Document Document Title
US09991806B2 Voltage converter circuitry and methods implementing modulated feedback signal
Disclosed is a voltage converter and a method. The voltage converter includes: an input, an output, and a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding; a primary side circuit comprising at least one switch and coupled between the input and the primary winding; a secondary side control circuit coupled to the output. The primary side circuit is configured to receive a feedback signal from the secondary side control circuit. The secondary side control circuit is configured to generate an error signal based on an output signal of the voltage converter, and to modulate the error signal based on supplemental information to generate the feedback signal.
US09991803B1 Reduction of electromagnetic interference in a flyback converter
A method for reducing electromagnetic interference in a flyback converter includes activating a first switch to generate a primary current therein. The first switch is deactivated to generate a secondary current from a magnetic flux generated by the primary current. The magnetic flux is removed by the generation of the secondary current. A second switch is activated with a first voltage pulse to limit an excess voltage across the first switch. The excess voltage is generated in response to the deactivation of the first switch. A second switch is activated with a second voltage pulse to limit a voltage oscillation across the first switch. The voltage oscillation occurs after the removal of the magnetic flux. A first pulse width of the first voltage pulse is increased by a first jitter delay. A second pulse width of the second voltage pulse is increased by a second jitter delay.
US09991801B2 Hybrid hysteretic control for LLC converter
An LLC converter includes an input having a first node and a second node. A first switch is coupled between the first node and a third node and a second switch is coupled between the third node and the second node. A transformer having a first transformer input is coupled to the third node. A resonant capacitor is coupled to a second transformer input and a first input of a summer. A voltage ramp generator is coupled to a second input of the summer, the summer for summing voltages at the first input and the second input. The converter further includes circuitry for generating control signals for the first switch and the second switch in response to the output of the summer.
US09991800B2 Switched mode power supply with efficient operation at light loads and method therefor
A switched mode power supply includes an active clamp flyback converter having an input for receiving an input voltage, and an output for providing a regulated voltage, the active clamp flyback converter having a first switch for controlling a flow of current through a primary winding of a flyback transformer, and a second switch for clamping a switch node on a primary side of the flyback transformer, and a controller for controlling the first and second switches to operate the active clamp flyback converter in an active clamp flyback mode when a load current is above a first predetermined level, and for controlling the first and second switches to operate the active clamp flyback converter in a discontinuous conduction mode with a variable switching frequency when the load current is below a second predetermined level.
US09991797B2 Semiconductor element drive apparatus
A semiconductor element drive apparatus for driving first and second semiconductor elements connected to a half-bridge circuit at respectively an upper-level side and a lower-level side of the half-bridge circuit. The semiconductor element drive apparatus includes a high-side circuit and a low-side circuit for respectively driving the first and second semiconductor elements. The high-side circuit includes a voltage drop detection unit that detects an abnormal voltage drop of a voltage of a main power supply, a pulse generation circuit that generates a pulse signal, a frequency of which is decreased in response to the abnormal voltage drop detected by the voltage drop detection unit, and a level-down circuit that receives the pulse signal from the pulse generation circuit, generates an abnormality signal, and transmits the abnormality signal to the low-side circuit, to thereby notify the low-side circuit of the abnormal voltage drop in the high-side circuit.
US09991795B2 Power converter with controllable DC offset
An electrical power conversion system includes an alternating current (AC)-to-direct current (DC) power converter that is configured to convert power between AC power and DC power. The AC-to-DC power converter includes switching legs that each connect to a phase of the AC power. Each of the switching legs includes two electronic devices connected in series with one another between a positive DC bus terminal and a negative DC bus terminal. The electrical power conversion system also includes a DC-to-DC power converter that is configured to convert power between the DC bus power and DC terminal power via a positive DC terminal and a negative DC terminal. The DC-to-DC power converter is configured to control a differential voltage between the positive and negative DC terminals and a common-mode voltage that is between a neutral of the AC power and each of the positive and negative DC terminals.
US09991792B2 Current sensing with RDSON correction
Current sensing with RDSON correction is disclosed. In an embodiment, a method comprises: measuring an approximate temperature of a MOS transistor switch by a temperature sensor to yield a measured temperature; calculating a corrected temperature from the measured temperature using a stored temperature sensor gain and offset correction function; measuring a gate drive voltage for the MOS transistor; calculating a voltage correction factor using a stored voltage correction function, wherein the stored voltage correction function is a function of the corrected temperature and the gate drive voltage; measuring a RDSON voltage drop across the MOS transistor switch to yield a measured RDSON voltage drop; and calculating the current using the measured RDSON drop and the voltage correction factor.
US09991785B2 Electric power converting device
The objective of the present invention is to provide an electric power converting device with which can executes a ground fault detection in a short time with its inexpensive configuration. In one step, the electric power converting device performs level comparison of a difference between output values of low pass filters, with a threshold value −E. If a W-phase is shorted to ground at a time when the U-phase and V-phase lower arm IGBTs are ON and W-phase upper IGBT is ON, the difference between the output values of the low pass filters and becomes small. In another step, a level comparison is made between the absolute value of a difference between the U-phase current value iu and U-phase current command value iu′, and a threshold value F. If the absolute value is lower than the threshold value, the result is determined to be normal, and if the absolute value is greater than the threshold value, the result is determined to be abnormal, because the U-phase is shorted to ground. In another step, a level comparison is made between the absolute value of a difference between the V-phase current iv and the V-phase current command value iv′, and a threshold value F. If the absolute value is lower than the threshold value, the result is determined to be normal, and if the absolute value is greater than the threshold value, the result is determined to be abnormal, because the V-phase is shorted to ground.
US09991784B2 Dynamic current limit circuit
A system is disclosed which provides a dynamic current limit circuit that accurately defines both the lower and the upper limits for the current limit. The circuit ensures both the lower and upper current limits are well-controlled. The lower current limit is matched to the normal pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) limit, and the upper current limit is matched to the pulse-width modulation (PWM) limit. This implementation has several key benefits, including making the peak current limit accurate in both sync and dynamic sleep modes. If the scheme is carefully designed, the dynamic sleep current limit gives the best load transient response.
US09991781B2 Power supply and driving method of the same
A power supply includes a direct current to direct current converter that includes at least one switching element and that converts an externally supplied input voltage to an output voltage and then supplies the output voltage to a load, a current sensor that detects a frequency of a load current by sensing the load current, and a switching controller that sets a switching frequency corresponding to the frequency of the load current and that controls an operation of the at least one switching element according to the set switching frequency.
US09991778B2 Balancing current within a modular converter system
To provide current balancing between paralleled first and second inverter units of a modular converter system, a system controller is configured to determine a gate driver offset value based on respective voltages at the phase output nodes of the first and second inverter units. The system controller controls gate drivers for the first and second inverter units based on the determined gate driver offset value. In turn, the gate drivers drive the first and second inverter units with subsequent drive signals such that the amounts of current provided by the first and second inverter units when producing an in-phase power output are balanced.
US09991774B2 DC field gradient motor
A field gradient motor with a stator solenoid coil, a stator solenoid coil retained by a stator solenoid coil housing, a shaft rotatably retained in proximity to the stator solenoid coil, and a rotor retained relative to the shaft. The rotor has a plurality of iron disks retained by the shaft, and the stator solenoid coil, the plurality of iron disks, and the shaft cooperate to produce an axial closed toroidal B-field in a surrounding volume of air and an electromagnetic action of the motor. Radial notches with 45 degree equilateral triangular cross sections communicate radially on first and second faces of each disk. Where the notches are 360/N degrees wide, they can be 360/N degrees deep.
US09991773B2 Low cost limited rotation rotary actuator
A limited rotation electromechanical rotary actuator includes a stator having an aperture sized to accept a rotor assembly and a rectangular coil. A rotor assembly is bidirectionally operable with the stator over a limited range of rotation. The rotor assembly includes an output shaft and a two-pole magnet and a position sensor shaft, wherein the output shaft and position sensor shaft are each rigidly attached to only a portion of the magnet. The rotor assembly includes apertures for allowing an electrical coil to pass through. The electrical coil extends around the magnet on four sides and is excitable for providing bidirectional torque to the rotor.
US09991771B2 Active control system for a variable electromotive-force generator with applications to wind turbines, ships, and hybrid vehicles
This invention relates to an active control system for a variable electromotive-force generator (VEG) for use in wind turbines, ships, hybrid vehicles, and related applications.
US09991769B2 Motor
The motor according to the present disclosure comprises a rotary unit, a stationary unit disposed around the rotary unit, and a bearing mechanism which rotatably supports the rotary unit relative to the stationary unit. The rotary unit comprises a plurality of magnets. The stationary unit comprises a stator disposed around the rotary unit, and a cover which is electrically conductive and covers a top surface of the stator, and the stator comprises a stator core which includes a plurality of teeth and a core back, and a coil which is wound around the stator core via an insulator. The cover has openings on at least one area of a circumferential interval between neighboring teeth when seen in a top view, and the cover is connected to a ground potential.
US09991767B2 Head end power module having two inverters
The present disclosure is directed to a method for generating power for a machine. The method may include inverting a common power at a first location and outputting a first inverted power. The method may further include inverting the common power at a second location, outputting a second inverted power, and shifting an operational phase of the second inverted power so that the first inverted power and the second inverted power are in phase. The method may further include passing the first inverted power to a transformer, passing the second inverted power to the transformer, and transforming the first inverted power and the second inverted power to a transformed power.
US09991764B2 Cooling structure of oil cooling motor
A cooling structure of an oil cooling motor may include a housing, a front cover and a rear cover each mounted at both sides of a housing along a length direction of the housing, a rotor shaft extending through the housing and have both ends rotatably supported by bearings of the front cover and the rear cover, a rotor disposed in the housing and rotatably supported by the rotor shaft, a front oil supply groove and a rear oil supply groove formed on opposing inner sides of the front cover and the rear cover and configured to temporarily store oil stored in a bottom of the housing and scattered by churning of the rotor, and a front cover passage and a rear cover passage configured to communicate with the front oil supply groove and the rear oil supply groove, respectively.
US09991763B1 Gas turbine engine with multiple electric generators
A power plant for a small aircraft with a gas turbine engine that drives a number of electric generators, where a gear box transmit power from the engine shaft to the number of generators, the gear box having a single input shaft that drives a number of driven gears with each driven gear having a generator drive shaft that extends out both sides, and an electric generator connected to each side of the drive shaft. A compact arrangement of generators are formed where each generator can be disengaged from the drive shaft to regulate total electrical output or to prevent a damaged generator from causing damage to other parts of the system or aircraft.
US09991759B2 Multi-directional air cooling of a motor using radially mounted fan and axial/circumferential cooling fins
An airflow system may comprise a fan radially mounted on a motor with a first plurality of fins surrounding the motor disposed to provide airflow in a first direction, and a second plurality of fins surrounding the motor disposed to provide airflow in a second direction. A housing may surround the plurality of fins.
US09991754B2 Embedded permanent magnet rotary electric machine
A permanent magnet 21 is housed in a magnet housing aperture 20, an adhesive is disposed only between an outside wall surface 20a that is positioned on a radially outer side of an inner wall surface of the magnet housing aperture 20 and an outside surface 21a that is positioned on a radially outer side of a surface of the permanent magnet 21 such that the permanent magnet 21 is fixed so as to be closer to the outside wall surface 20a, and a cooling flow channel 23 through which a coolant is made to flow is formed by an inside surface 21b that is positioned on a radially inner side of the surface of the permanent magnet 21 and an inside wall surface 20b that is positioned on a radially inner side of the inner wall surface of the magnet housing aperture 20.
US09991752B1 Wireless power feeding method
A direction of the first power transmission antenna is detected in a power transmission stop state from the slave power transmission apparatus after detection of a power reception apparatus, by using a master power transmission apparatus including a first power transmission device and a first power transmission antenna and a slave power transmission apparatus including a second power transmission device and a plurality of the second power transmission antennas, a second power transmission antenna in which an amount of electric power received by the power reception apparatus becomes maximum is detected in the power transmission stop state from the master power transmission apparatus, and a phase of at least one power transmission radio wave of the master power transmission apparatus and the slave power transmission apparatus is adjusted to a phase in which the amount of the electric power received by the power reception apparatus becomes maximum.
US09991749B2 Coil unit, wireless power feeding device, wireless power receiving device, and wireless power transmission device
A coil unit, a wireless power feeding device, a wireless power receiving device, and a wireless power transmission device are provided that are capable of reducing high voltage induced on the metal part. A coil unit Lu1 includes a power transmission coil L1, a first reactance circuit X10 that is connected to one end portion of the winding of the power transmission coil L1 and forms a resonant circuit together with the power transmission coil L1, a metal part SD disposed on the same side as the back side of the power transmission coil L1, and a first adjustment capacitor C10 connected between the other end portion of the winding of the power transmission coil L1 and the metal part SD.
US09991748B2 Wireless power transmission system and power transmission device
A power transmission device includes: an oscillator including first through fourth switching devices, and converting DC power into AC power by pulses supplied thereto; a power transmission antenna delivering the AC power to a load of a power receiving device; memory holding a predetermined value indicating at least one of required voltage, current, and power; a receiving circuit receiving information of at least one of voltage, current, and power, supplied to the load; and a control circuitry changing a phase difference Δθ between pulses supplied to the first and fourth switching devices, and between pulses supplied to the second and third switching devices, thereby changing voltage of the AC power, deciding frequency of AC power where efficiency is greatest, converging the at least one of voltage, current, and power, of which information has been received, to the predetermined value range, and outputting AC power where the efficiency is the greatest.
US09991747B2 Signaling charging in wireless power environment
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer including generating an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of a transmitter to create a coupling-mode region within a near field of the transmitter during a synchronization portion of a time-multiplexed recurring period. During a power transmission portion of the recurring period, the electromagnetic field will continue to be generated when there is a receiver within the coupling-mode region, or the electromagnetic field will be disabled when there are no receivers within the coupling-mode region. Different segments of the power transmission portion are allocated to different receivers. The transmitter issues serial commands to the receivers by on/off keying the electromagnetic field. The receivers issue serial replies by changing the amount of power consumed from the electromagnetic field between two different states. The serial commands and serial replies are used to determine the number of receivers, their power requirements, and the allocation of segments.
US09991746B2 Vehicular system, communication apparatus, power-feeding device, and non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium
A vehicular system mounted to a vehicle includes: a power-feeding device that wirelessly feeds power to a power-feeding object device; a communication device that performs wireless communication with a predetermined portable device; and a control device that controls to stop a power-feeding operation of the power-feeding device when the communication device performs wireless communication with the portable device.
US09991743B2 System and method for providing wireless power in a removable wireless charging module
A wireless charging module includes an antenna and a wireless charger module. An enclosure is configured to fit at least partially within an optical drive bay of an information handling system. The antenna is disposed within a plastic lower portion of the enclosure. The plastic lower portion of the enclosure is configured to enable the antenna to wirelessly receive power from a wireless charging pad. The wireless charger module is disposed within the enclosure, and is configured to provide power to the information handling system.
US09991739B2 Semiconductor chip and solar system
There is provided a semiconductor chip having four sides and being substantially formed in a rectangle, the semiconductor chip including: a first terminal which is located along one side of the four sides of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a solar cell outside the semiconductor chip; a second terminal which is located along the one side of the semiconductor chip and which is to be electrically connected to a secondary cell outside the semiconductor chip; and an interconnection line that electrically interconnects the first terminal and the second terminal.
US09991736B2 Charge control for external manual battery chargers
An apparatus for operating an external manual battery charger having a first AC power input and a DC charging output. The apparatus includes an AC controller configured to adjust at least one power parameter supplied to the AC power input of the external manual battery charger. The power parameter(s) may be any one or more of AC current, AC voltage and AC power. The apparatus further includes a feedback converter configured to monitor at least one charging parameter and to control the AC controller to adjust the one or more power parameters in accordance with the monitored charging parameter or parameters.
US09991735B1 Electronic device including non-contact charging module and battery
A mobile terminal is provided, which includes a wireless charging module, a battery pack, and a circuit board substrate. The wireless charging module includes a charging coil formed of a wound conducting wire and a communication coil placed adjacent to the charging coil. The wireless charging module has a substantially planar shape. The battery pack has a substantially planar shape and is configured to store power from the wireless charging module. The circuit board substrate is configured to control operation of the mobile terminal. The wireless charging module overlaps with each of the circuit board substrate and the battery pack.
US09991733B2 Feed unit, feed system, and electronic device
A feed unit includes: a power transmission section configured to perform power transmission using a magnetic field or an electric field, to a device to be fed including a secondary battery; and a power-transmission control section configured to control power transmission operation in the power transmission section. In a charging period in which charging to the secondary battery is performed based on transmitted power in the power transmission, when the device to be fed including the secondary battery is activated, the power-transmission control section controls the power transmission operation, to increase the transmitted power.
US09991731B2 Non-contact charging device with wireless communication antenna coil for data transfer and electric power transmitting antenna coil for transfer of electric power, and non-contact power supply system using same
A wide charging area and communication area are ensured in a non-contact power supply system with wireless communication.The present invention includes a resonance coil, a wireless communication antenna coil, a power supply coil, and a sensitivity adjustment circuit coupled to the power supply coil. When electric power is supplied in a contactless manner, the power supply coil and the resonance coil are coupled electromagnetically and electric power supply from the resonance coil is performed by using a magnetic resonance method. When wireless communication is performed, the magnetic fluxes of the wireless communication antenna coil are coupled with those of the resonance coil and sensitivity is enhanced by the sensitivity adjustment circuit.
US09991729B2 Electronic device having a charging voltage regulation circuit
An electronic device includes a battery module, a first switch circuit, a connector, a voltage stabilizer and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the connector and the first switch circuit. A configuration channel is implemented between the controller circuit and the connector. When a voltage of the battery module is lower than a threshold voltage and is only connected to a first power source, the first power source provides an activating voltage to the controller circuit through the voltage stabilizer, so as to enable the controller circuit. The connector sends a first detection signal to the controller circuit through the configuration channel. The controller circuit sends a first control signal to turn on the first switch circuit according to the first detection signal, so that the first power source charges the battery module through the first switch circuit.
US09991723B2 Virtual cell method for battery management
The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for battery management. The disclosed method involves current balancing through sinking and/or sourcing current, by at least one virtual cell, for battery cells in a battery pack based on available current and capacity of the battery cells. In one or more embodiments, at least one virtual cell is capable to sink and/or source current for at least one degraded battery cell or at least one dead battery cell.
US09991722B2 Method for managing contactless power transfer from a transmitter to a receiver, and corresponding transmitter
Contactless power transfer from a transmitter to a receiver is managed. A magnetic field is generated by the transmitter from a command at a control frequency for a switching resonant circuit. The receiver communicates information to the transmitter through modulation of the magnetic field. The modulation is detected by the transmitter so as to extract the information. An adjustment of the control frequency is then made according to the received information. The modulation detection involves detecting variations in the control frequency.
US09991720B2 Load control apparatus and load control system
A load control apparatus and a load control system capable of more efficiently using power generated from a private power generator, in which a load control apparatus includes a memory, a selector, and a load controller. The memory is configured to store a plurality of patterns having a plurality of control operations that are prioritized for a plurality of loads operated by consuming electric power. The selector is configured to select one of the patterns stored in the memory. The load controller is configured to operate the loads in order of priority on the basis of the control operation of the selected pattern while a total sum of power consumed by the loads does not exceed a target power value representing a value based on power suppliable by the electric generator.
US09991719B2 Systems and methods for reducing circulating current and phase to phase imbalance in a parallel modular converter system
A system and method for providing power to a vehicle with reduced circulating current and phase-top-phase imbalance is disclosed. The system can include a plurality of parallel module converter for prioritizing and allocating each electrical load to one or more parallel modular converter modules. The system can also comprise a load balancer to ensure that differences in the properties (e.g., impedance) of the parallel modular converter modules do not create circulating currents or phase-to-phase imbalances. The load balancer can monitor the outputs to the plurality of parallel modular converter modules and modify the inputs to equalize, synchronize, or both the outputs.
US09991718B2 Power interchange system, power transmitting/receiving device, power interchange method, and program
A power interchange system preferentially transmits electric power from a suitable power supply. A controller (100) includes signal sending/receiving means (300) for receiving information regarding a power transmitting/receiving device (101); power transmitting/receiving device information storage means (310); priority information storage means (310); and information control means (301) for determining, based on the information regarding the power transmitting/receiving device (101) and the priority of the power supply (104b), an amount of power to be transmitted and the power transmitting/receiving device (101) which is to transmit electric power, and creating, based on the determination, a control instruction to make the power transmitting/receiving device (101) transmit electric power. The signal sending/receiving means (300) transmits the control instruction to at least the power transmitting/receiving device (101), the power transmitting/receiving device (101) transmits electric power according to the control instruction.
US09991716B2 Delivery of multiple grid services with energy storage system
Systems and methods for controlling an energy storage system to provide for delivery of multiple grid services are provided. Grid service requests can be categorized into a plurality of priority tiers. Power demands associated with the grid service requests can be allocated to enforce the prioritization scheme of the priority tiers. For instance, power demands associated with grid service requests in higher priority tiers can be given preference over power demands associated with grid service requests in lower priority tiers. Multiple grid service requests can be categorized within the same priority tier. In addition, the energy storage system can be controlled not only give priority to grid services requests categorized in the higher priority tiers, but also to manage the state of charge of the system to ensure that there is sufficient reserve capacity to meet power demands of the grid service requests categorized in the higher priority tiers.
US09991715B1 Maximum power point tracking method and apparatus
A maximum power point tracking method is provided. The method includes the following steps. Perform a power conversion operation by a converter according to a duty cycle signal so as to convert an input power supplied by an energy harvester into an output power, wherein the converter includes an inductor, and a current flowing through the inductor increases in an energy-storing duration and decreases in an energy-releasing duration. Obtain a length of the energy-releasing duration. Adjust the duty cycle signal according to the length of the energy-releasing duration so as to track a maximum power point of the input power or the output power.
US09991713B2 Energy storage system comprising a modular multi-level converter
An energy storage system (ESS) for an electrical system includes an energy storage, and a converter interface arranged for connecting the energy storage to the electrical system. The converter interface includes a modular multilevel converter in which each phase leg includes a plurality of series connected cells of which at least one is a half-bridge cell and at least one is a full-bridge cell.
US09991711B2 Automated voltage support from load resources
Loads on a distribution circuit are operated, which causes the loads to consume electricity delivered to the loads via the distribution circuit. A circuit voltage of the distribution circuit is measured. An excursion of the measured circuit voltage outside of a normal operating voltage range is responded to by triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to increase or decrease their power draw to counter the excursion. For an overvoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to operate, or increase their power draw, in order to reduce the circuit voltage. For an undervoltage condition, the responding comprises triggering a sub-set of the loads on the distribution circuit to cease operating, or reduce their power draw, in order to increase the circuit voltage.
US09991708B2 Power supply
A power supply and a method for operating the power supply in which a transformer connected to an excitation circuit which is adapted to be connected to a power source, which secondary winding is connected to at least one first power supply. From prior art. switch mode power supply based on fly back technology is well known. Here a power supply with a power inlet is provided with a plurality of separated power outlets. One of the lines connected to the primary winding is further connected to a discharge control circuit, which discharge control circuit is further connected to at least one second power supply and the primary winding is further connected to a discharge circuit where at least one further power supply is connected.
US09991707B2 Aggregate Load Controllers and Associated Methods
Aggregate load controllers and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, a method of operating an aggregate load controller includes using an aggregate load controller having an initial state, applying a stimulus to a plurality of thermostatic controllers which are configured to control a plurality of respective thermostatic loads which receive electrical energy from an electrical utility to operate in a plurality of different operational modes, accessing data regarding a response of the thermostatic loads as a result of the applied stimulus, using the data regarding the response, determining a value of at least one design parameter of the aggregate load controller, and using the determined value of the at least one design parameter, configuring the aggregate load controller to control amounts of the electrical energy which are utilized by the thermostatic loads.
US09991706B2 Portable alternating current inverter having reduced imipedance losses
A portable power supply apparatus is provided having reduced impedance losses. The portable power supply apparatus is comprised of: a portable housing; a battery system residing in the housing; and an inverter circuit residing in the housing. The battery system generates a direct current (DC) voltage having a magnitude greater than or equal to a peak value of a desired alternating current (AC) voltage. The inverter circuit receives the DC voltage directly from the battery system, converts the DC voltage to an AC output voltage and outputs the AC output voltage to one or more outlets exposed on an exterior surface of the portable housing.
US09991705B2 Method and a device for balancing electric consumption
A method for balancing electric consumption generated by a plurality of electric loads includes: estimating an absorbed energy (Ek) by the loads in a predetermined time interval, and if a value of the estimation of absorbed energy by the loads is not within an interval defined by a minimum and a maximum consumption threshold, calculating a quantity of energy to be varied in accordance with a difference between the value of the estimation of the absorbed energy and an expected value of energy, determining a strategy including at least an action to be carried out to vary the energy supplied to the single loads, with an aim of reducing the difference between the estimated absorbed energy and the expected value thereof, actuating a scheduling of electric consumption in accordance with a determined strategy.
US09991702B2 Control device to boot up power source
A battery system including a battery unit including a plurality of battery cells, and a control device including a power supply boot-up unit. The power supply boot-up unit is configured to receive a voltage from the plurality of battery cells, and supply a control signal in response to the voltage supplied by the plurality of battery cells.
US09991699B2 Enablement of device power-on with proper assembly
An electronic device is configured with sub-assemblies including a main logic board, flexible printed circuit, and dual battery packs that are assembled together with electrical connectors to enable power from the battery packs to flow over a power bus that is distributed along the flexible printed circuit and main logic board. A protection circuit module (PCM) in each battery pack is configured to determine a state of each of the connections among the sub-assemblies (i.e., whether or not properly assembled to provide electrical continuity through the connector) so that power from the battery packs is switched on to the power bus only when electrical continuity is verified at each of the connectors. In the event that any connection is faulty, for example due to a misalignment of a connector during assembly that prevents electrical continuity to be established through a connector, neither PCM will switch power on to the power bus.
US09991697B1 Fail open or fail short surge protector
A surge protector includes a first and second contact connected via an energy absorbing element, such that electrical current travels from the first contact to the second contact via the energy absorbing element. The surge protector further includes a thermal spacing unit contacting the energy absorbing element and configured to be in a first physical state or a second physical state based on a temperature of the energy absorbing element. The surge protector further includes a connection unit connected to the second contact, the connection unit configured to be in a first position when the thermal spacing unit is in a first physical state and a second position when the thermal spacing unit is in a second physical state, such that the electrical current from the first contact to the second contact via the energy absorbing element is interrupted when the connection unit is in the second position.
US09991695B2 Charging circuit interrupt devices with self-test and methods thereof
A charging circuit interrupting device for applying an input voltage provided by first and second input power lines of a power system to first and second output power lines of an output system includes a current-detecting unit, a self-test device, and a controller. The current-detecting unit executes a leakage-detection function and generates a leakage signal when the current difference between the first and second power lines is detected. The self-test device generates a bypass path according to the detection enable signal so that there is a current difference between the first and the second input power lines. When operating in a self-test mode, the controller generates the detection enable signal, determines that the leakage-detecting function is normal, and enters a normal mode to apply the input voltage to the output system when the leakage signal is received.
US09991687B2 Method in the manufacturing of an insulated electric high voltage DC termination or joint
A method in the manufacturing of an insulated electric high voltage DC termination or joint includes the steps of providing an insulated electric high voltage DC cable including an inner conductor; a polymer based insulation system, the polymer based insulation system comprising an insulation layer and a semiconducting layer; and an outer grounding layer; removing the grounding layer and the semiconducting layer in at least one end portion of the high voltage DC cable, thereby exposing the insulation layer in the at least one end portion of the high voltage DC cable; covering the insulation layer of the polymer based insulation system in the at least one end portion of the high voltage DC cable by a cover impermeable to at least one substance present in the insulation layer of the polymer based insulation system in the at least one end portion of the high voltage DC cable in a non-homogenous distribution; subjecting the insulation layer of the polymer based insulation system in the at least one end portion of the high voltage DC cable for a heat treatment procedure, while being covered by the cover, thereby equalizing the concentration of the at least one substance in the insulation layer of the polymer based insulation system in the at least one end portion of the high voltage DC cable; and removing the cover. Instead of using a temporary cover, which is later removed, as the impermeable barrier, a field grading adapter or joint body mounted at the end of the DC cable during the manufacturing of the high voltage DC termination or joint may be used.
US09991685B2 Electrical junction box
An electrical junction box includes: an electrical junction box housing; and a common relay block, an individual corresponding relay block, a common power supply block, and an individual corresponding semiconductor module. The common relay block, the individual corresponding relay block, the common power supply block, and the individual corresponding semiconductor module are attached to the electrical junction box housing.
US09991684B2 Lined-up electrical enclosure system
A switchgear cabinet system, which is assembled from switchgear cabinet units strung together in a row, each switchgear cabinet unit comprising a rack which is made up of frame profiles, in which at least the vertical frame profiles have the following features: the frame profile is mirror symmetrical with respect to a cross-sectional diagonal; the frame profile has profile sides that form the outer sides of the rack; projecting outward from the profile sides are profile projections, each extending outward from one of the profile sides; when two racks are strung together, corresponding profile projections of two frame profiles are situated mirror symmetrically opposite one another in each case, leaving a gap between the end faces of the profile projections, which is closed by a seal, characterized in that the seal is a push-on seal that is seated on at least one of the opposing profile projections.
US09991679B2 Spark plug including a ground electrode having a small cross section
A spark plug, including a housing, an insulator situated in the housing, a center electrode situated in the insulator and a ground electrode situated on the housing, the ground electrode and the center electrode being situated relative to one another in such a way that the ground electrode and the center electrode form a spark gap, and the ground electrode including a core and a sheath surrounding the core, the core being made of a material which has a higher thermal conductivity than the material of the sheath, and a cross sectional area of the ground electrode being not greater than 2.76 mm2, the sheath having a wall thickness c of not greater than 0.4 mm in a first region of the ground electrode.
US09991678B1 Dispersion compensated diffractive optical element beam combiner
An optical system, such as a fiber laser amplifier, including a plurality of optical sources, such as fiber amplifiers, each generating a beam. In one embodiment, the system includes first and second diffraction gratings that correct the angle of the propagation direction of the beams to remove angular dispersion caused by a diffractive optical element (DOE). In another embodiment, the system includes a single diffraction grating, where the optical beams pass through the grating twice to also remove the angular dispersion caused by the DOE.
US09991677B2 Index-coupled distributed-feedback semiconductor quantum cascade lasers fabricated without epitaxial regrowth
Quantum cascade (QC) lasers and methods of fabricating such QC lasers are provided. The QC lasers incorporate a DFB grating without requiring the use of relying on epitaxial regrowth processes. The DFB gratings are formed as sidewall gratings along the lateral length of the QC active region, or the DFB gratings are formed atop the lateral length of the QC active region, and wherein the top DFB grating is planarized with a polymeric material.
US09991674B2 Optical transmitter with a heat dissipation structure
An optical transmitter with a heat dissipation structure is provided. The heat dissipation structure comprises a substrate and an optical transmitter unit. The substrate comprises a base body, a heat dissipation well disposed on the base body, and a thermal conductive block inserted into and fixed to the heat dissipation well. The thermal conductive block has on one side thereof a heat guiding plane. The optical transmitter unit comprises a heat dissipating substrate directly disposed on the heat guiding plane, and a laser diode directly disposed on the heat dissipating substrate. The laser diode features an active region whose height is lowered to shorten a heat conduction path wherein heat is transferred from the active region through the heat dissipating substrate to the heat guiding plane. The heat already transferred to the heat guiding plane is transferred horizontally by the thermal conductive block to the base body which encloses the heat dissipation well.
US09991672B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor laser device including wavelength converting member and light transmissive member
The light emitting device according to the present invention comprises a laser diode; a wavelength converting member which is configured to convert a wavelength of a light emitted from the laser diode; and a support member which is configured to support the wavelength converting member so that the light passes through two surfaces of the wavelength converting member. The wavelength converting member comprises a fluorescent material and a binder. At least one light transmissive member is disposed on at least one of these two surfaces of the wavelength converting member. The binder has a melting point higher than a melting point of the light transmissive member. The light transmissive member is fixed to the support member by fusion bonding.
US09991670B2 Laser light source device and inspection device
A laser light source device having a simple configuration and an inspection device are provided. A laser light source device 200 according to an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention has a repetition frequency of 1 MHz or higher, and includes fundamental wave generation means 201 for oscillating laser light including a fundamental wave with its center wavelength being included in one of first to fourth wavelength bands, and means 205 for generating a sixth harmonic of pulsed laser light extracted from the fundamental wave generation means 201. The first wavelength band is 1064.326 nm to 1064.511 nm. The second wavelength band is 1064.757 nm to 1064.852 nm. The third wavelength band is 1063.805 nm to 1063.878 nm. Further, the fourth wavelength band is 1063.962 nm to 1064.031 nm.
US09991667B2 Method for generating femtosecond vortex beams with high spatial intensity contrast
A method for generating femtosecond vortex beams with high spatial intensity contrast, where a noncollinearly pumped HG beam femtosecond laser generates femtosecond HG beam and a cylindrical lens mode converter converts the femtosecond HG beam to femtosecond LG vortex beam. The HG beam femtosecond laser comprises a pump source, a gain medium, a saturable absorption mirror as mode-locker, and an output coupler with a noncollinear angle between the laser beam and the pump beam in the gain medium, which enables the laser to generate pure, order-tunable femtosecond HG beams. Femtosecond vortex beams obtained after the cylindrical lens converter have high-intensity-contrast, and are topological charge-tunable.
US09991666B2 Semiconductor laser device and method of manufacturing the semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device includes a substrate, a buffer layer provided on an upper surface of the substrate and formed of InP, a laser element having a ridge structure formed above the buffer layer, and an epi intermediate layer formed of a compound semiconductor containing As and exposed to the outside.
US09991664B1 High-efficiency high-power ring laser amplifier
A high-efficiency high-power ring laser amplifier includes four polarizers, four amplifiers, fours lens, two filter apertures, two electro-optic switches, a mirror, a wavefront corrector. A bidirectional ring laser amplifier configuration with twin pulses is suitable for any type of gain media and pumping configurations. This amplifier configuration can effectively improve the extraction efficiency of the gain medium. The amplification configuration proposed by the present invention patent can realize the ring amplification for any number of rounds in principle, and can effectively control quality of the output laser beam and relax the restriction on the injected energy. The two spatial filters in the novel high-efficiency high-power ring laser amplifier of the present invention patent can effectively removing the spatial modulations in the laser beams, and the first and second spatial filters reimage the beam at wavefront corrector to mirror which can effectively inhibit the diffraction effect.
US09991662B2 Generator for wholly optical tunable broadband linearly chirped signal
Generator for wholly optical tunable broadband linearly chirped signal comprising a mode-locked laser, a first optical coupler, a first optical filter, a first dispersion module, a second optical filter, a second dispersion module, a tunable time delay module, a second optical coupler, an optical amplifier, and a photodetector. The generator of the present invention employs just one mode-locked laser as a light source, thus preventing instability of the generated signal resulting from independent unrelated lasers. By making use of the principle of wavelength-time mapping and by means of adjusting the center wavelength and the filter bandwidth of the first optical filter and the second optical filter, easy and flexible tuning of the center frequency and sweep bandwidth of the generated linearly chirped signal is realized. The present invention possesses a big advantage on the aspect of generating a broadband linearly chirped signal over other solutions.
US09991660B2 Die holder
A die holder for organizing and storing at least one die for use with a crimping tool comprises a body including a first surface and a second surface parallel to and spaced from the first surface, and a first bore extending from the first surface toward the second surface. The first bore terminates at a location that is spaced from the second surface. The die holder further comprises a die holding pin at least partially received within the first bore and having a first portion with a first outer dimension and a second portion with a second outer dimension greater than the first outer dimension. The die holding pin is movable between a die retaining position and a die releasing position. The die holder also comprises a spring configured to bias the die holding pin from the die releasing position toward the die retaining position.
US09991657B2 Magnetic adapter
Connector adapters that may have a MagSafe connector receptacle and a Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector insert. This may allow MagSafe chargers to be used to charge devices having Universal Serial Bus Type-C connector receptacles. This also may provide the breakaway characteristic of a MagSafe connector system for a device that does not include a MagSafe connector receptacle. Other adapters may have other types of magnetic connector receptacles and connector inserts.
US09991655B2 Contactor in power distribution assembly
An electrical contactor assembly includes an electrical contactor having an electrical lead having a contactor pin extending therefrom, an electrical bus bar, and at least one post extending between the electrical contactor and the electrical bus bar. The post is constructed from an electrically and thermally conductive material. The post includes an opening for receiving the contactor pin and the opening includes a contactor-foil material disposed in contact with the pin.
US09991651B2 Coaxial cable connector with post including radially expanding tabs
A coaxial cable connector comprising an assembled coupler, body, and post is provided. The back end of the post and the back end of the body are adapted to receive an end of a coaxial cable. The coupler further comprises a central passage, a lip with a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface, and a bore forward of the lip, and is adapted to couple the connector to a coaxial cable terminal. The post further comprises a collar portion and an enlarged shoulder disposed forward of the lip of the coupler within the bore of the coupler. The enlarged shoulder of the post is disposed forward of the collar portion of the post. A contacting portion of the post comprises an extension of the collar portion of the post and at least a portion of the enlarged shoulder of the post comprises a proximity feature.
US09991647B1 Plug connector having a circuit board with an encryption chip connected to a terminal
A plug connector includes a dielectric body having a docking surface, a circuit board mounted to a rear of the dielectric body, a plurality of first terminals and a second terminal. The plurality of the first terminals are fastened to the dielectric body. Top surfaces of front ends of the plurality of the first terminals are exposed to the docking surface of the dielectric body. Rear ends of the plurality of the first terminals project beyond a rear surface of the dielectric body and are soldered to the circuit board. The second terminal is fastened to the dielectric body. A front end of the second terminal elastically projects beyond the docking surface of the dielectric body, and a rear end of the second terminal projects beyond the rear surface of the dielectric body and is soldered to the circuit board.
US09991639B2 Wafer connector with grounding clamp
A wafer connector is disclosed in which a plurality of twin-axial wires are terminated to the tails of ground and signal terminals of the connector. Each twin-axial wire includes a pair of signal wires enclosed in a conductive sheath. A conductive grounding clamp is provided that contacts the sheaths of the twin-axial wires and holds them together as a unit to facilitate the attachment of the wires to the connector terminal tails. The clamp has two opposing halves that cooperatively define openings which receive the twin-axial wires and flat, interconnecting portions extending between the openings that provide contact points where the grounding clamp may be attached to the connector terminal tails.
US09991636B2 Electrical box, electrical switch and electrical plug-in mechanism
An electrical box, switch and plug-in device, that facilitates the prompt and safe installation and maintenance of the components within an electrical box. The box includes a wiring connector, molded or affixed to an internal wall of the electrical box, for receiving external incoming power, and connects with a movable male electrical wiring connector, that can be plugged into the back of an installed electrical switch or electrical plug-in device. The mail electrical wiring connector, mounted upon its wiring, can be shifted within the box, to align it for plug-in with the identified electrical devices. The wiring connector incorporates a series of slots, such that when the various electrical wiring is connected therewith, the bare wires are concealed and secured therein, to assure safety.
US09991631B2 Electrical connector having housing side wall with resilient inner arm and stationary outer arm
An electrical connector (100) includes: an insulative housing having a base (11) and a pair of side walls (12), each side wall having a resilient inner arm (121) and a stationary outer arm (122); and plural contacts (2) retained to the insulative housing, wherein the resilient inner arm extends along a horizontal, front-to-back direction and has a front end operable in both a vertical, top-to-bottom direction and the horizontal, front-to-back direction to move toward the stationary outer arm.
US09991629B1 Magnetic automobile vehicle device and multifunctional module thereof
Disclosed are a magnetic automobile vehicle device and its multifunctional module. The magnetic automobile vehicle device obtains electric power from a cigarette lighter slot of an automobile vehicle and includes a first magnet and an impact detector. The impact detector generates a distress signal when the automobile vehicle is collided. The multifunctional module includes a second magnet and an output element coupled to the magnetic automobile vehicle device by magnetic attraction and provided for charging or supplying power to the output element, and the output element has an ultrasonic transmitter, a USB slot or an O3 air purifier. Therefore, the device comes with a multifunctional configuration and meets market and consumer requirements.
US09991628B2 Quick connect magnetic interface products and methods
A quick-connect adaptor for conveying data or data and power from a first electronic unit to a second electronic unit. The adaptor includes a connectable interface between a first body part and a second body part, wherein the parts may be coupled with rotationally symmetry such that a 180 degree rotation of either body part, either clockwise or counterclockwise, results in an identical electrical connection, eliminating the need for checking alignment when making a connection. The first and second body parts in either of two rotational orientations are secured together by a magnetic “snap” connection. Three-piece and two-piece kits are disclosed for coupling with popular devices. In an optional embodiment, at least one end of the interface includes a “smart sensor” and a processor or logic gates that configure communications so as to be correctly wired in either rotational orientation, even before an electrical connection is made.
US09991627B1 Power cord locking system having a locking unit coupled to a wall and having an u-shaped channel for positioning the power cord
A includes an electrical outlet that is positioned on a wall. The electrical outlet has at least one female socket. A power cord is provided that has a male plug. The male plug is selectively electrically coupled to the at least one female socket. A locking unit provided. The locking unit is coupled to the wall and the locking unit is selectively manipulated. The locking unit selectively engages the power cord when the male plug is electrically coupled to the at least one female socket. Thus, the locking unit inhibits the male plug from falling out of the at least one female socket.
US09991626B2 Connector having integrated housing and shield shell
A connector includes a female terminal; a female housing; a shield shell which is formed in a tubular conductive material in which both ends are opened, the shield shell being integrated with the female housing in a state in which at least one of an outer circumferential side and an inner circumferential side of an end portion on an insertion direction side to the male connector is exposed as an annular exposed surface, and the female terminal and/or the electric wire being disposed inside the shield shell; and a sealing member which has a tubular sealing portion interposed between the male housing of the fitted male connector or the shield shell and the exposed surface as a seal side exposed surface opposed to the male housing or the shield shell, and suppresses entry of liquid therebetween by the sealing member.
US09991625B2 Waterproof connector and electronic equipment
A waterproof connector provided herein is capable of reducing an area taken up by the connector while ensuring waterproof performance, achieving layout design of electronic equipment more freely, and contributing to size reduction of the electronic equipment. This waterproof connector is also capable of increasing the strength and durability of a shell dramatically. A waterproof connector (1) includes: a shell (2) of a seamless and substantially tubular shape; a resin support (3) accommodated in a wall pattern in the shell (2); a contact terminal (4) attached to the support (3) for example by insert molding and supported by the support (3); and a sealing member (5) provided around an outer periphery of the shell (2). Preferably, the shell (2) is provided with a non-through recess (26) formed so as to bulge outward. The non-through recess (26) allows engagement of a hook of a plug.
US09991618B2 Contact element for an electrical connection
The present invention relates to a contact element for an electrical connection, and to a circuit arrangement having at least one said contact element. A contact element for an electrical connection may include a first contact region of a first copper material for electrically connecting to a first circuit component and a second contact region of a second copper material for electrically connecting to a second circuit component. The first contact region and the second contact region each have a different material hardness, and the two contact regions are interconnected by a materially bonded connection.
US09991617B2 Electrical interconnection system
Embodiments related to electrical connectors including superelastic components are described. The high elastic limit of superelastic materials compared to conventional connector materials may allow for designs which provide reliable connections and high frequency operation. Superelastic components also may enable connector designs with higher densities of connections. In some embodiments, a connector includes one or more superelastic elongated members forming the mating contacts of the connector. The superelastic elongated members deform within one or more conductive receptacles to generate a suitable contact force. The conductive receptacles may include a plurality of protrusions arranged to deflect the superelastic elongated members during mating. A superelastic component may also be provided in a receiving portion of a connector, and may form a portion of a conductive receptacle.
US09991613B2 Wire detachment-preventing structure
A wire detachment-preventing structure includes: a circuit board box, a housing provided with a wiring outlet and constituting the circuit board box, a terminal block for connecting a wire and provided on the circuit board box and provided with a wiring inlet; the circuit board box is provided with a wire detachment-preventing rib, the wiring inlet and the wiring outlet are provided on one same side of the wire detachment-preventing rib, a first passageway is formed between the wiring outlet and the wire detachment-preventing rib, a second passageway is formed between the wire detachment-preventing rib and the housing, and the wire from the wiring outlet bypasses the wire detachment-preventing rib through the second passageway and leads to the wiring inlet through the first passageway so as to form a U shape. By use of the wire detachment-preventing rib, the wire is not easily detached from the wiring inlet.
US09991611B1 Wire nut (lug) fuse holder combination
A device is provided for use with an electrical apparatus. The device comprises a wiring lug having a side and a base configured to receive a mounting screw. The wiring lug is configured to connect with a wire. The device further comprises a shaped spring configured to apply a force to a fuse for maintaining an electrical connection between the fuse and the wiring lug thus eliminating a separate electrical bus part that in a typical installation would pass a current from a conductive fuse clip to the wiring lug. The shaped spring provides a fuse clip with one side defined by the shaped spring and other side defined by the side of the wiring lug to contact a ferrule on the fuse or contact a blade extending from the ferrule on the fuse.
US09991610B2 Contact member
A pair of solder bonding portions to be solder-bonded onto the printed wiring board and a contact portion to contact the different conductive member or the like are coupled by a pair of flat spring portions. The respective flat spring portions protrude from side surfaces of mutually opposed corners of the contact portion. Sections following protruded sections of the respective flat spring portions are bent so as to wind in the same direction around a pillar-shaped space obtained by projecting the contact portion downward, and the flat spring portions reach the corresponding solder bonding portions. When the contact portion is pressed by the conductive member, the contact portion and the solder bonding portions remain parallel to each other, whereby the contact member can be successfully flattened toward the printed wiring board. At this point, outward deformation of the flat spring portions is inhibited.
US09991609B2 Electrical connection module, semiconductor module and method for producing a semiconductor module
An electrical connection module system includes a first connection plate with a first connection end and at least one first foot section, a first screw nut, and a dielectric holder. The dielectric holder has a first reception region for receiving the first screw nut. The first connection plate can, when the first screw nut is placed in the first reception region, be pushed onto the dielectric holder and be brought into a first target position such that the first screw nut is arranged between the dielectric holder and the first connection end and is held by the first connection end in the first reception region in such a way that the first screw nut cannot fall out.
US09991608B2 Wire and methods for preparing a wire to receive a contact element
A method is provided for preparing a wire for installation of a terminal. The method comprises removing an insulating layer from a conductor to expose a portion of a conductor. The method further includes attaching a conductive foil layer to a portion of the exposed portion of the conductor by applying pressure to the conductive foil layer. Terminated wires are also provided.
US09991605B2 Frequency-scaled ultra-wide spectrum element
An antenna element including a base plate, a first ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate, a second ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate and spaced apart from a first side of the first ground clustered pillar, a first ground member projecting from the base plate between the first ground clustered pillar and the second ground clustered pillar, wherein a distal end of the first ground member is configured to capacitively couple to the second ground clustered pillar, and a first signal member projecting from the base plate between the first ground clustered pillar and the first ground member, wherein the first signal member is electrically insulated from the base plate, the first ground clustered pillar, and the first ground member, and a distal end of the first signal member is configured to capacitively couple to the first ground clustered pillar.
US09991604B2 Radar sensor with absorber and a method for installing the absorber
A radar sensor for emitting and/or receiving wave-shaped electromagnetic signals, having at least one housing and at least one absorber. The absorber is disposed inside the housing and a surface of the absorber has raised rib-like sections which are disposed adjacently to one another on the surface of the absorber. The absorber is an injection molded component.
US09991602B2 Frequency reflecting unit
A frequency reflecting unit is provided. The frequency reflecting unit is used as a portion of a frequency reflector. The frequency reflecting unit with a three-dimensional structure includes a metal pattern and at least one via. The metal pattern is disposed on a metal layout layer defined on one side of the frequency reflecting unit. One end of the via is disposed corresponding to the metal pattern. The via forms a non-zero angle with the metal layout layer. The other end of the via is an open circuit.
US09991600B2 Flexible printed circuit board for dual mode antennas, dual mode antenna and user device
A dual mode antenna including: an insulative sheet; a loop-shaped wireless communication coil formed on a front surface of the insulative sheet; and a wireless power transmission coil formed inside the loop-shaped wireless communication coil to be electrically disconnected from the loop-shaped wireless communication coil, and formed on the front surface and a rear surface of the insulative sheet, the wireless power transmission coil being electrically connected from each other via a via-hole passing through the insulative sheet to wirelessly transmit or receive power.
US09991599B2 Antenna device, electronic apparatus, and method of mounting antenna device
In order to reduce device size and costs, an antenna device incorporated into an electronic apparatus is provided with an antenna substrate including an antenna coil portion having an antenna coil formed therein, a component portion, and a bending portion arranged along the X-direction, the bending portion being sandwiched between the antenna coil portion and the component portion, wherein on each of the front surface and the back surface of the component portion, an I/O interface for connecting electrically to the body of the electronic apparatus is provided. The antenna substrate is bendable at the bending portion.
US09991594B2 Wideband antenna array
An improved antenna array is distinguished inter alia by the following features: each of at least two antenna columns contains at least one supplementary antenna element, the at least two supplementary antenna elements are arranged such that the centers of the at least two supplementary antenna elements are arranged with a horizontal lateral spacing (b) that is smaller than the lateral spacing (a) between the centers of the antenna element groups or of the antenna elements in the two antenna columns, the wideband antenna elements in a respective antenna column are fed jointly together with the at least one supplementary antenna element, and a distribution network is provided for the at least one antenna element group with the at least one associated antenna element with an associated filter function (F) for the at least one associated supplementary antenna element, which radiate in a higher frequency subband than the wideband antenna elements.
US09991592B1 Test arrangement and test method
A test arrangement for testing a device under test, the test arrangement comprises a measurement antenna system comprising a number of measurement antenna elements for measuring signals emitted by the device under test or emitting test signals to the device under test, a link antenna for communication with the device under test, and a mechanical antenna positioning structure that carries the link antenna and controllably moves the link antenna around the device under test, wherein for positions of the link antenna around device under test that are occupied by the measurement antenna system, the measurement antenna system simulates the link antenna.
US09991590B2 Short-range antenna structure and methods
Antenna apparatus and methods of use and tuning. In one exemplary embodiment, the solution of the present disclosure is particularly adapted for small form-factor, metal-encased applications such as smartphones or tablets (and “phablets”) utilizing near field communication (NFC) interfaces. The solution increases the effective size of the antenna without requiring any significant additional space or other structural modifications to the host device (such as changes to the device's metal case or size), while still maintaining a high degree of electrical performance (including a high Q factor).
US09991586B2 Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device including a front cover, a back cover and a circuit board is provided. The circuit board is located between the front cover and the back cover. The back cover is combined with the front cover and includes a back section, a plurality of side sections and a separator, at least one of the side sections adjacent to the back cover includes a groove close to the back section and a slot far away from the back section, the slot is connected through to the groove, a first antenna unit and a second antenna unit are defined at the side section by the groove and the slot. The separator is located in the groove and the slot.
US09991584B2 Portable electronic device housing having insert molding around antenna
Embodiments are described herein in the context of housings for electronic devices. In one embodiment, a housing can make use of an outer member, which can be formed of glass. The outer member can be secured with respect to other portions of the housing for the electronic device. The output member can also be protected at its edges by a protective side member. Still further, one or more antenna can be provided at least partially internal to the protective side member. The electronic devices can be portable and in some cases handheld.
US09991583B2 Antenna apparatus and communication terminal instrument
In an antenna apparatus, a first current is induced in a first booster conductor by a current flowing through a coil conductor of a power feed antenna, and the first current circulates along a circumference of the first booster conductor. A second current is induced in a second booster conductor by the current flowing through the coil conductor of the power feed antenna, and the second current circulates along a circumference of the second booster conductor. A third current is induced in the first booster conductor by the second current flowing through the second booster conductor, and the third current circulates along the circumference of the first booster conductor. Thus, the antenna apparatus is much less influenced by nearby metallic objects and a shape of an included radiation plate may be more freely determined without requiring a highly accurate positional relationship between the radiation plate and the coil conductor.
US09991580B2 Launcher and coupling system for guided wave mode cancellation
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coupling module that includes a waveguide that guides a first electromagnetic wave conveying data from a transmitting device. A dielectric coupler receives the first electromagnetic wave from the waveguide to form a second electromagnetic wave, and that guides the second electromagnetic wave along the dielectric coupler adjacent to a transmission medium, and wherein the dielectric coupler has a length that supports a cancellation of at least one cancelled wave mode from a coupling of the second electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium.
US09991578B2 Systems and methods for mode suppression in a cavity
Systems and methods for mode suppression in a cavity are provided. In certain implementations, an apparatus comprises a cavity for propagating electromagnetic signals therein, wherein the electromagnetic signals propagate multiple times through the cavity; and an absorbing material applied to a first side of the cavity, wherein the absorbing material absorbs the electromagnetic signals. Further, an apparatus includes at least one transmitting antenna configured to couple electromagnetic energy into the cavity; and at least one receiving antenna configured to couple electromagnetic energy from the cavity.
US09991577B2 Cavity filter using cross-coupling
A cavity filter that uses cross-coupling is disclosed, which includes: a housing, in which multiple cavities are formed, with the cavities being open towards a first direction; multiple resonators held respectively in the multiple cavities; and a coupling member arranged to pass through an aperture between a first cavity and a second cavity, from among the multiple cavities, such that the coupling member is positioned between a first resonator and a second resonator. Here, the coupling member includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion, the first extending portion is positioned closer to the first resonator than to the second resonator and extends towards one side of the housing along the first direction, and the second extending portion is positioned closer to the second resonator than to the first resonator and extends towards the other side of the housing along the first direction.
US09991575B2 Power storage unit and solar power generation unit
Disclosed is a power storage unit which can safely operate over a wide temperature range. The power storage unit includes: a power storage device; a heater for heating the power storage device; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the power storage device; and a control circuit configured to inhibit charge of the power storage device when its temperature is lower than a first temperature or higher than a second temperature. The first temperature is exemplified by a temperature which allows the formation of a dendrite over a negative electrode of the power storage device, whereas the second temperature is exemplified by a temperature which causes decomposition of a passivating film formed over a surface of a negative electrode active material.
US09991572B2 Arrangement and method for cooling a technical component including vaporizing water by residual thermal energy
An arrangement in a motor vehicle includes a housing configured to accommodate a technical component, at least one pressure equalization element integrated into the housing, a cooling device configured to cool the technical component in the housing, and a control device configured to control the cooling device. The control device is configured such that, in the event of an exceedance of a temperature threshold value in the housing, the control device increases the cooling power of the cooling device in order to attain a first temperature value in the housing. After such an increase, proceeding from a second temperature value in the housing, the control device decreases the cooling power such that thermal residual energy of the technical component is sufficient to evaporate the condensation water generated in the housing as a result of the cooling, wherein the second temperature value is higher than the first temperature value.
US09991564B2 Electrochemical energy store comprising a conductivity section for overcharge protection
An electrochemical energy store with an anode, which is electrically connected to an anode space in which an anode material with a first fill level is arranged, and a cathode, which is electrically connected to a cathode space in which a cathode material with a second fill level is arranged, and an ion-conducting separator, which separates the anode space from the cathode space. The ion-conducting separator has a top region and a base region, wherein at least one conductivity section is provided in the top region of the ion-conducting separator, which conductivity section has greater electrical conductivity during correct operation of the electrochemical energy store than an electrically insulating insulation section in the base region, wherein at least one state of charge of the electrochemical energy store exists in which the anode material makes contact with the conductivity section in the anode space.
US09991563B2 Energy storage device and energy storage apparatus
An energy storage device includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The negative electrode includes graphite and non-graphitizable carbon, and a D50 particle size of the graphite at which a cumulative volume in a particle size distribution of a particle size reaches 50% is 2 μm or more. A ratio of a mass of the non-graphitizable carbon to a total amount of a mass of the graphite and a mass of the non-graphitizable carbon is 5% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less and a ratio of the D50 particle size of the graphite to a D50 particle size of the non-graphitizable carbon is 1.02 or less.
US09991562B2 Symmetrical and unsymmetrical organosilicon molecules and electrolyte compositions and electrochemical devices containing them
Described are organosilicon electrolyte compositions having improved thermostability and electrochemical properties and electrochemical devices that contain the organosilicon electrolyte compositions.
US09991558B2 Rechargeable electrochemical metal ion cell and accumulator containing said cell
A rechargeable electrochemical metal ion cell includes negative and positive electrodes, and an electrolyte system between them. The negative electrode includes a metal capable of releasing and accepting metal ions. The positive electrode includes at least one compound capable of releasing and accepting metal ions different from those of the negative electrode. The electrolyte system includes: a glycol-based electrolyte solution containing a salt of a metal included in the negative electrode and a salt of a metal included in the positive electrode; a matrix adapted to retain the electrolyte solution, where two reversible reactions take place simultaneously in the cell: a reversible deposition and dissolution process of ions of a metal included in the negative electrode takes place in the negative electrode and a reversible ion exchange process of a metal included in the positive electrode takes place in the positive electrode. The metals are different from one another.
US09991553B2 Electrolyte for lithium air battery and lithium air battery including the same
An electrolyte for a lithium air battery and lithium air battery including the electrolyte are provided. The electrolyte includes a compound represented by Formula 1 and a lithium salt:
US09991547B2 Machine and process for obtaining cells for electric storage batteries and cell for electric storage battery
Machine for obtaining cells for electric storage batteries, comprising an apparatus for feeding two continuous strips of dielectric material, a first and a second apparatus for distributing first electrodes of the same polarity and a third apparatus for distributing between the two strips second electrodes with opposite polarity with respect to the first electrodes. The machine further includes a folding head which receives, from the feeding apparatus, the two strips with the second electrode interposed, and is movable between a first position in which it receives a first electrode from the first distribution apparatus, and a second position (B), in which it receives a first electrode from the second distribution apparatus, in order to form a stack of composite layers alternated with the electrodes.
US09991544B2 Aqueous redox flow batteries comprising metal ligand coordination compounds
This invention is directed to aqueous redox flow batteries comprising redox-active metal ligand coordination compounds. The compounds and configurations described herein enable flow batteries with performance and cost parameters that represent a significant improvement over that previous known in the art.
US09991540B2 Electrolyte supported cell designed for longer life and higher power
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a solid oxide electrolyte having a fuel inlet riser opening and a fuel outlet riser opening. The electrolyte is located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The SOFC also includes a ceramic support layer on the electrolyte. The ceramic support is layer located around the at least one of a periphery of the electrolyte or at least partially around perimeters of the fuel inlet and fuel outlet riser openings. The ceramic support layer comprises a multi-component material comprising yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and alpha alumina.
US09991537B2 Redox systems
A composition comprising a polyoxometalate and an additive tolerant to the properties of the polyoxometalate, wherein the properties of the polyoxometalate are maintained despite the presence of the additive, and wherein the additive is effective to reduce the freezing point and/or elevate the boiling point of the composition. Such a composition may be used in a fuel cell.
US09991532B2 Hydrogen fuel cartridge with spring loaded valve
A hydrogen generating fuel cartridge includes a case having a perforated opening layer. A hydrogen producing fuel is disposed within the case. A hydrogen permeable membrane is disposed between the hydrogen producing fuel and the perforated opening layer in the case. A spring loaded slideable valve plate is positioned adjacent the perforated opening layer such that the slideable valve plate and perforated opening form a valve that is biased in a closed position to prevent hydrogen from escaping from the fuel cartridge.
US09991531B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes a control unit that estimates a discharge amount of the fuel gas partially discharged from the fuel cell partially discharged during an opening period of the discharge valve based on a lost amount of the fuel gas during the opening period and a consumed amount of the fuel gas by electric generation of the fuel cell during the opening period, wherein a pressure increase period during which the pressure increases and a pressure decrease period during which the pressure decreases exist due to intermittent injection of the fuel gas, and the control unit estimates the lost amount of the fuel gas based on a decrease rate of the pressure during the pressure decrease period within the opening period, and based on an assumed decrease rate of the pressure during the pressure increase period within the opening period.
US09991529B2 Fuel cell system and operating method of a fuel cell
A fuel cell system operates under at least one of the conditions of no humidity or high temperature, and an operating method thereof, are characterized in that a fuel cell has a fuel gas flow path and an oxidant gas flow path arranged such that fuel gas and oxidant gas flow in opposite directions, a determining apparatus that determines the amount of water near the oxidant gas flow path inlet, and a fuel gas control apparatus which increases the amount of water near the oxidant gas flow path inlet by increasing the fuel gas flowrate and/or reducing the fuel gas pressure if it is determined in the determining apparatus that the amount of water near the oxidant gas flow path inlet is insufficient.
US09991526B2 SOFC hot box components
Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
US09991525B2 End plate for fuel cell, fuel cell, and fuel cell system
An end plate includes a first surface including a heat generator contact region set such that a heat generator contacts the heat generator contact region, the heat generator being included in a fuel cell system that includes the fuel cell; and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface including a cooling medium flow path through which a cooling medium flows, and at least one flow path rib portion provided inside the cooling medium flow path.
US09991522B2 Catalyst particles for fuel cells and method for producing same
A catalyst particle (1) for a fuel cell according to the present invention includes: a metal particle (2) composed of either one of metal other than noble metal and an alloy of the metal other than the noble metal and the noble metal; and a noble metal layer (3) that is provided on a surface of the metal particle and has a thickness of 1 nm to 3.2 nm. By the fact that the catalyst particle for a fuel cell has such a configuration, the catalyst particle can enhance catalytic activity while reducing an amount of the noble metal. The catalyst particle (1) for a fuel cell according to the present invention can enhance the catalytic activity while reducing the amount of the noble metal.
US09991521B2 Method for dispersing particles in perfluorinated polymer ionomer
A method for preparing dispersing particles in perfluorinated polymer ionomer includes combining particles and a perfluorinated ionomer precursor in a mixture, and converting the perfluorinated ionomer precursor to a perfluorinated proton-conducting ionomer in the presence of the particles.
US09991517B2 Carbonaceous material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and vehicle
Provided is a carbonaceous material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode having high discharge capacity per unit volume and excellent storage characteristics.The carbonaceous material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery anode of the present invention has a true density (ρBt) determined by a pycnometer method using butanol of not less than 1.55 g/cm3 and less than 1.75 g/cm3 and a discharge capacity of an anode at 0.05 V to 1.5 V in terms of a lithium reference electrode standard of not less than 180 mAh/g. Furthermore, the slope 0.9/X (Vg/Ah) of a discharge curve calculated from a discharge capacity X (Ah/g) and a potential difference of 0.9 (V) corresponding to 0.2 V to 1.1 V in terms of a lithium reference electrode standard is not greater than 0.75 (Vg/Ah), and an absorbed moisture quantity after storage for 100 hours in a 25° C. 50% RH air atmosphere is not greater than 1.5 wt %.
US09991516B2 Battery production method
A battery production method is provided for producing the battery using the rubber material such as a tire containing sulfur as the raw material. In the method, the raw material is thermally decomposed, so that the raw material is separated into the solid portion and the dry distilled gas. In the next step, the dry distilled gas is cooled, so that the dry distilled gas is separated into the oil portion and the gaseous portion. In the next step, the oil portion is distilled, so that the oil portion is separated into the heavy oil, the light oil, and sulfur. In the next step, the heavy oil and sulfur are kneaded and thermally processed to produce the positive active substance or the positive electrode active material of the battery.
US09991515B2 Rechargeable lithium battery
Disclosed is a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a positive electrode including a positive active material, a negative electrode including a negative active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive active material includes a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, the negative active material includes a silicon-based compound, the compound represented by the above Chemical Formula 1 is included in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 30 wt % based on 100 wt % of the positive active material, and the silicon-based compound is included in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 10 wt % based on 100 wt % of the negative active material. Lix1CO1-yMyO2  Chemical Formula 1 In the above Chemical Formula 1, 1.05
US09991513B2 Positive active material and lithium secondary battery including positive electrode that includes the positive active material
A positive active material represented by Formula 1 and a lithium secondary battery having a positive electrode that includes the positive active material are provided: Li1-aAaNixCoyMn1-x-yO2  Formula 1 wherein, in Formula 1, A is an alkali metal; 0.0025≤a≤0.02; 0.0
US09991510B2 Negative electrode material for lithium ion secondary battery, composite negative electrode material for lithium ion secondary battery, resin composition for lithium ion secondary battery, negative electrode for lithium ion secondary battery, and lithium ion secondary battery
The present invention provides a negative electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery, a composite negative electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery, a resin composition for a lithium ion secondary battery negative electrode, and a negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary electrode, which may provide high charge/discharge capacity, and excellent initial charge-discharge characteristics and capacity retention. The surfaces of core particles of silicon of 5 nm or more and 100 nm or less in average particle size are coated with a coating layer to use a negative electrode material containing substantially no silicon oxide in the coating layer, or a composite negative electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery, which includes the negative electrode material and a matrix material, further with the use of a polyimide resin or a precursor thereof as a bonding resin, thereby making it possible to achieve high charge/discharge capacity and excellent capacity retention, as well as high initial efficiency.
US09991506B2 Electrode binder for lithium secondary batteries, negative electrode for lithium secondary batteries using same, lithium secondary battery, automobile, method for producing electrode binder for lithium secondary batteries, and method for manufacturing lithium secondary battery
Provided are an electrode binder for lithium secondary batteries, which is suppressed in deterioration in adhesive power, strength and stretchability caused by decomposition of imide groups by hydrolysis, said imide groups being contained in a polyamide-imide that is used as a binder for an electrode active material, and which is capable of prolonging the service life of a lithium secondary battery by suppressing deterioration of an electrode even in cases where water is generated due to repeated charging and discharging; a negative electrode for lithium secondary batteries; a lithium secondary battery; a method for manufacturing a lithium secondary battery having long service life, said lithium secondary battery being suppressed in deterioration of an electrode even in cases where water is generated due to repeated charging and discharging; a method for producing an electrode binder for lithium secondary batteries; and an automobile. This electrode binder for lithium secondary batteries contains a polyamideimide and a carbodiimide. A lithium secondary battery is manufactured by forming an electrode layer using a coating liquid that contains an electrode active material, a polyamideimide, a carbodiimide and a solvent.
US09991503B2 Method for producing non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A method for producing a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: placing an electrode body into an outer casing, the electrode body having a folded-separator structure or a wound structure in which a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material and a negative electrode including a negative-electrode active material are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween; placing a non-aqueous electrolyte free of a flame retardant into the outer casing; charging the electrode body by applying a voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode placed in the outer casing; placing a flame retardant into the outer casing; and sealing the outer casing, wherein the step of charging is a step of charging the electrode body with the state in which the surface of the positive-electrode active material and the surface of the negative-electrode active material are in contact with the non-aqueous electrolyte substantially free of the flame retardant.
US09991502B2 Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly for charging and discharging, a case in which the electrode assembly is stored; an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a current collecting portion that electrically connects the electrode assembly with the electrode terminal, the current collecting portion including a fuse portion; and an insulation portion that insulates the fuse portion, the insulation portion being slidable in response to pressure applied in the fuse portion.
US09991496B2 Terminal holder, battery module and method for producing same
A terminal holder is provided for holding a connection terminal (20) for at least three round cells (14, 15, 16). The terminal holder has a centrally encircling rib (11) for placement of the terminal holder (10) on the round cells (14, 15, 16) and for spacing the connection terminal (20) apart from the round cells (14, 15, 16). An elastic lip (12) is arranged at the end for clamping the terminal holder (10) between the round cells (14, 15, 16). A plastic head (13) is arranged opposite the lip (12), for fastening the terminal holder (10) on the connection terminal (20).
US09991494B2 Nano microporous diaphragm of post-crosslinked rubber and polyolefin composite, and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a composite nano microporous diaphragm for use in lithium ion cells using polyolefin modified with post-crosslinked rubber and manufacturing method thereof. The microporous diaphragm at least comprises a nano microporous diaphragm A layer with a chemical gel content of more than 20%, the microscopic structure thereof is designed to be the rubber material that has been evenly dispersed and has subjected to a post-crosslinking treatment in polyolefin nano microfiber matrix, forming a nano microporous diaphragm of rubber-plastic composite. The nano microporous diaphragm with high strength, thermal cutoff, high temperature resistance, as well as good liquid absorption and swelling and compression elasticity can be applied to lithium ion power cells with high safety and long cycling life.
US09991493B2 High energy density non-aqueous electrochemical cell with extended operating temperature window
A non-aqueous electrochemical cell including a lithium anode, a solid cathode, a first separator and a second separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte in fluid communication with the anode, the cathode, and the first and the second separators, the first separator having a higher melting point (or shut-down) temperature than the melting point (or shut-down) temperature of the second separator.
US09991491B2 Slurry including inorganic particles with improve dispersibility by controlling particle size and slurry viscosity
The present disclosure relates to an invention directed to controlling a viscosity of a slurry used to manufacture an electrochemical device, by adjusting a particle diameter of an inorganic matter that is an ingredient of the slurry, so that a sinking rate of the inorganic particles may remarkably slow down and dispersibility may be dramatically improved, and as a result, the content of the inorganic particles may relatively increase and the inorganic particles may be uniformly distributed in a coating layer on a substrate, thereby preventing a reduction in battery performance.
US09991488B2 Polyolefin-based porous film and method for producing the same
A method for producing a polyolefin-based porous film includes an (A) step: a raw fabric forming step for forming a non-porous raw fabric from a polyolefin-based resin composition, a (B) step: an MD cold stretching step for cold stretching the non-porous raw fabric obtained in the (A) step at a temperature of −20° C. to (Tm−30)° C. (Tm is a melting point (° C.) of the non-porous raw fabric) in an extruding direction (MD) of the raw fabric to make the raw fabric porous; a (D) step: a TD cold stretching step for cold stretching a film processed in the (B) step in a direction (TD) perpendicular to the MD, and an (H) step: a thermal fixing step, in the above order. A thermal fixing temperature T2 (° C.) in the (H) step satisfies expressions (1) and (2) below; T2>T1 (1), (Tm−3)≥T2≥(Tm−40) (2) (in the expressions, T1 represents a stretching temperature (° C.) in the (D) step, and Tm represents the melting point (° C.) of the non-porous raw fabric). A polyolefin-based porous film made of a polyolefin-based resin composition has a pore surface area of 35.0 to 42.0 m2/g and birefringence of 2.0×10−2 to 4.0×10−2.
US09991486B2 Ion-conducting solid-state separator
Solid-state separator for electrochemical systems, wherein the solid-state separator consists of a plurality of ion-conducting solid-state segments, and the individual solid-state segments are connected by means of a deformable, electrically insulating material.
US09991481B2 Thermal insulating cover
A thermal insulating cover which can be easily fitted on an object.[Means for solution] A thermal insulating cover 10 to be fitted on a battery B so that a wall portion 12 in a cylindrical form of the cover covers the entire periphery of the side surface of the battery B. The wall portion 12 has a general portion 18, which is disposed to be separate from the side surface of the battery B, and a sealing portion 20, which is formed to protrude inward more than the general portion 18 and elastically abutting on the side surface of the battery B. The thermal insulating cover 10 closes an upper side of a space G formed between the side surface of the battery B and the general portion 18 by the sealing portion 20.
US09991480B2 Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery, including an electrode assembly performing charging and discharging; a case containing the electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution; cap plate coupled to an opening of the case to seal the opening and containing more electrolyte solution in a receiving groove on an inner surface thereof; and an insulation case coupled to the receiving groove by a protrusion and located between the electrode assembly and the cap plate.
US09991477B2 Mask frame assembly, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a display apparatus
A mask frame assembly including a frame and a mask having a first surface that contacts the frame. The mask includes an active area and pattern holes formed in the active area, the pattern holes being configured to allow a deposition material to pass through the mask. The mask also includes a rib portion disposed outside the active area and configured to block the deposition material from passing through the mask and a non-magnetic reinforcing member disposed on a part of the rib portion.
US09991476B2 Method for manufacturing flexible OLED display component
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display component which includes steps of: forming a ferromagnetic material layer on a surface of a flexible substrate; and abutting the ferromagnetic material layer against a flat bearing surface, and applying a magnetic pull force directing to the bearing surface on the ferromagnetic material layer. Drawn by the magnetic pull force, the ferromagnetic material layer abuts closely against the flat bearing surface, smoothing out the flexible substrate, and meanwhile fixing the flexible substrate on the bearing surface.
US09991470B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device includes an organic light emitting display panel including first to third pixels that emit light of different colors, a wavelength of a color light emitted from the third pixel being shorter than wavelengths of color lights emitted from the first and second pixels, a window on an upper portion of the display panel, and a light shielding pattern on the window, the light shielding pattern being adjacent to an outline of the third pixel.
US09991464B2 Organic light-emitting display device and method of fabricating the same
An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate defining an emission area and a non-emission area; an insulating layer on the substrate and having at least two grooves being defined at a portion of the insulating layer corresponding to the non-emission area; a first electrode on the insulating layer at a portion of the insulating layer corresponding to the emission area; an auxiliary electrode on the insulating layer and spaced apart from the first electrode, the auxiliary electrode being on at least a portion of the insulating layer having the at least two grooves; a bank pattern on portions of the first and auxiliary electrodes; a barrier on the auxiliary electrode and separated from the bank pattern, the barrier being formed of a same material as the bank pattern; an organic light-emitting layer on the first electrode; and a second electrode on the organic light-emitting layer.
US09991461B2 Light emitting device
Multiple organic layers (120) are located between a first electrode (110) and a second electrode (130), each organic layer including a light emitting layer. A charge generation layer (200) is located between mutually adjacent organic layers (120). In other words, the multiple organic layers (120) are mutually laminated and the charge generation layer (200) is located between the multiple organic layers (120). The charge generation layer (200) includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer contains an electron transport material and the second layer contains a metal and a hole injection material. The third layer is formed using a hole transport material. The charge generation layer (200) contains an electron injection material for improving electron injection properties of the first layer, the charge generation layer provided on the first layer side than the second layer.
US09991448B2 Compound, luminescent material and organic light emitting device using same
The present invention discloses a compound represented by the following Formula I, and a luminescent material and an organic light emitting device using the same. Said compound has a characteristic of thermally activated delayed fluorescence, and can be used in luminescent materials and in organic light emitting devices.
US09991446B2 Organic light emitting device and display device having the same
An organic light emitting device including a first electrode, a hole transport region on the first electrode, a light emission layer on the hole transport region, a buffer layer on the light emission layer, an electron transport region on the buffer layer, and a second electrode on the electron transport region. The buffer layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a carbazole derivative, a phenanthroline derivative, a triazole derivative, and a quinolinolato-based metal complex.
US09991445B2 Heterocyclic compound, material for organic electroluminescence device including the same, and organic electroluminescence device and electronic equipment employing the same
A heterocyclic compound wherein three five-membered rings are fused to one benzene ring and a saturated or unsaturated ring is fused to each five-membered ring. An organic electroluminescence device includes one or more organic thin film layers between an anode and a cathode. The one or more organic thin film layers include a light emitting layer. At least one layer of the one or more organic thin film layers includes the heterocyclic compound.
US09991442B2 Method for manufacturing magnetic memory device
A method for manufacturing a magnetic memory device includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction layer that includes a first magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a second magnetic layer sequentially stacked on a substrate. First line mask patterns are formed extending in a first direction and spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction. The magnetic tunnel junction layer is etched by a first ion-beam etch process using the first line mask patterns as an etch mask to form preliminary magnetic tunnel junctions. Second line mask patterns are formed extending in the second direction and spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The preliminary magnetic tunnel junctions are etched by a second ion-beam process using the second line mask patterns as an etch mask to form magnetic tunnel junctions.
US09991438B2 Magnetostrictive member and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a magnetostrictive member with high performance, high reliability and high versatility. The magnetostrictive member is used in the vibration power generation as a power source for extracting electric energy from various vibrations. The member made of the single crystal is manufactured cheaper than the conventional manufacturing method. The magnetostrictive member is formed by cutting a single crystal of Fe—Ga alloy by using electric discharge machining in a state that <100> orientation of the crystal of the Fe—Ga alloy is aligned in a direction in which magnetostriction of the magnetostrictive member is required.
US09991436B2 Thermoelectric converter element, method of manufacturing thermoelectric converter element, and thermoelectric conversion method
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost thermoelectric converter element having high productivity and excellent conversion efficiency. A thermoelectric converter element according to the present invention includes a substrate 4, a magnetic film 2 provided on the substrate 4 with a certain magnetization direction A and formed of a polycrystalline magnetically insulating material, and an electrode 3 provided on the magnetic film 2 with a material exhibiting a spin-orbit interaction. When a temperature gradient is applied to the magnetic film 2, a spin current is generated so as to flow from the magnetic film 2 toward the electrode 3. A current I is generated in a direction perpendicular to the magnetization direction A of the magnetic film 2 by the inverse spin Hall effect in the electrode 3.
US09991434B2 Semiconductor device with metal-bonded heat dissipator and manufacturing method for the same
A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate,a semiconductor element disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, a heat dissipation member, and a metal bonding layer that bonds the lower surface of the substrate to the upper surface of the heat dissipation member, and the area of the upper surface of the heat dissipation member is larger than the area of the lower surface of the substrate, and the metal bonding layer contacts the whole of the lower surface of the substrate and has an area larger than the area of the lower surface of the substrate, and the heat conductivity of the metal bonding layer is higher than the heat conductivity of the heat dissipation member.
US09991433B2 Light emitting device package and lighting apparatus including the package
Embodiments provide a light emitting device package including a substrate, a light emitting structure disposed under the substrate and including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer, first and second electrodes connected to the first and second conductive semiconductor layers, a first pad connected to the first electrodes in first-first through-holes penetrating the second conductive semiconductor layer and the active layer, and a first insulation layer disposed between the first pad and the second conductive semiconductor layer and between the first pad and the active layer to cover the first electrodes in a first-second through-hole, and a second pad connected to the second electrode through a second through-hole penetrating the first insulation layer and electrically spaced apart from the first pad. The second pad does not overlap the first insulation layer in the first-second through-hole in a thickness direction of the light emitting structure.
US09991427B2 Photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structures for light emitting devices
Solid state light emitting devices include a solid state light emitting die and a photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure. The photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure may include a solid phosphor layer that includes dielectric nanostructures therein and may be on a light emitting surface of the solid state light emitting die. The photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure may be attached to the light emitting surface of the solid state light emitting die via an adhesive layer. The photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure may also be directly on a light emitting surface of the solid state light emitting die. Related methods are also disclosed.
US09991424B2 Light-emitting diode and method for manufacturing same
A light-emitting diode including a support substrate, a semiconductor stack disposed on the support substrate and including a p-type compound semiconductor layer, an active layer, and an n-type compound semiconductor layer, a reflective metal layer disposed between the support substrate and the semiconductor stack, the reflective metal layer being in ohmic contact with the p-type compound semiconductor layer of the semiconductor stack and including a groove exposing a portion of the semiconductor stack, an insulation layer disposed between the support substrate and the semiconductor stack and disposed in the groove, and a first electrode including a first electrode pad and a first electrode extension and contacting the n-type compound semiconductor layer of the semiconductor stack, in which the first electrode extension is connected to the first electrode pad, and the first electrode extension is formed along an outer boundary of the light-emitting diode.
US09991422B2 Electronic device mounted on a substrate
A device includes: a substrate; and a functional element mounted, the functional element including electrodes. The substrate includes a support substrate, and includes a first seed metal, a second seed metal, and a resin component on the support substrate, the first seed metal being disposed in a section opposed to part or all of a first electrode among the electrodes, and being connected to the first electrode by plating, the second seed metal being disposed in a section opposed to part or all of a second electrode among the electrodes, and being connected to the second electrode by plating, and the resin component being disposed in a layer between the functional element and the support substrate, and fixing the functional element to the support substrate, and being, provided avoiding a neighborhood of an end of the functional element among, opposed side sections of the first and second seed metals.
US09991421B2 Method for manufacturing light emitting diode device
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an LED device includes forming a laminated semiconductor layer including a GaN layer of a first conductivity type, a GaN-based luminous layer, and a GaN layer of a second conductivity type stacked in this order on a surface of a substrate, forming a resist pattern on the laminated semiconductor layer, subjecting the laminated semiconductor layer to reactive ion etching using the resist pattern as a mask to selectively remove the laminated semiconductor layer to form an LED element structure part and an electrode connection region, removing the resist pattern, and treating the substrate including the LED element structure part and the electrode connection region with a first etching residue removing aqueous solution.
US09991420B2 Semiconductor light-emitting element
A semiconductor light-emitting element according to the present invention is a semiconductor light-emitting element including: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a light-emitting functional layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer that is formed on the light-emitting functional layer and is of a second conductivity type opposite to that of the first semiconductor layer. The light-emitting functional layer has: a base layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, the base layer having a plurality of base segments that have a composition subject to stress strain from the first semiconductor layer and are formed in a random net shape, the base layer being doped with a dopant of the second conductivity type; and a quantum well light-emitting layer formed on the base layer.
US09991419B2 Control of P-contact resistance in a semiconductor light emitting device
A device according to embodiments of the invention includes a semiconductor structure including a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. A surface of the p-type region perpendicular to a growth direction of the semiconductor structure includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is less conductive than the second portion. The device further includes a p-contact formed on the p-type region. The p-contact includes a reflector and a blocking material. The blocking material is disposed over the first portion and no blocking material is disposed over the second portion.
US09991418B2 Semiconductor light emitting element
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting element includes a light emitting layer, a current spreading layer of a first conductivity type, and a pad electrode. The light emitting layer is capable of emitting light. The current spreading layer has a first surface and a second surface. The light emitting layer is disposed on a side of the first surface. A light extraction surface having convex structures of triangle cross-sectional shape and a flat surface which is a crystal growth plane are included in the second surface. The pad electrode is provided on the flat surface. One base angle of the convex structure is 90 degrees or more.
US09991417B2 Resonant cavity strained III-V photodetector and LED on silicon substrate
An optoelectronic device that includes a germanium containing buffer layer atop a silicon containing substrate, and a first distributed Bragg reflector stack of III-V semiconductor material layers on the buffer layer. The optoelectronic device further includes an active layer of III-V semiconductor material present on the first distributed Bragg reflector stack, wherein a difference in lattice dimension between the active layer and the first distributed brag reflector stack induces a strain in the active layer. A second distributed Bragg reflector stack of III-V semiconductor material layers having a may be present on the active layer.
US09991412B2 Systems for precision application of conductive adhesive paste on photovoltaic structures
One embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for dispensing conductive paste on photovoltaic structures during manufacturing of a solar panel. The apparatus includes a cartridge for holding the conductive paste, a jet-dispensing module coupled to the cartridge, and a robotic arm coupled to the jet-dispensing module. The jet-dispensing module is configured to dispense a predetermined amount of the conductive paste on busbars of a respective photovoltaic structure in a non-contact manner, and the robotic arm is configured to adjust a position of the jet-dispensing module, thereby facilitating alignments between the jet-dispensing module and the busbars of the photovoltaic structure.
US09991402B2 Solar apparatus and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are a solar apparatus and a method of fabricating a solar apparatus. The solar apparatus according to the embodiment includes: a substrate; a back electrode layer on the substrate; a plurality of sub-electrodes making direct contact with the back electrode layer and extending in a first direction; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; and a front electrode layer on the light absorbing layer.
US09991398B2 Thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and fabrication method thereof, and display device
The present disclosure provides a thin film transistor array substrate and a fabrication method thereof, and a display device. The thin film transistor array substrate includes an active layer. The active layer is formed using a zinc target under an environment of oxygen and nitrogen in a sputtering chamber. A source/drain buffer layer is formed on the active layer using the zinc target by a sputtering process in the sputtering chamber under an environment containing one of oxygen and nitrogen.
US09991396B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with stable electric characteristics. In a semiconductor device including an inverted staggered thin film transistor whose semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer, a buffer layer is provided over the oxide semiconductor layer. The buffer layer is in contact with a channel formation region of the semiconductor layer and source and drain electrode layers. A film of the buffer layer has resistance distribution. A region provided over the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer has lower electrical conductivity than the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer, and a region in contact with the source and drain electrode layers has higher electrical conductivity than the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer.
US09991395B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
When an oxide semiconductor film is microfabricated, with the use of a hard mask, unevenness of a side surface of the oxide semiconductor film can be suppressed. Specifically, a semiconductor device comprises an oxide semiconductor film over an insulating surface; a first hard mask and a second hard mask over the oxide semiconductor film; a source electrode over the oxide semiconductor film and the first hard mask; a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor film and the second hard mask; a gate insulating film over the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a gate electrode overlapping with the gate insulating film and the oxide semiconductor film, and the first and second hard masks have conductivity.
US09991394B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
A transistor with high and stable electrical characteristics whose parasitic capacitance is suppressed is provided even when miniaturized. A semiconductor device including it also achieves higher performance and reliability. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor over a substrate, first and second electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor, an insulator over the oxide semiconductor, and the first and second electrodes, and a third electrode over the insulator. The oxide semiconductor includes a first region, a second region, and a third region overlapping with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, respectively. The first region and the second region include a fourth region and a fifth region each overlapping with the third region, respectively. Top surfaces of the first and second electrodes are provided on the same plane as a top surface of the oxide semiconductor or the side closer to the oxide semiconductor than the same plane.
US09991390B2 Thin film transition metal dichalcogenides and methods
A coated substrate including a thin film of a transition metal dichalcogenide and associated methods are shown. In one example, the substrate is a semiconductor wafer. In one example, the thin film is atomically thin, and the substrate is a number of centimeters in diameter. In one example a crystalline structure of the thin film is substantially 2H hexagonal.
US09991386B2 Epitaxial wafer and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing an epitaxial wafer, including a silicon substrate having a surface sliced from single-crystalline silicon and a silicon epitaxial layer deposited on the surface of the silicon substrate, includes an oxygen concentration controlling heat treatment process in which a heat treatment of the epitaxial layer is performed under a non-oxidizing atmosphere after the epitaxial growth such that an oxygen concentration of the surface of the silicon epitaxial layer is set to 1.0×1017 to 12×1017 atoms/cm3 (ASTM F-121, 1979).
US09991385B2 Enhanced volume control by recess profile control
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device that controls a strain on a channel region by forming a dielectric material in recesses, adjacent to a channel region, in order to provide control over a volume and shape of a strain inducing material of epitaxial source/drain regions formed within the recesses. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device has epitaxial source/drain regions arranged in recesses within an upper surface of a semiconductor body on opposing sides of a channel region. A gate structure is arranged over the channel region, and a dielectric material is arranged laterally between the epitaxial source/drain regions and the channel region. The dielectric material consumes some volume of the recesses, thereby reducing a volume of strain inducing material in epitaxial source/drain regions formed in the recesses.
US09991383B2 Semiconductor component and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor component including: a semiconductor substrate; and a semiconductor device provided thereon, the device being a field-effect transistor that includes: a gate insulating film provided on the substrate; a gate electrode provided via the film; and a pair of source-drain regions provided to sandwich the electrode, the substrate including a patterned surface in a portion where the electrode is provided, the patterned surface of the substrate including a raised portion where the film is formed to cover a surface that lies on the same plane as a surface of the pair of source-drain regions, and the electrode is formed on a top surface of the film, and the patterned surface of the substrate including a recessed portion where the film is formed to cover surfaces of a groove formed toward the interior than the surface of the pair of source-drain regions, and the electrode is formed so as to fill the groove provided with the film.
US09991379B1 Semiconductor device with a gate insulating film formed on an inner wall of a trench, and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, which includes: a drift region that has a first conductivity type; a body region that has a second conductivity type and is formed on the drift region; and an impurity region that has the first conductivity type and is formed inward from a surface of the body region. The semiconductor device further includes a trench, which is formed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate and reaches the drift region; a control electrode, which is formed in the trench; an oxide film, which is formed between an inner wall of the trench and the control electrode; an electrode, which is connected to the impurity region; and a transistor, which includes a nitride film formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate excluding an upper side of the control electrode and a formation position of the electrode, in the semiconductor substrate.
US09991377B2 Trench FET with ruggedness enhancement regions
According to an exemplary implementation, a field-effect transistor (FET) includes first and second gate trenches extending to a drift region of a first conductivity type. The FET also includes a base region of a second conductivity type that is situated between the first and second gate trenches. A ruggedness enhancement region is situated between the first and second gate trenches, where the ruggedness enhancement region is configured to provide an enhanced avalanche current path from a drain region to the base region when the FET is in an avalanche condition. The enhanced avalanche current path is away from the first and second gate trenches. The ruggedness enhancement region can be of the second conductivity type that includes a higher dopant concentration than the base region. Furthermore, the ruggedness enhancement region can be extending below the first and second gate trenches.
US09991364B2 Transistor strain-inducing scheme
A transistor device includes a gate structure disposed over a channel region of a semiconductor substrate. A source/drain recess is arranged in the semiconductor substrate alongside the gate structure. A doped silicon-germanium (SiGe) region is disposed within the source/drain recess and has a doping type which is opposite to that of the channel. An un-doped SiGe region is also disposed within the source/drain recess. The un-doped SiGe region underlies the doped SiGe region and comprises different germanium concentrations at different locations within the source/drain recess.
US09991360B2 Method for forming III-V semiconductor structures including aluminum-silicon nitride passivation
A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a semiconductor layer over a substrate and forming an aluminum-silicon nitride layer upon the semiconductor layer. When the semiconductor layer in particular comprises a III-V semiconductor material such as a group III nitride semiconductor material or a gallium nitride semiconductor material, the aluminum-silicon nitride material provides a superior passivation in comparison with a silicon nitride material.
US09991359B1 Vertical transistor gated diode
After forming a trench extending through a sacrificial gate layer to expose a surface of a doped bottom semiconductor layer, a diode including a first doped semiconductor segment and a second doped semiconductor segment having a different conductivity type than the first doped semiconductor segment is formed within the trench. The sacrificial gate layer that laterally surrounds the first doped semiconductor segment and the second doped semiconductor segment is subsequently replaced with a gate structure to form a gated diode.
US09991352B1 Methods of forming a nano-sheet transistor device with a thicker gate stack and the resulting device
A method that includes forming a patterned stack of materials comprising at least one channel semiconductor material layer and first and second layers of sacrificial material positioned above and below, respectively, the at least one channel semiconductor material layer, forming a replacement gate cavity above the patterned stack of materials and performing an etching process through the gate cavity to selectively remove at least a portion of the first and second layers of sacrificial material relative to the at least one channel semiconductor material layer. The method further includes performing a second etching process to form a reduced-thickness portion of the channel semiconductor material layer that has a final thickness that is less than the initial thickness and forming a replacement gate structure around at least the reduced-thickness portion of the channel semiconductor material layer.
US09991349B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
Certain embodiments provide a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor element, and wiring. The semiconductor element has an electrode provided on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The electrode includes a junction layer joined to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a diffusion-suppressing layer provided on the junction layer, and a pad layer provided on the diffusion-suppressing layer. The wiring is provided on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate and on an inner surface of a through hole which penetrates the semiconductor substrate immediately below the electrode. The wiring is electrically connected to the electrode.
US09991343B2 LDD-free semiconductor structure and manufacturing method of the same
The present disclosure provides an LDD-free semiconductor structure including a semiconductor layer, a gate over the semiconductor layer and a regrowth region made of semiconductor material positioned in the semiconductor layer. The regrowth region forms a source region or a drain region of the LDD-free semiconductor structure. The gate includes a gate electrode layer laterally covered by a gate spacer. The regrowth region extends towards a region beneath the gate spacer and close to a plane extending along a junction of the gate spacer and the gate electrode layer. The present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing an LDD-free semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a gate over a semiconductor layer, removing a portion of the semiconductor layer and obtaining a recess, and forming a regrowth region over the recess.
US09991339B2 Bulk to silicon on insulator device
A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin in a bulk semiconductor substrate and depositing a first insulator layer over portions of the bulk semiconductor substrate adjacent to the fin. The method further includes removing portions of the first insulator layer to reduce a thickness of the first insulator layer and expose a sidewall of the fin. An etch stop layer is deposited on the first insulator layer. A gate stack is formed over a channel region of the fin and over portions of the etch stop layer. A portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate is removed to expose portions of the etch stop layer and the fin, and a second insulator layer is deposited over exposed portions of the fin and the etch stop layer.
US09991327B2 Semiconductor device having inductor
A semiconductor device includes first and second winding portions disposed in a first level of an insulating layer and surrounding a center region thereof. Each of the winding portions includes conductive lines arranged from the inside to the outside. First and second extending conductive lines are disposed in the first level of the insulating layer. A third extending conductive line is disposed in a second level of the insulating layer. The first extending conductive line is coupled between the innermost conductive line of the second winding and the third extending conductive line. The second extending conductive line is coupled between the innermost conductive line of the first winding portion and the third extending conductive line. The first extending conductive line and the third extending conductive line coupled thereto are arranged in a helix or a spiral spatial configuration.
US09991323B2 Blue organic EL element, organic EL display panel, and manufacturing method of blue organic EL element
An organic electroluminescence (EL) element emitting blue light from a light emitting surface and including: a first electrode; an organic light-emitting layer disposed on the first electrode and/or closer to the light emitting surface than the first electrode; and a second electrode disposed on the organic light-emitting layer and/or closer to the light emitting surface than the organic light-emitting layer. In the organic EL element emitting blue light, the organic light-emitting layer contains an organic light-emitting material emitting, through photoluminescence, blue light that has a CIE y coordinate no greater than 0.13 such that a luminance drop due to film shape is suppressed to 10% or smaller.
US09991321B2 Organic light emitting diode display device and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting diode display device includes a first substrate including a display region, wherein a plurality of pixel regions are defined in the display region; a first electrode over the substrate and in each of the plurality of pixel regions; a bank on edges of the first electrode and surrounding each of the plurality of pixel regions, the bank including a lower layer having a hydrophilic property and an upper layer having a hydrophobic property; an organic emitting layer on the first electrode and in each of the plurality of pixel regions surrounded by the bank; and a second electrode on the organic emitting layer and covering an entire surface of the display region.
US09991318B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device includes a substrate, reflection structure, and a sub-pixel structure. The substrate includes a plurality of sub-pixel regions and a reflection region surrounding the sub-pixel regions. The reflection structure is disposed on the substrate in the reflection region and has a plurality of openings exposing the sub-pixel regions. The reflection structure includes first reflection patterns, second reflection patterns, and connection patterns. The first reflection patterns extend in a first direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate, and are spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second reflection patterns are spaced apart from each other in the first direction between two adjacent first reflection patterns. The connection patterns electrically connect two adjacent second reflection patterns in the second direction. The sub-pixel structure is disposed on the substrate in the sub-pixel region.
US09991317B2 Organic light emitting display device and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting display device includes: a display panel configured to display an image; and a window panel on the display panel, the window panel having a display area for transmitting an image displayed on the display panel and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The window panel may include: a window substrate; a light absorption layer on the window substrate; a touch sensor in the display area; and an edge layer in the non-display area.
US09991316B2 Phase-change memory cell, and method for manufacturing the phase-change memory cell
A phase-change memory cell, comprising: a substrate housing a transistor, for selection of the memory cell, that includes a first conduction electrode; a first electrical-insulation layer on the selection transistor; a first conductive through via through the electrical-insulation layer electrically coupled to the first conduction electrode; a heater element including a first portion in electrical contact with the first conductive through via and a second portion that extends in electrical continuity with, and orthogonal to, the first portion; a first protection element extending on the first and second portions of the heater element; a second protection element extending in direct lateral contact with the first portion of the heater element and with the first protection element; and a phase-change region extending over the heater element in electrical and thermal contact therewith.
US09991315B2 Memory device including ovonic threshold switch adjusting threshold voltage thereof
A memory device may include a substrate, a first conductive line on the substrate and extending in a first direction, a second conductive line over the first conductive line and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, a third conductive line over the second conductive line and extending in the first direction, a first memory cell at an intersection of the first conductive line and the second conductive line and including a first selection element layer and a first variable resistance layer, and a second memory cell at an intersection of the second conductive line and the third conductive line and including a second selection element layer and a second variable resistance layer. A first height of the first selection element layer in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions is different than a second height of the second selection element layer in the third direction.
US09991314B2 Magnetoresistive element and magnetic memory
A magnetoresistive element according to an embodiment includes: a first magnetic layer; a second magnetic layer; and a first nonmagnetic layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, the second magnetic layer containing a material with a composition (lR1-xhRx)z(TM1-yZy)1-z (0
US09991311B2 Dual active layer semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Some embodiments include an imaging system. The imaging system includes an active matrix pixel array having a flexible substrate and a pixel. The pixel includes a transistor over the flexible substrate, and the transistor includes multiple active layers having a first active layer and a second active layer over the first active layer. Further, the active matrix pixel array also includes a photodiode over the transistor, and the photodiode includes an N-type layer over the transistor, an I layer over the N-type layer, and a P-type layer over the I layer. Meanwhile, the imaging system also includes a flexible scintillator layer over the active matrix pixel array. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
US09991310B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a primary surface on one side thereof and a secondary surface on an opposite side thereof, and having a sensor therein, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type having a circuit element formed therein, the second semiconductor layer being formed at said one side of the primary surface of the first semiconductor layer, an insulating layer formed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, and being disposed on the primary surface of the first semiconductor layer, and a charge-attracting semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type configured to attract electrical charges generated in the insulating layer when a fixed voltage is supplied to the charge-attracting semiconductor layer.
US09991308B2 Image sensor
An image sensor includes a first semiconductor layer having a first semiconductor region and a first insulating region, and a second semiconductor layer under the first semiconductor layer including a second semiconductor region and a second insulating region. The first semiconductor layer includes a first transistor having first source or drain regions in the first semiconductor region and a first gate electrode in the first insulating region, a contact wiring, a first wiring layer electrically connecting the contact wiring and the first transistor, and a first junction region electrically connected to the first wiring layer. The second semiconductor layer includes a second transistor having second source or drain regions in the second semiconductor region and a second gate electrode in the second insulating region, a second wiring layer electrically connecting the contact wiring and the second transistor, and a second junction region electrically connected to the second wiring layer.
US09991306B2 Hybrid bonded image sensor and method of operating such image sensor
In one form, a hybrid bonded image sensor comprises a photodiode chip, a circuit carrying chip, and an interconnection. The photodiode chip provides charge to a first floating diffusion in response to incident light, wherein the first floating diffusion is coupled to a first terminal on a first surface of the photodiode chip. The circuit carrying chip has a first terminal aligned with the first terminal of the photodiode chip, the circuit carrying chip forming an output voltage based on charge transferred on the first floating diffusion sensed from the first terminal thereof. The interconnection connects the first terminal of the photodiode chip to the first terminal of the circuit carrying chip.
US09991301B2 Image sensor having improved dicing properties, manufacturing apparatus, and manufacturing method of the same
The present technology relates to techniques of preventing intrusion of moisture into a chip. Various illustrative embodiments include image sensors that include: a substrate; a plurality of layers stacked on the substrate; the plurality of layers including a photodiode layer having a plurality of photodiodes formed on a surface of the photodiode layer; the plurality of layers including at least one layer having a groove formed such that a portion of the at least one layer is excavated; and a transparent resin layer formed above the photodiode layer and formed in the groove. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor.
US09991300B2 Buried channel deeply depleted channel transistor
Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating such devices are provided. The devices include source and drain regions on one conductivity type separated by a channel length and a gate structure. The devices also include a channel region of the one conductivity type formed in the device region between the source and drain regions and a screening region of another conductivity type formed below the channel region and between the source and drain regions. In operation, the channel region forms, in response to a bias voltage at the gate structure, a surface depletion region below the gate structure, a buried depletion region at an interface of the channel region and the screening region, and a buried channel region between the surface depletion region and the buried depletion region, where the buried depletion region is substantially located in channel region.
US09991299B2 Image sensors
An image sensor includes a substrate including an active region defined by a device isolation layer, a photoelectric conversion layer in the substrate, a floating diffusion region in the substrate at an edge of the active region, and a transfer gate on the active region. The transfer gate is in contact with a portion of the device isolation layer adjacent the active region.
US09991296B2 Liquid crystal display with pixel transistors having different channel widths
A liquid crystal display includes a first pixel and a second pixel that extend in a data line direction. The first and second pixels are connected to a same data line, and the first pixel is closer to a data driver than the second pixel. A channel width of a thin film transistor of the first pixel is less than a channel width of a thin film transistor of the second pixel.
US09991292B2 Gate driver and display apparatus having the same
A driver includes a dummy stage and one or more additional stages coupled to the dummy stage. The dummy stage includes a first transistor coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal. The first transistor includes two electrodes forming at least a first capacitor to store at least a portion of static electricity received through the input terminal. The one or more additional stages output gate signals, which may be received, for example, by a display device.
US09991285B2 Mechanisms for forming FinFET device
Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first fin and a second fin over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode traversing over the first fin and the second fin, respectively. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric layer between the first fin and the first gate electrode and between the second fin and the second gate electrode. Further, the semiconductor device includes a dummy gate electrode over the substrate, and the dummy gate electrode is between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. An upper portion of the dummy gate electrode is wider than a lower portion of the dummy gate electrode.
US09991282B1 Three-dimensional memory device having passive devices at a buried source line level and method of making thereof
A layer stack including a lower semiconductor layer, a lower dielectric layer, and a spacer material layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate, and the spacer material layer is patterned to form spacer line structures. An upper dielectric layer and an upper semiconductor layer are formed, followed by formation of an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers. Memory stack structures are formed through the alternating stack, the upper semiconductor layer, and the dielectric material layer. The upper semiconductor layer, the upper dielectric layer, and the lower semiconductor layer can be patterned to form a buried source layer and at least one passive device. Each passive device can include a lower semiconductor plate, a dielectric material plate, and an upper semiconductor plate. Each passive device can be a resistor or a capacitor.
US09991272B2 Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a base semiconductor layer, first and second conductive layers, a semiconductor body, a memory layer, first and second semiconductor regions, and an insulating portion. The first conductive layer is separated from the base semiconductor layer in a first direction. The second conductive layer is provided between the base semiconductor layer and the first conductive layer. The semiconductor body extends through the first conductive layer in the first direction. The memory layer is provided between the semiconductor body and the first conductive layer. The first semiconductor region is provided between the memory layer and the base semiconductor layer and between the semiconductor body and the base semiconductor layer, and is of a first conductivity type. The second semiconductor region is provided between the first semiconductor region and the memory layer, and is of a second conductivity type.
US09991270B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method for same
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for the same are provided in such a manner that the oxygen barrier film and the conductive plug in the base of a capacitor are prevented from being abnormally oxidized. A capacitor is formed by layering a lower electrode, a dielectric film including a ferroelectric substance or a high dielectric substance, and an upper electrode in this order on top of an interlayer insulation film with at least a conductive oxygen barrier film in between, and at least a portion of a side of the conductive oxygen barrier film is covered with an oxygen entering portion or an insulating oxygen barrier film.
US09991269B2 Non-overlapped-extension-implantation nonvolatile memory device capable of being treated with anti-fuse operation
The present invention provides a non-overlapped-extension-implantation (NOI) nonvolatile memory device capable of being treated with anti-fuse operation. Differing from conventional anti-fuse memory devices, the structure and fabrication of this NOI nonvolatile memory device are complied with currently-used standard COMS processes; that is, the NOI nonvolatile memory device provided by the present invention can be manufactured through the standard COMS processes, without using any additional masks for defining specific oxide layer. The most important is that, after the NOI nonvolatile memory device is treated with the anti-fuse operation, the Gate and Drain of the NOI nonvolatile memory device still propose the switching characteristic the same to the traditional MOSFET, resulting from the oxide breakdown caused by a high electric filed merely occur in an overlapped oxide segment of the gate oxide layer.
US09991266B2 Semiconductor memory device and semiconductor memory array comprising the same
A semiconductor array, the semiconductor memory array includes bit lines, word lines and memory cells. The bit lines are arranged in parallel in a first direction, and the word lines are arranged in parallel in a second direction which is different from the first direction. The memory cells are arranged in an array and electrically connected to corresponding bit lines and word lines respectively, and any two memory cells adjacent to each other share a same oxide semiconductor layer as a channel layer. The present invention also relates to a semiconductor memory device including two memory cells sharing a same oxide semiconductor layer as a channel layer.
US09991265B2 Semiconductor device
An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be stored even when power is not supplied in a data storing time and there is no limitation on the number of times of writing. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor which includes a first channel formation region using a semiconductor material other than an oxide semiconductor, a second transistor which includes a second channel formation region using an oxide semiconductor material, and a capacitor. One of a second source electrode and a second drain electrode of the second transistor is electrically connected to one electrode of the capacitor.
US09991264B1 Integrated circuit device and method of manufacturing the same
An integrated circuit device includes a double-humped protrusion protruding from a surface of an inter-device isolation region. To manufacture the integrated circuit device, a plurality of grooves are formed in the inter-device isolation region of a substrate, a recess is formed by partially removing a surface of the substrate between the plurality of grooves, at least one fin-type active area is formed in a device region by etching the substrate in the device region and the inter-device isolation region, and the double-humped protrusion is formed from the surface of the substrate in the inter-device isolation region.
US09991263B2 Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device includes a first inverter and a second inverter which is connected thereto in series. Each of the first and the second inverters includes a p-channel transistor and an n-channel transistor, respectively. The number of projection semiconductor layers each as the active region of the p-channel and the n-channel transistors of the second inverter is smaller than the number of the projection semiconductor layers each as the active region of the p-channel and the n-channel transistors of the first inverter.
US09991262B1 Semiconductor device on hybrid substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes PMOS and NMOS FinFET devices disposed on a hybrid substrate including a first substrate and a second substrate, in which a fin of the PMOS FinFET device is formed on the first substrate having a top surface with a (100) crystal orientation, and another fin of the NMOS FinFET device is formed on the second substrate having a top surface with a (110) crystal orientation. The semiconductor device further includes a capping layer enclosing a buried bottom portion of the fin of the PMOS FinFET device, and another capping layer enclosing an effective channel portion of the fin of the PMOS FinFET device.
US09991258B2 FinFETs with non-merged epitaxial S/D extensions having a SiGe seed layer on insulator
Semiconductor devices include multiple fins formed in trenches in an insulator layer. Each of the plurality of fins has a uniform crystal orientation and a fin cap in a source and drain region that extends vertically and laterally beyond the trench. The fin caps of the respective fins are separate from one another. A gate structure is formed over the fins that leaves the source and drain regions exposed. The insulator layer at least partially covers a sidewall of the gate structure.
US09991257B2 Semiconductor device having fin active regions and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device may include fin active regions extending parallel to each other on a substrate, an isolation region between the fin active regions, gate patterns intersecting the fin active regions and extending parallel to each other, source/drain areas on the fin active regions between the gate patterns and fin active region spacers contacting side surfaces of the fin active regions and formed over a surface of the isolation region between the fin active regions. Uppermost levels of the fin active region spacers may be higher than interfaces between the fin active regions and the source/drain areas. The upper surface of the isolation region may be lower than bottom surfaces of the source/drain areas.
US09991255B2 FinFETs with non-merged epitaxial S/D extensions on a seed layer and having flat top surfaces
Semiconductor devices having non-merged fin extensions. A semiconductor device includes fins formed in trenches in an insulator layer, each of the fins having a uniform crystal orientation and a fin cap in a source and drain region that extends vertically and laterally beyond the trench. The fin caps of the respective fins are separate from one another.
US09991254B1 Forming horizontal bipolar junction transistor compatible with nanosheets
A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a field effect transistor (FET) arranged on the substrate. The FET includes a gate positioned on the substrate. The gate includes a nanosheet extending through a channel region of the gate. The FET includes a pair of source/drains arranged on opposing sides of the gate. The semiconductor device further includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) arranged adjacent to the FET on the substrate. The BJT includes an emitter and a collector. The BJT includes a nanosheet including a semiconductor material extending from the emitter to the collector, with a doped semiconductor material arranged above and below the nanosheet.
US09991251B2 Semiconductor device
A variable capacitance device that includes a semiconductor substrate, a redistribution layer disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of terminal electrodes including first and second input/output terminals, a ground terminal and a control voltage application terminal. Moreover, a variable capacitance element section is formed in the redistribution layer from a pair of capacitor electrodes connected to the first and second input/output terminals, respectively, and a ferroelectric thin film disposed between the capacitor electrodes. Further, an ESD protection element is connected between the one of the input/output terminals and the ground terminal is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US09991250B2 Electrostatic discharge devices and method of making the same
In one embodiment, electrostatic discharge (ESD) devices are disclosed.
US09991249B2 Integrated circuit and computer-implemented method of manufacturing the same
A computer-implemented method of manufacturing an integrated circuit includes placing a plurality of standard cells that define the integrated circuit, selecting a timing critical path from among a plurality of timing paths included in the placed standard cells, and selecting at least one net from among a plurality of nets included in the timing critical path as at least one timing critical net. The method further includes pre-routing the at least one timing critical net with an air-gap layer, routing unselected nets, generating a layout using the pre-routed at least one timing critical net and the routed unselected nets, and manufacturing the integrated circuit based on the layout.
US09991248B2 Method and device of pop stacking for preventing bridging of interposer solder balls
A first semiconductor package of a POP structure has a first body and a plurality of first solder balls. A second semiconductor package of the POP structure has a second body and a plurality of second solder balls. A stand-off mechanism is utilized to maintain a minimum gap between the first body and the second body while a reflow soldering process is performed. By performing the reflow soldering process, the first solder balls and the second solder balls are heated and engaging with one another so as to solder the first solder balls and the second solder balls to form a plurality of interposer solder balls. Each interposer solder ball has a height substantially equal to the minimum gap and a cross sectional width less than a pitch between two adjacent interposer solder balls. Thereby, the POP structure would be a fine pitch package.
US09991247B2 Semiconductor device packages, packaging methods, and packaged semiconductor devices
Semiconductor device packages, packaging methods, and packaged semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a package for a semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit die mounting region and a molding material disposed around the integrated circuit die mounting region. An interconnect structure is disposed over the molding material and the integrated circuit die mounting region. A protection pattern is disposed in a perimeter region of the package. The protection pattern includes a conductive feature.
US09991246B2 Contoured package-on-package joint
A contoured package on package joint and a method for making the same are disclosed herein. A method for forming a device comprises providing a substrate having a package land and forming a mounting stud on the package land. A molded underfill is applied to the substrate and in contact with the mounting stud. A contoured stud surface is formed on the mounting stud is contoured and connecting member attached to the contoured stud surface with a second package attached to the connecting member. The connecting member may be solder and have a spherical shape. The contoured stud surface may be etched or mechanically formed to have a hemispherical shape conforming to the connecting member shape.
US09991244B2 Method for forming hybrid bonding with through substrate via (TSV)
Method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor wafer and a second semiconductor wafer bonded via a hybrid bonding structure, and the hybrid bonding structure includes a first conductive material embedded in a first polymer material and a second conductive material embedded in a second polymer material. The first conductive material is bonded to the second conductive material and the first polymer material is bonded to the second polymer material. The semiconductor device also includes at least one through silicon via (TSV) extending from a bottom surface of the first semiconductor wafer to a metallization structure of the first semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor device structure also includes an interconnect structure formed over the bottom surface of the first semiconductor wafer, and the interconnect structure is electrically connected to the metallization structure via the TSV.
US09991235B2 Package on-package devices with upper RDL of WLPS and methods therefor
Package-on-package (“PoP”) devices with upper RDLs of WLP (“WLP”) components and methods therefor are disclosed. In a PoP device, a first IC die is surface mount coupled to an upper surface of the package substrate. Conductive lines are coupled to the upper surface of the package substrate in a fan-out region with reference to the first IC. A molding layer is formed over the upper surface of the package substrate. A first and a second WLP microelectronic component is located at a same level above an upper surface of the molding layer respectively surface mount coupled to sets of upper portions of the conductive lines. Each of the first and the second WLP microelectronic components have a second IC die located below a first RDL respectively thereof. A third and a fourth IC die are respectively surface mount coupled over the first and the second WLP microelectronic components.
US09991232B2 Package and packaging process of a semiconductor device
A packaging process of a semiconductor device includes following steps. A patterned conductive layer and a solder resist layer that covers the patterned conductive layer are formed through 3D-printing over a carrier having a cavity. The patterned conductive layer and the solder resist layer extend to the outside of the cavity from the inside of the cavity. One portion of the patterned conductive layer is exposed by the solder resist layer. At least one semiconductor device is mounted on the patterned conductive layer in the cavity, such that the at least one semiconductor device is electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer.
US09991230B2 Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits and electrical interconnects for III-V semiconductor devices
Integrated circuits, methods for fabricating integrated circuits, and methods for fabricating electrical interconnects for III-V devices are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a III-V device over and/or within a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a conductive layer over the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the device. The conductive layer has an upper surface. Also, the method includes forming a plurality of dielectric material areas over the upper surface of the conductive layer to define covered portions and uncovered portions of the upper surface of the conductive layer. The method includes depositing an interconnect metal over the plurality of dielectric material areas and over the uncovered portions of the upper surface of the conductive layer. The interconnect metal is electrically connected to the upper surface of the conductive layer.
US09991225B2 High voltage device with multi-electrode control
A high-voltage transistor (HVT) structure adapts a low-voltage transistor (LVT) to high-voltage environments. The HVT structure includes a drain node, a source node, a control gate, and a field electrode. The drain node and the source node define a conductive channel, in which mobilized charges are regulated by the control gate. While being isolated from the control gate, the field electrode is configured to spread the mobilized charges in response to a field voltage. The field electrode is structured and routed to prevent charge sharing with any one of the drain node, source node, or control gate. Advantageously, the isolated field electrode minimizes the capacitance of the control gate as well as the drain and source nodes, such that the HVT can switch with less power loss and a more robust performance in a high-voltage environment.
US09991220B2 Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate including an insulating plate and a circuit plate; a semiconductor chip having a front surface formed with an electrode and a rear surface fixed to the circuit plate; a printed circuit board including a metal layer, and facing the insulating substrate; a conductive bonding material disposed on the electrode; and a conductive post having a leading end portion electrically and mechanically connected to the electrode through the bonding material, a base portion electrically and mechanically connected to the metal layer, and a central portion. In the conductive post, a wetting angle of a surface of the leading end portion with respect to the molten bonding material is less than the wetting angle of a surface of the central portion.
US09991215B1 Semiconductor structure with through substrate via and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate including a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; a first via extending through the substrate; a second via extending through the substrate; and a metallic structure disposed between the first via and the second via, wherein the first via is isolated from the second via by the metallic structure, the first via and the second via are configured to connect to a signal source or transmit a signal, and the metallic structure is configured to connect to a power or a ground.
US09991211B2 Semiconductor package having an EMI shielding layer
Semiconductor packages and methods of forming semiconductor packages are described. In an example, a semiconductor package includes a shielding layer containing metal particles, e.g., conductive particles or magnetic particles, in a resin matrix to attenuate electromagnetic interference. In an example, the shielding layer is transferred from a molding chase to the semiconductor package during a polymer molding operation.
US09991210B2 Electromagnetic shield and associated methods
Semiconductor devices are described, along with methods and systems that include them. One such device includes a diffusion region in a semiconductor material, a terminal coupled to the diffusion region, and a field plate coupled to the terminal and extending from the terminal over the diffusion region to shield the diffusion region. Additional embodiments are also described.
US09991206B1 Package method including forming electrical paths through a mold layer
A package method includes disposing a chip and a plurality of solder bumps on a substrate by disposing a plurality of chip interfaces and the plurality of solder bumps on a plurality of first interfaces of the substrate respectively; forming a mold layer configured to encapsulate the chip and the plurality of solder bumps; grinding the mold layer to obtain a grinded mold layer and expose a top side of the chip; drilling the grinded mold layer to form a plurality of through holes corresponding to the plurality of solder bumps; and applying a conductive material to fill the plurality of through holes with the conductive material to form a plurality of electrical paths through the grinded mold layer and electrically couple to the plurality of solder bumps.
US09991203B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes an interlayer insulating film, a first trench having a first width, and a second trench having a second width, the second trench including an upper portion and a lower portion, the second width being greater than the first width, a first wire substantially filling the first trench and including a first metal, and a second wire substantially filling the second trench and including a lower wire and an upper wire, the lower wire substantially filling a lower portion of the second trench and including the first metal, and the upper wire substantially filling an upper portion of the second trench and including a second metal different from the first metal.
US09991202B2 Method to reduce resistance for a copper (CU) interconnect landing on multilayered metal contacts, and semiconductor structures formed therefrom
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first insulating layer containing a first metal layer embedded therein and on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer on the first insulating layer, and forming at least one via trench structure including a first metallization trench and a via in the ILD layer. In addition, the method also includes depositing a metal material to form a first metallization layer in the first metallization trench, a via contact in the via, and a second metal layer on top of at least a portion of the first metal layer in the opening of the first insulating layer. The first metal layer and the second metal layer constitute a multilayer metal contact located in the opening of the first insulating layer.
US09991200B2 Air gap structure and method
A device comprises a first protection layer over sidewalls and a bottom of a first trench in a first dielectric layer, a first barrier layer over the first protection layer, a first metal line in the first trench, a second protection layer over sidewalls and a bottom of a second trench in the first dielectric layer, a second barrier layer over the second protection layer, a second metal line in the first trench, an air gap between the first trench and the second trench and a third protection layer over sidewalls of a third trench in the first dielectric layer, wherein the first protection layer, the second protection layer and the third protection are formed of a same material.
US09991199B1 Integrated shielding and decoupling capacitor structure
A shielding and decoupling capacitor structure can be fabricated within an integrated circuit (IC) by forming recesses in a top surface of a dielectric layer and forming a trench in a top surface of an intra-metal dielectric portion of a metal layer deposited on the top surface of the dielectric layer. A bottom of the trench exposes the recesses. A bottom of each recess exposes a conductive structure. A first plate may be formed by depositing a conductive liner onto the bottom and side of the recess and onto the bottom and side of the trench. A conformal dielectric film may be deposited onto the first plate within the trench and recesses. A second plate may be formed by depositing an electrically conductive material within the trench and recesses over the conformal dielectric film. The conformal dielectric film electrically insulates the first and second plates from each other.
US09991198B2 Layout method for compound semiconductor integrated circuits
A layout method for compound semiconductor integrated circuits, comprising following steps of: forming a first metal layer within a first circuit layout area which intersects with a second circuit layout area at an intersection area on a compound semiconductor substrate; defining an adjacent crossover area including said intersection area and a peripheral adjacent area thereof; a first dielectric area located within said adjacent crossover area and intersected with at least part of said intersection area; forming a first dielectric block within said first dielectric area or forming said first dielectric block within said first dielectric area and a second dielectric block outside said first dielectric area, the thickness of said second dielectric block is no greater than and the thickness of at least part of said second dielectric block is smaller than the thickness of said first dielectric block; forming a second metal layer within said second circuit layout area.
US09991197B2 Fabrication method of semiconductor package
A semiconductor package is provided, which includes: a dielectric layer made of a material used for fabricating built-up layer structures; a conductive trace layer formed on the dielectric layer; a semiconductor chip is mounted on and electrically connected to the conductive trace layer; and an encapsulant formed over the dielectric layer to encapsulate the semiconductor chip and the conductive trace layer. Since a strong bonding is formed between the dielectric layer and the conductive trace layer, the present invention can prevent delamination between the dielectric layer and the conductive trace layer from occurrence, thereby improving reliability and facilitating the package miniaturization by current fabrication methods.
US09991196B2 Printed circuit board and method of fabricating an element
The present invention provides a printed circuit board fabricated by a Non-Plating Process that includes at least one plating bar disposed around at least one package unit of the printed circuit board. The package unit includes at least one ground line, at least one power line and a plurality of signal lines. The ground line has a first contact pad exposed on a surface of the printed circuit board, and at least one of the ground lines is connected to the plating bar. The power line has a second contact pad exposed on the surface, and at least one of the power lines is connected to the neighboring plating bar. The signal line has a third contact pad exposed on the surface.
US09991191B2 Electronic power device with flat electronic interconnection structure
Electronic power device comprising: an active layer comprising several lateral and/or semi-lateral components for which the electrodes are located on a front face of the active layer; an interconnection structure comprising several conducting portions to which component electrodes are connected, and located in contact with these electrodes extending parallel to the active layer; a support comprising a front face on which electrically conducting tracks are located, and in which: the interconnection structure is located between the active layer and the support, the conducting portions being placed in contact with the conducting tracks, or the active layer is placed between the interconnection structure and the support, the conducting portions comprising parts extending next to the active layer and connected to the conducting tracks.
US09991190B2 Packaging with interposer frame
The mechanisms of using an interposer frame to package a semiconductor die enables fan-out structures and reduces form factor for the packaged semiconductor die. The mechanisms involve using a molding compound to attach the semiconductor die to the interposer frame and forming a redistribution layer on one or both sides of the semiconductor die. The redistribution layer(s) in the package enables fan-out connections and formation of external connection structures. Conductive columns in the interposer frame assist in thermal management.
US09991189B2 Semiconductor device having a dual material redistribution line
A semiconductor device includes a first passivation layer over an interconnect structure. The semiconductor device further includes a first redistribution line (RDL) via extending through an opening in the first passivation layer to electrically connect to the interconnect structure. The first RDL via includes a first conductive material. The semiconductor device further includes an RDL over the first passivation layer and electrically connected to the first RDL via. The RDL comprises a second conductive material different from the first conductive material. The RDL extends beyond the first RDL via in a direction parallel to a top surface of the first passivation layer.
US09991188B2 Electronic component cooler
A cooler with a cooler main body that, in one configuration, includes a first wall portion forming a cooling surface that cools an electronic component, a second wall portion disposed opposing the first wall portion, and a side wall portion that connects a periphery of the first wall portion and a periphery of the second wall portion. In the configuration, cooling fins are attached to an inner wall surface of the first wall portion, a refrigerant introduction pipe and refrigerant introduction flow path for supplying refrigerant to the cooling fins and a refrigerant discharge pipe and refrigerant discharge flow path for ejecting refrigerant from the cooling fins are included, and protruding portions and are provided on the first wall portion side of the refrigerant introduction flow path.
US09991185B2 Direct bonded copper semiconductor packages and related methods
A power semiconductor package includes a first direct bonded copper (DBC) substrate having a plurality of connection traces on a first face of the first DBC substrate. A plurality of die are coupled to the connection traces, each die coupled to one of the connection traces at a first face of the die. A second DBC substrate includes connection traces on a first face of the second DBC substrate. A second face of each die is coupled to one of the connection traces of the first face of the second DBC substrate. A cavity between the first face of the first DBC substrate and the first face of the second DBC substrate is filled with an encapsulating compound. Terminal pins may be coupled to connection traces on the first face of the first DBC substrate. More than two DBC substrates may be stacked to form a stacked power semiconductor package.
US09991183B2 Semiconductor component having inner and outer semiconductor component housings
A semiconductor component includes an inner semiconductor component housing and an outer semiconductor component housing. The inner semiconductor component housing includes a semiconductor chip, a first plastic housing composition and first housing contact surfaces. At least side faces of the semiconductor chip are embedded in the first plastic housing composition and the first housing contact surfaces are free of the first plastic housing composition and include a first arrangement. The outer semiconductor component housing includes a second plastic housing composition and second housing contact surfaces which include a second arrangement. The inner semiconductor component housing is situated within the outer semiconductor component housing and is embedded in the second plastic housing composition. At least one of the first housing contact surfaces is electrically connected with at least one of the second housing contact surfaces.
US09991182B2 Encapsulation material for light emitting diodes
The invention relates to the use of specific organopolysilazanes as an encapsulation material for light emitting diodes (LED). The organopolysilazane polymers act as insulating filling materials and are stable over temperature and over exposure to ambient UV radiation. The encapsulating material has good thermal stability against discoloration to yellow by aging even at high temperatures which is a key factor for the long lifetime of an LED encapsulant and the LED performance.
US09991180B2 Semiconductor device for reducing self-inductance
A semiconductor device includes: a resin case that houses a semiconductor element; a parallel plate that is disposed inside the resin case while being connected with the semiconductor element, the parallel plate including two flat plates parallel to each other with an insulating material therebetween; two electrodes that are each led out from two electrode lead-out portions in an upper end of the parallel plate and are disposed on an upper surface of the resin case at a predetermined interval; and a metal plate that stands erect on the main surface of the flat plate in a region at the predetermined interval between the two electrode lead-out portions.
US09991174B2 Method and system of measuring semiconductor device and method of fabricating semiconductor device using the same
The measurement method may include obtaining first measurement data from a recess region formed in a semiconductor substrate, obtaining second measurement data from a conductive pattern filling a portion of the recess region, calculating a first volume of the recess region from the first measurement data, calculating a second volume of the conductive pattern from the second measurement data, and calculating a measurement target parameter using a difference between the first and second volumes.
US09991171B1 Semiconductor device and integrated circuit
A semiconductor device and an integrated circuit are provided. The semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor, a negative capacitor and a control circuit, which are disposed at different horizontal levels on a substrate. The field effect transistor includes a front gate, a back gate and an oxide semiconductor layer disposed between the front gate and the back gate. The negative capacitor is electrically connected to the back gate of the field effect transistor. The negative capacitor includes a pair of electrodes and a ferroelectric material layer disposed between the pair of electrodes. The negative capacitor is electrically connected between the back gate of the field effect transistor and the control circuit, the control circuit is configured to charge the negative capacitor and to asses a voltage between the pair of electrodes of the negative capacitor.
US09991170B2 Integrating a planar field effect transistor (FET) with a vertical FET
One embodiment provides a method of integrating a planar field-effect transistor (FET) with a vertical FET. The method comprises masking and etching a semiconductor of the vertical FET to form a fin, and providing additional masking, additional etching, doping and depositions to isolate a bottom source/drain (S/D) region. A dielectric is formed on the bottom S/D region to form a spacer. The method further comprises depositing gate metals, etching a vertical gate for the vertical FET and a planar gate for the planar FET using a shared gate mask, depositing dielectric, etching the dielectric to expose one or more portions of the fin, growing epitaxy on a top S/D region, masking and etching S/D contact openings for the bottom S/D region, forming silicide regions in S/D regions, depositing contact metal in the silicide regions to form contacts, and planarizing the contacts.
US09991166B2 Wimpy device by selective laser annealing
A method for co-integrating wimpy and nominal devices includes growing source/drain regions on semiconductor material adjacent to a gate structure to form device structures with a non-electrically active material. Selected device structures are masked with a block mask. Unmasked device structures are selectively annealed to increase electrical activity of the non-electrically active material to adjust a threshold voltage between the selected device structures and the unmasked device structures.
US09991163B2 Small-aperture-ratio display with electrical component
A small-aperture-ratio display includes a display substrate and a plurality of spatially separated pixel elements distributed over the display substrate. Each pixel element includes one or more light emitters. An active electrical component is electrically connected to each of the pixel elements and each active electrical component is located on the display substrate at least partly between the pixel elements. The display substrate has a contiguous display substrate area that includes the pixel elements, the light emitters each have a light-emissive area, and the substrate area is greater than or equal to one-quarter the combined light-emissive areas of the light emitters.
US09991160B2 Process of forming semiconductor device having interconnection formed by electro-plating
A process of forming a semiconductor device that includes an interconnection formed by electro-plating is disclosed. The process comprises steps of: forming a stopper layer on a first insulating film; covering the stopper layer and the first insulating film with a second insulating film; preparing a first mask having an edge that overlaps with the stopper layer; depositing a seed layer on the first mask and the second insulating film that is exposed from the first mask; preparing a second mask having an edge that overlaps with the stopper layer, the edge of the first mask being retreated from the edge of the second mask; forming an upper layer on the seed layer by electro-plating a metal so as not to overlap with the first mask; and removing the seed layer exposed from the upper layer by etching.
US09991154B2 Method for fabricating a fin field effect transistor and a shallow trench isolation
A method for fabricating a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure comprises the following steps. A silane-base precursor having a volumetric flowrate of 500 to 750 sccm and a nitrogen-base precursor having a volumetric flowrate of 300 to 600 sccm are introduced and mixed under a first pressure ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 torr at a first temperature ranging from 30 to 105 centigrade to deposit a flowable dielectric layer in a trench of a substrate. Then, ozone gas and oxygen gas are introduced and mixed under a second pressure ranging from 300 to 650 torr at a second temperature ranging from 50 to 250 centigrade to treat the flowable dielectric layer, wherein a volumetric flowrate ratio of ozone gas and oxygen gas ranges from 1:1 to 3:1. A method for fabricating a FinFET is provided.
US09991146B2 Detection device
The present invention provides a detection device for a cassette comprising at least one supporting unit, each supporting unit comprising a plurality of supporting brackets which constitute a supporting plane, wherein the detection device comprises a sensing mechanism for detecting whether position of each of the supporting brackets in each supporting unit is within a predetermined range. In the present invention, through detecting positions of the supporting brackets in the cassette, and then judging whether the positions of the supporting brackets in each supporting unit are in a preset range, a supporting unit in which there is one or more bracket supporting brackets whose positions are not in the preset range can be maintained in time, and therefore, damage to the glass substrate due to large error in positions of the supporting brackets can be prevented.
US09991145B2 Plating apparatus and plating method
A plating apparatus allows a substrate holder to be serviced easily while ensuring easy access to the substrate holder and while a substrate is being processed in the plating apparatus. The plating apparatus includes a plating section for plating a substrate, a substrate holder for holding the substrate, a substrate holder transporter for holding and transporting the substrate holder, a stocker for storing the substrate holder, and a stocker setting section for storing the stocker therein. The stocker includes a moving mechanism for moving the stocker into and out of the stocker setting section.
US09991144B2 Storage warehouse
A storage warehouse includes shelves, wherein first and second containers capable of being transported while placed on an attachment are stored; a warehouse-in port and a warehouse-out port whereon the first and second containers placed on the attachment are placed; a warehouse-in conveyor and a warehouse-out conveyor that convey the first and second containers placed on the attachment between the shelves, and the warehouse-in port and between the shelves, and the warehouse-out port; an attachment-use warehouse-in/out port that temporarily stores the attachment; and a transfer machine that is capable of transferring the attachment between the attachment-use warehouse-in/out port and the warehouse-in port and between the attachment-use warehouse-in/out port and the warehouse-out port.
US09991143B2 Carrier transport system and transport method
Carriers to be temporarily stored are increased in number, without providing a local vehicle with a lateral transfer mechanism. Carriers are transported between load ports of equipment by overhead travelling vehicles and local vehicles, both provided with a hoist, and the overhead travelling vehicles are provided with a lateral transfer mechanism for laterally moving the hoist. A travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles is provided so as to pass over a load port, and a travelling rail for the local vehicle is provided below the travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and over the load port. Slidable buffers are provided and configured to slide between forward positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle and rearward positions laterally separated from the positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle. A space over the slidable buffers at the rearward position is open for the transfer of carriers.
US09991139B2 Modular vertical furnace processing system
A vertical furnace processing system for processing semiconductor substrates, comprising the following modules: —a processing module including a vertical furnace; an I/O-station module including at least one load port to which a substrate cassette is dockable; a wafer handling module configured to transfer semiconductor substrates between the processing module and a substrate cassette docked to the load port of the I/O-station module; and a gas supply module including at least one gas supply or gas supply connection for providing the vertical furnace of the processing module with process gas, wherein at least two of the said modules are mutually decouplably coupled, such that said at least two modules are decouplable from one another to facilitate servicing of the system, and in particular the vertical furnace thereof.
US09991136B2 Leadframe and the method to fabricate thereof
The present invention discloses a leadframe in which two conductive pillars with a high aspect ratio and the corresponding two leads of the leadframe form a 3D space for accommodating at least one device. A first lead and a second lead are spaced apart from each other. A first conductive pillar is formed on the first lead by disposing a first via on the first lead, wherein at least one first conductive material is filled inside the first via to form the first conductive pillar. A second conductive pillar is formed on the second lead by disposing a second via on the second lead, wherein at least one second conductive material is filled inside the second via to form the second conductive pillar. The first lead, the second lead, the first conductive pillar, and the second conductive pillar form a 3D space for accommodating at least one device, wherein the at least one device is electrically connected to the first conductive pillar and the second conductive pillar.
US09991132B2 Lithographic technique incorporating varied pattern materials
A technique for patterning a workpiece such as an integrated circuit workpiece is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a workpiece having a material layer disposed on a substrate. A first set of fins is formed on the material layer, and a second set of fins is formed on the material layer interspersed between the first set of fins. The second set of fins have a different etchant sensitivity from the first set of fins. A first etching process is performed on the first set of fins and configured to avoid substantial etching of the second set of fins. A second etching process is performed on the second set of fins and configured to avoid substantial etching of the first set of fins. The material layer is etched to transfer a pattern defined by the first etching process and the second etching process.
US09991130B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A trench is formed at an exposed portion of a semiconductor substrate by performing a dry etching process with a hard mask of silicon oxide film serving as an etching mask in a dry etching device. At this time, a mixed gas of tetrafluoromethane (CF4), a hydrogen bromide gas (HBr), and a chlorine gas (Cl2) is used as an etching gas. The dry etching process is performed under the condition that a flow rate ratio is more than 0 and less than 0.04, the flow rate ratio being a value obtained by dividing a flow rate NF by a flow rate TF, the flow rate NF being a flow rate obtained by dividing a flow rate of the tetrafluoromethane by the number of fluorine atoms bonded to one molecule of the tetrafluoromethane, the flow rate TF being a total flow rate of the hydrogen bromide gas and the chlorine gas.
US09991129B1 Selective etching of amorphous silicon over epitaxial silicon
Systems and methods of etching a semiconductor substrate may include concurrent exposure of the semiconductor substrate to a chlorine-containing precursor and ultraviolet (UV) light. The semiconductor substrate may include exposed amorphous silicon. The semiconductor substrate may further include exposed crystalline silicon or underlying crystalline silicon. The methods may further include removing amorphous silicon faster than crystalline silicon.
US09991126B2 Semiconductor device including an electrically floated dummy contact plug and a method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a hydrogen insulating layer disposed on the substrate and including hydrogen ions; a first level layer disposed on the substrate and including a first wire and a second wire; a second level layer disposed on the substrate at a different level from the first level layer and including a third wire; an interlayer insulating layer disposed between the first level layer and the second level layer; a diffusion prevention layer contacting the third wire; a contact plug penetrating the interlayer insulating layer and electrically connecting the second wire to the third wire; and a dummy contact plug penetrating the interlayer insulating layer. The dummy contact plug contacts the first and second level layers, is spaced apart from the diffusion prevention layer, and is configured to provide a movement path for the hydrogen ions in the hydrogen insulating layer.
US09991119B2 Heat treatment method and heat treatment apparatus for semiconductor substrate
A heat treatment method for a semiconductor substrate is provided which improves the shapes of the sharp corners at the opening and the bottom of a trench without using flammable or explosive gas while improving productivity. The heat treatment is performed on a semiconductor substrate with a recess formed therein in a treatment chamber where gas is sealed at a pressure exceeding a pressure in a molecular flow region.
US09991118B2 Hybrid carbon hardmask for lateral hardmask recess reduction
Implementations of the present disclosure relate to improved hardmask materials and methods for patterning and etching of substrates. A plurality of hardmasks may be utilized in combination with patterning and etching processes to enable advanced device architectures. In one implementation, a first hardmask and a second hardmask disposed on a substrate having various material layers disposed thereon. The second hardmask may be utilized to pattern the first hardmask during a first etching process. A third hardmask may be deposited over the first and second hardmasks and a second etching process may be utilized to form channels in the material layers.
US09991117B2 Fin patterns with varying spacing without fin cut
Methods of forming semiconductor fins include forming first spacers on a first sidewall of each of a plurality of mandrels using an angled deposition process. A second sidewall of one or more of the plurality of mandrels is masked. Second spacers are formed on a second sidewall of all unmasked mandrels. The second sidewall of the one or more of the plurality of mandrels is unmasked. The mandrels are etched away. Fins are formed from a substrate using the first and second spacers as a mask.
US09991116B1 Method for forming high aspect ratio patterning structure
The invention disclosed a method for forming high aspect ratio patterning structure. Firstly, forming a dielectric film ashing stop layer, a first photoresist layer, a first hard mask layer and a second photoresist layer on a semiconductor substrate in turn. A second hard mask layer having a high etch selectivity ratio with the first photoresist layer is formed on top surface and sidewall of the pattern by utilizing a low temperature chemical vapor deposition process, which can be a protect for the pattern sidewall during the later etching process of the first photoresist layer. So, the cone-shaped or the bowling-shaped photoresist morphology caused by plasma bombardment can be avoided. Therefore, the problems of the insufficient of selectivity ratio, burrs at the edge of the pattern and larger critical dimension can be solved, and the implanted ions can be well distributed according to the design of the device.
US09991113B2 Systems and methods for fabricating single-crystalline diamond membranes
A buffer layer is employed to fabricate diamond membranes and allow reuse of diamond substrates. In this approach, diamond membranes are fabricated on the buffer layer, which in turn is disposed on a diamond substrate that is lattice-matched to the diamond membrane. The weak bonding between the buffer layer and the diamond substrate allows ready release of the fabricated diamond membrane. The released diamond membrane is transferred to another substrate to fabricate diamond devices, while the diamond substrate is reused for another fabrication.
US09991110B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor wafer
A mirror-finishing chamfer polishing is applied using an abrasive-grain-free polishing solution to a chamfered portion of a semiconductor wafer having an oxide film on a top side or the top and bottom sides of the semiconductor wafer and having no oxide film on the chamfered portion. Further, prior to the mirror-finishing chamfer polishing, a pre-finish mirror chamfer polishing is applied using an abrasive-grain-containing polishing solution to the chamfered portion of the semiconductor wafer having the oxide film on the top side or the top and bottom sides and on the chamfered portion.
US09991108B2 Ion guide with orthogonal sampling
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF ion guide wherein in a mode of operation a continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is orthogonally sampled from the ion guide and wherein the continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is not axially trapped or otherwise axially confined within the RF ion guide. The ion guide is maintained, in use, at a pressure selected from the group consisting of: (i) 0.0001-0.001 mbar; (ii) 0.001-0.01 mbar; (iii) 0.01-0.1 mbar; (iv) 0.1-1 mbar; (v) 1-10 mbar; (vi) 10-100 mbar; and (vii) >100 mbar.
US09991107B2 Methods of performing ion-ion reactions in mass spectrometry
A method is described that produces product ions for mass analysis, the method comprising the steps of: introducing precursor ions into an RF electric field ion containment device, introducing reagent ions into the RF electric field ion containment device and performing an ion-ion interaction in the RF electric field ion containment device by co-trapping the precursor ions with the reagent ions. Precursor ions and product ions may be retained and/or isolated in the RF electric field ion containment device. The steps above may be repeated until a predetermined amount of reaction completeness is attained. Mass analysis of at least some of the ions in the RF electric field ion containment device may be performed where the ions are mass analyzed either directly from the RF electric field ion containment device.
US09991105B2 Active stabilization of ion trap radiofrequency potentials
Disclosed are improved methods and structures for actively stabilizing the oscillation frequency of a trapped ion by noninvasively sampling and rectifying the high voltage RF potential at circuit locations between a step-up transformer and a vacuum feedthrough leading to the ion trap electrodes. We use this sampled/rectified signal in a feedback loop to regulate the RF input amplitude to the circuit. By employing techniques and structures according to the present disclosure we are advantageously able to stabilize a 1 MHz trapped ion oscillation frequency to <10 Hz after 200 s of integration, representing a 34 dB reduction in the level of trap frequency noise and drift, over a locking bandwidth of up to 30 kHz.
US09991104B2 High dynamic range detector correction algorithm
Systems and methods are provided to perform dead time correction. An observed ion count rate is obtained using a non-paralyzable detection system of a mass spectrometer. The detection system includes an ion detector, a comparator/discriminator, a mono-stable circuit and a counter. The non-paralyzable detection system exhibits dead time extension at high count rates. The extension of the dead time occurs because the mono-stable circuit requires a rising edge to trigger and can only be triggered again after the output pulse from the comparator/discriminator has gone low. This allows a second comparator/discriminator pulse arriving just before the end of the dead time started by a first comparator/discriminator pulse to extend the dead time to the trailing edge of the second comparator/discriminator pulse. A true ion count rate is calculated by performing dead time correction of the observed ion count rate.
US09991102B2 Sputtering apparatus, film deposition method, and control device
A sputtering apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate holder, a cathode unit arranged at a position diagonally opposite to the substrate holder, a position sensor for detecting a rotational position of the substrate, and a holder rotation controller for adjusting a rotation speed of the substrate according to the detected rotational position. The holder rotation controller controls the rotation speed so that the rotation speed of the substrate when the cathode unit is located on a side in a first direction as an extending direction of a process target surface of the relief structure is lower than the rotation speed of the substrate when the cathode unit is located on a side in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction along the rotation of the substrate.
US09991097B2 Plasma processing apparatus
A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber; a mounting table configured to mount thereon a target object in the chamber; a plasma source configured to introduce microwaves into the chamber through a ceiling wall of the chamber and generate a surface wave plasma in the chamber; a first gas introduction unit configured to introduce a first gas into the chamber from the ceiling wall; and a second gas introduction unit configured to introduce a second gas into the chamber from a predetermined height position between the ceiling wall and the mounting table. The second gas introduction unit has a plurality of nozzles extending from the ceiling wall toward the mounting table and arranged on a same circumference at a regular interval. Each of the nozzles discharges the second gas toward a nozzle adjacent thereto.
US09991096B2 Plasma processing apparatus
Provided is a plasma processing apparatus in which a variable inductor is installed in series with a variable condenser in a second power feeding unit that distributes and supplies high-frequency power to an inner upper electrode 56. As a result, a characteristic around a resonance point may be broad in a capacitance-outer/inner power distribution ratio of the variable condenser (varicon). Therefore, an area around the resonance point may be stably used as a controllable area within a variable range of varicon capacitance.
US09991091B1 Optical column for focused ion beam workstation
An in-situ optical column comprises: a hollow objective tube; a microscope objective including an outermost lens, the microscope objective inserted at least partway into an objective end of the hollow objective tube with the outermost lens exposed; and a vacuum-tight seal spanning the inside of the hollow objective tube. An ocular lens or digital imaging unit may be disposed at a camera end of the hollow objective tube opposite from the objective end of the hollow objective tube to form an in-situ microscope. The in-situ optical column may include a mounting flange by which the column is mounted to a flange of a vacuum feedthrough of a vacuum system, with the outermost lens of the microscope objective exposed to vacuum of the vacuum chamber and the microscope objective arranged to image a sample disposed on the sample stage of the vacuum system.
US09991088B2 Charged particle beam device and aberration corrector
An aberration corrector includes a mirror that corrects an aberration of a charged particle beam, a beam separator, and a bypass optical system in the beam separator. The beam separator includes an entrance of the charged particle beam and an exit from which the charged particle beam is emitted to an objective lens, and separates an incident trajectory from the entrance to the mirror and a reflection trajectory from the mirror to the exit from each other by deflecting the charged particle beam in an ON state. The bypass optical system is disposed at a position at which the trajectory of the charged particle beam bypasses when the beam separator is in the ON state, and the trajectory of the charged particle beam passes when the beam separator is in an OFF state, and controls the charged particle beam so that objective lens optical conditions in a trajectory via the mirror and a trajectory passing through the bypass optical system coincide with each other.
US09991087B2 Spectroscopy in a transmission charged-particle microscope
An imaging system for directing a flux of charged particles transmitted through a specimen onto a spectroscopic apparatus, wherein the flux is dispersed by a dispersing device into an energy-resolved array of spectral sub-beams propagating substantially parallel to a propagation axis. An adjustable aperture device defines an aperture in a path of the array so as to select a subset of the array to be admitted to a detector, which aperture is delimited in a dispersion direction perpendicular to the propagation axis to allow independent adjustment of both of: a width of the aperture parallel to the dispersion direction; and a position of a center of the aperture relative to the propagation axis.
US09991086B2 Multi charged particle beam writing method and multi charged particle beam writing apparatus
In one embodiment, a multi charged particle beam writing method includes performing blanking deflection on each of multiple beams using a plurality of individual blankers, and collectively performing blanking deflection on the multiple beams using a common blanker. The beams controlled in the beam ON state by the individual blankers and the common blanker pass through a hole at central part of a liming aperture member. The beams deflected in the beam OFF state by the individual blankers or the common blanker are deviated from the hole and are interrupted by the limiting aperture member. When one of the common blanker and the individual blanker deflects one of the beams to the beam OFF state while the other of them deflects the beam in the beam OFF state, the beam moves on the limiting aperture member such that the beam is away from the hole.
US09991082B2 Semiconductor device and related manufacturing method
A semiconductor device may include the following elements: a semiconductor substrate, an insulator positioned on the substrate, a source electrode positioned on the insulator, a drain electrode positioned on the insulator, a gate electrode positioned between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a hollow channel surrounded by the gate electrode and positioned between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a dielectric member positioned between the hollow channel and the gate electrode, a first insulating member positioned between the gate electrode and the source electrode, and a second insulating member positioned between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
US09991081B2 Electron emitting device using graphene and method for manufacturing same
Disclosed are an electron emitting device using graphene and a method for manufacturing the same. The electron emitting device includes a metal holder having at least one slot, at least one emitter plate inserted into the slot to protrude from a first surface of the metal holder, and including an emitter supporting member and a graphene emitter attached onto the emitter supporting member, an insulation layer provided on the first surface of the metal holder, and a gate electrode provided on the insulation layer and including a gate supporting member and a graphene gate attached onto the gate supporting member.
US09991078B2 Short-current protection action current adjusting method and device thereof and device for multi-pole electromagnetic release
A short-circuit protection action current adjusting method and a device thereof for a multi-pole electromagnetic release. An electromagnetic system includes an auxiliary static iron core, a second static iron core, a coil, a reset spring and a dynamic iron core; at an initial position, a first gap is formed between the auxiliary static iron core and the dynamic iron core, a second gap is formed between the dynamic iron core and the second static iron core, and the thickness of the second gap changes in the same direction along with the size variation of a release threshold; the elastic force of the reset spring changes oppositely along with the size variation of the release threshold; when a release current value is adjusted from large to small, the coil energy reduces in a quadratic relationship mode along with flowing currents and meanwhile the electromagnetic attraction between the dynamic iron core and the second static iron core is increased in a quadratic relationship mode, which is in inverse proportion to reduction of the thickness of the second gap. According to the short-circuit protection action current adjusting method and device thereof for the multi-pole electromagnetic release, adjustment of the release current value and electromagnetic attraction required by actions of the dynamic iron core are in a linear fixed corresponding relationship due to automatically achieved balance between two quadratic functions, and adjustment of the release threshold through the user is convenient, reliable and stable.
US09991074B2 Safety-oriented load switching device and method for operating a safety-oriented load switching device
A safety-oriented load switching device including a first current branch, which extends from a first supply connection to a first load connection and having a first switching means, and having a second current branch, which extends from a second supply connection to a second load connection and including a second switching means, wherein a first test branch is connected to a first measuring point located between the first switching means and the first load connection and is also connected to the second supply connection and includes a series connection of a first test switch and a first measuring device, wherein a second test branch is connected to a second measuring point between the second switching means and the second load connection and is connected to the first supply connection and includes a series connection of a second test switch and a second measuring device.
US09991073B2 Switching device with permanent-magnetic arc extinguishment
The present invention relates to a switching device with at least one contact point and an arc blow device associated with the contact point, where the arc blow device comprises at least one blow magnet for generating a magnetic blow field, and where the blow field is of such nature that a switch arc developing when the contact point opens is blown out from the contact point. It is according to the invention provided that the blow field comprises a first magnetic field area and a second magnetic field area arranged adjacent to the first magnetic field area, where the magnetic field lines of the first magnetic field area are oriented in opposite direction to the magnetic field lines of the second magnetic field area, and where the blow field further comprises a transition area which connects the first magnetic field area and the second magnetic field area with each other, where the orientation of the magnetic field lines in the transition area, each starting out from the first magnetic field area and the second magnetic field area, aligns toward the contact point so that the switch arc within the transition area is in dependence of the direction of the current, starting out from the contact point, directed either into the first magnetic field area or into the second magnetic field area and there in both cases blown in the same direction away from the contact point.
US09991066B2 Synchronizing switching times of relays to a zero-crossing
Methods, devices, and systems for synchronizing switching times of relays to a zero-crossing are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive phase information of an alternating-current (AC) electric mains, determine, from the phase information, a zero-crossing of the phase of the AC electric mains, determine a reference time based on the zero-crossing for a number of relays corresponding to a number of relay controllers, and transmit the reference time to the number of relay controllers.
US09991060B2 Energy storage device with enhanced energy density
An energy storage device having improved energy density performance may include an electrolyte having a salt concentration of about 0.6 moles/L (M) to about 0.95M. A final energy storage device product having a total mass of electrolyte that is at least 100% of a saturation quantity of electrolyte sufficient to fully saturate one or more electrode(s) and separator(s) of the device, and below a threshold quantity above the saturation quantity.
US09991058B2 Method for manufacturing solar cell
A method for producing a solar cell, including: an electrolyte-supplying step of supplying an electrolyte onto a plate-shaped first electrode at a region thereof positioned between a pair of first sealing portions respectively provided along two opposing lateral sides of the plate-shaped first electrode; an electrodes-laminating step of superposing a second electrode on the first electrode gradually from one end side toward the other end side as viewed in a direction along the lateral sides of the first electrode while bonding the second electrode to the first electrode at the first sealing portions, the second electrode including a flexible plate-shaped substrate having a hole penetrating through the substrate in a thicknesswise direction thereof and capable of discharging the electrolyte therethrough; and a sealing step of bonding the first electrode and the second electrode at a pair of second sealing portions.
US09991054B2 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 oppositely facing 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. An end portion in the first axis direction of the internal electrode layer is recessed from an end portion in the first axis direction of the dielectric layer to the inner side along the first axis direction. A main component of the internal electrode layer is Ni. A reaction portion is between the end portion in the first axis direction of the internal electrode layer and the insulating layer.
US09991050B2 Wire winding device for stator
A wire winding device for a stator contains: a rotatable tray, a horizontal shaft, a support post, and a guiding bar. The rotatable tray includes a clamping portion, a fixing portion, an accommodation orifice, and a slot. The horizontal shaft includes a connection section located on a first end thereof and includes a clamp arm arranged on a second end thereof proximate to a receiving trough. The support post inserts into the receiving trough of the horizontal shaft and is clamped by the clamp arm, and the support post includes two jaws and a circular cavity defined therein adjacent to the two jaws. The guiding bar includes a part housed in the circular cavity and is hollow so as to accommodate a metal wire which is located in or around a stator.
US09991048B2 Wireless power transfer systems and methods
Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving wireless power are disclosed. A transmitter may include one or more magnetic inductive coil(s) configured to transmit power, a plurality of drive loops, one or more switches connected to the plurality of drive loops, and a controller configured to connect or disconnect the drive loops using the one or more switches. A receiver may include one or more magnetic inductive coil(s) configured to receive power, a plurality of load loops, one or more switches connected to the plurality of load loops, and a controller configured to connect or disconnect the load loops using the one or more switches. The wireless power system may include inductive coils and RF antennas that are adaptively controlled and configured. A transmitter and/or a receiver may adaptively rotate, adjust orientation and/or location.
US09991046B2 Energy intake apparatus for a motor vehicle that can be operated electrically and method for operating an energy intake apparatus for a motor vehicle that can be operated electrically
An energy intake apparatus for a motor vehicle can be operated electrically, with an induction coil, which is configured to charge an energy storage unit of the motor vehicle. The energy intake apparatus contains a shield apparatus, by which the induction coil can be shielded from the motor vehicle. The shield apparatus has at least one first shield component separating the induction coil from the motor vehicle in the transverse vehicle direction and/or in the longitudinal vehicle direction and at least one second shield component separating the induction coil from the motor vehicle upward in the vertical vehicle direction. The second shield component being connected to the first shield component.
US09991045B1 Bobbin and core assembly configuration and method for E-core and I-core combination
A magnetic assembly includes a bobbin having at least first and second end flanges. The bobbin includes a channel wall displaced from the first end flange to from a channel therebetween. The channel receives and frictionally engages an I-core to retain the I-core in the channel. The bobbin includes a passageway that receives a middle leg of an E-core. The passageway includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs that extend from the first end flange toward the second end flange. The ribs are tapered with respect to the inner wall of the passageway. The middle leg of the E-core crushes the ribs. The frictional engagement of the crushed ribs with the middle leg retains the middle leg in the passageway. No taping, gluing or other additional step is required to assemble the bobbin and the two cores.
US09991043B2 Integrated magnetic assemblies and methods of assembling same
An integrated magnetic assembly includes a magnetic core, an input winding inductively coupled to the magnetic core, a first output winding inductively coupled to the magnetic core, and a second output winding inductively coupled to the magnetic core. The magnetic core includes first and second non-winding legs, and first and second winding legs. The first and second non-winding legs are spaced apart from one another, and the magnetic core defines an opening between the first and second non-winding legs. The input winding extends through the opening between the first and second non-winding legs, and is wound around each of the first and second winding legs. The first output winding is wound around the first winding leg. The second output winding is wound around the second winding leg.
US09991037B2 Electrical machine, coil assembly for an electrical machine, and method for producing said coil assembly
A coil assembly (11) for an electrical machine has a coil former (12) composed of an electrically non-conductive material and a coil (13) held by the coil former (12) is composed of an electrically conductive material. The coil former (12) is produced from a ceramic material, the coil (13) is in the form of a coil molding.
US09991035B2 R-T-B based sintered magnet
An R-T-B based sintered magnet includes “R”, “T”, and “B”. “R” represents a rare earth element. “T” represents a metal element other than rare earth elements including at least Fe, Cu, Mn, Al, Co, Ga, and Zr. “B” represents boron or boron and carbon. With respect to 100 mass % of a total mass of the R-T-B based sintered magnet, a content of “R” is 28.0 to 31.5 mass %, a content of Cu is 0.04 to 0.50 mass %, a content of Mn is 0.02 to 0.10 mass %, a content of Al is 0.15 to 0.30 mass %, a content of Co is 0.50 to 3.0 mass %, a content of Ga is 0.08 to 0.30 mass %, a content of Zr is 0.10 to 0.25 mass %, and a content of “B” is 0.85 to 1.0 mass %.
US09991033B2 Rare-earth permanent magnet and method for manufacturing rare-earth permanent magnet
There are provided a rare-earth permanent magnet and a manufacturing method thereof capable of preventing deterioration of magnet properties. In the method, magnet material is milled into magnet powder. Next, a mixture is prepared by mixing the magnet powder and a binder made of long-chain hydrocarbon and/or of a polymer or a copolymer consisting of monomers having no oxygen atoms. Next, the mixture is formed into a sheet-like shape so as to obtain a green sheet. After that, the green sheet is held for a predetermined length of time at binder decomposition temperature in a non-oxidizing atmosphere so as to remove the binder by causing depolymerization reaction or the like to the binder, which turns into monomer. The green sheet from which the binder has been removed is sintered by raising temperature up to sintering temperature. Thereby a permanent magnet 1 is obtained.
US09991031B2 Insulating system and assembly method for an insulating system
An insulating system includes an electrically insulating, substantially disk-shaped insulating configuration which spans a base surface. The insulation configuration includes at least one first and one second sub-element. A joining gap is disposed between the two sub-elements. An assembly method for an insulating system is also provided.
US09991027B2 Electric wire and cable
An electric wire includes a conductor having a cross-sectional area of not less than 225 mm2 and not more than 275 mm2, an insulation provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the conductor, and a wire sheath provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the insulation. The amount of deflection is not less than 130 mm when, at 23° C., one end of the electric wire is fixed to a fixture table so that another end horizontally protrudes 400 mm from the fixture table and a weight of 2 kg is attached to the other end, and cracks and breaks do not occur when wound with a bending diameter of three times the diameter at −40° C.
US09991018B2 Method for manufacturing carbon carrier-metal nanoparticle composite and carbon carrier-metal nanoparticle composite manufactured thereby
The present application relates to a method for preparing a carbon carrier-metal nanoparticle composite and a carbon carrier-metal nanoparticle composite prepared thereby, and has an advantage in that it is possible to improve dispersibility and supporting ratio of metal nanoparticles with respect to a carbon carrier by efficiently supporting metal nanoparticles having a uniform size of several nanometers on evenly dispersed carbon carriers.
US09991016B2 Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles, methods of making, and applications of the same
Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be characterized by a high surface area and a high mesopore content. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be in agglomerated form. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be used, for example, as conductive additives. Dispersions of such compounds in a liquid medium in the presence of a surfactant may be used, for example, as conductive coatings. Polymer compounds filled with the surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be formed. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be used, for example, as carbon supports.
US09991009B2 Electrical feedthroughs for nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor includes a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material and a pressure vessel containing the nuclear reactor immersed in primary coolant water at an operating pressure. The pressure vessel has a vessel penetration passing through a wall of the pressure vessel. An electrical feedthrough seals the vessel penetration and has an outside electrical connector mounted at the pressure vessel. The outside electrical connector is at atmospheric pressure. The electrical feedthrough may include a flange disposed inside the pressure vessel and sealing against an inside surface of the wall of the pressure vessel. The outside electrical connector of the electrical feedthrough may be inset into the wall of the pressure vessel.
US09991004B2 Shift register unit and driving method thereof, scan driving circuit and display device
A shift register unit and a driving method thereof, a scan driving circuit and a display device, wherein the shift register unit comprises an input terminal (INPUT), an output terminal (OUTPUT), a reset terminal (RESET), and a first noise leak terminal (LEAK1), and further comprises an output pull-down module (14), and also an input module (11), an output module (12), a reset module (13) and a first noise leak module (15) that are connected to a first node (PU), the input module (11) being configured to pull up a voltage at the first node (PU) under control of a signal received at the input terminal (INPUT), the first noise leak module (15) being configured to release a noise voltage at the first node (PU) to the first noise leak terminal (LEAK1) under control of a third clock signal (CLK1), and to disconnect an electrical connection between the first noise leak terminal (CLK1) and the first node (PU) during a time period in which the voltage at the first node (PU) is pulled up, by which a stable output of the GOA unit with noise interference being eliminated can be achieved with relatively few circuit elements.
US09990999B2 Data storage device and voltage protection method thereof
A data storage device includes a flash memory, a voltage detection device, and a controller. The flash memory is arranged to store data. The voltage detection device is arranged to detect a supply voltage received by the data storage device. The controller is configured to receive write commands from a host, and perform a prohibition mode when the supply voltage is outside a predetermined range, wherein the write command is arranged to enable the controller to write the flash memory, and the controller is further configured to disable all of the write commands received from the host in the prohibition mode.
US09990996B2 Flash memory data storage device and programming method thereof
A data storage device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory includes a memory array. The controller performs a programming operation for the flash memory. After the controller issues a program command of the programming operation to the flash memory, the controller issues a first read status command to the flash memory before a page program time of the flash memory has been reached, and the controller determines whether the programming operation is performed in the flash memory according to a first memory status provided by the flash memory.
US09990995B2 Systems having a resistive memory device
Systems having a resistive memory device having control circuitry configured to build a data word from remapped data bits from a received data word such that pairs of data bits are mapped to adjacent locations in the built data word, the control circuitry further configured to program the built data word to memory cells coupled to a selected data line such that, during a same program operation, pairs of adjacent memory cells along the selected data line are programmed with the pairs of data.
US09990994B2 Methods of programming memories having a shared resistance variable material
Methods for programming data to an array of memory cells having a first memory cell, a second memory cell that is adjacent to the first memory cell in a first direction along a first axis, and a third memory cell that is adjacent to the first memory cell in a second direction along a second axis.
US09990993B2 Three-transistor resistive random access memory cells
A ReRAM cell array has having at least one row and one column includes first and second complementary bit lines for each row, a word line, a p-word line, and an n-word line for each column. A ReRAM cell at each row and column of the array includes a first ReRAM device, its first end connected to the first complementary bit line of its row, a p-channel transistor, its source connected to a second end of the first ReRAM device, its drain connected to a switch node, its gate connected to the p-channel word line of its column, a second ReRAM device, its first end connected to the second complementary bit line of its row, an n-channel transistor, its source connected to a second end of the second ReRAM device, its drain connected to the switch node, its gate connected to the n-channel word line of its column.
US09990989B2 Enhancing nucleation in phase-change memory cells
Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
US09990988B2 Determining whether a memory cell state is in a valley between adjacent data states
A determination can be made as to whether a state of a memory cell is in a valley between adjacent distributions of states associated with respective data states. A signal indicative of a data state of the memory cell and whether the state of the memory cell is in the valley can be transmitted.
US09990986B1 Static random access memory device having uniform write characteristics
A static random access memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, a write driver configured to apply a bit line voltage corresponding to write data to a bit line extending in a column direction of the plurality of memory cells in a write operation, and a sub power line configured to transmit a cell driving voltage to the plurality of memory cells in the write operation and to extend in a direction parallel to the bit line, and includes a first node and a second node. The cell driving voltage is applied to the first node of the sub power line and the first node of the sub power line is aligned with an output node of the write driver in a row direction of the plurality of memory cells.
US09990985B1 Memory device with determined time window
A memory device includes a memory array that comprises at least a bit cell configured to store a data bit; a tracking circuit, coupled to the memory array, and configured to provide an enable signal in response to a first timing edge of a clock signal, wherein the enable signal emulates an electrical signal path propagating the memory array; and a control logic circuit comprising a timing control engine coupled to the tracking circuit, wherein the timing control engine is configured to select a faster timing edge between a second timing edge of the clock signal and a third timing edge of the enable signal so as to terminate an ongoing operation of the bit cell.
US09990982B2 Memory module and memory system
In a memory module including a plurality of DRAM chips which transmit/receive a system data signal with a predetermined data width and at a transfer rate and which transmit/receive an internal data signal having a larger data width and a lower transfer rate as compared with the system data signal, the transfer rate of the system data signal is restricted. Current consumption in DRAMs constituting the memory module is large, hindering speed increases. For this memory module, a plurality of DRAM chips are stacked on an IO chip. Each DRAM chip is connected to the IO chip by a through electrode, and includes a constitution for mutually converting the system data signal and the internal data signal in each DRAM chip by the IO chip. Therefore, wiring between the DRAM chips can be shortened, and DLL having a large current consumption may be disposed only on the IO chip.
US09990961B2 Offset-printing method for three-dimensional package
The present invention discloses an offset-printing method for a three-dimensional 3D-oP (three-dimensional offset-printed memory)-based package. The mask-patterns for different 3D-op dice are merged onto a same data-mask. At different printing steps, a wafer is offset by different values with respect to the data-mask. Accordingly, data-patterns from a same data-mask are printed into different 3D-oP dice.
US09990960B2 Offset-printing method for three-dimensional printed memory with multiple bits-per-cell
The present invention discloses an offset-printing method for a three-dimensional printed memory with multiple bits-per-cell. The mask-patterns for different bits-in-a-cell are merged onto a multi-region data-mask. At different printing steps, a wafer is offset by different values with respect to the data-mask. Accordingly, data-patterns from a same data-mask are printed into different bits-in-a-cell.
US09990952B2 Optical medium reproducing device and optical medium reproducing method
There is provided an optical medium reproducing device configured to optically reproduce an optical medium including a plurality of tracks formed, the optical medium reproducing device including: an optical filter configured to receive an incident returned light beam from the optical medium, and to spatially and optically form a plurality of signals having different bands in a tangential direction and a radial direction; an arithmetic unit configured to operate the plurality of first signals formed by the optical filter so as to form a plurality of channels of second signals; and an electrical filter configured to individually receive the second signals, and to perform processing to the second signals so as to acquire a reproduced signal.
US09990951B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording with multiple antiferromagnetically coupled layers
Provided herein is an apparatus including a top continuous layer and a bottom continuous layer under the top continuous layer. The top continuous layer and the bottom continuous layer are antiferromagnetically coupled. A number of granular columns are under the bottom continuous layer. The number of granular columns include at least a first granular layer under the bottom continuous layer and a second granular layer also under the first granular layer. The first granular layer and the second granular layer are separated by a non-magnetic spacer. The first granular layer and the second granular layer are ferromagnetically coupled. The first granular layer is antiferromagnetically coupled to the bottom continuous layer.
US09990949B1 Multi-channel data recording
Embodiments described herein are operable with a storage device. In one embodiment, a method provides for buffering first portions of incoming sequential data from a plurality of channels in a buffer, and identifying locations of the storage device to store the first portions of the incoming sequential data. The method also provides for directly writing the first portions of the incoming sequential data from the buffer to the identified locations of the storage device.
US09990945B2 Suspension assembly with lift tab for disk drive, disk drive with the same
According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate and a lift tab extending in a first direction. The lift tab has an arc-shaped cross section, and includes an arc-shaped outer circumferential surface, an arc-shaped inner circumferential surface, a first upper end surface located between one arc ends of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces, and a second upper end surface located between other arc ends of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the inner circumferential surface, and a first angle made between the outer circumferential surface and the first upper end surface is less than a second angle made between the inner circumferential surface and the first upper end surface.
US09990943B2 Texture-control layer for spin torque oscillator
A magnetic field-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head is provided, which includes a recording main pole and a texture control layer (TCL), a seed control layer, and a spin torque oscillator (STO) positioned over the main pole, in this order, in a stacking direction from a leading side to a trailing side of the recording head. The STO has a crystallographic preferred growth orientation and includes a spin polarized layer (SPL). The TCL may include a Cu layer.
US09990941B1 Selectable readers for improvements in yield, reliability and performance
A method of forming a read head. The method includes forming first and second read sensors. A first read measurement is performed on a storage medium using the first read sensor. A second read measurement is performed on the storage medium using the second read sensor. Based on a comparison of the first and second read measurements to a predetermined quantity, either the first read sensor or the second read sensor is selected to be operational in a data storage device.
US09990939B2 Methods and apparatus for broadened beamwidth beamforming and postfiltering
Methods and apparatus for broadening the beamwidth of beamforming and postfiltering using a plurality of beamformers and signal and power spectral density mixing, and controlling a postfilter based on spatial activity detection such that de-reverberation or noise reduction is performed when a speech source is between the first and second beams.
US09990938B2 Detector and method for voice activity detection
A signal activity detector (SAD) receives, from a hangover addition unit of a different SAD, a final decision signal of the different SAD. The final decision signal indicates a final decision of the different SAD as to whether or not the different SAD detects activity in a received input signal. The SAD combines the final decision signal of the different SAD with a preliminary decision signal of the SAD and sends a result of the combining to a hangover addition unit of the SAD. The preliminary decision signal of the SAD indicates a preliminary decision of the SAD as to whether or not the SAD detects activity in the input signal. The hangover addition unit of the SAD generates a final decision signal of the SAD based on the result of the combining.
US09990935B2 System aspects of an audio codec
The present document relates to the design of anti-aliasing and/or anti-imaging filters for resamplers using rational resampling factors. In particular, the present document relates to a method for implementing such anti-aliasing and/or anti-imaging filters with reduced computational complexity. In addition, the present document relates to further aspects of an audio encoding and decoding system, such as the phase relation between the channels of a multi-channel audio signal and/or the structure of the bitstream of an encoded audio signal.
US09990934B2 Method and apparatus for improving the coding of side information required for coding a Higher Order Ambisonics representation of a sound field
Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. For coding, portions of the original HOA representation are predicted from the directional signal components. This prediction provides side information which is required for a corresponding decoding. By using some additional specific purpose bits, a known side information coding processing is improved in that the required number of bits for coding that side information is reduced on average.
US09990932B2 Processing in the encoded domain of an audio signal encoded by ADPCM coding
A method for processing an encoded audio signal in a binary stream by MICDA predictive coding. The method includes the following steps: determining a signal assessed from quantification indices of the binary stream; determining unencoded parameters representative of the audio signal from the assessed signal; and processing the encoded audio signal using the determined parameters. Also provided is a device implementing the method.
US09990930B2 Audio signal encoding and decoding based on human auditory perception eigenfunction model in Hilbert space
A computer numerical processing method for encoding and decoding audio information for use in conjunction with human hearing is described. The method comprises approximating an eigenfunction equation representing a model of human hearing, calculating the approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions from at least one aspect of the eigenfunction equation, and storing the approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions for use in encoding and decoding. The approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions represents a perception-oriented basis functions for mathematically representing audio information in a Hilbert-space representation of an audio signal space. The model of human hearing can include a bandpass operation with a bandwidth having the frequency range of human hearing and a time-limiting operation approximating the time duration correlation window of human hearing. In an embodiment, the approximated eigenfunctions comprise a convolution of a prolate spheroidal wavefunction with a trigonometric function.
US09990921B2 User focus activated voice recognition
One embodiment provides a method, involving: receiving, at a device, voice input comprising at least one command; identifying, using an image of the user, a direction of user focus; and responsive to the identifying that the direction of user focus is directed toward the device, performing an action based on the at least one command. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09990918B1 Speech recognition with attention-based recurrent neural networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for speech recognition. One method includes obtaining an input acoustic sequence, the input acoustic sequence representing an utterance, and the input acoustic sequence comprising a respective acoustic feature representation at each of a first number of time steps; processing the input acoustic sequence using a first neural network to convert the input acoustic sequence into an alternative representation for the input acoustic sequence; processing the alternative representation for the input acoustic sequence using an attention-based Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to generate, for each position in an output sequence order, a set of substring scores that includes a respective substring score for each substring in a set of substrings; and generating a sequence of substrings that represent a transcription of the utterance.
US09990913B2 Method of generating a drive signal for a loudspeaker arranged in a motor vehicle, an exhaust system for an engine and a sound system for a passenger cell
A method of generating a drive signal for a loudspeaker in an exhaust system of an engine of a vehicle or inside or outside a passenger cell includes providing a predetermined source signal for a desired additional sound in a time domain comprising a plurality of signal components of different frequencies; analyzing the source signal based on a phase of the source signal and/or a phase of at least one oscillation in the source signal; identifying a phase of engine noise and/or a phase of at least one oscillation existing in engine noise; shifting the phases of the source signal and/or the oscillation existing in the source signal based on phases identified in engine noise and/or in oscillation existing in engine noise, the relationship of phases of individual oscillations of the source signal among each other being preserved; and generating the drive signal based on the phase-shifted source signal.
US09990911B1 Method for creating preview track and apparatus using the same
Disclosed herein is a method for creating a preview track. The method includes: acquiring a plurality of tracks; extracting rhythm data from each of the tracks; determining a plurality of extracted parts each corresponding to the respective tracks based on the extracted rhythm data; cutting out the extracted parts from the respective tracks; and connecting the extracted parts with one another to create a preview track.
US09990906B2 Musical string with high modulus fiber winding
A string for a musical instrument, comprising a liquid crystal aromatic polyester fiber. Incorporating a synthetic material having a high modulus of elasticity into a musical instrument string substantially increases the torsional stiffness of the string without causing undesirable property changes such as increasing bending stiffness. This is especially useful when used in conjunction with a multifilament synthetic core.
US09990903B2 Electronic device having display device for sync brightness control and operating method thereof
An electronic device having a display device for sync brightness control includes a brightness key, an embedded controller, a storage unit, a processing unit, a peripheral controlling circuit and BIOS. The storage unit stores an operating system and a brightness application. The processing unit executes the brightness control application in the operating system. The peripheral controlling circuit receives a request from the brightness key. The BIOS acquires the request from the peripheral controlling circuit and send an event to notify a brightness user interface of the operating system, so that the brightness user interface notifies a driver in the operating system and sends a brightness adjusting command to the brightness control application according to the event. The brightness control application notifies the embedded controller to adjust the brightness of the display device according to the brightness adjusting command.
US09990902B2 Electronic device for adjusting brightness of screen and method thereof
An operation method of an electronic device is provided. The operation method includes detecting a movement speed of contents being scrolled, if the detected movement speed is determined as being equal to or greater than a set speed, changing a brightness of a screen having been displayed at a first brightness, into a second brightness, and changing the brightness of the screen from the second brightness to the first brightness according to a changing movement speed of the contents being scrolled.
US09990897B2 Shift register unit, gate driving circuit and driving method thereof, and array substrate
A shift register unit is provided. The shift register unit includes a first input module configured to output a first voltage signal as a pull-up control signal under the control of a first signal, a first reset module configured to reset the pull-up control signal under the control of a first reset signal, a pull-up module configured to output a first clock signal under the control of the pull-up control signal, a pull-down control module configured to output a second clock signal as a pull-down control signal under the control of a second clock signal, a pull-down module configured to pull down a voltage of the pull-up control signal, a first output module, and a second output module.
US09990895B2 Display apparatus and driving method of display panel thereof
A display apparatus and a driving method of a display panel thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes a gate driver circuit providing a plurality of gate driving signals, a switch driver circuit providing a plurality of switch driving signals and the display panel having a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. Each of the pixels includes a first switch, a second switch and a storage capacitor coupled in series, wherein the first switch is controlled by the corresponding switch driving signal, and the second switch is controlled by the corresponding gate driving signal. During a frame update period, the gate driving signals are enabled sequentially, and an enabling period of each of switch driving signal is overlapped with enabling periods of a part of gate driving signals. During an operation waiting period, the gate driving signals are enabled periodically.
US09990894B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device where delay or distortion of a signal output to a gate signal line in a selection period is reduced is provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate signal line, a first and second gate driver circuits which output a selection signal and a non-selection signal to the gate signal line, and pixels electrically connected to the gate signal line and supplied with the two signals. In a period during which the gate signal line is selected, both the first and second gate driver circuits output the selection signal to the gate signal line. In a period during which the gate signal line is not selected, one of the first and second gate driver circuits outputs the non-selection signal to the gate signal line, and the other gate driver circuit outputs neither the selection signal nor the non-selection signal to the gate signal line.
US09990891B2 Control device, display device, and method of controlling display device
A control device that controls the driving of a display device which changes display states by a writing operation of applying a driving voltage several times, wherein the control device includes a determining portion that determines whether or not the writing operation is performed for each pixel; and a control portion that starts the writing operation in the pixel in which the writing operation is determined to be performed by the determining portion, the writing operation including applying, wherein, in a case where a previous writing operation is not performed on the pixel in which the writing operation is determined to be performed by the determining portion, the control portion starts the writing operation, and in a case where the previous writing operation is performed on the pixel, the control portion starts the next writing operation after the previous writing operation is finished.
US09990890B2 Display device and control method therefor
A display device including: a light emitting unit including a plurality of light sources; a second panel configured to adjust transmittance of light from the light emitting unit; and a first panel configured to adjust transmittance of light from the second panel, further including: a first control unit configured to perform first control with respect to the first panel for controlling transmittance of each pixel on the basis of the image data; and a second control unit configured to perform, in a case where an image area of low brightness is adjacent to an image area of high brightness in the image data, second control for making transmittance of the second panel at a partial area corresponding to the image area of low brightness be lower than transmittance of the second panel at a partial area corresponding to the image area of high brightness.
US09990886B2 Organic light-emitting diode display
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a display unit and a plurality of pixels over the display unit. Each of the pixels comprises first and second sub-pixels each comprising an OLED and a pixel circuit. Each pixel circuit is connected to a first node and a first control line that is configured to supply a first control signal having a rising edge prior to a time when the OLED emits light in a frame. Each pixel circuit is further connected to a second node and a light emitting signal line that is configured to supply a light emitting signal having a falling edge prior to a time when the OLED emits light in the frame. The pixel circuit of the first sub-pixel comprises a first timing compensating capacitor connecting the first node and an anode of the OLED.
US09990882B2 Compensation accuracy
A system uses image data, representing images to be displayed in successive frames, to drive a display having pixels that include a drive transistor and an organic light emitting device by dividing each frame into at least first and second sub-frames, supplying the image data during one of the sub-frames, supplying compensation data during the other of the sub-frames, compensating image data based on the compensation data, and supplying each pixel with a drive current that is based on the compensated image data during each frame. The compensated image data may be supplied from a driver having a preselected data resolution, and the system determines whether the compensated image data is greater than the data resolution of the driver, and if the compensated image data is greater than the data resolution of the driver, transfers the excess compensated image data to a different sub-frame.
US09990879B2 Display device with solar cell module
The present disclosure provides a display device. A solar cell module is integrated into a body of the display device. A photosensitive control module is configured to detect a brightness value of current ambient light being incident on the display device, and when the detected brightness value meets a predetermined condition, switch a power supply of the display device from a local cell to the solar cell module, so as to supply the electric energy stored in the solar cell module to the display device.
US09990877B2 Self-diagnosing system and method of self-diagnosing of a display device
This disclosure discloses a self-diagnosing system and a method of self-diagnosing of a display device. A display device performing self-diagnosis by communicating with a server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an outputting unit configured to output content on a screen and to output On Screen Display (OSD) data respective to each color of RGB to a predetermined area therein, a controlling unit configured to transmit a sensing command directing an initiation of self-diagnosis to a sensor attached to an area of the display device, to acquire sensing data respective to each color in accordance with the sensing command transmission from the sensor, to compare the acquired sensing data respective to each color with the outputted OSD data respective to each color, and to generate self-diagnosis result data respective to the screen based upon the compared result and transmitting the generated data to a server, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the generated self-diagnosis data in accordance with the control of the controlling unit.
US09990872B1 System and method for providing views of virtual content in an augmented reality environment
A system configured for providing views of virtual content in an augmented reality environment may comprise one or more of a first display, a second display, an optical element, one or more processors, and/or other components. The first display and second display may be separated by a separation distance. The first display and second display may be arranged such that rays of light emitted from pixels of the first display may travel through the second display, then reflect off the optical element and into a user's eyes. A three-dimensional light field perceived with a user's field-of-view may be generated. Distances of the first display and/or second display to the optical element may impact a perceived range of the three-dimensional light field. The separation distance may impact a perceived depth of the three-dimensional light field and/or a resolution of virtual content perceived with the three-dimensional light field.
US09990870B2 Modular art-post assembly and method of using the same
An outdoor art-post assembly includes an elongate support pole, an art post, and at least one mounting mechanism. The elongate support pole has a lower portion and an auger disposed at the lower portion. The auger allows for vertical installation of the support pole in soil in response to manual rotation of the support pole. The art post has an inner surface defining a bore. The bore is capable of receiving at least a portion of the elongate support pole. The art post also has an outer surface including decorative indicia thereon. The mounting mechanism is located on the support pole and has protruding portions extending away from the support pole. The protruding portions are configured to contact the inner surface of the art post and affix the art post relative to the support pole. Methods of assembling the same are also disclosed.
US09990864B2 Monitoring of a time period relating to a product
A label includes a timer to monitor a predetermined time period relating to a medical device, such as an indwelling cannula, or other product. The label includes a signalling apparatus that provides an alert signal on expiry of the predetermined time period and a fixing portion to fix the label to a support surface such as medical records of a patient. The label can have a first portion and a second portion and the first portion can be separable from the second portion. The fixing portion can be provided in the second portion and all or part of the signalling apparatus provided in the first portion. Also disclosed is a monitoring system for a medical device, including a base station and a label receivable by the base station. The monitoring system monitors a predetermined time period based on receipt of the label by the base station.
US09990861B2 Smart prosthesis for facilitating artificial vision using scene abstraction
A method of providing artificial vision to a visually-impaired user implanted with a visual prosthesis. The method includes configuring, in response to selection information received from the user, a smart prosthesis to perform at least one function of a plurality of functions in order to facilitate performance of a visual task. The method further includes extracting, from an input image signal generated in response to optical input representative of a scene, item information relating to at least one item within the scene relevant to the visual task. The smart prosthesis then generates image data corresponding to an abstract representation of the scene wherein the abstract representation includes a representation of the at least one item. Pixel information based upon the image data is then provided to the visual prosthesis.
US09990859B2 Intraoral tactile biofeedback methods, devices and systems for speech and language training
An intraoral method, biofeedback system and kit are provided for supplying intraoral feedback representative of a speaker's pronunciation during sound production, which feedback may be used for training and enhancing a speaker's pronunciation accuracy.
US09990857B2 Method and system for visual pedometry
A system and method for calculating step count and associated physical movement intensity. In some embodiments, the system includes at least a camera to capture video of user motions, which are analyzed, and the corresponding step count and physical exercise intensity are deduced by the disclosed method.
US09990853B1 Material detection on a road
A material detection system mountable to a ground vehicle. The material detection system includes a first range determination system (RDS) that includes a first electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitter configured to emit first EMR behind the ground vehicle within a first field of view (FOV), a first EMR receiver that is configured to receive first EMR reflections, and a first RDS processing device configured to generate first RDS data that identifies distances to reflective surfaces based on the first EMR reflections. A processing device is coupled to the first range determination system and is configured to determine, based at least in part on the first RDS data, that material exists on the road. The processing device is also configured to determine a location of the material, and cause the location to be communicated to a computing device that maintains a map that identifies locations of material larger than a predetermined threshold.
US09990852B2 Converging path detection
A method and apparatus for use in traversing a vehicle transportation network may include receiving a remote vehicle message including remote vehicle information indicating remote vehicle geospatial state information and remote vehicle kinematic state information, identifying host vehicle information including host vehicle geospatial state information and host vehicle kinematic state information, determining convergence information indicating whether a remote vehicle expected path for the remote vehicle and a host vehicle expected path for the host vehicle are convergent based on the host vehicle information and the remote vehicle information, and traversing a portion of the vehicle transportation network in response to the convergence information. Determining the convergence information may include determining an orientation sector based on a geodesic between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle, and determining relative position information for the host vehicle and the remote vehicle based on the orientation sector.
US09990850B2 System, media, and method for parking management
Systems, methods, and media for parking management are provided. A method includes receiving from a parker at a first device authentication input and then vehicle input that associates a vehicle with the parker, wherein the vehicle input comprises vehicle registration input or selection of a registered vehicle. The method may further include subsequently receiving, from the parker at the first device, spot criteria comprising location criteria and temporal criteria. The method may also include outputting to the first device, based upon receipt of the spot criteria, spot indicators representing spots based on the location criteria, the temporal data, and characteristics of the vehicle, wherein each spot comprises a stored status. The method may further include subsequently receiving a selection of a spot from the parker at the first device.
US09990848B2 System and method for effective communication of location and other information about automobiles
Communications with an automobile are in the form of messages. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. Messages may contain a recall notice to the automobile, map information or advertising information concerning selected entities depending on the current location of the automobile. Messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain location of the automobile or dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile.
US09990844B2 Method for handling misbehaving vehicle and V2X communicaton system performing the same
An on-board unit of a vehicle communication system includes: a reception module receiving a message including driving information of a nearby vehicle from the nearby vehicle; and a misbehaving vehicle detection module analyzing the received message and detecting a misbehaving vehicle based on the analyzed message.
US09990842B2 Learning alarms for nuisance and false alarm reduction
A learning alarm includes a sensor operatively connected to a processor to detect environmental properties and an alarm operatively connected to the processor to provide an alert if the environmental properties are outside an acceptable range. A user interface is operatively connected to the processor to accept user input indicating an alert corresponds to a nuisance condition. A memory is also operatively connected to the processor for storing detected environmental properties corresponding to the nuisance condition. The processor is configured to suppress alerts from the alarm based on detected environmental properties corresponding to the environmental properties of the nuisance condition stored in the memory.
US09990841B2 Testing system and method for fire alarm system
A system and method for testing fire detection and fire annunciation devices of a fire alarm system includes a central operations system, which provides a link between a control panel of the fire alarm system and a mobile computing device operated by a technician. During a walkthrough test, the on-site technician activates fire detection or fire annunciation devices of the fire alarm system and the activated devices signal the control panel and event data are generated. Event data from the control panel are sent to the central operations system to be stored. The central operations system sends the event data to a mobile computing device operated by the technician. The on-site technician is then able verify that the devices are physically sound, unaltered, working properly, and located in their assigned locations.
US09990840B2 Predictive alert targeting for mass notification systems
A system and a method are disclosed for predicting potential reach of an alert to a targeted audience, targeted personal delivery devices and targeted non-personal notification delivery devices in an emergency mass notification system. The method includes receiving recipients and alert delivery devices data which define a targeted audience and devices of an emergency alert. The method further comprises evaluating contact and configuration data targeting quality rating, tracking data targeting quality rating and real-time data targeting quality rating based on the received recipients and devices data and a data sources repository. Responsive to the targeting quality ratings and prediction weighting data (e.g., numeric weights and descriptive thresholds), the method generating one or more predictions of the potential reach of the alert based on the targeting quality ratings.
US09990836B2 Systems and methods for automated personal emergency responses
A subscriber device for use in an automated personal emergency response system implemented as a conference bridge on a remote computing network. The device, intended to be worn as a pendant, wristband or in another wearable configuration, includes a color high-resolution display for signaling a user of the subscriber device with notifications, arrows for directional guidance, and/or other status messages. The device also includes microphones and speakers for enabling a teleconference between a user of the subscriber device in need of assistance and parties joined to the teleconference via the automated personal emergency response system. The user of the subscriber device may initiate the call for assistance and teleconference via a press of a single button on the device; alternatively, accelerometers in the device may detect a fall and automatically initiate the call. The device can receive medical telemetry and provide it to conference participants and perform home automation tasks.
US09990834B2 Hygiene tracking compliance
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for personal tracking of hygiene compliance of a user. For example, a mobile device may host a tracking component (e.g., a personal hygiene compliance app deployed on a cell phone or tablet). The tracking component may be configured to establish a communication connection, such as a Bluetooth communication connect, with a hygiene device (e.g., a soap dispenser). The tracking component may generate either a hygiene compliance metric or a non-hygiene compliance metric based upon whether a dispense event notification, indicating compliance by the user with a hygiene opportunity, is received from the hygiene device. In this way, the user may personally track hygiene compliance information based upon automated communication signals shared between the mobile device and the hygiene device.
US09990827B2 Wireless patient care system and method
A patient care system and a corresponding method that provide patient monitoring. The system includes a server, at least one patient communication device, and at least one caregiver communication device. The communication devices send receiving signals and notifications wirelessly to/from the server, and may be adapted to be worn on a user's wrist. Notifications can be sent to the caregiver communication device to notify the user to provide care to a patient in response to a patient request for assistance based on defined conditions, which may be proximity based. The server may track all received and sent notifications and may provide analytics of this information to improve quality of healthcare in a facility.
US09990824B2 System and method for detecting fire location
A fire detection system includes at least two fire detectors having a partially overlapping view of a fire. The at least two fire detectors are configured to acquire fire cluster information related to the fire. A validation and pairing module pairs fire clusters detected by the at least two fire detectors for the fire. The validation and pairing module is configured to validate the paired fire clusters according to a validation process that ensures that the pair corresponds to a fire. A triangulation module determines a three-dimensional fire location for the fire based on the fire cluster information related to the validated fire cluster pairs.
US09990823B2 System and method for monitoring and tracking items
A method includes determining, by a tag, that a gateway is not within communication range of the tag using a first wireless communication mode and enabling, in response to the tag determining that the gateway is not within communication range of the tag, a second wireless communication mode. The method also includes determining, by the tag, that a mobile device is not within communication range of the tag using the second wireless communication mode and enabling, in response to the tag determining that the mobile device is not within communication range of the tag, a third wireless communication mode and a location detection capability. The method further includes determining, by the tag, a geographic location of the tag using the location detection capability and transmitting, using the third wireless communication mode, to a server the geographic location of the tag.
US09990822B2 Intruder detection using a wireless service mesh network
The disclosed teachings relate to intruder detection. Some of the subject matter described herein includes a computer-implemented method for detecting physical movement using a wireless mesh network that provides wireless data communication, the wireless mesh network having a plurality of mesh points, each mesh point having a wireless coverage, the method including compiling a database of known devices based on monitoring unique identifiers of known devices that have previously conducted communication with the wireless mesh network through the plurality of mesh points; upon detecting a physical presence of a subject device within a physical space of the wireless mesh network, determining, based on the database of known devices, whether the physical presence of the subject device belongs to an anomaly; and when the physical presence of the subject device is determined to be an anomaly, causing a security action to be performed.
US09990817B2 Systems and methods for emergency egress and monitoring system
Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a system disposed within a structure comprising a network of individually addressed devices for providing building safety, security, and operational efficiency. Each device in the network may comprise a microcontroller electrically connected to a communication module, at least one output module, and/or at least one sensor module. The sensor module may produce data corresponding to a particular sensed environmental condition within its vicinity and may transmit a signal to the microcontroller based on the data for processing to identify the particular sensed environmental condition. In various embodiments, the microcontroller may communicate with any number of addressable devices in the network to effect selective activation of output modules and/or sensor modules. In some embodiments, the microcontroller may communicate with remote systems external to the network, such as building operation systems, building fire suppressions systems, and first responder notification systems to appropriately respond to the particular sensed environmental condition.
US09990816B2 Virtual sensor in a virtual environment
A system for generating haptic effects includes a virtual environment having environmental properties, virtual objects, and object property information. A programmatic virtual sensor is placed on a virtual object in the virtual environment. A rendering engine for the virtual environment renders the virtual environment. A module for the virtual sensor receives virtual sensor data including position and time for the sensor and calculates sensor output data including acceleration data and object interaction data for the virtual sensor. A haptic track generator generates a haptic track based on the sensor output data.
US09990813B2 Combination signal marker panel and solar panel
A combination signal marker panel and solar panel and methods are disclosed. The combination signal marker panel and solar panel includes a signal marker that is detachably fastened to a flexible solar panel. The solar panel is modular and configurable to provide any output voltage. Namely, the solar panel can include any number of solar modules configured in series, configured in parallel, or configured in any combination of series and parallel arrangements. The combination signal marker panel and solar panel can be used to harvest solar energy while simultaneously marking the user's position.
US09990811B2 Point-of-sale (POS) terminal having a lock system
A point-of-sale (POS) terminal includes a main body, a door attached to the main body, an electric lock attached to one of the main body and the door and including a first movable part configured to move between a lock position and an unlock position using electric power, and a manual lock attached to the other one of the main body and the door and including a second movable part that is manually movable between a lock position and an unlock position. When the door is in a closed state and the first and second movable parts are both at the lock position, the first and second movable parts restrict movement of the door. When the door is in the closed state and at least one of the first and second movable parts is at the unlock position, the door is movable.
US09990808B2 Games, lotteries, and sweepstakes and tickets, systems, technologies, and methods related thereto
Games, lotteries, and/or sweepstakes as well as tickets, systems, technologies, and/or methods related thereto. In some embodiments, unique games and/or unique administrations of games and/or unique tickets useful for participating in games. In certain preferred embodiments, games which can be administrated or participated in contemporaneously with an event, such as a sporting event, music performance, or trade show (e.g., at the same time or during a live event). In certain of such preferred embodiments, participants in games make no payment to participate in the games.
US09990806B2 Method and apparatus for settlement of processor based tournament competition
A method of providing or receiving value from or to a participant value in a game tournament wherein a plurality of participants play a casino-style game, includes calculating an expected value for the position of each participant in the tournament, the expected value based upon the number of wagering units held by the participant at the point in time, the number of wagering units held by each other participant in the tournament at the point in time and a payout table for the tournament.
US09990803B2 Electronic gaming device with subscription based progressive functionality
Examples disclosed herein relate to an electronic gaming device including a memory, a processor, and a plurality of reels. The plurality of reels may include one or more areas. The memory may include one or more one or more subscription based progressive structures. The processor may generate one or more symbols to be located in the one or more areas.
US09990798B2 Multi-mode element interleaved wagering system
A multi-mode element interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive processing device constructed to: provide an interactive application display; communicate session initiation indication data and application telemetry data; receive wagering telemetry and application resource data; automatically configure a wagering user interface; and incorporate application resource data; a wager server constructed to: receive session wager request data; determine a plurality of wager outcomes; communicate session wager outcome data; receive wager outcome data; and automatically adjust a credit meter; and the process controller operatively connecting the interactive processing device and the wager server, constructed to: receive session initiation indication data; automatically communicate session wager request data; receive session wager outcome data; receive application telemetry data; determine whether to trigger a wager request; access a session wager outcome; automatically determine wagering telemetry data and application resource data; communicate wagering telemetry data, application resource data; and wager outcome data.
US09990796B2 Data card verification system
A method of verifying a pair of correspondents in electronic transaction, the correspondents each including first and second signature schemes and wherein the first signature scheme is computationally more difficult in signing than verifying and the second signature scheme is computationally more difficult in verifying than signing. The method comprises the step of the first correspondent signing information according to the first signature scheme and transmitting the first signature to the second correspondent, the second correspondent verifying the first signature received from the first correspondent, wherein the verification is performed according to the first signature scheme. The second correspondent then signs information according to the second signature scheme and transmits the second signature to the first correspondent, the first correspondent verifies the second signature received from the second correspondent, wherein the verification is performed according to the second signature algorithm; the transaction is rejected if either verification fails. The method thereby allows one of the correspondents to participate with relatively little computing power while maintaining security of the transaction.
US09990794B2 System and method for processing bank notes
A system for processing bank notes and a corresponding method comprises at least one bank-note processing machine having a central control device on which only those software modules are implemented that are necessary for the standard operation of the bank-note processing machine for counting, checking and/or sorting bank notes. At least one application server is connected to the bank-note processing machine via an external communication network and has implemented thereon at least one further software module which is executed on the application server and provides an application which provides at least one function going beyond the standard operation of the bank-note processing machine. The application provided on the application server involves a configuration application, a serial-number application, a reporting application and/or a servicing application.
US09990792B2 Methods and apparatus for receiving and sorting disks
An apparatus for receiving and sorting disks includes a wheel having at least one well for receiving a disk, a motor coupled to the wheel, a collecting device positioned relative to the wheel, a disk sensor, an ejector, and a controller. The collecting device has at least a first collector and a second collector configured for receiving disks. The disk sensor is configured to detect a value of a parameter of a disk received in the well and generate a parameter value signal. The ejector is coupled to the wheel proximate the well and configured to eject a disk from the well in a plane parallel to a bottom surface of the wheel in response to an eject signal. The controller is operably coupled with the disk sensor and the ejector.
US09990790B2 Unit for communication by means of a predetermined protocol
The invention relates to a unit (SYST) for communication by means of a predetermined protocol, said communication unit (SYST) including: a master device (EQ_MAI); and a slave device (EQU_ESC) capable of communicating with a vehicle according to a UHF or BF protocol, and capable of assuming a plurality of states, characterized in that the master device (EQ_MAI) is suitable for sending, to the slave device (EQU_ESC), alerts pertaining to the actuation of a state.
US09990782B2 Method for analyzing operation characteristics of a vehicle driver
A method analyzes characteristics of a vehicle driver, especially for insurance purposes. The method is performed by a cooperation of an analyzing vehicle system in a vehicle and a stationary processing unit remote from the vehicle. The analyzing vehicle system determines a driver operation characteristics parameter from the driving vehicle and sends the parameter to the stationary processing unit. The stationary processing unit derives a metric from that parameter as driver operation characteristics.
US09990781B2 Vehicle information system
A vehicle information system is described. The vehicle information system may include an OBD interface device configurable for communication with a vehicle computer system. The OBD interface device may include at least a first transmitter and a first receiver. One or more communication protocols may be configured for communication between at least one of the OBD interface device and a client electronic device, the OBD interface device and a server computer, and the OBD interface device and a wireless receiver. An application programming interface may be configured to allow interaction between the OBD interface device and at least one of a server computer and a client electronic device.
US09990773B2 Terminal, information processing apparatus, display control method, and storage medium
A terminal includes a processor configured to execute a process that includes determining whether a reference object is included in an input image, determining whether first characteristic information of the input image includes second characteristic information that is associated with identification information of the reference object, and generating an image in which a content associated with the identification information of the reference object is superimposed on the input image based on a result of the determining that the first characteristic information includes the second characteristic information.
US09990772B2 Augmented reality skin evaluation
Technologies are generally described for methods and systems effective to produce an evaluation image. In some examples, a processor may receive initial image data generated by light reflected from an object, that corresponds to a real object at a first instance of time. The processor may apply a first skin to modify pixels of features in the initial image data to produce intermediate data and apply a second skin to pixels of features in the intermediate data to produce augmented data. The skins may modify pixels in image data. The processor may receive evaluation image data, used to evaluate execution of the first or second skin, that corresponds to the real object at a second instance of time. The processor may apply the first skin to the evaluation image data to generate evaluation data different from the augmented data.
US09990771B2 Method and system of displaying information during a medical procedure
A method and system including a head mounted display for displaying information to a user when performing a medical procedure is described. A user wearing the head mounted display device can view objects, while simultaneously receiving and displaying feedback information on a procedure being performed. Text and graphical information is presented in a position on the head mounted display so that the object or a part of an object out of the line of sight appears in the same location and with the same shape, size and orientation as if the object or part of an object were visible to the user.
US09990770B2 User-to-user communication enhancement with augmented reality
The enhancement of user-to-user communication with augmented reality is described. In one example, a method includes receiving virtual object data at a local device from a remote user, generating a virtual object using the received virtual object data, receiving an image at the local device from a remote image store, augmenting the received image at the local device by adding the generated virtual object to the received image, and displaying the augmented received image on the local device.
US09990768B1 Multiple simultaneous bin sizes
Conflicts between the database-building and traversal phases are resolved by allowing the database bin size to be different from the display bin size. The database bin size is some multiple of the bin display bin size, and when there are multiple display bins in a database bin, each database bin is traversed multiple times for display, and the rasterizer discards primitives outside of the current display bin. This allows a trade off between memory bandwidth consumed for database building and bandwidth consumed for display, particularly when the display traversal is done multiple of times.
US09990764B2 Virtual try on simulation service
A method of creating a three dimensional model of a unique body is provided, said method comprising obtaining a three dimensional model of a standard body and obtaining a two dimensional image of the unique body that is to be modelled. The method further comprises determining a location of the unique body in said image and determining a position of the unique body in said image, using the determined location and position data to extract a two dimensional outline of the unique body from the two dimensional image. The method further comprises selecting a measurement for which a value is to be calculated for the unique body, calculating a value of said selected measurement from the extracted two dimensional outline, using said calculated value of the selected measurement to update a corresponding measurement on the three dimensional model of a standard body, and outputting the updated three dimensional model of a standard body as a three dimensional model of the unique body.
US09990761B1 Method of image compositing directly from ray tracing samples
A method of image compositing that directly manipulates ray tracing samples generated by a ray tracing renderer, rather than manipulating the pixels of a rasterized image. Rasterization may be performed after compositing at any desired resolution or resolutions, for example to adapt to different displays. Ray tracing samples may be tagged with the identity of the object intersected by the ray, facilitating object selection during compositing without the need for object masks. Random or pseudo-random ray patterns typically used by renderers may be supported directly. A large number of compositing operations may be performed directly on the ray tracing samples, including color changes, object repositioning in two dimensions or three dimensions, merging of images or objects from different scenes or rendering passes, and generation of new viewpoints for an image. Preview images may be generated during compositing using a subset of the available samples, trading off image quality for speed.
US09990760B2 Generating a 3D interactive immersive experience from a 2D static image
A two-dimensional (2D) static image may be used to generate a three-dimensional (3D) interactive immersive experience. An image type of the 2D image may first be identified. The image type may be selected from a set of types such as interior, exterior, people, corridor, landscape, and other. Each image type may have an associated main feature type. The main feature of the 2D image may be identified using the corresponding main feature type. Then, unless the 2D image is of the “other” image type, a 3D object with two or more planes may be generated. The planes may intersect on the identified main feature. A virtual camera may be positioned proximate the 3D object, and a 3D view of the 3D object may be generated and displayed for the user. The user may optionally move the virtual camera, within limits, to view the 3D object from other locations.
US09990759B2 Offloading augmented reality processing
A system and method for offloading augmented reality processing is described. A first sensor of a server generates a first set of sensor data corresponding to a location and an orientation of a display device. The server receives a request from the display device to offload a combination of at least one of a tracking process and a rendering process from the display device. The server generates offloaded processed data based on a combination of at least one of the first set of sensor data and a second set of sensor data. The second set of sensor data is generated by a second sensor at the display device. The server streams the offloaded processed data to the display device.
US09990757B2 Enhancing video chatting
A method for a computing device to enhance video chatting Includes receiving a live video stream, processing a frame in the live video stream in real-time, and transmitting the frame to another computing device. Processing the frame in real-time includes detecting a face, an upper torso, or a gesture in the frame, and applying a visual effect to the frame. The method includes processing a next frame in the live video stream in real-time by repeating the enhancing, the detecting, and the applying.
US09990755B2 Apparatus and method for processing animation
An apparatus for processing an animation includes an object storage unit configured to store objects included in animation content and an animation control unit configured to adjust at least one of a number of objects to be rendered in one frame among the objects included in the animation content and preset target frames per second (FPS) by calculating a rendering time of the objects to be rendered in one frame and comparing the rendering time with the target FPS.
US09990751B2 Radioactive substance distribution map producing system and method of producing radioactive substance distribution map
A radioactive substance distribution map producing system includes a radiation detector, a position measuring unit and a radioactive substance distribution map producing apparatus. The radiation detector is loaded on a moving vehicle and measures radiations from radioactive substances. The position measuring unit measures a position of the moving vehicle. The radioactive substance distribution map producing apparatus receives measurement data which contains a measurement result by the radiation detector and position data of the moving vehicle measured by the position measuring unit. The radioactive substance distribution map producing apparatus produces a distribution map of the radioactive substances by using the measurement data obtained at the plurality of positions while the moving vehicle moves.
US09990749B2 Systems and methods for synchronizing secondary display devices to a primary display
Systems and methods for perceptually synchronizing at least one secondary display that is in a same visual environment as a primary display. The image appearance parameters may be derived from the image/video shown on the primary display can be used to map the appearance of any arbitrary content on a secondary device. To produce a visually pleasing environment for a viewer in the visual environment, systems and methods are herein disclosed for synchronizing the display settings or parameters. The synchronization may be affected by dynamically adjusting the image data rendered upon one of the primary and/or secondary displays. Such dynamic adjustments may be made in accordance with the characteristics of the primary display and/or secondary display. Such adjustments may be made to the dynamic range, color mapping, etc. of the rendering on either display.
US09990746B2 Data visualization method and apparatus
A data visualization method includes acquiring a spatiotemporal behavior data set generated by network users, determining, according to a time point at which or a time period in which each piece of spatiotemporal behavior data is generated, an amount of spatiotemporal behavior data that is in the spatiotemporal behavior data set and generated at a time point or in a time period falling within each time period in N time periods, and presenting a column bar corresponding to an ith time period in the N time periods, where the column bar is in a radial direction of a first circle representing a full time domain and intersects the first circle and the length of a column bar represents a quantity of behaviors in a time period corresponding to the column bar.
US09990744B2 Image registration device, image registration method, and image registration program
An initial registration unit performs initial registration between an intraoperative image and simulation information. A positional information obtaining unit obtains positional information indicating a relative positional difference between the intraoperative image after the initial registration and a newly obtained intraoperative image based on an unchanged position which is not changed during surgery included in the intraoperative images. A superimpose display unit registers the simulation information with the new intraoperative image based on the positional information and displays, on a display, the simulation information superimposed on the new intraoperative image.
US09990741B2 Motion correction in a projection domain in time of flight positron emission tomography
Motion correction is performed in time-of-flight (TOF) positron emission tomography (PET). Rather than applying motion correction to reconstructed images or as part of reconstruction, the motion correction is applied in the projection domain of the PET data. The TOF data from the PET scan is altered to account for the motion. The TOF data is altered prior to starting reconstruction. The motion in the patient or image domain is forward projected to provide motion in the projection domain of the TOF data. The projected motion of different phases is applied to the TOF data from different phases, respectively, to create a combined dataset of motion corrected TOF data representing the patient at a reference phase. The dataset is larger (e.g., similar size from projection data dimension point of view, but contains more counts per projection data unit or is more dense) than available at one phase of the physiological cycle and is then used in reconstruction.
US09990737B2 Apparatus and method for correlating images of a photolithographic mask
An apparatus for correlating at least two images of a photolithographic mask that at least partially overlap, in which the apparatus includes a correlation unit that is provided to use at least one random variation, which is present in the at least two images, of at least one structural element of the photolithographic mask for the correlation of the at least two images.
US09990733B2 Object tracking device and a control method for object tracking device
In an object tracking device that obtains image data, detects an object, and tracks a target object, a matching unit collates image data of a characteristic model that represents a tracking object, which is a tracking target, with input image data, and outputs a candidate region of the tracking object. An object region determination unit determines an object region from the candidate region that is output by the matching unit. A depth map calculation unit calculates depth information relating to the input image. An object depth setting unit obtains the object region that has been determined by the object region determination unit in the past and the depth information that has been calculated by the depth map calculation unit, and sets a predetermined depth range where the object can exist. The object region determination unit determines an object region relating to the tracking object based on a region corresponding to the depth in a predetermined range set by the object depth setting unit and the candidate region that is extracted by the matching unit.
US09990731B2 Systems and methods for evaluating motion tracking for radiation therapy
An apparatus includes: a processor configured for obtaining a first image that corresponds with a first multi-leaf collimator (MLC) configuration, wherein the first image is generated when the MLC is stationary, obtaining a second image that corresponds with a second MLC configuration, wherein the second image is generated when the MLC and/or another component of a radiation machine is being operated to track a motion, and performing an analysis based at least in part on the first image and the second image to obtain a result; and a non-transitory medium for storing the result.
US09990729B2 Methods of and apparatuses for modeling structures of coronary arteries from three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography angiography (CTA) images
A method of modeling a structure of a coronary artery of a subject may include: forming a learning-based shape model of the structure of the artery, based on positions of landmarks acquired from three-dimensional images; receiving a target image; and/or modeling the artery structure included in the target image, using the model. An apparatus for modeling a structure of a coronary artery may include: a memory configured to store a learning-based shape model of the artery, the learning-based shape model being formed based on positions of a plurality of landmarks acquired from three-dimensional images, the plurality of the landmarks corresponding to the artery; a communication circuit configured to receive a target image; and/or a processing circuit configured to model the artery structure included in the target image, using the model.
US09990726B2 Method of determining a position and orientation of a device associated with a capturing device for capturing at least one image
A method of determining a position and orientation of a device is provided. The position and orientation of the device is determined based on multiple degrees of freedom (DoF) and the device is associated with a capturing device for capturing at least one image is provided. The method includes: capturing at least one image of a real object with the capturing device, and providing a coordinate system in relation to the object; providing an estimation of intrinsic parameters of the capturing device; providing pose data to compute first and second DoFs in the coordinate system, with each DoF having a confidence degree; determining an initial pose of the device; performing a pose estimation process, and calculating in the pose estimation process an estimation of the DoFs having a second confidence degree; and determining a position and orientation of the device.
US09990722B2 Electronic device providing a bioeffect image
An electronic device includes a processor configured to control an operation of the electronic device, a memory device coupled to the processor, where the memory device is configured to operate as a main memory of the electronic device, and a display device coupled to the processor, where the display device is configured to display an original image based on first image data for the original image at a first frame, and to display a bioeffect image based on second image data for the bioeffect image at a second frame.
US09990719B2 Method and system for generating multiparametric nosological images
The method of generating multi-parametric nosological images including the steps of obtaining a stack of images; improving such images; reducing the images to a new space of equivalent representation; classifying in an unsupervised manner the units of the images obtained according to a pre-established number of classes without biological interpretation; automatically assigning multi-parametric profiles to the obtained classes; and generating a nosological image through the obtained classes. The system includes an imaging unit; an image processing unit for processing the obtained images and generating therefrom a multi-parametric nosological image; a connection for transmitting the images obtained by the imaging unit to the image processing unit; and a display for displaying the generated multi-parametric nosological image.
US09990716B2 Methods for visualizing heart scar tissue
In a method for visualization of scar tissue in medical imaging data of a heart, medical imaging data representing a heart myocardium and scar tissue within the heart myocardium are obtained and provided to a computer. The computer deviates the thickness of the myocardium into a number of layers and calculates the presence and distribution of scar tissue within each of the layers. The scar tissue is shown in a visualization of the myocardium; and a user is provided with controls to allow the user to select which of the layers of scar tissue is visualised.
US09990713B2 Detecting and visualizing correlations between measured correlation values and correlation reference values of a pathway
An analysis and visualization system analyzes a digital image of a tissue sample. In the sample, cells of a first type are stained in a first way, and cells of a second type are stained in a second way. The system segments the high-resolution image into first and second objects representing cells of the first and second types, respectively. The system also identifies a region of interest, and divides it into tiles. The system generates, for each tile, a first value and a second value. The first and second values for a tile are indicative of densities of the first and second objects in the tile. From the values, a measured correlation coefficient (CC) value is determined. The system compares the measured CC value to a reference CC value, thereby obtaining a correspondence value. The system then displays the image region along with a visualization of the correspondence value.
US09990711B2 Manipulation of a respiratory model via adjustment of parameters associated with model images
Imaging data including images associated with a patient may be received. A subset of the images that are used with a model that is associated with the position and motion of a targeted region of the patient to receive radiation treatment may be identified. The subset of images may be sorted. A graphical user interface (GUI) that identifies two or more of the images of the sorted subset may be provided. A selection associated with one of the images of the sorted subset may be received by the GUI. Furthermore, a new model to identify the targeted region based on the selection that is associated with one of the two or more images may be generated.
US09990709B2 Image processing apparatus, method, and recording medium for processing images using different filters
An image processing apparatus includes a divider that generates a plurality pieces of third image information on the basis of a plurality of pieces of first image information and a plurality of pieces of second image information, a determiner that determines, on the basis of information regarding a sample, a filter to be used for the plurality of pieces of third image information, and a processor that deconvolutes each of the plurality of pieces of third image information using the determined filter. An image sensor that has received first resulting light emitted from a sample that has received first light emitted from a first angle outputs the plurality of pieces of first image information. The image sensor that has received second resulting light emitted from the sample that has received second light emitted from a second angle outputs the plurality of pieces of second image information.
US09990702B2 Method and system for processing image content for enabling high dynamic range (UHD) output thereof and computer-readable medium comprising UHD content created using same
Implementations disclosed herein (e.g., systems, methods, and computer-readable program products) provide a high definition range “UHD” compatible version of classic image content (e.g., as-released motion pictures) that was created in an era of limited dynamic range and that maintains aesthetic characterization defined by “Director's Intent” of the classic image content. Such implementations advantageously use clues to the Director's Intent found in the classic image content to make intelligent estimations as to what a Director (or other image content editing professional) was attempting to achieve in the classic image content relative to a corresponding original image content (e.g., as-shot image content). The original image content holds original imagery details that have been altered or omitted during creation of corresponding classic image content. The classic image content exhibits attributes that reflect the Director's Intent such as, for example color, contrast, vignetting, saturation, and the like.
US09990684B2 Mailport for automated parcel carriers
A Mailport that solves a variety of problems caused by the proliferation of Automated Parcel Carriers, including unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”). The preferred embodiment of the invention features an access aperture designed to retrieve and transfer packages to and from Automated Parcel Carriers. The preferred embodiment of the invention also features a storage area for parcels, and a secured aperture to enable intended recipients to receive or send Parcels as appropriate. Various embodiments of the invention may stand alone or otherwise integrate within the structure of a building.
US09990681B2 Allowing guest of hospitality establishment to utilize multiple guest devices to access network service
Network traffic is received from a guest device on a computer network of a hospitality establishment, and a guest area of the hospitality establishment is accordingly identified. A login database is queried to find an unexpired login for the guest area, the unexpired login specifying a stored guest identifier corresponding to information retrieved from a property management system of the hospitality establishment regarding a guest of the guest area at a time when the unexpired login was created. The stored guest identifier of the unexpired login is compared with a current guest identifier of the guest area retrieved from the property management system regarding a current guest of the guest area. When the stored guest identifier matches the current guest identifier, the guest device is automatically allowed to access the network service for a remaining portion of the allowed access duration of the unexpired login.
US09990678B1 Systems methods and articles of manufacture for assessing trustworthiness of electronic tax return data
Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture for assessing trustworthiness of electronic tax return data. Systems may include modular components including a confidence module that determines at least one attribute of a source of the electronic tax return data, determines a confidence score for the electronic tax return data based at least in part upon at least one source attribute, compares the confidence score and pre-determined criteria, and generates an output indicating whether the confidence score for the electronic tax return data satisfies the pre-determined criteria. When the confidence score does not satisfy the pre-determined criteria, the user can be presented with an alert or message. Confidence scores can be generated and may also be displayed for specific electronic tax return data or fields, a tax form or worksheet, an interview screen, a tax topic, or the tax return as a whole, e.g., for purposes of determining audit risk.
US09990673B2 Universal payment module systems and methods for mobile computing devices
The present disclosure provides universal payment module systems and methods for mobile computing devices that include a universal payment module and an associated adapter device for coupling the universal payment module to any of a plurality of mobile computing devices. The present disclosure utilizes a common payment module which can interface multiple mobile computers with differing form factors via a snap-on sled. Advantageously, the present invention allows the leveraging of one payment module for many mobile computers. The single payment module includes various special payment security mechanisms via mechanical, electrical, and software mechanisms. The present disclosure enables design, standardization, and production of one single common, universal payment module for a plurality of mobile computer devices instead of one specific payment module for each form factor of the plurality of mobile computer devices.
US09990671B2 Method, system, and graphic user interface for enabling a customer to access a media file and associated artist
A method, system, GUI, apparatus, and computer readable media for enabling a customer to access both an artist media file as well as the associated artist are provided. An artist profile may be hosted on, for example, a web site, SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site. A media file may be received from the artist along with artist contact links and may be uploaded to the artist's profile. A request to access the media file and/or the artist may be received from a customer. The customer may then be enabled to access the media file and/or artist. The artist's account may be updated to indicate the transaction.
US09990669B2 Leveraging a social network to search for local inventory
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for leveraging a social network to search for local inventory includes communicating with a first mobile communication device over a network, the first mobile communication device associated with a user, and communicating with a second mobile communication device over the network, the second mobile communication device associated with a social network contact. The method further includes obtaining a geo-location of the second mobile communication device, processing a search request from the first mobile communication device, obtaining a radius of coverage for a merchant, determining whether the geo-location of the second mobile communication device is within the radius of coverage of the merchant, and providing a listing to the first mobile communication device of one or more items for sale by the merchant when the second mobile communication device is within the radius of coverage of the merchant.
US09990666B2 Method, system and apparatus for delivering a recommendation
A method of delivering a recommendation is disclosed. A preference rating is received for each of a plurality of electronic devices based on a task to be recommended, each of the preference ratings defining a preference to perform the recommended task on a corresponding one of the electronic devices. A timeliness profile associated with the recommendation is received. The timeliness profile defines relevance of delivering the recommendation over a period of time. One of the electronic devices on which to deliver the recommendation at a particular point in time is selected based on a function of the preference rating of the selected electronic device and the timeliness profile associated with the recommendation at that point in time.
US09990664B2 Methods and systems for monitoring a facility
In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for monitoring a facility, such as the safety, security, and status of individuals and items within the facility. In one illustrative approach, a retail facility maintains information regarding product location, in part, from correlating a shopper's cart path and their purchased items with those of other shoppers. In some approaches, a cart path may be determined, in part, by depositing compounds on a floor surface, provide shopping carts configured to pick up the compounds deposited on the floor of the retail facility, and capture, via a compound detector, the compounds deposited on the cart wheels of a particular shopping cart during a customer checkout at a point of sale terminal, and generate an estimated cart path for the particular one of the plurality of shopping carts.
US09990663B2 Measuring shirt
A measuring garment may be provided. The measuring garment may include at least one measurement marking for determining a measurement for a desired garment dimension. The measuring garment may be used to convey calculate and subsequently convey measurement info to a garment company for producing or providing fitted garments.
US09990661B2 Systems and methods for estimating vehicle damage
The present disclosure systems and methods for providing a repair quote for a car including damage associated with a user. The system is configured to receive information from a user, such as photos of a damaged car, wherein the system generates and/or retrieves the repair quote associated with repairing the damage. As a result, the user does not need to physically take the damaged car to an automobile repair company to retrieve a repair quote.
US09990659B2 In-store self-serve and zoning using geo-fencing
A geo-fencing system includes a plurality of beacons defining zones within a venue. The system receives a first beacon identifier from a mobile device and registers the mobile device in a first zone corresponding to the first beacon. The system causes a first menu to be displayed on the mobile device, indicating options for the first zone. In response to selection of one of the options, the system registers the mobile device as being active in the first zone. The system then receives a second beacon identifier and registers the mobile device as being in the second zone. The system also suspends the activity of the mobile device in the first zone and causes options to be displayed to continue or terminate the activity in the first zone.
US09990656B2 System architecture and methods for facilitating client-side real-time auctions of advertising inventory
System architecture and methods for enabling a client-side real-time auction of advertising inventory that works in conjunction with ad serving technologies. The method according to some embodiments of the present invention comprise: (i) an end-user visiting a web page wherein multiple advertisements are displayed, (ii) for each ad unit on the page, multiple parallel requests are sent from the end-user's browser client to multiple real-time bidders who respond with a bid & advertisement for each unit, (iii) the bids are compared within the end-user's browser and the winning bid is sent to an ad serving system to be compared with other statically priced advertisements and exchange demand to determine the winning advertisements that will be displayed to the end-user and (iv) data is aggregated for each bid and price limits are set based on the aggregations.
US09990655B2 Live media stream including personalized notifications
A live media broadcast includes core content streamed to multiple users. While all consumers can be presented with the same core content, each individual consumer can be provided with individually customized content from various notification services during commercial breaks. For example, while one consumer can be provided with customized banking updates from her bank account during part of a commercial break, during that same commercial break another user might be provided with social media notifications or reminders from his calendar. Notifications or updates can be received in a text format and converted to an audio or other suitable format at an ad server, and delivered to a media automation system for insertion into a media stream in a way that integrates notifications into the listening or viewing experience without interrupting presentation of the core content.
US09990654B2 System and method for dynamically retrieving and monitoring geofence activity
Systems, device and techniques are disclosed for dynamically retrieving and monitoring geo-fence activity. A meta geo-fence may be identified based on a user device geolocation. The meta geo-fence having a radius that is dynamically generated to include previously defined geo-fences within or touching the meta geo-fence. User device geolocation may be monitored in relation to the defined geo-fences included in the radius of the meta geo-fence. A communication may be sent to the user device when the user device reports that the user device has entered or exited one of the previously defined geo-fences within or touching the radius of the meta geo-fence.
US09990651B2 Method and apparatus for selective delivery of ads based on factors including site clustering
For each of various sites, a mathematical representation is computed according to prescribed characteristics of users that have conducted one or more predetermined types of interaction with the site. Cluster of the sites are identified whose computed representations are similar according to prescribed criteria. Responsive to notification of an opportunity to deliver unidentified advertising to a given user via a given site, at least one ad is selected based upon factors including the ad having a prescribed performance history at one or more clusters containing the given site. The selected ad is transmitted to the given user at the given site, or a bid is transmitted for such placement of the ad.
US09990649B2 System and method for managing message campaign data
A data-management server system comprising one or more processors and memory establishes separate storage areas for first and second data-collection server systems. The data-management server system receives, from the first data-collection server system, first information that corresponds to feedback from a first set of users and excludes information that reveals the identity of individual users in the first set of users and receives, from the second data-collection server system, second information that corresponds to feedback from a second set of users that excludes information that reveals the identity of individual users in the second set of users. The data-management server system stores the first information in a first storage area, stores the second information in a second storage area, and provides access to the first and second information through one or more gatekeeper processes that control access to data received from the data-collection systems.
US09990648B2 System and method for managing message campaign data
A server system comprising one or more processors and memory obtains user profiles for a plurality of users. In response to receiving profile-update information for a respective user, the server system updates a respective profile of the respective user in accordance with the profile-update information and initiates storage of profile-archive information that enables the server system to obtain a prior version of the respective profile. After updating the respective profile, the server system receives, from a requestor, a request for analysis of message interaction data. In response to receiving the request for analysis of the message interaction data, the server system obtains a message-interaction report that correlates the message interaction data with a set of one or more prior versions of profiles of one or more users that includes the prior version of the respective profile of the respective user and provides the message-interaction report to the requestor.
US09990644B2 System and methods for determining location of pop displays with wireless beacons using known wireless beacon locations
Systems and methods for using wireless beacons in point of purchase (“POP”) displays to facilitate the delivery of consumer oriented content to mobile devices is disclosed herein. Wireless beacons may be used to broadcast wireless signals from POP displays, where the wireless signals include data packets with unique identifiers for the wireless beacons. A first wireless signal from a first POP display may be received by a mobile device. The mobile device may also receive a second wireless signal from a second POP display at the same retail locatin. The mobile device may provide the first and second unique identifiers to a remote server. The remote server may know the location of one of the POP displays and assess the retail location of the other POP display based on the receiving both unique identifiers from the same retail location.
US09990637B2 Retail reinvention and self help care portal
A system and method for implementing an in-store kiosk device as part of a retail reinvention and self help care portal. The in-store kiosk device may allow a consumer to self-diagnose problems with electronic devices, such as smart phones, and to seek technical or service related assistance with appropriate experts. The in-store kiosk device may also facilitate initiating a communication between the consumer and multiple experts, to help resolve any consumer technical or sales queries. In some examples, the in-store kiosk device has the added advantage of providing consumers with a means to have service or inventory-related issues addressed without having to wait for available in-store service staff. The in-store kiosk device may also facilitate electronic device exchange.
US09990636B1 Enterprise fulfillment system with dynamic prefetching, secured data access, system monitoring, and performance optimization capabilities
Systems and methods for providing services to customers in response to customer requests received through one or more channels are disclosed. The present invention provides for a central fulfillment hub in which all requests from banking customers may be processed by applying a library of policies to systematically resolve the customer requests or engage resources necessary to resolve such requests. In addition, the system may provide security mechanisms to secure access to resources, including applications and data, based on applications, assigned user roles or user, activities, and access control configurations. Further, the system may dynamically allocate employees across teams based on system demand and provide secured access to the resources accordingly. In addition, the system includes an analytics engine that can dynamically modify the workflows, rules and other parameters of the system during operations in order to optimize system performance.
US09990630B2 Platform and method for analyzing the performance of message oriented middleware
A computer server platform application for analyzing a capability of a message oriented transaction system. The platform application includes a first server having a performance driver utility for sending a plurality of transactions through a queue manager as messages having a payload and a correlation identification. The performance driver utility calculates and records a completion time for each transaction sent. A backend utility within the first server is for receiving each transaction sent, converting each payload into a reply message, and sending the reply message to a reply queue destination. A graphing utility contained within the first server is for displaying the completion time for each transaction and an average number of transactions per unit of time for a total number of transactions tested. The performance driver utility is further for displaying categories of possible transaction delays and resolutions of the delays.
US09990625B2 Establishing trust for conducting direct secure electronic transactions between a user and service providers
Ensuring security of electronic transactions between a user and a service provider involves establishing electronic trust among a user, device, transaction service provider, and service providers through OTAC processing, key generation and exchange, and verification.
US09990624B2 Transmitting data based on retrieval locations
A system, a medium, and a method are provided to send compensation data to devices at one or more locations where the data is retrievable. For example, a communication interface of a server device accesses request data, where the request data includes an indication of one or more locations where a compensation amount is retrievable. A compensation data component generates compensation data based on the indication of the one or more locations where the compensation amount is retrievable. A location component determines a location of a client device that corresponds to the one or more locations. A transceiver transmits the compensation data to the client device based on the determined location of the client device that corresponds to the one or more locations.
US09990622B2 Authentication and payment system and method using mobile communication terminal
Disclosed herein are an authentication and payment system and method. The authentication and payment system of the present invention includes an issuer server, an issuer information management intermediate server, an acquirer server and a payment server. The issuer server issues, manages and operates payment means. The issuer information management intermediate server manages URL information required to access domestic and foreign issuer servers. The acquirer server performs payment approval and performs acquisition and settlement for member stores. The payment server intermediates between the issuer server and the acquirer server to provide an authentication and payment service in response to a request from a terminal of the merchant. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a safe and convenient payment process with respect to payment means, such as credit cards, electronic money or mobile phone micro payment that can be selected between a purchaser and a merchant.
US09990621B1 Merchant application programming interface for splitting bills
Split bill payment technology enabled by an application programming interface (API) is disclosed. In some embodiments, API integration between a merchant application or system and a payment application or payment service system enables the merchant application or system to send requests for split bill payments to the payment service system. In response, the payment service system can collect from each bill payer identified in a request, the bill payer's share of a bill and transfer the collected amounts to the merchant.
US09990611B2 Systems and methods for incorporating calendar functionality into electronic messages
A system is provided which that allows users of electronic communication systems and/or calendar systems the ability to suggest meetings to users of different electronic communication systems and/or calendar systems via electronic messages. The system may provide users with the ability to share calendar availability with users of other electronic communication systems and/or calendar systems via electronic message. One aspect of the disclosed system is the fact that users can share interactive calendar information, and propose and confirm tentative meetings and events, with users of different electronic communications and/or calendar systems. Additionally, calendar information that is shared with others may be dynamically updated even after the electronic messages have been sent.
US09990608B2 Virtual professionals community for conducting virtual consultations with suggested professionals
Systems and methods for providing a virtual professionals community for conducting virtual consultations with suggested professionals includes receiving, at an electronic device, a request for data associated with a professional. A list of professionals can be transmitted to a client in response to the request. The client can select one of the professionals from the list of professionals. At a scheduled time for a virtual consultation, an appointment interface can be established between the client and professional. Prior to the virtual consultation, including immediately before the virtual consultation, a notification can be transmitted to the professional. The notification can include access to the appointment interface, and a selectable option corresponding to a professional insurance coverage for the virtual appointment. The professional insurance coverage can be based at least in part on the request and can have a coverage period corresponding to a duration of the virtual consultation.
US09990604B2 System and method for determining and controlling status and location of an object
Techniques are described with regard to determining and controlling a location and status of assets directly and/or indirectly. The techniques may be used to track and control the respective locations and status of any number of objects. Applications include but are not limited to tracking dry and refrigerated trailers and their status in a supply-chain yard; tracking pallets and boxes and their status in a warehouse; tracking items in a retail environment; tracking finished goods and work in progress in and around a manufacturing plant; tracking vehicles in a parking lot; tracking cargo and equipment at an airport; tracking equipment in a lay down yard; etc. In all cases the laborious and error prone data gathering is replaced with automated data collection methods reducing cost, increasing accuracy, and increasing efficiency.
US09990600B2 Delivery prediction system and method accelerated by α days
In an LP gas delivery business, when the preparation of a delivery list for a next day delivery amount is followed by a delivery operation, a discrepancy is caused between the delivery list and a delivery record. On the other hand, the delivery due date is determined so as to avoid a gas shortage. The delivery prior to the delivery due date has no problem. Thus, the delivery list in the LP gas delivery business is prepared by setting, as data for a next day delivery amount, not data having a delivery due date of a next day but data after α days (e.g., after 2 days).
US09990599B1 Method and system for multidisciplinary research collaboration
A system and method for multidisciplinary team collaboration may include an algorithm for determining suitable relationships between the team members; a visualization interface for illustrating and managing members in separate groups according to their profiles, expertise, work output, and/or project roles; and the analysis of how members interact and use knowledge content. In the disclosed method, lived-work practices and/or knowledge content may be incorporated in the system to account for human behavior and expand upon existing documented work processes.
US09990598B2 Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing a rules engine system
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for that have a cross-module scope for facilitating the use and management of rules on an application level. The rules engine system is configured to accept inputs from multiple modules of an application, retrieve data from multiple modules, and cause actions to be carried out by multiple modules. A rules engine provider component of the system is isolated from a rules manager component of the system by a rules wrapper component, such that the rules manager component is unaffected by changes that are made to the rules engine provider component.
US09990595B2 Modeled service endpoints in business process model and notation tools
A system and method for modeling service endpoints of BPMN processes is disclosed. The process is modeled using a BPMN modeling tool. A service endpoint is modeled using the BPMN modeling tool. A uniform resource locator (URL) is generated for the service endpoint, the URL being a web-based address under which a service represented by the process can be called by a business process application. The service endpoint is linked to the process, and then service-provisioned to be executed in the BPMN domain.
US09990592B2 Kernel parameter selection in support vector data description for outlier identification
A computing device determines a kernel parameter value for a support vector data description for outlier identification. A first candidate optimal kernel parameter value is computed by computing a first optimal value of a first objective function that includes a kernel function for each of a plurality of kernel parameter values from a starting kernel parameter value to an ending kernel parameter value using an incremental kernel parameter value. The first objective function is defined for a SVDD model using observation vectors to define support vectors. A number of the observation vectors is a predefined sample size. The predefined sample size is incremented by adding a sample size increment. A next candidate optimal kernel parameter value is computed with an incremented number of vectors until a computed difference value is less than or equal to a predefined convergence value.
US09990590B2 Machine learning apparatus and method for optimizing smoothness of feed of feed axis of machine and motor control apparatus including machine learning apparatus
A machine learning apparatus includes: a state observation unit that observes a state variable composed of at least one of data relating to the number of errors that is an error between a position command relative to a rotor of a motor which is drive-controlled by the motor control apparatus and an actual position of a feed mechanism unit, an operation program of the motor control apparatus, any command of the position command, a speed command, or a current command in the motor control apparatus, data relating to a workpiece machining condition in a machine tool including the motor control apparatus, and data relating to a state of the machine tool including the motor control apparatus; and a learning unit that learns a condition associated with the number of corrections used to correct the above-mentioned command in accordance with a training data set constituted by the state variable.
US09990588B2 System for predicting amount of production and method for predicting amount of production
Provided is a production amount prediction system including: a storage unit which stores a production amount prediction model which is based on resources information including a resources amount obtained in a previously drilled wellbore and a resources recovery probability in the vicinity thereof; an input unit which receives a trajectory coordinate of a planned wellbore as an input; a production amount prediction unit which calculates a production amount of the planned wellbore based on the production amount prediction model by using a degree of influence of the previous wellbore on the planned wellbore as at least one parameter; and a display unit which displays the production amount of resources of the planned wellbore calculated by the production amount prediction unit.
US09990580B2 Neuromorphic synapses
Neuromorphic synapse apparatus 11 comprises a memelement 20 for storing a synaptic weight, and programming logic 21. The memelement 20 is adapted to exhibit a desired programming characteristic. The programming logic 21 is responsive to a stimulus prompting update of the synaptic weight for generating a programming signal for programming the memelement 20 to update said weight. The programming logic 21 may be responsive to an input signal indicating an input weight-change value ΔWi, and may be adapted to generate a programming signal dependent on the input weight-change value ΔWi. The programming logic 21 is adapted such that the programming signals exploit the programming characteristic of the memelement 20 to provide a desired weight-dependent synaptic update efficacy.
US09990572B2 Information processing apparatus, print data generation method, and storage medium
To prevent the occurrence of a difference in printing results depending on a printer driver to be used despite that the drawing command originates from a GDI application and is the same. An information processing apparatus including a printer driver configured to generate print data compatible with a printing apparatus from input XPS format drawing data, and in the case where the input XPS format drawing data is XPS format drawing data converted by a conversion module from GDI format drawing data that is generated based on print processing of a GDI application and the XPS format drawing data includes a graphics drawing command specifying an object width of 0, the printer driver changes the graphics drawing command into a graphics drawing command specifying drawing with the minimum object width that can be represented by the printing apparatus and generates the print data based on the drawing data including the graphics drawing command after the change.
US09990569B2 Image scanning device and control method thereof
The disclosure discloses an image scanning device and a control method thereof, wherein the image scanning device includes: a bearing member, configured to receive a paper bill; a light source; a lens; a first converter, arranged on the emergent side of the lens and configured to convert light signals from the lens into electric signals; a controller, connected with the light source and the first converter, and configured to control the light emitting time of the light source, acquire the electric signals during the light emitting process of the light source, and acquire the electric signals again after the light source stops emitting light for a preset period of time. Through the disclosure, the problem of low accuracy of paper bill scanning in the prior technologies is solved, and the effect of increasing the accuracy of paper bill identification is achieved.
US09990568B2 Method of construction of anomaly models from abnormal data
A method (100) of constructing a probabilistic graphical model (10) of a system from data that includes both normal and anomalous data includes the step of learning parameters of a structure for the probabilistic graphical model (10). The structure includes at least one latent variable (26) on which other variables (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) are conditional, and has a plurality of components. The method further includes the steps of: iteratively associating one or more of the plurality of components of the latent variable (26) with normal data; constructing a matrix of the associations; detecting abnormal components of the latent variable (26) based on one of a low association with the normal data or the matrix of associations; and deleting the abnormal components of the latent variable (26) from the probabilistic graphical model (10).
US09990559B2 Data compression
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for compressing rows of data stored in a first matrix using run length encoding (RLE) to produce an RLE encoded matrix. Compressing columns of the RLE encoded matrix into a set of arrays by differentially encoding data count values of the RLE encoded matrix, wherein each array in the set of arrays represents a column of the RLE encoded matrix.
US09990558B2 Generating image features based on robust feature-learning
Techniques for increasing robustness of a convolutional neural network based on training that uses multiple datasets and multiple tasks are described. For example, a computer system trains the convolutional neural network across multiple datasets and multiple tasks. The convolutional neural network is configured for learning features from images and accordingly generating feature vectors. By using multiple datasets and multiple tasks, the robustness of the convolutional neural network is increased. A feature vector of an image is used to apply an image-related operation to the image. For example, the image is classified, indexed, or objects in the image are tagged based on the feature vector. Because the robustness is increased, the accuracy of the generating feature vectors is also increased. Hence, the overall quality of an image service is enhanced, where the image service relies on the image-related operation.
US09990556B2 Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, movable object, program, and region setting method
An image processing apparatus (14) includes a road information receiver (24) and a region setter (25). The road information receiver (24) obtains road information around a movable object. The region setter (25), based on the road information, sets a region of a peripheral image of the movable object to extract.
US09990554B1 Apparatuses, systems and methods for determining vehicle operator distractions
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating data representative of vehicle operator distractions. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating data representative of vehicle operator distractions based on vehicle interior image data.
US09990549B2 Complex marking determining device and complex marking determining method
A complex marking determining device includes a brightness state calculating portion configured to calculate a lane marking representative value indicative of a brightness state of a plurality of pixels that make up a lane marking display region, and calculate a road surface representative value indicative of a brightness state of a plurality of pixels that make up the road surface display region; and a complex marking determining portion configured to determine that the lane marking is a complex marking at least when a degree of deviation between the lane marking representative value and the road surface representative value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value.
US09990547B2 Odometry feature matching
Methods and systems for determining features of interest for following within various frames of data received from multiple sensors of a device are disclosed. An example method may include receiving data from a plurality of sensors of a device. The method may also include determining, based on the data, motion data that is indicative of a movement of the device in an environment. The method may also include as the device moves in the environment, receiving image data from a camera of the device. The method may additionally include selecting, based at least in part on the motion data, features in the image data for feature-following. The method may further include estimating one or more of a position of the device or a velocity of the device in the environment as supported by the data from the plurality of sensors and feature-following of the selected features in the images.
US09990546B2 Method and apparatus for determining target region in video frame for target acquisition
An example target acquisition method includes obtaining, according to a global feature of each video frame of a plurality of video frames, a target pre-estimated position of each scale in the video frame; clustering the target pre-estimated position in each video frame to obtain a corresponding target candidate region; and determining a target actual region in the video frame according to all the target candidate regions in each video frame in combination with confidence levels of the target candidate regions and corresponding scale processing. The techniques of the present disclosure quickly and effectively acquire one or multiple targets, and, more particularly, achieve accurately distinguishing and acquiring the multiple targets.
US09990544B1 Data accuracy in OCR by leveraging user data and business rules to improve data accuracy at field level
A method and system provides augmented OCR data to a user of a financial system. The method and system include receiving image data related to an image of a financial document of the user and generating OCR data based on the image data. The method and system further include receiving financial data related to the financial document, analyzing the financial document, and generating the augmented OCR data based on the OCR data and the financial data.
US09990542B2 Method of switching video images and surveillance system
The disclosure provides a method of switching video images and a surveillance system. The method includes the following steps. A first video image is displayed under a first display mode in a monitoring interface. Whether a target object in the first video image enters into a designated region in the first video image is determined. Whether a ratio of the targeted object to the first video image is smaller than or equal to a first threshold is determined when the target object enters into the designated region. When the ratio is smaller than or equal to the first threshold, a second video image is displayed under the first display mode in the monitoring interface. The designated region in the first video image is related to a geographic position, and the second video image is a video image related to the geographic position.
US09990541B2 Commodity recognition apparatus and commodity recognition method
A commodity recognition apparatus comprises an image interface configured to acquire the image of a commodity photographed by a camera and a processor configured to detect a commodity image from the images acquired via the image interface, carry out a commodity recognition processing for recognizing commodity candidates according to the feature amount extracted from the commodity image and a code reading processing for reading a commodity recognition code from the same commodity image in parallel, and as a result determine a commodity recognition code if the commodity recognition code is read through the code reading processing or output the result of the commodity recognition processing if no commodity recognition code is read and the photographing period for the commodity is ended.
US09990540B2 Operation estimation apparatus, robot, and operation estimation method
An operation estimation apparatus includes a distance measurement unit configured to measure a distance for a predetermined range, a human-body processing unit configured to detect a person on the basis of a distribution of measured distances, a tracking unit configured to assign an identifier to each detected person, and a situation estimation unit configured to estimate reaction of the person on the basis of a human data height which is a value of a height direction included in the measured distance in a first period set by prompting the person to start and end hand raising, wherein the situation estimation unit measures the human data height for each person to which the identifier is assigned a plurality of times in the first period, extracts an identifier for which human data heights are in the predetermined range, and estimates the reaction of the person corresponding to the extracted identifier.
US09990538B2 Face recognition apparatus and method using physiognomic feature information
A face recognition technology using physiognomic feature information, which can improve the accuracy of face recognition. For this, the face recognition method using physiognomic feature information includes defining standard physiognomic types for respective facial elements, capturing a facial image of a user, detecting information about facial elements from the facial image, and calculating similarity scores relative to the standard physiognomic types for respective facial elements of the user based on the facial element information.
US09990537B2 Facial feature location using symmetry line
A method, system and product for locating facial features using symmetry line of the face. The method comprises: obtaining an image of a face of a subject; automatically detecting a symmetry line of the face, wherein the symmetry line intersects at least a mouth region of the face; and automatically locating a facial feature of the face using the symmetry line. Optionally, a rotation of the symmetry line is used to select a template, to rotate a template or to rotate the image. Optionally, the facial feature is symmetrical and the facial feature is searched for using a symmetrical template. Optionally, the automatic locating comprises performing a one dimension correlation of an intensity cross section defined by the symmetry line with a cross section template. Optionally, the automatic location comprises correlating a curve defined by the symmetry line with a template curve.
US09990532B2 Fingerprint data registering method and fingerprint data registering apparatus
In a fingerprint data registering method, a blurred pseudo image is displayed and, when a fingerprint image for authentication registration is acquired, a fingerprint position of the acquired fingerprint image is extracted. A position in the pseudo image, which corresponds to the extracted fingerprint position, is determined. A part of the blurred pseudo image at the determined corresponding position is converted to a clear partial pseudo-image having a higher resolution than that of the blurred pseudo image and the clear partial pseudo-image is displayed. The acquired fingerprint image is registered as an authentication-purpose fingerprint image in association with the converting and outputting process.
US09990531B2 Reading device and reading method for fingerprint sensor
A reading device and a reading method for a fingerprint sensor are provided. The reading device includes a switching circuit, a plurality of analog front end (AFE) circuits and a calculation circuit. The switching circuit is coupled to a plurality of pixel units of the fingerprint sensor. The AFE circuits are coupled to the switching circuit. The calculation circuit is coupled to the AFE circuits for calculating a plurality of pixel data of the pixel units. For a first pixel unit among the pixel units, the calculation circuit reads the first pixel unit by using different AFE circuits among the AFE circuits, so as to obtain a plurality of first original sensing values of the first pixel unit. The calculation circuit calculates the pixel data of the first pixel unit according to the plurality of first original sensing values.
US09990530B2 Fingerprint sensing device
A fingerprint sensing device includes a plurality of sensing units. Each sensing unit includes: a readout element, a photosensitive element, a light emitting element and a diode. The photosensitive element is electrically connected to the readout element. The light emitting element is disposed corresponding to the photosensitive element, and includes a first anode, a first cathode, and a light emitting layer located between the first anode and the first cathode. The diode includes a second anode and a second cathode, and a semiconductor layer located between the second anode and the second cathode. The second anode is electrically connected to the first cathode of the light emitting element, and the second cathode is electrically connected to the first anode of the light emitting element.
US09990529B2 Sensor for detecting fingerprint and identification apparatus and controlling method of sensor for detecting fingerprint
A sensor for detecting a fingerprint, a fingerprint identification apparatus and a controlling method of a sensor for detecting a fingerprint are provided. The sensor for detecting the fingerprint includes a detecting panel including: a detecting region with a plurality of detecting units, in which the plurality of detecting units are distributed in a plurality rows and columns on the detecting region; and a conductive layer, configured to form a sensing capacitance between the conductive layer and a finger when the finger is close to the detecting region; a capacitance detecting module, configured to detect the sensing capacitance; and a control module.
US09990526B2 System for capturing a coded image
An aimer module for a mobile device and method of use can assist in capturing a barcode image. The aimer module can receive light from a lamp of the mobile device and generate a light pattern on the surface containing a barcode, including through the use of a grating, a configuration of mirrors, light pipes, or other methods for bending or controlling the lamp source of the mobile device. Registration of the light pattern and the barcode in or near the scan area can enable a camera of the mobile device to capture and decode the barcode.
US09990523B2 Optical accessory for attachment to mobile device
An attachment for use with a mobile device with an imaging device and a mobile-device light source can include one or more of an attachment base and an attachment body. The attachment base can be configured to secure the attachment body to the mobile device via a case for the mobile device. The attachment body can include at least one optical device for use with the imaging device, and an optical sensor to receive optical control signals from the mobile-device light source.
US09990521B2 Bundled unit identification and tracking
A unique digital identifier of a bundled set of items may be generated based on imaging data or other information captured from the bundled set, stored, and used for any purpose. The imaging data or other information may depict or describe the bundled set after the items have been wrapped or otherwise combined in a unique manner using a binding agent, e.g., a sheet of shrink wrap, a rubber band, or any other materials. Unique digital identifiers of bundled sets of items may be stored in association with information regarding the items. When a bundled set of items is recognized based on its unique digital identifier, information regarding the bundled set may be accessed and used for any purpose, such as to identify a common container for the bundled set based on attributes of any of the items or an order with which the bundled set is associated.
US09990517B2 Contemporaneous gesture and keyboard entry authentication
A restricted access device such as a cellphone, a tablet or a personal computer, analyzes contemporaneous keyboard inputs of a password and gestures to authenticate the user and enable further access to applications and processes of the restricted access device. The gestures may be facial gestures detected by a camera or may be gestures made by an avatar rendered on a display of the device. The password may be shorted based upon the context of the authentication as well as any gestures occurring during password entry. The gestures may be learned by the restricted access device during the password entry process.
US09990512B2 File backup with selective encryption
A method for automatically encrypting files is disclosed. In some cases, the method may be performed by computer hardware comprising one or more processors. The method can include detecting access to a first file, which may be stored in a primary storage system. Further, the method can include determining whether the access comprises a write access. In response to determining that the access comprises a write access, the method can include accessing file metadata associated with the first file and accessing a set of encryption rules. In addition, the method can include determining whether the file metadata satisfies the set of encryption rules. In response to determining that the file metadata satisfies the set of encryption rules, the method can include encrypting the first file to obtain a first encrypted file and modifying an extension of the first encrypted file to include an encryption extension.
US09990510B2 Database logging using storage class memory
A plurality of reserve and commit log operations are initiated in a database system. Thereafter, at least a portion of the database operations are logged in a log such that transient data structures are kept in-memory of the database system and persistent data structures are kept in byte-addressable memory. Next, each of one or more clients concurrently accessing the log are registered to enable such clients to access the log.
US09990509B2 Systems and methods for error detection and diagnostics visualization
A human machine interface (HMI) configured to provide visualizations of one or more device elements that correspond to one or more components in an industrial automation system on an HMI screen. The HMI includes computer-executable instructions stored on a tangible machine-readable medium configured to determine whether at least one of the device elements is associated with an error and modify at least one graphic that corresponds to the at least one of the device elements when the one of the device elements is associated with the error.
US09990508B1 Notification of application permissions
Methods for notification of application permissions are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first application programming interface (API) call by an installed application on a device, determining a sensitivity level of the received first API call, determining whether an author of the installed application is an authorized author by determining whether a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate used to deliver binary code to the device during the process of installing the application is owned by a trusted entity or has been validated by a trusted entity when the determined sensitivity level of the received first API call is associated with a restricted API classification, and allowing the received first API call access to its associated API when the author of the installed application is determined to be an authorized author.
US09990506B1 Systems and methods of securing network-accessible peripheral devices
In one embodiment, a method is performed by a computer system. The method includes accessing information related to enterprise usage of a plurality of network-accessible peripheral devices and identifying, from the information, discrete content-imaging events that occurred on the plurality of network-accessible peripheral devices. In addition, the method includes determining particular users associated with the discrete content-imaging events on a per-event basis and determining particular content to which the discrete content-imaging events relate on a per-event basis. Further, the method includes abstracting correlated data related to the discrete content-imaging events into a standardized format, the correlated data comprising data related to the particular users and the particular content, the standardized format enabling expression of the discrete content-imaging events by user and by type of content-imaging activity.
US09990505B2 Temporally isolating data accessed by a computing device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method to temporally isolate data accessed by a computing device so that the data accessed by the computing device is limited to a single set of data. The method includes removing any data that is accessed by the computing device when operating in different modes so that the data is inaccessible by the computing device when operating in the mode. The method also includes switching to the mode after the data associated with the modes different from the mode have been removed. The method also includes operating in the mode based on a plurality of rules associated with the security policy in temporal isolation from any other mode associated with the computing device. The computing device is limited to operating in the mode and is prevented from accessing any data that is distinct from the single set of data of the mode.
US09990500B2 Determining application vulnerabilities
Disclosed herein are techniques for determining vulnerabilities in applications under testing. It is determined whether a first database instruction of an application enters information into a database and whether a second database instruction thereof obtains said information from the database. If the first database instruction enters the information in the database and the second database instruction obtains the information therefrom, it is determined whether the application is vulnerable to entry of malicious code via the database.
US09990499B2 Dynamic security testing
A method and system for discovering and testing security assets is provided. Based on source definition data describing sources to monitor on the one or more computer networks, an example system scans the sources to identify security assets. The system analyses the security assets to identify characteristics of the server-based applications. The system stores database records describing the security assets and the identified characteristics. The system queries the database records to select, based at least on the identified characteristics, one or more target assets, from the security assets, on which to conduct one or more security tests. Responsive to selecting the one or more target assets, the system conducts the one or more security tests on the one or more target assets. The system identifies one or more security vulnerabilities at the one or more target assets based on the conducted one or more security tests.
US09990497B2 Method to scan a forensic image of a computer system with multiple malicious code detection engines simultaneously from a master control point
A multi-engine malicious code scanning method for scanning data sets from a storage device is provided. The method includes, among other steps obtaining at least one data set from a storage device and generating a single forensic image of the data set and also applying a recover data application to the data set to generate a single recovered data set. A scanning is initiated of the single forensic image and the single recovered data set using the selected plurality of malware engines, where each of the malware engines, installed on the independent operating systems of the virtual operating system may be run concurrently on the single forensic image and the single recovered data set. A report is generated combining each of the malware engines reporting the results of the scans.
US09990496B2 Analyzing a password-protected file for malware
A device may receive a password-protected file to be accessed for analysis. The device may identify a contextual term, associated with the password-protected file, to be used as a password to attempt to access the password-protected file. The contextual term may be identified based on at least one of: metadata associated with the password-protected file, metadata associated with a source from which the password-protected file is received, or text associated with the source from which the password-protected file is received. The device may apply the contextual term as the password to attempt to access the password-protected file.
US09990492B2 Systems and/or methods for automatically protecting against memory corruption vulnerabilities
Certain example embodiments described herein relate to techniques for automatically protecting, or hardening, software against exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities. The techniques include arranging a plurality of guard regions in the memory in relation to data objects formed by the application program, identifying an access by the application program to a guard region arranged in the memory as a disallowed access, and modifying the execution of the application program in response to the identifying, the modifying being in order to prevent exploitation of the memory and/or to correctly execute the application program.
US09990490B2 Generic privilege escalation prevention
An apparatus, method, computer readable storage medium are provided in one or more examples and comprise accessing an application, identifying an access token of the application, determining if the access token is a system token, and responsive to the access token failing to be a system token, enabling a runtime module.
US09990485B2 Anti-passback algorithm for reading a public or secure object
An anti-passback algorithm for an access control system is described. The anti-passback algorithm prevents the use of valid credentials to gain access to an access-controlled area by more than one person within a given period of time. The algorithm is capable of distinguishing between credentials intentionally presented to the access control system and credentials that are unintentionally read by the access control system. Certain variables may be set by the access control system manufacturer or a trusted individual to adapt the algorithm for applications.
US09990484B2 System and method for user enrollment in a secure biometric verification system
A computer-implemented method and system for verifying the identity of a user in an identity authentication and biometric verification system which includes collecting information from the user regarding the user's identity, which is then electronically authenticated. Upon authentication, personal information regarding the verified identity of the user is retrieved from a source database which is used to verify the identity of the user, via user interaction. Upon successful verification and authentication, biometric data regarding the user is electronically collected.
US09990476B2 System for interactive matrix manipulation control of streamed data and media
An interactive streaming media and application service provider system can securely stream high resolution, multiple formats of video and data. Different data sets can be included in a single stream. A rights management system controls matrix manipulation and other aspects of user control of the data, including one or more of rendering in various different 2D, 3D, or other media formats, reconstruction and modeling, zooming, frame grab, print frame, parental controls, picture in picture, preventing unauthorized copying, adapting to different data transmission formats, adapting to different resolutions and screen sizes, and actively control functionality contained in embedded data, encryption/decryption. Control can be exerted by an external entity through a user-side virtual machine. Control codes can optionally be embedded in the media, embedded in the user's device, and/or sent separately to the device.
US09990475B2 Apparatus and method of in-application licensing
Apparatus and methods for licensing include executing a base application on a device, initiating a transaction with an application store to obtain access to a subordinate licensable item that is usable by the base application, receiving a transaction receipt corresponding to the transaction for the subordinate licensable item, and obtaining, from a license server, a subordinate license that corresponds to the subordinate licensable item. Additionally, the apparatus and methods may include storing a base license for a base application on a device, acquiring a subordinate license for a subordinate licensable item usable by the base application, receiving a request to execute the base application, enforcing, by a license agent service on the device, the base license with respect to executing the base application, and enforcing, by the base application, the subordinate license during execution of the base application.
US09990463B2 System for automated design of multi-body machine
A system for automated design of a machine having multiple driven bodies is disclosed. The system may have a multi-body database with at least one of a parts section and a launch code section. The system may also have one or more processors configured to cause a listing of components selectable for inclusion within a machine to be shown on a display device, and to receive a selection of an input component and the multiple driven bodies from the listing via an input device. The processors may also be configured to retrieve data regarding the selected input component and the multiple driven bodies from the at least one of the parts section and the launch code section, and to generate a design for at least one new support component in the machine based on the input component, the multiple driven bodies, and the data.
US09990460B2 Source beam optimization method for improving lithography printability
Source beam optimization (SBO) methods are disclosed herein for enhancing lithography printability. An exemplary method includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout and performing an SBO process using the IC design layout to generate a mask shot map and an illumination source map. The SBO process uses an SBO model that collectively simulates a mask making process using the mask shot mask and a wafer making process using the illumination source map. A mask can be fabricated using the mask shot map, and a wafer can be fabricated using the illumination source map (and, in some implementations, using the mask fabricated using the mask shot map). The wafer includes a final wafer pattern that corresponds with a target wafer pattern defined by the IC design layout. The SBO methods disclosed herein can significantly reduce (or eliminate) variances between the final wafer pattern and the target wafer pattern.
US09990459B2 Checking wafer-level integrated designs for antenna rule compliance
Methods and systems for checking a wafer-level design for compliance with a rule include identifying nets that cross chip boundaries for each of a plurality of chip layouts. Net properties are determined for each of the identified nets. Interconnected identified nets are combined into one or more virtual ensembles having properties defined by a sum of the properties of the respective interconnected nets. Each virtual ensemble is evaluated for compliance with a design rule. The chip layouts related to virtual ensembles that do not comply with the design rule are modified to bring non-compliant virtual ensembles into compliance.
US09990458B2 Generic design rule checking (DRC) test case extraction
A computer-aided testing is provided for design verification of integrated circuits. More specifically, a method of generating a test case in design rule checking is provided for that includes extracting coordinates of an error marker for a first error identified in an integrated circuit design. The method further includes identifying a first rectangle that encloses the error marker. The method further includes generating a first test case based on data of the integrated circuit design contained within the rectangle. The method further includes determining whether the first test case is representative of the first error. The method further includes in response to determining the first test case is not representative of the first error, identifying a second rectangle that is between the first rectangle and a third rectangle. The method further includes generating a second test case based on data of the integrated circuit design contained within the second rectangle.
US09990455B1 Arrangement and method for facilitating electronics design in connection with 3D structures
An electronic arrangement for facilitating circuit layout design in connection with three-dimensional (3D) target designs, the arrangement including at least one communication interface for transferring data, at least one processor for processing instructions and other data, and a memory for storing the instructions and other data. The at least one processor being configured, in accordance with the stored instructions, to cause: obtaining and storing information in a data repository hosted by the memory, receiving design input characterizing 3D target design to be produced from a substrate, determining a mapping between locations of the 3D target design and the substrate, and establishing and providing digital output comprising human and/or machine readable instructions indicative of the mapping to a receiving entity, such as a manufacturing equipment, e.g. printing, electronics assembly and/or forming equipment.
US09990450B2 Simulation method for high polymer material
A computerized simulation method for evaluating dispersion of fillers in a high polymer material includes a step of defining a filler model comprising at least one particle, a step of defining a polymer model comprising a plurality of particles each having a first potential with respect to the particle of the filler model, a step of performing a molecular dynamics calculation of the filler model and the polymer model placed in a predetermined virtual space on the computer, and a step of observing the dispersion of the filler model from data obtained in the molecular dynamics calculation. The polymer model further includes at least one modified basal particle having a second potential with respect to the particle of the filler model, and the second potential differs from the first potential.
US09990447B2 Device array locks and keys
This invention relates to a system, method, and computer program product for managing a plurality of devices with associated lock mechanisms. According to one embodiment, a method is provided comprising: detecting, by one or more computer processors, a status of a device corresponding to a lock mechanism; recommending, by one or more computer processors, a service action on the device requiring performance by an operator; and providing, by one or more computer processors, a printable key pattern for printing a key that allows the operator to lock and unlock the lock mechanism in order to perform the service action.
US09990440B2 Smart content pre-loading on client devices
Software on a client device presents a webpage through a browser. The webpage is from an online content-aggregation website and includes a plurality of panels containing a plurality of content items. The software selectively pre-loads into a cache a resource associated with a content item in a panel if the content item is relatively persistent in comparison to other content items. The cache is controlled by the browser. The software retrieves the resource from the cache upon receiving command from a user and presents the resource through the browser.
US09990439B2 Flexible method and system for providing digital content
A system and method for disseminating digital content, including receiving at a server a request from a user computer for a browser displayable interface definition, and sending from the server to the user computer the interface definition including resource tags, the resource tags being interpretable for linking to sources of the digital content.
US09990438B2 Customized fitting room environment
Example embodiments of the present disclosure include a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a computer-implemented method for providing a customized fitting room environment. Consistent with some embodiments, the method may include identifying a garment being brought into a fitting room, and determining a garment type of the garment. The method may further include adjusting one or more environmental settings of the fitting room based on the garment type. Additional aspects of the present disclosure include further adjusting environmental settings based on various combinations of user data and a desired use case of the garment specified by the individual.
US09990437B2 Server system for sharing game play videos
A server system regularly accesses a video database, searches the video database for a game play video of an online game provided by the server system based on a cyclic check keyword, and stores (manages) access information about the game play video, video-related information, a view count, and the like as cyclic check result data. When the server system has received an inquiry about the game play video of the online game from a user terminal that executes the online game, the server system searches the cyclic check result data and the like for the access information about the game play video that is appropriate for the play state, and returns the access information. The server system gives a bonus to the user (player) of the game play video of which the view count has reached a reference value.
US09990434B2 Ingesting forum content
An approach is provided to analyze posts included threads of an online forum. The analyzing identifies a main topic related to a parent post of the thread. Child posts of the thread are selected with the parent post being a parent to each of the child posts. Child topics are identified for each of the child posts. A relevance of each of the child posts is determined by comparing the identified main topic to each of the identified child topics. Child posts are selected based on the relevance of the child posts. Parent post data is ingested into a corpus utilized by a question answering (QA) system. Data from the selected child posts is also ingested into the corpus.
US09990432B1 Generic folksonomy for concept-based domain name searches
Systems and methods of the present invention provide for one or more server computers communicatively coupled to a network and configured to: receive a domain name search string; tokenize the domain name search string; identify, based on at least one token in the domain name search string, one or more concepts comprising a collection of data records comprising a common concept id and/or one or more languages; and recommend at least one available domain name comprising the one or more concepts and in the one or more languages.
US09990429B2 Automated social networking graph mining and visualization
The automated social networking graph mining and visualization technique described herein mines social connections and allows creation of a social networking graph from general (not necessarily social-application specific) Web pages. The technique uses the distances between a person's/entity's name and related people's/entities names on one or more Web pages to determine connections between people/entities and the strengths of the connections. In one embodiment, the technique lays out these connections, and then clusters them, in a 2-D layout of a social networking graph that represents the Web connection strengths among the related people's or entities' names, by using a force-directed model.
US09990422B2 Contextual analysis engine
A contextual analysis engine systematically extracts, analyzes and organizes digital content stored in an electronic file such as a webpage. Content can be extracted using a text extraction module which is capable of separating the content which is to be analyzed from less meaningful content such as format specifications and programming scripts. The resulting unstructured corpus of plain text can then be passed to a text analytics module capable of generating a structured categorization of topics included within the content. This structured categorization can be organized based on a content topic ontology which may have been previously defined or which may be developed in real-time. The systems disclosed herein optionally include an input/output interface capable of managing workflows of the text extraction module and the text analytics module, administering a cache of previously generated results, and interfacing with other applications that leverage the disclosed contextual analysis services.
US09990420B2 Method of searching and generating a relevant search string
A computer implemented method of searching for records. The method comprises generating a relevant search string based on extracted text and related contextual information.
US09990419B2 Providing answers to questions using multiple models to score candidate answers
A method, system and computer program product for generating answers to questions. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an input query; conducting a search to identify candidate answers to the input query, and producing a plurality of scores for each of the candidate answers. For each of the candidate answers, one, of a plurality of candidate ranking functions, is selected. This selected ranking function is applied to the each of the candidate answers to determine a ranking for the candidate answer based on the scores for that candidate answer. One or more of the candidate answers is selected, based on the rankings for the candidate answers, as one or more answers to the input query. In an embodiment, the ranking function selection is performed using information about the question. In an embodiment, the ranking function selection is performed using information about each answer.
US09990415B2 Data structure for representing information using expressions
An information processing device processes target information described using identifiers formed from a symbol, a product operator that joins together factors containing one or more of the identifiers and thereby forms a string of ordered factors, and a sum operator that joins together terms containing one or more of the factors and thereby forms an expression that is a combination of the terms. Also, information processing device includes a dividing unit that divides the target information into a plurality of terms at a predetermined position; and a transmission unit that associates positional information with at least any of the factors contained in the terms resulting from the division and causes each of the terms resulting from the division to be held in any of a plurality of server devices, where the positional information contains an occurrence sequence of the terms in the target information and an occurrence sequence of the factors in the terms.
US09990414B2 Cognitive architecture with content provider managed corpus
A method for controlled sharing, in a cognitive computing system having a memory and a processor, of content from a variety of content providers may include receiving, by the cognitive computing system, an inquiry, wherein the inquiry is directed to at least one content topic. The method may then include identifying, by the cognitive computing system, the at least one content topic, and determining that a cognitive component of the cognitive computing system managed by a content provider has access to a content repository addressing the at least one content topic. The method may further include distributing, by the cognitive computing system, the inquiry to the cognitive component. The method may additionally include receiving a response from the cognitive component.
US09990410B2 Data sanitization and normalization and geocoding methods
Embodiments of the present technology relate to data sanitization and normalization and geocoding methods that apply the same. An example method includes sanitizing geodata sets and normalizing the sanitized geodata using a normalized Levenshtein distance Algorithm.
US09990381B2 Biosensors for biological or chemical analysis and systems and methods for same
Method of analyzing signal data from a biosensor including a detection device having an array of light detectors. The method includes obtaining signal data from the light detectors. The signal data includes light scores that are based on an amount of light detected by the light detectors during a plurality of imaging events. The method also includes analyzing the light scores from a group of light detectors for each of the plurality of the imaging events. The method also includes determining respective crosstalk functions of the light detectors in the group. Each of the crosstalk functions for a corresponding light detector is based on the amount of light detected by other light detectors in the group. The method also includes analyzing the signal data for each of the imaging events using the crosstalk functions to determine characteristics of the analytes-of-interest.
US09990379B2 Method and apparatus for processing timedly-published data
Methods and apparatus for processing timedly-published data are provided. After receiving an operation request for the timedly-published data, at least one of an append-file and a delete-file can be written according to the operation request. The append-file corresponds to to-be-appended timedly-published data or post-updated timedly-published data. The delete-file corresponds to to-be-deleted timedly-published data or pre-updated timedly-published data. Each of the append-file and the delete-file uses a publishing time of the timedly-published data as an index.
US09990378B2 Opportunistic clearing of sync states associated with a database
Systems and techniques of the management of the metadata of a database are presented. A provider is in communication with a database and a set of consumers of the database. Data may be changed by addition, editing or deletion from the database and such changes are recorded and/or maintained by the provider on a list of changes. The changes on this list may be associated with a sync token. The provider may also maintain a list of consumers and associate with each consumer a last sync token which describes when the last sync request and update on the database was made with the consumer. Data which is deleted from the database is recorded with a tombstone. The tombstone is maintained on the list of changes until all consumers have been made aware of the deletion—then the tombstone may be deleted from the list of changes.
US09990376B2 Methods for identifying a vehicle from captured image data
An imaging sensor observes a field of view through which a vehicle passes, at an orientation and position suitable for acquisition of license plate data from a surface of the vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle position, at least one image of a surface of the vehicle including a license plate is acquired and evaluated to extract license plate data. The position of the vehicle for acquisition of the image is established by a trigger in a fixed relationship with the imaging sensor.
US09990375B2 Map data processing device for vehicle
In a map data processing device for a vehicle, a map database has first map data of a road on which the vehicle travels. A map data computing module computes second map data of the road based on a surrounding environment and a traveling state of the vehicle. An update data computing module computes update data for updating the map database, based on a reliability of the second map data. An update determining module then compares the first map data with the update data. When both disagree with each other, the update determining module determines whether to update first map data with the update data, based on a frequency of discrepancy and the reliability. A data processing module executes a processing of updating the map database in accordance with a determination result by the update determining module.
US09990373B2 Creation and geospatial placement of avatars based on real-world interactions
A method is provided for populating a map with a set of avatars through the use of a mobile technology platform associated with a user. The method (201) includes developing a set of facial characteristics (205), wherein each facial characteristic in the set is associated with one of a plurality of individuals that the user has encountered over a period of time while using the mobile technology platform; recording the locations (207) and times at which each of the plurality of individuals was encountered; forming a first database by associating the recorded times and locations at which each of the plurality of individuals was encountered with the individual's facial characteristics in the set; generating a set of avatars (309) from the set of facial characteristics; and using the first database to populate (319) a map (307) with the set of avatars.
US09990369B2 Method and apparatus for scanning files
A method and apparatus for scanning files, wherein the method comprises: during the traversing of a directory, performing first processing on the traversed directory, the first processing comprising: acquiring a directory attribute of the traversed directory, and determining whether the traversed directory is a remapped directory according to the acquired directory attribute, and if so, performing no scanning processing on the traversed directory, and if not, performing scanning processing on the traversed directory, with the scanning processing comprising: scanning various files in the traversed directory to acquire a scanning result, and/or, performing second processing on various sub-directories in the traversed directory; and the second processing comprises: traversing the various sub-directories, and performing the same processing as the first processing on the traversed sub-directories. The IO overhead and CPU overhead during scanning can be effectively reduced by means of the present invention, thus improving the file scanning efficiency.
US09990368B2 System and method for automatic generation of information-rich content from multiple microblogs, each microblog containing only sparse information
A system and method for automatic generation of information-rich content from multiple microblogs, each microblog containing only sparse information, the method comprising collecting a population of microblogs comprising microblog data, each microblog containing a limited number of characters; providing a user interface allowing entry of a search query; matching a search query entered on the user interface to data in the microblog data; providing the results of the matching process as a sub-set of microblog data; applying processing techniques to the sub-set of microblog data; and generating a summary report of the processed sub-set of microblog data.
US09990365B1 Systems and methods for selecting folders for uploading to a cloud file system
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for selecting folders to upload to a cloud system. A plurality of folders on a client system is identified, where the plurality of folders is associated with metadata. A respective score for each folder in the plurality of folders is evaluated by applying a set of rules to the metadata. A subset of folders is selected from the plurality of folders based on the respective scores, and a recommendation is provided to upload the subset of folders to the cloud system.
US09990363B2 Methods and apparatus of using customizable templates in initializing process control devices
Methods and apparatus of using customizable templates in process control systems are disclosed. An example method includes initializing a first process control device associated with a first protocol based on a template file and a first parameter definition file. The template file includes global variables and associated values. The first parameter definition file defines a relationship between the global variables and first local variables of at least one of the first process control device or the first protocol. The example method also includes initializing a second process control device associated with a second protocol based on the template file and a second parameter definition file. The second parameter definition file defines a relationship between the global variables and second local variables of at least one of the second process control device or the second protocol. The first protocol is different from the second protocol.
US09990358B2 Optimized summarizing method and system utilizing fact checking
An optimized fact checking system analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The optimized fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information in an optimized manner and/or provides a status of the information. In some embodiments, the optimized fact checking system generates, aggregates, and/or summarizes content.
US09990350B2 Videos associated with cells in spreadsheets
Systems for associating videos with cells of a spreadsheet are provided. Both dynamic data and static data may be associated with a single cell of the spreadsheet. Upon association, parameters (including video attributes, image attributes and audio attributes) may be viewed and/or manipulated by a user, providing video and audio processing functionality within a spreadsheet. Controls may be provided for playing the video and/or playing the video in response to spreadsheet data satisfying a condition. Text transcriptions (e.g., speech-to-text) of an audio track associated with a video file may be inserted as subtitles into the video or a plurality of individual frames for the video. Spreadsheet operations (e.g., sort and/or filter operations) may also be performed on a range of cells based on parameters of an associated video.
US09990348B2 System and method for managing data using a spreadsheet model
An exemplary embodiment of the present system and method provides a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions. When executed by a computer, the instructions cause the computer to perform a number of steps of, which include: receiving a spreadsheet model; analyzing the spreadsheet model to determine one or more properties of the spreadsheet model; providing a first user interface on the basis of the determined properties, the first user interface enables configuration information to be specified for one or more cells of the spreadsheet model; receiving configuration information for the cells; and storing the spreadsheet model and the configuration information.