle performance data of a vehicle, the vehicle performance data describing the vehicle's performance over a time period; an association module arranged to associate the vehicle performance data with fuel used by the vehicle during the time period; an analysis module arranged to analyze the vehicle performance data with respect to the fuel to calculate a performance metric of the fuel; and a storage module arrranged to store the performance metric in a performance database at the computing system.
US09953472B2 System and method for determining grade errors of a route
In one embodiment of the subject matter described herein, a system is provided that includes a vehicle that is operating in accordance with the operational settings of a trip plan. The operational settings dictate how the vehicle system is to travel at different locations along the route. A processor of the system may identify differences between the operational settings of the trip plan and the operational settings at which the vehicle actually travels. The processor may further identify whether the differences are caused by a grade error.
US09953470B1 System and method to detect execution of driving maneuvers
This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting execution of driving maneuvers based on pre-determined driving maneuver profiles. Some or all of the system may be installed in a vehicle and/or be otherwise coupled with a vehicle. In some implementations, the system may detect execution of driving maneuvers by the vehicle based on pre-determined driving maneuver profiles. The system may include one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the vehicle. In some implementations, the system may detect execution of the driving maneuvers by the vehicle based on a comparison of the information conveyed by the output signals from the sensors to criteria included in the pre-determined driving maneuver profiles.
US09953464B2 Portable occupancy detection methods, systems and processor-readable media
Methods, systems and processor-readable media for portable parking occupancy detection. One or more cameras can be provided on a portable mast for capturing video on parking of a street. Optional attachments to the portable mast can include stabilization base and/or a set of guy ropes for further stabilizing the mast. A power unit can be utilized for delivering power to the system. A video capturing/processing unit either captures and records the video from the camera(s) for offline processing of parking occupancy or processes the videos on-site. Optionally, a wireless communication unit for transmitting either video or processed parking occupancy data to a central location can be employed.
US09953463B2 Radiation imaging method and system
A method and a system for preparing a radiation image of a target are provided. The radiation imaging method includes the steps of collecting radiation emission data from a target, classifying the data into at least one energy range, separating the data in each energy range into N independent radiation distributions, processing the data in each of the N independent radiation distributions to estimate its true distribution; and reconstructing a radiation distribution image of the target using the processed data. The system includes at least one radiation detector module and at least one computerized component configured to perform the steps of the method.
US09953461B2 Navigation system applying augmented reality
A navigation system includes a measurement unit that outputs a positioning signal associated with positioning coordinates, a navigation unit that obtains guidance indication and that outputs a navigation signal, and an image unit that includes a capturing module capturing a series of planar images, a computation module and an augmented reality module. The computation module generates an optical flow signal for obtaining the positioning coordinates, and further outputs a registration signal. The augmented reality module performs image registration processing based on the navigation signal and the registration signal, so that the guidance indication is superimposed on the series of planar images of real-world scene for subsequent display.
US09953456B2 Untransformed display lists in a tile based rendering system
3-D rendering systems include a rasterization section that can fetch untransformed geometry, transform geometry and cache data for transformed geometry in a memory. As an example, the rasterization section can transform the geometry into screen space. The geometry can include one or more of static geometry and dynamic geometry. The rasterization section can query the cache for presence of data pertaining to a specific element or elements of geometry, and use that data from the cache, if present, and otherwise perform the transformation again, for actions such as hidden surface removal. The rasterization section can receive, from a geometry processing section, tiled geometry lists and perform the hidden surface removal for pixels within respective tiles to which those lists pertain.
US09953455B2 Handling post-Z coverage data in raster operations
Techniques are disclosed for storing post-z coverage data in a render target. A color raster operations (CROP) unit receives a coverage mask associated with a portion of a graphics primitive, where the graphics primitive intersects a pixel that includes a multiple samples, and the portion covers at least one sample. The CROP unit stores the coverage mask in a data field in the render target at a location associated with the pixel. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that the GPU computes color and other pixel information only for visible fragments as determined by post-z coverage data. The GPU does not compute color and other pixel information for obscured fragments, thereby reducing overall power consumption and improving overall render performance.
US09953450B2 Generation of animation using icons in text
There is described a method for creating an animation, comprising: inserting at least one icon within a text related to the animation, the at least one icon being associated with an action to be performed by one of an entity and a part of an entity, at a point in time corresponding to a position of the at least one icon in the text, and a given feature of an appearance of the at least one icon being associated with one of the entity and the part of the entity; and executing the text and the at least one icon in order to generate the animation.
US09953449B2 Character adjustment method for adjusting a character designed in a first pixel matrix so as to output the character to a second pixel matrix of an output device
A character adjustment method is used for adjusting the character so as to output the character to a second pixel matrix of an output device. The character is designed in a first pixel matrix. The method includes determining a constant, an upper density limit and a lower density limit according to at least one feature value of the output device; performing an interpolation calculation for obtaining a variation parameter according to a density of the character in the first pixel matrix, the constant, the upper density limit and the lower density limit; adjusting the character according to the variation parameter; and outputting the adjusted character to the second pixel matrix by the output device.
US09953448B2 Method and system for image processing
Various aspects of a system and method for image processing are disclosed herein. The method, implemented in an image-processing device, comprises computation of a plurality of boundary-connectedness values associated with a plurality of regions in a plurality of Boolean maps. The plurality of Boolean maps corresponds to a plurality of color channels of an image. The plurality of boundary-connectedness values associated with the plurality of regions is compared with a pre-specified threshold value. A first set of regions is identified from the plurality of regions in the plurality of Boolean maps as a set of foreground regions, based on the comparison.
US09953447B2 Making a computer display more expressive
According to aspects of the present disclosure, certain areas of the display screen are logically considered to be “privileged.” For example, a user may run a utility program and selected areas of the wallpaper to be privileged. In another example, a utility scans the wallpaper looking for, say, a face or text and marks the location around the face or text as privileged. In any case, when an icon (or other visual information) needs to be placed on the display screen, the icon is preferentially placed at a location that does not overlap with the privileged areas. If no non-privileged area is available, then an alert can be sent to the user.
US09953445B2 Interactive data object map
An interactive data object map system is disclosed in which large amounts of geographical, geospatial, and other types of data, geodata, objects, features, and/or metadata are efficiently presented to a user on a map interface. The interactive data object map system allows for rapid and deep analysis of various objects, features, and/or metadata by the user. A layer ontology may be displayed to the user. In various embodiments, when the user rolls a selection cursor over an object/feature an outline of the object/feature is displayed. Selection of an object/feature may cause display of metadata associated with that object/feature. The interactive data object map system may automatically generate feature/object lists and/or histograms based on selections made by the user. The user may perform geosearches, generate heatmaps, and/or perform keyword searches, among other actions.
US09953443B2 Interactive, adaptive level-of-detail in 2.5D treemaps
An aggregation approach allows for a dynamic, interactive, adaptive level-of-detail for 2D, 2.5D, and 3D treemaps for visualization of complex information. For example, the 2.5D treemap visualization concept is extended by providing adaptive identification of aggregates by means of an interactive node scoring approach based on contextual relevance and various other task, interaction, visibility, and/or performance specific criteria. For the resulting mapping and rendering, a per-frame aggregation of blocks and accumulation of those attributes mapped to visual variables (context) is described. Since every embodiment is also targeted for dynamic, interactive visual display of 2.5D treemaps, the rendering is designed to be capable for execution in real-time. Visual preservation of important information is conveyed by hierarchy elements and their mapped attributes (nodes-of-interest) as well as compliance to known aggregation guidelines including visualization of aggregated color and height information, visualization of aggregates that are discernible from non-aggregates, and visualization of outliers within aggregates. Applications include visualization of software maps, business intelligence data, file hierarchies for storage devices, and the like.
US09953441B2 Processing metal artifact in CT image
A method for processing metal artifacts in a CT image is provided. The method may comprise: performing a first metal artifact processing on the original image to obtain a first processed image COR1 and extracting the high frequency portion of the first processed image COR1 to obtain a first high-frequency image COR1HF; performing a second metal artifact processing on the original image to obtain a second processed image COR2 and extracting the high frequency portion of the processed image COR2 second to obtain a second high-frequency image COR2HF; perform a weighted combination the first processed image COR1, the first high-frequency image COR1HF and the second high-frequency image COR2HF by using a weighting function W to obtain a result image CORImp containing no metal artifact, but information of area near the metal artifact.
US09953439B2 Systems and methods for three-dimensional spiral perfusion imaging
Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for three-dimensional spiral perfusion imaging. In one embodiment, a method for perfusion imaging of a subject includes acquiring perfusion imaging data associated with the heart of a subject. The acquiring includes applying an imaging pulse sequence with a three-dimensional stack-of-spirals trajectory. The method also includes reconstructing perfusion images from the acquired perfusion imaging data. The reconstructing includes parallel imaging and motion-guided compressed sensing. The method also includes determining, from the reconstructed perfusion images, absolute perfusion values based on time-intensity relationships to quantify myocardial blood flow of the heart of the subject, and generating a quantitative volumetric perfusion flow map based on the determined absolute perfusion values.
US09953438B2 Image annotation on portable devices
A system for automated annotation of images and videos points a mobile device towards an object of interest, such as a building or landscape scenery, for the device to display an image of the scene with an annotation for the object. An annotation can include names, historical information, and links to databases of images, videos, and audio files. Different techniques can be used for determining positional placement of annotations, and, by using multiple techniques, positioning can be made more precise and reliable. The level of detail of annotation information can be adjusted according to the precision of the techniques used. A trade-off can be taken into account between precision of annotation and communication cost, delay and/or power consumption. An annotation database can be updated in a self-organizing way. Public information as available on the web can be converted to annotation data.
US09953437B1 Method and device for constructing a table including information on a pooling type and testing method and testing device using the same
A method for constructing a table including information on a pooling type based on ranges of scale of at least one object in at least one image for constructing table is provided. The method includes steps of: generating a first pooled feature map by applying max pooling and a second pooled feature map by applying avg pooling; and acquiring a first candidate bounding box by using the first pooled feature map and acquiring a second candidate bounding box by using the second pooled feature map; and comparing a first degree of similarity between the first candidate bounding box and a GT bounding box with a second degree of similarity between the second candidate bounding box and the GT bounding box to thereby construct the table so as to include information on respective optimal pooling types by respective ranges of the scale of the object.
US09953436B2 Low delay low complexity lossless compression system
A method for compressing data is disclosed. The method may include receiving data from one or more data sources. The method may also include selectively classifying the data into one or more data streams, the one or more data streams including at least PCM-encoded data and image data. The method may further include separately compressing the PCM-encoded data and the image data into first and second compressed bit-streams. The method may also include shuffling the first and second compressed bit-streams.
US09953431B2 Image processing system and method for detection of objects in motion
Various aspects of a system and a method are provided for detection of objects in motion are disclosed herein. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes an electronic device, which computes a first motion vector based on a difference of pixel values of one or more pixels in a current frame with respect to a previous frame. The current frame and the previous frame comprises at least an object in motion. The system further computes a second motion vector by use of motion-based information obtained from a sensor in the electronic device. The system determines validation of the first motion vector based on the second motion vector and one or more criteria and extracts the object in motion from the current frame based on the determined validation of the first motion vector.
US09953430B1 Methods for detecting luminary fixtures
Methods for detecting a number of luminary fixtures in an indoor environment using an electronic image capture device and electronic computing device are presented, the methods including: capturing a ceiling scan of the indoor environment with at least the electronic image capture device; analyzing a synthetic ceiling image corresponding with the ceiling scan using the electronic computing device to identify a number of luminary candidates; and converting the number of luminary candidates to define the number of luminary fixtures. In some embodiments, the capturing the ceiling scan further includes: moving the electronic image capture device through the indoor environment; capturing the indoor environment; generating a point cloud of the indoor environment; colorizing the point cloud; extracting the colored point cloud of a ceiling; dividing the extracted point cloud into a number of rooms; and generating the synthetic ceiling image for each of the number of rooms.
US09953423B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium for image processing based on priority
An image processing apparatus includes: a feature point obtaining unit configured to obtain priority feature points that are registered preferentially and nonpriority feature points that have priority orders lower than those of the priority feature points to be registered; a weight setting unit configured to set a weight of each of the nonpriority feature points based on an evaluation value that evaluates a characteristic of the nonpriority feature point, and set a weight of each of the priority feature point, that has a value larger than the weight of the nonpriority feature point; and a registration unit configured to register the first image and the second image based on the priority feature points, the weights of the priority feature points, the nonpriority feature points, and the weights of the nonpriority feature points.
US09953421B2 Device for determining disappearing direction and method thereof, apparatus for video camera calibration and method thereof
A disappearing direction determination device and method, a video camera calibration apparatus and method, a video camera and a computer program product are provided. The device comprises: a moving target detecting unit for detecting in the video image a moving target area where a moving object locates; a feature point extracting unit for extracting at least one feature point on the moving object in the detected moving target area; a moving trajectory obtaining unit for tracking a movement of the feature point in a predetermined number of video image frames to obtain a movement trajectory of the feature point; and a disappearing direction determining unit for determining, according to the movement trajectories of one or more moving objects in the video image, a disappearing direction pointed by a major moving direction of the moving objects. Thus, a disappearing direction and video camera gesture parameters can be determined accurately.
US09953412B1 System and methodology to prevent false claims to delivered or rented goods
A method and system of assessing damage to an object. A first digital image of an object is taken at a first point in time with a first camera. A second digital image of the object is taken at a second point in time with a second camera, where the second point in time is after the first point in time. The first digital image and the second digital image may are compared to determine if there is damage to the object. In response to a determination that there is damage to the object, a potential source of the damage to the object is determined by analyzing historical trends of damage to historically damaged objects.
US09953411B2 Method for processing a digital image of the surface of a tyre in order to detect an anomaly
To analyze a tire surface, a 3D elevational image is captured, which is formed of pixels representing points on the surface. Each point is assigned a grey-level value proportional to its elevation relative to a surface level. Based on the elevations in the elevational image, an orientational image is formed showing elevation gradients of the surface. In the orientational image, which is formed of pixels representing points on the surface, each point is assigned a grey-level value proportional to an angle formed with a direction given by a projection in an image plane of a non-zero norm vector substantially corresponding, at this point, to a gradient vector tangent to the surface and oriented in a direction of greatest slope. A filtered image is determined by transforming the orientational image using a filter to select areas that include structures similar to those in a reference orientational image of a blow hole.
US09953405B2 Process of determining characteristics of a surface of a papermaking fabric
A process of determining features of a fabric. A representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric is formed showing at least one of (i) locations and (ii) sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. An image is generated of the portion of the surface of the fabric based on the representation. A portion of the image is displayed on a computer screen. An outline is drawn around at least one of the knuckles in the image. Guidelines are drawn such that the guidelines (i) pass through the center of the at least one outlined knuckle, (ii) pass through the other knuckles, or (iii) form shapes that surround areas of the image that correspond to where the pockets are formed between the knuckles. The outline and the guidelines are drawn using an image analysis program.
US09953404B2 Systems and methods for setting initial display settings
A method for applying a filter to data to improve data quality and/or reduce file size. In one example, a region of interest of an image is identified. A histogram is generated of pixel intensity values in the region of interest. The histogram is iteratively updated to focus (zoom) in on the highest peak in the histogram. A Gaussian curve is fitted to the updated histogram. A bilateral filter is applied to the images, where parameters of the bilateral filter are based on the parameters of the Gaussian curve.
US09953403B2 Stereoscopic camera and associated method of varying a scale of a stereoscopic image pair
A stereoscopic camera and associated method for capturing a stereoscopic image pair are provided. As an example, a stereoscopic camera includes first and second lenses defining parallel optical axes. The stereoscopic camera also includes first and second image sensors for receiving optical signals from the first and second lenses. The first and second fields of view are defined so as to overlap to define a first area of coincidence when the first and second lenses are spaced apart by a first distance. The first and second lenses are configured to be repositioned to be spaced apart by a second distance with the first and second image sensors being correspondingly repositioned to alter a space therebetween such that the first and second fields of view overlap to define a second area of coincidence when the first and second lenses are spaced apart by the second distance.
US09953402B2 Imaging system and method for imaging objects with reduced image blur
An imaging device is presented for use in an imaging system capable of improving the image quality. The imaging device has one or more optical systems defining an effective aperture of the imaging device. The imaging device comprises a lens system having an algebraic representation matrix of a diagonalized form defining a first Condition Number, and a phase encoder utility adapted to effect a second Condition Number of an algebraic representation matrix of the imaging device, smaller than said first Condition Number of the lens system.
US09953398B2 Displaying content based on viewing direction
A computer detects a person in an environment. The computer determines a view direction of the person. The computer displays content relevant to the determined view direction of the person.
US09953397B2 System and method for medical image correction
A method implemented using at least one processor includes receiving a target image and a reference image. The target image is a distorted magnetic resonance image and the reference image is an undistorted magnetic resonance image. The method further includes selecting an image registration method for registering the target image to the reference image, wherein the image registration method uses an image transformation. The method further includes performing image registration of the target image with the reference image, wherein the image registration provides a plurality of optimized parameters of the image transformation. The method also includes generating a corrected image based on the target image and the plurality of optimized parameters of the image transformation.
US09953396B1 Ray casting visualization multi-user interaction processing method based on hadoop and CUDA
The present invention relates to the technical field of visualization in scientific computing, and specifically discloses a ray casting visualization multi-user interaction processing method based on Hadoop and CUDA. On one hand, the method of the present invention employs the parallel processing capability of Hadoop, MapReduce, and NVIDIA CUDA for accelerated rendering, and, on the other hand, the present invention designs a method to avoid duplicate computation for a multi-user interaction environment, thereby reducing the time consumption of duplicate computation. The method of the present invention realizes the fast operation of each pixel gradient, ray resampling and data synthesis and can accomplish the 3D visualization imaging rapidly and efficiently.
US09953392B2 Multimedia system and associated methods
A system including a large format display, a display computer storing a plurality of files to be displayed on the display, and a mobile device application loaded onto a mobile device, the mobile device application to load and store user information for more than one user, to generate a list of user information, and to share the list of user information with the display computer and other mobile devices having the mobile device application thereon.
US09953391B2 Methods and apparatuses for providing a hardware accelerated web engine
Methods of expressing animation in a data stream are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of expressing animation in a data stream includes defining animation states in the data stream with each state having at least one property such that properties are animated as a group. The animation states that are defined in the data stream may be expressed as an extension of a styling sheet language. The data stream may include web content and the defined animation states.
US09953389B2 System for preemptively navigating drivers to passengers based on passenger device activity
In one embodiment information regarding device activity of first subscriber to a transportation service is received. A backend server determines independent of a pending transportation request from the first passenger and based at least on the information regarding the device activity of the first subscriber, to send a driver towards a location based on the location of the first subscriber.
US09953386B2 Method and system for controlling distribution of composite data of user by aggregation server
Transparent collection and profiling of personal data builds trust. A central database aggregates personal data reported by source devices. Users may view their individual personal data. Users may approve the personal data for sharing with approved entities, such as trusted retailers.
US09953383B1 Systems and methods for a home area recommender
Disclosed herein are a method, system, and computer-readable storage medium with instructions for recommending locations to a user. Preferred criteria may be selected by the user, for example, or a third party, and provide objective or subjective information that the user is seeking in a location. Embodiments may include compiling objective information with the location and comparing the objective information to preferred criteria. A user's profile may be compared to another person's profile, where the other person's profile is associated to the location. A location may be recommended to the user if the objective information correlates to the preferred criteria and if the other person's profile correlates to the user's profile. Subjective information associated with the location may be provided to the user along with the recommended location. Furthermore, a location may be recommended to the user if the subjective information correlates to the preferred criteria.
US09953380B2 Method and system for setting relationship between users of service using gestures information
A method for setting a relationship between users of a plurality of mobile terminals includes receiving, from a plurality of mobile terminals, information on gestures made on, and recognized at, the plurality of mobile terminals, respectively, with respect to a single user gesture; determining a gesture correlation between the recognized gestures and the single user gesture based on information on the recognized gestures; and determining whether to set a relationship between users of the plurality of mobile terminals based on the gesture correlation.
US09953376B2 Work management system and work management method
A work management system (1) includes: an image capturing device (20) worn by a worker; and a server device (60). The image capturing device (20) includes: an image capturing section (21) for capturing an image of a work range of the worker; and a communication section (30) for transmitting, to the server device (60), at least one of (i) the image captured by the image capturing section (21) and (ii) generated information generated in accordance with the image. The server device (60) includes a control section (70) for managing the at least one of the image and the generated information which one is received from the communication section.
US09953375B2 Work management system and work management method
A work management system (1) includes: an image capturing device (20) worn by a worker; and a server device (60). The image capturing device (20) includes: an image capturing section (21) for capturing an image of a work range of the worker; and a communication section (30) for transmitting, to the server device (60), at least one of (i) the image captured by the image capturing section (21) and (ii) generated information generated in accordance with the image. The server device (60) includes a control section (70) for managing the at least one of the image and the generated information which one is received from the communication section.
US09953370B2 Systems and methods for performing a risk management assessment of a property
System and methods for performing a risk management assessment of a property using at least aerial imagery of the property and additional data about the property that is evaluated against risk management criteria. Data acquired through aerial imagery includes identifying buildings and floor area of the buildings, condition of the buildings including roof and exterior walls, and identifying other property hazards. Additional data may include property information coming from multiple sources including city and County governments, contractors and insurance companies. The resulting risk management assessment may be used to settle insurance claims and to determine insurance products and premium rates offered on the property.
US09953369B2 Systems and methods for certified location data collection, management, and utilization
Location information may be gathered, managed, stored, and/or otherwise utilized to determine unique geo-referenced locations. The geo-referenced locations may be utilized to inform various processes and decisions such as insurance underwriting, risk assessment, pricing, and risk/loss control.
US09953368B2 Embedded hardware based system which provides real-time pre-trade risk assessments for multiple parties and method thereof
A risk assessment system and method are provided that may be implemented as an embedded hardware based system and method that provide real-time pre-trade risk assessments for multiple parties, in addition to real-time market data and trading connectivity to a variety of liquidity venues. The liquidity venues may include regulated exchanges, ECNs and other financial institutions listing securities, options, futures, commodities, foreign exchange and other financial instruments.
US09953361B1 Placing a purchase order using one of multiple procurement options
A method and system for placing an order to purchase an item via the Internet. The order is placed by a user at a client system and received by a server system. The client system can display information identifying the item and, for each of multiple procurement options having information related to ordering the identified item, can display an indication of the procurement option such that selection of the displayed indication represents an ordering of the identified item using the information of the procurement option. In response to selection of a displayed indication, the client system can send to a server computer a request to order the identified item using the information of the procurement option for the selected indication.
US09953360B2 Sale of footwear by subscription
A user enters into a subscription to receive footwear having one or more specified performance characteristics. As the user finishes wearing one set of footwear, the user can obtain a replacement set of footwear that also will have one or more specified performance characteristics. The performance characteristics may be consistent for each set of footwear provided according to the subscription. Alternately, the footwear performance characteristics may vary over the life of the subscription. Thus, the footwear provider may periodically obtain biometric information describing the user's athletic activities or performance. The footwear provider then can tailor the performance characteristics of footwear provided under the subscription to match the user's athletic activities or performance.
US09953357B2 Sharing an ensemble of items
In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for sharing an ensemble of items, access to a plurality of retail items to a user is enabled, wherein an ensemble of items is created from the retail items by the user. The ensemble of items are accessed, and the ensemble of items are shared such that the ensemble of items is able to be viewed by others.
US09953356B2 Image-based product marketing systems and methods
An exemplary method includes a product marketing system receiving, from an access device, a product search request and image data representative of an image associated with a product, searching, in response to the product search request, a repository of product image data to identify at least one match to the image associated with the product, generating, based on the at least one match, search results data comprising product information for at least one product, and transmitting the search results data to the access device. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
US09953355B2 Multi-signal based shopping cart content recognition in brick-and-mortar retail stores
Identifying products in a physical store shopping environment. The method includes, using a first detection method, identifying that a given product likely belongs to a given set of products. The method further includes, using one or more other detection methods, determining that the product is likely a specific product from the given set of products.
US09953354B2 System and method for providing product information
A system and method of associating an NFC tag to a product and transmitting information about the product are described. An electronic device is used to scan a generic NFC tag affixed to a product to obtain a unique ID code as well as other indicia identifying the product itself, such as a bar code. The unique ID and bar code are then transmitted to a central server, where they are associated with one another and stored in a database. Once associated, a customer may use a separate electronic device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, to scan a product of interest, transmit the unique ID code to the central server, and retrieve from the central server information about the product.
US09953353B2 Method and system for implementing an architecture for a sales catalog
A sales catalog interface, wherein the architecture allows the user the ability to controllably view the data with certain engines either running or not running, so that certain items of detailed information is either displayed or not displayed to the user. Data from engines may include, price, eligibility, and availability, may be retrieved synchronously or asynchronously, and may be based upon consumer context, such as account type, geography, etc.
US09953350B2 Augmented reality view of product instructions
In a system for presenting augmented reality views of product instructions a method may include receiving a request from a client device, the request including image data. The method may further includes identifying an object in the image data and generating an augmented reality view of the identified object. The method may further include transmitting the augmented reality view to the client device.
US09953344B2 System and method for advertisement transmission and display
The disclosure herein provides systems and methods for a media enhancement system configured to associate a secondary media signal (for example, the secondary media signal can comprise an advertisement) to a primary media signal (for example, a radio broadcast). The disclosure herein additionally provides systems and methods for a media enhancement system that enables the generating, transmitting, displaying, and/or responding to a plurality of associated and/or unassociated secondary media signals, based on a primary media content from a primary media signal, user characteristics (for example, demographic and/or geographic information), and/or third-party preferences (for example, the goals of advertisers). The secondary media signals can be used to enhance the primary media content already being provided to the user on a user device. The secondary media signals can also be used to create psychological associations or relationships with the primary media content already being provided to the user.
US09953341B2 Systems and/or methods for distributing advertisements from a central advertisement network to a peripheral device via a local advertisement server
Certain exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and/or methods for distributing advertisements from a central advertisement network to one or more peripheral devices at a location via a local advertisement server. In certain exemplary embodiments, the local advertisement server within a location receives advertisements from the central advertisement network and rebroadcasts them to peripheral devices within that location. Advertising information may be tracked and reported, e.g., for accounting, revenue-sharing, and/or other purposes in certain exemplary embodiments. Thus, in certain exemplary embodiments, the distribution of advertisements is provided to peripherals via a non-web- and non-PC-dependent network. Moreover, in certain exemplary embodiments, reporting and advertising related communications are substantially bi-directional regardless of device type. Certain exemplary embodiments provide revenue sharing among some or all of the central advertising network provider, the proprietors of locations, operators tasked with maintaining the local ad server and/or the peripheral devices, etc.
US09953336B2 Communication of reward data between applications
There is provided a scheme of communicating reward data from a first application running on a data processing device (100) to a second application on the data processing device (100) for use by the second application. The method comprises the first application obtaining a reward value in response to a user of the first application completing a predetermined task in the first application. In response to a request from the user to claim a reward, the first application generates and transmits: an instruction to place the second application into an interactive state; and reward data, which is generated on the basis of the reward value, for use by the second application in the interactive state. The passing of the reward value from the first application to the second application occurs within the data processing device (100), with no communication between the data processing device (100) and the backend server (200) via the Internet (400) taking place.
US09953335B2 Devices, methods, and computer-readable media for redemption header for merchant offers
Devices, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for a redemption header for merchant offers, such as online coupons, are provided. In some embodiments, an offers website may provide offers, such as online coupons, in a browser executing on a user device. When a user selects an online coupon, the browser is redirected to a merchant website associated with the online coupon and a coupon code value is copied to a clipboard. Additionally, a redemption header having the coupon code and instructions is added in the merchant webpage. A webpage element for the redemption header, such as an inline frame, is created in the merchant webpage and the redemption header is provided based on an offer identifier stored in a browser-accessible storage item such as a cookie.
US09953332B2 Method and system for generating delivery estimates
Embodiments of a method and system for determining delivery estimates for shipping a parcel include: retrieving historical delivery data from a plurality of shipping carriers; generating cross-carrier delivery features based on normalizing the historical delivery data; generating a cross-carrier delivery prediction model based on the cross-carrier delivery features; retrieving parcel data for the parcel based on a tracking number S140; generating parcel features based on normalizing the parcel data S150; determining a delivery estimate for the parcel based on processing the parcel features with the cross-carrier delivery prediction model S160; and responding to the delivery estimate S170.
US09953328B2 Method and system for conducting transactions between repositories
A method, system and software for establishing a secure communications channel between repositories using a repository transaction protocol, including generating a registration identifier and registration message including an identification certificate, and an identifier of a master repository that encrypted the identification certificate; receiving the registration message and verifying the identity by verifying the identification certificate; validating the authenticity, including, generating a message to test the authenticity, sending the generated message, and verifying if upon receiving the generated message whether the generated message is correctly processed; and exchanging messages including a session key used for communications and transactions including generating a request for a digital work, associating usage rights information with the request for digital work, and determining if the usage rights information associated with the request corresponds to usage rights associated with the digital work. The usage rights define a manner in which the digital work is used or distributed.
US09953326B2 Alert optimization system and method
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing alerts to one or more customers at an optimized time and communication channel based on at least customer preferences, transactions, activities, usage patterns, and other information; and for allowing customers to directly respond and communicate feedback to alerts that are provided to complete various account actions, including to “snooze” one or more alerts.
US09953320B2 System and method for secure payment transactions during a chat session
A method for secure payment transactions over a network between a support help desk computing system and a customer computing system is provided. The method includes establishing a chat session between the help desk and the customer using a chat application program; receiving a purchase order from the customer; communicating a unique URL payment link to the customer, wherein the URL payment link is configured for allowing the customer to establish communication with an order processing system to provide sensitive payment information to the order processing system; receiving the sensitive payment information at the order processing system communicated from the customer; encrypting the sensitive payment information; providing the encrypted sensitive payment information to the help desk, wherein the encrypted sensitive payment information is displayed in a masked format on a display of the help desk; and completing the purchase order using the encrypted sensitive payment information.
US09953319B2 Payment system
A method of making a payment in which payment data is received by a user's terminal from a point-of-sale terminal, a secret of a payment application is received by the terminal from the operator's server system, a trust card is activated in the user's terminal by utilizing said secret of the payment application, and data of the trust card is transmitted from the user's terminal to the point-of-sale terminal for making the payment transaction. A trust card is created in the server system, data of the trust card is transmitted to the terminal to be used for making the payment transaction, the secret of the payment application is formed in the server system, and access to the secret of the payment application is provided to the terminal for activating the trust card for making the payment transaction.
US09953315B2 Method and system for generating an advanced storage key in a mobile device without secure elements
A method for building an advanced storage key includes: storing, in a mobile device, at least (i) device information associated with the mobile device, (ii) program code associated with a first program including an instance identifier, and (iii) program code associated with a second program including a first key; generating a device fingerprint associated with the mobile device based on the device information via execution of the code associated with the first program; generating a random value via execution of the code associated with the first program; building a diversifier value based on the generated device fingerprint, the generated random value, and the instance identifier included in the code associated with the first program; and decrypting the built diversifier value using the first key stored in the code associated with the second program via execution of the code associated with the second program to obtain a storage key.
US09953313B2 System and method for distributed payment products
A method for generating and distributing a plurality of financial child products to a group of recipients that can then be used for payment transactions by each recipient. The method includes receiving a selection of a core account that provides financial backing for the financial child products, and receiving a list of recipients that defines the group of recipients to which the financial child products are distributed. The method further includes generating the financial child products, where each financial child product is structured with one or more control parameters that define user restrictions for the financial child product, and causing the financial child products to be distributed to at least one recipient included in the list of recipients. Advantageously, since creating, distributing, and redeeming of the financial child products is performed using existing legacy networks, financial institutions only need to minimally modify legacy payment processing infrastructure to support these distributed payment products.
US09953312B2 Wearable device and method for processing NFC payment using the wearable device
A wearable device including a touchscreen; a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with an external terminal including an electronic wallet (SE, Secure Element), the external terminal wirelessly linked with the wearable device; and a controller configured to receive a preset user gesture, receive information relating to an account of the electronic wallet (SE) from the external terminal in response to the preset user gesture, display the received information on the touchscreen, and process an NFC (Near Field Communication) payment using the information displayed on the touchscreen.
US09953309B2 Third party integrated security system
A third party payment system is provided which allows a user to conduct transactions through payment accounts stored on the third party payment system. The user can enroll in the third party payment system and create an account with registered payment accounts. The user can access the payment accounts via a mobile device and load the payment data associated with a payment account to the mobile device. The user can then utilize the mobile device to provide payment during a transaction.
US09953302B2 Social network with field level control of data exposure
A method, apparatus, and system are directed towards seeding a user's contacts for their online social network. The invention is arranged to automatically recommend to the user a set of seed contacts that the user may employ to invite to join their social network. The set of seed contacts may be harvested from the user's existing portal activities, as well as other sources. In one embodiment, the invention analyzes portal activity, such as email exchanges with the user, and the like, to determine a frequency of contact with the user. Other sources may include but not be limited to emails, names within an address book of the user, names within an address book of another person, a buddy list, an instant messaging list, an activity, a mailing list, an online discussion group, a membership in a category, chat group, and the like.
US09953301B2 Searchable screen sharing sessions
Systems and methods are provided for searchable screen sharing sessions. A system records at least one image associated with a screen sharing session. The system extracts content from the at least one image. The system stores the content as searchable content associated with the screen sharing session.
US09953299B2 Systems and methods for sharing image data
At least one server connects with clients via networks such that each client communicates using a different network. The server divides an image based on an application into portions. The server assigns version numbers to the portions such that each version number corresponds to a different portion. The server generates lists that include the version numbers, wherein each list corresponds to a different client. The server shares the image by transmitting image data to each client separately based on the respective list. The server receives update(s) for the image and identifies portion(s) that has changed based on the update. The server assigns an updated version number to the identified changed portion and generates updated lists that include the updated version numbers for the clients such that each updated list corresponds to a different client. The server transmits updated image data to each client separately based on the respective updated list.
US09953297B2 Sharing online with granularity
Sharing online with granularity is described, including providing content for presenting to a user; receiving input from the user indicating identification of a portion of the content; associating with another user a notice of availability of the content; receiving a request from the another user, the request identifies the content; and providing the content for presenting to the another user, such that at least a part of the portion of the content is positioned for presenting without navigation input from the another user.
US09953295B2 Management of event contexts using bookend contexts
Event data management is disclosed. Event data management can include receiving a first set of event data including events classified using local contexts. Event data management can include receiving a second set of event data including one or more event data classified using the local contexts and using a global context. Event data management can include determining a first subset of event data corresponding to a first data flow and a second subset of event data corresponding to a second data flow. Event data management can include establishing a global relationship between the first and second data flow. Event data management can include receiving a third set of event data corresponding to the first data flow and having a local bookend identifier. Event data management can include clearing, in response to determining that the third event datum includes the local bookend identifier, the first subset of event data.
US09953294B2 Enabling an in-memory transactional application
The embodiments provide a system for linking an application with an in-memory database system for enabling an in-memory-enabled transactional application. The system includes an in-memory transactional processor configured to receive contextual data related to an instantiation of a first business transaction of the application and instantiate at least one second business transaction of the application during a course of processing the first business transaction. The in-memory transactional processor is configured to store results of at least one process step of the at least one second business transaction during the course of processing the first business transaction in an in-memory database, evaluate, at a decision point within the first business transaction, a plurality of alternative process steps, during runtime, and determine a subsequent process step from the plurality of alternative process steps based on the contextual data and captured information stored in the in-memory database.
US09953292B2 Creating an aggregate report of a presence of a user on a network
A method performed by a physical computing device communicatively coupled to a computer network for creating an aggregate report of a presence of a user of the physical computing device on the network includes periodically searching the network with the physical computing device for content related to the user authored by a source other than the user, the searching being based on a unique set of identifiers associated with the user, dynamically updating the unique set of identifiers based on contextual trends within content returned as a result of the searching, and aggregating content published by the user to the network with the content returned as a result of the searching to form the aggregate report of the presence of the user on the network.
US09953291B2 Luggage contents recommendations and tracking
In an approach for suggesting an item to pack, a processor receives an indication that a user is packing a first item of luggage, wherein the indication includes information about a trip. A processor generates a packing list based on the information about the trip. A processor receives a request to link the first item of luggage and a second item of luggage for the trip. A processor links the first and second items of luggage such that contents of each item of luggage are jointly compared to the packing list. A processor receives, via a short-range point-to-point communication reader of the first item of luggage, a signal from a short-range point-to-point communication device operably affixed to a first item. A processor identifies the first item based on the signal. A processor determines that the first item is an item of the packing list.
US09953287B1 Utilizing automated aerial vehicles for transporting priority pick items
This disclosure describes a system and method for utilizing an automated aerial vehicle for rapidly transporting a priority pick item when an exception occurs (e.g., an item that was to be picked from another location or otherwise processed is found to be missing or damaged). In some implementations, a priority pick instruction may be generated that directs picking of the item from an alternative location after which the item may be transported by the automated aerial vehicle to a processing location (e.g., a problem solve station). A flight path may be determined which may have starting and ending points at designated locations where the automated aerial vehicle can safely land and take off for acquiring and/or delivering the priority pick item.
US09953286B2 Shipping preferences population systems and related methods
The present systems and methods describe a computer system that collects user shipping preferences, including, for example, the shipping speeds (e.g., standard three to five day shipping) a user selects on various retailer websites. The system is configured to determine the one or more preferred shipping methods for the user based on the collected shipping preferences and to save the preferred shipping methods to memory (e.g., the user commonly prefers standard shipping). When the user visits an online retailer, the system, detects a shipping field (e.g., where the user may select or input a shipping preference), accesses the saved preferred shipping method (e.g., the user prefers standard shipping), and populates the shipping field with the saved preferred shipping method (e.g., the system automatically selects “standard shipping” for the user).
US09953285B2 Residential and small and medium business demand response
A method of residential or small and medium business (SMB) demand response (DR) coordination may include receiving a DR event notification from a DR server. The DR event notification may include DR event information pertaining to a DR event and curtailment information. The method may also include communicating a notification acknowledgement to the DR server. The notification acknowledgement may indicate reception of the DR event notification. The method may include displaying a curtailment request pertaining to the DR event. The curtailment request may be based on the curtailment information included in the DR event notification and may include some portion of the DR event information. The method may also include receiving a user input including a DR event participation confirmation or a DR event participation refusal. The method may further include communicating a participation signal representative of at least a portion of the user input to the DR server.
US09953282B2 System and method for providing automatic task assignment and notification
A system and method of managing and prioritizing tasks amongst resources and, more particularly, to a system and method for providing automatic task assignment and notification amongst globally dispersed human resources. The system includes a change of management application configured to store a list of tasks and a task notifier configured to retrieve a list of geographically-dispersed resources and notify selected ones of the geographically-dispersed resources of a priority of completion of one or more tasks retrieved from the change of management application. The system further includes a message application configured to be polled by the task notifier to determine which of the geographically dispersed resources is at least one of online and currently working.
US09953279B1 System and method for computer-assisted improvement of business intelligence ecosystem
In various implementations, improvement of a business intelligence ecosystem may include analyzing component(s) of a business intelligence ecosystem, identifying candidate improvements, applying at least a portion of candidate improvements, and/or verifying effects of the candidate improvements. Candidate improvements for business intelligence artifact(s), underlying data sources, BI environment configurations, metadata models, and/or computing resources may be analyzed and identified.
US09953277B2 Role-aligned competency and learning management system
Systems and methods for managing and utilizing competencies of employees of an organization are provided. The system comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprises a Role Managing Module (RMM) configured to define a set of roles in a database. Each role of the set of roles indicates a functional job in the organization. The RMM is further configured to assign an expected maturity level in a set of knowledge dimensions to each role in the set of roles. The set of knowledge dimensions comprises at least one of a Solution Dimension, a Technology Dimension, a Process Dimension, and an Organization Dimension. The system further comprises a planning module configured to create a career progression plan based on the set of roles. The system further comprises an analysis module configured to cater to organizational requirements of managing employee competencies.
US09953273B2 Systems and methods for creating a rich social media profile
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable media for updating information stored in a database system over a network. In some implementations, first contact data is retrieved from a first virtual portion of a database system, where the first contact data provides first contact information associated with at least one entity. In some instances, the first contact data is compared with second contact data, where the second contact data provides second contact information associated with the at least one entity. In some instances, at least some of the second contact information is retrieved from a social networking system. In various implementations, at least one difference between the first contact data and the second contact data is identified, where the at least one difference is capable of being presented in a user interface displayed at a computer system. In some instances, a selection identifying contact data to store is received.
US09953269B2 Modular array of vertically integrated superconducting qubit devices for scalable quantum computing
A technique relates to an assembly for a quantum computing device. A quantum bus plane includes a first set of recesses. A readout plane includes a second set of recesses. A block is positioned to hold the readout plane opposite the quantum bus plane, such that the first set of recesses opposes the second set of recesses. A plurality of qubit chips are included where each has a first end positioned in the first set of recesses and has a second end positioned in the second set of recesses.
US09953265B2 Visual summary of answers from natural language question answering systems
A method for providing a visual summary of a plurality of answers associated with a question entered into a natural language question answer system by a user is provided. The method may include receiving the entered question. The method may also include analyzing the entered question to determine a plurality of possible answers to the entered question. The method may further include compiling a set of answers based on the analysis of the entered question and the determined plurality of possible answers. The method may additionally include providing a characterization summary for the compiled set of answers, whereby the characterization summary includes an indication of the quality associated with each answer within the compiled set of answers.
US09953261B2 Producing spike-timing dependent plasticity in a neuromorphic network utilizing phase change synaptic devices
Embodiments of the invention relate to a neuromorphic network for producing spike-timing dependent plasticity. The neuromorphic network includes a plurality of electronic neurons and an interconnect circuit coupled for interconnecting the plurality of electronic neurons. The interconnect circuit includes plural synaptic devices for interconnecting the electronic neurons via axon paths, dendrite paths and membrane paths. Each synaptic device includes a variable state resistor and a transistor device with a gate terminal, a source terminal and a drain terminal, wherein the drain terminal is connected in series with a first terminal of the variable state resistor. The source terminal of the transistor device is connected to an axon path, the gate terminal of the transistor device is connected to a membrane path and a second terminal of the variable state resistor is connected to a dendrite path, such that each synaptic device is coupled between a first axon path and a first dendrite path, and between a first membrane path and said first dendrite path.
US09953257B2 Integrated circuit card
An integrated circuit card (200) is described. The integrated circuit card comprises a card body (204, 306) and two components located in the card body (204), wherein a first component (214) of the two components includes an integrated circuit, and wherein the two components are in communication with a common electrical contact (208).
US09953256B2 Multi-sized subscriber identity module card for use on multiple wireless devices
A subscriber identity module card for wireless devices, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first cut-out space, a first material layer arranged on the bottom surface, a second memory card secured within said first cut-out space, said second memory card having said first material layer arranged on a bottom surface of said second memory card and having a second cut-out space, and a third memory card secured within said second cut-out space, said third memory card having a second material layer arranged on a bottom surface of said third memory card.
US09953255B1 Advanced loyalty applications for powered cards and devices
Advanced loyalty applications are provided to improve the functionality of cards and devices. For example, a user interface may be placed on a card (e.g., a physical button) or a telephonic device (e.g., a virtual button on a capacitive touch screen). Manual input provided to this user interface may, for example, cause a non-merchant product (e.g., insurance) to be purchased with a merchant purchase. The product can be paid for with debit, credit, gift card balance, or points. A code indicative of a user's desire to purchase the product may be communicated to a payment card reader (e.g., to a magnetic stripe reader via a magnetic stripe communications device). A display may be provided next to a button to allow a user to scroll, or toggle by pressing the button repeatedly, through different products (which may be merchant or non-merchant products).
US09953251B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for executing image processing using multiple serial image processing units to process different colors
An apparatus includes multiple image processing units configured to execute image processing on input data, which are connected in serial, and include two or more image processing units having the same image processing function. The image processing units include a transfer unit configured to transfer input first data to a next image processing unit without changing the data, and an image processor configured to execute image processing on the first data to output second data. At least one of the image processing units transfers the first data to the next image processing unit without changing the first data when the first data is input, and also outputs the second data.
US09953250B2 Image processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium that caches and revises data
An image processing apparatus includes a converter, a reuse portion storage unit, and a reuse information output unit. The converter converts page description language (PDL) data into printable data. The converter stores a conversion result of converting an object appearing in the PDL data multiple times into printable data in a storage device and reuses the conversion result for the object which appears after the conversion result has been stored, instead of converting the object into printable data. The reuse portion storage unit stores information indicating a portion of a page image described by the PDL data for which the conversion result has been reused. The reuse information output unit outputs reuse information indicating a portion of the page image for which the conversion result has been reused, by using the information stored in the reuse portion storage unit.
US09953246B2 Feature-preserving noise removal
A noise removal method includes receiving in a de-noising system multiple noisy copies of a target image; providing the noisy copies as input data to the de-noising system in a training phase, and determine a noise distribution for the plurality of noisy copies. The method further includes, for n stages of the de-noising system, transforming the input data into an output; reconstructing the output; and providing the reconstructed output as input data. The method may further include receiving a new image and generating a de-noised image based on the determined noise distribution.
US09953245B2 Multi-camera vehicle identification system
A method and system of identifying in an image captured by a second camera a target object captured by a first camera is disclosed. The method comprises using image captured by the 1st camera for generating a first set of objects comprising the target object and other objects; classifying each object to generate a reference group of attribute values characterizing the objects; using image captured by the 2nd camera for generating second sets of objects; classifying each object in each second set to generate, for each second set, a corresponding group of attribute values characterizing the objects in the corresponding second set; selecting the second set of objects corresponding to the group of attribute values best matching the reference group of attribute values; and identifying the target object in the selected second set of objects in accordance with a position of the target object in the first set of objects.
US09953244B2 Apparatus and method for single look main lobe and sidelobe discrimination in spectral domain images
A system performs operations including receiving multi-dimensional single-look data from a sensor, applying multi-dimensional complex weighting functions including apodizations from among a general class of such functions to the complex data, so as to induce nonlinear variations in the amplitude and phase of the multi-dimensional spectral image responses, forming a number of features per voxel across a number of multi-dimensional spectral image responses, and using a multi-dimensional non-parametric classifier to form features to discriminate main lobe from sidelobe imaged voxels with the weighting function applied to received data. The operations include identifying each voxel by processing a set of transforms from the multi-dimensional complex weighting functions and outputting a multi-dimensional main lobe binary image, representing main lobe versus sidelobe locations.
US09953243B2 Electronic device localization based on imagery
An electronic device includes one or more imaging cameras. After a reset of the device or other specified event, the electronic device identifies an estimate of the device's pose based on location data such as Global Positioning System (GPS) data, cellular tower triangulation data, wireless network address location data, and the like. The one or more imaging cameras may be used to capture imagery of the local environment of the electronic device, and this imagery is used to refine the estimated pose to identify a refined pose of the electronic device. The refined pose may be used to identify additional imagery information, such as environmental features, that can be used to enhance the location based functionality of the electronic device.
US09953241B2 Systems and methods for satellite image processing to estimate crop yield
Systems and methods for generating a crop yield estimate for an area as small as an individual field from images captured by a satellite are disclosed. The system generates simulations of crop yields in a region that includes the area by applying combinations of different parameters to a crop yield models. Observable quantities for simulated yields are determined from the simulations. The simulations and the observable properties are used to train a statistic model for the region that has two or more variables. Images captured by a satellite that include at least a portion of the area are obtained. Crop information is then determined from the images and weather information associated with the dates that the images where captured is obtained. The statistical model is then applied to the crop information and the weather information to determine a crop yield estimate.
US09953240B2 Image processing system, image processing method, and recording medium for detecting a static object
An image processing system includes: a first identification unit that identifies a static area from an input image captured at each of a plurality of time points; an image generation unit that generates a first image by using the static areas of respective input images captured in a first time span from a processing time point and generates a second image by using the static areas of respective images captured in a second time span from the processing time point; and a second identification unit that compares the first image and the second image and identifies an area having a difference.
US09953239B2 Atomatic monitoring systems
A method of monitoring a space for armed and dangerous individuals comprises obtaining a series of digital images of the space via a first digital camera; detecting a series of ambient noise levels of the space via an electronic noise detecting device; processing the series of images; processing the series of ambient noise levels; checking for an armed and dangerous individual; and triggering an alarm signal. Processing the series of images may include comparing objects in a first image of the series of images to at least one predetermined weapon patterns; and comparing objects in the first image of the series of images to at least one predetermined human patterns. Processing the series of ambient noise levels may include determining an upper threshold noise level based on the series of ambient noise levels; and comparing a first ambient noise level to the upper threshold noise level.
US09953232B2 Biometric identification and verification
In real biometric systems, false match rates and false non-match rates of 0% do not exist. There is always some probability that a purported match is false, and that a genuine match is not identified. The performance of biometric systems is often expressed in part in terms of their false match rate and false non-match rate, with the equal error rate being when the two are equal. There is a tradeoff between the FMR and FNMR in biometric systems which can be adjusted by changing a matching threshold. This matching threshold can be automatically, dynamically and/or user adjusted so that a biometric system of interest can achieve a desired FMR and FNMR.
US09953230B2 Device, system and method for vehicle safety sensing and alerting by using camera and temperature sensor
Systems and methods for detecting a subject in a vehicle are provided. A temperature sensor installed in the vehicle is automatically activated when the vehicle ignition switch is switched off. The temperature sensor monitors the internal vehicle temperature and activates a detection module when the monitored internal vehicle temperature reaches a threshold temperature. The detection module includes a camera that is configured to capture a first image of the vehicle interior and to subsequently capture a second image of the vehicle interior, and a monitoring module that is configured to analyze the first image and the second image to detect the subject. A response module is coupled to the detection module and configured to activate one or more alert mechanisms when the subject is detected.
US09953227B2 In-vehicle image processing device
An in-vehicle image processing device processes camera images to determine a parkable area and includes an overhead image generation section generating an overhead image relative to a road surface by converting the view point of an image of a nearby vehicle and the road surface taken by a vehicle-mounted camera; a tire recognition section recognizing the tires of the nearby vehicle; a three-dimensional object recognition section recognizing three-dimensional objects including the nearby vehicle; an area-under-vehicle recognition section calculating the ground contact position of the tire and the above-ground height from the ground contact position to the vehicle body and recognizing an area under the vehicle body on the road surface from the overhead image; and a parkable area recognition section for recognizing the area occupied by the vehicle body and the area under the vehicle body as a non-parking area and recognizing a parkable area on the road surface.
US09953223B2 Methods and systems for assigning pixels distance-cost values using a flood fill technique
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for assigning pixels distance-cost values using a flood fill technique. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes obtaining video data depicting a head of a user, obtaining depth data associated with the video data, and selecting seed pixels for a flood fill at least in part by using the depth information. The process also includes performing the flood fill from the selected seed pixels. The flood fill assigns respective distance-cost values to pixels of the video data based on position-space cost values and color-space cost values. In some embodiments, the process also includes classifying pixels of the video data as foreground based at least in part on the assigned distance-cost values. In some other embodiments, the process also includes assigning pixels of the video data foreground-likelihood values based at least in part on the assigned distance-cost values.
US09953222B2 Selecting and presenting representative frames for video previews
A computer-implemented method for selecting representative frames for videos is provided. The method includes receiving a video and identifying a set of features for each of the frames of the video. The features including frame-based features and semantic features. The semantic features identifying likelihoods of semantic concepts being present as content in the frames of the video. A set of video segments for the video is subsequently generated. Each video segment includes a chronological subset of frames from the video and each frame is associated with at least one of the semantic features. The method generates a score for each frame of the subset of frames for each video segment based at least on the semantic features, and selecting a representative frame for each video segment based on the scores of the frames in the video segment. The representative frame represents and summarizes the video segment.
US09953220B2 Cutout object merge
Cutout object merge techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, a cutout object is identified for insertion into a scene. The cutout object may, for instance, be selected from a library of cutout objects, each of which was extracted from an already-captured image. Before capturing an image of the scene, the selected cutout object may be placed in a substantially real-time display of the scene, such as that which is displayed via a camera's view finder. Using an image capturing device, an image of the scene may then be captured. Once an image of the scene is captured, the cutout object and the captured image may be merged to form a composite image that includes the cutout object at a location in the scene specified by the placement.
US09953219B2 Apparatus for recognizing handwritten notes
An apparatus converts written marks on a writing surface into a digital form. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a writing portion configured to create a physical mark on a surface and a recording portion configured to capture the physical mark. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to process the physical mark and generate a digital mark from the physical mark, a memory for storing the digital mark, and a transmitter to transmit a digital image of the captured mark to an external device.
US09953217B2 System and method for pose-aware feature learning
A pose-aware feature learning system includes an object tracker which tracks an object on a subject in a plurality of video frames, a pose estimator which estimates a pose of the subject in a track of the plurality of video frames, an image pair generator which extracts a plurality of image pairs from the track of the plurality of video frames, and labels the plurality of image pairs with the estimated pose and as depicting the same or different object, and a neural network trainer which trains a neural network based on the labeled plurality of image pairs, to predict whether an image pair depicts the same or different object and a pose difference for the image pair.
US09953214B2 Real time eye tracking for human computer interaction
A gaze direction determining system and method is provided. A two-camera system may detect the face from a fixed, wide-angle camera, estimates a rough location for the eye region using an eye detector based on topographic features, and directs another active pan-tilt-zoom camera to focus in on this eye region. A eye gaze estimation approach employs point-of-regard (PoG) tracking on a large viewing screen. To allow for greater head pose freedom, a calibration approach is provided to find the 3D eyeball location, eyeball radius, and fovea position. Both the iris center and iris contour points are mapped to the eyeball sphere (creating a 3D iris disk) to get the optical axis; then the fovea rotated accordingly and the final, visual axis gaze direction computed.
US09953212B2 Method and apparatus for album display, and storage medium
The present disclosure relates to an album display method, an album display apparatus and a storage medium, which pertain to the graphics and image technical field. The method includes: uploading a plurality of photographs stored in the smart device to a server, receiving face identification information for at least two of the plurality of photographs from the server, wherein the at least two photographs are identified to include faces by the server using a face recognition algorithm, the face identification information includes a photograph identifier and an album identifier for one of a plurality of face albums, and the plurality of face albums are generated by grouping the at least two photographs based on faces identified in the at least two photographs, adding the at least two photographs to their corresponding face albums based on the face identification information, and displaying the plurality of face albums. By clustering photographs based on faces in the photographs to obtain different face albums, the present disclosure enables photographs in a mobile terminal to be managed and displayed according to different faces. Accordingly, the problem in related techniques that an album program manages and displays photographs solely depending on sources, times or places of the pictures is addressed, and the effect that the album program could manage and display photographs according to faces is achieved.
US09953209B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for in vitro single-cell identification and recovery
Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically identifying and recovering individual cells of interest from a sample of biological matter, e.g., a biological fluid. Also described are methods of enriching a cell type of interest. These systems, methods, and apparatus allow for coordinated performance of two or more of the following, e.g., all with the same device, thereby enabling high throughput: cell enrichment, cell identification, and individual cell recovery for further analysis (e.g., sequencing) of individual recovered cells.
US09953207B2 Biometric authentication device, biometric authentication method and computer-readable non-transitory medium
A biometric authentication device performing an authentication based on a similarity between a biometric image that is an object of comparing and an enrolled biometric image, includes: a storage configured to store a plurality of model images generated by changing a bending angle of a joint of a biometric model and correction information of each of the plurality of model images; a biometric sensor configured to capture a biometric image that is an object of comparing; and a processor configured to execute a process, the process including: determining similarities between the biometric image captured by the biometric sensor and the plurality of model images; selecting a model image based on the similarities; reading correction information corresponding to the model image that is selected, from the storage; and correcting one of the biometric image captured by the biometric sensor or the enrolled biometric image based on the correction information.
US09953206B2 Fingerprint sensor package and fabricating method thereof
A fingerprint sensor package includes a substrate, a fingerprint sensor chip, and a flexible printed circuit board (FPC). The substrate includes a first portion and a second portion. A line layer is disposed on the first portion. The fingerprint sensor chip is disposed on the substrate. The fingerprint sensor chip is electrically connected to the FPC by the line layer. The package is simple, reliable, and easy for manufacturing process, reducing materials and processing costs.
US09953204B2 Fingerprint sensing system with sensing reference potential providing circuitry
A fingerprint sensing system comprising a device connection interface including a device reference potential input, a sensing arrangement, and sensing reference potential providing circuitry. The sensing arrangement includes multiple sensing structures and read-out circuitry connected to each of the sensing structures. The sensing reference potential providing circuitry provides a sensing reference potential to the sensing arrangement in the form of a sensing reference signal alternating between a first sensing reference potential and a second sensing reference potential, and comprises a first capacitor; a second capacitor; charging circuitry; and switching circuitry for alternatingly switching the sensing reference potential providing circuitry between a first state in which the first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in parallel to the charging circuitry; and a second state in which the first capacitor and the second capacitor, when charged, are connected in series between the device reference potential input and the sensing arrangement.
US09953202B2 Nanostructure based super-capacitor for pressure and fingerprint sensor
An arrangement of individually addressable nanostructures (200) in an array format on a substrate (100) (non-conducting, flexible or rigid) with electrical portions (conducing) in the substrate where the electrical portions form electrical contacts with the nanostructures is utilized to form individually addressable nanostructures. The said nanostructures can be 1-1,000,000 nm in base size and range from 1-1,000,000 nm in height. The distance between the said nanostructures in the array can also range from 10-1,000,000 nm. The said nanostructures are covered in a dielectric material (300) (air, polymer, ceramic) that is at least 5-500,000 nm thicker than the height of the said nanostructures. The dielectric properties of the dielectric material are an important component in determining the capacitance/supercapacitance properties of the fingerprint device. A top electrode (400) is placed on the face of dielectric film opposite to the face in contact with the substrate where nanostructures are arranged. A top layer (500) (glass or Other robust material) is placed on top of the top metal electrode. A voltage V (900) is applied between the nanostructures (200) and the top electrodes (400), an intense electric field (600) is generated between the nanostructures (200) and the top electrode (400). The direction of the said electrical field is dependent on the polarity of the voltage applied. The electric capacitance (700) between the nanostructures and the top electrode as formed. When a finger (1000) is placed on the device, the ridges (1001) of the fingerprints make contact with the top layer (500) of the device causing a signal, (a change in the capacitance of the device) that can be detected using external circuits. The valleys (1002) of the finger do not make contact with the top layer (500) device and hence do not produce a signal. If a pressure is applied on the top layer (500), the distance between the top electrode (400) and the nanostructures (200) is reduced, causing a change in the capacitance, allowing measurement of pressure. Since the nanostructures (200) are distributed on a surface (2000) in sections (2010) we can obtain special resolution of pressure on a surface or gather fingerprints using a cost effective, low power, robust and stand-alone portable, miniature system.
US09953200B2 Capacitive fingerprint sensor
On the basis of the physical principle that a capacitance value is inversely proportional to the distance between capacitive electrodes, the spatial structure of the surface of an object can be imaged by measuring a coupling capacitance between the surface of measured object and the electrode arrays on a surface of a sensor; for example, imaging may be performed to uneven spaces between ridge lines and valley lines of fingerprints. The present application provides a C-Q-T type capacitive fingerprint sensor. Firstly, coupling capacitance differences between the fingerprints and the electrodes of the sensor are converted into charge quantity differences, then the charge quantity differences are converted into time differences, and edge signals carrying the time differences are output. Fingerprint sensors are grouped into an array, reading and data combination may be performed to the edge signals, and imaging may be performed to fingerprints.
US09953197B2 Processes for distribution and use of a mobile RFID container
A mobile RFID container, such as a case, cargo container, vehicle, etc., includes an RFID detector configured to conduct an RFID scan to generate scan data concerning the items carried in the mobile RFID container, and location determining circuitry for generating location data concerning the location of the mobile RFID container. A method for distributing RFID-tagged items using the mobile RFID container includes placing a plurality of RFID-tagged items in the mobile RFID container, conducting one or more RFID scans to generate scan data concerning the contents of the RFID container, and processing the scan data and location data to determine the location of the mobile RFID container at times when the contents of the RFID container have changed. The RFID scans may be performed, for example, in response to (a) sensing that the contents of the container have been accessed, (b) a request from a remote device, and/or (c) the location of the RFID container relative to geofence boundary corresponding to a particular geographical location.
US09953196B2 System, apparatus and methods for variable rate ultra-wideband communications
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.
US09953195B2 Systems, apparatus and methods for variable rate ultra-wideband communications
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.
US09953194B2 Interrogation device, system including interrogation device, and program
An interrogation device includes an interrogation unit that interrogates an RF tag in a contactless manner, and a controller that controls the interrogation unit. The controller obtains a signal strength value and an interrogation success rate from a reception signal received by the interrogation unit when controlling the interrogation unit to transmit a signal with transmission power that is being changed in stages, determines changed transmission power corresponding to a signal strength value and an interrogation success rate that are not less than a threshold selectively from a signal strength value and an interrogation success rate obtained in each stage of the transmission power, and outputs information about the determined transmission power.
US09953191B2 Event-based display information protection system
A display information protection system includes a management system that stores a plurality of display information protection policies and that may provide any of the display information protection policies through a network. An endpoint device is coupled to the management system through the network and stores a display information protection policy that may have been automatically populated or received from the management system. The endpoint device displays a plurality of information and may determine that a first subset of the plurality of information that has been provided for display is defined by the display information protection policy. In response to detecting the first display information protection event and determining that the first subset of a plurality of information is defined by the display information protection policy, the endpoint device obfuscates the display of the first subset of the plurality of information on the endpoint device.
US09953189B2 Managing configurations of computing terminals
Disclosed is a system for configuring a terminal by intercepting requests, such as Input/Output (IO) requests or registry requests, evaluating rules based on the intercepted requests during runtime, and performing actions based on the rule evaluations, such as passing the request through, redirecting the request, modifying the request, hiding resources, or performing other actions. The system can be implemented in one or more of the terminal's file system filter drivers and registry filter drivers.
US09953188B2 System, method, and program for storing and controlling access to data representing personal behavior
A system for storing and controlling access to data representing personal behavior, the system comprising an ID retrieval apparatus to receive identifying information revealing the identity of an individual, to submit a request corresponding to the received identifying information to an ID generation apparatus, to receive an anonymized user ID in return, and to output the user ID to the individual; a data engine comprising a data store and an access controller, the store being inaccessible to the ID retrieval apparatus and configured to receive and store personalized behavioral data, access to the stored behavioral data being controlled by the controller, the behavioral data representing behavior of the individual, which data are anonymously personalized with the user ID; the controller controlling access to the data by requiring that access requests from service providers specify the user ID with which the behavioral data are personalized to access the data.
US09953178B2 Role based access control utilizing scoped permissions
Systems and methods authorizing access to storage system resources are presented herein. A scoped permission assignment can be associated with an operation related to a type of at least one resource. The scoped permission assignment can be assigned to a role; and the role can be associated with user(s). A resource, or one or more resources of a resource group, can be associated with user(s) or user group(s). Further, a user can be authorized to perform the operation on the resource and/or one or more resources based on, at least in part, permission assignments directly granted to the user or granted in a role of the user. In addition, one or more resource flags can be assigned to the one or more resources. Accordingly, the user can be authorized to perform the operation based on, at least in part, the one or more resource flags and the scoped permission assignment.
US09953176B2 Method and system for anonymizing activity records
A method for processing activity records. The method includes obtaining an activity record, and generating an anonymization dictionary. Generating the anonymization dictionary includes detecting, in the activity record, a set of target entities to be anonymized, making a determination that a resource is associated with a subset of the target entities of the set of target entities, and after making the determination, assigning an anonymized identity to the subset of target entities, and generating an anonymization identifier for each target entity in the subset of target entities to obtain a set of anonymization identifiers, each including the anonymized identity. The method further includes processing the activity record using the anonymization dictionary to obtain an anonymized activity record and storing the anonymized activity record.
US09953175B2 Systems and methods for detecting substitution of high-value electronic documents
Embodiments are described of systems and methods for prevention, detection, mitigation of risk, and such, of unauthorized manipulation, e.g., substitution, of high-value data files (including electronic document files).
US09953174B2 Method and system for in-band password management for inductive wireless charging
A method for authorizing a service is disclosed. In the embodiment, the method involves receiving a packet carried via a first power signal according to an inductive wireless power transfer communications protocol, the packet received at a power receiver within a mobile device, extracting a password from the received packet, storing the extracted password in memory within the mobile device, transmitting the stored password in a packet via a second power signal according to the inductive wireless transfer communications protocol to authorize a service.
US09953173B2 Method and system for improving security and reliability in a networked application environment
A security application manages security and reliability of networked applications executing collection of interacting computing elements within a distributed computing architecture. The security application monitors various classes of resources utilized by the collection of nodes within the distributed computing architecture and determine whether utilization of a class of resources is approaching a pre-determined maximum limit. The security application performs a vulnerability scan of a networked application to determine whether the networked application is prone to a risk of intentional or inadvertent breach by an external application. The security application scans a distributed computing architecture for the existence of access control lists (ACLs), and stores ACL configurations and configuration changes in a database. The security application scans a distributed computing architecture for the existence of security certificates, places newly discovered security certificates in a database, and deletes outdated security certificates. Advantageously, security and reliability are improved in a distributed computing architecture.
US09953164B2 Confirming a malware infection on a client device using a remote access connection tool, to identify a malicious file based on fuzz hashes
A device may receive a trigger to determine whether one or more client devices, of a set of client devices, are infected by a malicious file. The device may generate file identification information associated with the malicious file based on receiving the trigger to determine whether the one or more client devices are infected by the malicious file. The device may obtain remote access to the one or more client devices using a connection tool based on receiving the trigger to determine whether the one or more client devices are infected by the malicious file. The device may obtain information, associated with the one or more client devices, using the remote access. The device may provide information indicating whether the one or more client devices are infected by the malicious file based on the file identification information and the information associated with the one or more client devices.
US09953160B2 Applying multi-level clustering at scale to unlabeled data for anomaly detection and security
Methods, systems, and computer program products for applying multi-level clustering at scale to unlabeled data for anomaly detection and security are disclosed. A computer-implemented method may include receiving transactional data associated with a plurality of user accounts, analyzing the transactional data of the accounts in view of a clustering model, associating each of the accounts with one of multiple peer groups from the clustering model, detecting anomalous account behavior in a peer group in view of a scatteredness score computed for each account in the peer group where each scatteredness score is computed based on a neighborhood of accounts in the peer group determined for each respective account of the peer group, and creating a report comprising account and scatteredness score information for one or more of the accounts in the peer group associated with detected anomalous account behavior.
US09953157B2 Method and apparatus for protecting application program
An application creating apparatus generates first authentication information using an authentication element is provided. The apparatus includes an application module when the application module is created, inserts the first authentication information into the application module, and distributes the application module. A user digital device that executes the application module checks the authentication element and the first authentication information included in the application module, generates second authentication information for the authentication element, and determines whether to execute the application module based on a result of comparison between the first authentication information and the second authentication information.
US09953154B2 Lockable widgets on a mobile device
A software widget running on a user device may be designed to operate in a locked or an unlocked mode. In unlocked mode, the user has full interactivity with the widget. In locked mode, however, at least some of the interactivity with the widget is restricted, despite the fact that the widget still operates normally otherwise while in the locked mode. While in locked mode, first user input and second user input may be compared against a predefined unlocking sequence to determine if the widget should be unlocked.
US09953150B2 Processing method and system for identity authentication with mobile terminal based on iris recognition
A processing method and system for identity authentication with a mobile terminal based on iris recognition is provided. The iris characteristic data of the user is encapsulated as iris identification data, which is further established as a unique identifier of the user for identity authentication. The mobile terminal compares the scanned iris characteristic data of the current user against the prestored iris identification data. When the iris characteristic data of the current user is in match with the prestored iris identification data, the mobile terminal is unlocked. Iris recognition is employed to verify the identity of the user, so as to control unlock the mobile terminal and log into the application.
US09953148B2 System and method for unlocking devices associated with a carrying bag
A system and method for unlocking devices associated with a carrying bag are provided. In example embodiments, biometric information of a user from a biometric reader is received by an authentication system. The biometric reader is located on a pull mechanism of a sliding fastening device for a carrying bag. The user is authenticated by verifying the validity of the biometric information. The authenticated user is associated with the carrying bag. Based on a set of pre-defined permissions, one or more devices associated with the carrying bag are unlocked.
US09953147B2 Computer-implemented system and method for correlating activity within a user interface with special information
A computer-implemented system and method for correlating activity within a user interface with special information is provided. A user interface with data entry fields is provided. One or more of the data entry fields is designated for special information. A first screen shot of the user interface is captured, and a second screen shot of the user interface is captured at a later time. The first and second screen shots are compared. A change comprising at least a portion of an entry within one of the data entry fields for special information in the second screen shot is identified between the first and second screen shots. The entry is rendered unintelligible.
US09953146B2 Mobile communications device providing heuristic security authentication features and related methods
A mobile communications device includes a plurality of first input devices capable of passively collecting input data, a second input device(s) capable of collecting response data based upon a challenge, and a processor capable of determining a level of assurance (LOA) that possession of the mobile communications device has not changed based upon a statistical behavioral model and the passively received input data, and comparing the LOA with a security threshold. When the LOA is above the security threshold, the processor may be capable of performing a given mobile device operation without requiring response data from the second input device(s). When the LOA falls below the security threshold, the processor may be capable of generating the challenge, performing the given mobile device operation responsive to valid response data, and adding recent input data to the statistical behavioral model responsive to receipt of the valid response data.
US09953145B2 Configuration method, configuration device, computer program product and control system
According to an aspect of the invention a configuration method for configuring a host device in a control system is conceived, in particular a building control system, wherein an authorized configuration device exchanges confidential configuration data with a radio frequency identification tag coupled to the host device, wherein, after the confidential configuration data have been exchanged and a corresponding configuration operation has been performed, access to the confidential configuration data by an unauthorized configuration device is precluded. According to further aspects of the invention a corresponding configuration device, a corresponding computer program product and a corresponding control system are conceived.
US09953143B2 Software identifier based correlation
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with software identifier based correlation are described. One example system includes an identifier data store to store a first identifier that uniquely identifies a discovered instance of a software title installed in an enterprise. The first identifier is discoverable from the discovered instance and may be provided by a discovery logic. The second identifier identifies a known instance of a software title associated with the enterprise and is provided from an enterprise resource planning (ERP) data store by an ERP logic. The example system may also include a correlation logic to identify a correlation between the discovered instance and the known instance based on a relationship between the identifiers. The example system may also include an update logic to selectively update a value in the ERP data store based on the correlation.
US09953141B2 Laboratory central control unit method and system
The present disclosure provides a method for coordinating data between a plurality of sample processing systems comprising: providing, using a central control unit, data to a pre-analytical sample processing system identifying a sample undergoing pre-analytical processing, receiving data, at the central control unit, indicating the transfer of the sample to an analytical system, providing, from the central control unit (CCU), data associated with the sample to the analytical system, and receiving a result associated with the sample from the analytical system.
US09953138B2 Drug component admixture library for a drug infusion delivery system
Minimizing improper dosage of a drug admixture (including a single primary drug component and at least one second drug component). For each drug component in the drug admixture, receiving a name of the drug component along with its dosage unit, a maximum dose warning level and a maximum concentration warning level. Receiving a concentration for each of the single primary drug component and the at least one secondary drug component; and a dose setting of only the primary drug component. Automatically calculating a dose of each of the at least one secondary drug component. Generating an alert when: (i) the received dose setting of the primary drug component or calculated dose setting of the at least one secondary drug component exceeds the dose warning level; or (ii) the received concentration of the primary drug component or the at least one secondary drug component exceeds the concentration warning level.
US09953136B2 System for displaying and editing data for a medical device
A system for displaying and editing data for a medical device is provided. The system includes at least one viewing application for execution on a user appliance, which application is set up to display medical image data records that are kept in cloud storage in a public cloud. In respect of its component architecture, the viewing application includes a View layer, a ViewModel layer, a Model layer, and a driver layer. In this case, the ViewModel layer defines a common set of functions for the display and editing of 2D image data and 3D image data.
US09953134B2 Bioinformatics systems, apparatuses, and methods executed on an integrated circuit processing platform
A system, method and apparatus for executing a sequence analysis pipeline on genetic sequence data includes a structured ASIC formed of a set of hardwired digital logic circuits that are interconnected by physical electrical interconnects. One of the physical electrical interconnects forms an input to the structured ASIC connected with an electronic data source for receiving reads of genomic data. The hardwired digital logic circuits are arranged as a set of processing engines, each processing engine being formed of a subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits to perform one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline on the reads of genomic data. Each subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits is formed in a wired configuration to perform the one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline.
US09953133B2 Biological data annotation and visualization
Identification of regions-of-interest within cell maps is disclosed. In certain embodiments, identification of the regions-of interest is based on the use of a plurality of biomarkers, which may be used to generate a multiplexed image of a tissue sample. Based on the identified regions, cells may be extracted and localized sequence data may be generated specific to the regions-of-interest.
US09953131B2 Multi-targeting short interfering RNAs
The present invention relates to novel short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules that are multi-targeted. More specifically, the present invention relates to siRNA molecules that target two or more sequences. In one embodiment, multi-targeting siRNA molecules are designed to incorporate features of siRNA molecules and features of micro-RNA (miRNA) molecules. In another embodiment, multi-targeting siRNA molecules are designed so that each strand is directed to separate targets.
US09953130B2 Systems and methods for detecting structural variants
Systems and method for identifying long deletions can obtain sequencing information for a plurality of amplicons in and around a potential region from a nucleic acid sample. The sequencing information can include a plurality of reads that can be mapped to a reference sequence. Using information, such as where reads map to a reference sequence and relative abundance of reads for the amplicons, structural variants can be identified and a determination can be made if the nucleic acid sample is homozygous or heterozygous for the structural variant.
US09953127B2 Fast freeform source and mask co-optimization method
The present disclosure relates to lithographic apparatuses and processes, and more particularly to tools for optimizing illumination sources and masks for use in lithographic apparatuses and processes. According to certain aspects, the present disclosure significantly speeds up the convergence of the optimization by allowing direct computation of gradient of the cost function. According to other aspects, the present disclosure allows for simultaneous optimization of both source and mask, thereby significantly speeding the overall convergence. According to still further aspects, the present disclosure allows for free-form optimization, without the constraints required by conventional optimization techniques.
US09953126B2 Method of wiring layout, semiconductor device, program for supporting design of wiring layout, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a design method of layout formed by a sidewall method is provided. The method includes: preparing a base pattern on which a plurality of first patterns extending in a first direction and arranged at a first space in a second direction intersecting the first direction and a plurality of second patterns extending in the first direction and arranged at a center between the first patterns, respectively, are provided; and drawing a connecting portion which extends in the second direction and connects two neighboring first patterns sandwiching one of the second patterns, and separating the one of the second patterns into two patterns not contacting the connecting portion.
US09953121B2 Accommodating engineering change orders in integrated circuit design
A computer-implemented method includes identifying an in initial register-transfer-level description for an integrated circuit design and adding one or more spare latches to the initial register-transfer-level description to yield a modified register-transfer-level description for the integrated circuit design. The computer-implemented method further includes performing placement and routing for the modified register-transfer-level description to yield a gate-level description for the integrated circuit design. The one or more spare latches exist in said gate-level description. The computer-implemented method further includes converting at least one of the one or more spare latches in the gate-level description into a reconfigurable latch filler cell to yield a modified gate-level description for the integrated circuit design and finalizing the integrated circuit design. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.
US09953118B2 Modeling method of SPICE model series of SOI FET
The present invention provides a modeling method of a SPICE model series of a Silicon On Insulator (SOI) Field Effect Transistor (FET), where auxiliary devices are designed and fabricated, electrical property data is measured, intermediate data is obtained, model parameters are extracted based on the intermediate data, a SPICE model of an SOI FET of a floating structure is established, model parameters are extracted by using the intermediate data and data of the auxiliary devices, a macro model is complied, and a SPICE model of an SOI FET of a body leading-out structure is established. The modeling method provided in the present invention takes an influence of a parasitic transistor of a leading-out part in a body leading-out structure into consideration, and model series established by using the method can more accurately reflect actual operating conditions and electrical properties of the SOI FET of a body leading-out structure and the SOI FET of a floating structure, thereby improving fitting effects of the models.
US09953116B2 Methods and apparatus for simulating positions of a plurality of objects in a virtual space, controlling method, program and information storage medium
A simulation apparatus which simulates a position of each of a plurality of objects, which move in a virtual space together with time, at each of a plural calculation time is disclosed. The apparatus includes: an object connection block for applying, to each object of each three or more objects contacting with each other at each of the plural calculation time points, a pointer value indicative of a contact destination object with which the object is in contact determining one of the three or more objects as a terminal end to connect the objects; and a pointer value updating block for repeating a pointer value updating process, by which the pointer value of each object is updated to the pointer value of the contact destination object indicated by the pointer value until the pointer values of all of the objects come to indicate the object of the terminal end.
US09953115B2 Method for specifying stretch flange limit strain and method for determining feasibility of press forming
A method for manufacturing a press formed part, the method including specifying stretch flange limit strain in a metal sheet by using strain gradient in a radial direction and strain gradient in a sheet thickness direction. The strain gradient in the radial direction being directed from an end portion of the metal sheet at a time a press load is applied. The strain gradient in the sheet thickness direction being a direction of the metal sheet that intersects a loading direction. Additionally, the stretch flange limit strain satisfies the formula ϵθlim=A[a·Δϵθ/Δr+b·Δϵθ/Δt]+c, where ϵθlim represents the stretch flange limit strain in a tangential direction of the sheet edge, Δϵθ/Δr represents the strain gradient in the radial direction, Δϵθ/Δt represents the strain gradient in the sheet thickness direction, A, a, and b represent influence coefficients, and c represents the limit strain at a time the strain gradient is zero.
US09953113B2 Traffic data management and simulation system
Systems and methods for, inter alia, geographically based analyses of traffic being carried over a wide scale traffic network. The systems integrate geographical information systems (GIS) with traffic simulation processes to allow a user to analyze traffic patterns and loads at specific geographic locations of regions. Additionally, these systems allow for traffic analysis over a wide scale traffic network that may encompass the traffic network that exists within an geographic region and can include, as examples, the traffic networks that span across a city, that interconnect cities, that interconnect states and that run across multiple states. To this end, the systems include traffic simulators that can adaptively or controllably select between multiple traffic simulation models for simulating traffic across different segments of the traffic network. The different models provide varying levels of granularity for measurements of geographical location of a vehicle traveling over the traffic network.
US09953109B2 Object modeling method and apparatus
Provided is a method and apparatus for modeling objects that may include detecting an adjacent area that shares modeled particles of a first object and modeled particles of a second object, calculating an action force between the first object and the second object in the adjacent area based on information stored for grid points of a grid defined with respect to the adjacent area, and modelling the first object and the second object based on the calculated action force.
US09953108B2 Method and system for dynamically manipulating an assembly of objects in a three-dimensional scene of a system of computer-aided design
A computer-implemented method and system of computer-aided design products for dynamically manipulating an assembly of objects in a three-dimensional scene. The system and method provide the assembly of objects with information relative to kinematic joints linking objects of the assembly. The system and method provide a dynamic manipulating tool (DM) embedded in the scene. The DM tool includes a reference with three-axes allowing for each axis a degree of freedom in translation and a degree of freedom in rotation. Next the system and method attach said dynamic manipulating tool (DM) to one object of the assembly, and select a degree of freedom of the dynamic manipulating tool (DM) attached to the object of the assembly. The system/method apply a load according to said selected degree of freedom and calculates and displays in real-time the result of a dynamic simulation of said load applying.
US09953106B2 Dynamic generation of traversal code for a graph analytics environment
Systems, software, and methods are described herein dynamically generate traversal code for a graph analytics environment. In one example, a method of dynamically generating traversal code for a graph analytics environment includes, in one or more processing systems, identifying a query expression for a relational analytics environment. The method further includes generating the traversal code for the graph analytics environment based on the query expression, and executing the traversal code in the graph analytics environment on a graphical database. The method also provides communicating results of the traversal code to the relational analytics environment.
US09953103B2 Client processing for binary XML in a database system
Techniques are provided for encoding/decoding binary XML data in a client program before sending/receiving the XML to/from a database server. By encoding the binary XML at the client, the overhead of parsing the XML text is avoided by the database server, thus improving database server scalability. Also, the XML data is sent by the server to the client in the binary form, and the binary format is decoded by the client program to perform the necessary operations.
US09953102B2 Creating NoSQL database index for semi-structured data
Semi-structured source data is preprocessed to obtain text partitions to be stored into a data table with a first combined primary key including a structure thread primary key and a sequence value primary key. The structure thread primary key identifies a structure thread that is segmented into several consecutive intervals according to a determined or predetermined sequence. An inverted index table, created for the preprocessed text partitions, includes a second combined primary key including the structure thread primary key and a keyword primary key. Corresponding to values of the primary keys in the second combined primary key, related text partition sequence IDs are recorded as index values of the inverted index table. Index values having a same keyword primary key value but different structure thread primary key values are located in different rows in the inverted index table. The present techniques improve query efficiency of database index and facilitate updating.
US09953100B2 Automated runtime command replacement in a client-server session using recorded user events
A method for automatically operating an Oracle Forms application, the method comprising: intercepting, using a Listener component of the Oracle Forms application, a communication between the Oracle Forms application and an Oracle Forms server, and storing the intercepted communication; identifying, in the intercepted communication, data associated with at least one user input field of the Oracle Forms application; replacing, in the intercepted communication, the identified data with new data corresponding to the user input field of the Oracle Forms application, to produce a new communication; and transmitting the new communication to the an Oracle Forms server, using a Dispatcher component of the Oracle Forms application, thereby causing the Oracle Forms application to operate automatically.
US09953098B2 Methods and systems for website editing
A system and method for maintaining a web site is disclosed that includes browsing to a web page to be edited, automatically downloading a source file for the web page including related files associated with display of the web page, editing the source file, and automatically publishing the edited source file to a file transfer server associated with the web site including the related files associated with the display of the web page.
US09953097B2 System and method for managing network traffic routing
A method and system receives at a server a search request and processes the search request to determine a context of the search request, then determines, based on the context, a network route to an application server having the closest geographic proximity, with respect to the server, to the most relevant database associated with the context.
US09953095B1 Enhanced delivery of deidentified production data
Systems and methods for enabling delivery of deidentified production data are described. The production data can include a set of alias records, which include deidentified data, and can be generated from corresponding real records of actual users. Enabling delivery of deidentified production data can include fulfilling production data requests via a production data feed, a bulk request, or other suitable delivery technique.
US09953094B2 Matching method and matching program for matching operational information of users of devices
A matching method includes: accumulating log information indicating histories of operations performed on devices by users; receiving a request for information regarding use of a first device from an information requester being one of the users and using the first device; analyzing log information of the first device from among the log information accumulated in the accumulating; identifying, as an information provider candidate, at least one of the users using a second device by using the log information of the first device analyzed in the analyzing and log information of the second device being of the same type as the first device; notifying the information provider candidate of the request from the information requester; and notifying the information requester of provided information which is information regarding use of the first device and provided by the information provider candidate in response to the request.
US09953092B2 Method and means for data searching and language translation
The invention relates to data searching and translation. In particular, the invention relates to searching documents from the Internet or databases. Even further, the invention also relates to translating words in documents, WebPages, images or speech from one language to the next. A computer implemented method comprising at least one computer in accordance with the invention is characterized by the following steps: receiving a search query including at least one search term, deriving at least one synonym for at least one search term, expanding the received search query with the at least one synonym, searching at least one document using the expanded search query, retrieving the search results obtained with the expanded query, ranking the said search results based on context of occurrence of at least one search term. The best mode of the invention is considered to be an Internet search engine that delivers better search results.
US09953088B2 Crowd sourcing information to fulfill user requests
A user request is received from a mobile client device, where the user request includes at least a speech input and seeks an informational answer or performance of a task. A failure to provide a satisfactory response to the user request is detected. In response to detection of the failure, information relevant to the user request is crowd-sourced by querying one or more crowd sourcing information sources. One or more answers are received from the crowd sourcing information sources, and the response to the user request is generated based on at least one of the one or more answers received from the one or more crowd sourcing information sources.
US09953083B2 System and method for determining an authority rank for real time searching
The present invention is directed towards a method and system for processing a real time increase in search requests for a common event. The method and system includes detecting an activity spike in user search request activity based on monitoring of user search requests over a defined period of time and determining source locations associated with the activity spike based on user search result activities. The method and system further includes associating the source locations with the user search request and thereupon applying a machine-learning model to determine a plurality of common features operative to cause the activity spike, including determining associations between the source locations and the activity spike.
US09953082B2 System for linking diverse data systems
A system creates an abstraction layer surrounding a diverse data system including multiple different databases. Data is received from data sources and ingested into the various databases according to a core model. New instances of the core model are created and added to a larger linked data model (LDM) when new data sources are added to the system. The LDM captures the linkages between different linked data objects and links across different databases. Accordingly, applications are able to access or explore the linked data stored in different databases without prior knowledge of the linking relationships.
US09953072B2 Disaster recovery of mobile data center via location-aware cloud caching
A method for copying first data stored at a primary data center to a secondary data center is provided. The method includes initiating a first replication task to copy the first data from the primary data center to the secondary data center. The method also includes receiving a first portion of the first data from the primary data center via a first access point, wherein a first bandwidth between the primary data center and the first access point is greater than a second bandwidth between the primary data center and the secondary data center. The method further includes storing the first portion of data in a first cache associated with the first access point. The method also includes transmitting the first portion of data from the first cache to the secondary data center. A system and non-transitory computer-readable medium are also provided.
US09953071B2 Distributed storage of data
A file generation system for storage of structured data onto a distributed database includes an intermediate data generation module to generate a set of intermediate key-value pairs for each of one or more records in at least one subset of the structured data. A key-value pair includes a key and a value corresponding to the key, where the key is a unique identifier of the value. A file generation system further includes an intermediate data sorting module to sort the set of intermediate key-value pairs to generate a plurality of output files. Each of the plurality of output files includes at least one key-value pair. Further, the file generation system includes a file storing module to store the plurality of output files in the distributed database, where the plurality of output files are representative of the structured data.
US09953070B1 Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system data extraction, loading, and directing
An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system data extraction, directing, and loading (EDL) method, system, application, and computer program is disclosed having a Data Export Workbench (DEW) application and Data Integrator (DI) application operating within an ERP system environment. The EDL method and system can use existing hardware systems to quickly and efficiently extract, direct, and load any user requested data from an ERP system to predefined and controlled destinations that can be widely accessed by one or more users.
US09953068B1 Computing usage metrics for a content sharing platform
A method for computing usage metrics for a content sharing platform is disclosed. The method includes receiving usage logs of a content sharing platform, the usage logs pertaining to a plurality of events associated with content items of the content sharing platform. The method further includes, for each usage log, identifying an event associated with the usage log, parsing the usage log to identify a set of characteristics for the identified event, obtaining additional information about the identified event based on the set of characteristics, and storing the set of characteristics and the additional information as an event entry for the event. The method also includes storing metadata corresponding to the event separately from the event entry, the metadata to be provided with the event entry to a user upon a user request for information about the event.
US09953067B2 Method and system for processing data in a parallel database environment
An exemplary computer implemented method for processing data in a database management system implemented on a network of two or more nodes is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query referencing first and second user-defined table functions and a table distributed across the two or more nodes. The first user-defined table function is executed on each of the two or more nodes by processing records of the table residing on the respective nodes. A data sample is generated per node as a result of executing the first user-defined table function on each of the two or more nodes. The generated data samples are stored in a selected set of nodes. The second user-defined table function is executed on each of the selected set of nodes by processing records of the data samples residing on the respective nodes of the selected set of nodes to compute a user-defined aggregate.
US09953066B2 Automatically generating and reporting merged performance and capacity statistics
A method and associated system for method for generating performance and capacity statistics that consists of a processor receiving statistical information from a set of monitoring entities that monitor characteristics of one or more computing resources. The processor formats the received statistics for storage in a raw-data repository, then filters and processes the data to extract data items necessary to generate predefined reports and to place the extracted data in a format consistent with historical information. The processor then merges the filtered, formatted data with the historical information to create an integrated history of the characteristics and stores the integrated history in a history repository. This integrated history is automatically translated into reports customized to requirements of particular support, personnel, which are then forwarded to local devices from which the support personnel may select, customize, and review the reports.
US09953065B2 Method for processing a database query
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for processing a query in a database, the query comprising a search value. The database comprises a plurality of datasets the datasets comprising entries, wherein distance statistics are assigned to the datasets. The distance statistics describe the minimum and maximum distance between the values of the entries of a dataset of the plurality of datasets and a reference value. The method comprises determining the distance between the search value and the reference value, said determination resulting in a search distance, determining a subset of datasets from the plurality of datasets for which the search distance is within the limits given by the minimum and maximum distances described by the respective distance statistics, and searching for the search value in the subset of datasets.
US09953063B2 System and method of providing a content discovery platform for optimizing social network engagements
A method is disclosed of providing a providing a content discovery platform for optimizing social network engagements. The method is implemented in one or more servers programmed to execute the method. The method comprising retrieving social media data from registered users on one or more social networks, wherein the social media data includes one or more URLs associated with one or more articles, respectively, computing a social importance score for each URL of the one or more URLs, and ranking the one or more URLs by social importance score.
US09953061B2 Similarity engine for facilitating re-creation of an application collection of a source computing device on a destination computing device
Techniques are disclosed for facilitating re-creation of an application collection of a source computing device at a destination computing device. The techniques include receiving a source application identifier indicative of a source application edition, the edition of the application being programmed for a source operating system. The techniques also include receiving an indicator of a destination operating system. The techniques further include determining a source canonical application corresponding to the source application edition based on the source application identifier, the source canonical application being a representative of one or more application editions including the source application edition. The techniques also include determining a set of destination application editions that are likely similar to the source application edition based on the source canonical application, the set of destination application editions indicating one or more destination application editions programmed for the destination operating system.
US09953057B2 Partitioned join with dense inner table representation
To perform a join operation on database objects, data structures contained in a first database object are distributed across database partitions in accordance with a partitioning scheme. Data structures of the first database object are associated with respective indices computed complementarily to the partitioning scheme. Other indices are computed from the respective data structures of a second database object. The join operation is performed at each of the database partitions on the data structures in the respective first and second database objects having the indices and the other indices in common.
US09953055B1 Systems and methods of generating semantic traffic reports
Systems and methods of this disclosure are directed to optimizing a content selector executing on content selection infrastructure. An entity engine retrieves a search query report with queries corresponding to selected content items of a content campaign and a performance metric for each query. The entity engine determines an entity for each of the queries. A cluster engine generates a first subset of the queries and a second subset of the queries based on the entity for each query. The cluster engine generates a first performance metric for the first subset and a second performance metric for the second subset. An interface displays the first performance metric and the second performance metric. A campaign generator receives a selection of a semantic criterion based on the first subset and updates the content campaign to include the semantic criterion.
US09953054B2 Systems and methods for implementing and maintaining sampled tables in a database system
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided systems and methods for implementing and maintaining sampled tables in a database system. According to a particular embodiment such a system includes a processor and a memory to execute instructions at the system; a database to store database records; a query interface to submit queries to the database and receive results from the database; triggers to initiate a hash function on database insert transactions, the hash function to hash a primary key of each database record to be inserted into the database to determine whether a first hash value of the primary key of the database record to be inserted satisfies a sampling condition; a sample table to store a sample record corresponding to any database record to be inserted into the database which satisfies the sampling condition based on the hash function; a primary key index providing a first index of the primary keys of the sample records stored in the sample table; and an ordered hash index providing a second index on a second hash value corresponding to a second hash of the primary key of the sample records stored in the sample table ordered numerically by the second hash value. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09953052B1 Caching of updated network content portions
Features are disclosed for caching network resources. A system determines whether a resource which does not contain an indication in its associated header that it is cacheable may nevertheless be cached. The determination may be based on observations of a number of requests for the resource over time and from a number of different requesting clients. In response to determining that the resource is cacheable, the system may cache the resource, and in some cases modify the cache control header of resource to facilitate caching. The system may insert fields into the header or otherwise modify the header so that the resource may be cached at a network computing provider, at a requesting client device, or at some other shared or private cache.
US09953042B1 Managing a deduplicated data index
Among other things, in one aspect, in general, a system for managing data in a data storage system includes a plurality of index nodes each storing a map of entries, each entry of the map including an identifier corresponding to a particular portion of data stored in the data storage system, and metadata indicating a location where the particular portion of data is stored in the data storage system, and one or more supernodes configured to return an identification of an index node that recently submitted a request for a particular identifier associated with at least one of the portions of data.
US09953041B2 Long-term data storage service for wearable device data
Methods and apparatus for storing data about biological entities are provided. A computing device can receive a plurality of data items about a biological entity from a plurality of sources. The computing device can verify each data item of the plurality of data items using the computing device by at least: determining a source of the data item from among the plurality of sources, determining a provenance for the data item associated with the source of the data item, and verifying that the data item is associated with the biological entity based at least on the provenance for the data item associated with the source of the data item. After verifying that a particular data item is associated with the biological entity, the computing device can store the particular data item in a data log associated with the biological entity.
US09953036B2 File system monitoring in a system which incrementally updates clients with events that occurred in a cloud-based collaboration platform
Techniques are disclosed for file system monitoring in a system which incrementally updates clients with what occurred in a cloud-enabled platform. In one embodiment, a method comprises, in response to an event which represents that a modification to an item has taken place on the cloud-based platform, identifying whether execution of the event is to violate any local file system rule. The method further comprises, if the execution of the event is to violate any local file system rule, buffering the event until a subsequent event arrives. The method further comprises identifying whether execution of an aggregate of the events is to violate any local file system rule.
US09953029B2 Prediction and optimized prevention of bullying and other counterproductive interactions in live and virtual meeting contexts
Embodiments are directed to a computer implemented counterproductive interaction identification system. The system includes an electronic tool configured to hold data of a user, and an analyzer circuit configured to derive a cognitive trait of the user based at least in part on the data of the user. The system further includes a decision engine configured to determine, based at least in part on the derived cognitive trait of the user, that the user is a target or a source of an actual or an impending counterproductive interaction.
US09953028B2 Cognitive contextualization of emergency management system communications
Software that contextualizes communications during an event by performing the following steps: (i) receiving an input communication from a first user, where the input communication includes input information relating to the event; (ii) receiving first user contextual information, where the first user contextual information pertains to an emotional state of the first user at the time the input communication was received; (iii) determining an output communication based, at least in part, on the received first user contextual information, where the output communication includes output information relating to the event; and (iv) sending the output communication to a first recipient.
US09953026B2 Computer processes for analyzing and suggesting improvements for text readability
Computer-based processes are disclosed for analyzing and improving document readability. Document readability is improved by using rules and associated logic to automatically detect various types of writing problems and to make and/or suggest edits for eliminating such problems. Many of the rules seek to generate more concise formulations of the analyzed sentences, such as by eliminating unnecessary words, rearranging words and phrases, and making various other types of edits. Proposed edits can be conveyed, e.g., through a word processing platform, by changing the visual appearance of text to indicate how the text would appear with (or with and without) the edit.
US09953023B2 Term consolidation for indices
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for consolidating an index entry of a dictionary. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of receiving, by one or more processors, a set of parameters, wherein the set of parameters indicates at least a length of prefix and a length of hash value; receiving, by one or more processors, a first term for entry into an index; converting, by one or more processors, the first term for entry into the index according to the set of parameters; and responsive to determining the converted first term is not present in the index, storing, by one or more processors, the first converted term into the index.
US09953019B2 Document signing using action responsive secure document generation
A system, computer-readable storage medium, and computer-implemented method for improved document signing involving generating secure document copies of a document to be signed in response to receiving actions to perform on the document. In particular, a web service can transmit a document for signing to a plurality of client devices such that the document is viewable through a graphical user interface while the underlying content of the document remains non-editable. Responsive to receiving actions from different client devices, secure document copies of the document can be generated that include additional content form the different client devices.
US09953015B2 Displaying a document file target area based on history of display settings
A document file is displayed on a display device. A first display unit, which is a unit in which the document file is displayed, is divided into a plurality of areas. From the plurality of areas obtained by dividing the first display unit, a first target area viewed by a viewer is identified. In response to the first target area being displayed on the display device shifting from the first display unit to a second display unit, a decision is made whether to use setting information from the display area when the first target area identified by the identification means is displayed, based on a structure of the first display unit and a structure of the second display unit.
US09953011B1 Dynamically paginated user interface
Systems and associated processes for generating user pagination preference data and using that data to generate and/or present network pages are described herein. These systems and processes can dynamically collect data representing a user's preference respecting specific layout determination factors, and can store this data in association with the user. The systems and processes can also make use of that data to provide the user with a personalized user interface which will provide the user with a page layout tailored to that specific user's browsing habits. Moreover, data representing the attributes of the requested content or the user device may further contribute to generating a page layout which optimally displays the requested content to the user. Accordingly, user pagination preference data can potentially both present a more satisfying user interface and elicit more item purchases than existing pagination systems in some embodiments.
US09953010B2 Template-based page layout for hosted social magazines
Page layout of content items from a variety of sources is performed. A content processing system queues content items, such as user-generated blogs, tweets, social networking status updates and other postings, received from a variety of sources. Each content item comprises one or more assets from one or more asset types. The asset types include text, images, and video. A page builder retrieves items from the queue and determines the item's size constraints. A template is selected from a template database to use as a layout for the items on a page; each template has a number of slots into which content can be placed. A layout module lays out the items into the slots of the selected template based on the respective size and aspect ratio constraints of the items, in order to build a page to serve to a client device.
US09953009B1 Systems and methods for templated, configurable, responsive content items
System and methods for displaying one or more assets on a client device based on device characteristics are provided. Code is transmitted to a client device. The code, when executed by the client device, causes a processor of the client device to determine a first device characteristic of the client device. A first layout may be selected based on the first device characteristic. The layout may include one or more cards. Each card may correspond to one or more assets. Each card may be modified based on a corresponding card characteristic. One or more assets may be requested. The assets may be displayed on the first client device. The code may be transmitted to another client device, which may select a different layout based on a different device characteristic.
US09953008B2 Grouping fixed format document elements to preserve graphical data semantics after reflow by manipulating a bounding box vertically and horizontally
Determining relationships between graphical elements in a fixed format document is provided. Graphical element sizes and their relative positions may be analyzed to determine whether two or more graphical elements should be aggregated together or whether the graphical elements should belong to different graphical groups. Graphs and figures comprising objects that are absolutely positioned may be detected, as well as objects where inter-element positions need to be preserved from regular document flow. Additionally, background objects may be differentiated from regular text flow when the objects overlap with text.
US09953001B2 Method, apparatus, and system for plugin mechanism of computer extension bus
Method, apparatus, and system of detecting a hot-plug event. The hot-plug event detection may be done in-band or out-of-band. The in-band detection is performed by a state machine and the out-of-band detection is performed by a logic. A circuitry is to detect a hot-plug event when inserting or removing a device from an extension bus of the plurality of extension bus slots. The circuit is to generate a hot-plug message to notify the hot-plug event. The circuitry including the state machine, the logic and a register to provide at least two bits to mask at least two states of the state machine.
US09952997B2 Method for improving data transmission speed and electronic device implementing the same
A method for improving a data transmission speed and an electronic device implementing the same are provided. The electronic device includes a USB connection unit configured to be connectable to an external electronic device and including designated data reception channels and data transmission channels, a switch unit configured to switch an electrical connection between the data reception channels and data transmission channels, and a control unit configured to confirm device attribute information of the external electronic device that is connected through the USB connection unit and to control the switch unit to switch the electrical connection so that at least one data reception channel functions as a data transmission channel if the connected external electronic device is a display device.
US09952996B2 Devices and methods for providing concurrent superspeed communication and four-lane displayport communication via a USB type-C receptacle
In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides techniques for concurrently exchanging USB 2.0 information, SuperSpeed information, and four lanes of DisplayPort information via a single USB Type-C connection. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished in part by multiplexing signals such as the USB 2.0 signals and the DisplayPort AUX signal to fewer than a standard number of conductors in order to free up other conductors for the third and fourth lanes of DisplayPort information. In some embodiments, a standard USB Type-C receptacle, plug, and cable are used. In some embodiments, a modified receptacle, plug, and/or cable are provided.
US09952991B1 Systematic method on queuing of descriptors for multiple flash intelligent DMA engine operation
In an embodiment of the invention, a method comprises: fetching a first set of descriptors from a memory device and writing the first set of descriptors to a buffer; retrieving the first set of descriptors from the buffer and processing the first set of descriptors to permit a Direct Memory Access (DMA) operation; and if space is available in the buffer, fetching a second set of descriptors from the memory device and writing the second set of descriptors to the buffer during or after the processing of the first set of descriptors. In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises: a fetching module configured to fetch a first set of descriptors from a memory device and to write the first set of descriptors to a buffer; a sequencer configured to retrieve the first set of descriptors from the buffer and to process the first set of descriptors to permit a Direct Memory Access (DMA) operation; and wherein if space is available in the buffer, the fetching module is configured to fetch a second set of descriptors from the memory device and to write the second set of descriptors to the buffer during or after the processing of the first set of descriptors.
US09952988B2 Direct access to a hardware device for virtual machines of a virtualized computer system
In a virtualized computer system in which a guest operating system runs on a virtual machine of a virtualized computer system, a computer-implemented method of providing the guest operating system with direct access to a hardware device coupled to the virtualized computer system via a communication interface, the method including: (a) obtaining first configuration register information corresponding to the hardware device, the hardware device connected to the virtualized computer system via the communication interface; (b) creating a passthrough device by copying at least part of the first configuration register information to generate second configuration register information corresponding to the passthrough device; and (c) enabling the guest operating system to directly access the hardware device corresponding to the passthrough device by providing access to the second configuration register information of the passthrough device.
US09952979B1 Methods and systems for direct memory access operations
Systems and methods for a direct memory access (DMA) operation are provided. The method includes receiving a host memory address by a device coupled to a computing device; storing the host memory address at a device memory by a DMA engine; receiving a packet at the device for the computing device; instructing the DMA engine by a device processor to retrieve the host memory address from the device memory; retrieving the host memory address by the DMA engine without the device processor reading the host memory address; and transferring the packet to the computing device by a DMA operation.
US09952976B2 Allowing non-cacheable loads within a transaction
A computer allows non-cacheable loads or stores in a hardware transactional memory environment. Transactional loads or stores, by a processor, are monitored in a cache for TX conflicts. The processor accepts a request to execute a transactional execution (TX) transaction. Based on processor execution of a cacheable load or store instruction for loading or storing first memory data of the transaction, the computer can perform a cache miss operation on the cache. Based on processor execution of a non-cacheable load instruction for loading second memory data of the transaction, the computer can not-perform the cache miss operation on the cache based on a cache line associated with the second memory data being not-cached, and load an address of the second memory data into a non-cache-monitor. The TX transaction can be aborted based on the non-cache monitor detecting a memory conflict from another processor.
US09952974B2 Preservation of modified cache data in local non-volatile storage following a failover
A dual-server based storage system maintains a first cache and a first non-volatile storage (NVS) in a first server, and a second cache and a second NVS in a second server, where data in the first cache is also written in the second NVS and data in the second cache is also written in the first NVS. In response to a failure of the first server, a determination is made as to whether space exists in the second NVS to accommodate the data stored in the second cache. In response to determining that space exists in the second NVS to accommodate the data stored in the second cache, the data is transferred from the second cache to the second NVS.
US09952969B1 Managing data storage
There are disclosed techniques for use in managing data storage in a data storage system which comprise a data storage device and a cache memory. In one example, a method comprises the following steps. An I/O request is received and a durability requirement of the I/O request data associated with the I/O request is determined. Based on the durability requirement of the I/O request data, the I/O request data is classified. The classified I/O request data is stored in the cache memory.
US09952968B2 Methods and system for maintaining data coherency in distributed data cache network
Techniques for distributed cache management are provided. A server having backend resource includes a global cache and a global cache agent. Individual clients each have client cache agents and client caches. When data items associated with the backend resources are added, modified, or deleted in the client caches, the client cache agents report the changes to the global cache agent. The global cache agent records the changes and notifies the other client cache agents to update a status of the changes within their client caches. When the changes are committed to the backend resource each of the statuses in each of the caches are updated accordingly.
US09952965B2 Test self-verification with integrated transparent self-diagnose
A method, program product, and computer system is provided for test case self-validating. A probe builder, instruments one or more source code modules with a test probe. The test probe placement is based on at least one criterion including: an application program interface (API), a component, a test case name, a product release, and a product feature. The probe builder registers the test probe in a probe database. The registered test probe has record in the probe database that includes a probe identifier, a probed command, a probed file name, a line number, the test case name, and a location of an executable binary containing the test probe. The probe builder compiles the instrumented source code modules into one or more binary executable modules. The test case generator creates a test case that includes at least one registered test probe. The test case validator validates the test case.
US09952961B2 Assessing risk of software commits to prioritize verification resources
A computer-implemented method and system for assessing risk of a software program and software updates to a program to prioritize verification resources, which includes receiving code for a software product for a testing assessment. The code is analyzed according to a risk assessment criteria, and the risk assessment criteria includes risk assessment factors. The risk assessment factors for the code are weighted as part of the criteria. A risk assessment score of the code is determined based on the criteria. Testing resources are allocated in response to the risk assessment score.
US09952960B1 Method and apparatus for analyzing hazard of elevator control software, and computer readable recording medium
A method of analyzing a hazard of a software control system which is operated by a computer and based on STPA (System Theoretic Process Analysis) is provided. The method includes determining an attribute and function demands of the system, analyzing tasks of the system based on the determined attribute and the function demands, generating specification of a relation between the tasks using CTT (Concur Task Tree) method, the CTT method representing a hierarchical relation of a control flow between the tasks, determining at least one of the hazard of the system based on the specification and generating a safety constraint of the system based on the determined hazard. The determining at least one of the hazard of the system uses a guide word mapping table of CTT based STPA.
US09952959B2 Variadic argument serialization of process events
A logging tool running on a computing device serializes system and application events. The logging tool analyzes a logging stream from a process to identify if the logging stream includes a formatting instruction. The logging tool identifies at least one argument associated with the formatting instruction, and serializes the formatting instruction and the at least one argument by recording, to a buffer, the formatting instruction and the at least one argument without formatting the logging stream.
US09952954B2 Multicore processor system having an error analysis function
A method for operating a multi-core processor system, wherein different of a program are each executed simultaneously by a different respective processor core of the multi-core processor system includes inserting a breakpoint in a first of the threads for interrupting the first processor core and instead executing an exception handling routine. At least one processor core to be additionally interrupted is determined with the exception handling routine on the basis of an association matrix, and an inter-processor interrupt (IPI) is sent to the at least one processor core by the exception handling routine in order to interrupt the at least one processor core.
US09952951B2 Preserving coredump data during switchover operation
One or more techniques and/or computing devices are provided for preserving coredump data. A first storage controller, of a first storage cluster, may have a disaster recovery relationship with a second storage controller of a second storage cluster. When the first storage controller fails, the first storage controller performs a coredump process to dump memory contents of the first storage controller into a storage device. During implementation of the coredump process, the first storage controller stores a storage device identifier of the storage device into a disk mailbox. Upon detecting the failure, the second storage controller reads the storage device identifier from the disk mailbox. The second storage controller performs a switchover operation to change ownership of storage devices, but excluding the storage device used by the coredump process, from the first storage controller to the second storage controller for providing clients with failover access to the storage devices.
US09952945B2 Electronic equipment including storage device
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a nonvolatile memory, controller and interface. The nonvolatile memory stores data. The controller controls the operation of the nonvolatile memory. The interface includes first and second input/output units that transmit and receive a signal with respect to a host device. The first and second input/output units are set on the first hierarchy having the same communication function. The interface issues a connection request to the first input/output unit and when the connection request to the first input/output unit is rejected, the interface issues the connection request to the second input/output unit.
US09952942B2 System for distributed data processing with auto-recovery
Embodiments enable distributed data processing with automatic caching at multiple system levels by accessing a master queue of data processing work comprising a plurality of data processing jobs stored in a long term memory cache; selecting at least one of the plurality of data processing jobs from the master queue of data processing work; pushing the selected data processing jobs to an interface layer including (i) accessing the selected data processing jobs from the long term memory cache; and (ii) saving the selected data processing jobs in an interface layer cache of data processing work; and pushing at least a portion of the selected data processing jobs to a memory cache of a first user system for minimizing latency in user data processing of the pushed data processing jobs.
US09952941B2 Elastic virtual multipath resource access using sequestered partitions
Technologies for virtual multipath access include a computing device configured to sequester a recovery partition from a host partition while allowing the recovery partition to access one or more resources of the host partition such as host memory or data storage. A remote computing device determines whether the host partition is responsive. The recovery partition receives a request for host state data of the host partition from the remote computing device in response to a determination that the host partition is not responsive. The recovery partition retrieves the requested host state data using a host state index maintained by the host partition and transmits the requested host state data to the remote computing device. The host state index may identify the location of the requested host state data. The remote computing device may perform a recovery operation based on the received host state data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09952940B2 Method of operating a shared nothing cluster system
Operating a shared nothing cluster system (SNCS) in order to perform a backup of a data element. The SNCS includes at least a first and a second storage node connected via a first network of the SNCS. The first and second storage nodes are configured to store a first set and a second set of blocks, respectively, in which the first and second set of blocks form a single data element. A backup server is connected to the first and second storage nodes, and the backup server includes a backup information table. The first and second storage nodes are configured to act as backup clients in a client-server configuration involving the backup server, upon receiving at the first and the second storage nodes a request to backup the data element. For each node of the first and second storage nodes, the node identifies one or more block sequences of consecutive blocks in a set of blocks of the data element stored in the node. The node sends the identified one or more block sequences to the backup server, and generates backup information.
US09952934B2 Synchronizing selected portions of data in a storage management system
Disclosed methods and systems leverage resources in a storage management system to partially synchronize primary data files based on synchronizing selected portions thereof without regard to changes that may be occurring in other non-synchronized portions. Accordingly, a number of primary data files may be partially synchronized by synchronizing designated portions thereof via auto-restore operations from backup data. This approach relies on storage management resources to designate portions of source data that is to be kept synchronized across any number of targets; detect changes to the designated portions; back up changes to secondary storage; and distribute the changes from secondary storage to the associated targets, with minimal impact to the primary data environment. The approach may be mutually applied, so that changes in any one of an associated group of source data files may be likewise detected, backed up, and distributed to the other members of the group.
US09952932B2 Clustered fault tolerance systems and methods using load-based failover
A computer implemented method for providing fault tolerance to a plurality of instances in a system including a plurality of surviving instances includes: determining, for each of the surviving instances, an aggregate load by: retrieving a job load of each job assigned to the respective surviving instance; and summing the job loads of all of the jobs assigned to the respective surviving instance; and selecting to recover and perform, by one of the surviving instances, an orphaned job based upon the aggregate loads of the surviving instances.
US09952925B2 Error code calculation on sensing circuitry
Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for error code calculation. The apparatus can include an array of memory cells that are coupled to sense lines. The apparatus can include a controller configured to control a sensing circuitry, that is coupled to the sense lines, to perform a number of operations without transferring data via an input/output (I/O) lines. The sensing circuitry can be controlled to calculate an error code for data stored in the array of memory cells and compare the error code with an initial error code for the data to determine whether the data has been modified.
US09952919B2 Semantic deduplication
In order to reduce data traffic in a network, a master node sends master data to at least one checking instance. The master data are checked by the checking instance. In the absence of errors, either the master data or slave data determined by the slave node are sent by the checking instance to the data-processing unit. When an error is recognized, all master data and slave data available at the checking instance are sent by the checking instance to the data-processing unit.
US09952915B2 Event processing development environment
Embodiments described herein are directed to methods, and systems for generating event processing language code in a development environment using an event processing compiler. A query in event processing language is received in a development environment. The query can be associated with sample data from input files or an input data source. An event processing compiler compiles the query, where the compiler transforms the query from event processing language code to a development environment script language code. In particular, the event processing language code transforms the code based on event processing attributes that are intricately aligned in syntax and semantic between the event processing language and the development environment script language. The query as a development environment script is executed using sample data. Executing the query generates output comprising final results data, intermediate results data, and provides for display warnings when mismatches exist between the results data and output specifications.
US09952909B2 Multiple service classes in a shared cloud
In various exemplary embodiments, a system, article of manufacture, and method for providing, a cloud computing infrastructure on a system infrastructure comprising, a first virtual computing environment associated with a first class of service, the first class of service defining, in one embodiment, a first set of obligations, restrictions, and/or capabilities; providing, in the same cloud, a second virtual computing environment associated with a second class of service, the second class of service defining a second set of obligations, restrictions, and/or capabilities different from those of the first class of service; and executing the first virtual computing environment according to the first class of service and the second virtual computing environment according to the second class of service, the first virtual computing environment having a different access to the hardware platform than the second virtual environment based on the respective class of service.
US09952907B2 Method and apparatus for managing data
A method and apparatus for managing data is provided, including determining one or more network services associated with user-uploaded data stored in a database, and linking the user-uploaded data with the one or more network services to provide the user-uploaded data via the one or more network services.
US09952906B1 Performance of a local device by using processing results from a remote device when a processing threshold is exceeded
A native environment on a local device and a virtual environment on a server device linked to the native device over a network can concurrently execute. The concurrently executing can share state information to keep activities between both environments substantially time-synched. The native environment can be a user-machine interactive environment of a machine-to-user interactive interface. The native environment can perform stand-alone operation without appreciable end-user experience degradation. A process in the native environment requiring an excessive quantity of processing cycles can be detected. The native environment can not perform the processing using resources of the native environment. The virtual environment can perform the process and synchronize the result to the native environment, thereby permitting the native environment to continue to function as if the process was performed by the native environment.
US09952895B2 Implementing pseudo non-masking interrupts behavior using a priority interrupt controller
A method is provided for handling interrupts in a processor, the interrupts including regular interrupts having a range of priorities and a pseudo non-maskable interrupt (PNMI) that is of a higher priority than any of the regular interrupts. The method includes the steps of obtaining an interrupt vector corresponding to a received interrupt, and if the received interrupt is a regular interrupt, enabling interrupts in the processor so that a PNMI can be received while handling the regular interrupt, executing a regular interrupt handler using the interrupt vector, and disabling interrupts in the processor. On the other hand, if the received interrupt is a PNMI, a PNMI interrupt handler is executed using the interrupt vector as an input thereto.
US09952894B1 Parallel query processing
Systems and methods are disclosed for distributing an in-memory data store over a plurality of independent data partitions. For example, the method includes associating each of the plurality of independent data partitions with at least one of a plurality of processing units such that one or more data sets in a corresponding each of the plurality of independent data partitions are processed by the at least one of the plurality of processing units. A query execution engine is provided for causing the plurality of processing units to execute, in parallel, a series of queries to the plurality of independent data partitions.
US09952893B2 Spreadsheet model for distributed computations
A spreadsheet model is employed to facilitate distributed computations. Spreadsheets and cells are generalized to correspond to arbitrary data sources that can be remote from each other, among other things. Functions can be specified with respect to these arbitrary data sources to produce combinations of data or mashups, for example, wherein changes initiate re-computation with respect to dependent data sources.
US09952889B2 Connection management
In one embodiment, a system for managing communication connections in a virtualization environment, comprises a plurality of host machines implementing a virtualization environment, wherein each of the host machines comprises a hypervisor, at least one user virtual machine (UVM), a connection agent, and an I/O controller; and a virtual disk comprising a plurality of storage devices, the virtual disk being accessible by all of the I/O controllers, wherein the I/O controllers conduct I/O transactions with the virtual disk based on I/O requests received from the UVMs, and wherein, for each of the host machines: each of the UVMs on the host machine sends its respective I/O requests to a selected one of the I/O controllers, and for each of the UVMs on the host machine, the connection agent on the host machine selected one of the I/O controllers for the UVM based on a list of the available I/O controllers.
US09952883B2 Dynamic determination of hardware
According to the invention, a method for determining what hardware components are installed on a computing device is disclosed. The method may include identifying the computing device, and determining, based on the computing device, a hardware component of the computing device. The method may also include retrieving information about the hardware component, and setting, based at least in part on the information about the hardware component, a parameter for an algorithm of software on the computing device.
US09952882B2 Integrated task items launcher user interface for selecting and presenting a subset of task items based on user activity information
Methods, systems, and machine-readable media include identifying a plurality of task items associated with a user. The plurality of task items includes a plurality of task types. They also include selecting a subset of the plurality of task items based on user activity information. The subset of task items includes at least two different task types. They also include providing a launcher user interface for display to the user on a computing device. The launcher user interface includes a plurality of elements corresponding to the selected subset of task items arranged on a single surface. The plurality of elements is selectable to launch respective applications associated with the corresponding task items.
US09952880B2 Wake up system for electronic device
A wake up system for electronic device includes a detecting circuit, an amplifier circuit, a switch circuit, and a south bridge chip. The detecting circuit detects an ambient temperature change as a result of the physical proximity of a user, converts the temperature change to a weak voltage signal, and amplifies the voltage signal for the first time. The amplifier circuit receives the amplified voltage signal and amplifies the voltage signal for the second time. The switch circuit receives the voltage signal that is amplified for the second time, and outputs a wake up signal when the voltage signal amplified for the second time is greater than a turn-on voltage. The south bridge chip receives the wake up signal, and wakes up the electronic device accordingly.
US09952876B2 Optimize control-flow convergence on SIMD engine using divergence depth
There are provided a system, a method and a computer program product for selecting an active data stream (a lane) while running SPMD (Single Program Multiple Data) code on SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) machine. The machine runs an instruction stream over input data streams. The machine increments lane depth counters of all active lanes upon the thread-PC reaching a branch operation. The machine updates the lane-PC of each active lane according to targets of the branch operation. The machine selects an active lane and activates only lanes whose lane-PCs match the thread-PC. The machine decrements the lane depth counters of the selected active lanes and updates the lane-PC of each active lane upon the instruction stream reaching a first instruction. The machine assigns the lane-PC of a lane with a largest lane depth counter value to the thread-PC and activates all lanes whose lane-PCs match the thread-PC.
US09952875B2 Microprocessor with ALU integrated into store unit
A superscalar pipelined microprocessor includes a register set defined by an instruction set architecture of the microprocessor, execution units, and a store unit, coupled to the cache memory and distinct from the other execution units of the microprocessor. The store unit comprises an ALU. The store unit receives an instruction that specifies a source register of the register set and an operation to be performed on a source operand to generate a result. The store unit reads the source operand from the source register. The ALU performs the operation on the source operand to generate the result, rather than forwarding the source operand to any of the other execution units of the microprocessor to perform the operation on the source operand to generate the result. The store unit operatively writes the result to the cache memory.
US09952874B2 Operation of a multi-slice processor with selective producer instruction types
Operation of a multi-slice processor including execution slices and load/store slices, where the load/store slices are coupled to the execution slices via a results bus and the results bus includes segments assigned to carry results of a different instruction type, includes: receiving a producer instruction that includes an identifier of an instruction type and an identifier of the producer instruction, including storing the identifier of the instruction type and the identifier of the producer instruction in an entry of a register; receiving a source instruction dependent upon the result of the producer instruction including storing, in an issue queue, the source instruction, the identifier of the instruction type of the producer instruction, and an identifier of the producer instruction; and snooping the identifier of the producer instruction only from the segment of the results bus assigned to carry results of the instruction type of the producer instruction.
US09952871B2 Controlling execution of instructions for a processing pipeline having first out-of order execution circuitry and second execution circuitry
An apparatus comprises a processing pipeline comprising out-of-order execution circuitry and second execution circuitry. Control circuitry monitors at least one reordering metric indicative of an extent to which instructions are executed out of order by the out-of-order execution circuitry, and controls whether instructions are executed using the out-of-order execution circuitry or the second execution circuitry based on the reordering metric. A speculation metric indicative of a fraction of executed instructions that are flushed due to a mis-speculation can also be used to determine whether to execute instructions on first or second execution circuitry having different performance or energy consumption characteristics.
US09952870B2 Apparatus and method for bias-free branch prediction
An apparatus and method for filtering biased conditional branches in a branch predictor in favor of non-biased conditional branches are disclosed. Biased conditional branches, which are consistently skewed toward one direction or outcome, are filtered such that an increased number of non-biased conditional branches which resolve in both directions may be considered. As a result, more useful branches may be captured over larger distances, thereby providing correlations deeper in a global history. In addition, by tracking only the latest occurrences of non-biased conditional branches using a recency stack structure, even more distant branch correlations may be made.
US09952869B2 System and method for using a branch mis-prediction buffer
A system and method is provided for executing a conditional branch instruction. The system and method may include a branch predictor to predict one or more instructions that depend on the conditional branch instruction and a branch mis-prediction buffer to store correct instructions that were not predicted by the branch predictor during a branch mis-prediction.
US09952868B2 Two-pass cache tile processing for visibility testing in a tile-based architecture
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a graphics processing system. The graphics processing system includes a screen-space pipeline and a tiling unit. The screen-space pipeline is configured to perform visibility testing and fragment shading. The tiling unit is configured to determine that a first set of primitives overlaps a first cache tile. The tiling unit is also configured to first transmit the first set of primitives to the screen-space pipeline with a command configured to cause the screen-space pipeline to process the first set of primitives in a z-only mode, and then transmit the first set of primitives to the screen-space pipeline with a command configured to cause the screen-space pipeline to process the first set of primitives in a normal mode. In the z-only mode, at least some fragment shading operations are disabled in the screen-space pipeline. In the normal mode, fragment shading operations are enabled.
US09952859B2 Method and system to provide user-level multithreading
A method and system to provide user-level multithreading are disclosed. The method according to the present techniques comprises receiving programming instructions to execute one or more shared resource threads (shreds) via an instruction set architecture (ISA). One or more instruction pointers are configured via the ISA; and the one or more shreds are executed simultaneously with a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor includes multiple instruction sequencers.
US09952858B2 Computer readable storage media and methods for invoking an action directly from a scanned code
Systems and methods for performing functions are disclosed herein. An example non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may store one or more programs, and the one or more programs may comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to obtain a scanned code, analyze the scanned code to identify a direct action associated with the scanned code, and automatically invoke the one or more functions corresponding to the direct action. The direct action may include sending instructions or data or both to another computing device.
US09952856B2 Deploying mobile applications in a collaborative cloud environment
The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a lightweight deployment of mobile cloud applications. A computer-implemented method comprises: receiving, at a server and from a remote client device, a first request to create a frame for the application; storing, by the server, the frame of the application in a repository; generating, by the server, an identifier associated with the frame and the repository; initiating, by the server, a copying of the repository to a workspace; and receiving, by the repository or the workspace and from the remote client, a pushing command including the identifier to update the frame stored in the repository or the workspace with application data associated with a created, modified or deleted version of the application.
US09952852B2 Automated deployment and servicing of distributed applications
Deployment and servicing tasks associated with multi-tier, distributed applications, application environments and data centers are automated so that a person does not have to manually perform these tasks. All of the information describing and defining the distributed service is modeled and stored in a re-useable service template that can be used to drive an automated system to programmatically deploy and manage the service over time. Deployment and servicing of a distributed application can be automated using re-useable models that capture hardware and workload definitions. The re-useable models in the form of service templates enable delta-based servicing of the application. The service can be deployed to one or more physical machines, one or more virtual machines or to a combination thereof. A default deployment plan can be customized with instance-specific customizations of service parameters.
US09952849B2 Apparatus, information processing system, method for processing information, and program
An apparatus includes an installing unit configured to acquire a program from an information processing apparatus coupled to a network and install the acquired program on the apparatus, an acquiring unit configured to acquire setup information applied to the apparatus at an installing destination, to which the program is installed, the acquiring unit acquiring first setup information sent to the information processing apparatus from the apparatus or another apparatus before installing the program, and an applying unit configured to apply the first setup information to the apparatus in response to installing of the program.
US09952848B2 Dependency-aware transformation of multi-function applications for on-demand execution
A mobile device includes a user interface allowing a user to enter search parameters. A query wrapper module generates a query wrapper based on the entered search parameters. A search system communication module transmits the query wrapper to a search system and receives a set of results from the search system. A first result corresponds to a first applet. A results presentation module displays the set of results to the user. An access mechanism module, in response to the user selecting the first result, selectively triggers an applet request to be sent to an applet distribution system. The applet request instructs the applet distribution system to transmit the first applet to the mobile device. The first applet includes native code for execution on an operating system of the mobile device. The first applet from the applet distribution system is executed.
US09952843B2 Partial program specialization at runtime
A solution is proposed for implementing staging in computer programs and code specialization at runtime. Even when values are not known at compile time, many of the values used as parameters for a code section or a function are constant, and are known prior to starting the computation of the algorithm. Embodiments of the claimed subject matter propagate these values just before execution in the same way a compiler would if they were compile time constant, resulting in improved control flow and significant simplification in the computation involved.
US09952839B2 Layout management in a rapid application development tool
The present application discloses systems, computer-readable media, and methods for aligning widgets and groups of widgets, and defining relationships between the widgets and groups of widgets. In a first case, a most significant sub-component border determination may be made for each widget. Then, a grouping relationship determined between each of a plurality of the widgets. Finally, for each widget in each determined group, the widgets may be aligned based on the determined most significant sub-component border of each widget in the group. In a second case, connections between widgets, groups of widgets, and/or edges of a page are determined, and an algorithm applied to infer whether a relationship exists, and if it does, to determine whether the relationship is one of a fixed-distance relationship and a proportional-distance relationship.
US09952838B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating a visual overlay
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating a visual overlay are disclosed. According to one exemplary method for generating a visual overlay, the method includes providing a graphical user interface (GUI) window including one or more user interface (UI) elements. The method also includes receiving user input via interaction with the UI elements. The method further includes in response to receiving the user input, generating and displaying a visual overlay in at least a portion of the GUI window, wherein the visual overlay includes at least one dynamic UI element that includes one or more characteristics determined using the user input.
US09952837B1 Reusable component in a modeling environment
A system and method supports reusing model components or component artifacts in a first modeling environment where the model components or artifacts were created in a second environment. An interface to the model components or artifacts from the first modeling environment is analyzed, and compared to an interface from the second environment. A wrapper object is constructed to convert between differences identified among the two interfaces. Utilizing the wrapper object, the model components or component artifacts are reused in the second environment.
US09952831B1 Transposing in a matrix-vector processor
A circuit for transposing a matrix comprising reversal circuitry configured, for each of one or more diagonals of the matrix, to receive elements of the matrix in a first vector and generate a second vector that includes the elements of the matrix in an order that is a reverse of an order of the elements of the matrix in the first vector, and rotation circuitry configured, for each of the one or more diagonals of the matrix, to determine a number of positions by which to rotate the elements of the matrix in the second vector, receive the second vector of elements of the matrix, and generate a third vector that includes the elements of the matrix in the second vector in an order that is a rotation of the elements of the matrix in the second vector by the determined number of positions.
US09952825B2 Audio processing algorithms
Examples described herein involve determining an audio processing algorithm for a playback device to apply when playing audio content in a playback zone. Determining the audio processing algorithm may involve causing the playback device to play a first audio signal in the playback zone, receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. Based on the second audio signal and a characteristic of the playback device, an audio processing algorithm may be determined. The audio processing algorithm may be calculated, or identified in a database based on an acoustic characteristic of the playback zone. The acoustic characteristic of the playback zone may be determined based on the second audio signal and the characteristic of the playback device. The audio processing algorithm may then be applied by the playback device.
US09952819B2 Method and system of automated generation of user form interface
A system and method is disclosed for carrying out an automatic generating of user interfaces in the form of dynamically changing screen forms. The method includes accessing object metadata relating to a user interface, loading a logical description for the user interface based on the metadata, retrieving functional options related to the metadata and determining requirements for at least one additional change to the user interface based on the functional options and retrieving access rights available for a user of the user form interface. The method further includes using a forms engine to organize form elements based on predefined criteria and automatically generating visual description data based on the logical description, the functional options, the access rights available to the user and user settings. Furthermore, the visual description data is provided to a client device that customizes the user form interface based on display setting of the client device.
US09952816B2 Data processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium
A data processing apparatus to acquire a job from an external apparatus via a network and process the job includes a storage unit, a selection unit, and a processing unit. The job includes a data and setting information to process the data. The storage unit stores a plurality of processing modules. The selection unit selects a plurality of processing modules to be used in processing the data, from the plurality of processing modules, based on setting information included in the job. The processing unit causes the selected plurality of processing modules to sequentially perform processing on the data. In a case where processing is to be sequential performed by a first processing module and then a second processing module included in the selected plurality of processing modules, the processing unit inputs information processed by the first processing module into the second processing module.
US09952813B2 Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing print control program and print control apparatus
Provided is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a print control program which, when being executed by a processor of a print control apparatus, causes the print control apparatus to perform the following processing. The processing includes, obtaining specific information about a document file or an image processing apparatus; determining whether to conduct or skip an analysis of a file structure of the document file, on a basis of the specific information; and conducting or skipping the analysis in accordance with a result of the determining. The processing further includes, converting the document file into variable print data in response to receiving a result of the analysis; on conducting the analysis, outputting the variable print data to the image processing apparatus; and on skipping the analysis, outputting the document file to the image processing apparatus.
US09952810B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
An information processing system includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a storage apparatus that stores user identification information of a user in association with identification information of at least one of the information processing apparatuses that stores bibliographic information of output data associated with the user. Each of the information processing apparatuses includes a receiving unit that receives output data to be output by a device; a storage unit that stores the received output data and corresponding bibliographic information in association with user identification information of a user; an information acquisition unit that acquires from the storage unit of the information processing apparatus that is associated with the user that is using the device in the storage apparatus, the corresponding bibliographic information associated with the user identification information of the user; and a first transmitting unit that transmits the acquired bibliographic information to the device.
US09952808B2 File system block-level tiering and co-allocation
Embodiments of the invention relate to intra-block organized storage placement. One embodiment includes obtaining a file in a file system. The file is separated into multiple blocks. The multiple blocks are separated into at least two correlated sub-blocks. Intra-file block organized storage placement on different memory devices is determined for the at least two correlated sub-blocks in a file system metadata layout.
US09952806B2 Mapping table loading method and memory storage apparatus
A mapping table loading method and a memory storage apparatus are provided. The method includes: receiving a plurality of first read commands comprising a plurality of first logical units; executing a first logical-physical mapping table pre-loading operation to read a plurality of mapping information corresponding to the first logical units in a logical-physical mapping table from a rewritable non-volatile memory module to a first buffer area of a buffer memory according to a first executing sequence of the first read commands if the first logical units are not continuous logical addresses; and reading data belonging to the first logical units from physical erasing units to the first buffer area according to the mapping information of the first logical units, and replacing the mapping information of the first logical units in the first buffer area by the data belonging to the first logical units.
US09952792B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for storage device workload detection using power consumption
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for storage device workload detection using power consumption are disclosed. One aspect of the subject matter described herein includes a storage device. The storage device includes non-volatile storage. The storage device further includes a device controller for controlling access to the non-volatile storage. A power management controller separate from the device controller senses an indication of power used by at least one of the non-volatile storage and the device controller, compares the sensed indication of power to at least one threshold, and, in response to a predetermined relationship between the sensed indication of power and the at least one threshold, signals the device controller of a workload state of the storage device.
US09952790B2 Application security policy actions based on security profile exchange
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first host, a security profile related to a first data socket descriptor indicating risk to data security of a second host. The method also includes, in response to the risk indicated by the security profile, performing by the first host, at least one action selected from a group of actions. The group of actions includes a cache flush on a cache of the first host according to a cache flush policy, cache locking on data stored in the cache of the first host, data redaction on data of a payload prior to being sent by the first host, memory locking of data stored in an in-memory database of the first host, and encryption of data stored in the in-memory database of the first host or encryption of selected data fields of a payload prior to being sent from the first host.
US09952789B2 Memory systems and electronic devices including nonvolatile memory modules
A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory module and a memory controller. The nonvolatile memory module includes a plurality of memory chips and a module controller disposed on a printed circuit board. The module controller controls operations of the plurality of memory chips. Each of the plurality of memory chips includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and operates in an operation mode. The operation mode is either a memory mode or a storage mode. The memory controller performs a write operation and a read operation on the nonvolatile memory module, and performs a first error check and correction (ECC) operation on data communicated with the nonvolatile memory module. One of the module controller or the plurality of memory chips performs a second ECC operation on data stored in the plurality of memory chips based on the operation mode of the plurality of memory chips.
US09952788B2 Method and apparatus for providing a shared nonvolatile memory system using a distributed FTL scheme
One embodiment of the present invention discloses a shared non-volatile memory (“NVM”) system using a distributed flash translation layer (“FTL”) scheme capable of facilitating data storage between multiple hosts and NVM devices. A process of shared NVM system includes an NVM management module or memory controller able to receive a request from a host for reserving a write ownership. The write ownership allows a host to write information to a portion of storage space in an NVM device. Upon identifying availability of the write ownership associated with the NVM device in accordance with a set of predefined policy stored in the NVM management module, the request is granted to the host if the write ownership is available. The host is subsequently allowed to fetch the FTL snapshot from the NVM device for the write operation.
US09952785B2 Enabling non-volatile random access to data
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, computer program product and a system for enabling non-volatile random access to data where in response to receiving data from a client, causing the data to be written into a memory of a primary virtual machine and a memory of a mirror virtual machine; and in response to the primary virtual machine losing the data, recovering the data based on data in the memory of the mirror virtual machine.
US09952783B2 Data processing method and apparatus, and shared storage device
A data processing method and apparatus, and a shared storage device, where the method includes receiving, by a shared storage device, a copy-on-write request sent by another storage device, where the copy-on-write request includes data on which copy-on-write is to be performed and a logical unit identifier and snapshot time point of the data; storing the data; and searching, according to the logical unit identifier and snapshot time point of the data, a preset shared mapping table for a corresponding entry, and storing, in the corresponding entry, mapping entry information of the data, where the mapping entry information includes the logical unit identifier and snapshot time point of the data and a storage address that is of the data and in the shared storage device, which can improve efficiency of snapshot data processing.
US09952782B1 Method and system for accessing data between different virtual disk formats in a virtualization environment
An architecture for accessing data between different virtual disk formats. A virtual machine may be migrated or cloned from a first server that uses a first virtual disk format to a second server using a second virtual disk format. In response to an I/O request from the virtual machine, a real-time mapper compares the virtual disk format used by the virtual machine with the virtual disk format of the virtual disk that the request is directed to. If the formats are different, a set of mapping metadata is used to map between data of the different virtual disk formats. Due to the mapping being performed in real time, the virtual machine is able to operate upon the virtual disk without the need to perform a potentially costly format conversion of the virtual disk or the underlying data.
US09952781B2 Adaptive storage reliability management
A storage controller identifies a storage location within a storage division that corresponds to a high error rate. In response, the storage controller may refresh data stored on the storage division by relocating data from the storage division and/or initializing (e.g., erasing) the storage division. In some embodiments, the storage division is selectively refreshed by relocating data from the storage location(s) having high error rates, while deferring a full relocation of other data from the storage division. The storage division may be selectively refreshed based on reliability characteristics of the storage division, such as the remaining data retention time calculated for the storage division.
US09952779B2 Parallel scheduling of write commands to multiple memory devices
A controller includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with multiple memory devices over a link. The processor is configured to select at least first and second memory devices for writing, and to write at least first and second data units in sequence to the first memory device over the link, while avoiding writing to any of the other memory devices until transferal of the at least first and second data units over the link has been completed, to write at least one data unit to the second memory device after transferring the at least first and second data units to the first memory device, and, in response to verifying that the first memory device is ready to receive subsequent data, to write to the first memory device at least a third data unit.
US09952774B2 Hierarchical pre-fetch pipelining in a hybrid memory server
A method, hybrid server system, and computer program product, prefetch data. A set of prefetch requests associated with one or more given datasets residing on the server system are received from a set of accelerator systems. A set of data is prefetched from a memory system residing at the server system for at least one prefetch request in the set of prefetch requests. The set of data satisfies the at least one prefetch request. The set of data that has been prefetched is sent to at least one accelerator system, in the set of accelerator systems, associated with the at least one prefetch request.
US09952766B2 Memory system, including memory device capable of overwrite operation, and method of operating the memory system
A memory device capable of performing an overwrite operation, a memory system, and a method of operating the memory system are provided. The method includes receiving one or more write requests, a logical address and data corresponding to the one or more write requests; comparing a result of analyzing at least one of the received one or more write requests, logical address, and data with a threshold value; and writing data using a first update method or a second update method, based on a result of the comparison. When the first update method is selected, the data are written in a region indicated by a physical address corresponding to the logical address according to address mapping information. When the second update method is selected, information of the physical address corresponding to the logical address is changed, and the data are written in a region indicated by the changed physical address.
US09952765B2 Transaction log layout for efficient reclamation and recovery
A layout of a transaction log enables efficient logging of metadata into entries of the log, as well as efficient reclamation and recovery of the log entries by a volume layer of a storage input/output (I/O) stack executing on one or more nodes of a cluster. The transaction log is illustratively a two stage, append-only logging structure, wherein the first level is non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) embodied as a NVlog and the second stage is disk, e.g., solid state drive (SSD). During crash recovery, the log entries are examined for consistency and scanned to identify those entries that have completed and those that are active, which require replay. The log entries are walked from oldest to newest (using sequence numbers) searching for the highest sequence number. Partially complete log entries (e.g., log entries in-progress when a crash occurs) may be discarded for failing a checksum (e.g., a CRC error). Old value/new value logs may be used to implement roll-forward or roll-back semantics to replay the log entries and fix any on-disk data structures, first from NVRAM and then from on-disk logs.
US09952762B2 Tactile interface system for manipulation of a touch screen
An interface system that allows for tactile manipulation of a touch screen for people with disabilities and which provides appropriate tactile marking for the action they wish to carry out and that may afford a sensation that a button is being pressed to a user, is provided. The system includes a touch screen and a tactile button assembly that extends over at least a portion of the touch screen. The tactile button assembly includes tactile buttons with tactile indicia that can be felt by a user. The tactile buttons are arranged with respect to the touch screen so that when a tactile button is pressed by a user, a contact end of the tactile button contacts a button on the touch screen to perform a predetermined task associated with pressing such button on the touch screen.
US09952756B2 Dynamic adjustment of a user interface
Apparatuses, methods and storage media for user interface adjustment are described. In one instance, an apparatus may include a processor and a user interface engine operated by the processor to detect a user interface to be provided on a computing device, with the user interface including at least one user interface component, identify one or more color characteristics of an image to be used as a background for the user interface, and adjust one or more color parameters of the at least one user interface component of the user interface or the background image identified, based at least in part on the identified color characteristics of the background image, or the at least one user interface component of the user interface. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09952750B2 Managing a drop-down menu having a set of items corresponding with a set of data
A computer implemented method for managing a widget is disclosed. The widget can include a drop-down menu. The method can include opening the drop-down menu having a set of items corresponding with a set of data. The method can also include updating the set of items dynamically in the opened drop-down menu in response to a change in the set of data. The method can also include processing a selected item from the updated set of items in the opened drop-down menu.
US09952747B1 Updating data fields in a user interface
Disclosed are various implementations for updating information displayed in a user interface containing structured data fields. Information changing relative to a previous user interface is emphasized. Information remaining unchanged relative to the previous user interface can be deemphasized.
US09952744B2 Crowdsourced determination of movable device location
The locations of electronic devices in an institutional facility are determined based on crowdsourced location reporting by users in an institutional setting and responding to device location queries.
US09952738B1 Creation and display of dynamic content component based on a target user accessing a website
In some embodiments, a method includes determining a content type in response to a user accessing a webpage and further based on a user attribute. In some embodiments, the user attribute may be related to a business organization that the user belongs to. In some embodiments, the method may further include determining relevant content to be displayed based on the determined content type, and transmitting webpage data including the relevant content for rendering on a device as a graphical user interface (GUI). In some embodiments, a method comprises of receiving a request to create a dynamic content component and identifying content to be displayed therein. In some embodiments, the method may further comprises customizing a look and feel of the dynamic content component based on the user attributes, and generating a code to display the dynamic content component in response to the user accessing a webpage.
US09952737B2 Single layer touch sensor
Embodiments described herein provide capacitance sensing devices and methods for forming such devices. The capacitance sensing devices include a substrate having a central and an outer portion. A plurality of substantially co-planar electrodes are on the central portion substrate. A first plurality of conductors are on the substrate. Each of the first plurality of conductors has a first end portion electrically connected to one of the plurality of electrodes and a second end portion on the outer portion of the substrate. An insulating material is coupled to the second end portions of the first plurality of conductors. A second plurality of conductors are coupled to the insulating material. Each of the second plurality of conductors is electrically connected to the second end portion of at least some of the first plurality of conductors and is insulated from the second end portion of the others of the first plurality of conductors.
US09952735B2 Sensor-equipped display device
A sensor-equipped display device is provided and includes a display panel and a detection electrode. The panel includes a display area in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix, each of unit pixels including subpixels. The electrode includes conductive line fragments arranged on a detection surface, and is configured to detect a contact of an object to the surface. The detection electrode has an electrode pattern formed of the line fragments on a grid defined by first and second lines. Extending directions of the first and second lines are tilted based on a first and second unit length of the unit pixel in the first and second direction.
US09952732B2 Capacitive touch device, capacitive communication device and communication system
There is provided a capacitive touch device including a touch panel, a detection circuit and a processing unit. The touch panel includes a plurality of drive electrodes and a plurality of receiving electrodes configured to form a coupling electric field with an external touch panel, and the receiving electrodes are respectively configured to output a detection signal. The detection circuit is coupled to one of the receiving electrodes and configured to modulate the detection signal with two signals to generate two detection components. The processing unit is configured to obtain a phase value according to the two detection components to accordingly decode transmission data.
US09952731B2 Touch screen and touch display electronic device
A touch screen and a touch display electronic device are provided. The touch screen includes a substrate; and an auxiliary electrode layer, a common electrode layer and a wire layer arranged on a same side of the substrate. The common electrode layer and the wire layer are arranged opposite to each other in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The common electrode layer includes multiple common electrode blocks having a same shape and a same area; each of the common electrode blocks includes a central electrode and sawtooth-shaped electrodes connected to the central electrode; and the sawtooth-shaped electrodes of any two adjacent common electrode blocks are fitted with each other. The wire layer includes multiple first wires connected to the multiple common electrode blocks. The auxiliary electrode layer includes multiple auxiliary electrode blocks. The sawtooth-shaped electrodes adjacent to edges of the substrate are fitted with the auxiliary electrode blocks.
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