Document Document Title
US09966512B2 Light scattering and conversion plate for LEDs
The invention relates to an illumination system having a light scattering and conversion plate comprising a non-converting but scattering layer and a thinner converting layer. By separating scattering and conversion, the characteristics of the illumination system can greatly be increased.
US09966508B2 Methods for fabricating quantum dot polymer films
The addition of a chain transfer agent (CTA) or a reversible-addition fragmentation chain transfer agent (RAFT CTA) such as (2-(dodecyl-thiocarbonothioylthio)-2-methylpropionic acid) during the formation of quantum dot polymer films yields films characterized by high and stable quantum yields.
US09966501B2 Light emitting device with high efficiency
A light emitting device includes a substrate including gallium nitride, and a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate, the semiconductor layer including an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer disposed on the n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the active layer, in which an angle defined between a crystal growth plane of the substrate and an m-plane thereof is in a range of 3.5° to 6.
US09966500B2 Semiconductor optical device and display device
A semiconductor optical device includes: a ridge stripe structure portion 20 in which a first compound semiconductor layer 31, an active layer 32, and a second compound semiconductor layer 32 are stacked and which has a first end surface 21 which emits light and a second end surface 22 opposite to the first end surface 21; and a current regulation region 41 provided to be adjacent to at least one of ridge stripe adjacent portions 40 positioned at both sides of the ridge stripe structure portion 20, at the second end surface side, and to be away from the ridge stripe structure portion 20. A bottom surface of the current regulation region 41 is under the active layer 33, and a top surface of the ridge stripe adjacent portion 40 excluding the current regulation region 41 is above the active layer 33.
US09966498B2 Method for manufacturing light-emitting element
A method for manufacturing a light-emitting element, including steps of: providing a wafer-level element including a wafer and a light-emitting stack on the wafer, wherein the wafer including an upper surface and a bottom surface, and light-emitting stack is formed on the upper surface of the wafer; forming a light-emitting stack on the upper surface of the wafer; cutting the wafer from one of the bottom surface or the top surface of the wafer by a water-jet laser having a first beam size; cutting the wafer from the other one of the bottom surface or the upper surface of the wafer by the water-jet laser having a second beam size; and dividing the wafer-level element wafer and the light-emitting stack into a plurality of light-emitting dies.
US09966495B2 Transparent conductive layer and transparent electrode comprising the same
Disclosed are a transparent conductive layer and a transparent electrode comprising the same, and in particular, a zinc oxide-based transparent conductive layer having a textured surface, wherein the textured surface has protrusions, each protrusion having a ridge forming an arc in its protruding direction, or having an apex at an edge thereof such that two ridges forms an obtuse angle of 90° or more. The transparent conductive layer is manufactured by sputtering only without wet etching.
US09966494B2 Method for manufacturing a polycrystalline silicon ingot
A method for manufacturing a polycrystalline silicon ingot includes steps of: a) melting a silicon material in a container disposed in a thermal field to form a molten silicon; b) controlling the thermal field to provide heat to the molten silicon from above the container and to solidify a portion of the molten silicon contacting a base part and at least a portion of a wall part proximate to the base part of the container to form a solid silicon crystalline isolation layer; and c) controlling the thermal field to continuously provide heat to the rest of the molten silicon from above the container and to solidify the rest of the molten silicon gradually from a bottom to a top of the rest of the molten silicon to form a polycrystalline silicon ingot.
US09966493B2 Opto-electronic modules and methods of manufacturing the same and appliances and devices comprising the same
Manufacturing opto-electronic modules (1) includes providing a substrate wafer (PW) on which detecting members (D) are arranged; providing a spacer wafer (SW); providing an optics wafer (OW), the optics wafer comprising transparent portions (t) transparent for light generally detectable by the detecting members and at least one blocking portion (b) for substantially attenuating or blocking incident light generally detectable by the detecting members; and preparing a wafer stack (2) in which the spacer wafer (SW) is arranged between the substrate wafer (PW) and the optics wafer (OW) such that the detecting members (D) are arranged between the substrate wafer and the optics wafer. Emission members (E) for emitting light generally detectable by the detecting members (D) can be arranged on the substrate wafer (PW). Single modules (1) can be obtained by separating the wafer stack (2) into separate modules.
US09966490B1 Ultraviolet sensor and method of manufacturing the same
An ultraviolet sensor comprises a glass substrate, a semiconductor structure, an electrode layer and a thin film metallic glass. The semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor seed layer formed on the glass substrate and a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures formed on the semiconductor seed layer. The electrode layer is formed between the semiconductor seed layer and the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures. The thin film metallic glass is in contact with the semiconductor structure, wherein an interface between the thin film metallic glass and the semiconductor structure forms a Schottky barrier junction to inhibit dark current and increase signal-to-noise ratio.
US09966489B2 Overheat protection device, overheat protection method and electrical device
The present disclosure provides an overheat protection device, an overheat protection method and an electrical device. The overheat protection device is used in an electrical device and includes a transparent window unit and an optically-controlled switch. The transparent window unit is made of a transparent material and arranged on a housing of the electrical device, and an inner surface of the transparent window unit is coated with a thermochromatic material film. The optically-controlled switch is arranged inside the housing of the electrical device and exposed to an ambient light beam through the transparent window unit. The optically-controlled switch is configured to turn off the electrical device when a spectrum of the received light beam is within a predetermined spectral range.
US09966488B2 Optical film with quantum dots embedded in nano patterns, a preparation method thereof and solar cell comprising the same
By virtue of a structure in which patterns have protuberances with a cone-shaped structure and quantum dots are embedded in the protuberances, an optical film prevents the reflection of light, and converts light in the near ultraviolet wavelength region to a range of wavelengths a solar cell can absorb the light, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of a device.
US09966483B2 Semiconductor nanowire antenna solar cells and detectors
Patterning planar photo-absorbing materials into arrays of nanowires is demonstrated as a method for increasing the total photon absorption in a given thickness of absorbing material. Such a method can provide faster, cheaper, and more efficient photo-detectors and solar cells. A thin nanowire can absorb many more photons than expected from the size of the nanowire. The reason for this effect is that such nanowires support cylindrical particle resonances which can collect photons from an area larger than the physical cross-section of the wire. These resonances are sometimes referred to as Mie resonances or Leaky Mode Resonances (LMRs). The nanowires can have various cross section shapes, such as square, circle, rectangle, triangle, etc.
US09966482B2 Solar cell module and preparing method of the same
A solar cell module according to the embodiment includes a back electrode layer formed on a top surface of a support substrate and including a first groove; a light absorbing layer formed on the back electrode layer and including a third groove; a front electrode layer formed on the light absorbing layer and including the third groove; and a wavelength conversion material formed in at least one of the first and third grooves.
US09966481B2 Shielded electrical contact and doping through a passivating dielectric layer in a high-efficiency crystalline solar cell, including structure and methods of manufacture
Solar cell structures and formation methods which utilize the surface texture in conjunction with a passivating dielectric layer to provide a practical and controllable technique of forming an electrical contact between a conducting layer and underlying substrate through the passivating dielectric layer, achieving both good surface passivation and electrical contact with low recombination losses, as required for high efficiency solar cells. The passivating dielectric layer is intentionally modified to allow direct contact, or tunnel barrier contact, with the substrate. Additional P-N junctions, and dopant gradients, are disclosed to further limit losses and increase efficiency.
US09966476B2 Semiconductor memory device having first and second floating gates of different polarity
A semiconductor memory device includes a first floating gate and a second floating gate of conductivity types with different polarities. Injection of electrons into the first floating gate via a tunnel insulating film is stored through a decrease in holes in a valence band of the second floating gate, and ejection of electrons from the first floating gate via the tunnel insulating film is stored through an increase in holes in the valence band of the second floating gate.
US09966474B2 Thin film transistor having oxide semiconductor layer
Oxide layers which contain at least one metal element that is the same as that contained in an oxide semiconductor layer including a channel are formed in contact with the top surface and the bottom surface of the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby an interface state is not likely to be generated at each of an upper interface and a lower interface of the oxide semiconductor layer. Further, it is preferable that an oxide layer, which is formed using a material and a method similar to those of the oxide layers be formed over the oxide layers Accordingly, the interface state hardly influences the movement of electrons.
US09966472B2 Electronic device, stacked structure, and manufacturing method of the same
A stacked structure includes: an insulating substrate; a graphene film that is formed on the insulating substrate; and a protective film that is formed on the graphene film and is made of a transition metal oxide, which is, for example, Cr2O3. Thereby, at the time of transfer of the graphene, polymeric materials such as a resist are prevented from directly coming into contact with the graphene and nonessential carrier doping on the graphene caused by a polymeric residue of the resist is suppressed.
US09966471B2 Stacked Gate-All-Around FinFET and method forming the same
A device includes a first semiconductor strip, a first gate dielectric encircling the first semiconductor strip, a second semiconductor strip overlapping the first semiconductor strip, and a second gate dielectric encircling the second semiconductor strip. The first gate dielectric contacts the first gate dielectric. A gate electrode has a portion over the second semiconductor strip, and additional portions on opposite sides of the first and the second semiconductor strips and the first and the second gate dielectrics.
US09966467B2 Integrated circuit and code generating method
An integrated circuit and a code generating method are described. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of field effect transistors, a plurality of sense-amplifiers, and a processing circuit. Each field effect transistor is configured to represent an address in a mapping table and includes a source, a drain, a channel and a gate. Each sense-amplifier is connected to the drain and configured to sense an electric current from the drain and identify a threshold voltage of the corresponding field effect transistor. The processing circuit is configured to categorize each of the threshold voltages identified by the corresponding sense-amplifiers into a first state and a second state and mark the state of each of the threshold voltages at the corresponding address in the mapping table.
US09966465B1 Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device is provided. The non-volatile memory device includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a charge trapping layer, a ferroelectric material layer, and a gate layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate, the charge trapping layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer, the ferroelectric material layer is disposed on the charge trapping layer, and the gate layer is disposed on the ferroelectric material layer.
US09966464B2 Method of forming a semiconductor structure having integrated snubber resistance
A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a source trench in a drift region, the source trench having a source trench dielectric liner and a source trench conductive filler surrounded by the source trench dielectric liner, a source region in a body region over the drift region. The semiconductor structure also includes a patterned source trench dielectric cap forming an insulated portion and an exposed portion of the source trench conductive filler, and a source contact layer coupling the source region to the exposed portion of the source trench conductive filler, the insulated portion of the source trench conductive filler increasing resistance between the source contact layer and the source trench conductive filler under the patterned source trench dielectric cap. The source trench is a serpentine source trench having a plurality of parallel portions connected by a plurality of curved portions.
US09966462B2 Guard rings for cascode gallium nitride devices
Implementations of semiconductor devices may include: a plurality of drain fingers and a plurality of source fingers interdigitated with one another; at least one gate; and at gate bus formed to completely surround the plurality of drain fingers and the plurality of source fingers; wherein the gate bus is mechanically and electrically coupled to the at least one gate.
US09966460B2 Switching device
A switching device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first element range and an ineffective range. First trenches extend in a first direction across the first element range and the ineffective range. Second trenches are provided in each inter-trench region within the first element range and are not provided within the ineffective range. A gate electrode is disposed in the trenches. No contact hole is provided in an interlayer insulating film within the ineffective range. The first metal layer covers the interlayer insulating film. The insulating protective film covers a portion of the first metal layer on its outer peripheral side within the ineffective range. The second metal region is in contact with the first metal layer within an opening of the insulating protective film, and is in contact with a side surface of the opening.
US09966451B1 Integrated structures
Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. Recesses extend into the conductive levels. The conductive levels have projections above and below the recesses. The projections have outer edges. An outer periphery of an individual conductive level is defined by a straight-line boundary extending from the outer edge of the projection above the recess in the individual conductive level to the outer edge of the projection below the recess in the individual conductive level. A depth of the recess is defined as a horizontal distance from the straight-line boundary to an innermost periphery of the recess. The recesses have depths of at least about 5 nm. Charge-blocking regions extend within the recesses. Charge-storage structures are along the charge-blocking regions. Gate dielectric material is along the charge-storage structures. Channel material is along the gate dielectric material.
US09966446B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
There is provided a semiconductor device to enhance operating characteristics by reducing parasitic capacitance between a gate electrode and other nodes. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate including an active region, and a field region directly adjacent to the active region; a first fin-type pattern protruding from the substrate in the active region; a first gate electrode disposed on the substrate, intersecting with the first fin-type pattern and including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion intersecting with the first fin-type pattern; a second gate electrode disposed on the substrate, intersecting with the first fin-type pattern and including a third portion and a fourth portion, the fourth portion facing the second portion, and the third portion intersecting with the first fin-type pattern and facing the first portion; a first interlayer insulating structure disposed between the first portion and the third portion, being on the substrate, and having a first dielectric constant; and a second interlayer insulating structure disposed between the second portion and the fourth portion, being on the substrate, and having a second dielectric constant which is different from the first dielectric constant.
US09966445B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes first, a second, and third semiconductor layers respectively made of a nitride semiconductor and stacked on a substrate, a drain electrode formed on the third semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the third semiconductor layer, and a source electrode formed within an opening penetrating the third and second semiconductor layers and exposing the first semiconductor layer. The source electrode includes a first conductor layer in contact with the first semiconductor layer, and a second conductor layer stacked on the first conductor layer and in contact with the second semiconductor layer. A work function of a material forming the first conductor layer is smaller than that of a material forming the second conductor layer.
US09966442B2 Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, inverter circuit, driving device, vehicle, and elevator
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a silicon carbide layer, a silicon oxide layer including carbon, the silicon oxide layer including single bonds between carbon atoms which are at least a part of the carbon, the number of the single bonds between carbon atoms being greater than the number of double bonds between carbon atoms which are at least a part of the carbon, and a region provided between the silicon carbide layer and the silicon oxide layer, the region including at least one element from the group consisting of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), and lanthanoids (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu).
US09966441B2 Semiconductor device with two-dimensional electron gas
A semiconductor device, including a first nitride semiconductor layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a band gap width larger than or equal to a band gap width of the first nitride semiconductor layer, first, second, and third electrodes provided on the second nitride semiconductor layer, an insulation layer provided on the second nitride semiconductor layer and between the first and second electrodes, and a conductor provided within the insulation layer between the second and third electrodes and connecting the second and third electrodes to each other, or the conductor provided within the insulation layer between the first and second electrodes and connecting the first and second electrodes to each other, the conductor including a plurality of conductive regions arranged in a first direction from the first electrode toward the second electrode, the conductive regions being electrically connected to one another.
US09966439B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method for same, crystal, and manufacturing method for same
A semiconductor device or a crystal that suppresses phase transition of a corundum structured oxide crystal at high temperatures is provided. According to the present invention, a semiconductor device or a crystal structure is provided, including a corundum structured oxide crystal containing one or both of indium atoms and gallium atoms, wherein the oxide crystal contains aluminum atoms at least in interstices between lattice points of a crystal lattice.
US09966438B2 Method of doped germanium formation
Implementations described herein generally relate to methods and systems for depositing layer on substrates, and more specifically, to methods for forming boron or gallium-doped germanium on silicon-containing surfaces. In one implementation, a method of processing a substrate is provided. The method comprises exposing a substrate having an exposed silicon-germanium surface and an exposed dielectric surface to a pre-treatment process, selectively depositing a boron-doped or a gallium-doped layer on the exposed silicon-germanium surface and exposing the substrate to a post-treatment process.
US09966436B2 Semiconductor device with non-linear surface
A semiconductor device includes a first channel having a first linear surface and a first non-linear surface. The semiconductor device includes a first dielectric region surrounding the first channel. The semiconductor device includes a second channel having a third linear surface and a third non-linear surface. The semiconductor device includes a second dielectric region surrounding the second channel. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode surrounding the first dielectric region and the second dielectric region.
US09966435B2 Body tied intrinsic FET
A novel semiconductor transistor is presented. The semiconductor structure has a MOSFET like structure, with the difference that the device channel is formed in an intrinsic region, so as to effectively decrease the impurity and surface scattering phenomena deriving from a high doping profile typical of conventional MOS devices. Due to the presence of the un-doped channel region, the proposed structure greatly reduces Random Doping Fluctuation (RDF) phenomena decreasing the threshold voltage variation between different devices. In order to control the threshold voltage of the device, a heavily doped poly-silicon or metallic gate is used. However, differently from standard CMOS devices, a high work-function metallic material, or a heavily p-doped poly-silicon layer, is used for an n-channel device and a low work-function metallic material, or heavily n-doped poly-silicon layer, is used for a p-channel FET. Doped or insulating regions are used to increase the control on the channel conductivity.
US09966434B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a plurality of transistor devices formed thereon, at least an epitaxial structure formed in between the transistor devices, and a tri-layered structure formed on the epitaxial structure. The epitaxial structure includes a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, and a lattice constant of the second semiconductor material is larger than a lattice constant of the first semiconductor material. The tri-layered structure includes an undoped epitaxial layer, a metal-semiconductor compound layer, and a doped epitaxial layer sandwiched in between the undoped epitaxial layer and the metal-semiconductor compound layer. The undoped epitaxial layer and the doped epitaxial layer include at least the second semiconductor material.
US09966432B2 Semiconductor devices including an etch stop pattern and a sacrificial pattern with coplanar upper surfaces and a gate and a gap fill pattern with coplanar upper surfaces
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices. A semiconductor device includes a metal gate electrode stacked on a semiconductor substrate with a gate insulation layer disposed therebetween, spacer structures disposed on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the metal gate electrode, source/drain regions formed in the semiconductor substrate at the both sides of the metal gate electrode, and an etch stop pattern including a bottom portion covering the source/drain regions and a sidewall portion extended from the bottom portion to cover a portion of sidewalls of the spacer structures, in which an upper surface of the sidewall portion of the etch stop pattern is positioned under an upper surface of the metal gate electrode.
US09966427B2 Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor with an electrode scheme for improved manufacturability and reliability
A method for manufacturing a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor with a top electrode that is free of sidewall damage is provided. A bottom electrode layer is formed with a first material. An inter-electrode dielectric layer is formed over the bottom electrode layer. A top electrode layer is formed over the inter-electrode dielectric layer and without the first material. A first etch is performed into the top electrode layer and the inter-electrode dielectric layer to form a top electrode. A second etch into the bottom electrode layer to form a bottom electrode. The present application is also directed towards a MIM capacitor resulting from performing the method.
US09966424B2 Organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode display device includes a substrate, a pixel structure, and a wiring pattern. The substrate includes a plurality of pixel regions each having sub-pixel regions and a transparent region. The pixel structure is disposed in the sub-pixel region on the substrate. The wiring pattern is disposed in the transparent region and the sub-pixel region on the substrate, and is electrically connected to the pixel structure. The wiring pattern extends in a first direction that is from the transparent region into the sub-pixel region, and has at least one opening in the transparent region.
US09966423B2 OLED substrate, manufacturing method thereof, OLED display panel and electronic equipment
The embodiments of the present invention provide an OLED substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, an OLED display panel and an electronic equipment. The OLED substrate and the manufacturing method thereof provided by the embodiments of the present invention apply a transparent first cathode and a reflective second cathode, realizing top emitting and bottom emitting in a first region covered by electronic elements and a second region other than the first region respectively, increasing the light emitting area and the aperture ratio of pixels, thereby realizing double-sided display of OLED display device.
US09966421B2 Light-emitting element having picture elements
A display device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements aligned on a TFT substrate in a formation of a matrix. The plurality of light-emitting elements each have a flat surface portion and including a light-emitting layer, an anode, and a cathode, an insulating layer formed on the TFT substrate and under the light emitting element, and a tilted metal surface provided on a peripheral area surrounding the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element and having a tilt angle with respect to the flat surface portion of the light-emitting element. The tilted metal surface is provided on a surface of a slope of a bank that is provided on the insulation layer, and a width of a cross-section of the bank becomes smaller as the cross section conies farther away from a surface of the TFT substrate. A counter substrate is placed on the TFT substrate.
US09966420B2 Display devices and methods of manufacturing display devices
A display device includes a substrate with a major surface and a cover opposing the substrate. An array of light emitting pixels is disposed over a generally central portion of the major surface, and interposed between the substrate and the cover. A seal is disposed over a peripheral portion of the substrate, and interposed between and interconnecting the substrate and the cover. Between the seal and the substrate, a lower insulation layer, an upper insulation layer, and a structure located between the lower and upper insulation layers and including at least one metal layer. The upper insulation layer includes an uneven top surface. A contour of the uneven top surface of the upper insulation layer may conform with or follow that of the top uneven surface of the structure. The seal contacts and is bonded to the uneven top surface of the upper insulation.
US09966412B2 Method for reducing optical cross-talk in image sensors
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of micro-lenses disposed on the substrate, each micro-lens being configured to direct light radiation to a layer beneath the plurality of micro-lenses. The device further includes a transparent layer positioned between the plurality of micro-lenses and the substrate, the transparent layer comprising a structure that is configured to block light radiation that is traveling towards a region between adjacent micro-lenses, wherein the structure and the transparent material are coplanar at respective top surfaces and bottom surfaces thereof.
US09966410B1 Image sensor circuit and image sensing method
An image sensor circuit, comprises: a photo sensing circuit including a photo sensitive device for sensing a light signal to generate a photo sensing signal at a photo sensing output node; a charge storage device, coupled to an integration node; an integration switch coupled between the photo sensing output node and the integration node, operating according to an integration control signal; and a reset circuit coupled between a voltage supply and the integration node, operating according to a reset control signal and a read control signal, wherein the integration node includes an integration voltage. In a reset time period, the integration switch is conductive, and the reset circuit generates a reset signal on the integration node to bias the photo sensitive device through the integration switch to an active state and to charge the charge storage device such that the integration voltage is determined to be at a reset level.
US09966408B1 Image sensor with inverted source follower
A method of image sensor fabrication includes forming a photodiode and a floating diffusion in a first semiconductor material, and removing part of an oxide layer disposed proximate to a seed area on a surface of the first semiconductor material. The method also includes depositing a second semiconductor material over the surface of the first semiconductor material, and annealing the first semiconductor material and second semiconductor material. A portion of the second semiconductor material is etched away to form part of a source follower transistor, and dopant is implanted into the second semiconductor material to form a first doped region, a third doped region, and a second doped region. The second doped region is laterally disposed between the first doped region and the third doped region, and the second doped region is a channel of the source follower transistor.
US09966406B2 Semiconductor devices including back-side integrated circuitry
Semiconductor devices may include a semiconductor substrate comprising at least one of transistors and capacitors may be located at an active surface of the semiconductor substrate. An imperforate dielectric material may be located on the active surface, the imperforate dielectric material covering the at least one of transistors and the capacitors. Electrically conductive material in contact openings may be electrically connected to the at least one of transistors and capacitors and extend to a back side surface of the semiconductor substrate. Laterally extending conductive elements may extend over the back side surface of the semiconductor substrate and may be electrically connected to the conductive material in the contact openings. At least one laterally extending conductive element may be electrically connected to a first transistor or capacitor and may extend laterally underneath a second, different transistor or capacitor to which the laterally extending conductive element is not electrically connected.
US09966405B2 Method and apparatus for image sensor packaging
A device having a sensor die with a sensor and a control circuit die with at least one control circuit disposed therein, the control circuit die on the sensor die. A plurality of mounting pads is disposed on a second side of the sensor die. A first electrical connection connects a first one of the plurality of mounting pads to a first control circuit of the at least one sensor control circuit and a second electrical connection connects the first control circuit to the sensor. A third electrical connection connects the sensor to a second control circuit of the at least one control circuit and a fourth electrical connection connects the second control circuit to second one of the plurality of mounting pads.
US09966403B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus to suppress flare and ghosts
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section having a light-receiving portion for receiving light from an object to image the object; and a substrate on which the imaging section is disposed, wherein a predetermined member provided on the substrate in the neighborhood of the light receiving portion is partially or entirely coated in black.
US09966402B2 Solid-state imaging device
The present invention intends to provide a solid-state imaging device having minimum production costs and high detection accuracy. A solid-state imaging device includes a first optical layer that transmits visible light and at least a part of near-infrared light, a second optical layer that absorbs at least a part of the near-infrared light and a pixel array that includes a first light-receiving element that detects the visible light transmitted through the first optical layer and the second optical layer and a second light-receiving element that detects the near-infrared light transmitted through the first optical layer, in which the second optical layer has an opening at a part corresponding to the second light-receiving element, the first optical layer includes a compound (A) having at least one absorption maximum at the wavelength of from 750 to 900 nm,the second optical layer includes a compound (B) having at least one absorption maximum at the wavelength of from 755 to 1050 nm, an absorption maximum wavelength on a longest wavelength side of the compound (B) is larger than an absorption maximum wavelength on the longest wavelength side of the compound (A), and a difference between both is from 5 to 150 nm.
US09966401B2 Package for image sensor with outer and inner frames
A semiconductor package according to the inventive concepts includes an image sensor chip mounted on a substrate, a first holder disposed on an edge area of the image sensor chip, a second holder disposed laterally spaced apart from the image sensor chip on an edge area of the substrate, a molding part provided in a gap region between the first holder and the second holder on the substrate, and a transparent cover disposed on the first holder and the molding part.
US09966397B2 Pixel, pixel array, image sensor including pixel array, and method of driving pixel array having a capacitor
Provided are a pixel, a pixel array, an image sensor including the pixel array, and a method of driving the pixel array. The pixel includes a photoelectric converter, a capacitor, and a switching element. The capacitor accumulates electric charges converted by the photoelectric converter. The switching element outputs a potential of the capacitor. The switching element includes a transfer switching element transferring the electric charges, converted in the photoelectric converter, to the capacitor. The capacitor serves as a storage through multi-clocking of the transfer switching element.
US09966396B2 High dynamic range image sensor with reduced sensitivity to high intensity light
An image sensor includes first and second pluralities of photodiodes interspersed among each other in a semiconductor substrate. Incident light is to be directed through a surface of the semiconductor substrate into the first and second pluralities of photodiodes. The first plurality of photodiodes has greater sensitivity to the incident light than the second plurality of photodiodes. A metal film layer is disposed over the surface of the semiconductor substrate over the second plurality of photodiodes and not over the first plurality of photodiodes. A metal grid is disposed over the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and includes a first plurality of openings through which the incident light is directed into the first plurality of photodiodes. The metal grid further includes a second plurality of openings through which the incident light is directed through the metal film layer into the second plurality of photodiodes.
US09966389B2 Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof and display device
This invention provides an array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device, the array substrate comprises a common electrode line, a thin film transistor and a common electrode, the common electrode line is provided below an active layer of the thin film transistor, and is provided with a main via thereabove, the common electrode is electrically connected to the common electrode line through a main connection portion in the main via, the main connection portion comprises an upper main connection portion and a lower main connection portion, the lower main connection portion comprises a main body and a flange provided on the main body and extending towards a direction away from a center of the main via, a lower end of the upper main connection portion is connected to the flange, an upper end of the upper main connection portion is connected to the common electrode.
US09966387B2 Strain release in pFET regions
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, includes providing a strained silicon on insulator (SSOI) structure, the SSOI structure comprises, a dielectric layer disposed on a substrate, a silicon germanium layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and a strained semiconductor material layer disposed directly on the silicon germanium layer, forming a plurality of fins on the SSOI structure, forming a gate structure over a portion of at least one fin in a nFET region, forming a gate structure over a portion of at least one fin in a pFET region, removing the gate structure over the portion of the at least one fin in the pFET region, removing the silicon germanium layer exposed by the removing, and forming a new gate structure over the portion of the at least one fin in the pFET region, such that the new gate structure surrounds the portion on all four sides.
US09966383B2 Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a non-volatile memory cell, and a gate stack. The non-volatile memory cell is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and a top surface of the non-volatile memory cell is coplanar with or below a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack is formed on the semiconductor substrate.
US09966381B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive film provided on a first region of the first insulating film, a second conductive film provided on a second region of the first insulating film, a first stacked body provided on the first conductive film, a second stacked body provided on the second conductive film, a first semiconductor pillar, and two conductive pillars. In the first stacked body, a second insulating film and an electrode film are stacked alternately. In the second stacked body, a third insulating film and a first film are stacked alternately. The two conductive pillars extend in the first direction through the second stacked body, are separated from the second conductive film, sandwich the second conductive film, and are connected at a bottom ends of the second conductive pillars to the semiconductor substrate.
US09966380B1 Select gate self-aligned patterning in split-gate flash memory cell
A split-gate flash memory cell (cell) that can be formed by a method including self-aligned patterning for the select gates includes a semiconductor surface. A first control gate (CG) on a first floating gate (FG) and a second CG on a second FG are on the semiconductor surface. A common source/drain is between the first and second FG. A first select gate and a second select gate are on a select gate dielectric layer that is between a first BL source/drain in the semiconductor surface and the first FG and between a second BL source/drain and the second FG, respectively. The first select gate and the second select gate are spacer-shaped.
US09966377B2 Semiconductor devices including fin-shaped active patterns in different conductivity type regions
A semiconductor device includes a substrate with an NMOSFET region and a PMOSFET region, a first active pattern on the NMOSFET region, a second active pattern on the PMOSFET region, a dummy pattern between the NMOSFET and PMOSFET regions, and device isolation patterns on the substrate that fill trenches between the first active pattern, the second active pattern, and the dummy pattern. Upper portions of the first and second active patterns have a fin-shaped structure protruding between the device isolation patterns. The upper portions of the first and second active patterns contain semiconductor materials, respectively, that are different from each other, and an upper portion of the dummy pattern contains an insulating material.
US09966375B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a compound semiconductor layer, where the compound semiconductor layer includes separate fin patterns in separate regions. The separate fin patterns may include different materials. The separate fin patterns may include different dimensions, including one or more of width and height of one or more portions of the fin patterns. The separate fin patterns may include an upper pattern and a lower pattern. The upper pattern and the lower pattern may include different materials. The upper pattern and the lower pattern may include different dimensions. Separate regions may include separate ones of an NMOS or a PMOS. The semiconductor device may include gate electrodes on the compound semiconductor layer. Separate gate electrodes may intersect the separate fin patterns.
US09966373B2 MOS transistor structure and method of forming the structure with vertically and horizontally-elongated metal contacts
Elongated metal contacts with longitudinal axes that lie in a first direction are formed to make electrical connections to elongated source and drain regions with longitudinal axes that lie in the first direction, and elongated metal contacts with longitudinal axes that lie a second direction are formed to make electrical connections to elongated source and drain regions with longitudinal axes that lie the second direction, where the second direction lies orthogonal to the first direction.
US09966367B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes: a ceramic substrate; a plurality of LED chips; a printed resistor(s) connected in parallel with the plurality of LED chips; a dam resin made of a resin having a low optical transmittance; a fluorescent-material-containing resin layer; and an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode, (a) which are provided on a primary surface of the ceramic substrate so as to face each other along a first direction on the primary surface and (b) which are disposed below at least one of the dam resin and the fluorescent-material-containing resin layer. With the configuration in which a plurality of LEDs, which are connected in a series-parallel connection, are provided on a substrate, it is possible to provide a light emitting device which can achieve restraining of luminance unevenness and an improvement in luminous efficiency.
US09966362B1 Integrated circuit package with inter-die thermal spreader layers
Integrated circuit (IC) packages with an inter-die thermal spreader are disclosed. A disclosed IC package includes a plurality of stacked dies disposed on a package substrate. A heat spreader is disposed on a top die of the plurality of stacked dies. The IC package further includes a thermal spreader layer disposed adjacent to at least one die of the plurality of stacked dies. The thermal spreader layer may extend out of a periphery of the plurality of stacked dies and may be attached to the heat spreader through a support member.
US09966360B2 Semiconductor package and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor package and a manufacturing method for the semiconductor package are provided. The semiconductor package has a first redistribution layer, a first die over the first redistribution layer, a molding compound encapsulating at least one second die and at least one third die disposed on the first redistribution layer, and at least one fourth die and conductive elements connected to the first redistribution layer. Through vias of the first die are electrically connected to through interlayer vias penetrating through the molding compound and are electrically connected to the first redistribution layer. The semiconductor package may further include a second redistribution layer disposed on the molding compound and between the first die, the second die and the third die.
US09966357B2 Pick-and-place tool for packaging process
A method includes moving a first bond head along a first guide apparatus for a first loop. The first guide apparatus is configured in a ring shape. The method also includes picking up a first die using the first bond head during the first loop, and aligning the first die with a first package substrate. The aligning the first die with the first package substrate includes moving the first package substrate in a first direction and a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are contained in a first plane parallel to the first loop. The method further includes placing the first die over the first package substrate during the first loop.
US09966349B2 Semiconductor memory device structure
A semiconductor memory device and front-end method of fabricating nickel plated caps over bond pads used in a memory device. The method provides protection of the bond pads from an oxidizing atmosphere without exposing sensitive structures in the memory device to the copper during fabrication. In some examples, the method and device include one or more conductive and insulating layers formed over a substrate, and a plurality of memory cells over the conductive and insulating layers.
US09966341B1 Input/output pins for chip-embedded substrate
Input/output pins for a chip-embedded substrate may be fabricated by applying a contact-distinct volume of solder to at least two contacts that are recessed within the chip-embedded substrate, temperature-cycling the chip-embedded substrate to induce solder reflow and define an input/output pin for each one of the at least two contacts, and machining the input/output pin for each one of the at least two contacts to extend exposed from the chip-embedded substrate to a common height within specification tolerance. Such a technique represents a paradigm shift in that the manufacturer of the chip-embedded substrate, as opposed to the immediate customer of the manufacturer, may assume the burden of quality control with respect to minimizing unintended solder void trapping under the input/output pins, thereby reinforcing existing customer loyalty and potentially attracting new customers.
US09966338B1 Pre-spacer self-aligned cut formation
Methods of forming self-aligned cuts and structures formed with self-aligned cuts. A dielectric layer is formed on a metal hardmask layer, and a mandrel is formed on the dielectric layer. A cut is formed that extends through the dielectric layer to the metal hardmask layer. A section of a metal layer is formed on an area of the metal hardmask layer exposed by the cut in the dielectric layer. After the metal layer is formed, a spacer is formed on a vertical sidewall of the mandrel.
US09966336B2 Hybrid interconnect scheme and methods for forming the same
A device includes a first low-k dielectric layer, and a copper-containing via in the first low-k dielectric layer. The device further includes a second low-k dielectric layer over the first low-k dielectric layer, and an aluminum-containing metal line over and electrically coupled to the copper-containing via. The aluminum-containing metal line is in the second low-k dielectric layer.
US09966335B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming interposer frame electrically connected to embedded semiconductor die
A semiconductor device has an interposer frame mounted over a carrier. A semiconductor die has an active surface and bumps formed over the active surface. The semiconductor die can be mounted within a die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Stacked semiconductor die can also be mounted within the die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Bond wires or bumps are formed between the semiconductor die and interposer frame. An encapsulant is deposited over the interposer frame and semiconductor die. An interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant and bumps of the first semiconductor die. An electronic component, such as a discrete passive device, semiconductor die, or stacked semiconductor die, is mounted over the semiconductor die and interposer frame. The electronic component has an I/O count less than an I/O count of the semiconductor die.
US09966330B2 Stack die package
In one embodiment, a stack die package can include a lead frame and a first die including a gate and a source that are located on a first surface of the first die and a drain that is located on a second surface of the first die that is opposite the first surface. The gate and source are flip chip coupled to the lead frame. The stack die package can include a second die including a gate and a drain that are located on a first surface of the second die and a source that is located on a second surface of the second die that is opposite the first surface. The source of the second die is facing the drain of the first die.
US09966326B2 Lead frames with wettable flanks
A method of producing wettable fillets in electronic packages. A matrix of unsingulated lead frames is provided, each including a plurality of lead elements and a chip pad. Chips are attached to the chip pads and terminals on the chips are electrically connected to lead portions of the lead elements. The top portion of the package is encapsulated. Masking is applied to the bottom surface of the lead elements and the chip pads, but at least one of the lead elements has a portion of its surfaced remaining exposed. The exposed lead element surface is etched to create a fillet. The fillets, lead elements and bottom surface of the chip pads are plated, and the packages then singulated, producing packages with wettable flanks.
US09966324B2 Thermally conductive sheet, method for producing same, and semiconductor device
A thermally conductive sheet, which contains: a binder; carbon fibers; and an inorganic filler, wherein the thermally conductive sheet is to be sandwiched between a heat source and a heat dissipation member of a semiconductor device, wherein the carbon fibers have an average fiber length of 50 μm to 250 μm, wherein thermal resistance of the thermally conductive sheet is less than 0.17 K·cm2/W, as measured in accordance with ASTM-D5470 with a load of 7.5 kgf/cm2, and wherein the thermally conductive sheet has an average thickness of 500 μm or less.
US09966322B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, a first conductor film, a second conductor film, and a first protective film. The semiconductor layer has a semiconductor element. The first conductor film is formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor layer and is electrically connected to the semiconductor element. The second conductor film is formed on an outer side surface of the semiconductor layer and is electrically connected to the semiconductor element. The first protective film is formed on the first conductor film and has an opening to expose the first conductor film. A height from the upper surface of the semiconductor layer to an upper surface of the second conductor film is equal to or smaller than a height from the upper surface of the semiconductor layer to an upper surface of the first conductor film.
US09966320B2 Wafer level package solder barrier used as vacuum getter
An electronic device and methods of manufacture thereof. One or more methods may include providing a lid wafer having a cavity and a surface surrounding the cavity and a device wafer having a detector device and a reference device. In certain examples, a solder barrier layer of titanium material may be deposited onto the surface of the lid wafer. The solder barrier layer of titanium material may further be activated to function as a getter. In various examples, the lid wafer and the device wafer may be bonded together using solder, and the solder barrier layer of titanium material may prevent the solder from contacting the surface of the lid wafer.
US09966318B1 System for electrical testing of through silicon vias (TSVs)
A substrate includes first and second semiconductor layers doped with opposite conductivity type in contact with each other at a PN junction to form a junction diode. At least one through silicon via structure, formed by a conductive region surrounded laterally by an insulating layer, extends completely through the first semiconductor layer and partially through the second semiconductor layer with a back end embedded in, and in physical and electrical contact with, the second semiconductor layer. A first electrical connection is made to the first through silicon via structure and a second electrical connection is made to the first semiconductor layer. A testing current is applied to and sensed at the first and second electrical connections in order to detect a defect in the at least one through silicon via structure.
US09966316B2 Deposition supporting system, depositing apparatus and manufacturing method of a semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, deposition supporting system, depositing apparatus and manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes a depositing apparatus that deposits stacked bodies on wafers allocated to stations and a host computer. The host computer evaluates feature amounts convertible to misalignments at predetermined points on the stacked bodies of the respective wafers, and specifies the stations to which the wafers are to be allocated based on the feature amounts of the stacked bodies in the respective stations. The depositing apparatus allocates the wafers to the stations based on the specification from the host computer.
US09966312B2 Method for etching a silicon-containing substrate
Techniques herein provide a chamber and substrate cleaning solution for etching and removing byproducts between separate etching steps. Such techniques include using a cleaning step based on fluorine chemistry, which is executed in between separate etch steps or divided etch steps. Such a technique can be executed in situ for improved efficiency. Other benefits include increasing etching depth/aspect ratios, and preventing post-etching defects including physical contact with neighboring gates, etc. Techniques herein are especially beneficial when applied to relatively small feature openings.
US09966311B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device manufacturing method according to an embodiment including partially forming a first groove on a nitride semiconductor layer provided on a first plane of a substrate having first and second planes by etching so that the substrate is exposed, forming a second groove on the substrate exposed inside the first groove so that a portion of the substrate remains, removing the substrate from the second plane side so that the second groove is not exposed, thinning the substrate, forming a metal film on the second plane side of the substrate, removing the metal film in a portion where the second groove is formed, and forming a third groove on the substrate in the portion where the second groove is formed so that the second groove is exposed from the second plane side.
US09966309B2 Contact plug without seam hole and methods of forming the same
A method includes forming a metallic layer over a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) device, forming reverse memory posts over the metallic layer, and etching the metallic layer using the reverse memory posts as an etching mask. The remaining portions of the metallic layer include a gate contact plug and a source/drain contact plug. The reverse memory posts are then removed. After the gate contact plug and the source/drain contact plug are formed, an Inter-Level Dielectric (ILD) is formed to surround the gate contact plug and the source/drain contact plug.
US09966306B2 Catalyst layer forming method, catalyst layer forming system and recording medium
A catalyst adsorbed on a surface of a substrate is bound to the substrate without leaving residues within a recess of the substrate. A catalyst layer forming method includes forming a catalyst layer 22 by supplying a catalyst solution 32 onto a substrate 2 having a recess 2a to adsorb the catalyst 22A onto a surface of the substrate and onto an inner surface of the recess; rinsing the surface of the substrate 2 and an inside of the recess 2a by supplying a rinse liquid; drying the surface of the substrate 2 and the inside of the recess 2a. Further, by supplying a binder solution 34 containing a binder 22B onto the substrate 2, the catalyst 22A on the surface of the substrate 2 is bound to the substrate 2 by the binder 22B.
US09966305B2 Ion flow barrier structure for interconnect metallization
A method for forming an ion flow barrier between conductors includes forming a barrier material through a via in an interlevel dielectric layer and onto a first metal layer and recessing the barrier material to form a thickness of the barrier material on the first metal layer in the via, the thickness forming an ion flow barrier. A second metal layer is deposited in the via over the ion flow barrier such that, during operation, the ion flow barrier reduces ion flow between the first metal layer and the second metal layer while maintaining low resistance.
US09966303B2 Microelectronic elements with post-assembly planarization
A microelectronic unit can include a carrier structure having a front surface, a rear surface remote from the front surface, and a recess having an opening at the front surface and an inner surface located below the front surface of the carrier structure. The microelectronic unit can also include a microelectronic element having a top surface adjacent the inner surface, a bottom surface remote from the top surface, and a plurality of contacts at the top surface. The microelectronic unit can also include terminals electrically connected with the contacts of the microelectronic element. The terminals can be electrically insulated from the carrier structure. The microelectronic unit can also include a dielectric region contacting at least the bottom surface of the microelectronic element. The dielectric region can define a planar surface located coplanar with or above the front surface of the carrier structure.
US09966286B2 Substrate processing apparatus
A space needed to transfer a substrate container is decreased. A substrate processing apparatus includes a locating part where a substrate container accommodating a substrate is located; a driving unit configured to drive the locating part vertically; a transfer robot configured to transfer the substrate container; and a controller configured to control the driving unit and the transfer robot to move the locating part downward after the transfer robot moves to under the locating part to transfer the substrate container from the locating part to the transfer robot.
US09966279B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
The reliability of a semiconductor device is improved. During resin injection in a molding step, in a plan view, a plurality of gates of a molding die are arranged at positions different from those over extended lines of a plurality of dicing regions and a resin is injected from the gates. In this way, it becomes possible to reduce entrainment of air in the dicing regions and to lower an occurrence rate of voids. As a consequence, it becomes possible to suppress an occurrence of poor appearance such as formation of voids in a sealing body and to suppress formation of a starting point of a crack which may occur during a reflow process. Thus, the reliability of the semiconductor device can be improved.
US09966277B2 Arrangement and method for manufacturing the same
An arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include: a substrate having a front side and a back side, a die region within the substrate, a multi-purpose layer defining a back side of the die region, and an etch stop layer disposed over the multi-purpose layer between the multi-purpose layer and the back side of the substrate. The multi-purpose layer may be formed of an ohmic material, and the etch stop layer may be of a first conductivity type of a first doping concentration.
US09966271B2 Method for modifying epitaxial growth shape
Methods for forming semiconductor devices, such as FinFET devices, are provided. An epitaxial film is formed over a semiconductor fin, and the epitaxial film includes a top surface having two facets and a bottom surface including two facets. A cap layer is deposited on the top surface, and portions of the epitaxial film in a lateral direction are removed by an isotropic plasma etch process. The isotropic plasma etch process may be performed at a pressure ranging from about 5 mTorr to about 200 mTorr in order to maximize the amount of radicals while minimizing the amount of ions in the plasma. Having a smaller lateral dimension prevents the epitaxial film from merging with an adjacent epitaxial film and creates a gap between the epitaxial film and the adjacent epitaxial film.
US09966269B2 Polishing liquid for CMP, polishing liquid set for CMP, and polishing method
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a polishing liquid for CMP containing cerium oxide particles and water, wherein the half-value width of the main peak appearing within a range from 2θ=27.000 to 29.980° in a powder X-ray diffraction chart of the cerium oxide particles is from 0.26 to 0.36°, the average particle size of the cerium oxide particles is at least 130 nm but less than 175 nm, and the number of cerium oxide particles having a particle size of 1.15 μm or greater is 5000×103/mL or less.
US09966262B2 Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided. The methods may include forming a hard mask film on a lower film and forming first spacers on the hard mask film. The first spacers may define an exposure region of the hard mask film, and the exposure region may include a patterning portion and a non-patterning portion. The methods may also include forming a mold film on the first spacers and forming a blocking pattern in the mold film. The blocking pattern may vertically overlap the non-patterning portion. The methods may further include exposing the first spacers by removing the mold film after forming the blocking pattern.
US09966261B1 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Described herein is a technique capable of improving the uniformity of device characteristics. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include: (a) accommodating in a process chamber a substrate having an organic film thereon; (b) supplying a metal-containing gas to the substrate; (c) supplying a first oxygen-containing gas and a dilute gas to the substrate, the dilute gas containing at least one of a second oxygen-containing gas and an inert gas; (d) performing a cycle a predetermined number of time, the cycle including (b) and (c), wherein a flow rate of the first oxygen-containing gas is equal to or greater than a flow rate of the dilute gas in one of the cycle performed the predetermined number of time.
US09966256B2 Film forming method and film forming apparatus
There is provided a method of forming a film on a surface to be processed of a workpiece, the method including: accommodating the workpiece with a single-crystallized substance formed on the surface to be processed, into a processing chamber; supplying a crystallization suppressing process gas into the processing chamber such that a crystallization of the single-crystallized substance formed on the surface to be processed is suppressed; and supplying a source gas into the processing chamber to form an amorphous film on the surface to be processed of the workpiece.
US09966253B2 Forming nanotips
A nanotip apparatus which includes nanotips arranged in a pattern on a semiconductor base. Each of the nanotips have a pointed tip portion and a base portion in contact with the semiconductor base. Further, each of the nanotips include a gradient of silicon germanium (SiGe) with the highest concentration of germanium being at the pointed tip portion and the lowest concentration of germanium being at the base in contact with the semiconductor base. Also disclosed is a method in which the nanotips may be formed.
US09966252B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and substrate processing apparatus
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: (a) forming an oxide film having a predetermined thickness on a substrate by alternately repeating: (a-1) forming a layer containing a predetermined element on the substrate by supplying a source gas containing the predetermined element into a process vessel accommodating the substrate and exhausting the source gas from the process vessel; and (a-2) changing the layer containing the predetermined element into an oxide layer by supplying an oxygen-containing gas and an hydrogen-containing gas into the process vessel, wherein inside of the process vessel is under a heated atmosphere having a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure; and exhausting the oxygen-containing gas and the hydrogen-containing gas from the process vessel; and (b) modifying the oxide film formed on the substrate by supplying the oxygen-containing gas and the hydrogen-containing gas into the process vessel, wherein the inside of the process vessel is under the heated atmosphere having the pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure, and exhausting the oxygen-containing gas and the hydrogen-containing gas from the process vessel.
US09966250B2 Method to transfer two dimensional film grown on metal-coated wafer to the wafer itself in a face-to-face manner
A method of in-situ transfer during fabrication of a component comprising a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a layered structure comprising a polymer, a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film, a metal catalyst, and a substrate. The metal catalyst, being a growth medium for the two-dimensional crystalline thin film, is etched and removed by infiltrating liquid to enable the in-situ transfer of the two-dimensional crystalline thin film directly onto the underlying substrate.
US09966246B2 Double-filament incandescent lamp for automotive vehicle front lighting
A lamp for automotive vehicle front lighting is described. The lamp 10 comprises a base 12 for mechanical and electrical connection to an automotive headlight 50 and a burner 14 fixed to the base 12. The burner 14 comprises an enclosed transparent vessel 22. A first and a second filament 34, 36 are arranged within the vessel 22. A baffle 40 is arranged proximate to the first filament 34 to shield the second filament 36 from the first filament 34. When the first filament 34 is operated at a supply voltage of 13.2 V at an electrical power greater than 35 W and less than or equal to 38 W, light with a luminous flux of 500-700 lm is emitted from the lamp 10. If the second filament 36 is operated at a supply voltage of 13.2 V at an electrical power greater than 35 W and less than or equal to 38 W, light with a luminous flux of 800-1,000 lm is emitted from the lamp 10. Both the first and the second filament wire 34, 36 are comprised of a filament wire wound in a winding structure around a filament axis, where the number of winding turns for each of first and second filaments 34, 36 is 16-23.
US09966240B2 Systems and methods for internal surface conditioning assessment in plasma processing equipment
In an embodiment, a plasma source includes a first electrode, configured for transfer of one or more plasma source gases through first perforations therein; an insulator, disposed in contact with the first electrode about a periphery of the first electrode; and a second electrode, disposed with a periphery of the second electrode against the insulator such that the first and second electrodes and the insulator define a plasma generation cavity. The second electrode is configured for movement of plasma products from the plasma generation cavity therethrough toward a process chamber. A power supply provides electrical power across the first and second electrodes to ignite a plasma with the one or more plasma source gases in the plasma generation cavity to produce the plasma products. One of the first electrode, the second electrode and the insulator includes a port that provides an optical signal from the plasma.
US09966239B2 Non-ambipolar plasma enhanced DC/VHF phasor
This disclosure relates to a plasma processing system for controlling plasma density across a substrate and maintaining a tight ion energy distribution within the plasma. In one embodiment, this may include using a dual plasma chamber system including a non-ambipolar plasma chamber and a DC plasma chamber adjacent to the non-ambipolar system. The DC plasma chamber provide power to generate the plasma by rotating the incoming power between four inputs from a VHF power source. In one instance, the power to each of the four inputs are at least 90 degrees out of phase from each other.
US09966238B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
Provided is a technique capable of suppressing a product substrate from being contaminated with a contaminant generated in a process chamber. The method includes (a) processing a substrate supported by a first substrate support by generating plasma in a first plasma generating region in a process chamber; and (b) removing a metal substance in the process chamber by generating plasma in the first plasma generating region and a second plasma generating region disposed between the first substrate support and a back surface of a substrate supported by a second substrate support.
US09966233B2 Plasma processing apparatus
A plasma processing apparatus of exciting a processing gas into plasma by applying a high frequency power between an upper electrode and a lower electrode provided within a processing chamber and performing a plasma process on a target object to be processed with the plasma includes a DC power supply configured to apply a DC voltage to the upper electrode; a ground electrode connected to the DC power supply; and an annular shield member provided outside the ground electrode. A groove is formed into a downward recess at an outer peripheral portion of the ground electrode, and an upper end of the shield member is positioned above an upper end of the peripheral portion of the ground electrode. A protruding portion, which is protruded toward a center of the ground electrode, is formed at a portion of the shield member positioned above the ground electrode.
US09966232B2 Ultra-high speed anisotropic reactive ion etching
A system and method for reactive ion etching (RIE) system of a material is provided. The system includes a plasma chamber comprising a plasma source and a gas inlet, a diffusion chamber comprising a substrate holder for supporting a substrate with a surface comprising the material and a gas diffuser, and a source of a processing gas coupled to the gas diffuser. In the system and method, at least one radical of the processing gas is reactive with the material to perform etching of the material, the gas diffuser is configured to introduce the processing gas into the processing region, and the substrate holder comprises an electrode that can be selectively biased to draw ions generated by the plasma source into the processing region to interact with the at least one processing gas to generate the at least one radical at the surface.
US09966229B2 Supporting case and multi charged particle beam drawing apparatus
In one embodiment, a supporting case includes a lower case member and an upper case member. The mounting substrate is pinched between a lower cylindrical supporting portion and a upper cylindrical supporting portion. Peripheral regions of the mounting substrate that are on a peripheral side with respect to a part pinched between the lower cylindrical supporting portion and the upper cylindrical supporting portion are positioned in a space defined by a bottom plate portion, a lower peripheral-wall portion, and the lower cylindrical supporting portion of the lower case member and a top lid portion, an upper peripheral-wall portion, and the upper cylindrical supporting portion of the upper case member.
US09966228B2 Multi charged particle beam apparatus, and shape adjustment method of multi charged particle beam image
A multi charged particle beam apparatus includes a forming aperture array substrate, where there are formed a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings on the periphery of the whole plurality of first openings, each being larger than each of the plurality of first openings, to form multi-beams by the plurality of first openings, and to be able to form a plurality of calibration beams by the plurality of second openings, a shutter to select, one by one, one of the plurality of calibration beams formed by passing through the plurality of second openings, in accordance with a slide position, and a detector to detect a secondary electron including a reflected electron generated by scanning a mark by deflecting the selected calibration beam, in the state of all the multi-beams controlled to be OFF.
US09966222B2 Sample holder
A sample holder includes an adapter attached to an adapter attaching part. An analysis target, e.g., analytical cell, has first electrical connection members. The adapter has second electrical connection members. The number of the first electrical connection members and the number of the second electrical connection members are the same. Further, the adapter has third electrical connection members, and the adapter attaching part has fourth electrical connection members. The number of the third electrical connection members and the number of the fourth electrical connection members are the same. For example, the third electrical connection members are six electrically conductive membranes, i.e., a first electrically conductive membrane to a sixth electrically conductive membrane. Among the six electrically conductive membranes, only the third electrically conductive membrane is not electrically connected to any of the second electrical connection members and the first electrical connection members.
US09966219B2 Electron energy loss spectrometer
An electron energy loss spectrometer for electron microscopy is disclosed having an electrically isolated drift tube extending through the bending magnet and through subsequent optics that focus and magnify the spectrum. An electrostatic or magnetic lens is located either before or after or both before and after the drift tube and the lens or lenses are adjusted as a function of the bending magnet drift tube voltage to maintain a constant net focal length and to avoid defocusing. An energy selecting slit is included in certain embodiments to cleanly cut off electrons dispersed outside the energy range incident on the detector, thereby eliminating artifacts caused by unwanted electrons scattering back into the spectrum.
US09966216B2 Photo-electron source assembly with scaled nanostructures and nanoscale metallic photonic resonant cavity, and method of making same
A new ultra-thin high-efficiency photoelectron source utilizing a metallic photonic resonant cavity having a photonic resonant cavity with a top metallic layer with a plurality of openings, each having an average dimension less than the wavelength of the excitation photons in vacuum, a bottom metallic layer and a photoelectron emission layer of semiconductor positioned between the top metallic layer and the bottom metallic.
US09966215B2 Permanent magnet operating device
The disclosure relates to a permanent magnet actuator comprising: a stator iron core having a space therein-side, and having a first wall and a second wall opposing the first wall; a movable element moving reciprocally between the first wall and the second wall, along a moving axis which connects the first wall and the second wall inside the space; a first magnetomotive force supplying body and a second magnetomotive force supplying body disposed respectively on the first wall and the second wall, so as to supply a magnetomotive force to the movable element for the reciprocal movement thereof, wherein, at least one of the first magnetomotive force supplying body and the second magnetomotive force supplying body selectively produces a bidirectional magnetomotive force; a permanent magnet disposed between the first magnetomotive force supplying body and the second magnetomotive force supplying body, and providing a coercive force to the movable element for maintaining the state thereof; and a driving circuit comprising a control unit for controlling a voltage or current that is supplied to the first magnetomotive force supplying body and the second magnetomotive force supplying body.
US09966213B2 Electronic device and manufacturing method therefor
An electronic device capable of reducing costs for equipment is shown. Of a plurality of housings each having an electromagnetic relay body incorporated therein, the adjacent housings are unified with a disconnectable connector provided on facing outer surfaces of the housings.
US09966212B2 Blinking device
The blinking device includes multiple power terminals, multiple load terminals, multiple contact switches, a control circuit, and multiple mounting substrates, and a case in a box shape for accommodating these therein. The multiple contact switches are individually associated with multiple power supply paths individually connected to multiple pairs each defined as a pair of one power terminal of the multiple power terminals and one load terminal of the multiple load terminals. At least one power supply path of the multiple power supply paths is formed on at least one of a front face, where at least one contact switch is mounted, and a rear face, where no contact switch is mounted, of each of the multiple mounting substrates. The case is configured to accommodate the multiple mounting substrates so that the multiple mounting substrates are stacked in a thickness direction.
US09966211B1 Pressure switch system
A pressure switch including: a spring blade; a ram pin having an angled bottom surface and laterally restrained in movement, where upward movement of the ram pin engages the spring blade such that the spring blade snap deflects to an engaged position, and where downward movement of the ram pin engages the spring blade such that the spring blade snap deflects to an unengaged position; a ball bearing in contact with the angled bottom surface of the ram pin; and an adjustment screw laterally restraining the ball bearing in movement, where a lateral inward movement of the adjustment screw relative to an outside surface of the pressure switch causes an upward movement of the ram pin, and where a lateral outward movement of the adjustment screw relative to the outside surface of the pressure switch causes a downward movement of the ram pin.
US09966210B1 Circuit breaker with integrated U-Link
A circuit interrupter having a moveable contact arm that forms part of the linkage assembly that connects to the handle. The moveable contact arm positioned essentially vertically in the circuit interrupter housing and positioned such that any arc that develops is drawn in a direction away from the moveable contact arm. The moveable contact arm moveable about two pivot points when the contacts are opening and closing, one of the two pivots positioned in a curved channel to slidingly move in the channel during opening and closing.
US09966196B2 Tantalum embedded microchip
A solid electrolytic capacitor and method for making the capacitor are provided. The capacitor includes a sintered porous anode body; a sintered anode substrate; a dielectric that overlies at least a portion of the anode body and at least a portion of the anode substrate and that is also formed within at least a portion of the anode body; a solid electrolyte cathode overlying at least a portion of the dielectric that overlies the anode body; an anode termination that is electrically connected to the anode substrate; and a cathode termination that is electrically connected to the solid electrolyte. The anode body is disposed on a planar surface of the anode substrate, and both the anode body and substrate are formed from a powder of a valve metal composition. Further, the anode substrate is hermetic and impermeable to liquids.
US09966193B2 Electric circuit device
An electric circuit device connecting first and second external elements, the electric circuit device including: a first electronic component; a first bus bar electrically connected to the first electronic component; a second bus bar electrically connected to the electronic component and overlapped with the first bus bar in a direction perpendicular to main surfaces of the first and second bus bars; a first external terminal electrically connecting the first bus bar to the first external element; a second external terminal electrically connecting the second bus bar to the second external element; a first region in the first external terminal electrically coupled to the first external element; and a second region in the second external terminal electrically coupled to the second external element, and at least partially overlapped with the first region in the direction.
US09966192B2 Plurality of capacitors electrically connected in parallel as a single physical unit
A plurality of parallel capacitors is constructed using an elongate common capacitor electrode with individual capacitors formed from individual capacitor electrodes spaced along and separated from the common electrode by a layer of dielectric material. The layer of dielectric material can be a dielectric film material or a ceramic material. The layer of dielectric material can be tapered along the common electrode, and/or additional dielectric material can be positioned between edges of adjacent individual electrodes. An individual electrode at one end of the common electrode can be made wider to increase its capacitance.
US09966191B2 Multilayer electronic component
A multilayer electronic component includes an element body having an internal electrode layer and a dielectric layer. These are substantially parallel to a plane including a first axis and a second axis and are alternately laminated along a third axis direction. Side surfaces facing each other in the first axis direction are respectively equipped with an insulating layer. End surfaces facing each other in the second axis direction are respectively equipped with an external electrode. The insulating layer includes a glass component. A formula (1) of 0.25<α/β<1 is satisfied, where α denotes a thermal expansion coefficient of the insulating layer, and β denotes a thermal expansion coefficient of one of the internal electrode layer and the dielectric layer that is larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of the other layer.
US09966189B2 Monolithic ceramic electronic component
A method for manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic component includes the steps of preparing a first ceramic outer layer, stacking a plurality of inner electrodes and a plurality of ceramic green sheets on the first ceramic outer layer, forming an inner portion, applying first pressing in the stacking direction, forming an outer portion on the inner portion to form a second ceramic outer layer, applying second pressing in the stacking direction to form a multilayer body, cutting the mother multilayer body to obtain individual multilayer bodies, sintering the individual multilayer bodies to obtain ceramic bodies, and forming first and second outer electrodes on the outer surface of each of ceramic bodies.
US09966179B2 Common mode filter for improving magnetic permeability and high frequency characteristics
A common mode filter includes a magnetic substrate in which ferrite particles having anisotropy and a planar structure are disposed to have a planar orientation.
US09966178B2 Chip electronic component and manufacturing method thereof
Chip electronic component and manufacturing method thereof disclosed. An example aspect provides a chip electronic component. The chip electronic component includes a magnetic body including a magnetic material, a coil part embedded in the magnetic body and formed to be connected to a first coil conductor and a second coil conductor, an insulating layer covering the first coil conductor and the second coil conductor, and a magnetic layer formed on the insulating layer.
US09966177B2 Reactors
A reactor includes a core made of a magnetic material; a resin mold that encloses the core; a coil that is wound around the core through the resin mold; a plurality of fasteners located on the resin mold; and a supporting member that is secured to the resin mold through the fasteners. At least one of the plurality of fasteners is a flexible fastener.
US09966171B2 Porous stabilized beds, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same
Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a first particle in a reactor; the first particle being a magnetic particle or a particle that can be influenced by a magnetic field, an electric field or a combination of an electrical field and a magnetic field; fluidizing the first particle in the reactor; applying a uniform magnetic field, a uniform electrical field or a combination of a uniform magnetic field and a uniform electrical field to the reactor; elevating the temperature of the reactor; and fusing the first particles to form a monolithic solid.
US09966170B2 Shunt resistor
A shunt resistor includes a resistive body and a pair of electrodes each bonded to the resistive body. The resistive body has an obverse surface and a reverse surface that face in mutually opposite directions. The two electrodes are separate from each other in a first direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the resistive body. The resistive body has two ends separate from each other in the first direction. The obverse surface of the resistive body includes a pair of intentionally curved portions that are located at the two ends of the resistive body.
US09966167B1 Superconducting joint for high-temperature superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (Bi-2212) wire
The present invention provides a system and method for producing superconducting joints between superconductive segments of a Bi-2212 high-temperature superconducting (HTS) conductor, thereby eliminating the heat generating resistive joints that are commonly known in the art for connecting two or more smaller Bi-2212 conductive segments to create an Bi-2212 conductor of adequate length.
US09966161B2 Mechanical design of thin-film diamond crystal mounting apparatus with optimized thermal contact and crystal strain for coherence preservation x-ray optics
A method and mechanical design for a thin-film diamond crystal mounting apparatus for coherence preservation x-ray optics with optimized thermal contact and minimized crystal strain are provided. The novel thin-film diamond crystal mounting apparatus mounts a thin-film diamond crystal supported by a thick chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond film spacer with a thickness slightly thicker than the thin-film diamond crystal, and two groups of thin film thermal conductors, such as thin CVD diamond film thermal conductor groups separated by the thick CVD diamond spacer. The two groups of thin CVD film thermal conductors provide thermal conducting interface media with the thin-film diamond crystal. A piezoelectric actuator is integrated into a flexural clamping mechanism generating clamping force from zero to an optimal level.
US09966155B2 Apparatus and method for reinforcing jet pump riser
An apparatus for reinforcing a jet pump riser includes: an elbow upper clamp for covering a riser elbow coupled to a thermal sleeve from an upper side thereof; an elbow lower clamping member for clamping the riser elbow from a lower side thereof; an elbow vertical portion clamping member for covering a vertical portion of the riser elbow; and an elbow horizontal portion clamping member for covering a horizontal portion of the riser elbow. These members are disposed in different orientations with respect to the elbow upper clamp so as to fix the thermal sleeve, the riser elbow and the riser pipe.
US09966152B2 Dedupe DRAM system algorithm architecture
A deduplication memory module, which is configured to internally perform memory deduplication, includes a hash table memory for storing multiple blocks of data in a hash table array including hash tables, each of the hash tables including physical buckets and a plurality of virtual buckets each including some of the physical buckets, each of the physical buckets including ways, an address lookup table memory (ALUTM) including a plurality of pointers indicating a location of each of the stored blocks of data in a corresponding one of the physical buckets, and a buffer memory for storing unique blocks of data not stored in the hash table memory when the hash table array is full, a processor, and memory, wherein the memory has stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the memory module to exchange data with an external system.
US09966146B2 Memory system and method of controlling non-volatile memory
According to one embodiment, a controller groups a plurality of memory cells in each of the pages into a plurality of groups. The plurality of groups includes a first group and a second group. In a case of reading data from a first page, The controller performs first reading. The first reading includes reading data from the first page by using a first operation parameter for the first group. The controller performs second reading. The second reading includes reading data from the first page by using a second operation parameter for the second group. The controller merges first read data and second read data, and return the merged data as read data read from the first page. The first read data is acquired by the first reading. The second read data is acquired by the second reading.
US09966142B2 Fractional program commands for memory devices
A memory system (100B) includes an array of non-volatile memory cells (140) and a memory controller (110) having a first port (port connected to line 101) to receive a program command that addresses a number of the memory cells for a programming operation, having a second port (port connected to lines 102 and 103) coupled to the memory array via a command pipeline, and configured to create a plurality of fractional program commands in response to the program command. Execution of each fractional program command applies a single program pulse to the addressed memory cells to incrementally program the addressed memory cells with program data, where the duration of the program pulse associated with each fractional program command is a selected fraction of the total programming time typically required to program the memory cells.
US09966141B2 Nonvolatile memory cell employing hot carrier effect for data storage
A nonvolatile memory cell includes a first-conductivity-type silicon substrate, a metal layer formed in a surface of the first-conductivity-type silicon substrate, a second-conductivity-type diffusion layer formed in the surface of the first-conductivity-type silicon substrate and spaced apart from the metal layer, an insulating film disposed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type silicon substrate between the metal layer and the second-conductivity-type diffusion layer, a gate electrode disposed on the insulating film between the metal layer and the second-conductivity-type diffusion layer, and a sidewall disposed at a same side of the gate electrode as the metal layer and situated between the gate electrode and the metal layer, the sidewall being made of insulating material.
US09966134B1 Non-volatile resistive random-access memory device with reliable operation indicator, device-to-device uniformity, and multilevel cell storage, and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a multilevel nonvolatile resistive random-access memory device including a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and an insulation film interposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. Each of the lower electrode and the upper electrode includes a plate-shaped portion, and a patterned portion formed on the plate-shaped portion, and the patterned portion includes a protruding 3-dimensional prism structure pattern in which a plurality of prism-shaped structures is repeatedly arranged at a constant interval in a given direction. The patterned portion of the lower electrode and the patterned portion of the upper electrode are arranged to face each other, and a longitudinal direction of the prism-shaped structures of the lower electrode patterned portion and a longitudinal direction of the prism-shaped structures of the upper electrode patterned portion cross each other.
US09966129B1 Controller and control method for dynamic random access memory
A schedule for refreshing a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Access commands for a DRAM are queued in a command queue. First-rank bank-refresh time points and second-rank bank-refresh time points are alternately provided within a refresh inspection interval for the microcontroller to alternately refresh a first rank and a second rank of the DRAM bank-by-bank based on the content contained in the command queue.
US09966128B1 Storage structure with non-volatile storage capability and a method of operating the same
The present disclosure provides a storage cell or storage structure having a static RAM-like operational behavior while nevertheless providing non-volatile storage capability on a single bit basis. To this end, a non-volatile storage element, such as a ferroelectric transistor element, may be provided within an inverter structure so as to allow the storage of a logic state at any desired operational phase by increasing the voltage difference used for operating the inverter structure. In illustrative embodiments, the stored logic state may be re-established during a power-up event.
US09966126B2 Delay circuit of a semiconductor memory device, a semiconductor memory device and a method of operating the same
A delay circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes a delay chain, a first phase converter and a second phase converter. The delay chain is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal, includes 2N delay cells, and delays a first intermediate signal to generate a second intermediate signal. The first phase converter is connected to the input terminal, and provides the first intermediate signal to the delay chain, wherein the first intermediate signal is generated by inverting a phase of an input signal or by maintaining the phase of the input signal in response to a control signal. The second phase converter is connected to the output terminal, and generates an output signal by inverting a phase of the second intermediate signal or by maintaining the phase of the second intermediate signal in response to the control signal.
US09966120B2 Semiconductor memory with a data sensing circuit equipped with a line level control block for precharging local I/O lines to a first and second power supply voltage in a read operation
A data sensing circuit may include a pair of first signal lines, and a pair of second signal lines precharged with a first power supply voltage. The data sensing circuit may also include a line level control block configured for applying a second power supply voltage to any one signal line of the pair of second signal lines in response to a read command.
US09966118B2 Systems and methods of pipelined output latching involving synchronous memory arrays
Systems and methods of synchronous memories and synchronous memory operation are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, a memory device is disclosed comprising memory circuitry having a memory output, the memory circuitry including a sense amplifier having a first output and a second output, a first data path coupled to the first output of the sense amplifier, the first data path including 2 latches/registers, and a second data path coupled to the second output of the sense amplifier, the second data path including a plurality latches/registers. In further implementations, various control circuitry, connections and control signals may be utilized to operate the latches/registers in the first and second data paths according to specified configurations, control, modes, latency and/or timing domain information, to achieve, for example, pipelined output latching and/or double data rate output.
US09966111B2 Systems and methods for identifying and merging recorded segments belonging to the same program
Systems and methods for providing an interactive media guidance application for merging recorded video segments that are from the same program are provided. In response to a recording interruption, the interactive media guidance application may record multiple video segments. After recording the segments, the interactive media guidance application may search for and merge these segments to form a single recording. In some embodiments, the interactive media guidance application may detect the presence of a previously recorded segment. After detecting the previously recorded segment, the interactive media guidance application may automatically record the video following the end of the previously recorded segment. The interactive media guidance application may use data associated with the segments and other media cues to match the segments. The interactive media guidance application may also identify the duration of the recorded video content and provide choices for recording the video again.
US09966109B2 Methods for serving interactive content to a user
One variation of a method for serving interactive content to a user includes, at a visual element inserted into a document accessed by a computing device: loading a first frame from a digital video; in response to a scroll-down event that moves the visual element upward from a bottom of a window rendered on the computing device toward a top of the window, seeking from the first frame through a subset of frames in the digital video in a first direction at a rate corresponding to a scroll rate of the scroll-down event, the subset of frames spanning a duration of the digital video corresponding to a length of the scroll-down event; and, in response to termination of the scroll-down event with the visual element remaining in view within the window, playing the digital video forward from a last frame in the subset of frames in the digital video.
US09966103B2 Imaging apparatus and image recording processing method
Recording in a memory configured to temporarily record captured images is controlled in response to a shift instruction from a user. A control unit receives, from the user, the shift instruction containing an information item of specifying any of images displayed on a display unit, and updates an image recording start position in the memory in response to the shift instruction. A recording region for preceding captured images with respect to the updated recording start position is set as an overwritable region so that subsequent captured images can be recorded. The display unit displays, for example, images captured at intervals of a predetermined time period so that the user can select any of the images and issue the shift instruction. In this way, a region preceding a position of a selected image in the memory is set to be overwritable so that the subsequent captured images are recorded.
US09966102B2 Optimally positioning an idle robotic accessor in a tape library
In one embodiment, a system includes a controller for controlling a robotic accessor, and a memory in communication with and/or integrated with the controller for storing information about media and storage slots. The information includes data corresponding to a physical distribution of the media in the storage slots. Logic integrated with and/or executable by the controller is configured to position the robotic accessor at a computed optimal position during an idle period of the robotic accessor, the computed optimal position being based at least in part on at least one of: (a) the data corresponding to the physical distribution of the media in the storage slots, and (b) a center of access calculated using the data corresponding to the physical distribution of the media in the storage slots.
US09966099B2 Record playback apparatus
A record playback apparatus of the present disclosure includes a plurality of optical pickups that records information on a recording medium or plays back information from the recording medium; a single transport mechanism that transports the plurality of optical pickups together; and a transport control circuit that drives the single transport mechanism so that, when the single transport mechanism is driven to transport the plurality of optical pickups to respective target positions on the recording medium, absolute value of a maximum value of transport errors of the plurality of optical pickups with respect to the respective target positions becomes substantially equal to absolute value of a minimum value of transport errors of the plurality of optical pickups with respect to the respective target positions.
US09966095B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording media having an extremely low Hk layer
A magnetic media for magnetic data recording having reduced signal noise. The magnetic media includes a magnetic recording layer that has first, second and third portions. The first portion at the bottom of the magnetic recording layer includes an oxide and has a high anisotropy field. The third portion, located at the top of the magnetic recording layer has a low anisotropy field and does not include an oxide. The second portion, located between the first and third portions has an anisotropy field that is between that of the first and third magnetic portions. The second portion includes a thin layer of a material that has an extremely low anisotropy field that is located within a material having a higher magnetic anisotropy.
US09966093B1 Heat assisted magnetic recording head gimbal assembly and hard disk drive using same
A heat assisted magnetic recording head gimbal assembly comprises a light source unit, a heat assisted magnetic recording head, a suspension, an actuator, and a slider. The light source unit comprises a light emitting element and a submount. The suspension comprises a load beam and a flexure movably coupled with the load beam. The actuator is deformably coupled to the flexure. The slider is supported by the suspension and coupled to the flexure and the light source unit. The slider includes the heat assisted magnetic recording head. First and second solders or conductive adhesives are positioned on opposite longitudinal sides of the light source unit, so that the first solder or conductive adhesive electrically and mechanically connects the submount to a wiring supplying power, while the second solder or conductive adhesive electrically and mechanically connects the light emitting element to the wiring.
US09966092B2 Ion beam etching method and ion beam etching apparatus
To provide an ion beam etching method which enables a highly uniform IBE process even under a low-angle-incident static condition, without increase in the size of an apparatus. The ion beam etching method includes: changing a position of an opening portion with respect to a substrate; etching the substrate with an ion beam passing through the opening portion; and reducing a tilt angle as a center of a site where the ion beam is incident on the substrate moves away from the ion source.
US09966090B2 Electromechanical system and method of actuating a stylus
A motion inducing system for playing sounds over a gramophone is provided. An electrical signal such as that from a digital music player is converted to lateral movement of a surface using a linear motion transducer. The lateral movement moves the stylus of a gramophone, and the music from the digital music source is played over the horn of the gramophone.
US09966085B2 Method and noise suppression circuit incorporating a plurality of noise suppression techniques
A noise suppression circuit for use in an audio signal processing circuit is provided. The noise suppression circuit includes a plurality of different types of noise activity detectors, which are each adapted for detecting the presence of a different type of noise in a received signal. The noise suppression circuit further includes a plurality of different types of noise reduction circuits, which are each adapted for removing a different type of detected noise, where each noise reduction circuit respectively corresponds to one of the plurality of noise activity detectors. The respective noise reduction circuit is then selectively activated to condition the received signal to reduce the amount of the detected types of noise, when each one of the plurality of noise activity detectors detects the presence of a corresponding type of noise in the received signal.
US09966081B2 Method and apparatus for synthesizing separated sound source
Provided is a method and apparatus for synthesizing a separated sound source, the method including generating spatial information associated with a sound source included in a frame of a stereo audio signal, and synthesizing a separated frequency-domain sound source from the frame of the stereo audio signal based on the spatial information, wherein the spatial information includes a frequency-azimuth plane representing an energy distribution corresponding to a frequency and an azimuth of the frame of the stereo audio signal.
US09966073B2 Context-sensitive dynamic update of voice to text model in a voice-enabled electronic device
A voice to text model used by a voice-enabled electronic device is dynamically and in a context-sensitive manner updated to facilitate recognition of entities that potentially may be spoken by a user in a voice input directed to the voice-enabled electronic device. The dynamic update to the voice to text model may be performed, for example, based upon processing of a first portion of a voice input, e.g., based upon detection of a particular type of voice action, and may be targeted to facilitate the recognition of entities that may occur in a later portion of the same voice input, e.g., entities that are particularly relevant to one or more parameters associated with a detected type of voice action.
US09966070B2 Electrically operated domestic appliance having a voice recognition device
An electrically operated domestic appliance, in particular a kitchen appliance, includes a voice recognition device, which voice recognition device is designed to compare voice signals of a user with known control commands for operating the domestic appliance, and includes an activation device for activating the voice recognition device. The activation device has an optical detection device, wherein the activation device is designed to activate the voice recognition device in dependence on information captured by the optical detection device. A method operates the domestic appliance.
US09966066B1 System and methods for combining finite state transducer based speech recognizers
A speech recognition engine is provided. The speech recognition engine combines multiple, different statistical language models to allow a single instance of a speech recognition engine to recognize words applicable to a first group of users and a second group of users where the second group of users is a subset of the first group of users. At least one of the multiple, different statistical language models comprises words specific to the second group of users.
US09966065B2 Multi-command single utterance input method
Systems and processes are disclosed for handling a multi-part voice command for a virtual assistant. Speech input can be received from a user that includes multiple actionable commands within a single utterance. A text string can be generated from the speech input using a speech transcription process. The text string can be parsed into multiple candidate substrings based on domain keywords, imperative verbs, predetermined substring lengths, or the like. For each candidate substring, a probability can be determined indicating whether the candidate substring corresponds to an actionable command. Such probabilities can be determined based on semantic coherence, similarity to user request templates, querying services to determine manageability, or the like. If the probabilities exceed a threshold, the user intent of each substring can be determined, processes associated with the user intents can be executed, and an acknowledgment can be provided to the user.
US09966062B2 Method and device for voice recognition training
A method on a mobile device for voice recognition training is described. A voice training mode is entered. A voice training sample for a user of the mobile device is recorded. The voice training mode is interrupted to enter a noise indicator mode based on a sample background noise level for the voice training sample and a sample background noise type for the voice training sample. The voice training mode is returned to from the noise indicator mode when the user provides a continuation input that indicates a current background noise level meets an indicator threshold value.
US09966059B1 Reconfigurale fixed beam former using given microphone array
An acoustic interference cancellation system that performs beamforming using a subset of microphones from a microphone array. For example, a first group of microphones from an array can be used to generate target signals that focus on the direction of the desired speech in the audio and a second group of microphones from the array can be used to generate reference signals that include the environmental noise, audio from a loudspeaker, etc. The reference signals of the second group of microphones can then be used to isolate the actual speech from the target signals of the first group of microphones. The microphone array can be three dimensional, allowing a device to simplify beamforming calculations by selecting subsets of microphones along different planes. In addition, directional microphones and remote microphones may be used to improve a quality of the reference signals.
US09966057B1 Methods and systems for engine sound during idle-stop
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an engine sound audible to the operator in a vehicle cabin during an engine idle-stop. In one example, responsive to an engine idle-stop, modified versions of a generated engine sound may be played via a dashboard speaker during each of the engine spin-down, engine rest, and engine spin-up. The modified versions of a generated engine sound may at least partially cancel inherent engine spin-up and engine spin-down sounds while maintaining an engine idling sound.
US09966056B2 Biometrics-based dynamic sound masking
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprises: a speaker configured to provide a masking sound to an individual; a biometric sensor configured to collect biometric data from the individual; and a controller configured to modify the masking sound based on the biometric data.
US09966051B2 Sound production control apparatus, sound production control method, and storage medium
A sound production control apparatus by which a sound production mode is controlled on the basis of a player's motion even during a non-playing control operation period. An information obtaining unit 30 obtains detection information by detecting a player's motion. A sound processing unit 36 produces sound on the basis of the detection information obtained in response to operation for generating a sound trigger in the player's motion, and controls a sound production mode on the basis of the detection information obtained in response to operation for generating no sound trigger in the player's motion.
US09966048B2 Memory, display device including the same, and writing method of the same
A memory is provided, which comprises an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) configured to store an operation system and to be rewritable in response to a write operation signal, an address comparator configured to be connected to Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) lines and output the write operation signal to the EEPROM in response to an external signal, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) unit configured to determine whether to connect a DAC resistor and the I2C lines in response to the external signal and a pull-up resistor unit configured to be connected to the I2C lines.
US09966047B2 Time display method and apparatus
The present invention relates to a time display method. The method includes: when an electronic device in a standby state detects, by using a first sensor, that a movement track of the electronic device meets a first condition, acquiring current time of the electronic device; generating a clock display user interface UI by using the current time, and saving the clock display UI in a buffer; and displaying, on a screen of the electronic device, the clock display UI in the buffer when the screen of the electronic device is lit up. The present invention resolves a problem that time displayed when a screen of an electronic device is lit up undergoes a rapid change, and reduces power consumption of the electronic device.
US09966041B2 Display circuit and driving method and display apparatus thereof
A display circuit and a driving method thereof and a display apparatus are provided. The display circuit comprises a pixel unit (11), a first gate driving unit (12) and a second gate driving unit (13); wherein the first gate driving unit (12) is configured to input a first gate driving signal to the pixel unit (11); the second gate driving unit (13) is configured to input a second gate driving signal to the pixel unit (11); and the pixel unit (11) is configured to perform threshold compensating and gray scale displaying simultaneously under the control of the first gate driving signal and the second gate driving signal. The apparatus and method is capable of reducing the complexity in design of the display circuit, which is advantageous for raising density of pixels of the display panel. The apparatus and method are applicable to manufacture a display.
US09966039B2 Method and device for modulating image display quality of display device among different gray levels
The present disclosure provides a method and a device for modulating image display quality of a display device. The method includes: debugging a display device to a modulation state, so that a common voltage of the display device corresponding to a predetermined gray level is a standard voltage; and modulating a common voltage of the display device corresponding to other controllable gray level into a preset value, wherein there is a first preset relationship between the preset value and the standard voltage.
US09966035B2 Organic light emitting display device and driving method thereof
Discussed is an organic light emitting display device and a driving method thereof, which reduce a size of corrected image data by using a color compression scheme to decrease a capacity of a memory, and reduce a size of an integrated circuit (IC) to increase a manufacturing yield. The method can include loading a compensation coefficient stored in a memory, correcting image data by applying the compensation coefficient to a data voltage supplied to a pixel, compressing, in different compression schemes, corrected image data of a color having high visual perceivability and corrected image data of a color having low visual perceivability, and synthesizing corrected image data of red, green, and blue pixels, which are compressed by the different compression schemes, to store the synthesized image data in a memory.
US09966034B2 Display apparatus for displaying additional information on transparent display region
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes: a display panel unit which comprises a first panel region corresponding to an opaque display region, and a second panel region corresponding to a transparent display region, a panel driving unit which drives the first panel region and the second panel region independently, and a controller which controls to display a main image on the opaque display region and display an additional image on the transparent display region.
US09966032B2 Driving circuit and driving method
A driving circuit in this disclosure includes plural stages of shift register circuits. Every stage in the shift register circuits includes an enabling control circuit, a first output circuit, a second output circuit and a disabling control circuit. The enabling circuit is configured to control the voltage of the first operation node according to enabling signal. The first output unit is configured to generate the first driving signal according to the voltage of the first operation node and the first clock signal. The second output unit is configured to generate the second driving signal according to the voltage of the first operation node and the second clock signal. The disabling control unit is used to pull low the voltage of the first operation node and output terminal of the first and second output unit to the reference voltage according to the first, third, and fourth clock signals.
US09966030B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device according to the present disclosure includes a timing controller, a power supply unit, a data supply unit, and a liquid crystal display panel. The timing controller analyzes image data to sense a target pattern, and generates an operating signal in a case where the target pattern is sensed. The power supply unit generates first to fourth gamma voltages in a case where the operating signal is not received. The power supply unit generates first to fourth modulation voltages after a variable time in a case where the operating signal is received. The difference between the first and second modulation voltages is smaller than the difference between the first and second gamma voltages, and the difference between the third and fourth modulation voltages is smaller than the difference between the third and fourth gamma voltages.
US09966022B2 Display method and display device applied to MVA wide viewing angle liquid crystal screen
According to the method provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, under different gray-scale voltages, the liquid crystal deflection directions of liquid crystal molecules are different, such that when a first frame is displayed, the deflection difference between the deflection direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the pixel structure in the liquid crystal display screen and the deflection direction when a second frame is displayed is increased, after human eyes view the displayed first frame and second frame, an image obtained after the first frame and the second frame are displayed may be observed at different viewing angles, and at this time, the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display screen is increased on the premise of not increasing the number of sub-domains in the pixel structure of the liquid crystal display screen.
US09966019B2 Liquid crystal display with one third driving structure of pixel array of display panel
A liquid crystal display (LCD) including a display panel and a source driver is provided. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. The source driver is coupled to the display panel and includes a plurality of source lines. Each of the source lines of the source driver is responsible for performing the pixel-writing to six corresponding pixel columns in the display panel.
US09966016B2 Display method and display
A display method adapted to a display device. The display method includes: displaying first, second and third color fields respectively in first, second and third time periods such that each pixel have a background color; determining, from the pixels, multiple color breakup pixels according to the second color field of each pixel, the first color field of a first peripheral pixel of each pixel, the third color field of a second peripheral pixel of each pixel, and the background color of each pixel; calculating a color breakup color of each color breakup pixel; calculating a compensation color of each color breakup pixel according to the background color and the color breakup color of the color breakup pixel; and displaying a fourth color field in a fourth time period. For each color breakup pixel, the compensation color is displayed in the fourth color field.
US09966013B2 Display apparatus including a backlight and method of the driving display apparatus
A display apparatus includes an image data receiver receiving image data of an image to be displayed. A driving mode determining controller receives anomalous trichromat data of a user, determines a driving mode as either a general driving mode or an anomalous trichromat correction driving mode, and outputs a driving mode signal indicative of the determination. A correction mode requirement luminance calculator calculates a correction mode requirement luminance for an image output for the user. A backlight boosting determination controller determines a level of boosting light emitted from a backlight, and outputs a boosting determine signal. An image data converter converts image data corresponding to the anomalous trichromat data of the user and the correction mode requirement luminance, and outputs a data signal corresponding to correction image data. The backlight emits light having an intensity corresponding to signals. A pixel transmits light according to the data signal.
US09966011B2 TV set, method of controlling backlight of liquid crystal panel and storage medium
A TV set including a liquid crystal panel, a processor-readable storage medium storing instruction units for providing the TV set functions to control backlight of the liquid crystal panel; and one or more processors in communication with the storage medium to execute the instruction units, wherein the instruction units include: an image information amount determining unit (102); the backlight gain retrieving unit (104); a backlight value extracting unit (106); the backlight value processing unit (108); and a backlight value transmitting unit (110). Correspondingly a method of controlling backlight of a liquid crystal panel is further disclosed. In the technical solution of the disclosure, a backlight modulation coefficient can be modulated dynamically according to the amount of image information to perform backlight enhancement on an image with a large amount of information.
US09966008B2 Pixel circuit and organic light emitting display device including the same
A pixel circuit includes an OLED, an OLED driving block, a first switch, and a second switch. The OLED has an anode and a cathode connected to ELVSS. The OLED driving block connected between the anode and ELVDD controls a driving current flowing through the OLED, a first switch is turned on or off responding to a first control-signal and transfers a sensing-bias-voltage to the anode when turned on. The second switch is turned on or off responding to a second control-signal and transfers a deterioration-sensing-voltage to the anode when turned on. In a display mode, the first and second switches are turned off. In a deterioration sensing mode, the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off during a first time, and the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on during a second time.
US09966007B2 Organic light emitting display and method for controlling emission thereof
Discussed are an organic light emitting display which can reduce flicker, along with power consumption, and a driving method thereof. In a low-power operation mode of the organic light emitting display, at least one holding frame is placed between writing frames in which image data is written, the output of the source driver is enabled during the writing frames, the output of the source driver is disabled during the holding frames, and the emission driver is controlled during the holding frames to increase the toggle frequency of the emission signal to be higher than or equal to N times the frame frequency (N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2). The driving method can reduce the perceived flicker.
US09966004B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display includes: a substrate comprising a red pixel, a green pixel, and a blue pixel arranged in a matrix; a scan line on the substrate and extending in a row direction; a red data line, a green data line, and a blue data line between adjacent pixel columns to cross the scan line; a driving voltage line alternating with the red data line, the green data line, and the blue data line; and a horizontal driving voltage line extending parallel with the scan line and electrically connected to the driving voltage line.
US09966001B2 Pixel, organic light emitting display device including pixel, and method of driving organic light emitting display device
A pixel set may include the following elements: a first diode for emitting first light of first color in a first time period; a second diode for emitting second light of second color in a second time period not overlapping the first time period; a first driving transistor for controlling electrical connection between a first power supply line and the first diode; a second driving transistor for controlling electrical connection between a second power supply line and the second diode; and a data transistor for transmitting a data voltage to a gate electrode of the first driving transistor and a gate electrode of the second driving transistor in response to a scan signal.
US09966000B2 Electro-static discharge and electric overstress protection strategy for micro-chip array on panel
A display system includes an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs), first and second driver chips, and one or more protection chips on a display substrate. The first and second driver chips are to drive a first group of LEDs of the array of LEDs and a second group of LEDs of the array of LEDs, respectively. Each protection chip includes one or more electro-static discharge (ESD) protection devices to assist with protecting the driver chips from damage caused by an ESD event. In one embodiment, each ESD protection device is connected between one or more signal lines, one or more power supply voltage lines, and an electrical ground line of the display substrate. In one embodiment, at least one protection chip comprises one or more electric overstress (EOS) protection devices to assist with protecting the driver chips from damage caused by an EOS event.
US09965997B2 Sequence controlled timing controller, bridge integrated circuit, and method of driving thereof
Provided are a sequence controlled timing controller, a bridge integrated circuit, and a method of driving thereof. The bridge integrated circuit which controls an interface unit, an image converting unit, and a transceiver to transmit image to the timing controller when a loading completed signal is received from the timing controller can be provided. Further, the method of driving the bridge integrated circuit and the timing controller to transmit and receive the loading completed signal so that the bridge integrated circuit converts image data and transmits the converted image data to the timing controller can be provided.
US09965994B2 Data line share (DLS) array substrates and the display devices thereof for reducing signal delay
The array substrate includes a substrate and at least one display pixel arranged on the substrate. The display pixel includes a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels arranged along a row direction and a column direction. The period along the row direction or the column direction includes three display pixels. Wherein within at least one period along the row direction and the column direction, the display pixel of the first row includes one second pixel and two first pixels adjacent to the second pixel. The display pixel of the second row includes one first pixel and two second pixels adjacent to the first pixel. The display pixel of the third row includes one first pixel and two second pixels adjacent to the first pixel, and the first pixel of the third row is in different column from the first pixel of the second row.
US09965992B2 Display device
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a display panel and a scan driver configured to provide a plurality of scan signals to the display panel via a plurality of scan-lines. The scan signals include upper, lower, left and right scan signals. The scan-lines include first and second vertical scan-lines, and first and second horizontal scan-lines respectively arranged in upper and lower regions of the display panel. The display device also includes a data driver configured to provide a plurality of data signals to the display panel, and a timing controller configured to control the scan driver and data driver.
US09965982B2 Near-eye light field display
A near-eye light field display device for displaying a light field to at least one eye of a viewer, the device comprising an array of light field display elements, each display element adapted to display a time-varying light field view image, the display device configured to modulate the focus of the time-varying view image displayed by each display element according to a time-varying fixation depth of the at least one eye.
US09965981B1 Helium free balloon support bracket
The invention includes methods and apparatus for a balloon support bracket that may be secured to an attachment surface such as a light pole or fence and may further be coupled with one or more helium-free balloons through a balloon support. Additional embodiments include novel quick-release coupling and security features to enhance ease of use and deter theft.
US09965980B2 Advertising display
Deployable display with an expansion system comprising a traction elastic element. The elastic element is basically formed by an elastic band which is annular or is cord-type with engaging elements, and optionally by at least one extension for extending the length of a said band, formed by a plate made of flexible or semi-flexible sheet material provided with engaging elements for said elastic band, the assembly in turn being engaged to side projections of the display. The limiting system is implemented by the reduction in the elastic force and/or by the own resting length of the elastic band in cooperation, where appropriate, with the length of the extension element.
US09965975B2 Puzzle system of elements for pairing
A system includes several pairable elements and elements to be used for such a system. Each of the elements is adapted to be combined with another element, thereby constituting a pair of elements. The elements include a first indicator where when combining the first indicator of a first element and the first indicator of a second element in a manner specific to the first indicators, the combined first indicators indicate if the first and second elements are a pair. Further, elements include a second indicator where when combining the second indicator of the first element and a second indicator of the second element in an manner specific to the second indicators, the combined second indicators indicate if the elements are a pair and if they are not a pair, the combined second indicators identify the right element to pair with said first and second element.
US09965974B2 Portable device with virtual tactile keyboard and refreshable Braille display
A single-unit portable Braille device is provided that can include a housing and a touch-sensitive surface provided on the housing and configured to implement a virtual Braille keyboard including a plurality of virtual keys each associated with a key location on the touch-sensitive surface. The virtual Braille keyboard is configured for entry of input Braille data from a user contacting the touch-sensitive surface at one or more of the key locations. The portable Braille device also includes a refreshable Braille display provided on the housing and configured for outputting output Braille data for tactile reading by the user, and a processing unit in the housing and configured to receive the input Braille data from the touch-sensitive surface and to transmit the output Braille data to the refreshable Braille display. In some implementations, the portable Braille device includes a visual display located under the touch-sensitive surface.
US09965973B2 Systems and methods providing enhanced education and training in a virtual reality environment
Virtual reality arc welding systems that provide virtual reality simulations for training purposes. Virtual reality welding systems to aid in training welding students may provide a spatial tracker, at least one mock welding tool, a user interface for the input of information into the system, and intelligent connections to web sites on the internet.
US09965972B2 Management of off-task time in a participatory environment
Participatory activity carried out using electronic devices is enhanced by occupying the attention of participants who complete a task before a set completion time. For example, a request or question having an expected response time less than the remaining answer time may be provided to early-finishing participants.
US09965966B2 Instructions on a wearable device
A system is configured for a developer/modeler to be able to define various steps. Each step can be a step in the installation of a product. Each step can have one or more cards. Each card corresponds to a screen which can be presented to a user and which displays various information such as an instruction, a list of items to be installed, etc. There is a sequential relationship between the steps. A first step and a last step are defined, with each step in-between having a preceding and a following step. Similarly, for each of the steps that includes more than one card, there is a sequential relationship between the cards of the respective step, which cards include a first card, a last card, and intermediate cards, each of the latter of which has a preceding card and a following card.
US09965962B1 Aerial robotics network management infrastructure
An Aerial Robotics Network (ARN) Management Infrastructure (MI) (also referred to as ARNMI) that provides a mechanism for the management of aerobots.
US09965957B2 Driving support apparatus and driving support method
An image of the nearby surroundings of a user's vehicle is displayed, which includes images of the user's vehicle and threshold lines that define a range of distance from the user's vehicle. The image of the nearby surroundings of the user's vehicle is changed in accordance with a positional relationship between another vehicle and the range of distance.
US09965956B2 Collision risk calculation device, collision risk display device, and vehicle body control device
A collision risk calculation device includes: a movement information obtaining unit that obtains a speed and a movement direction of an obstacle; and a risk map generator that generates a risk map indicating a range within which the obstacle can exist after one unit of time and degree of risk of collision of an own vehicle with the obstacle within the range, on a basis of the speed and the movement direction of the obstacle obtained by the movement information obtaining unit, wherein the risk map generator changes the range in left and right directions with respect to a traveling direction of the obstacle, on a basis of the speed of the obstacle in the traveling direction.
US09965952B2 Road condition management
Road condition management is provided. A first road problem at a first location is identified, based, at least in part, on a current traffic pattern and current environmental conditions at the first location. An optimized plan for road repairs is generated. The optimized plan identifies one or more road problems. The plan is optimized based on a severity index of each of the one or more road problems and an availability of at least one resource. An alert is issued to at least one interface device, wherein the alert describes the first road problem.
US09965951B1 Cognitive traffic signal control
In an approach for adapting traffic signal timing, a computer receives a streaming video for one or more paths of a first intersection. The computer identifies traffic within the received streaming video. The computer calculates traffic flow for the one or more paths of the first intersection based on the identified traffic. The computer determines whether a change in a state of a traffic signal for the first intersection should occur based at least in part on the identified traffic and the determined traffic flow with respect to predefined objectives. Responsive to determining the change in the state of the traffic signal for the first intersection should occur, the computer calculates a change to a traffic signal timing based on the determined change in the state of the traffic signal. The computer initiates an adaptation to the traffic signal timing based on the determined change to the traffic signal timing.
US09965947B2 Trainable transceiver and method of operation utilizing existing vehicle user interfaces
A transmitter device for coupling to a vehicle and for conducting a transmission to a remote system includes a transmitter and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and having an input interface. The input interface is coupled to an existing user interface of the vehicle for receiving an input to cause the transmitter to conduct its transmission to the remote system. The input interface is coupled to a vehicle sensor for receiving a vehicle sensor input including a motion status of the vehicle. The processing circuit is configured to prevent the transmitter from conducting its transmission to the remote system unless the motion status of the vehicle indicates the vehicle is travelling at a speed less than a threshold speed.
US09965944B1 Protective device for alarm systems
An example protective device for an alarm system includes a first connection interface configured to couple communicatively to a command module via a first communications bus, a second connection interface configured to couple communicatively to a communications module via a second communications bus, and a third connection interface configured to couple communicatively to one or more sensors or input devices via a third communications bus. The protective device is configured to receive, from a control module via the first communications bus, a first electrical signal corresponding to a command addressing the communications module. In response, the protective device transmits the first electrical signal to the communications module via the second communications bus. The protective device is also configured to detect a fault condition with respect to the third communication bus. In response, the protective device electrically isolates the first and second communications buses from the third communications bus.
US09965943B2 Hand hygiene compliance monitoring system
A hand hygiene compliance monitoring system includes a method and computer program product for performing sanitation compliance monitoring including receiving sanitation compliance data. The sanitation compliance data includes a zone identifier corresponding to a first device in a zone and an entity identifier corresponding to a second device attached to a mobile entity in the zone. The zone is defined by an area over which the first device and the second device communicate via one-way or two-way communication. It is determined whether the entity is compliant with a sanitation protocol associated with the zone, and a database is updated with results of the determining.
US09965942B2 User intervention based on tracking device sensor data
A tracking system can provide intervention notifications to a user to notify the user that a tracking device is potentially lost or is in a predicted state. The tracking system may notify the user that a tracking device is potentially lost or in a predicted state based on a number of factors, including: a proximity of a tracking device to other tracking devices or a user's mobile device, a movement of a tracking device to more than a threshold distance away from a mobile device or other tracking devices, a location of a tracking device relative to a geographic location or to geographic boundaries, a usage or movement behavior of the tracking device, a usage or movement behavior of a user or owner of a tracking device, information received from an external source, or information received from sensors within the tracking device or a user's mobile.
US09965938B1 Restroom queue management
The present invention includes systems and methods for managing restroom traffic at an event venue. Sensors at restroom facilities receive line and occupancy data and transmit the data to a system for processing. The system generates information regarding a travel time, a wait time, line length, and occupancy for each facility at the event venue. The generated information is transmitted to an event app associated with a ticket and a seat for an event at the venue. The system can notify the user when the combined travel time and wait time for a facility falls below a predetermined threshold.
US09965937B2 External malware data item clustering and analysis
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a data analysis system that may automatically generate memory-efficient clustered data structures, automatically analyze those clustered data structures, and provide results of the automated analysis in an optimized way to an analyst. The automated analysis of the clustered data structures (also referred to herein as data clusters) may include an automated application of various criteria or rules so as to generate a compact, human-readable analysis of the data clusters. The human-readable analyzes (also referred to herein as “summaries” or “conclusions”) of the data clusters may be organized into an interactive user interface so as to enable an analyst to quickly navigate among information associated with various data clusters and efficiently evaluate those data clusters in the context of, for example, a fraud investigation. Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to automated scoring of the clustered data structures.
US09965936B1 Network communication and accountability system for individual and group safety
A safe network system is provided, wherein the safe network system communicatively couples to proximate peripheral and adjunct devices for identifying threats, sending threat alerts, providing routes to safe locations in threatened areas, and checking in on network users during and after the identified threat.
US09965930B1 Electronic device including piezoelectric material layer and temperature compensation circuitry and related methods
An electronic device may include a beam layer, a piezoelectric material layer coupled to the beam layer, and a temperature sensor adjacent the piezoelectric material layer. The electronic device may also include drive circuitry coupled to the piezoelectric material layer and configured to drive the piezoelectric material layer with a low frequency drive signal for actuating the piezoelectric material layer, and a high frequency drive signal for sensing a pressure applied to the piezoelectric material layer. The high frequency drive signal may have a higher frequency than the low frequency drive signal. The electronic device may also include readout circuitry coupled to the piezoelectric material layer and configured to generate a sensed pressure value based upon the high frequency drive signal. Temperature compensation circuitry may cooperate with the readout circuitry to compensate the sensed pressure value based upon the temperature sensor.
US09965929B2 Tactile information providing device
The present invention relates to a tactile information providing device. The tactile information providing device according to the present invention comprises a tactile transmission unit (1: 10, 20) formed of a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) material, wherein the tactile transmission unit (1) provides tactile information through the transformation (10a-10d, 20a-20d) by an external magnetic field.
US09965928B2 System and method for displaying messages in a column-by-column format via an array of LEDs connected to a circuit of a compressor
An indication system is provided and includes evaluation, messaging, and display modules and a display. The evaluation module generates a message based on a parameter of a compressor or a drive. The messaging module: generates a message based on the parameter; generates a string of glyphs based on the message; selects a predetermined number of glyphs in the string of glyphs; generates column data for the selected glyphs; and generates packets including the column data. The display module generates output signals based on the packets. The display includes an array of LEDs, does not include a transistor, and illuminates the LEDs based on the output signals. The display module is configured to generate the output signals to illuminate one or more of the LEDS in a column-by-column format, such that power is only provided to one column of the array of LEDs at any moment in time.
US09965926B2 Gaming system, device and method involving a sports event having incremental outcomes
A gaming system, device and method are disclosed herein. The system, in an embodiment, is operable upon a wager input and involves competing symbols associated with a sports event having a series of incremental outcomes. The system is operable to provide an output corresponding to a payout value depending upon which symbol is selected.
US09965925B2 Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with symbol class eliminations
A gaming system includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes one or more different classes or sets of symbols. Each class or set of symbols includes one or more related symbols. If a symbol class triggering event occurs in association with a class or set of symbols, the gaming system removes each of the related symbols in that class of symbols which are displayed at symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position matrices.
US09965921B2 Poker communities
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for providing play areas to communities of players in an online game. One method includes an operation for identifying attributes of players in the online game. A characteristic that is common to a subset of players is determined in the online game, where the characteristic is based on the attributes of players in the online game. The method further includes an operation for creating a playing area in the online game, such that the subset of players are allowed to play in the playing area, but other players in the online game, that are outside the subset of players, are disallowed from playing in the playing area. The subset of players is then enabled to play in the playing area with other players from the subset of players.
US09965918B2 Overlapping LCD displays for a gaming machine
A gaming system includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly including a first LCD panel and a second LCD panel. The first LCD panel and the second LCD panel each have an active display region between two opposing inactive sides of the respective LCD panel. At least one LCD panel includes an LCD glass panel which is cut, removing the majority of the inactive side and creating a smaller, inactive side at the edge of the respective LCD panel, adjacent to the active display region. The first and second LCD panels are mounted onto a single light source illuminating both the first and second LCD panels, such that inactive side at the edge of the at least one cut LCD panel overlaps another inactive side of the other LCD panel at one edge without obscuring any of the active display region of either LCD panel.
US09965917B2 Gaming machine for changing game sound in free game and control method thereof
A slot machine displays on a display a unit game in which arranged symbols are rearranged. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the slot machine displays on the display a free game that is a special game. The slot machine also changes a game sound that has been emitted into a different game sound when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the free game.
US09965916B2 Medium bundle storage device and medium processing device
A reject storage box is provided with a sufficiently thick cover body above a second storage space that stores banknote bundles W that a user has forgotten to take, and a guide space is provided penetrating the cover body in an oblique direction. In the reject storage box, when a banknote bundle falls into an intake hole from above, a lower face of the banknote bundle immediately contacts a position toward the top of a main guide face, and the banknote bundle W travels downward through the guide space with the lower face of the banknote bundle W sliding against the main guide face. The reject storage box thereby enables the banknote bundle dropping downward through the guide space to be maintained in a substantially uniform orientation, and ultimately enables the banknote bundle to be stacked neatly inside the second storage space.
US09965915B2 System and method for document and article authentication
A system for authentication of paper sheet and other articles includes an optical sensor configured to generate an image of a first side of an article and a processor operatively connected to the optical sensor. The processor is configured to generate an image of the article with the optical sensor, the image including features that are illuminated by an external illumination source through the article, and generate an output indicating if the article is authentic in response to the features corresponding to a predetermined plurality of features that are generated from another image of the article corresponding to features in the generated image and in response to a cryptographic signature corresponding to feature data that are extracted from the other image corresponding to a valid cryptographic signature of a predetermined party.
US09965912B2 On-vehicle apparatus control system, on-vehicle control device, and portable machine
An on-vehicle apparatus control system includes: a first on-vehicle switch and a second located farther from an on-vehicle reception unit than the first on-vehicle switch; an on-vehicle control device; and a portable machine. In a case where the on-vehicle switches is operated, the on-vehicle control device transmits a response request signal to the portable machine, the portable machine returns a response signal, and the on-vehicle control device controls an on-vehicle apparatus. The on-vehicle apparatus control system further includes a level switch. In a case where the first on-vehicle switch is operated, the level switch switches transmission intensity of a portable machine transmission unit or reception sensitivity of an on-vehicle reception unit to a first level, and in a case where the second on-vehicle switch is operated, the level switch switches the transmission intensity or the reception sensitivity to a second level higher than the first level.
US09965907B1 Running characteristic for frequent data readings
A system for frequent data readings includes an input interface and a processor. The input interface is to receive frequent data readings. The frequent data readings include a newest data reading. The processor is to determine a simplified running characteristic based at least in part on the newest data readings and a last simplified running characteristic, and store the simplified running characteristic.
US09965903B2 Postage metering with accumulated postage
Systems and methods which provide metering of postage value using accumulated postage information are shown. Embodiments implement an accumulated postage register in a postage security device which is incremented each time a postage indicium is generated and which is reset when a postage value settlement operation is performed. Accumulated postage may be paid for using various accounts, including pre-funded or pre-paid accounts, credit accounts, debit accounts, and billing accounts. Accordingly, embodiments may be used with respect to a post-paid metering model, a pre-paid metering model, and combinations thereof.
US09965897B2 Eyewear operational guide system and method
A guide system for guiding actions of an individual includes a guide system controller and a head wearable display device that includes a display that is viewable by an individual wearing the device. An information signal from the controller to the head wearable display device generates a visual image on the display corresponding to the information signal that is viewable by the individual, with the visual image providing guidance to the wearer to perform an action and the display being generally transparent and the visual image electronically generated and virtually over laid on a physical object or surface when viewed through the display. Upon completion of an action associated with the visual image, a confirmation signal is provided to the controller.
US09965896B2 Display device and display method
A display method includes: detecting a specific object from an input image captured by a camera; generating display data for rendering a plan view, a first display component, and a second display component based on a positional relationship between the camera and the specific object, the plan view corresponding to a first plane which is different from a second plane projected on the input image, the first display component being displayed at a camera position on the first plane, and the second display component being displayed at a reference object position on the first plane; receiving a designation of a point on the plane view; converting a designated position on the first plane into another position on depth direction to the second plane; generating positional information indicating three dimensional position of an augmented reality content based on the another position.
US09965892B2 Rendering tessellated geometry with motion and defocus blur
A moving or defocused geometry may be stochastically rendered by grouping a plurality of primitives of that geometry in a hierarchical data structure. Visible fragments may be located in that data structure by hierarchically traversing a ray frustum through the structure. A time-dependent ray tracing data structure may be used in some embodiments.
US09965888B2 Method and apparatus for generating and traversing acceleration structure
Methods and apparatus for ray tracing, and methods and apparatus for generating acceleration structure or traversing acceleration structure are provided. A method of generating an acceleration structure includes assigning objects into bounding boxes, generating an acceleration structure comprising nodes and indicating inclusion relationships between the bounding boxes, and marking overlapping nodes among the nodes.
US09965883B2 Unified image processing for combined images based on spatially co-located zones
A unified image processing algorithm results in better post-processing quality for combined images that are made up of multiple single-capture images. To ensure that each single-capture image is processed in the context of the entire combined image, the combined image is analyzed to determine portions of the image (referred to as “zones”) that should be processed with the same parameters for various image processing algorithms. These zones may be determined based on the content of the combined image. Alternatively, these zones may be determined based on the position of each single-capture image with respect to the entire combined image or the other single-capture images. Once zones and their corresponding image processing parameters are determined for the combined image, they are translated to corresponding zones each of the single-capture images. Finally, the image processing algorithms are applied to each of the single-capture images using the zone-specified parameters.
US09965882B2 Generating image compositions
Implementations generally relate to generating image compositions. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a plurality of photos from a user and determining one or more composition types from the photos. The method further includes generating one or more compositions from the received photos based on the one or more determined composition types, where each composition is based on modified foregrounds of the photos. The method further includes providing the one or more generated compositions to the user.
US09965881B2 Method for generating image and image generation system
A method, executed by a processor of an image generation system, includes obtaining an image of a first area included in a first image and an image of a second area included in a second image, calculating a first conversion parameter for converting the image of the first area such that color information regarding the image of the first area becomes similar to color information regarding the image of the second area, converting the first image using the first conversion parameter, and generating a third image as a training image used for machine learning for image recognition by combining the converted first image and the second image with each other.
US09965879B2 Apparatus and method for generating and displaying cartoon content
An apparatus for generating cartoon content includes: a cut input controller configured to control inputting of a signal of adding a cut included in the cartoon content and including a plurality of layers; an effect input controller configured to control inputting of a perspective effect applied to the plurality of layers; and a cut generator configured to generate a final cut such that the plurality of layers express the perspective effect in correspondence with a user event received from a user, wherein the cut generator generates final layers such that the plurality of layers have movement degrees and directions based on layers of the respective layers, in correspondence with the perspective effect.
US09965874B2 Calibration method for an MPI(=Magnetic particle imaging) apparatus
A calibration method for an MPI (=magnetic particle imaging) apparatus for conducting an MPI experiment, wherein the calibration method comprises m calibration MPI measurements with a calibration test piece and uses these measurements to create an image reconstruction matrix with which the signal contributions of N voxels within an investigation volume of the MPI apparatus are determined, wherein compressed sensing steps are applied in the calibration method with a transformation matrix that sparsifies the image construction matrix, and wherein only a number M
US09965872B2 Display processing terminal device, photosensor-equipped unit, and photometric system
In a photometric system, a photosensor-equipped unit includes a transmission information holding portion that holds transmission information relating to a screen display direction of a display portion with a content suitable for a photosensor. When the photosensor-equipped unit is connected to a display processing terminal device, the photosensor-equipped unit can transmit the transmission information to the display processing terminal device. The display processing terminal device includes a screen display control portion that executes a display direction setting process during connection for setting a screen display direction of the display portion based upon the transmission information.
US09965871B1 Multi-binarization image processing
An image encoded with character information can be created by binarizing an input image followed by connected component labeling, and then repeating the binarization and connected component labeling on an inverted version of the input image. This results in identification of connected components. Related connected components are arranged in a family tree in which successive generations of the connected components alternate between two tree layer classifications. One of the tree layer classifications is selected based on whether certain connected components define characters. A label image is created which includes labels for the connected components except for the connected components in the selected tree layer classification.
US09965870B2 Camera calibration method using a calibration target
Calibration methods use a calibration target for obtaining the intrinsic and extrinsic camera parameters of one or more cameras are. The methods can include acquiring, with each camera, a sequence of target images representing the calibration target in different target poses and at different acquisition times. The methods can include identifying reference images from the target images, and defining volume bins, angle bins and multi-camera bins into which the reference images are stored. The reference images can be used to determine the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the one or more cameras. In some implementations, the calibration methods can enable a user to monitor the progress of the calibration process, for example by providing an interactive calibration target including an input/output user interface to guide the user in real-time during the acquisition of the target images and/or sensors to provide positional information about the target poses.
US09965868B2 Automatic guiding system for analyzing ground texture and method for the same
An automatic guiding system for analyzing ground texture in or on an autonomous mobile device comprises an image acquisition module, a ground texture analysis module, a posture sensing module, and a ground texture database. The image acquisition module collects ground images as the autonomous mobile device moves. The ground texture analysis module processes the ground images, and extracts texture information of the ground images. The posture sensing module continuously senses the posture of the autonomous mobile device. The ground texture database is configured to stores the texture information and the posture.
US09965860B2 Method and device for calibration-free gaze estimation
The invention relates to a method of gaze estimation. As to determine the position of the gaze without calibrating the system used for determining the gaze, the method comprises: detecting at least a location of the center of at least an eye on at least an eye image of a viewer watching at least a video image displayed on a screen; determining at least a first position of the gaze of the viewer on the screen by using the at least a detected location of the center of the at least an eye and a mapping function based on center-bias property of human gaze distribution. The invention also relates to a device configured for estimating the gaze.
US09965854B2 Medical image processing apparatus, medical image processing method, and computer-readable medium
A medical image processing apparatus includes a core line identifying unit that identifies a core line of a predetermined region of a tubular structure from medical three-dimensional image data, a center position identifying unit that identifies a center position of the tubular structure from a plurality of points forming the core line identified by the core line identifying unit, an obtaining unit that obtains positions where straight lines intersecting at the center position and the tubular structure in the medical three-dimensional image data are in contact with each other, and a calculating unit that calculates a length of the tubular structure based on the positions obtained by the obtaining unit.
US09965851B2 Method for inspecting pattern and an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same
The inventive concepts provide a method for inspecting a pattern, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and an apparatus used according to the methods. The method for inspecting a pattern includes detecting a measured image corresponding to a pattern formed on a substrate, detecting a first hot spot corresponding to a ghost image of the measured image, with the first hot spot representing a defect of the pattern, and detecting a second hot spot that has an area that is wider than that of the first hot spot.
US09965840B2 Device and method for determining weight, in particular the weight of a container filled with product
The invention relates to a device and a method for determining the weight of product (2), in particular a pharmaceutical product, which is located in a container (3). The device comprises at least one x-ray source (28), which produces a radiation path (18), for passing radiation through the container (3), and a sensor (14), which detects the radiation of the container (3) through which radiation is passed in the form of an image (12), wherein an evaluating apparatus (14), is provided, which divides the image (12) of the container (3) through which radiation is passed into at least one evaluation region (21) in which there is no product (2).
US09965838B2 Caliper for measuring objects in an image
The invention relates to a user interface (300) for measuring an object viewed in an image computed from image data, the user interface comprising an image unit (310) for visualizing the image data in the image, a deployment unit (320) for deploying a caliper (21) in an image data space, a scaling unit (330) for scaling the caliper (21) by a scaling factor in a direction in the image data space, a translation unit (340) for translating the caliper (21) in the image data space, and a caliper unit (350) for visualizing the caliper (21) in the image, wherein the caliper (21) comprises a knot for measuring the object, and wherein the object is measured based on the scaling factor. The caliper (21) comprising the knot, which determines the shape of the caliper (21), is a simple reference object of known geometry and size. Looking at the image data and the caliper (21) visualized in the image, the user may easily place the caliper (21) in the image data space and adjust its size to match the size of the measured object. Unlike the prior art methods, which are based on selecting two points and measuring the distance between them, there is no need to change the view of the image data in order to place and/or adjust the size of the caliper (21). Therefore, the caliper (21) of the invention typically reduces the amount of manual interactions needed to measure the object. Advantageously, the caliper (21) of the invention also enhances the visual experience of the user. The size of the caliper (21) may be isotropically or anisotropically adjusted, i.e. in one or more directions, by rotating a mouse wheel, while the mouse translations may determine the location of the caliper (21) in the viewing plane.
US09965833B2 Optical system characteristic data storing device, method, and program for image restoration filtering
Disclosed is a technique capable of efficiently storing and retaining characteristic data (a restoration filter or the like) of an optical system used for a restoration process in a storage unit with limited storage capacity in consideration of the degree of image restoration. An image processing device includes a characteristic data storage unit 42 which is capable of storing characteristic data of a plurality of types of optical systems, and a restoration processing unit which subjects source image data to a restoration process using a restoration filter based on a point spread function of an optical system to acquire recovered image data. In case where storing new characteristic data in the characteristic data storage unit, characteristic data which is stored in the characteristic data storage unit 42 is controlled based on a restoration evaluation value which is allocated to characteristic data according to the type of optical system.
US09965830B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
Provided is an image processing apparatus, for displaying image data in accordance with a line-of-sight direction of a viewer, that includes: storage means for storing a plurality of environment maps having different resolutions; obtaining means for obtaining as motion information of the viewer; retaining means for retaining a current area that is being displayed; target area determination means for determining a target area on the basis of the current area and the motion information; path area determination means for determining as a path area an area that includes a path, from the current area to the target area, along which the line-of-sight direction changes; setting means for setting resolutions that respectively correspond to the path area and the target area; and generation means for reading pieces of image data that respectively correspond to the path area and the target area from environment maps having the resolutions set by the setting means, and for generating image data for display in the path area and image data for display in the target area.
US09965827B2 Graphics processing system for and method of storing and querying vertex attribute data in a cache
A graphics processing system for processing polygons includes a cache with cache lines for storing data entries, each line having a tag for identifying the data stored in the line. The polygons have vertices with which pieces of vertex attribute data are associated. The system also includes processing circuitry which writes, to a line in a first set of lines, data entries associated with pieces of vertex attribute data. The pieces of vertex attribute data are associated with the vertices of a polygon. The processing circuitry also writes a tag including a polygon identifier to identify the polygon associated with the data entries to the line in the first set of lines, and writes, to a second set of lines of the cache, data entries associated with pieces of vertex attribute data. The processing circuitry also writes tags including vertex identifiers to the second set of lines to identify the vertices associated with the data entries.
US09965826B2 Resource management
Embodiments of the present invention provide resource managing methods and systems. The method comprises: receiving a request to allocate resources sent from host code of an application program located on a first device; in accordance with the allocation request and a maintained mapping logic mapping available hardware resources of at least one graphics processing unit (GPU) of the first device to a unified virtual GPU resource, allocating required resources for a device code of the application program from the available hardware resources of at least one GPU of the first device; and forwarding information of the allocated resource back to the host code. The present invention can efficiently utilize GPU resources and reduce implementation costs.
US09965824B2 Architecture for high performance, power efficient, programmable image processing
An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes an image processing unit. The image processing unit includes a network. The image processing unit includes a plurality of stencil processor circuits each comprising an array of execution unit lanes coupled to a two-dimensional shift register array structure to simultaneously process multiple overlapping stencils through execution of program code. The image processing unit includes a plurality of sheet generators respectively coupled between the plurality of stencil processors and the network. The sheet generators are to parse input line groups of image data into input sheets of image data for processing by the stencil processors, and, to form output line groups of image data from output sheets of image data received from the stencil processors. The image processing unit includes a plurality of line buffer units coupled to the network to pass line groups in a direction from producing stencil processors to consuming stencil processors to implement an overall program flow.
US09965816B2 System and method for administering licenses stored in an electronic module, and product unit comprising said module
The product unit disclosed herein has identification data that are stored internally in memory. This stored identification data can be viewed as the product unit's “digital nameplate,” in that the data can represent the product unit's identifier, brand, and so on. Each data set is digitally signed while on the production line by using an encryption technique. The digitally signed data set is then written into the product unit's memory where it can be used for verification. A first digitally-signed data set can be used to control the use of one or more software modules that are provided by a software owner. The data that are undergoing signature contain at least one globally-unique identifier, which can be used to identify cloning attempts. Additionally, more than one digital signature can be used, in order to protect and control the use of features other than the software, such as the product brand.
US09965811B2 Techniques to promote messages
Techniques to promote messages in a social networking services to increase communication opportunities while throttling unsolicited messages are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may have a message generation component and a message delivery component. The message generation component may be operative to receive a request from a first member of a social networking service (SNS) to send a message for a second member of the SNS. The message delivery component may be operative to deliver the message to one of multiple mailboxes for the second member based on a tiered payment schedule. The tiered payment schedule may include a first parameter to represent a relationship type between the first and second members, a second parameter to represent a subscriber tier for the second member, and a third parameter to represent a promotional cost associated with the subscriber tier. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09965810B1 Importing accounting application data into a tax preparation application
Automatically mapping and importing accounting application data into to a tax preparation application. Account data including an account name is received from an accounting application. A tax category corresponding to the account name is determined automatically, and a tax line assignment or line of a form of the tax preparation application is automatically assigned to the account name such that the corresponding account data can be mapped to and imported into the appropriate section of a tax return. For this purpose, a table or spreadsheet of search terms may be used to correlate an account name selected by a user to a tax category, which is used to determine the appropriate tax line assignment or line of a tax form for that particular account.
US09965808B1 Systems and methods for projecting and managing cash-in flow for financial accounts
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing cash in transactions for an entity's accounts. In an embodiment, a system comprises a processor configured to render an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) for a cash in center on a display device. The GUI includes plurality of selectable, actionable user interface (UI) elements. The cash in center displays past, unconfirmed and ‘confirmed’ Cash in transactions, which can be edited, deleted, and scheduled (or re-scheduled) by selecting UI elements. A UI element is selectable to add new customers and new Cash in transactions. In embodiments, methods employ the Cash in center to add, edit, project, and delete Cash in transactions such as incoming transfers, credits, customer payments, and receivables. The methods and system also enable entities to place Cash In transaction in a confirmed status to indicate that an incoming customer payment, credit, or transfer is being processed.
US09965807B1 Systems for generating graphical user interfaces for facilitating an insurance marketplace for negotiations among brokers and insurance carriers
Methods are disclosed for providing leads for insurance market participants. A method may include a broker providing for consideration, their clients' insurance risk to be considered by multiple insurance capital providers. The broker can be provided with potential carrier matches based on analysis of broker and carrier insurance preferences, and previous transactions. Similarly, methods may include carriers disclosing their risk appetites, in the form of insurance products and services for consideration. The carrier may also be provided with potential broker and/or client matches based on analysis of the broker and carrier insurance preferences and previous transactions. Systems and apparatuses are also disclosed to implement the disclosed methods.
US09965803B2 Facilitating business transactions between trading networks
A system is disclosed for establishing an interconnection between trading networks. The system receives an access establishment request communicated from a home user subscribed to a home trading network and not subscribed to a foreign trading network, the access establishment request including a request to access a desired application, the desired application associated with the foreign trading network. The system further communicates the access establishment request to a foreign operator computer system and receives an approval of the access establishment request communicated from the foreign operator computer system. The system still further communicates a home user profile including subscriber information to establish an application access on a home access establishment module and a foreign access establishment module, the application access allowing the home user to use the desired application without subscribing to the foreign trading network, the subscriber information including at least one application associated with the home user profile.
US09965794B1 Trade-in past purchase
Disclosed are various embodiments for an online trade-in store that presents recommendations or suggestions to a customer on item(s) that are currently being accepted by the store, where the recommended items are confirmed to have been previously purchased by the customer.
US09965793B1 Item selection based on dimensional criteria
Systems and methods are provided for determining dimensional criteria of a physical space and identifying a set of items that satisfy the dimensional criteria. For example, the dimensional criteria may be determined based on an image depicting the physical space or search terms provided by a user. Composite keys may be generated based on the dimensional criteria and one or more search terms provided by the user, and the generated composite keys may be used to search one or more databases storing sorted item keys and corresponding item identifiers.
US09965790B2 Augmented reality for assisting consumer transactions
A portable device which assists shoppers. The device identifies items of merchandise, and retrieves information about the items from a remote location. The items can be identified based on their labels, by image recognition, by their location, by the shopper, or by other approaches. This additional or enhanced information about the items can then be overlaid on the real-time display of the portable device, such that the shopper has access to said information and can associate it easily to the relevant items.
US09965789B2 Pre-purchase wearable device testing
Systems and techniques for pre-purchase wearable device testing are described herein. A wearable device may be identified as a trial device to a wearable ensemble. Trial data corresponding to the trial device may be provided to a wearable ensemble system that includes the wearable ensemble.
US09965788B2 System and method for prioritized product index searching
A system and method for searching databases is disclosed herein. A database system may comprise a first database cluster H and a second database cluster L. After receiving a search request from a requester, the search request is executed in the first database cluster H to retrieve a first set of results. If the first set of results is greater than a minimum number of results, then the first set of results are presented to the requester. Otherwise, the second database cluster L is searched to retrieve a second set of results. Then the first set of results and the second set of results are presented to the requester. The first database cluster H is stored on a first database server; and the second database cluster L is stored on a second database server apart from the first database server. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.
US09965785B1 Customizing component configurations for utility computing
Disclosed are various embodiments for customizing component configurations used in utility computing. A selection of a subset of a set of hardware components is received from a customer. A request is received from the customer to allocate a machine instance on a customized computing device within a networked plurality of computing devices. The customized computing device includes the subset of the set of hardware components. A deployment of the machine instance on the customized computing device is initiated in response to the request.
US09965784B2 Send2Mobile+ IM
The present invention is an instant message service (“IMS”) based interactive information, marketing and sales system, which provides a Merchant or Seller with a means to rapidly and effectively communicate with its customer base in order to facilitate the sale of a product or service from a Merchant's website to a customer via a customer's mobile computing device. The system represented by this invention is a voluntary, opted-in system, by which the customer provides its mobile telephone number or the telephone number of its chosen mobile device and the instant messaging system that the customer is using on its mobile device, to the Merchant or Seller. A customer then requests that the Merchant or Seller forward specific information to the customer concerning a particular product or service being sold by the Merchant or Seller. The present invention permits the customer to request that certain product specific information be transmitted by the Merchant to the customer's mobile computing device via an instant message service (“IMS”) message, as soon as said information becomes available.The present invention permits the Merchant or Seller to transmit a URL link from the Merchant's website to a customer's mobile number via instant message service (“IMS”) message transmitted directly from the web site page. Once received, a customer can then interact directly with a Merchant or Seller, from a customer's mobile computing device, via the instant messaging service. This permits a customer to make inquiries about products or services, make offers to purchase or even to enter bids in online auction environments. The present invention permits a Merchant or Seller to forward via instant messaging service (“IMS”) message, a URL link which contains a short cut Icon to reside on the home page of the customer's mobile computing device, which when clicked, will act as a short-cut to the Merchant's web site. Also, this present invention permits a Merchant or Seller to forward via instant messaging service an instant message containing a URL link, which when selected by a customer permits the customer to immediately purchase a product or service from its mobile computing device.
US09965783B2 User controlled media for use with on-demand transport services
A method for providing media for use with on-demand transport services is provided. A transport service is arranged for a user. The user is determined to have requested control over media to be outputted on an output device of the driver. A token of the user is identified and transmitted to the driver's computing device. In response to detecting that an event has occurred for enabling the user to control the media, the driver's computing device is enabled to output the media that is controlled by the user operating the user's computing device.
US09965782B2 Method, medium, and system for selective disclosure of information from competing bidders
One exemplary embodiment is directed to a method (and corresponding system) for managing a request-for-proposal (RFP). The method comprises receiving, at a website, information about the RFP from a customer for the RFP and receiving, at the website, proposals responsive to the RFP from a set of bidders. If requested by the customer, disclosing to each of the bidders a detailed comparative metric relating to the proposal for each of the other bidders. The detailed comparative metric comprises a comparative metric other than a total project cost for the respective proposal.
US09965779B2 Dynamic content display time adjustment
A content delivery provider may stream an application to each of a plurality of computing devices. The content delivery provider may transmit an offer to download the application to each of the plurality of computing devices, after a first initial display interval. The provider may receive a number of positive user interactions with the offer after the first initial display interval, and a total number of positive user interactions with the offer. The provider may automatically adjust the initial display interval by a factor proportional to a desired first-display quantile divided by the number of positive user interactions after the first initial display interval. The application may be streamed to a second computing device, and the offer to download the application transmitted to the second computing device, after the adjusted initial display interval.
US09965777B2 Advertisement distribution management apparatus and advertisement distribution management method
An advertisement distribution management apparatus according to an embodiment includes a detection unit, a storage unit, and an acceptance unit. The detection unit detects information on a wireless terminal which exists in a communication area of a wireless LAN access point and which satisfies a predetermined condition. The storage unit stores information on the wireless terminal detected by the detection unit and attribute information set to the wireless LAN access point in association with each other. The acceptance unit accepts an order request of an advertisement distribution that specifies the attribute information on the basis of the information on the wireless terminal stored in the storage unit in association with the specified attribute information.
US09965772B2 System and method for unifying user-level data across different media platforms
A system and method for unifying user-level data across a plurality of media platforms are provided. The method includes receiving user-level data events from the plurality of media platforms, wherein each event relates to at least one online advertisement viewed by a plurality of users; processing the received user-level data events to detect a group of user-level data events related to the same user of the plurality of users; combining user-level data from each group of user-level data events related to the same user; assigning a unique user identifier to the combined user-level data to result in a unified user-level data related to a particular user; and storing the unified user-level data in a database, thereby providing consistent user-level data across the plurality of media platforms.
US09965769B1 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.
US09965767B2 Attribution of demographics to census data
In general, systems, components, methods, and techniques for gathering, recording, and development of accurate user demographics attributed to accesses by client systems of webpage, web content, or other online resources is provided. For a given a subset of unique users having known demographics for a segment of traffic or general population, a demographic profile may be created for all users of the segment or population within a tolerable margin of error. Demographic data for unique machine identifications (IDs) may be assigned, aggregated, and derived from a single source, or multiple sources, such as panel data, beacon level surveys, cookie exchanges, and the overlay of profile cookies from other publishers.
US09965766B2 Method to expand seed keywords into a relevant social query
The collection of social data from social networking services for market research purposes is improved by automating the formulation of a final query rule sets by analyzing relevant keywords captured using a seed query rule set based on a user input. Relevant keywords from social mentions based on a seed query rule set for a brand name and/or product can be extracted to form at least parts of a final query rule set. The relevant keywords can then be disambiguated by using a searchable reference to resolve ambiguities. Any generalities in the relevant keywords can also be resolved by analyzing the co-occurrence of the relevant keywords with relevant keywords from another brand and/or product. The relevant keywords having been disambiguated and having generalities resolved therein, may be used to automatically generate a final query rule set for providing relevant search results based on the user input.
US09965764B2 Methods of processing and segmenting web usage information
A current behavioral targeting system is first tested using a suite of test data. The output of the test is one or more performance metrics. Next, newly proposed behavioral targeting system created. The newly proposed behavioral targeting system is then evaluated using both the existing source data and a new source data. The evaluation of the newly proposed behavioral targeting system produces one or more performance metrics of the same type earlier calculated. Finally, the two sets of performance metrics are compared. The performance metric difference represents the impact of the new source data.
US09965758B2 Troubleshooting transactions in a network environment
In one embodiment, a system for troubleshooting transactions in a network environment includes an interface that may receive a transaction report from each of a number of network devices used to process a transaction. Each transaction report may include a status code field indicating a status of the transaction at each of the plurality of network devices. The system may also include a processor communicatively coupled to the interface. The processor may generate a transaction flow report that links each of the received transaction reports associated with the transaction. The processor may determine that the status code field associated with a first one of the plurality of network devices indicates a failed status. The processor may then communicate a status alert message to a network administrator associated with a first one of the plurality of network devices.
US09965756B2 Methods and arrangements for smartphone payments
To make a payment, a smartphone presents artwork for a payment card (e.g., a Visa card) that has been selected by a user from a virtual wallet of such cards. Encoded in the displayed artwork is payment information that has been encrypted with a context-dependent session key. A cooperating system (e.g., a retailer's point of sale system) uses a camera to capture an image of the artwork, and independently creates the session key from its own context sensor(s), enabling decryption of the payment information. Such technology provides a superior transaction security model at a fraction of the cost of competing chip card payment systems (which require, e.g., expensive physical cards, and single-purpose reader hardware). A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09965755B2 System and method for remote management of sale transaction data
This invention discloses a novel system and method for providing retail point of sale terminals that are connected securely over the Internet to a back-office service that manages the retailer's data as a service using a system that supports more than one retailer, each of which will have one or more point of sale terminals. The system is adapted to provide transaction reconciliation with an accounting system whenever a user ends a shift and logs out of the register instance they are operating.
US09965753B2 Scanner image routing (SIR)
A scanner recognizes types of images and components of those image types. Custom routing rules are applied against the types and components and the scanner utilizes multiple network connections to route the images and components to destinations within a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal and external to the POS terminal over a Wide-Area Network (WAN) and/or a Local-Area Network (LAN).
US09965751B1 Mobile device multi-feed scanner
An imaging device provides a mobile device multi-feed scanner, which may utilize remote data capture for multi-sheet feed scanning by using mirrors to form a reflective path allowing the viewing of the reverse side of the check on a platform to capture the check image on a mobile device. A camera on the mobile device may either sequentially or simultaneously capture a picture of both the front and back sides of the check. The platform may include a transparent portion, which may be adjacent to a stage portion. The first and second mirrors may be positioned such as to allow imaging of a reverse side of an object through the transparent portion of the platform while the object rests on the stage portion.
US09965749B2 Systems, methods and apparatus for variable settlement accounts
Systems and methods are provided for transferring settlement funds received into a pooled settlement account of an acquirer processor account to one or more financial accounts of a merchant. The transferring of the funds can be directed by one or more settlement rules defined by a merchant. The type of transfer method can be based on the type of financial account. Example types of transfers include Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers and intrabank transfers.
US09965748B2 Event scheduling
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining other users that will attend an event with a user. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent for a device, input from a user identifying an event, determining constraints for other users that will be invited to attend the event, determining one or more other users who meet the constraints, identifying, for each of the other users, other computer-implemented agents, each of the other agents for respective other devices, sending, to each of the other agents, a request to determine whether the respective other user of the other agent is interested in attending the event, receiving, from a first subset of the other agents, a response that indicates that the respective other user is interested in attending the event, and facilitating communication between the user and the respective other users.
US09965747B2 Case management system
A content management system is disclosed for documents and other content for a system operating in legal environment referred to herein as a case management system. The case management system allows attorneys in a legal environment to efficiently store and manage content for their client and case matters. Furthermore, the system encourages attorneys to collaborate with fellow co-workers, clients, and third parties (e.g. expert witnesses) in a secure and confidential environment. The case management system enables attorneys to maintain case files and associated documents more efficiently and thus allow law films to more productively function as a business that relies heavily upon comprehensive document files.
US09965742B1 Parts inventory management
Systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media for analyzing vehicle claim information from a vehicle that is deemed a total loss to determine one or more parts that may be removed from the total loss vehicle for reuse is presented. In some arrangements, the parts identified for reuse may be identified prior to removal from the total loss vehicle and may be identified as available inventory and may include a future availability date. One or more repair shops may then request the parts available for reuse and the part may be reserved for that shop until it becomes available.
US09965741B2 Automated systems for reducing computational loads in the mass execution of analytical models using scale-out computing
Disclosed embodiments provide systems and techniques for mass execution of analytical models across multiple dimensions of client, collateral, deal structure, third party, and other data relevant to predicting optimal decisions in real-time. In some embodiments, disclosed systems and techniques increase decisioning speed through the reduction of computational loads on disclosed decisioning systems. Further disclosed systems and techniques may scale-out analytical modeling computations through, among other technological solutions, advanced execution environments that are asynchronous and non-blocking in nature so as to allow the execution of a plurality of analytical models in parallel and optimizing the results.
US09965738B2 Systems and methods for managing information associated with boxes used in the delivery of packages
There is disclosed methods and systems for managing drop boxes. Events reflecting outputs from one or more sensors are detected. Information that is a function of the detected event is forwarded to a drop box management system. This information, along with additional information received by the drop box management system, is utilized to generate instructions including display instructions for each drop box. Displays of drop boxes are then updated based on the instructions.
US09965736B2 Method, apparatus and system for transparent tracking of worker performance
A method, system and device are provided that collect and provide information related to worker productivity. The goods may be or include consumer products, commodities, equipment, food, food products, agricultural supplies and agricultural products. A label may be employed that includes a display screen, a bar code, a quick response code, an RFID chip and/or a radio frequency or photonic communications device to aid tracking of accomplished piecework and worker behavior. The worker may confirm documentation of piecework credit by both displays of piecework counts by the badge and by accessing a database server.
US09965734B2 Systems and methods for analyzing restaurant operations
Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for analyzing the deployment of employees in a restaurant. For example, some embodiments are directed to determining whether an employee who has vacated his/her assigned station has acted appropriately in doing so, and if not, causing the employee to be redirected to his/her assigned station. Determining whether an employee acted appropriately in leaving his/her assigned station may involve analyzing video recordings of the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, operational data describing events occurring in the restaurant at or around the time the employee left his/her station, and/or other information, which may supply valuable context in determining whether or not the employee acted properly. If the employee acted improperly, he/she may be redirected to his/her assigned station, using automated, semi-automated and/or manual techniques.
US09965732B2 Computer readable recording medium, roadwork planning method and information processing apparatus
A non-transitory computer readable recording medium has stored therein a program that causes a computer to execute a process including displaying a screen on which it is possible to set an area affected by a characteristic of a road around a specific facility, which is the area set based on the facility; and displaying, on a graphic, information specifying a section of road that is contained in the area affected by the characteristic relating to the specific facility on the displayed screen and that is affected by a possible selected type of repair work on the road according to the fact that the section belongs to the affected area.
US09965725B1 Systems and methods of power management based on user behavior
A method for power management comprising inferring a user behavior from an action, inferring a mission state from the action and an event, forecasting a forecasted action from the user behavior and the mission state and outputting an instruction to modify a power resource allocation based on the forecasted action. A processor based assembly for power management of at least one device comprising a means to infer a user behavior from an action, a means to infer a mission state from the action and an event, a means to forecast and a means to plan power management from the inferred information. In some embodiments, the systems and methods apply pattern recognition algorithms and pattern learning algorithms to manage the power allocation to power consuming devices.
US09965720B2 Neural network applications in resource constrained environments
Systems and methods are disclosed for applying neural networks in resource-constrained environments. A system may include a sensor located in a resource-constrained environment configured to generate sensor data of the resource-constrained environment. The system may also include a first computing device not located in the resource-constrained environment configured to produce a neural network structure based on the sensor data. The system may further include a second computing device located in the resource-constrained environment configured to provide the sensor data as input to the neural network structure. The second computing device may be further configured to determine a state of the resource-constrained environment based on the input of the sensor data to the neural network structure.
US09965719B2 Subcategory-aware convolutional neural networks for object detection
A computer-implemented method for detecting objects by using subcategory-aware convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is presented. The method includes generating object region proposals from an image by a region proposal network (RPN) which utilizes subcategory information, and classifying and refining the object region proposals by an object detection network (ODN) that simultaneously performs object category classification, subcategory classification, and bounding box regression. The image is an image pyramid used as input to the RPN and the ODN. The RPN and the ODN each include a feature extrapolating layer to detect object categories with scale variations among the objects.
US09965718B2 Providing transposable access to a synapse array using a recursive array layout
Embodiments of the invention relate to providing transposable access to a synapse array using a recursive array layout. One embodiment comprises maintaining synaptic weights for multiple synapses connecting multiple axons and multiple neurons, wherein the synaptic weights are maintained based on a recursive array layout. The recursive array layout facilitates transposable access to the synaptic weights. A neuronal spike event between an axon and a neuron is communicated via a corresponding connecting synapse by accessing the synaptic weight of the corresponding connecting synapse in the recursive array layout.
US09965715B2 Tamper-resistant transaction card and method of providing a tamper-resistant transaction card
A dynamic transaction card that is manufactured using conductive plastic jumpers that will dissolve when in contact with a solvent used to tamper with the dynamic transaction card. Internal components of a dynamic transaction card may be manufactured using a synthetic or semi-synthetic organic material, such as, for example, plastics. These materials may be conductive to provide functionality to a dynamic transaction card, such as a connection between an integrated circuit and other card components such that when the materials dissolve, the connections are broken and the dynamic transaction card may be inactive due to the loss of various connections.
US09965713B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device that is resistant to bending stress and has a structure in which an antenna circuit, an electric double layer capacitor for storing electricity, and the like are formed over a signal processing circuit that is provided over a substrate and has a charging circuit. The signal processing circuit having the charging circuit is provided over a substrate, and the antenna circuit and the electric double layer capacitor are provided over the signal processing circuit. The antenna circuit is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit, and the electric double layer capacitor is electrically connected to the charging circuit. With such a structure, a wiring for connecting the charging circuit and the electric double layer capacitor can be made short. Accordingly, a semiconductor device that is resistant to bending stress can be provided.
US09965706B1 Printing managing apparatus and computer readable medium storing printing managing program
A printing managing apparatus includes: a job attribute correlating information acquiring unit that acquires job attribute correlating information that correlates pieces of individual job attribute information used in plural respective printing control apparatus with common job attribute information for each job attribute that can be set in print job information so as to be common to the plural printing control apparatus as transmission destination candidates of the print job information; an attribute specification information converting unit as defined herein; and a manipulation control processing unit as defined herein.
US09965705B2 Systems and methods for attention-based configurable convolutional neural networks (ABC-CNN) for visual question answering
Described herein are systems and methods for generating and using attention-based deep learning architectures for visual question answering task (VQA) to automatically generate answers for image-related (still or video images) questions. To generate the correct answers, it is important for a model's attention to focus on the relevant regions of an image according to the question because different questions may ask about the attributes of different image regions. In embodiments, such question-guided attention is learned with a configurable convolutional neural network (ABC-CNN). Embodiments of the ABC-CNN models determine the attention maps by convolving image feature map with the configurable convolutional kernels determined by the questions semantics. In embodiments, the question-guided attention maps focus on the question-related regions and filters out noise in the unrelated regions.
US09965702B1 Method for analysis and interpretation of flow cytometry data
Disclosed are various embodiments for interpretation of flow cytometry data. Flow cytometry data sets are combined to form a multidimensional image cube. The machine learning functions and genetic algorithm interpret the multidimensional image cube to produce a confidence value that is assigned to a function for the targeted condition. The confidence value determines the relative degree to which a targeted condition is present or absent in a flow cytometry data set. Such confidence value can be used to diagnose and interpret results from flow cytometry data.
US09965701B2 Image processing apparatus and method
There are provided an apparatus and method for generating a heat map that displays crowd density with visual properties such as colors. The image processing apparatus includes at least one processor to implement: an information obtainer configured to obtain an image by photographing a region of interest and location information indicating a location from which the image is photographed; a density map generator configured to generate a crowd density map of the image based on crowd density information estimated from the image; a perspective map generator configured to generate a perspective map that provides distance information indicating a real-life distance between two points of the image based on the location information; and a heat map generator configured to generate a heat map that displays the crowd density information on a map of the region of interest based on the distance information.
US09965699B2 Methods and systems for enabling improved positioning of a vehicle
A method performed by an object size mapping system is described for enabling improved positioning of a vehicle. The object size mapping system includes a first reference camera adapted to be arranged on-board a reference vehicle. The object size mapping system determines a current reference position of the reference vehicle. The system captures by the first reference camera, at the current reference position of the reference vehicle, a current reference image of a stationary physical reference object situated in the surroundings of the reference vehicle. The object size mapping system then determines a current reference size value of at least a portion of the stationary physical reference object, in the current reference image. The object size mapping system stores the current reference size value to be associated with the current reference position of the reference vehicle and a mapped digital reference object corresponding to the stationary physical reference object.
US09965694B2 Terminals and methods for dimensioning objects
A terminal for measuring at least one dimension of an object includes at least one imaging subsystem and an actuator. The at least one imaging subsystem includes an imaging optics assembly operable to focus an image onto an image sensor array. The imaging optics assembly has an optical axis. The actuator is operably connected to the at least one imaging subsystem for moving an angle of the optical axis relative to the terminal. The terminal is adapted to obtain first image data of the object and is operable to determine at least one of a height, a width, and a depth dimension of the object based on effecting the actuator to change the angle of the optical axis relative to the terminal to align the object in second image data with the object in the first image data, the second image data being different from the first image data.
US09965691B2 Apparatus for recognizing lane partition lines
In an apparatus for recognizing a lane partition line, a pre-branch section setting unit sets a pre-branch section of a road on which an own vehicle is traveling. The pre-branch section extends a section length from a start line that is positioned closer to the own vehicle than a branch location by an offset distance in a traveling direction of the own vehicle. A determination unit determines whether or not a geographical location of the own vehicle is within the pre-branch section. If it is determined that the geographical location of the own vehicle is within the pre-branch section, a recognition unit suppresses recognition of the lane partition line on an diverging road side of the road on which the own vehicle is traveling. The diverging road is another road branching off from the road on which the vehicle is traveling at the branch location.
US09965690B2 On-vehicle control device
An on-vehicle control device includes: an image acquiring unit that acquires a captured image from an image-capturing device, the image-capturing device capturing an image of surroundings of a vehicle; a judged range dividing unit that divides a predetermined judged range of an image-capturing range of the image-capturing device into a plurality of regions; a feature point extracting unit that extracts a feature point having predetermined characteristics in the surroundings of the vehicle from the image acquired by the image acquiring unit; a point accumulating unit that accumulate points for a region where there is the feature point extracted by the feature point extracting unit, among the plurality of regions, for a plurality of images acquired by the image acquiring unit in time series; and a judging unit that judges whether a foreign matter is adhered to the image-capturing device based on scores resulting from accumulating points of the plurality of regions.
US09965686B2 Image capture apparatus that identifies object, image capture control method, and storage medium
A location obtaining unit obtains information on a location of the image capture apparatus during image; a direction obtaining unit obtains direction of an object in an image captured; a device information obtaining unit obtains information on a location of a wireless device that is included by an object during image capture; a distance obtaining unit obtains a distance of the object in the image captured from the image capture apparatus; an object location calculating unit calculates a location of the object based on the information on the location of the image capture apparatus, a direction of the object in the image, and the distance of the object from the image capture apparatus; and an object identifying unit identifies that the object is the object including the wireless device if the location of the object and the location of the wireless device are within a predetermined range.
US09965680B2 Method and system for conveying data from monitored scene via surveillance cameras
A system and method for monitoring sensors via surveillance cameras is disclosed. In the system, surveillance cameras generating image data of scenes, where the sensors are included in the scenes. The sensors detect information concerning the scenes and encode the information so that it can be derived from the image data. Preferably, the sensors encode the information concerning the scenes by modulating a visible light source, the signals of which are captured within the image data by the cameras. An analytics system then analyzes the image data and decodes the information from the sensors encoded within the image data. Preferably, an integrated analytics system of the cameras executes the analysis. Exemplary sensors include sensors for detecting temperature, moisture, audio/voice, and product selection in a retail premises.
US09965673B2 Method and apparatus for face detection in a frame sequence using sub-tasks and layers
Techniques are disclosed that involve face detection. For instance, face detection tasks may be decomposed into sets of one or more sub-tasks. In turn the sub-tasks of the sets may be allocated across multiple image frames. This allocation may be based on a multiple layer, quad-tree approach. In addition, face tracking tasks may be performed.
US09965671B2 Material identifying system and related identifying method
A material identifying system includes an identifying panel, a voltage source and a determining circuit. The voltage source is arranged to transmit a voltage signal to an object to be identified via the identifying panel in order to obtain an impedance of the object, wherein the voltage source adjusts a frequency of the voltage signal in a predetermined range to find a specific frequency in the predetermined range where the impedance of the object is minimum. The determining circuit is arranged to determine if the specific frequency of the object to be identified matches any specific frequency of a plurality of known materials in order to identify a material of the object.
US09965668B2 Fingerprint image acquisition device
A fingerprint image acquisition device includes: a light source, a finger touching surface, a convex lens, an image sensor and a grating. The light source is a surface light source, and the grating is disposed on a light output surface of the light source. The light source is configured to emit a light beam, the grating is configured to change a propagation direction of the light beam to form a detection light beam, the finger touching surface is configured for a user to place a finger thereon to reflect the detection light beam and thereby obtain a reflected light beam, the convex lens is configured to focus the reflected light beam on the image sensor, and the image sensor is configured to generate a fingerprint image based on the focused reflected light beam. Accordingly, the invention can make the structure of the fingerprint image acquisition device be more compact.
US09965661B2 Sensory totem badge capable of transmitting individualized information
A sensory totem badge capable of transmitting individualized information and includes: a totem badge body attached or sewed onto an object surface; an e-tag, installed to the totem badge body, and including an NFC chip and an NFC coil; and a totem individualized information, stored in the e-tag or a cloud server; such that when a mobile sensing device is near the e-tag of the totem badge body, the implication represented by a totem on the totem badge body, the story behind it, or private words can be read. Therefore, the totem badge body is given with intangible specificity and commemoration to achieve higher value and sense of technology.
US09965659B2 System and method of notifying an owner of a blocking vehicle
This disclosure relates generally to the field of wireless communication technology and more particularly to a system and a method of notifying an owner of a blocking vehicle. In one embodiment, a Block Notification System for notifying an owner of a blocking vehicle is disclosed. The Block Notification System comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores processor instructions, which, on execution, causes the processor to detect a RFID card of a user, wherein the RFID card of the user comprises vehicle information associated with a vehicle owned by the user. The processor further validates whether the RFID card of the user is associated with a blocked vehicle, wherein the blocked vehicle is a vehicle being blocked by the blocking vehicle. The processor further notifies an owner of the blocking vehicle based on validating the RFID card of the user.
US09965655B1 Port security device for computing devices and methods of operating such
A system includes a first computing device and a second computing device. The first computing device includes a port. The second computing device is configured to communicate with the first computing device. The system also includes a port security device configured to restrict access to the port. The port security device includes a transceiver configured to communicate with a third computing device. The third computing device is configured to determine a status of the port security device. At least one of the port security device and the third computing device includes a user interface configured to provide an indication of the status of the port security device.
US09965651B1 Using de-identified healthcare data to evaluate post-healthcare facility encounter treatment outcomes
A computer-implemented method includes producing medical information that characterizes a group of individuals from a set of private data representing pre or post-encounter characteristics of the individuals, wherein the individuals have had encounters with a healthcare facility. The identity of the individuals is unattainable from the produced medical information. The method also includes providing the produced medical information to report the pre or post-encounter characteristics of the group.
US09965650B1 Computer system of computer servers and dedicated computer clients specially programmed to generate synthetic non-reversible electronic data records based on real-time electronic querying and methods of use thereof
In some embodiments, the present invention provides for an exemplary computer system which includes at least: a graphical user interface client; a dedicated application server; the dedicated application server is configured to connect to the graphical user interface client and an electronic source with electronic data records; where the electronic data records include real identification identifiers of real individuals; where the graphical user interface client is configured to generate at a graphical user interface that is configured to receive user authenticating credential information and to conduct a real-time electronic negotiation querying session between the user and the dedicated application server to generate a plurality of non-reversible synthetic electronic data records of a plurality of synthetic individuals, by utilizing at least one statistical technique so that the plurality of non-reversible synthetic electronic data records cannot be used to identify any real individual in the plurality of electronic data records.
US09965644B2 Record level data security
A database security system protects a data table at both the column level and the individual data record level. Access to data records within the data table is governed by categories assigned to data records, by user roles assigned to users, and by a set of security access tables. A first access table maps data record identifiers to data record categories, data record protection schemes, and corresponding scheme keys. A second access table maps user roles to data record categories. A third access table maps column identifiers to column protection schemes and corresponding scheme keys. A fourth access table maps user roles to column identifiers. If a user requests access to a data record, the security access tables are queried using the data record identifier, the associated column identifier, and the user roles associated with the user to determine if the user can access the requested data record.
US09965643B2 System and method for preventing access to data on a compromised remote device
This invention discloses a system and method for selective erasure, encryption and or copying of data on a remote device if the remote device has been compromised or the level of authorization of a roaming user in charge of the remote device has been modified.
US09965641B2 Policy-based data-centric access control in a sorted, distributed key-value data store
A method, apparatus and computer program product for policy-based access control in association with a sorted, distributed key-value data store in which keys comprise n-tuple structure that includes a cell-level access control. In this approach, an information security policy is used to create a set of pluggable policies. A pluggable policy may be used during data ingest time, when data is being ingested into the data store, and a pluggable policy may be used during query time, when a query to the data store is received for processing against data stored therein. Generally, a pluggable policy associates one or more user-centric attributes (or some function thereof), to a particular data-centric label. By using pluggable policies, preferably at both ingest time and query time, the data store is enhanced to provide a seamless and secure policy-based access control mechanism in association with the cell-level access control enabled by the data store.
US09965639B2 Source authentication of a software product
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for authenticating the source code of a software end product. The method includes generating a compound key, which is composed of a set of unique keys generated from a source file. A set of files are separately build based on a received source code, and a key generated and embedded into the files at the time of the build. A validation tool is used to compare the values of the generated compound key to the values of the embedded key to determine if the values match.
US09965636B2 Security system and method for protecting a vehicle electronic system
Security system for protecting a vehicle electronic system by selectively intervening in the communications path in order to prevent the arrival of malicious messages at ECUs, in particular at the safety critical ECUs. The security system includes a filter which prevents illegal messages sent by any system or device communicating over a vehicle communications bus from reaching their destination. The filter may, at its discretion according to preconfigured rules, send messages as is, block messages, change the content of the messages, request authentication or limit the rate such messages can be delivered, by buffering the messages and sending them only in preconfigured intervals.
US09965634B2 Space-efficient storage of encrypted data
An encryption platform may identify language characters in database fields and determine which of multiple encoding schemes more efficiently encodes the language characters. The encryption platform may use the selected encoding scheme to encode plaintext into a byte array and then encrypt the byte array into ciphertext. The encryption platform may assign encoding flags to the ciphertext identifying the encoding scheme used for encoding the plaintext. The encryption platform then may use the encoding flag to determine which encoding schemes to use for decoding the data back into plaintext. Using the different encoding schemes allows encrypted data to fit better into database storage structures. The encryption platform also may enable users to select different fields for different selectable objects for encoding and encrypting.
US09965630B2 Method and apparatus for anti-virus scanning of file system
A method and apparatus for performing an anti-virus scan of a file system. Intermediate scanning results are obtained for a file in the file system, prior to a scan of the file being completed. The intermediate scanning results are then stored in a database. The intermediate scanning results can be used to speed up subsequent scans, and to provide other useful information to an on-line anti-virus server. In a subsequent scan of the file system, a determination is made whether intermediate scanning results relating to the file are available in the database. If they are available for a particular type of intermediate scan, then a scan need not be performed for the file. If they are not, then the scan can be performed.
US09965629B2 Malicious code infection system and malicious code infection method
Provided are a malicious code diagnosing system and a method of diagnosing malicious codes. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a malicious code diagnosing operation is performed only on files that are likely to be infected by malicious codes by utilizing file change log information recorded in a file system. Accordingly, malicious code diagnosing operation can be performed more quickly and reliably than conventional diagnosing method.
US09965626B2 Memory attack detection
Technologies are generally described for systems, devices and methods effective to detect a potential attack on a memory of a memory device. In some examples, a processor may send a request to the memory device. The request may include a request for information that relates to memory writes to the memory of the memory device. The processor may receive a response from the memory device. The response may include the information that relates to the memory writes. The processor may determine, based on the response, an amount of memory of the memory device written to during an interval of time. The processor may detect the potential attack based on the amount of memory written to and based on the interval of time. The processor may then generate an alert based on the detection of the potential attack.
US09965624B2 Log analysis device, unauthorized access auditing system, computer readable medium storing log analysis program, and log analysis method
A log collection part of a log analysis server collects an application log from a WF server, collects an operation log from an ID control part which relays an access from an operator terminal to a business server, and which as well records access status to the business server as an operation record in the operation log, and collects an access log from the business server which records accessed status as an access record in the access log. A log analysis part determines, based on the application log, the operation log, and the access log collected by the log collection part, whether or not the accessed status recorded as the access record is an authorized access.
US09965623B2 Securing accessible systems using base function encoding
Systems and techniques for securing accessible computer-executable program code and systems are provided. One or more base functions may be generated and blended with existing program code, such that it may be difficult or impossible for a potential attacker to distinguish the base functions from the existing code. The systems and code also may be protected using a variety of other blending and protection techniques, such as fractures, variable dependent coding, dynamic data mangling, and cross-linking, which may be used individually or in combination, and/or may be blended with the base functions.
US09965616B2 Cognitive password pattern checker to enforce stronger, unrepeatable passwords
A method for determining a password strength is provided. The method may include receiving a user-entered password. The method may also include identifying a keyboard layout type associated with a keyboard utilized to enter the received user-entered password. The method may further include mapping each character within a plurality of characters in the received user-entered password to a corresponding location on a grid associated with the identified keyboard layout type. The method may also include determining a coordinate sequence associated with the received user-entered password based on the mapped plurality of characters. The method may further include applying a pattern recognition algorithm to the determined coordinate sequence. The method may also include determining a password strength based on the applied pattern recognition algorithm.
US09965615B2 Method for transferring user data between two instances of an application
The invention is a method of transferring user data from a first instance of a package to a second instance of another package corresponding to an upgraded version. The first instance stores the user data in its own storage format. The two instances are embedded in a secure element. The method comprises the steps of: establishing a direct channel within the portable secure device between the two instances, the first instance gets in a locked state where it refuses any service requests except the communication with the second instance, prepares a pack by formatting the user data in a transport format, and automatically sends the pack to the second instance through the direct channel, the second instance retrieves the user data from the pack and stores the user data in another storage format.
US09965612B2 Method and system for visual authentication
A method for visual authentication with a monitoring system. The method includes pre-provisioning the monitoring system with a reference visual authentication element, obtaining an image of a user-presented visual authentication element and generating a validation result by validating the user-presented visual authentication element against the reference visual authentication element. The method further includes, based on the validation result, making a determination that the user-presented visual authentication element matches the reference visual authentication element, and taking an action affiliated with the reference visual authentication element.
US09965609B2 Allowing access to applications based on user handling measurements
Authenticating users comprises a computing device that receives a manual authentication input of a user and initiates a first user session between the user and the user computing device. The device communicates a request for a first user authorization data from an authentication technology associated with the one or more computing devices and receives the first user authentication data. The user or the device terminates the first user session and subsequently receives an input of the user to initiate a second user session. The device communicates a request for second user authentication data from the authentication technology and compares the first user authentication data and the second user authentication data. The device identifies a match of one or more features of the first user authentication data and one or more features of the second user authentication data and authorizes the user to conduct the second user session.
US09965608B2 Biometrics-based authentication method and apparatus
Provided are a method and an electronic device for performing an authentication on the basis of biometrics. The electronic device may acquire sensing data by sensing a target to be authenticated. The electronic device may calculate feature information from the sensing data. The electronic device may determine whether the calculated feature information and stored registered information match each other by using a dynamic matching scheme in which matching between the feature information and the registered information is variably performed according to a state of the electronic device. When the feature information and the registered information match each other on the basis of a result of the determination, the electronic device may generate an event for authentication success.
US09965607B2 Expedited biometric validation
Embodiments may take the form of devices and methods to help expedite matching biometric data in a validation process. One embodiment, for example, may take the form of a method for biometric validation including receiving a biometric input and retrieving metadata data of a most recently matched template. The method also includes evaluating the metadata and selecting one or more nodes from the most recently matched template for comparison. Additionally, the method includes comparing the selected one or more nodes with the received biometric input and determining if the selected one or more nodes match with the received biometric input. Also, the method includes validating the received biometric input if the selected one or more nodes match with the received biometric input.
US09965604B2 De-duplication of per-user registration data
Registration of an application in a per-user registration model includes the creation and storage of duplicate registration data for multiple user accounts present on a system. This duplication of registration data may be reduced by storing at least a portion of identical data in a per-machine location in the system memory where it is accessible to all user accounts. Instead of needing to separately re-compute and/or re-store duplicate registration data in multiple per-user locations in the memory, each user account may access and utilize the registration data stored in the per-machine location. Pre-computing and storing a portion of the application registration data in a per-machine location in the memory may also allow the system to defer the registration of the application.
US09965603B2 Identity assurance
Confirming access for a user includes capturing an image of the user, capturing information on an identity badge worn by the user, and denying access to a resource in response to the information being inconsistent with the image. Confirming access for a user may also include denying access in response to the information being inconsistent additional information about the user stored in a database. The information may include a picture of the user. The resource may include access to an area. The resource may include access to a computer. Confirming access for a user may also include, following allowing access to the computer, periodically recapturing the image of the user and recapturing the information on the identity badge and denying access to the computer in response to the information being inconsistent with the image. The information may include a visual code that identifies the user.
US09965601B2 Editing watermarked assets
A digital medium environment includes an asset processing application that performs editing of a watermarked asset. An improved asset editing method implemented by the asset processing application comprises receiving a watermarked asset, receiving edits to the watermarked asset, storing metadata corresponding to the edits together with an asset identification (ID), communicating the metadata and asset ID, applying edits using the metadata to an unwatermarked version of the asset retrieved using the asset ID, adding a watermark back to the edited asset, and providing the edited, watermarked asset.
US09965600B2 Increased security using dynamic watermarking
As disclosed herein a method for enabling dynamic watermarking on a client includes determining a negotiated watermarking algorithm that identifies at least one location on a web page for a placed watermark, and initiating a web communication by requesting a web page. The method further includes receiving the web page, and verifying the authenticity of the web page using the negotiated watermarking algorithm. Also disclosed herein is a method for enabling dynamic watermarking on a server which includes determining a negotiated watermarking algorithm that identifies at least one location on a web page for a placed watermark, receiving a request for a web page from a client, and identifying the client. The method further includes creating the requested web page using the negotiated watermarking algorithm providing a generated web page, and providing the generated web page to the client. A computer program product is also disclosed herein.
US09965598B2 Deceptive indicia profile generation from communications interactions
Systems, methods, computer-readable storage mediums including computer-readable instructions and/or circuitry for generating deceptive indicia profiles may implement operations including, but not limited to: detecting one or more indicia of deception associated with one or more signals associated with communication content provided by a participant in a first communications interaction; detecting one or more indicia of deception associated with one or more signals associated with communications content provided by the participant in a second communications interaction; generating a deceptive indicia profile for the participant according to indicia of deception detected in the communications content provided by the participant in the first communications interaction and indicia of deception detected in the communications content provided by the participant in the second communications interaction; and providing a notification associated with the deceptive indicia profile for the participant to a second participant in a communications interaction with the participant.
US09965595B2 Insulin management
A method of administering insulin includes receiving blood glucose measurements of a patient at a data processing device from a glucometer. The blood glucose measurements are separated by a time interval. The method also includes receiving patient information at the data processing device and selecting a subcutaneous insulin treatment from a collection of subcutaneous insulin treatments. The selection is based on the blood glucose measurements and the patient information. The selection includes one or more of a subcutaneous standard program, a subcutaneous program without meal boluses, a meal-by-meal subcutaneous program without carbohydrate counting, a meal-by-meal subcutaneous program with carbohydrate counting, and a subcutaneous program for non-diabetic patients. The method also includes executing, using the data processing device, the selected subcutaneous insulin treatment.
US09965592B2 Methods of computing pericardial and abdominal fat and methods for motion compensation
A new cardiac risk factors are disclosed along with method for deriving the components of the factors, for developing the factors and for using the factors. Methods for computing pericardial fat and abdominal fat are also disclosed as well as methods for motion compensation.
US09965589B2 System, apparatus for use in a sterile field and method for tracking, confirming and storing patient and procedure information using a unique device identifier associated with a medical device
This invention provides a data processing system located within a sterile field. The data processing system includes the elements of a computer with an image capture device configured to acquire information related to a unique device identifier positioned on a medical device located within a sterile field and a sterile enclosure configured to contain the computer with an imaging device. This invention, in one embodiment, provides a system for tracking, confirming and storing patient and procedure information using a unique device identifier hereinafter “a UDI”.
US09965588B2 Film to DICOM conversion
Embodiments digitize radiology films into DICOM format. Radiology films typically include an array of captured images laid out in a grid pattern. To comply with DICOM format, the scanned image of a radiology film is segmented into sub-images and text is extracted from the sub-images to generate DICOM metadata. The sub-images and extracted text metadata are then combined to generate a DICOM-compliant multi-image file.
US09965586B2 Noise reduction methods for nucleic acid and macromolecule sequencing
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for processing macromolecule sequencing data with substantial noise reduction. In one aspect, a method for reducing noise in a sequential measurement of a macromolecule comprising serial subunits includes cross-correlating multiple measured signals of a physical property of subunits of interest of the macromolecule, the multiple measured signals including the time data associated with the measurement of the signal, to remove or at least reduce signal noise that is not in the same frequency and in phase with the systematic signal contribution of the measured signals.
US09965585B2 Detection of genetic or molecular aberrations associated with cancer
Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided for determining genetic or molecular aberrations in a biological sample. Biological samples including cell-free DNA fragments are analyzed to identify imbalances in chromosomal regions, e.g., due to deletions and/or amplifications in a tumor. Multiple loci are used for each chromosomal region. Such imbalances can be used to diagnose (screen) a patient for cancer, as well as prognosticate a patient with cancer, or to detect the presence or to monitor the progress of a premalignant condition in a patient. Severity of an imbalance and the number of regions exhibiting an imbalance can be used. A systematic analysis of non-overlapping genomic segments can provide a general screening tool. A patient can be tested over time to track severity of each of one or more chromosomal regions and a number of chromosomal regions to enable screening and prognosticating, as well as monitoring of progress (e.g. after treatment).
US09965582B2 Systems and methods for determining sizes and shapes of geodesic modules
A system and method determine a size and a shape for identical geodesic modules that are used to form a structure. The system and method may include analyzing input data regarding a size and a shape of the structure to be formed, and determining the size and the shape for each of the identical geodesic modules based on the size and the shape of the structure to be formed. The structure may include a framework including the identical geodesic modules. Each of the geodesic modules has a size and a shape that are the same as all of the other of the geodesic modules. A forming system and method position a framework and a covering skin of the structure in relation to a mandrel, and drill and rivet the framework to the covering skin with a plurality of operating heads.
US09965574B2 CAD-based initial surface geometry correction
The present invention relates to a method and system for performing a finite element simulation. Embodiments of the present invention determine accurate contact simulations. A method according to the principles of the present invention begins by obtaining a first finite element model and a first computer aided design (CAD) model that the first finite element model represents. Next, a finite element simulation is performed using at least the first finite element model and the first CAD model. According to an embodiment of the present invention, performing the finite element simulation comprises determining one or more variations between the first finite element model and the first CAD model.
US09965573B2 System and method for design of subsurface drainage systems incorporating control weirs, surface to subsurface inlets, and irrigation inlets
A method for the creation of subsurface water management systems that place subsurface drainage lines at a consistent grade and within defined elevation bounds throughout a field with topographical undulation and inconsistent slopes, incorporate control weirs for dividing the subsurface into elevation and acreage zones, place and size surface to subsurface, size and determine inside surface of drainage mains and laterals according to the desired coefficient of the subsurface system, and determine the amount of water required at irrigation inlets in order to deliver a determined amount of water into the subsurface system for purposes of irrigation.
US09965569B2 Truncated autosuggest on a touchscreen computing device
A computer device may reduce user error when constructing a search query. The computing device may display one or more search terms within a search box based on user input. The computing device may display initial autosuggest candidates and detect a user-selected initial autosuggest candidate. The computing device may display the user-selected initial autosuggest candidate within the search box as a preliminary search query, without automatically initiating a web search for the preliminary search query. The computing device may receive new autosuggest candidates having the preliminary search query as a common prefix, generate truncated autosuggest candidates by removing the common prefix from each new autosuggest candidate, and display the truncated autosuggest candidates.
US09965562B2 Industrial automation app-store
A cloud-based industrial application provisioning system is provided. The industrial application provisioning system can reside on a cloud platform and be made available to developers and end users with access privileges to the cloud platform. Application developers can publish industrial applications to an application library on the cloud platform, where the application is cataloged within an industry-specific search hierarchy. A search engine allows a user to access the cloud platform and search for a desired industrial application. The library's hierarchical catalog allows the user to search for applications according to industry type, equipment in use, automation system type, or other suitable criteria.
US09965558B2 Cross-channel social search
Search results are received that were generated by a search engine in response to a search query entered by a user. The search results include a first result which contains a first set of identifying data. The first result is matched with a first profile on a first social network which is merged with a second social network. The first profile contains a second set of identifying data which satisfies matching criteria for similarity with the first set of identifying data.
US09965557B2 Apparatus and method for retrieval of documents
A system for support and management of search for documents is presented. The system includes a knowledge-database, query interface and communication to a database of documents to be searched. Information generated during a search session is collected by the system and is added to the knowledge-database. The information is ranked automatically according to the usage of that information by the user. During successive search session or during a search made by another user, the system uses the knowledge-database to support the users with keywords, queries and reference documents.
US09965556B2 Situational awareness system with topical interest profile building using location tracking information
A system for building topical interest profiles for members of a situational awareness system using location tracking information. Members who participate in the system activate location tracking on their mobile communication devices and provide the system with real-time access to the location tracking data. The situational awareness system analyzes a member's location tracking data, detects potential topics of interest for the member based on the location tracking data, and then prompts the member to update their profile data to include the detects potential topics of interest. If the member adds a suggested topic to their profile, the situational awareness system includes the member in situational awareness information provided to requesters seeking information concerning members interested in the added topic. The situational awareness system may also direct online queries to the member relating to the added topic and increase the member's priority for participating in online queries.
US09965552B2 System and method of lattice-based search for spoken utterance retrieval
A system and method are disclosed for retrieving audio segments from a spoken document. The spoken document preferably is one having moderate word error rates such as telephone calls or teleconferences. The method comprises converting speech associated with a spoken document into a lattice representation and indexing the lattice representation of speech. These steps are performed typically off-line. Upon receiving a query from a user, the method further comprises searching the indexed lattice representation of speech and returning retrieved audio segments from the spoken document that match the user query.
US09965551B2 Method of searching for relevant node, and computer therefor and computer program
Embodiments of the present invention is a technique of searching for relevant nodes. This technique may include: in response to selection of a first node, displaying, as first relevant nodes, nodes having a first relevance of at least a predetermined value among nodes connected from the first node by two hops; and, in response to selection of at least one of the first relevant nodes, displaying the selected first relevant node as a second node involving the first node. This technique may further include displaying, as second relevant nodes, nodes having a second relevance of at least a predetermined value among nodes connected from the second node by two hops.
US09965549B2 Excerpted content
Content uploaded by users of a computing system is found through a search. The method search receives a search term, retrieves content, identifies instances of the search term in the retrieved content, scores the retrieved content, ranks the scored content, and selects content from the ranked content. The uploaded content is created by a method where received text files are processed to remove formatting, tags, and non-printing characters. Uploaded content may be further associated with attributes used to narrow searches for content. The processed content is searched and may also be used as a source for excerpts for summarizing, representing, or otherwise embodying the content.
US09965542B2 Method for data maintenance
A method for data storage implemented in a data storage system is disclosed. Data storage nodes may be interconnected by means of a communications network. The method may include sending a request for a first data item to a plurality of storage nodes. The first data item may include a reference to a second data item stored in the storage system. The method may include receiving the first data item from at least one storage node, and sending a request for the second data item to the plurality of storage nodes based on the reference included in the first data item.
US09965541B2 Interest groups based on network feed items
Disclosed are some examples of systems, apparatus, methods and storage media for creating groups in a social networking database system, and more specifically, to creating groups based on network feed items. In some implementations, a database system is capable of maintaining a database including data associated with a plurality of users and groups to which the users can be subscribed. The system is configurable to provide a feed for display to a first user, and to receive input entered in a publication field by the first user. The system is configurable to create a feed item for display to the first user and to at least one second user based on the received input. The system is configurable to receive second input associated with the feed item from the second user. The system is additionally configurable to provide a selectable user interface (UI) element for display to the first user. Responsive to the selection of the UI element, the system is further configurable to create a new group based on the feed item, and to subscribe the first and the second user to the new group without additional input.
US09965540B1 System and method for facilitating associating semantic labels with content
The association of semantic labels with content may be facilitated. In particular, the content in the sentences, labels, headers, text, and/or other context that surround a fact may provide information descriptive for a semantic label that has been applied to the sentence and/or fact. By analyzing some of these implicit semantic associations between semantic labels and facts (numeric or otherwise), suggestions for semantic labels may be made for previously labeled or unlabeled facts. The labels that are suggested may include suggestions for concepts, members, and other structured constructs.
US09965534B2 Domain-specific language for dataset transformations
Techniques related to a domain-specific language for dataset transformations are disclosed. A server computer may process a table definition composed in a domain-specific language. The table definition may include a sequence of one or more dataset transformations to be performed on one or more source tables to generate a target table. The sequence may include a customized transformation. A source dataset may be provided as input to an implementation of the customized transformation. An output dataset may be generated as a result of executing the implementation. An intermediate table may be generated based on performing at least one dataset transformation on a particular source table. A supplemental portion for the intermediate table may be generated based on performing the at least one dataset transformation on an appended portion of the particular source table. The target table may be generated based on combining the supplemental portion with the intermediate table.
US09965533B2 Reverse application programming interface (API) endpoint creation process and standardized schema
A reverse API system is provided wherein data retrieved from disparate data sources, including legacy information in obsolete formats, are standardized and combined. An interactive text editor software tool allows an administrator to compose or edit standardization schema that include data source formulas which identify the data locations and any needed access protocols and that also include standardization functions which define transformations and other data handling instructions whereby retrieved data is standardized, unified and optionally enhanced by the system prior to delivery to a requestor. Requestors invoke the composed schema stored in a library, which invocation then triggers the retrieval and standardization of the data by the system executing the data source formulas and standardization functions associated with that selected schema.
US09965532B2 Asset-data integration
There are provided asset-data integration systems and methods for use by such systems. Such a system includes a hardware processor, a system memory, and an asset-data synthesis unit including a data translation module and a data integration module, stored in the system memory. The system is configured to receive domain specific asset description data expressed using different descriptive vocabularies, and to translate the domain specific asset description data to produce common format asset description data. The system is further configured to identify the common format asset description data describing the same asset, to integrate that common format asset description data to produce an integrated asset description data describing the asset, and to generate a synthesized data describing the asset and linking the integrated asset description data and the domain specific asset description data.
US09965528B2 System and methods for generating quality, verified, synthesized, and coded information
The present invention relates generally to gathering, verifying, and providing information in an easy-to-understand format. Representations are obtained and evaluated to extract selected content or content information from which certain synthesized information can be gathered, collected, estimated, calculated, or determined. In addition, supplemental synthesized information may be gathered, collected, estimated, calculated, or determined.
US09965527B2 Method for analyzing time series activity streams and devices thereof
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and data manager computing device comprises retrieving a time series data of a monitored asset based on one or more tags in response to a request. Further, a heterogeneous data based on the one or more tags is retrieved. Furthermore, a cause of an anomaly period in retrieved time series data of the monitored asset is determined based on the retrieved heterogeneous data. Finally, the determined cause of the anomaly period in the time series data in the monitored asset is provided.
US09965523B2 Tiered identification federated authentication network system
The present disclosure describes a tiered identification federated authentication network system. Embodiments compile one or more authentication credentials required for access to each of a plurality of applications to generate an authentication set for each application. The system may aggregate the plurality of authentication sets to form a tiered federated authentication module having multiple rankings, wherein each rank is associated with an authentication set; wherein a higher ranked authentication set corresponds to more stringent authentication credentials and a lower ranked authentication set corresponds to less stringent authentication credentials. The system may receive a request from a user for access to a current application, determine if the user has previously authenticated to a higher ranked application and, if so, enable access to the current application, without requiring the user to authenticate again.
US09965516B2 Outer-joined and cross-joined table elimination for duplicate-insignificant queries
A method and apparatus for outer-joined and/or cross-joined table elimination for duplicate-insignificant queries is provided. A query block of a query specifies a join between a first table and a second table. The join is one of an outer join and a cross join. A first determination is made that the query block contains no references to the second table to be processed after the join. A second determination is made that the query block is duplicate-insignificant. In response to making the first determination and the second determination, the query block is transformed into a transformed query, where the second table is eliminated from a corresponding query block in the transformed query.
US09965515B2 Method and device for cache management
A method, software and device for managing a cache service layer of an online solution is described. The online solution includes a database, at least one client, a cache service layer having a plurality of nodes which are interconnected to each other and provide processing and caching power for the cache service layer, and the cache manager. The method comprises reading in a business object from the database; assigning, using a cache manager, the business object to a business object group on a first node of the cache service layer; determining, by the cache manager, the effective probability of cache expiration of the business object group; and setting an expiration time for the business object group based on the determination of the effective probability of cache expiration of the business object group.
US09965512B2 Operators for constants in aggregated formulas
In one embodiment, a method receives a query for analyzing data in a database. The method then determines a constant in the query and determines an operator applied to the constant in the query. The operator explicitly controls a behavior of the constant. The constant is represented as a scalar representation in the query instead of as a vectorial representation where the constant would have been used as the vectorial representation without the use of the operator due to a rule governing use of constants. Then, the method performs a calculation for the query to determine a query result using the constant as the scalar representation.
US09965510B2 Partition access method for query optimization
In an approach to determining an access method for a partition in a partition table, a computer receives a query and determines if there is a partition table utilized by the query. When there is a partition table utilized by the query, then the computer determines that a partition in the partition table meets the plurality of conditions of the query. The computer collects a plurality of partition level statistics for the partition that meets the plurality of conditions of the query. Additionally, the computer determines, based, at least in part, on the plurality of partition level statistics, a cost for one or more access methods for the partition that meets the plurality of conditions of the query. Furthermore, the computer determines, based, at least in part, on the cost for each access method, an access method for the partition that meets the plurality of conditions of the query.
US09965508B1 Method and system for identifying entities
Some embodiments provide a program that identifies an entity having an entity attribute. The program receives, from each method of several methods, a set of candidate identity attributes that are each for identifying a particular entity having the entity attribute specified in the document. Each method of the several methods generates the corresponding set of candidate identity attributes based on the entity attribute specified in a document. The program calculates a score for each candidate identity attribute in the sets of candidate identity attributes. The program identifies, based on the sets of scores, an identity attribute from the sets of candidate identity attributes that identifies the entity having the entity attribute specified in the document.
US09965507B2 Securing database content
A method for securing content in a database includes identifying a challenge column associated with a database column referenced in an update query. A challenge value for the challenge column may be received and resolved for a match with a corresponding value stored in the challenge column. In case of a match, the update query may be certified for execution on the database, otherwise, the update query may be prevented from executing. Challenge columns may be determined by an analysis of the database on the basis of discriminating power, description complexity, and/or diversity.
US09965505B2 Identifying files in change logs using file content location identifiers
Systems and methods for identifying files in change logs using file content location identifiers. An example method may comprise: detecting a file system operation associated with a file; and creating a change log record comprising an identifier of a first data structure referencing a first physical location of contents of the file before the file system operation, and an identifier of a second data structure referencing a second physical location of the contents of the file after the file system operation.
US09965502B2 Content class for object storage indexing system
A storage system comprises a controller; a memory; and one or more objects each including content data and metadata. The metadata is used to construct user-defined content properties, each content property providing an ability to extract a specific metadata field from the objects by referring to a user-defined content property name of the content property. The content properties are organized into user-defined content classes, each content class grouping a set of content properties into a named category under a user-defined content class name. The controller is operable to index the content properties of the content classes to create an index. The content properties being indexed are identified by the content property names. In some embodiments, the controller is operable to de-dupe the index, for content properties having same values expressed differently in different metadata formats, by directing the differently expressed values to same index field under same content property name.
US09965501B2 Techniques for maintaining column vectors of relational data within volatile memory
Techniques are provided for more efficiently using the bandwidth of the I/O path between a CPU and volatile memory during the performance of database operation. Relational data from a relational table is stored in volatile memory as column vectors, where each column vector contains values for a particular column of the table. A binary-comparable format may be used to represent each value within a column vector, regardless of the data type associated with the column. The column vectors may be compressed and/or encoded while in volatile memory, and decompressed/decoded on-the-fly within the CPU. Alternatively, the CPU may be designed to perform operations directly on the compressed and/or encoded column vector data. In addition, techniques are described that enable the CPU to perform vector processing operations on the column vector values.
US09965499B2 Recipe management system with interoperable models
A recipe management system executes a recipe on a piece of equipment in a process plant using one or more capabilities of the piece of equipment. A configuration system creates models of the capabilities, piece of equipment, and recipe and associates the capability models with the equipment model and recipe model. The recipe model can be used to execute the recipe on any piece of equipment with the capabilities with which it is associated. The equipment model can be used to execute any recipe that uses no capabilities other than those with which it is associated.
US09965497B2 Moving data between partitions
Techniques are provided for moving data between partitions. Such a process may be performed without requiring any locks that block transactions that target a partition from being executed. Instead, such transactions may proceed while a move operation is being performed. The move operation involves copying data from the targeted partition to another partition that is hidden from (or “invisible” to) those transactions that attempt to read from or write to the partition. During the move operation, changes that are made to the partition are also reflected in a journal. Eventually, the changes reflected in the journal are drained and applied to the hidden partition. Once the partition and the hidden partition are synchronized, the identities of the partitions are swapped so that future transactions will target the previously-hidden partition instead of the previously-viewable partition.
US09965491B2 Method and device for recording system log
Provided are a method and device for recording a system log. The method includes: acquiring the sequence information of a virtual log file in a system, wherein the virtual log file is a preset file for the system, and the virtual log file includes the sequence information, and the sequence information is used for determining a position of a log file which is written last time by the system; and determining the log file which is written last time by the system according to the sequence information of the virtual log file, and writing the log in the determined log file. By the disclosure, the sequence of system log recording is not influenced by changes in the system time.
US09965490B2 Method and system for creating a virtual file system from a unified archive
A method for creating a virtual environment (VE) in a non-global zone (NGZ) from a unified archive (UA). An instruction is received to create a VE within a NGZ of a global zone (GZ) using an image file of the VE located in the UA. The contents of the UA are accessible via a virtual file system (VFS) having an index. A directory of the VFS corresponding to guest data of the UA is identified. The guest data is associated with the NGZ and includes the image file. A copy of the index including only portions of the index corresponding to the guest data is created. A guest VFS is created within the NGZ based on the copy. The guest VFS makes only the contents of the UA corresponding to the guest data accessible. The image file is accessed using the guest VFS and used to create the VE.
US09965488B2 Back referencing of deduplicated data
Various embodiments for managing data in a data storage having data deduplication. A back reference data structure is configured for user data segments as a mechanism to identify an affected storage block to which information in the back reference data structure refers. The back reference data structure is initialized such that a resolution of the back reference data structure diminishes as a number of the user data segments referencing the affected storage block increases.
US09965485B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes a first display controller, an accepting unit, a grouping unit, and a memory controller. The first display controller controls a display to display plural images representing respective files. The accepting unit accepts an operation for selecting at least two or more images from among the plural images. The grouping unit forms a group by associating plural files represented by the at least two or more images with one another with the at least two or more images kept displayed on the display in a case where the accepting unit has accepted the operation. The memory controller controls a memory to store information indicating display positions of the at least two or more images on a screen in association with the group that has been formed by the grouping unit.
US09965481B2 Apparatus, systems and methods for data storage and/or retrieval based on a database model-agnostic, schema-agnostic and workload-agnostic data storage and access models
A database access model and storage structure that efficiently support concurrent OLTP and OLAP activity independently of the data model or schema used, are described. The storage structure and access model presented avoid the need to design schemas for particular workloads or query patterns and avoid the need to design or implement indexing to support specific queries. Indeed, the access model presented is independent of the database model used and can equally support relational, object and hierarchical models amongst others.
US09965478B1 Automatic generation of online media stations customized to individual users
An online media station can be automatically generated based on a user's media preference data. Media preference data can include a user's media item purchase history. The media preference data is analyzed and media preference clusters are generated from the analyzed media preference data. Generated media preference clusters are ranked based on a predetermined set of ranking rules. The top ranked media preference clusters are selected dependent upon the user's number of slots available for customized media stations. One or more media station seeds are selected from each media preference cluster selected based on a set of predetermined selection rules. An algorithmic media station is automatically generated from the one or more media station seeds and provided to an electronic device of the user.
US09965476B2 Method of indexing multimedia content by creating database records that include location data
A method of indexing multimedia content by creating database records that include location data is disclosed. Devices that generate multimedia content also generate location data corresponding to the location of the device when the content is generated. The location data includes geographical coordinates such as latitude and longitude as well as orientation and tilt. Other data may be recorded such as date and time of day, and light exposure. The content and location data are communicated to a Content Index Processor (CIP) that creates a database record from the location data and determines classifications for the database record that can be used by a person that is searching for particular multimedia content.
US09965475B2 User interface for navigating comments associated with collaboratively edited electronic documents
An end user application running on a local client computer is configured to store a collection of comment data for the electronic document. The comment data includes data representing a plurality of comment threads. Displays of comment data also include hints providing information about the content and context of previous and next comments outside of the currently viewed context of the document. When hints are used in combination with filtering of the comment data, a user can more quickly review comments based on a variety of filtering criteria. A comment map also can be provided as a spatial representation of the distribution of comments within a document. Such a comment map can be provided as a navigational aid for viewing the electronic document and reviewing comments. The comment map provides an additional way for a reviewer to quickly identify areas of a document which may require more review.
US09965471B2 System and method for capturing and sharing a location based experience
A system and method for capturing a location based experience at an event including a plurality of mobile devices having a camera employed near a point of interest to capture random, crowdsourced images and associated metadata near said point of interest. In a preferred form, the images include depth camera information from prepositioned devices around the point of interest during the event. A network communicates images, depth information, and metadata to build a 3D model of the region, preferably with the location of contributors known. Users connect to this experience platform to view the 3D model from a user selected location and orientation and to participate in experiences with, for example, a social network.
US09965469B2 Dynamic token translation for network interfaces
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system dynamically produces a document with transformed terms associated with a geographic location, and comprises a computer system including at least one processor. The system analyzes a retrieved document to identify one or more terms with equivalent expressions in the same natural language. Each of the identified terms is transformed into an equivalent expression based on at least a geographic location associated with a user. The system produces a transformed document by replacing the identified one or more terms in the retrieved document with the equivalent expressions associated with the geographic location. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for dynamically producing a document with transformed terms for a geographic location in substantially the same manner described above.
US09965465B2 Distributed server system for language understanding
Systems and methods for training and using a natural language understanding system are provided. More specifically, the systems and methods train a natural language understanding system utilizing a distributed network of feature extractors on features servers. Further, the systems and methods for using the natural language understanding system utilize a distributed network of features extractor on features servers. Accordingly, the systems and methods provide for a more accurate natural language understanding system, a more reliable natural language understanding system, and a more efficient natural language understanding system. Further, the systems and methods provide for natural language understanding systems with better development (including update ability), productivity, and scalability.
US09965464B2 Automatic process guidance
User interactions with a computing system are sensed and recorded. The recording represents a process for controlling a computer system. Voice input are received and the computer system actions that are taken based upon the voice inputs and a task recording.
US09965456B2 Methods and apparatus for redacting content in a document
A system redacts content in a multi-layered document by executing a content modifier process that redacts a first portion of content in a source layer and then automatically redacts related content in at least one target layer. The content modifier process overlays the source redaction region on corresponding areas of other layers in the document to identify target redaction regions in those other layers that contain target content. In turn, the content modifier process automatically identifies and redacts the target content within target redaction regions.
US09965454B2 Assisted punctuation of character strings
A computing device receives one or more indications of user input to enter a character string. In response, the computing device determines, based on a corpus that includes punctuated character strings previously entered by a user of the computing device, one or more punctuated versions of the character string. Each of the one or more punctuated versions of the character string includes one or more punctuation marks not present in the character string. The computing device outputs, for display, at least one of the one or more punctuated versions of the character string.
US09965448B2 Encoding method and information processing device
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores an encoding program that causes a computer to execute a process. The process includes first encoding a first character string in input data to a first code, when the first character string being registered in a first dictionary, the first code being associated with the first character string in the first dictionary; second encoding a second character string in input data to a second code and registering the second character string to a dynamic dictionary, when the second character string being not registered in the first dictionary, the second code being associated with the second character string and preliminary information in the dynamic dictionary; and generating encoded data including the encoded input data and the dynamic dictionary.
US09965446B1 Formatting a content item having a scalable object
In some examples, a computing device may receive a content item for formatting, the content item including at least one scalable object to be rendered with a portion of content during presentation of the content item on an electronic device. The computing device may convert a complex shape element in the scalable object to at least one path command that includes a sequence of one or more paths that correspond to the complex shape element. The computing device may format the at least one path command for parsing by a content parser of the electronic device. Further, the computing device may associate the at least one path command with the portion of content so that the at least one path command will be rendered in place of rendering information for the scalable object that was originally included with the content item.
US09965444B2 Vector graphics classification engine
A vector graphics classification engine and associated method for classifying vector graphics in a fixed format document is described herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures. The vector graphics classification engine defines a pipeline for categorizing vector graphics parsed from the fixed format document as font, text, paragraph, table, and page effects, such as shading, borders, underlines, and strikethroughs. Vector graphics that are not otherwise classified are designated as basic graphics. By sequencing the detection operations in a selected order, misclassification is minimized or eliminated.
US09965441B2 Adaptive coalescing of remote direct memory access acknowledgements based on I/O characteristics
An example method for adaptively coalescing remote direct memory access (RDMA) acknowledgements is provided. The method includes determining one or more input/output (I/O) characteristics of RDMA packets of a plurality of queue pairs (QPs) on a per-QP basis, each QP identifying a respective RDMA connection between a respective first compute node and a respective second compute node. The method further includes determining an acknowledgement frequency for providing acknowledgements of the RDMA packets on a per-QP basis (i.e., a respective acknowledgement frequency is set for each QP) based on the determined one or more I/O characteristics for each QP.
US09965440B2 Public wireless network performance management system with mobile device data collection agents
Mobile device tracker and method for tracking movement of mobile devices within a mobile communications environment. The mobile device tracker includes an acquisition device to periodically acquire location data for the mobile device within the mobile communications environment, and a plotter to identify on a map of a geographical region within which the mobile communications environment is located the location data for the mobile device.
US09965437B2 Method for providing a generic interface and microcontroller having a generic interface
A microcontroller for a control unit or a vehicle control unit, includes a central processing unit (CPU), at least one interface-unspecific input module, at least one interface-unspecific output module, at least one routing unit and at least one arithmetic unit for processing interface-specific information. The microcontroller is configurable so that the at least one interface-unspecific input module, the at least one interface-unspecific output module, the at least one routing unit and the at least one arithmetic unit for processing interface-specific information fulfill the functions corresponding to one of multiple serial interfaces, in particular of SPI, UART, LIN, CAN, PSI5, FlexRay, SENT or Ethernet. In addition, the arithmetic unit is configured to generate an entire output message frame from the second payload data as output data and to transmit the same to the interface-unspecific output module.
US09965434B2 Data packet processing
Proposed is an action machine for processing packet data in a network processor. The action machine comprises: first and second data storage units adapted to store data for processing; and a processing unit adapted to process data from the first and second data storage units. The first storage unit is adapted to be accessed by the processing unit and a unit external to the action machine, and the second storage unit is adapted to only be accessed by the processing unit.
US09965432B2 Handling CPU hotplug events in RCU without sleeplocks
Read-copy update (RCU) grace period initialization and CPU hotplugging are synchronized without a sleeplock. Periodic RCU grace period initialization includes, for each node of a combining tree, copying a first bitmask indicating online/offline status of a set of CPUs to a second bitmask indicating RCU quiescent state status of the CPUs. Periodic CPU hotplug operations include indicating CPU online/offline status to leaf nodes associated with the CPUs. This status is indicated without manipulating any bits in the first bitmask of the leaf nodes. Prior to each RCU grace period initialization, RCU grace period pre-initialization is performed at each leaf node. The RCU grace period pre-initialization includes (1) updating the first bitmask to account for the CPU hotplug operations, and (2) if this results in the first bitmask transitioning between fully cleared and not-fully cleared states, the state change is conditionally propagated to a higher level node.
US09965430B2 Integrated circuit and operation method of serializer/deserializer physical layer circuit thereof
An integrated circuit and an operation method of a SERDES PHY layer circuit thereof are provided. When the SERDES PHY layer circuit is in a calibration preparation state and a signal of a first calibration input pin is an enable state, or when the SERDES PHY layer circuit is in the calibration preparation state, and signals of first and second calibration input pins are in the enable state, the SERDES PHY layer circuit enters a calibration state (using a reference resistor for current calibration). After the current calibration is completed, the SERDES PHY layer circuit enters a calibration completion state (without using the reference resistor and connecting the first calibration input pin to the first calibration output pin). The SERDES PHY layer circuit sets the signal of the first calibration output pin to a disable state when the SERDES PHY layer circuit is not in the calibration completion state.
US09965429B2 Method and apparatus to manage the direct interconnect switch wiring and growth in computer networks
The present invention provides a method for managing the wiring and growth of a direct interconnect network implemented on a torus or higher radix interconnect structure based on an architecture that replaces the Network Interface Card (NIC) with PCIe switching cards housed in the server. Also provided is a passive patch panel for use in the implementation of the interconnect, comprising: a passive backplane that houses node to node connectivity for the interconnect; and at least one connector board plugged into the passive backplane comprising multiple connectors. The multiple connectors are capable of receiving an interconnecting plug to maintain the continuity of the torus or higher radix topology when not fully enabled. The PCIe card for use in the implementation of the interconnect comprises: at least 4 electrical or optical ports for the interconnect; a local switch; a processor with RAM and ROM memory; and a PCI interface.
US09965428B2 Logic utilization with AXI4 augmented address
An advanced extensible interface 4 (AXI4) topology is provided. The topology includes a main entity, parallel sub entities comprising a first sub entity having a first functionality and a second sub entity comprising parallel third sub entities having a second functionality, which is different from the first functionality, and a controllable element in series with the parallel third sub entities and an AXI4 interconnect element serially interposed between the main entity and the parallel sub entities. For a transaction issued by the main entity with an augmented address including first and second addresses, the first address is readable by the AXI4 interconnect element to select one of the first and second sub entities for transaction execution and the second address is readable by the controllable element to select one of the third sub entities for transaction execution.
US09965425B2 Segmenting bus topology
One embodiment is a method that segments a bus topology to increase addressable devices that can attach to a bus. Switching occurs between different segments on the bus having multiple bus segments linked together.
US09965421B2 Electronic device coupling system and method
An electronic device coupling system includes a master electronic device and a plurality of slave electronic devices. The master electronic device includes a connecting module. Each slave electronic device includes a coupling module. The connecting module includes a plurality of connecting ports. Each connecting port assembly has a plurality of group address codes corresponding to the slave devices and a plurality of matching codes corresponding to each connecting port and each group address code. The master device can be coupled to each slave device according to a group address code. The coupling ports are configured to couple to the connecting ports according to the matching codes. An electronic device coupling method is further provided.
US09965415B2 DRAM data path sharing via a split local data bus and a segmented global data bus
Provided are a memory device and a memory bank comprising a split local data bus, and a segmented global data bus coupled to local data bus. Provided also is a method comprising, receiving a signal from a split local data bus, and transmitting the signal to a segmented global data bus coupled to local data bus. Provided also is a computational device that includes the memory device and the memory bank, and optionally one or more of a display, a network interface, and a battery.
US09965412B2 Method for application-aware interrupts management
According to one embodiment, a computer system includes a host computer, and a storage device coupled to the host computer. The host computer has a user-space device driver of the storage device in a user space of a host operating system (OS). The user-space device driver is configured to handle I/O operations to and from the storage device based on an application running on the host computer.
US09965408B2 Apparatuses and methods for asymmetric input/output interface for a memory
Apparatuses and methods for asymmetric input/output interfaces for memory are disclosed. An example apparatus may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be configured to receive first data signals having a first voltage swing and having a first slew rate. The transmitter may be configured to provide second data signals having a second voltage swing and having a second slew rate, wherein the first and second voltage swings are different, and wherein the first and second slew rates are different.
US09965406B2 Setting method, communication device, and master device
Delay in establishing communication is suppressed in a network system including a master device and a slave device. Provided is a setting method for performing communication setting for at least one of a master device and a slave device serving as a target device, the method including a storage step of storing a value of a communication parameter in a state in which the target device has established communication, and a setting step of, in communication setting in a preparatory stage for the target device to start communication, setting the value of the communication parameter that was stored in the storage step.
US09965400B2 Memory management method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage device
A memory management method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The memory management method includes using a first management mode to manage the rewritable non-volatile memory module after the rewritable non-volatile memory module is powered on; and using a second management mode to manage the rewritable non-volatile memory module if a shut down command is received from a host system, wherein the second management mode is different from the first management mode and the second management mode executes at least one mandatory processing procedure in background.
US09965399B2 Large-page optimization in virtual memory paging systems
A computer system that is programmed with virtual memory accesses to physical memory employs multi-bit counters associated with its page table entries. When a page walker visits a page table entry, the multi-bit counter associated with that page table entry is incremented by one. The computer operating system uses the counts in the multi-bit counters of different page table entries to determine where large pages can be deployed effectively. In a virtualized computer system having a nested paging system, multi-bit counters associated with both its primary page table entries and its nested page table entries are used. These multi-bit counters are incremented during nested page walks. Subsequently, the guest operating systems and the virtual machine monitors use the counts in the appropriate multi-bit counters to determine where large pages can be deployed effectively.
US09965391B2 Access cache line from lower level cache
A first threshold number of cache lines may be fetched to populate each of the ways of a first cache set of a higher level cache and each of the ways of a first cache set of a lower level cache. A second threshold number of cache lines may be fetched to map to the first cache set of the higher level cache and a second cache set of the lower level cache. The first threshold number of cache lines may be accessed from the second from the first cache set of the lower level cache.
US09965386B2 Method for generating row transposed architecture based on two-dimensional FFT processor
The invention discloses a method for generating a row transposed architecture based on a two-dimensional FFT processor, comprising the following characteristic: the FFT processor includes an on-chip row transposition memory for storing an image row transposition result. When the size of the row transposition result exceeds the capacity of the on-chip memory, the first 2k data of a row of the two-dimensional array after row transformation is written into the on-chip row transposition memory, the remaining data is written into the off-chip SDRAM, and k is acquired through calculation according to the row transposition result and the capacity of the on-chip row transposition memory. The on-chip memory is divided into two memories A and B used for storing the row transposition partial result and temporarily storing data read from off-chip SDRAM. When data is read from the memory A or B column by column for FFT column transposition, SDRAM is accessed in a row burst manner and data is written into the empty memory A or B alternately, and finally SDRAM is empty through repetitive ping-pong switching between the memories A and B. The row transposed architecture is capable of substantially reducing cross-line accessing frequency of SDRAM and improving two-dimensional FFT execution speed.
US09965385B2 Memory allocation accelerator
Technologies are generally described for methods and systems effective to implement a memory allocation accelerator. A processor may generate a request for allocation of a requested chunk of memory. The request may be received by a memory allocation accelerator configured to be in communication with the processor. The memory allocation accelerator may process the request to identify an address for a particular chunk of memory corresponding to the request and may return the address to the processor.
US09965383B2 File system indirection technique for directly managing solid state devices
A technique uses file system indirection to manage solid state devices (SSDs). Based on relocation of data on the SSDs from a first SSD storage block to a second SSD storage block, a flash translation layer (FTL) driver may update a per-volume indirection file to reference the second SSD storage block and no longer reference the first SSD storage block. Based on a mismatch between the per-volume indirection file and a buffer tree, the buffer tree is updated to reference the second SSD storage block. Alternatively, the FTL driver may create and insert an entry into a mapping table, wherein the entry may reference the first SSD storage block and also reference the second SSD storage block. The buffer tree may then be updated to reference the second SSD storage block based on the new entry, and the new entry may then be deleted after the buffer tree is updated.
US09965379B1 Cross-platform API test flow synthesizer
A system, method, and computer-readable medium, including obtaining a plurality of different application program interfaces (APIs), one for each of a plurality of different technology stacks, to be used in a test flow of a product constructed of the plurality of different technology stacks; generating a model of a test flow using each of the plurality of different APIs; defining input and output parameters for each of the plurality of different APIs in the model; automatically generating executable instructions to execute the modeled test flow; and storing a record of the executable instructions to execute the modeled test flow.
US09965372B2 On-site visualization of component status
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that enable a portable computing device such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, to capture one or more codes for one or more corresponding components positioned in proximity to the portable computing device, and to convey the one or more codes to a management system. Upon receiving the one or more codes, the management system can be configured to convey, to the portable computing device, an identification and a status of each of the one or more components. The portable computing device can then present the status of the one or more components on a display.
US09965371B2 Automatically determining and indicating system positions of devices in a hierarchical bus networked system
System and method for determining and conveying connectivity of cabled computer peripherals to a user. Characteristic information regarding each of multiple devices connected to a computer system in a system hierarchy of a bus networked system may be stored, including a device hierarchy associated with each device that identifies respective hardware nodes included in the device, and one or more visual attributes of the device. Respective system positions may be automatically determined for at least some of the devices based on the device hierarchy. A respective point of reference of at least one device may be determined based on the characteristic information of one or more of the devices. The computer system may generate information that indicates the respective system position of the at least one device relative to the respective point of reference of the device, which is useable to visually identify the device in the bus networked system.
US09965370B2 Automated detection of high performance interconnect coupling
A port of a first device includes remote device detection logic to detect, on a link, a remote second device, determine, from a voltage generated at the port, whether the second device is direct current (DC)-coupled or alternating current (AC)-coupled to the link, and select one of first settings or second settings to be applied at the port in communications over the link with the second device based on whether the second device is DC-coupled or AC-coupled.
US09965363B2 Techniques for LIF placement in SAN storage cluster synchronous disaster recovery
Improved techniques for disaster recover within storage area networks are disclosed. Embodiments include replicating a LIF of a primary cluster on a secondary cluster. LIF configuration information is extracted from the primary cluster. A peer node from a secondary cluster is located. One or more ports are located on the located peer node that match a connectivity of the LIF from the primary cluster. One or more ports are identified based upon one or more filtering criteria to generate a candidate port list. A port from the candidate port list is selected based at least upon a load of the port. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09965362B2 Systems and methods for performing data recovery in a memory system
Systems and methods for performing data recovery are disclosed. A controller of a memory system may detect an error at a first page of memory and identify a data keep cache associated with the first page, the data keep cache associated with a primary XOR sum. The controller may further sense data stored at a second page and move the data to a first latch of the memory; sense data stored at a third page such that the data is present in a second latch of the memory; and calculate a restoration XOR sum based on the data of the second page and the data of the third page. The controller may further calculate the data of the first page based on the primary XOR sum and the restoration XOR sum, and restore the data of the first page.
US09965356B2 Method and system of high-availability PCIE SSD with software-hardware jointly assisted implementation to enhance immunity on multi-cell upset
It is detected that an error has occurred on an FPGA while the FPGA is operating in a first mode, wherein the error is not correctable by the FPGA itself. The FPGA is configurable to operate in the first mode in which a set of processing steps is to be performed by a first set of logic cells within the FPGA, or in a second mode in which at least a portion of the set of processing steps is to be performed outside the FPGA enabled by a second set of logic cells within the FPGA. An error location associated with the error is identified. In the event that the error location is deemed to have occurred in a critical subset of the first set of logic cells: the FPGA is switched to operate in the second mode; at least one of the first set of logic cells is reconfigured; and upon successful reconfiguration, the FPGA is switched to operate in the first mode.
US09965355B2 System and method for dynamic collection of system management data in a mainframe computing environment
A system collects system management facility (SMF) records pertaining to jobs and processes running on a mainframe system. The SMF records are immediately available for processing after collection. The SMF records are collected from an SMF exit point and/or log stream.
US09965352B2 Separate link and array error correction in a memory system
A memory device may include link error correction code (ECC) decoder and correction circuitry. The ECC decoder and correction circuitry may be arranged in a write path and configured for link error detection and correction of write data received over a data link. The memory device may also include memory ECC encoder circuitry. The memory ECC encoder circuitry may be arranged in the write path and configured for memory protection of the write data during storage in a memory array.
US09965351B2 Power savings in cold storage
Methods and apparatus associated with data cold storage are described. Example apparatus include an array of data storage devices arranged in rows and columns. Columns of the array are orthogonal to rows. A row has an associated row-centric power supply, and a column has an associated column-centric local electronics module (LEM) that controls a data storage device in the column independently of other data storage devices in the array. Example apparatus include logics that control a power mode of a data storage device independently of other data storage devices in the array, that control a power mode of an LEM, that adaptively regulate the level of data stored in a buffer, and that determine whether a data object will be stored in the buffer or stored on a data storage device in the array, based on the probability the data object will be accessed within a threshold period of time.
US09965349B2 Identifying network performance alert conditions
A method includes receiving diagnostic data at a computing system from network interface devices. The method includes analyzing the diagnostic data with the computer system to identify a performance alert condition. The method includes determining, by the computer system, potential causes of the performance alert condition. The method includes determining, by the computer system, probabilities associated with the potential causes being actual causes of the performance alert condition. The method also includes generating, by the computer system, an output including a potential causes list ordered according to the probabilities associated with the potential causes being the actual causes of the performance alert condition.
US09965337B2 Profile-driven merging of API components
Software that utilizes machine logic-based algorithms to combine the Terms of Service (ToS) portions of multiple Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) by performing the following steps: (i) providing a first ToS portion of a first API, with the first ToS portion including a first ToS feature value for a first ToS feature; (ii) providing a second ToS portion of a second API, with the second ToS portion including a second ToS feature value for the first ToS feature; and (iii) merging, at least, the first ToS portion and the second ToS portion, according to a set of ToS merger rule(s) applied by machine logic, to generate a merged ToS. One merger rule combines at least the first ToS feature value and the second ToS feature value according to a set of operator(s) to generate a first merged ToS feature value included as the first ToS feature in the merged ToS.
US09965333B2 Automated workload selection
A job submission method that presents a set of algorithms that provide automated workload selection to a batch processing system that has the ability to receive and run jobs on various computing resources simultaneously is provided. If all machines in the batch system are running jobs, a queue containing the extra jobs for execution results. For compute intensive workloads, such as chip design, an automated workload selection system software layer submits jobs to the batch processing system. This keeps the batch processing system continually full of useful work The job submission system provides for organizing workloads, assigning relative ratios between workloads, associating arbitrary workload validation algorithms with a workload or parent workload, associating arbitrary selection algorithms with a workload or workload group, defining high priority workloads that preserve fairness and balancing the workload selection based on current status of the batch system, validation status, and the workload ratios.
US09965330B2 Maintaining throughput of a stream processing framework while increasing processing load
The technology disclosed relates to maintaining throughput of a stream processing framework while increasing processing load. In particular, it relates to defining a container over at least one worker node that has a plurality workers, with one worker utilizing a whole core within a worker node, and queuing data from one or more incoming near real-time (NRT) data streams in multiple pipelines that run in the container and have connections to at least one common resource external to the container. It further relates to concurrently executing the pipelines at a number of workers as batches, and limiting simultaneous connections to the common resource to the number of workers by providing a shared connection to a set of batches running on a same worker regardless of the pipelines to which the batches in the set belong.
US09965329B2 Method and apparatus for workload placement on heterogeneous systems
The methods and apparatus can assign processing core workloads to processing cores from a heterogeneous instruction set architectures (ISA) pool of available processing cores based on processing core metric results. For example, the method and apparatus can obtain processing core metric results for one or more processing cores, such as processing cores within general purpose processors, from a heterogeneous ISA pool of available processing cores. The method and apparatus can also obtain one or more processing core workloads, such as software applications or software processes, from a pool of available processing core workloads to be assigned. The method and apparatus can then assign one or more processing core workloads that have higher priority than others from the pool of available processing core workloads to a processing core from the heterogeneous ISA pool of available processing cores based on its processing core metric result.
US09965327B2 Dynamically scalable data collection and analysis for target device
A telemetry module integrated with an application may include a data collection and analysis engine configured to perform data collection and analysis for reporting to a service associated with the application. The telemetry module may include additional components configured to dynamically scale the data collection and analysis performed by the data collection and analysis engine for a target device such that parameters of the data collection and analysis correspond to resources and capabilities of the target device. For example, a scaling profile manager may receive a profile for a device on which the application is being executed from the service, where the profile defines criteria for the scaling of the data collection and analysis. The scaling profile manager may then determine one or more resources and capabilities of the device, compare the determined resources and capabilities to the criteria, and scale the data collection and analysis based on the comparison.
US09965325B1 System and methods for transaction-based process management
Systems and methods for transaction/file-based management of a plurality of processes associated with various jobs are provided. Through the management of discrete applications, a file distribution manager/scheduler orchestrates automated execution of different types of jobs. The processes executed for the various processes can vary based on job type, or other parameters.
US09965322B2 Scheduling tasks in a distributed processing system with both reconfigurable and configurable processors
A distributed processing system includes a plurality of task nodes each configured to have a capability of processing a task using a reconfigurable processor, and having a capability of processing the task using a non-reconfigurable processor if the task is not processed using the reconfigurable processor, and a scheduler node configured to select a task node that is to process the task from the plurality of task nodes.
US09965320B2 Processor with transactional capability and logging circuitry to report transactional operations
A processor is described comprising memory access conflict detection circuitry to identify a conflict pertaining to a transaction being executed by a thread that believes it has locked information within a memory. The processor also includes logging circuitry to construct and report out a packet if the memory access conflict detection circuitry identifies a conflict that causes the transaction to be aborted.
US09965319B2 Dynamic time-based sequencing
In some embodiments, techniques include identifying a plurality of tasks associated with an identifier corresponding to an electronic device. A task series is generated so as to include the plurality of tasks, where each task in the series is associated with a performance time. When it is determined that the task has not been completed by the performance time, the task series is updated.
US09965318B2 Concurrent principal component analysis computation
The disclosure generally relates to principal component analysis (PCA) computation and, more particularly, to concurrent PCA computation. In one embodiment, a plurality of concurrent PCA requests are received by a server. An input matrix for each of the concurrent PCA requests is computed using a general purpose-graphical processing unit (GP-GPU) by the server. Further, tridiagnolization on the input matrix is performed on each of the concurrent PCA requests by a general purpose-graphical processing unit (GP-GPU) in the server to generate a tridiagonal matrix for each of the concurrent PCA requests. Furthermore, a plurality of eigen values and corresponding eigen vectors are computed for the tridiagonal matrix of each of the concurrent PCA requests by the server and subsequently back transformation of the eigen values and the eigen vectors is performed by the server for each of the concurrent PCA requests to obtain associated principal components.
US09965316B2 Archiving virtual machines in a data storage system
The data storage system according to certain aspects can manage the archiving of virtual machines to (and restoring of virtual machines from) secondary storage. The system can determine whether to archive virtual machines based on usage data or information. The usage information may include storage usage, CPU usage, memory usage, network usage, events defined by a virtual machine software or application, etc. The system may archive virtual machines that are determined to have a low level of utilization. For example, a virtual machine can be archived when its usage level falls below a threshold level. The system may create a virtual machine placeholder for an archived virtual machine, which may be a “light” or minimal version of the virtual machine that acts as if it is the actual virtual machine. By using a virtual machine placeholder, a virtual machine may appear to be active and selectable by the user.
US09965315B1 Multi-core guest operating system loading approach
A system and related method for guest OS loading in a multi-core processing environment optimizes the startup process by loading a hypervisor runtime image to an allocated memory location, from which the processing cores individually activate and execute the runtime image rather than reloading the runtime image. For guest operating systems executing across multiple processing cores, a single core may load the associated guest OS image to allocated memory space in the system RAM. The remaining cores on which that guest OS is configured to execute may then copy the loaded guest OS image to their own respective allocated system RAM, and execute the copied guest OS images therefrom.
US09965314B2 Methods and systems for converting a related group of physical machines to virtual machines
A method for processing virtualization of computers that are part of a group into virtual computers is provided. The method includes obtaining relationship data from the computers, where the relationship data identifies parameters used to communicate within the group. Then, the method analyzes utilization parameters for each of the computers of the group. A visual model for proposed virtualization of the group of computers is then generated. The visual model identifies hosting machines designated to define a virtual computer for each of the computers, where the visual model provides a graphical illustration of the group of computers once converted to virtual computers. The method enables adjustment of the proposed virtualization of the group of computers. Then, an execution sequence of virtualization operations to be carried out is generated, if execution of the proposed virtualization is triggered, and the execution sequence is saved to storage and accessed upon execution.
US09965304B2 Delayed hardware upgrades in virtualization systems
A system for delayed hardware upgrades in virtualization systems is disclosed. A method of the disclosure includes maintaining, by a hypervisor of a host machine, a delayed hardware upgrade mode that is applicable to virtual machines (VMs) managed by the hypervisor, receiving, by the hypervisor, a command to change VM hardware of one of the VMs managed by the hypervisor, placing, per the delayed hardware upgrade mode maintained by the hypervisor, the command in a delayed command queue associated with the VM to which the command was directed, the delayed command queue maintained by the hypervisor, and executing, by the hypervisor, the command in the delayed command queue when it is determined that the VM has been rebooted, wherein the reboot of the VM is not directly associated with the command.
US09965303B2 Systems and methods for accessing remote resources for emulation
A method and system for emulating a computer product at an emulator server. The method and system involve receiving an emulation request to emulate the computer product; determining emulation properties based on the emulation request; determining whether each resource in the one or more resources is available at the emulator server; in response to determining at least one unavailable resource from the one or more resources, accessing the at least one unavailable resource at a remote emulator server, the remote emulator server being in electronic communication with the emulator server via a virtual external bus interface and the virtual external bus interface being operable to facilitate data communication between two or more different device components, and otherwise, initializing the resource at the emulator server; and initializing the computer product at the emulator server.
US09965301B2 Systems and methods for managing emulation resources
A method and system for managing an emulation of a computer product. The method and system involve receiving emulation parameters associated with the emulation of the computer product, the emulation parameters defining one or more resources required to provide the emulation; identifying one or more capable emulator servers from a plurality of emulator servers based at least on the one or more resources; retrieving emulator server data for each capable emulator server; determining one or more criteria usable for selecting an emulator server from the one or more capable emulator servers to provide the emulation; and selecting the emulator server from the one or more capable emulator servers to provide the emulation, the emulator server being a capable emulator server from the one or more capable emulators associated with emulator server data satisfying at least some of the one or more criteria.
US09965297B2 Assistance information controlling
Controlling assistance information comprises determining a user mode based on computer input signals generated by a user. If the user is in a passive mode and assistance information is detected, the assistance information is disabled in response to detecting a hidden signal. The assistance information is then enabled if later a reset signal is detected. If the user is in passive mode and assistance information is not detected, the assistance information is enabled in response to detecting a trigger signal. If the user is in an active mode and assistance information is detected, the assistance information is disabled.
US09965290B2 Parallel computer, initialization method of parallel computer, and non-transitory medium for storing a program
A parallel computer includes a first processor, a second processor, and a first storage device. The first processor outputs, in response to an instruction for starting up the parallel computer, a first read-out request causing the first storage device to transmit a command of an initialization process to the first processor. The first processor executes the initialization process of the first processor by using the command received from the first storage device. The second processor monitors, in response to the instruction for starting up the parallel computer, a signal transmitted between the first processor and the first storage device. The second processor detects, from the signal monitored, the command output from the first storage device. And, the second processor is configured to execute the initialization process of the second processor by using the detected command.
US09965288B2 Preconfiguring hardware and speeding up server discovery prior to bios boot
Techniques are provided for preconfiguring hardware prior to BIOS boot up, and in particular, accessing a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) feature descriptor in the BIOS read only memory area, the BIOS feature descriptor comprising information associated with a BIOS of the server; and utilizing the BIOS feature descriptor, prior to boot up operations of the server, to configure hardware of the server.
US09965283B2 Multi-threaded processor interrupting and saving execution states of complex instructions of a first thread to allow execution of an oldest ready instruction of a second thread
A first entry, when outputting an instruction stored in the first entry to a first arithmetic unit and when an execution cycle number of the instruction stored in the first entry is equal to or more than a threshold value, outputs a use inability signal of the first arithmetic unit to a second entry, a reservation station includes a controller configured to, when the use inability signal of the first arithmetic unit is output and then a use inability discontinuation condition is satisfied, perform control to discontinue execution of the first arithmetic unit, store a state of the first arithmetic unit in a storage element, and discontinue output of the use inability signal of the first arithmetic unit, and the second entry, when output of the use inability signal of the first arithmetic unit is discontinued, outputs an instruction stored in the second entry to the first arithmetic unit.
US09965280B2 Instruction and logic for processor trace information for control flow integrity
A processor includes a front end to decode an instruction and pass the instruction to execution units with branch suffix information. The processor further includes execution units to execute the instruction and a retirement unit to retire the instruction. The instruction is to specify an operation to be conditionally executed based upon a branch suffix to identify previous execution. The processor further includes logic to, upon retirement of the instruction, determine the result of a series of branch operations preceding execution of the instruction, compare the result to the branch suffix information, allow execution and retirement of the instruction based on a determination that the result matches the branch suffix information, and generate a fault based on a determination that the result does not match the branch suffix information.
US09965279B2 Recording performance metrics to predict future execution of large instruction sequences on either high or low performance execution circuitry
An apparatus for processing data includes first execution circuitry, such as an out-of-order processor, and second execution circuitry, such as an in-order processor. The first execution circuitry is of higher performance but uses more energy than the second execution circuitry. Control circuitry switches between the first execution circuitry being active and the second execution circuitry being active. The control circuitry includes prediction circuitry which is configured to predict a predicted identity of a next sequence of program instructions to be executed in dependence upon a most recently executed sequence of program instructions and then in dependence upon this predicted identity to predict a predicted execution target corresponding to whether the next sequence of program instructions should be executed by the first execution circuitry or the second execution circuitry.
US09965273B2 Signal processing circuit
Provided is a signal processing circuit occupying a small circuit area. A common arithmetic operation element is shared between a plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units. An arbitration circuit selects, when the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units simultaneously generate requests for arithmetic operations to use the common arithmetic operation element, the predetermined sequence control unit based on priority information about the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units, causes the common arithmetic operation element to execute the arithmetic operation requested from the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit, and returns the result of the arithmetic operation to the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit.
US09965270B2 Updating computer firmware
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for updating a computer firmware. The system generates a user firmware volume within a computer firmware volume containing computer firmware used by the system during a boot process. In some cases, the user firmware volume can be a file system. The system also obtains a firmware file for updating the computer firmware used by the system during the boot process. Next, the system compares the firmware file with a content of the computer firmware volume to yield a comparison and, based on the comparison, stores the firmware file on the user firmware volume within the computer firmware volume without flashing an entire portion of the computer firmware used by the system during the boot process.
US09965269B2 Systems and methods for determining and distributing an update to an inference model for wearable apparatuses
A system and a method determine a global update to an inference model and distribute the global update to a plurality of wearable apparatuses. In one implementation, the system includes a data interface and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device is programmed to receive, via the data interface and from a first one of the plurality of wearable apparatuses, first update information associated with the inference model. The at least one processing device is further programmed to receive, via the data interface and from a second one of the plurality of wearable apparatuses, second update information associated with the inference model. The at least one processing device is further programmed to analyze the first update information and the second update information to determine the global update to the inference model, and transmit, via the data interface, the global update to the plurality of wearable apparatuses.
US09965267B2 Dynamic interface for firmware updates
An electronic warfare (EW) devices and a method of providing jamming techniques are generally described. Firmware is updated by eliminating an existing jamming technique, adding a new technique and/or changing parameters of one of the techniques in the firmware. Changing the technique parameters includes adding a new parameter, deleting an existing parameter, changing the range of values for an existing parameter and changing the order of the parameters to be transmitted by an Operational Flight Program (OFP) to the firmware to generate the technique. The OFP reads a published a register mapping specifying parameters to use in generating the jamming techniques in the EW firmware, a range of the parameters and an order of the parameters. The jamming techniques are generated using parameters transmitted by the OFP to the firmware. The same OFP is used to trigger generation of jamming techniques prior to and after the updating of the firmware.
US09965266B2 Dynamic extensions to legacy application tasks
Methods, systems, and techniques for adding extensions to legacy tasks as part of modernizing such tasks are provided. A user can add dynamically add task extensions to an individual legacy task by configuring them, even while a task is running. Role extensions can be added to a home desktop of a role through configuration parameters. Task extensions can be made accessible to users through UI controls added as part of the modernization procedure when a legacy task data stream is received from a host computing system. Example embodiments provide a Role-Based Modernization System (“RBMS”), which uses these enhanced modernization techniques to provide role-based modernization of menu-based legacy applications.
US09965263B2 Cloud orchestration engine
An orchestration engine that interfaces with the various clouds to implement the system solution. The orchestration engine builds, configures, and converges the single system solution. The orchestration engine builds the system by instantiating machines and services on the various clouds. The orchestration engine configures the system according to input from the client and the solution provider and then converges the various systems by establishing relationships and connections between the various services. Optionally, the orchestration engine also runs tests to verify that the system is working properly. Once the system has been built, configured and converged, the orchestration engine provides the client with a single entry point for using the system solution.
US09965255B2 Code origination data management for code assembly
Aspects of the disclosure relate to managing code origination data for a stream computing environment. A first set of code origination data which corresponds to a first computing object and a second set of code origination data which corresponds to a second computing object may be detected for utilization to develop a streaming application in the stream computing environment. Based on the first and second sets of code origination data, a code assembly arrangement with respect to the first and second computing objects may be determined. The code assembly arrangement may be established with respect to the first and second computing objects to develop the streaming application.
US09965250B2 Integrated quantum-random noise generator using quantum vacuum states of light
An integrated quantum random noise source includes a substrate, an optical oscillator that may be integral to the substrate coupled by an optical waveguide to an optical directional coupler. The optical directional coupler has two outputs that are coupled by optical waveguides to a pair of photodetectors that are part of a balanced photodetector. The balanced photodetector in response outputs an analog signal proportional to the difference in photocurrents of the two photodetectors. The analog output signal from the balanced photodetector is a random Gaussian-distributed signal representative of quadrature measurements on the quantum vacuum state of light. The random noise source can be coupled other apparatus to provide a source of random bits.
US09965249B2 Stochastic processing
A system, method, and device for stochastically processing data. There is an architect module operating on a processor configured to manage and control stochastic processing of data, a non-deterministic data pool module configured to provide a stream of non-deterministic values that are not derived from a function, a plurality of functionally equivalent data processing modules each configured to stochastically process data as called upon by the architect module, a data feed configured to feed a data set desired to be stochastically processed, and a structure memory module including a memory storage device and configured to provide sufficient information for the architect module to duplicate a predefined processing architecture and to record a utilized processing architecture.
US09965246B2 Method for outputting screen information through sound and electronic device for supporting the same
A method of outputting screen information using a sound, executed on an electronic device, is provided. The method includes creating a multi-dimensional space of two or more dimensions corresponding to a screen of the electronic device, setting sound information on respective coordinates of the multi-dimensional space, extracting location information of a focused point on the screen of the electronic device, determining coordinates of the multi-dimensional space corresponding to the location information, and outputting a sound according to the sound information set to the determined coordinates.
US09965244B2 System and method for issuing commands in a media playback system
Embodiments are described herein that provide a dedicated command device that is bonded to a zone player or zone to perform adjustments to the zone player or zone. In an example implementation, a command device receives an instruction to pair with a first playback device that is associated with a group of playback devices that includes the first playback device and at least one additional playback device. The group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group. The command device receives an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable and transmits, via a wireless communications interface, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.
US09965243B2 Playback expansion
Examples described herein involve expanding playback of a media item from one playback device to another playback device. In an example implementation, while a first playback device is part of a first zone, the first playback device identifies that a second playback device has moved to a location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device. The first playback device determines that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device, and responsively, joins the a second zone that comprises the second playback device and initiates playback of media in synchrony with the second playback device.
US09965241B2 Using a processing device as a dock for a media player
By integrating multiple electronic devices, it is possible to increase the functionality of the devices individually. For example it is possible to improve media playback functionality, create media playlists “on-the-go” and to use a first device power supply to charge the power supply of the second device. By integrating the devices, it is possible to address some of the shortcomings of devices that are decreasing in size with increasing power requirements, while still maintaining the advantages that these devices offer.
US09965239B2 Linked display system, linked display method and program
Provided is a linked display system capable of improving availability of information having different scales and amounts of information, a linked display method, and a program. A mobile terminal 100 includes a display unit 101 that displays operation display information I1, a range setting unit 105 that sets a predetermined range A containing a specified position in accordance with an operation to specify any position P over operation display information and a communication unit 109 that transmits the predetermined range to a TV set 200. The TV set includes a communication unit 209 that receives the predetermined range from the mobile terminal, a display information selection unit 205 that selects reference display information I2 capable of displaying information corresponding to the predetermined range from at least one piece of the reference display information corresponding to the operation display information in accordance with display capacity of a local apparatus and having a different scale and amount of information from those of the operation display information, and a display unit 201 that displays information corresponding to the predetermined range of the selected reference display information.
US09965238B2 Method and apparatus for sharing display frame
A method and an apparatus for sharing display frame are provided. The apparatus includes a display unit, a communication unit, and a processing unit. In the method, a plurality of electronic apparatuses are searched by the processing unit through the communication unit, where each of the electronic apparatuses is configured to display a corresponding display frame. The processing unit selects one or a plurality of the electronic apparatuses, and synchronously displays at least first frame displayed by the display unit on one or a plurality of the selected electronic apparatus.
US09965237B2 Methods, systems and processor-readable media for bidirectional communications and data sharing
Methods, systems and processor-readable media for supporting bidirectional communications and data sharing. One or more wireless hand held devices can be registered with one or more controllers associated with one or more multimedia displays. One or more profile icons can be selected for use as a cursor(s) during interaction of the wireless hand held device(s) with one or more multimedia display(s) during rendering of an event as data on the multimedia display(s). Supplemental data can be provided from the multimedia display(s) and/or a remote database to the wireless hand held device(s) based on a selection of the data rendered on the multimedia display(s) marked by the cursor utilizing the wireless hand held device(s).
US09965235B2 Multi-function peripheral and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions causing device to execute workflow
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores computer-readable instructions which are readable by a controller of a device provided with a communication interface and a notification interface. The computer-readable instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the device to perform determining whether pre-operations defined in multiple jobs contained in a workflow have successfully completed. In response to determination that the pre-operations have successfully completed, the device is caused to execute a main-process in which main-operations respectively defined in the multiple jobs contained in the workflow in order. In response to determination that at least one of the pre-operations has abended, the notification interface is caused to notify that the multiple jobs defined in the workflow are inexecutable.
US09965229B2 Locked print in cloud printing environments
An approach is provided for managing locked printing requests in cloud printing environments. In a cloud printing environment, a cloud printing service provider provides a platform that enables client devices to send print requests for processing by any printing device that is configured to communicate with the cloud printing service provider over a network, such as the Internet. A printing device comprises a cloud print agent that is configured to manage locked printing requests received from client devices via a cloud printing platform. The cloud print agent may be further configured to notify a user when print job data for a print job submitted by the user is approaching expiration.
US09965224B2 Systems and methods for enabling replication targets to reclaim unused storage space on thin-provisioned storage systems
A computer-implemented method for enabling replication targets to reclaim unused storage space on thin-provisioned storage systems may include: 1) replicating data from a replication source to a replication target, 2) identifying unused storage space within the replicated data, 3) generating a reclamation request for reclaiming the unused storage space from a thin-provisioned storage system that provides thin-provisioned storage for the replication target, and then 4) issuing the reclamation request to the thin-provisioned storage system in order to reclaim the unused storage space from the thin-provisioned storage system. Various other related systems, methods, and configured computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09965223B2 Systems and methods for scalable storage management
Systems and methods for management of scalable storage architectures are disclosed. The system includes one or more storage backplanes, each storage backplane configured to interface with one or more hard disk drives. The system includes a baseboard management controller, which includes an interface to communicate with one or more of the storage backplanes and programmable logic configured to detect the presence of one or more hard disk drives in an interfaced storage backplane and control one or more status indicators, wherein each status indicator is related to at least one of the hard disk drives in the interfaced storage backplane.
US09965221B2 Memory system for controlling input command priority and operation method therefor
A memory system may include: a controller suitable for checking a priority information on a plurality of input commands, storing the input commands having a high priority information as a first command in a first command storage unit, and storing the input commands having a low priority information as a second command in a second command storage unit, and one or more memory device suitable for operating in response to the input commands stored in the first or second command storage units.
US09965220B2 Forced idling of memory subsystems
Various aspects include methods for managing memory subsystems on a computing device. Various aspect methods may include determining a period of time to force a memory subsystem on the computing device into a low power mode, inhibiting memory access requests to the memory subsystem during the determined period of time, forcing the memory subsystem into the low power mode for the determined period of time, and executing the memory access requests to the memory subsystem inhibited during the determined period of time in response to expiration of the determined period of time.
US09965219B2 Synchronizing a cursor based on consumer and producer throughputs
A computer-implemented method includes writing, by a producer, data to one or more buffers. The one or more buffers include a plurality of cells and together form a circular buffer, and an input cursor indicates which cell of the plurality of cells the producer writes to. The method further includes reading, by a consumer, data from the one or more buffers, where an output cursor indicates which cell of the plurality of cells the consumer reads from. It is detected that the consumer is overrun by the producer. A throughput of the consumer is compared to a throughput of the producer, responsive to detecting that the consumer is overrun by the producer. The output cursor is synchronized to a new position, by a computer processor, where the new position is selected based on comparing the throughput of the consumer to the throughput of the producer.
US09965218B1 Techniques using multiple service level objectives in connection with a storage group
Described are techniques for processing service level objectives. A first service level objective specified for a storage group of devices may include a first value denoting a first target level of performance for I/O operations. A second service level objective specified for a first portion of the storage group may include a second value denoting a second target level of performance for I/O operations directed to the first portion. The second value may denote a higher level of performance than the first value. It may be determined whether there is a violation of any of the first service level objective and the second level objective. Responsive to determining there is the violation of any of the first service level objective and the second level objective, one or more data movements in accordance with the violation may be performed.
US09965217B2 Managing data in a storage system
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for managing data in a storage system, the system including a storage layer which provides storage resource, and a snapshot layer that includes: a volume-version data structure, a chunk-version data structure and a IO handler.
US09965215B1 Disk synchronizing
In one aspect, a method, includes designating a range of memory in a source disk to synchronize with a target disk, receiving blocks of data that have changed in the source disk and were cloned to a target disk, marking the blocks of data as synchronized and copying data in portions of the range that are not marked as synchronized in the source disk to the target disk.
US09965214B2 Memory system
A memory system includes a memory controller, a first memory module including first and second groups of first memory chips, a second memory module including first and second groups of second memory chips, and a channel including a first group of signal lines suitable for coupling the memory controller with the first memory module, and a second group of signal lines suitable for coupling the memory controller with the second memory module.
US09965213B2 IP hard disk and storage system, and data operation methods therefor
A data operation method for a storage system is applied to a storage system that includes an access node and at least two internet protocol (IP) hard disks, including sending, by the access node, a data migration instruction to a first IP hard disk, where the data migration instruction includes an identifier of a target virtual storage partition, the data migration instruction is used to instruct data in the target virtual storage partition to be migrated to a second IP hard disk; and receiving, by the first IP hard disk, the data migration instruction, reading the data in the target virtual storage partition according to the identifier of the target virtual storage partition, and writing the data in the target virtual storage partition into the second IP hard disk. The present system and method can be applied to migration of data in an IP hard disk.
US09965208B1 Memory device having a controller to enable and disable mode control circuitry of the controller
Configurable operating mode memory devices are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a memory device is configurable into one or more operating modes. An array of memory cells can be allocated into one or more partitions where each partition is associated only with a particular mode of operation. In at least one other embodiment, a memory device is configured to store user data in a portion of a memory array and to store data corresponding to a logical function associated with a different operating mode of the memory device in a different portion of the memory array.
US09965206B2 Enhanced queue management for power control of data storage device
Systems, methods, and firmware for power control of data storage devices are provided herein. In one example, a data storage device is presented. The data storage device includes a transaction queue configured to enqueue storage operations received over a host interface of the data storage device for storage and retrieval of data on storage media. The data storage device includes a storage controller configured to process a power/current target to establish a dequeue process for storage operations in the transaction queue which operates the data storage device within the power/current target.
US09965204B1 Transaction-based storage system and method that uses variable sized objects to store data
Aspects of the innovations herein are consistent with a storage system for storing variable sized objects. The storage system may be a transaction-based system that uses variable sized objects to store data. The storage system may be implemented using arrays disks that are arranged in ranks. Each rank may include multiple stripes. Each stripe may be read and written as a convenient unit for maximum performance. A rank manager may be provided to dynamically configure the ranks to adjust for failed and added disks by selectively shortening and lengthening the stripes. The storage system may include a stripe space table that contains entries describing the amount of space used in each stripe. An object map may provide entries for each object in the storage system describing the location (e.g., rank, stripe and offset values), the length and version of the object.
US09965203B1 Systems and methods for implementing an enterprise-class converged compute-network-storage appliance
A distributed storage system that dispatches an input/output request is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a storage controller client receives the input/output request, wherein the distributed storage system includes the storage controller client, a plurality of storage controller servers, a plurality of virtual nodes distributed among a plurality of physical nodes, and each of the plurality of physical nodes is hosted on one of the plurality of storage controller servers. The storage controller client further computes a target virtual node for the input/output request, where the target virtual node is one of the plurality of virtual nodes. Using the computed target virtual node, the storage controller client determines a target physical node that corresponds to the target virtual node, where the target physical node is one of the plurality of physical nodes. In addition, the storage controller client dispatches the input/output request to a target storage controller that corresponds to the target physical node, wherein the target storage controller server is one of the plurality of storage controller servers. In addition, the virtual node includes a set of one or more mirrored copies across different fault domains for ensuring resiliency and high availability.
US09965199B2 Smart dynamic wear balancing between memory pools
A memory system or flash card may include a dynamic system-level process for the management of blocks in the different memory pools. There may be spare blocks available to the pools that are over provisioned to the pool which increases the efficiency of data compaction and helps reduce the average hot count for that pool and compensate for the grown defects. The block wear and grown defects in each memory pool may be tracked so that remaining spare blocks can be re-allocated.
US09965195B2 Methods and systems for efficiently storing data at a plurality of storage tiers using a transfer data structure
Methods and systems for a networked system are provided. One method includes receiving a request by a processor to transfer a data block stored at a first storage tier to the second storage tier; using an object staging data structure to determine that an object is available for transferring the data block from the first storage tier to the second storage tier. The object staging data structure an indicator providing a status for the object and an object length and an offset value of a transfer log indicating where information regarding the data block is stored. The method further includes updating an address of the storage tier where the information regarding data block is stored at the transfer log; increasing the object length and the offset value at the object staging data structure; and creating the object at the second tier.
US09965194B2 Data writing method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage apparatus which performs data arrangement operation according to usage frequency of physical erasing unit of memory storage apparatus
A data writing method, a memory control circuit unit and a memory storage apparatus are provided. The method includes: receiving a first write command and first data corresponding to the first write command, and writing the first data into a third physical erasing unit in first physical erasing units; and if a usage frequency of a fourth physical erasing unit in the first physical erasing units is less than a predetermined value, performing a data arrangement operation corresponding to the first write command to copy second data stored by the fourth physical to at least one of second physical erasing units.
US09965186B2 Leveraging portable system power to enhance memory management and enable application level features
A memory device and techniques for its operation are presented. After operating on power received from a host, the memory device determines that it is no longer receiving host power and, in response, activates a power source on the memory device itself. Using this reserve power, the memory device can then perform data management operations. The techniques can also be applied to a digital appliance having a non-volatile memory. The memory device or digital appliance can prioritize its memory management operation during the host/user operating window based on the ability to perform these operations outside of the host/user operating window. Additionally, in a data write operations, where the memory device receives data from a host, stores the data in volatile memory, and then writes the data into the non-volatile memory, the memory device sends the host an acknowledgment of the data having been written into the non-volatile memory after it has been store in the volatile memory, but before the write into the non-volatile memory is complete.
US09965185B2 Utilization of a distributed index to provide object memory fabric coherency
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to implement an object memory fabric. Object memory modules may include object storage storing memory objects, memory object meta-data, and a memory module object directory. Each memory object and/or memory object portion may be created natively within the object memory module and may be a managed at a memory layer. The memory module object directory may index all memory objects and/or portions within the object memory module. A hierarchy of object routers may communicatively couple the object memory modules. Each object router may maintain an object cache state for the memory objects and/or portions contained in object memory modules below the object router in the hierarchy. The hierarchy, based on the object cache state, may behave in aggregate as a single object directory communicatively coupled to all object memory modules and to process requests based on the object cache state.
US09965180B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus control method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes a first control unit configured to control an operation to be performed by the information processing apparatus and a second control unit configured to control an operation of an operation unit equipped with a display device. The first control unit generates first graphic data corresponding to a screen to be displayed by the display device. The second control unit generates second graphic data corresponding to a software key. Further, the information processing apparatus combines the first graphic data with the second graphic data to form composite graphic data and causes the display device to display the composite graphic data.
US09965178B2 Method and electronic device that controls a touch screen based on both a coordinate of a gesture performed thereon and a tilt change value
A method in an electronic device comprising: displaying a screen on a touchscreen; identifying at least one coordinate of a gesture performed on the touchscreen; identifying a tilt change value of the electronic device; and controlling the screen based on the coordinate and the tilt change value of the electronic device and displaying the controlled screen.
US09965177B2 Event recognition
A method executes software including a view hierarchy with a plurality of views which displays one or more views of the view hierarchy. The method executes software elements associated with a particular view, wherein each particular view includes event recognizers. Each event recognizer has an event definition based on sub-events, and an event handler that specifies an action for a target, and is configured to send the action to the target in response to an event recognition. The method detects a sequence of sub-events, and identifies one of the views of the view hierarchy as a hit view that establishes which views in the hierarchy are actively involved views. The method delivers a respective sub-event to event recognizers for each actively involved view, wherein each event recognizer for actively involved views in the view hierarchy processes the respective sub-event prior to processing a next sub-event in the sequence of sub-events.
US09965176B2 Transparent display device and operation method thereof
A transparent display device is provided. The transparent display device include a display unit is configured to receive a front side touch input and a rear side touch input and display information, and a controller is configured to receive a grip unfolding input for unfolding a two side grip input for touching front and rear sides of the display unit in a predetermined direction, and control the display unit to display a plurality of objects according to the received grip unfolding input.
US09965175B2 System and method of digital note taking
A system, method and computer program product for use in digital note taking with handwriting input to a computing device are provided. The computing device is connected to an input device in the form of an input surface. A user is able to provide input by applying pressure to or gesturing above the input surface using either his or her finger or an instrument such as a stylus or pen. The present system and method monitors the input strokes. The computing device further has a processor and at least one application for recognizing the handwriting input under control of the processor. The at least one system application is configured to cause display of, on a display interface of a computing device, digital ink in a block layout in accordance with a layout of blocks of the handwriting input and a configuration of the computing device display interface.
US09965169B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling gesture initiation and termination
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling gesture initiation and termination of a user and controlling devices based on a user's gestures. According to one embodiment, a vehicle can include at least one actuator; at least one gesture detection device; and one or more processors. The one or more processors receive an initiation indication from the at least one actuator; receive gesture information from the at least one gesture detection device; receive a termination indication from the at least one actuator; determine, from the received gesture information, a gesture from at least one occupant of the vehicle, wherein the gesture is determined based at least in part on the initiation indication; select a command from a plurality of commands, based at least in part on the determined gesture; and output a control signal or a command control signal associated with the command.
US09965166B2 Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
Provided is a mobile terminal including a main body of the terminal, a sensing unit that detects a tap on the main body, a controller that, if the tap corresponding to a predetermined condition is applied to the main body, controls at least one function that is executable on the terminal, in which the controller performs at least one control operation, based on a position to which the tap is applied.
US09965160B2 Interactive portal for facilitating the representation and exploration of complexity
Embodiments described herein pertain to a standardized set of tools for representing and exploring the components and characteristics of complex systems. In one embodiment, the tools are deployed in a computer network environment so as to engage a social network such that its members utilize the tools to collaboratively construct and maintain a dynamically evolving learning environment in which complexity is represented and explored.
US09965157B2 Automatically adjusting media display in a personal display system
A personal display system with which a user may adjust the configuration of displayed media is provided. The personal display system may include an electronic device operative to provide media to a personal display device operative to display the media. Using one or more optical and digital components, the personal display device may adjust displayed media to overlay features of a theater, thus giving the user the impression of being in the theater. In some embodiments, the personal display device may receive a user selection of a seat in the theater, and may adjust the media display accordingly. In some embodiments, the personal display device may detect the user's movements using one or more sensors and may adjust the displayed image based on the user's movements. For example, the device may detect a user's head movement and cause the portion of media displayed to reflect the head movement.
US09965155B2 Dynamically merging multiple screens into one view port
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing dynamic, stroke-based alignment of touch displays. In one aspect, a method include providing, for output by a first mobile computing device that (i) has a first proximity sensitive display and (ii) has been designated a primary display device, a primary alignment user interface. The methods also includes transmitting, by the first mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device that (i) has a second proximity sensitive display and (ii) has been designated a secondary display device, an instruction to output a secondary alignment user interface.
US09965152B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
Disclosed as a mobile terminal and controlling method thereof, by which a capture image used to play a role in delivering information only is utilized as a medium for activating a target application program. The present invention disclose a mobile terminal comprising a memory configured to save data, a display unit configured to display an active screen of an application program, and a controller configured to, if a capture command is inputted, extract an activation information related to the active screen which is set as a capture target, and control a capture image having the extracted activation information saved as metadata to be created.
US09965151B2 Systems and methods for graphical user interface interaction with cloud-based applications
Systems and methods may: execute a virtualized application instance in a virtual computing environment; receive from a remote client device first object data relating to a first set of user interactions received with respect to a client-side graphical use interface (GUI) object at the remote client device, the client-side GUI object representing a GUI object of the virtualized application instance; translating the first object data to second object data relating to the GUI object of the virtualized application instance, the second object data executing a command when applied to the GUI object of the virtualized application instance; and synchronizing the GUI object of the virtualized application instance with the client-side GUI object by applying the second object data to the GUI object of the virtualized application instance.
US09965150B2 Personal user highlight from popular highlights
A popular highlight may be presented to a user who wishes to make the popular highlight a personal user highlight. Upon activation of a control, a personal user highlight is generated from the popular highlight. The user may then manipulate the resulting personal user highlight as they would any other user highlight.
US09965148B2 Unit manipulation system, and slave display device and master display device used in the system
A unit manipulation system includes: a master display device having a terminal function for manipulating a unit; and a slave display device that establishes data communication with the master display device, and calls the terminal function of the master display device, to enable manipulation of the unit from a manipulation section through the master display device. The slave display device includes: a call menu display section that displays a call menu for calling the terminal function; and a manipulation screen display section that, when the call menu displayed by the call menu display section is selected, calls the terminal function of the master display device, and causes a display section to display a manipulation screen corresponding to the call menu. The master display device and the slave display device are coordinated with each other to enable the slave display device to perform various manipulations through the master display device.
US09965140B2 Method and apparatus of a marking objects in images displayed on a portable unit
Location markers are placed on objects presented on a display screen. The location markers can be letters, numbers, or shapes placed near the desired objects to be viewed. After magnification, those earlier determined location markers of the display screen are located off-screen. However, arrows are labeled and point to the off-screen markers. The user moves the background image in the direction of the arrow to find that object. This innovative technique allows the user to mark locations, magnify the image of the map, and find all marked locations (without reverting to a lower magnification) by following pointers that direct the user to locations that are currently out of view of the screen. Furthermore, the user can find all marked locations without getting lost.
US09965139B2 Software robots for programmatically controlling computer programs to perform tasks
A system comprising at least one computer hardware processor configured to perform: generating an object hierarchy comprising a plurality of objects corresponding to active graphical user interface (GUI) elements of at least one application program; controlling the at least one application program to perform a task comprising a sequence of actions at least in part by using the object hierarchy to invoke actions in the sequence of actions; during performance of the sequence of actions, generating a log of already-performed actions in the sequence of actions; generating contextual information associated with the already performed actions, the contextual information containing at least some information not in the log and the log containing at least some information not in the contextual information; and providing to a user the log and the contextual information.
US09965138B2 Mobile communications device, non-transitory computer-readable medium and method of activating update of home screen of mobile communications device
A method of activating an update of a home screen of a mobile communications device is provided. The home screen is displayed on a display panel of the mobile communications device. The home screen includes a plurality of tiles displaying a plurality of feeds from one or more feed sources. The method includes performing one of updating the home screen or activating and displaying a menu bar on the display panel based on a distance of a downward scrolling on a top page of a home screen. A non-transitory computer-readable medium and a mobile communications device for activating an update of a home screen of a mobile communications device are also provided.
US09965133B1 Application for assisting in conducting covert cyber operations
A covert application, including one or more modules can be provided to assist individuals in conducting covert cyber operations. Furthermore, the covert application can operate in a secure operating environment, which provides a reliable and protected computing environment from which a user can conduct cover cyber operations. The covert application can allow a user to create and utilize one or more personas. Personas created by the covert application can appear to originate from any part of the world, and personas can allow a user of the covert application to interact through various Internet services, such as email, instant messaging, online forums, and website browsing.
US09965128B2 Touch sensing unit, touch substrate and method for producing the same, touch display panel and touch display apparatus
The present disclosure provides a touch sensing unit, a touch substrate and a method for producing the touch substrate, a touch display panel and a touch display apparatus. The sensing unit includes: at least one pair of first electrode and second electrode spaced apart from each other; at least one elastic base body in which pressure-sensitive conductive material is contained, the at least one elastic base body forcing the corresponding first electrode and second electrode in the at least one pair of first electrode and second electrode to be electrically connected with each other when it is deformed by a force; and a touch panel arranged at the side of the at least one elastic base body to which the force is applied. It may sense touch action of a finger by conductive property of pressure-sensitive conductive material to improve convenience of finger touching and multiple point touch performance.
US09965126B2 Panel, method for producing the same and display apparatus
An embodiment of the present application provides a method for producing a panel. The method includes: providing a transparent substrate including an electrode setting area; forming a transparent electrode layer within the electrode setting area, wherein the transparent electrode layer includes a plurality of transparent electrodes, and each of the transparent electrodes includes a transparent metal oxide layer and a reduced metal layer on the transparent metal oxide layer. Embodiments of the present application also provide a panel and a display apparatus.
US09965123B2 Method of manufacturing touch panel
A method of manufacturing a touch panel, the method including forming electrode patterns; forming insulating patterns on the electrode patterns; forming a sacrificial layer on the electrode patterns and insulating patterns such that the sacrificial layer includes openings exposing portions of the insulating patterns; forming a conductive layer on the sacrificial layer and in each of the openings; and removing the sacrificial layer to form bridge patterns corresponding to the openings, wherein the sacrificial layer includes a first layer including first openings therein that expose portions of the insulating patterns; and a second layer including second openings therein that expose portions of the insulating patterns, the second layer having a thickness that is larger than a thickness of the first layer.
US09965122B2 Display device with light shield
A display of an electric device includes a plurality of separated transparent electrode blocks, which are configured to provide one or more of supplemental features such as touch recognition. Signal paths between the transparent electrode blocks and the driver for the supplemental feature are implemented with a plurality of conductive lines placed under positioned under one or more planarization layers. The conductive lines implementing the signal paths are routed across the display area, directly toward a non-display area where drive-integrated circuits are located.
US09965120B2 Method for processing input and electronic device for supporting the same
An electronic device and method for processing an input are provided. The electronic device includes a digitizer pad formed by a single channel and a digitizer pad controller configured to supply a current to the digitizer pad, sense a change in at least one of a frequency and a phase of an electromagnetic field corresponding to a pressure intensity applied by a tip of an external input device, and determine data related to the pressure intensity applied by the external input device based on the change in the at least one of the frequency and the phase of the sensed electromagnetic field.
US09965118B2 Sensing force using transcapacitance with dedicated force receiver electrodes
An example integrated display device and capacitive sensing device having an input surface includes a plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein each of the plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least one common electrode configured for display updating and capacitive sensing. The device further includes at least one force receiver electrode, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes are disposed between the input surface and the at least one force receiver electrode and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes are configured to deflect toward the at least one force receiver electrode. The device further includes a processing system, coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes, configured to drive at least a portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes with force sensing signals while receiving resulting signals from the at least one force receiver electrode, and determine force information for an input object based on the resulting signals.
US09965115B2 Array substrate and touch display device
An array substrate and a touch screen are disclosed. The array substrate includes an array formed of a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, which have the same electrode structure. The electrode structure includes a T-shaped electrode trunk and a plurality of electrode branches, which are symmetrically distributed and connected to the electrode trunk, forming two parts, i.e., a first sub-electrode and a second sub-electrode, symmetrical with respect to the electrode trunk. The sensing electrodes include first sensing electrodes and second sensing electrodes. One first sensing electrode and one second sensing electrode are disposed in two intervals of three sequentially adjacent driving electrodes respectively. Branches of a driving electrode are disposed in gaps between adjacent branches of adjacent sensing electrodes. In the array substrate, the sensing area between driving electrodes and sensing electrodes is increased and the capacitive coupling therebetween is improved.
US09965114B2 Method for position detection and sensing device applying the same method
A method for position detection is adapted to a sensing device. The sensing device includes a plurality of sensing blocks arranged in a 2D array, with each block having a plurality of sensing points arranged in a 2D array. The method includes conducting a block-scan to determine if a touched block exists, and conducting a point-scan to obtain a touched point if the touched block exists. In order to obtain a touched point, the sensing device applying the method conducts a block-scan within the sensing area and then a point-scan within the touched block instead of point-scanning the whole sensing area. Accordingly, the sensing device could obtain the touched point faster than before.
US09965111B2 In-cell touch screen and display apparatus
Disclosed are an In-Cell touch screen and a display apparatus, the In-Cell touch screen comprising: an array substrate; an opposed substrate arranged to be opposed to the array substrate; a conductive black matrix provided on one side of the array substrate facing the opposed substrate or on one side of the opposed substrate facing the array substrate. The black matrix comprises a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes arranged to be insulated from each other and alternate with each other, one of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode is applied with a touch scan signal, and the other one of the first touch electrode and second touch electrode is coupled with the touch scan signal and outputs a touch sensing signal. No separate touch electrode made of ITO material is required, and a pattern of the black matrix is provided in a non-opening region of the pixels, thus the light transmittance of the display apparatus can be prevented from being adversely affected by the touch electrode. Further, a mutual capacitance in a thickness direction of the touch screen is avoided, thus the touch sensitivity of the In-Cell touch screen can be improved.
US09965108B2 Simultaneous self- and mutual capacitance sensing
A touch controller. The touch controller can include first sense circuitry configured to be coupled to a first electrode on a touch sensor panel, the first sense circuitry configured to sense a first self-capacitance associated with the first electrode, and a first mutual capacitance associated with the first electrode. In some examples, the first sense circuitry can be configured to sense the first self-capacitance and the first mutual capacitance simultaneously. In some examples, the touch controller can further include a first mixer and a second mixer coupled to the first sense circuitry, the first mixer configured to demodulate a first output from the first sense circuitry to extract information about the first self-capacitance from the first output, the second mixer configured to demodulate the first output from the first sense circuitry to extract information about the first mutual capacitance from the first output.
US09965104B2 Device and method for interference avoidance in an input device
Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved interference avoidance performance. The devices and methods determine a relative ranking for a plurality of transmitter signals based on a first class of interference for each transmitter signal of the plurality of transmitter signals. The devices and methods transmit a first transmitter signal of the plurality of transmitter signals with a sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The first transmitter signal is selected based on the relative ranking for the plurality of transmitter signals. The devices and methods shift from transmitting the first transmitter signal to transmitting a second transmitter signal of the plurality of transmitter signals with the sensor electrode is based on an amount of a second class of interference in the first transmitter signal. The second transmitter signal is selected based on the relative ranking for the plurality of transmitter signals.
US09965098B2 Clamshell electronic device and calibration method capable of enabling calibration based on separated number of cover
The present disclosure provides a clamshell electronic device. The clamshell electronic device includes a touch module, a sensing device and a calculation unit. The touch module is arranged to detect touch events. The sensing device is arranged to detect whether an upper cover and a lower cover of the clamshell electronic device are separated, and produce a detecting signal when the upper cover and the lower cover are separated. The calculation unit is arranged to count the number of times the upper cover and the lower cover are separated according to the detecting signal to obtain a separated number, and calibrate the touch module when a predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein the predetermined condition comprises that the separated number is greater than a predetermined number.
US09965092B2 Managing power consumption of force sensors
A force-responsive sensor incorporating a force-sensitive element is in communication with a power controller. The power controller changes one or more performance characteristics associated with the force-responsive sensor. A performance characteristic can include a bias voltage or current, a duty cycle, a sampling rate, and so on. The performance characteristic(s) can be changed in response to a touch event or based on an operational setting of the force-responsive sensor (or an electronic device incorporating the force-responsive sensor). Regulation of the performance characteristic(s) reduces power consumption of the force-responsive sensor.
US09965084B2 Driving method of touch screen, touch screen and display apparatus
There are disclosed a driving method of a touch screen, the touch screen and a display apparatus. The driving method comprises: taking at least two touch signal lines as a group and charging node capacitors included in each group of touch signal lines sequentially; discharging the node capacitors included in each touch signal line of the group of touch signal lines through the respective sense signal lines sequentially and determining capacitance value of each node capacitor; and determining coordinates of touch points on the touch screen according to determined capacitance value of each node capacitor. Thus, the node capacitors included in a group of touch signal lines on the touch screen are charged simultaneously by taking a group as a unit. Compared with a traditional touch screen that charges the node capacitor in only one touch signal line at each time, the driving method saves the charging time of the touch signal lines on the entire touch screen effectively, meanwhile can increase the charging time of each group of touch signal lines, and further can increase the charging time of the node capacitors included in respective touch signal lines, so that the touch screen is capable of tolerating a greater RC delay value.
US09965080B2 Color filter substrate with photovoltaic conversion layer, display panel and touch display device
The present disclosure relates to the field of touch display technology, and provides a color filter substrate, a display panel and a touch display device. The color filter substrate is provided with a power-generating-and-touch-detecting module capable of working in a power-generating mode and a touch mode. The power-generating-and-touch-detecting module includes a photovoltaic conversion layer, and first electrodes and second electrodes located on opposite surfaces of the photovoltaic conversion layer and arranged crosswise. The first electrodes and the second electrodes have two modes: in one mode, they serve as electrodes for outputting electrical energy from a photovoltaic conversion module; while in the other mode, they serve as driving electrodes and sensing electrodes for touch control.
US09965079B2 Pressure-sensitive touch screen and touch display screen and electronic device
A pressure-sensitive touch screen comprises a substrate, first and second strain sensors and a detecting circuit electrically connected to the first and second strain sensors. The substrate is configured to at least laterally deform in response to a touch and has a peripheral area. The first and second strain sensors are disposed on the peripheral area of the substrate and are adjacent to one another. The first strain sensor changes resistance in response to touch-based lateral deformation of the substrate. The second strain sensor provides a reference resistance. The detecting circuit is configured to detect a touched location and measure a pressure, based on resistance of the first strain sensor, and to use the reference resistance of the second strain sensor to compensate for changes in environmental conditions.
US09965077B2 Capacitive force sensor and method for preparing the same
The present disclosure relates to a force sensor including a first substrate, a first electrode installed in a pattern on an upper surface of the first substrate, a second substrate disposed above and spaced apart from the first substrate, a second electrode installed in a pattern on a lower surface of the second substrate, facing the first electrode, and a dielectric interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the dielectric includes a first dielectric surrounding an outside of the second electrode, and a pressure rib connecting the first dielectric to the first electrode, and a method for preparing the same, and shows a remarkably superior effect to related art, in terms of capacitance, interactivity and durability.
US09965074B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for transitioning between touch input to display output relationships
An electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface, a display, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts, detects a contact, determines a location and intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, and displays a response, the response being based at least in part on an input-output mapping of intensity to response at the contact location. The input-output mapping including a first input-output relationship between intensity and response over a first range of intensity values, a second input-output relationship between intensity and response over a second range of intensity values, and a transitional intensity value where the first range of intensity values meets or overlaps the second range of intensity values. At the transitional intensity value, the first input-output relationship has a first rate of change, the second input-output relationship has a second rate of change, and the first rate is substantially the same as the second rate.
US09965069B2 Organic electroluminescent device having touch panel and method for fabricating the same
Provided is an organic electroluminescent device (OLED) having a display area and a non-display area outside the display area that may include an OLED panel including a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes in a cell end line of the display area on an array substrate; and a touch panel on the OLED panel, the touch panel including a plurality of touch contact holes in the non-display area, wherein at least two of the plurality of touch contact holes that are immediately adjacent to the cell end line have substantially the same distance from the cell end line, and method for fabricating the same.
US09965067B2 Multimedia, multiuser system and associated methods
A multiuser, multi-interface computing system includes a computer system, and a continuous substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The substrate includes at least two touch sensitive regions, each touch sensitive region including a continuous touch sensitive surface that covers at least a portion of at least one display and an individual interface for selecting applications. The touch sensitive surface is configured to serve as the primary input to the computer system. The continuous substrate is transparent within the touch sensitive regions. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system is configured so that the at least two users can use the touch sensitive regions simultaneously.
US09965066B2 Physical feedback system, control method and electronic device
A physical feedback system provided by the present disclosure includes: at least one physical feedback unit below a flexible touch screen; wherein the physical feedback unit includes an armature part and a coil part, at least one of the armature part and the coil part is in an active state, and a relative distance between the armature part and the coil part is initially a predetermined value; when the coil part is energized with a current, the relative distance between the armature part and the coil part is changed due to electromagnetism, and the changed relative distance is greater than or smaller than the predetermined value, so that a protrusion or a depression is formed at a corresponding position of the flexible touch screen.
US09965061B2 Input device and vehicle
An input device including an operating portion and a palm rest is provided. The operation portion includes an operating surface for accepting an operating input from a fingertip. The palm rest is positioned forward of the operating surface as viewed from an operator who places a palm on the palm rest. A tangent plane of a palm-resting surface of the palm rest is disposed on a front surface side of the operating surface. A portion of the operating surface that is close to the palm rest is inclined so that the portion of the operating surface becomes closer to the palm-resting surface of the palm rest as the portion of the operating surface is closer to the palm rest, as compared with another portion of the operating surface that is apart from the palm rest.
US09965060B1 Capacitive stylus and tilt angle detecting method thereof
This instant disclosure is related to a capacitive stylus and a tilt angle detecting method thereof. The capacitive stylus is acting on a touch pad. The capacitive stylus includes a sensing electrode unit and a driving electrode unit, or the capacitive stylus is provided with a first sensing electrode unit and a second sensing electrode unit. The capacitive stylus further includes a tilt angle corresponding table and a direction corresponding table to determine the tilt angle and tilt direction of the capacitive stylus on the touch pad.
US09965056B2 Active stylus and control circuit thereof
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for receiving an input signal from a touch-sensitive interface via a first electrode associated with a tip of an active stylus. An input signal may be amplified via a control circuit that adjusts the gain of one or more amplifiers to compensate for changes in tip capacitance between the tip of the active stylus and the touch-sensitive interface. Changes in tip capacitance may be indirectly detected and compensated for by comparing the tip capacitance with that of a reference capacitor via a differential amplification circuit that includes one or more differential amplifiers.
US09965054B2 Active pen for touch display screen, touch display screen and touch control input system
The present disclosure discloses an active pen for a touch display screen, a touch display screen and a touch control input system, to improve human-machine interaction accuracy of operating the touch display screen with the active pen by a user. The active pen for the touch display screen comprises a transparent elastic pen point, an optical receiver and an excitation signal emitting apparatus, wherein the contact area between the transparent elastic pen point and the touch display screen is increased with an increase in an operating force, the optical receiver is configured to receive detection light which comes from the touch display screen and penetrates through the transparent elastic pen point, meanwhile, the excitation signal emitting apparatus is in signal connection with the optical receiver, so as to emit an excitation signal of a corresponding intensity to the touch display screen in accordance with the intensity of the detection light received by the optical receiver.
US09965052B2 Antenna for computer stylus
A computer stylus may have an elongated body with a metal tube that serves as an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from metal traces that wrap around a longitudinal axis for the elongated body. The antenna may be an inverted-F antenna. A ground antenna feed terminal for the inverted-F antenna may be coupled to the metal tube with a sheet metal member, conductive fabric, and solder. A clip may run along a side of the elongated body at a location that does not overlap the metal traces of the antenna resonating element. The antenna may be fed at a location on an opposing side of the elongated body from the clip. Antenna signals from the inverted-F antenna may be reflected towards the tip by metal structures at the end of the elongated body opposing the tip.
US09965050B2 Interactive book electronic system and operation method thereof
Interactive electronic system having a screen and a three-axis compass sensor for detecting flipping of pages of a book, wherein the book comprises a plurality of pages, each having with one or more magnets, and wherein the system is arranged to detect the flipping of pages of the book by the data readings of the value of one axis, X, Y, or Z; or the magnitude of the calculated vector of the values of the axes X, Y, and Z. Also a method of interaction comprises: downloading the software of the book to the electronic device; putting the book which contains the sensors in a pre-determined area near the electronic device in manner to identify the pages; calibrating the system; obtaining the values of the magnitude of the magnetic field by the compass sensor to detect the page that is open; displaying the corresponding digital content in synchronization.
US09965049B2 Display apparatus and controlling method thereof
A display apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a user interface configured to adjust a friction force between the user interface and a pen; and a controller configured to, in response to a pen being touched and moved on the user interface, control the user interface to adjust the friction force based on an input mode of the pen.
US09965047B2 Button configuration and function learning
A keypad capable of being configured with multiple button configurations with buttons of various heights is configured to recognize the button configuration through actuations of the buttons. The keypad is placed in a configuration mode by inputting an unresolvable condition to the keypad. Once in the configuration mode, the buttons are individually actuated in a predefined order to configure the size and function of each button.
US09965046B2 Keyboard and notebook computer with same
A keyboard and a notebook computer with the keyboard are provided. The keyboard is installed on the notebook computer. The keyboard includes a membrane circuit board, a key frame, a key, a linking rod and a fixing plate. The linking rod is connected with the key frame. The fixing plate is disposed under the key frame. While the linking rod is rotated relative to the key frame to push the key frame, a position-limiting structure of the key frame is moved along a guiding structure of the fixing plate. Consequently, the key frame is limited to be moved in a first axial direction. Moreover, when the key frame is moved to a locked position at the same level with a keycap of the key, the keycap cannot be pressed down.