最新美国发明专利第2018-06-05期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US09991892B2	Electronic device having a physical unclonable function identifier Electronic device comprising at least: a plurality of MOSFET FD-SOI type transistors among which the first transistors are such that each first transistor comprises a channel in which a concentration of the same type of dopants as those present in the source and drain of said first transistor is greater than the concentration in the channel of each of the other transistors in said plurality of transistors; and an identification circuit capable of determining a unique identifier of the electronic device starting from at least one intrinsic electrical characteristic of each of the first transistors, the value of which depends at least partly on the conductance of said first transistor; and in which the length of a gate of each of the first transistors is less than or equal to about 20 nm.
US09991890B2	Driver circuit, display device including the driver circuit, and electronic appliance including the display device An object of the present invention is to provide a driver circuit including a normally-on thin film transistor, which driver circuit ensures a small malfunction and highly reliable operation. The driver circuit includes a static shift register including an inverter circuit having a first transistor and a second transistor, and a switch including a third transistor. The first to third transistors each include a semiconductor layer of an oxide semiconductor and are depletion-mode transistors. An amplitude voltage of clock signals for driving the third transistor is higher than a power supply voltage for driving the inverter circuit.
US09991885B2	Switching circuit for radio frequency isolation in a portable transceiver Semiconductor switches in portable transceivers switch between outgoing and incoming radio frequency signal paths. The isolation can be limited by the capacitive coupling between the switch input and the switch output. Ultra-high isolation can be achieved by adding a coupled transmission line to the semiconductor switch. The coupled transmission line introduces inductive coupling, which cancels at least a part of the capacitive coupling between the switch input and the switch output.
US09991884B2	Switching circuits having ferrite beads A circuit includes an electronic component package that comprises at least a first lead, a III-N device in the electronic component package, a gate driver, and a ferrite bead. The III-N device comprises a drain, gate, and source, where the source is coupled to the first lead. The gate driver comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, where the first terminal is coupled to the first lead. The ferrite bead is coupled between the gate of the III-N transistor and the second terminal of the gate driver. When switching, the deleterious effects of the parasitic inductance of the circuit gate loop are mitigated by the ferrite bead.
US09991883B2	Static switch A thyristor switch is constituted of a pair of arms connected in anti-parallel, each of the arms including a plurality of thyristors connected in series. A controller includes a phase detecting unit configured to detect a phase of a power supply voltage supplied from an alternating-current power supply, and a gate signal generating unit configured to interrupt a gate signal when an open command is provided to the static switch and the phase of the power supply voltage detected by the phase detecting unit matches a target phase. The target phase is set outside of a phase range where interruption of the gate signal is prohibited, the phase range being set so as to include a zero crossing point at which a load current is switched in polarity.
US09991879B2	Apparatus for detecting variation in transistor threshold voltage A ring oscillator includes a plurality of inverters. A closed loop structure is formed by cascading the inverters. The inverter includes at least one sensitive inverter with a diode-connected transistor. A variation in an MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) threshold voltage of the ring oscillator is detected by analyzing the oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator.
US09991877B2	Current break circuit, semiconductor device having the same and operating method thereof A current break circuit includes a current break control circuit suitable for sequentially outputting a first enable signal and a second enable signal with a time difference in response to at least one control signal, and a current break switch circuit suitable for outputting or blocking a second voltage in response to a first voltage, wherein the current break switch circuit forms a first current path in response to the first enable signal and a second current path in response to the second enable signal when blocking the second voltage.
US09991869B2	Temperature compensated compound resonator The invention concerns microelectromechanical resonators. In particular, the invention provides a resonator comprising a support structure, a doped semiconductor resonator suspended to the support structure by at least one anchor, and actuator for exciting resonance into the resonator. According to the invention, the resonator comprises a base portion and at least one protrusion extending outward from the base portion and is excitable by said actuator into a compound resonance mode having temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) characteristics, which are contributed by both the base portion and the at least one protrusion. The invention enables simple resonators, which are very well temperature compensated over a wide temperature range.
US09991868B1	Micro-resonator having lid-integrated electrode A micro-resonator employs a lid-integrated electrode to one or more of drive, sense and tune a vibrational resonant mode of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonator. The micro-resonator includes a lid attached to a base that provides a resonator cavity. The micro-resonator further includes the MEMS resonator extending from a surface of the base toward the lid within the resonator cavity. The lid-integrated electrode extends vertically from the lid into the resonator cavity toward the base. The vertically extending, lid-integrated electrode is positioned spaced from and adjacent to a side of the MEMS resonator to one or more of drive, sense and tune mechanical movement of the MEMS resonator.
US09991863B1	Rounded and curved integrated tethers for quartz resonators A piezoelectric quartz shear-mode resonator includes plasma etched quartz tethers, each including a mount. The tethers are for mounting the resonator to a semiconductor substrate for the purpose of isolating the thermally-induced stress from the mounts from the active resonating region, wherein the quartz tethers have rounded corners.
US09991862B2	Audio system equalizing Processes and devices for equalizing an audio system that is adapted to use a loudspeaker to transduce test audio signals into test sounds. The processes and devices can involve the use of infrared signals to convey information in one or both directions between the audio system and a portable computer device that captures test sounds, calculates audio parameters that can be used in the equalization process, and transmits these audio parameters back to the audio system for its use in equalizing audio signals that are played by the audio system.
US09991861B2	System and method for controlled dynamics adaptation for musical content According to a preferred aspect, there is provided a system and method for controlled dynamics adaptation of audio works. The dynamics complexity of the audio is adapted depending on the listening environment and its dynamics properties. The instant invention utilizes a function of stepwise linear and logarithmical sections, which describe individual points of a curve and which therefore with the use of a parameter can be utilized to calculate and control the target value of the loudness range. The curve points are stored and provided as metadata of the musical program, which allows the dynamics scaling functionality to be implemented dynamically and not tied to a certain time or place.
US09991860B2	Control system for a power amplifier An apparatus for controlling the gain and phase of an input signal input to a power amplifier comprises a gain control loop configured to control the gain of the input signal based on power levels of the input signal and an amplified signal output by the power amplifier, to obtain a predetermined gain of the amplified signal, and a phase control loop configured to obtain an error signal related to a phase difference between a first signal derived from the input and a second signal derived from the amplified signal, and control the phase based on the error signal, to obtain a predetermined phase of the amplified signal. The phase control loop delays the first signal such that the delayed first signal and the second signal used to obtain the error signal correspond to the same part of the input signal. The apparatus may be included in a satellite.
US09991844B2	Smart sensor devices for measuring and verifying solar array performance A device comprises a platform constructed and arranged to be mounted to one or more solar array modules and one or more solar irradiance sensors on the platform configured to receive incident solar energy, the solar irradiance sensors oriented on the platform so that the received incident solar energy is comparable to that received by the solar array modules, the one or more solar irradiance sensors providing solar irradiance signals in response to the incident solar energy. A processor is on the platform, the processor configured to receive the solar irradiance signals and, in response, generating a performance reference metric based on the solar irradiance signals, the performance reference metric related to the expected performance of the one or more solar array modules to which the platform is mounted. A transmitter is on the platform, the transmitter configured to periodically transmit the performance reference metric to a receiver.
US09991838B2	Drive control unit for motor A drive control unit in which a drive control system for a motor is made redundant so that a motor having two coil sets is individually driven and controlled for each coil set includes an inverter substrate on which a first inverter circuit that drives each coil of a first coil set, and a second inverter circuit that drives each coil of a second coil set are formed; a control substrate on which a first control circuit that includes a microcomputer which controls the first inverter circuit, and a second control circuit that includes a microcomputer which controls the second inverter circuit are formed; and a housing in which the inverter substrate and the control substrate are arranged in parallel to each other. The first control circuit is positioned on the front surface side, and the second control circuit is positioned on the rear surface side of the control substrate.
US09991837B2	Systems and methods for vibration and noise manipulation in switched reluctance machine drivetrains Systems and methods to manipulate the noise and vibration of a switched reluctance machine (SRM), capable of being implemented in a controller. By use of vibration sensors and a real-time optimizer, the noise and vibration profile of an SRM and associated load can be modified in order to meet multiple control objectives, such as torque ripple mitigation (TRM), harmonic spectrum shaping, and efficiency improvement. The systems and methods can be adapted to high power, high pole count, and high speed applications, and applications where electrical or mechanical imbalance exists.
US09991835B2	Control device for electric compressor A control device for an electric compressor, capable of successfully controlling a drive motor of the compressor in response to the load fluctuation having complicated frequency components even when the motor is controlled in a sensorless manner, is provided. The control device for an electric compressor includes: a repetitive control portion 5 to which a rotation speed difference between a target rotation speed of a motor which drives the compressor and the estimated rotation speed is input to perform a repetitive operation using the rotation speed difference of one preceding cycle of the compressor, thereby reducing the rotation speed difference; a pressure detecting portion 1 for the compressor; and a reset signal generation portion 4 calculating a timing of one rotation of the compressor by counting the number of predetermined parts of load fluctuations of the compressor based on the pressure value of the compressor, thereby outputting a reset signal to the repetitive control portion according to the timing.
US09991832B2	Detecting brushfire in power systems In some examples, a detection circuit is configured to detect a brushfire in a power system based on an electrical signal from the power system. The detection circuit is further configured to set a bit in response to detecting the brushfire.
US09991831B2	DC motor control device and game machine A DC motor control device includes a communication circuit configured to receive a control command specifying a target rotation amount for a DC motor, a sensor interface configured to receive a detection signal from a rotational angle sensor that outputs the detection signal every time the DC motor rotates by a certain rotational angle, a step counter that outputs a count signal every time the detection signal has been received a certain number of times, a controller that, based on the number of times the count signal received, determines a step count representing the total amount of rotation, and generates a control signal that controls the DC motor in accordance with the step count and the target rotation amount, and a drive signal generation circuit that generates a drive signal that rotates the DC motor in accordance with the control signal.
US09991827B1	Methods and apparatus for automatic lead angle adjustment using fly-back voltage for brushless DC control A method includes: outputting high side driver gate signals to a plurality of high side driver devices and outputting low side driver gate signals to a plurality of low side driver devices configured to control current supplied to a motor having coils coupled to receive the current at a plurality of phase nodes; at a time approximately prior to an expected zero crossing of a voltage at a selected one of the plurality of phase nodes, disabling the high side driver gate signal and the low side driver gate signal; measuring a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage and observing a zero crossing time; estimating a next zero crossing time; prior to the next zero crossing time, disabling the high side driver gate signal and the low side driver gate signal and observing the selected one of the phase nodes to form a first sample; and following the next zero crossing time, observing a second voltage at the selected one of the phase nodes to form a second sample.
US09991826B2	Motor control circuit, motor drive control apparatus and control method of motor drive control apparatus A motor control circuit comprising a speed control circuit configured to output speed command information relating to the rotational speed of a motor based on target information relating to a target rotational speed and rotational speed detection information of the rotational speed of the motor, a drive stop control circuit configured to output a first drive stop control signal for performing braking control of the motor or a second drive stop control signal for performing free-run stop control of the motor based on the rotational speed detection information and the speed command information when input of the target information is stopped, and a drive signal generation circuit configured to generate a drive control signal for driving the motor based on the first drive stop control signal or the second drive stop control signal when the first drive stop control signal or the second drive stop control signal is output.
US09991822B2	MEMS component and method for the production thereof The invention proposes a MEMS component having a crystalline base body (GK), a recess (AN) and a structured assembly (A) which closes said recess, in which an opening (OG) is structured in a first functional layer (MN), the effective opening cross section thereof varying as a function of the pressure difference on the two sides of the first functional layer (MN).
US09991820B2	Multi-level converter and method of operating same A multi-level converter is provided. The multi-level converter may include a plurality of direct current (DC) sources coupled in series to form a DC link, and at least one phase circuit coupled in parallel to the DC link. The phase circuit may include at least one flying capacitor, at least one output node, a first set of switching devices selectively coupling the flying capacitor to one or more of the DC sources at a first frequency, and a second set of switching devices selectively coupling the flying capacitor to the output node at a second frequency.
US09991819B2	Power conversion system and method for detecting isolated operation of the same A power conversion system is capable of distinguishing easily and clearly between being interconnected to the power system and being in an isolated operation. The power conversion system converts DC power to AC power to interconnect with a power system and injects reactive power into a grid node for determining an isolated operation, including: a voltage detector that detects an output voltage at the grid node; a current detector that detects an output current at the grid node; a frequency measurement unit that measures a frequency of the output voltage at the grid node; a reactive-power measurement unit that measures reactive power at the grid node; and an isolated-operation determination unit that determines whether or not the power conversion system is in an isolated operation as disconnected from the power system. The isolated-operation determination unit includes a reactive-power-fluctuation determination unit that performs a first isolated-operation determination from the reactive power.
US09991818B2	Apparatuses and related methods for a wireless power receiver using coupled inductors A wireless power enabled apparatus includes a wireless power receiver. The wireless power receiver includes one or more receive coils configured to generate an AC power signal responsive to a wireless power signal. The wireless power receiver also includes two or more inductors configured with tightly coupled windings that share a common leakage inductance. Switching circuits are included such that each switching circuit is operably coupled to a corresponding one of the inductors. Control logic is configured to operate switches of the switching circuits such that each of the switching circuits and its corresponding two or more inductors are operated to shift between an energy storage mode for one or more phases of a switching period and an energy transfer mode for other phases of the switching period and the phases combine to comprise an entirety of the switching period.
US09991813B2	Method for data transmission from a transmitter to a receiver in an AC power supply system, and apparatus for data transmission with AC power supply systems The invention relates to a method for the data transmission from an emitter (1) to a receiver (2) in an AC voltage network, comprising a distributor (3) and at least one user group (4) with one or several users (5), wherein the emitter (1) feeds a signal to the AC voltage network by means of a power source (6).
US09991804B2	Bus controller including feedback control unit reducing power consumption A power supply apparatus is provided, that supplies a bus voltage VBUS to a detachable device. A DC/DC converter generates a DC voltage VOUT used as the bus voltage VBUS. A USB controller receives the DC voltage VOUT as a power supply voltage, and detects whether or not the device is connected. The DC/DC converter generates the DC voltage VOUT such that (i) when the device is detected, the DC voltage VOUT has a specified voltage level, and such that (ii) when the device is not detected, the DC voltage VOUT has a voltage level that is lower than the specified voltage level and that is higher than a minimum operating voltage level required to operate the USB controller.
US09991802B2	Systems and methods for regulating output currents of power conversion systems Systems and methods are provided for regulating a power conversion system. An example system controller includes a first controller terminal and a second controller terminal. The first controller terminal is configured to receive a first signal associated with an input signal for a primary winding of a power conversation system. The second controller terminal is configured to output a drive signal to a switch to affect a first current flowing through the primary winding of the power conversion system, the drive signal being associated with an on-time period, the switch being closed during the on-time period. The system controller is configured to adjust a duration of the on-time period based on at least information associated with the first signal.
US09991799B2	Switch mode power supplies including primary side clamping circuits controlled based on secondary side signals A switch mode power supply includes an input, an output, and a power converter coupled between the input and the output. The power converter includes a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side, and a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit has a switching device coupled to the primary side of the transformer. The power supply further includes a control circuit coupled to the switching device. The control circuit includes at least one isolation component. The control circuit is configured to receive a signal from the secondary side of the transformer via the at least one isolation component, and control the switching device coupled to the primary side of the transformer in response to the signal received from the secondary side of the transformer via the at least one isolation component. Other example power supplies, power converters, control circuits, etc. are also disclosed.
US09991794B2	Hybrid capacitive-inductive voltage converter An inverting buck voltage converter constructed of a switched-mode hybrid topology, with a capacitive input stage and an inductive output stage. The input stage operates as a charge pump to charge a flying capacitor connected in series with an inductor in the output stage. Clock circuitry generates first and second non-overlapping clock phases. In the second clock phase, the flying capacitor is charged to the input voltage, with a flying node between the flying capacitor and the output inductor connected at ground through a rectifier, while in the first clock phase, the flying capacitor supports the inductor current. The arrangement of the flying capacitor and inductor is such that the voltage appearing at the output terminal is inverted from the input voltage. Continuous output current is provided. Current limiting techniques protect the flying capacitor from overcurrent conditions.
US09991789B2	Electric motor vehicle The electric motor vehicle includes a voltage conversion circuit, a primary-side smoothing capacitor, a battery, a system main relay, an inverter circuit, a secondary-side smoothing capacitor, an electric motor, a first voltage sensor, a collision sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to adjust an operation of the voltage conversion circuit, detect primary-side voltage by using the first voltage sensor in a state that the voltage conversion circuit is operated in a case where a collision is detected by the collision sensor, and detect a state that the system main relay is off based on a change in the detected primary-side voltage.
US09991786B2	Power control device and method thereof An embodiment relates to a power control device and a technology capable of stably supplying power when an electrical fuse boots up. The power control device includes a power supply unit, a power driving unit, and an electrical fuse unit. The power supply unit generates a driving signal from a power supply voltage when a control signal is activated. The power driving unit outputs the driving signal when the control signal is activated. The electrical fuse unit generates, when a boot-up enable signal is activated, a clock signal by performing a boot-up operation in response to the driving signal outputted from the power driving unit.
US09991783B2	Method and apparatus for discharging an energy store in a high-voltage power supply system A method and to a device for discharging an energy store, in particular an intermediate circuit capacitor, in a high-voltage power supply system, in particular a DC voltage intermediate circuit in a motor vehicle, a first discharge resistor being connected parallel to the energy store, and a second discharge resistor automatically being connected parallel to the first discharge resistor when a voltage at the energy store falls below a specified threshold value.
US09991775B1	Constant on-time converter having fast transient response The present disclosure provides a constant on-time converter having fast transient response, which adaptively adjusts an on-time and an off-time by a first compensation circuit and a second compensation circuit, to accordingly adjust an inductive current. When a load converts a light loading into a heavy loading, the constant on-time converter adaptively adjusts the on-time of the clock signal. When the load converts a heavy loading into a light loading, the constant on-time converter adaptively adjusts the off-time of the clock signal. Therefore, the output voltage can be adjusted rapidly in response to different load changes to enhance the transient response of the output voltage.
US09991770B2	Spring post for brush card for a power tool An electric motor is provided including a stator and an armature rotatably received within the stator, the armature having an armature shaft on which a commutator is mounted. The motor also includes a brush assembly having a brush card mount disposed around the commutator, a brush holder mounted on a surface of the brush card mount, and a brush disposed within the brush holder in sliding contact with the commutator to supply electric current to the commutator. A torsion spring is secured to the brush card mount adjacent the brush holder, the spring having a leg arranged to engage the back surface of the brush. A spring stop post is disposed proximate an outer periphery of the brush card mount to limit an outward movement of the leg of the spring away from the back surface of the brush.
US09991766B2	Valve-timing control apparatus for internal combustion engine and power-feeding mechanism used in valve-timing control apparatus A valve-timing control apparatus includes a motor housing formed with an accommodating space; a permanent magnet provided along an inner circumference of the accommodating space of the motor housing; a rotor configured to rotate relative to the permanent magnet; a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotational force of the rotor to a cam shaft; a switching brush mounted on the motor housing and configured to switch an energization of coil; a power-feeding brush provided to one of the motor housing and a fixed member and configured to feed electric power to the switching brush; a slip ring provided to another of the motor housing and the fixed member and being in contact with the power-feeding brush; a pigtail harness connecting the power-feeding brush with a power-feeding terminal; and contact portions bending the pigtail harness at a plurality of spots of the pigtail harness by contact with the pigtail harness.
US09991765B2	Cooling device for an electric motor A cooling device for an electric motor includes at least one closed capillary tube, within which a cooling fluid is located and which is introduced into an opening of a lamination stack of the electric motor such that the capillary tube is connected to the lamination stack to conduct heat and partially projects out of the lamination stack, such that the capillary tube has a cold end disposed outside and a hot end disposed inside the lamination stack. The cooling fluid and the degree of filling of the capillary tube with the cooling fluid is chosen such that an input of heat from the lamination stack into the capillary tube leads to evaporation of the cooling fluid, and the cold end of the capillary tube is cooled such that vapor produced during the evaporation condenses and heat input into the capillary tube is dissipated out of the capillary tube.
US09991760B2	Drive device for vehicle A vehicular drive system is provided with at least one electric motor and a helical gear portion which are accommodated within a casing formed by a plurality of casing members fixed to each other, wherein: said casing includes a first casing member to which a stator of each of said at least one electric motor is fixed, and a second casing member which is fixed to said first casing member so as to cooperate with said first casing member to form a space accommodating said at least one electric motor and which has a support portion supporting said helical gear portion; and a rotor of said each electric motor is rotatably supported at opposite ends thereof by said first casing member and said second casing member, respectively, while said helical gear portion is rotatably supported by said second casing member through said support portion.
US09991741B1	System for tracking and reporting status and usage information in a wireless power management system The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.
US09991738B2	Powering a plurality of dispensers One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for providing power to a plurality of dispensers. For example, a supply coupler, such as an alternating current to direct current power converter, is coupled to an energy storage component and/or a load coupler of a power distribution apparatus. The supply coupler provides power over the load coupler to one or more dispensers for operation. The supply coupler provides power to the energy storage component for energy storage. Responsive to a load on the power distribution apparatus exceeding a supply current of the power provided by the supply coupler (e.g., multiple dispensers may attempt to perform concurrent dispense events), the energy storage component may discharge energy to provide additional power to one or more dispensers to facilitate concurrent dispense events. Because the power distribution apparatus may connect to multiple dispensers, a cord management device may be used for power cord management.
US09991737B2	Portable propane-fueled battery charger System and method for a portable propane-fueled battery charger. One system includes a battery charger including a propane fuel line and an engine including an output shaft. The engine is configured to receive propane via the propane fuel line and rotationally drive the output shaft. The battery charger further includes an alternator including a rotor and stator coils. The output shaft is mechanically coupled to the rotor, and the rotor is rotationally driven by the output shaft. An electrical current is induced in the stator coils by rotation of the rotor. The battery charger further includes an electrical circuit that receives the electrical current and is configured to determine when a battery pack is coupled to a battery connector, and charge the battery pack.
US09991732B2	Contactless battery system utilizing a bidirectional power converter A bidirectional power converter circuit is controlled via a hysteresis loop such that the bidirectional power converter circuit can compensate for variations and even changes in transmit and receive coil locations without damaging components of the system. Because the bidirectional power converter is capable of both transmitting and receiving power (at different times), one circuit and board may be used as the main component in multiple wireless power converter designs. A first bidirectional power converter is employed in a sealed battery unit having no external electrical contacts. A second bidirectional power converter is employed in a corresponding cart bidirectional power converter assembly. The battery unit and the cart bidirectional power converter assembly cooperate to wirelessly transmit power from the battery unit to a load of the cart bidirectional power converter assembly and from a power source to the battery unit via the cart bidirectional power converter assembly.
US09991717B1	Method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a photovoltaic module to a distribution system A method and apparatus for electrically connecting and disconnecting a photovoltaic (PV) module from a distribution system includes determining whether one or more conditions are met to connect the PV module to the distribution system. The PV module is connected to the distribution system based upon the determination of whether the one or more conditions are met, and the one or more conditions are monitored. The PV module is disconnected from the distribution system if one or more of the conditions are not met.
US09991712B1	Reactive power compensation apparatus and control method thereof A reactive power compensation apparatus includes one or more phase clusters each comprising a plurality of cells, and a controller controlling the one or more phase clusters. When at least one cell in a specific phase cluster among the one or more phase clusters is faulty, the controller controls a voltage of each cell in each of the remaining phase clusters except for the specific phase cluster to be controlled, using a modulation index.
US09991709B2	Adding and shedding loads using load levels to determine timing Some embodiments relate to a method of adding and shedding loads that are connected to a generator. The method includes determining whether a plurality of loads is being supplied with power by the generator and then determining the total load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads. The method further includes determining whether to change a number of the loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load L that is being supplied by the generator. The method further includes determining an amount of time T in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator.
US09991703B1	Dual wall input for network attached storage device The present invention relates to providing reliable power to a storage device. In one embodiment, the storage device employs dual external power supplies. The power supplies may both provide power to the storage device. Alternatively, the power supplies may provide power in different configurations. One power supply may be a primary supply providing all or a majority of power, while the other power supply may be a backup. The storage device may comprise high efficiency DC-to-DC converters to permit the use of lower power-rated external power supplies. A staggered startup procedure by the storage device may be implemented to manage peak power draw. The storage device may be further configured to load balance and power share between the external power supplies. In addition, the storage device is configured to monitor the status of the external power supplies and send a notification if one or more of the power supplies fails.
US09991698B2	Electrostatic protection circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus This electrostatic protection circuit makes it possible for a discharge operation to be started only in the case where a rise in an applied voltage is steep, and for static electricity to be sufficiently released. This electrostatic protection circuit includes a discharge circuit that is connected between a first node and a second node and discharges charge produced by static electricity, a latch circuit that is connected between the first node and the second node and outputs a signal that controls operation of the discharge circuit to the discharge circuit, a switch circuit that is connected to the latch circuit and changes the signal that controls operation of the discharge circuit, and a control circuit that is connected between the first node and the second node and outputs a signal that controls operation of the switch circuit to the switch circuit.
US09991691B2	Component with at least one opening A component has at least one opening through which an electric and/or electronic contact element is guided outwards in a sealed manner against the penetration of environmental media. A closed volume is formed at least in a wall of the component in the region of the contact element, and a permanently elastic sealing material which completely surrounds the at least one contact element in at least some sections is filled into said volume.
US09991686B2	Method for stretching cables A method for stretching cables includes the steps of i) providing at least one first and one second stretching device; the first and second stretching device include at least one rotatable drum on which a cable can be wound or unwound; an electrical movement member associated to the drum for winding the cable; supply means connected to the movement member; a braking device associated to the drum and activatable for unwinding the cable; an energy recovery member associated to the drum and active simultaneously with the braking device for recovering energy during the unwinding of the cable; ii) activating the second stretching device for pulling the cable; iii) recovering energy from the first stretching device during the unwinding of the cable; and iv) transferring at least part of the recovered energy from the first stretching device to the second stretching device.
US09991680B2	Ignition plug and plasma generation device To provide an ignition plug having low power loss even though iron is a main component of a center electrode thereof, to which a high frequency power such as a microwave is electrically supplied. A low impedance layer 6 composed of a material having magnetic permeability lower than iron is provided between an outer peripheral surface of a center electrode 2 and an inner peripheral surface of an axial hole 30 of an insulator 3. The low impedance layer 6 is in contact with at least the outer peripheral surface (surface) of the center electrode 2, thereby reducing power loss of an electromagnetic wave flowing on the surface of the center electrode 2. More particularly, the low impedance layer 6 is made of silver, copper, gold, aluminum, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, bismuth, palladium, lead, tin, an alloy composed mainly of these metals, or a composite material of these metals.
US09991671B2	Method for producing semiconductor laser element A method for producing a semiconductor laser element includes providing a semiconductor wafer comprising: a nitride semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor stack located on the substrate, the semiconductor stack including a plurality of nitride semiconductor layers; forming in the substrate a fissure starting point and a fissure extending from the fissure starting point; forming a cleavage reference portion extending parallel to a cleavage plane of the semiconductor wafer as estimated from a plan view shape of the fissure; and cleaving the semiconductor wafer parallel to the cleavage reference portion to thereby obtain resonator end faces.
US09991669B2	Semiconductor light-emitting device and manufacturing method for the same The embodiment relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first cladding layer, an active layer, a second cladding layer, a contact layer, and a phase modulation layer located between the first cladding and active layers or between the active and second cladding layers. The phase modulation layer comprises a basic layer and plural first modified refractive index regions different from the basic layer in a refractive index. In a virtual square lattice set on the phase modulation layer such that the modified refractive index region is allocated in each of unit constituent regions constituting square lattices, the modified refractive index region is arranged to allow its gravity center position to be separated from the lattice point of the corresponding unit constituent region, and to have a rotation angle about the lattice point according a desired optical image.
US09991665B2	Laser system The laser system may include a delay circuit unit, first and second trigger-correction units, and a clock generator. The delay circuit unit may receive a trigger signal, output a first delay signal obtained by delaying the trigger signal by a first delay time, and output a second delay signal obtained by delaying the trigger signal by a second delay time. The first trigger-correction unit may receive the first delay signal and output a first switch signal obtained by delaying the first delay signal by a first correction time. The second trigger-correction unit may receive the second delay signal and output a second switch signal obtained by delaying the second delay signal by a second correction time. The clock generator may generate a clock signal that is common to the delay circuit unit and the first and second trigger-correction units.
US09991661B2	Cleaning system for slip ring of medical imaging apparatus A cleaning system for cleaning a slip ring arranged to be rotatable about an axis is disclosed. The cleaning system includes a cleaner assembly configured so as to be positionable to contact the slip ring. The cleaner assembly is capable of moving along the slip ring for cleaning. A control unit is configured to control the functioning of the cleaner assembly based on user input.
US09991658B2	Brush assembly An electric power steering assembly includes a motor which includes a brush assembly. The brush assembly includes a brush base, a plurality of brush units and a plurality of fixing units for fixing the brush units to the brush base. The brush unit includes a brush, a guide rail and a spring. The rail includes two guiding arms, a closed end interconnecting the guiding arms and wings extending from free ends of the guiding arms. Grooves in the brush receive the guiding arms. The fixing unit includes a first fixture and a second fixture. The closed end of the guide rail engages the first fixture. The second fixture includes two columns spaced from each other. Each column defines a slot in a top end. Protrusions extend from a side of each slot to lock the wings in the slots.
US09991656B1	Connector assembly and hybrid connector thereof A connector assembly and a hybrid connector are provided. The hybrid connector includes a base, a tongue, two extending bases, a first terminal assembly and a second terminal assembly. The tongue is formed by extending ahead of the first front surface of the base. The two extending bases are disposed on two horizontal sides of the base, and each extending base is disposed on either side of the base. The first terminal assembly is disposed on the base and the tongue and arranged in accordance with a general interface specification for universal serial bus (USB) Type-C. The second terminal assembly is disposed on the two extending bases and utilized for transmitting the Ethernet transmission protocol signal.
US09991654B1	Intelligent decoration system An intelligent electronic decoration system includes smart modular power cable (MPC) having a flexible body extending between opposed proximal and distal ends and having a plurality of spaced apart electronic ports along and perpendicular to the body, the MPC configured for powering and communicating data relative to respective ports. The system includes embedded electronics operatively coupled to the proximal end of the MPC and having a rechargeable component for energizing electronics devices electrically coupled to respective ports, a microcontroller unit, and a memory collectively positioned within the housing, the embedded electronics being configured for data interfacing with wired or wireless communication components of external electronic devices. Electronic devices that may be coupled to the ports of the MPC and embedded electronics include smart LED electronics modules, LED replaceable covers, Display or Monitor Touch Screen plug-in for smart LED Electronics Module, Smart Multi-Port Auxiliary Base Unit, and automated robotic puppet module.
US09991646B2	Combined charger connector, charger cable decoration, and spurious emission common-mode filtering coil Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for a filtering coil. In some example embodiments, there may be provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a connector mated to enable coupling to a user equipment; and an air-core inductive coil coupled to the connector, wherein the air-core inductive coil includes at least one coil configured to attenuate a radio frequency signal emanating from the user equipment and pass at least direct current power signal to the connector.
US09991644B2	Cable assembly and motor having the same A cable assembly includes a cable having a conductive core, an electromagnetic wave shielding layer, and an internal insulation layer between the conductive core and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer, a connector connected to one end of the cable, and a ground terminal portion disposed at the connector and having a first terminal electrically connected to the electromagnetic wave shielding layer and a second terminal disposed to expose from the connector, wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are connected by bending. The cable assembly provides an advantageous effect of implementing a grounding arrangement at the cable assembly coupled to the motor in a vertical direction that is parallel with the shaft direction of the motor by forming the first terminal and second terminal of the ground terminal portion by bending.
US09991643B2	Shield connector A shield connector includes an inner housing that includes a plurality of terminal accommodating rooms to respectively accommodate inner terminals of a shield electric wire which is formed by bundling up a plurality of electric wires, of which the inner terminals are attached to terminal parts, and covering an outer periphery of the electric wires with a coating material including a shielding material and an insulating material, and an outer terminal into which the inner housing is mounted. In the shielded connector, the inner housing are provided with the plurality of terminal accommodating rooms which are separated by a partition wall, and has two divided terminal accommodating parts which are connected in a combinable and dividable way by flexible hinge parts which are provided along edges of the partition wall.
US09991642B1	Filter wafer assembly for electrical connector A wafer assembly for an electrical connector that has a first and second wafers configured to interlock with one another. Each of the wafers has at least one contact that has a body portion with a mating end for coupling to a mating contact and a tail end opposite the mating end for engaging a printed circuit board and an overmold covering the body portion such that the mating and tail ends extend from opposite sides of the overmold. A conductive elongated spring member is sandwiched between the first and second wafers. The wafer assembly can include one or more filter components.
US09991633B2	Electrical socket device including at least one locking and unlocking element Some embodiments relate generally to the field of electrical installations. In particular, some embodiments relate to an electrical socket device including at least one mechanism for locking and unlocking a corresponding electrical plug. More precisely, some embodiments relate to the electrical sockets and plugs of couplers, such as those defined by International Standard IEC 60320, for example of type C13 and type C19. These (coupler) sockets and plugs are applied or used in particular in a building that has a network, for example of LAN (Local Area Network) type, or in a data center, where several items of electrically powered equipment are installed.
US09991630B1	Connector assembly with torque sleeve A connector assembly that has a connector including a coupling member rotatably coupled to a body, a gripping sleeve that receives a portion of the body and a portion of the coupling member, and a torque limiting feature associated with both the gripping sleeve and the coupling member. The torque limiting feature has first and second predetermined torque limits. Rotation of the gripping sleeve applies torque to and rotates the coupling member in a tightening direction until the first predetermined torque limit is reached such that no additional torque is applied to the coupling member by the gripping sleeve that is greater than the first predetermined torque limit. The gripping sleeve rotates with respect to coupling member in a loosening direction until the second predetermined torque limit is reached thereby allowing the gripping sleeve to rotate the coupling member in the loosening direction.
US09991621B2	Optoelectronic arrangement An optoelectronic arrangement includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, and an optoelectronic semiconductor chip arranged on the first circuit board, wherein a first electrical contact surface and a second electrical contact surface are formed on a surface of the first circuit board, a first mating contact surface and a second mating contact surface are formed on a surface of the second circuit board, and the first circuit board and the second circuit board connect to one another such that the surface of the first circuit board faces toward the surface of the second circuit board, and the first mating contact surface electrically conductively connects to the first contact surface and the second mating contact surface electrically conductively connects to the second contact surface.
US09991620B1	Electrical cable connector An electrical connector assembly is presented herein. The electrical connector includes a pair of connector blocks each defining a groove in an end surface that is configured to have an electrical conductor of an electrical cable partially disposed within it, e.g. a carbon nanotube conductor. The electrical connector also includes a housing configured to receive connector blocks, align the groove of one connector block with the groove of the other connector block, and hold the connector blocks together such that the electrical conductors within the grooves are in direct physical and electrical contact with the one another and are compressed. An electrical cable assembly incorporating such as connector and an method of manufacturing a cable assembly using such a connector is also presented.
US09991619B1	Dual direction, electrical battery connector and electronic device with a dual direction electrical battery connector An electrical connector and an electronic device including the electrical connector. The electrical connector comprises a housing and an electrical contact. The housing includes a first wall oriented in a first direction, a second wall oriented in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, and an aperture defined by the first wall and the second wall. The electrical contact is disposed within the aperture and has a singular structure with a first end and a second end opposite from the first end. A first portion of the electrical contact extends from the aperture in the second direction and is configured to deflect toward the first wall along the second direction. A second portion of the electrical contact extends from the aperture in the first direction and is configured to deflect toward the second wall along the first direction.
US09991614B2	Anisotropic electrically conductive film and connection structure An anisotropic electrically conductive film that is suitable for use in fine-pitch FOG connections and COG connections and that also can reduce increases in production costs associated with increasing the electrically conductive particle density. The anisotropic electrically conductive film includes an electrically insulating adhesive layer and electrically conductive particles disposed within the electrically insulating adhesive layer. The anisotropic electrically conductive film has electrically conductive particle disposition regions that are disposed in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of terminals of electronic components to be connected. The electrically conductive particle disposition regions are formed periodically in the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic electrically conductive film. The anisotropic electrically conductive film also has buffer regions in which no electrically conductive particles are disposed that are formed between adjacent electrically conductive particle disposition regions for connection.
US09991612B2	Coaxial connector splice A coaxial cable connector splice including a central conductor extending between opposed ends and an insulating structure interposed between the central conductor and an outer body.
US09991607B1	Circular array of ridged waveguide horns An antenna horn includes an upper waveguide ridge and a lower waveguide ridge shaped to provide impedance matching. The antenna horn operates unimodally within a 6:1 instantaneous bandwidth. A circular array of antenna horns produces an enhanced radiation pattern in a horizontal plane with reduced radiating in the direction orthogonal to the horizontal plane. Furthermore, two circular arrays of half-height antenna horns may be arranged on a collinear axis, offset by one half of a sector width as defined by each horn aperture to reduce coupling.
US09991606B2	Slot array antenna A slot array antenna includes: an electrically conductive member having an electrically conductive surface and slots therein, the slots being arrayed in a first direction which extends along the conductive surface; a waveguide member having an electrically conductive waveguide face which opposes the slots and extends along the first direction; and an artificial magnetic conductor extending on both sides of the waveguide member. At least one of the conductive member and the waveguide member includes dents on the conductive surface and/or the waveguide face, the dents each serving to broaden a spacing between the conductive surface and the waveguide face relative to any adjacent site. The dents include a first, second, and third dents which are adjacent to one another and consecutively follow along the first direction. A distance between centers of the first and second dents is different from a distance between centers of the second and third dents.
US09991603B2	Device, intended to be fixed on a wall, for absorbing electromagnetic waves A device, intended to be fixed on a wall, for absorbing electromagnetic waves. The absorption device comprises a metal plate intended to be fixed on the wall, a dielectric panel at a distance from the metal plate and delimiting, with the metal plate, a volume between the metal plate and the dielectric panel, an array of resistive dipoles, all the resistive dipoles being fixed on the same face of the dielectric panel, and each comprising two metal platelets at a distance from one another and a resistor arranged between the opposing edges of two neighboring metal platelets.
US09991601B2	Coplanar waveguide transition for multi-band impedance matching A microstrip antenna including a first substrate, a ground plane disposed on a first side of the first substrate, a first conductive layer disposed on a second side of the first substrate, wherein the first conductive layer is configured to resonate at a first frequency, a second substrate disposed on the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer disposed on a side of the second substrate, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to resonate at a second frequency, a first feed portion extending through the first substrate, and configured to provide first excitation signals to the first conductive layer, a second feed portion extending through the second substrate, wherein the second feed portion is configured to provide second excitation signals to the second conductive layer, and a conductive strip disposed in the first conductive layer and electrically connecting the first feed portion and the second feed portion.
US09991598B2	Wireless communication device and electronic apparatus A wireless communication device includes an antenna unit including an antenna pattern; a magnetic member arranged over the antenna unit; and a device that acts as a non-contact type integrated circuit, wherein a ratio of an area of the magnetic member to an area of a region including an outermost periphery of the antenna pattern is 90% or more, and wherein a resonant frequency of the wireless communication device has a deviation from a target resonant frequency falls within a range of −1.720% to +4.334%.
US09991596B2	Method and apparatus for sensing environmental parameters using wireless sensor(s) A passive radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor includes at least one antenna. The least one antenna has an antenna impedance operable to vary within an environment in which the antenna is placed. The RFID sensor further includes a processing module coupled to the antenna comprising a tuning module coupled to the antenna. The tuning module is operable to vary a reactive component impedance coupled to the antenna in order to change a system impedance, the system impedance includes the antenna impedance and the reactive component's impedance, to produce an impedance value representative of the reactive component's impedance. The RFID sensor further includes a memory module operable to store the impedance value representative of the reactive component's impedance, and a wireless communication module coupled to the processing module, operable to communicate with an RFID reader and to exchange the impedance value representative of the reactive component's impedance with the RFID reader.
US09991589B2	Antenna and method of forming the antenna The invention discloses an antenna comprising a plurality of laminated layers of radiating elements, wherein each layer of radiating elements is arranged in a zigzag pattern; a feed point connected to one of the plurality laminated layers of the radiating elements and is configured to receive a radio frequency signal; and a plated via configured to couple the plurality of laminated layers of radiating elements; wherein the radiating elements are configured to radiate the radio frequency signal.
US09991573B2	Housing device for at least one energy store cell and method for producing an housing device for at least one energy store cell A housing device for at least one energy store cell is described. The housing device includes an housing element for accommodating the energy store cell, the housing element having a back wall and at least two side walls lying opposite to each other. Furthermore, a front side of the housing element, lying opposite the back wall, is open, and is closable by a further back wall of an additional housing element.
US09991569B2	Battery module Provided is a battery module, wherein heat-radiating plates are coupled to a plurality of battery cells stacked and arranged in the battery module so as to be closely adhered to both surfaces of each of the battery cells, curved parts are formed on both sides of each of the heat-radiating plates, adjacent heat-radiating plates are formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, such that a volume change caused by expansion of the battery cell and a dimensional tolerance of the battery cell itself may be absorbed, and cooling performance may be improved.
US09991567B2	Battery pack A battery pack includes a plurality of stacked unit batteries and a circuit board electrically coupled to the plurality of stacked unit batteries and being bent. The circuit board includes a first substrate including a bending portion and a second substrate on the first substrate layer and being less flexible than the first substrate layer.
US09991566B2	Cathode active material for overcharge protection in secondary lithium batteries Provided herein is an electrode active material comprising a lithium metal oxide and an overcharge protection additive having an operating voltage higher than the operating voltage of the lithium metal oxide.
US09991565B2	Safety sensor system for an electrochemical storage system A sensor system for detecting a leak of a system component from an electrochemical storage system, in particular a lithium-ion battery. To determine a defect in the electrochemical storage system, the sensor system includes a reaction chamber containing a detection component, and a measuring device for determining a physical variable within the reaction chamber. The value of the physical variable is changeable by a chemical reaction of the system component with the detection component, so that a leak of the system component is detectable via a change in the value of the physical variable. Also described is a sensor element for such a sensor system, an electrochemical storage system having such a sensor system or sensor element, the use of such a sensor system or sensor element, and a mobile or stationary system, for example an electric vehicle, equipped with the sensor system, the sensor element, or the storage system.
US09991561B2	Lithium ion secondary battery The present invention provides a lithium ion secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode; a negative electrode comprising a negative electrode active material comprising at least one carbon material selected from the group consisting of a natural graphite, an artificial graphite, a non-graphitizable carbon and a graphitizable carbon; and an electrolyte solution comprising a specific cyclic disulfonate ester compound and an acid anhydride.
US09991560B2	Liquid electrolyte for fluoride ion battery and fluoride ion battery The present invention aims to a liquid electrolyte for a fluoride ion battery having high stability with respect to a fluoride ion. The present invention attains the object by providing a liquid electrolyte for a fluoride ion battery comprising: a fluoride salt; an alkali metal amide salt having an alkali metal cation and an amide anion; and a glyme represented by general formula: R1—O(CH2CH2O)n—R2 (in which R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group with 4 or less carbon atoms or a fluoroalkyl group with 4 or less carbon atoms, and n is in the range of 2 to 10).
US09991557B2	Composite solid electrolyte and all solid battery A composite solid electrolyte, which includes a solid electrolyte containing LaF3, and solid electrolyte particles, which are either Li3xLa2/3-xTiO3 (0≤x≤⅙) or Li7La3Zr2O12 connected via the solid electrolyte.
US09991554B2	Sulfide glass, and method for producing sulfide glass ceramic A method for producing sulfide-based glass ceramics including crystallizing a glass solid electrolyte, wherein the glass solid electrolyte includes: sulfide-based glass comprising at least a sulfur element and a lithium element; and a nitrile compound incorporated into the sulfide-based glass.
US09991551B2	Assembled battery, method of charging an assembled battery, and charging circuit which charges an assembled battery A method of charging an assembled battery, includes mechanically connecting two external terminals of an assembled battery and two connecting lines of a charging circuit, respectively, the assembled battery including a plurality of lithium ion battery cells connected in series, a lithium ion battery cell of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells including a positive electrode active material including a first lithium compound comprising iron, the two external terminals, and a first communicating unit. The method also includes electrically connecting the first communicating unit of the assembled battery to a second communicating unit of the charging circuit, charging the assembled battery through the two external terminals using a quasi-constant voltage charging procedure, and reducing a charging current toward a late stage during the charging of the assembled battery.
US09991549B2	Anode for cable-type secondary battery and cable-type secondary battery comprising the same The present invention relates to an anode for a cable-type secondary battery, more specifically an anode for a cable-type secondary battery, comprising a spiral electrode consisting of at least two wire-type electrodes which are spirally twisted with each other, each of the wire-type electrodes comprising a wire-type current collector, an anode active material layer formed by coating on the outer surface of the wire-type current collector, and a polymer resin layer formed by coating on the outer surface of the anode active material layer; and a cable-type secondary battery comprising the anode. The anode for a cable-type secondary battery according to the present invention comprises a polymer resin layer formed by coating on the outer surface of an anode active material layer, thereby preventing the release of the anode active material layer from a wire-type current collector and eventually preventing the deterioration of battery performances.
US09991546B2	Fuel cell stack assembly device and control method A fuel cell stack assembly device is provided. The assembly device includes a stack guide apparatus that arranges and stacks fuel cells using a plurality of guide bars and a press unit that repeatedly moves vertically based on the stack guide apparatus and presses the fuel cells stacked on the stack guide apparatus. A roller structure includes a roller in rolling contact with the guide bar and is installed at the press unit. A weight detection portion detects weight that is applied to the roller by the guide bar. Additionally, a controller determines whether the guide bar is at the home position based on a detection signal of the weight detection portion and operates the press unit.
US09991545B2	Metal-air flow batteries using oxygen enriched electrolyte A metal air flow battery includes an electrochemical reaction unit and an oxygen exchange unit. The electrochemical reaction unit includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an ionic conductive membrane between the anode and the cathode, an anode electrolyte, and a cathode electrolyte. The oxygen exchange unit contacts the cathode electrolyte with oxygen separate from the electrochemical reaction unit. At least one pump is provided for pumping cathode electrolyte between the electrochemical reaction unit and the oxygen exchange unit. A method for producing an electrical current is also disclosed.
US09991543B2	Aqueous redox flow batteries featuring improved cell design characteristics Provided are compositions having the formula MnTi(L1)(L2)(L3) wherein L1 is a catecholate, and L2 and L3 are each independently selected from catecholates, ascorbate, citrate, glycolates, a polyol, gluconate, glycinate, hydroxyalkanoates, acetate, formate, benzoates, malate, maleate, phthalates, sarcosinate, salicylate, oxalate, a urea, polyamine, aminophenolates, acetylacetone or lactate; each M is independently Na, Li, or K; n is 0 or an integer from 1-6. Also provided are energy storage systems.
US09991542B2	Two-electron high potential and high capacity redox active molecules for energy storage applications A non-aqueous redox flow battery includes a catholyte including a compound of formula (I), a compound of formula (II), or a compound of formula (III): wherein two R groups have the formula X, wherein X is X, wherein X is a group of formula IV-A or IV-B;
US09991539B2	Polymer electrolyte membrane, membrane electrode assembly comprising polymer electrolyte membrane and fuel cell comprising membrane electrode assembly The present specification provides a polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane electrode assembly including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly.
US09991538B2	Method of manufacturing membrane electrode assembly The method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly that has an electrode catalyst layer formed on a surface of an electrolyte membrane comprises (a) producing an electrode catalyst layer by drying a catalyst ink that includes catalyst-supported particles having a catalyst metal supported thereon, a solvent and an ionomer; and (b) selecting a produced electrode catalyst layer that contains an amount of sulfate ion equal to or less than a specified reference value, and manufacturing the membrane electrode assembly by using the selected electrode catalyst layer.
US09991536B2	Self-supplied hydrogen fuel cell system and working method thereof The Invention discloses a self-supplied hydrogen fuel cell system and a working method thereof, the system comprising a diesel tank, a gas separator, a fuel cell, a low-temperature separation reactor, a high-temperature separation reactor, an auto-thermal reformer, a water tank and a catalytic burner; With the high-temperature separation reactor, the low-temperature separation reactor and the auto-thermal reformer, diesel is cracked into H2 and CO; as the fuel for the fuel cell, H2 may react with O2 in the air and generate electric energy; the unreacted H2 and CO enter into the catalytic burner for combustion, ensuring that the water is heated; thus, it not only provides H2 to the fuel cell, but also provides high-temperature water to the auto-thermal converter to produce H2; electric energy can be generated without burning diesel; since no NOx or particulate matters but CO2 is generated, the goal of ultra-low emission is achieved.
US09991535B2	Fuel cell system and maximum power calculation method The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell 40 that receives supply of reactant gas to generate power; output characteristic updating means for updating an output characteristic of the fuel cell 40 based on output current and output voltage measured by a current sensor 140 and a voltage sensor 150; maximum power calculation means for calculating, using the output characteristic, the maximum power available at the fuel cell 40; and determination means for determining whether a value of the output characteristic is in an assumed situation where the output characteristic value is assumed to be temporarily lowered, wherein while the output characteristic value is determined by the determination means to be in the assumed situation, the maximum power calculation means calculates the maximum power using the output characteristic updated by the output characteristic updating means just before transition to the assumed situation.
US09991534B2	Method and apparatus for recovering performance of fuel cell stack A method for recovering performance of a fuel cell stack includes 1) a first pulse operation process including i) generating a hydrogen pumping reaction in a cathode by applying a current to the cathode after a supply of air to the cathode stops and ii) maintaining an OCV (open circuit voltage) by again supplying air to the cathode after the hydrogen pumping is performed, 2) a pole substitution process of substituting a pole of the fuel cell stack, and 3) a second pulse operation process including iii) generating the hydrogen pumping reaction in the cathode after the pole substitution, and iv) maintaining the OCV (open circuit voltage) by supplying air to the cathode after the pole substitution after the hydrogen pumping is performed.
US09991533B2	Fuel cell system A fuel cell system, comprising: a compressor that is placed in a supply flow path arranged to supply a cathode gas to a fuel cell; a first motor-operated valve that is placed between the fuel cell and the compressor in the supply flow path; a first stepping motor that is provided in the first motor-operated valve; a second motor-operated valve that is placed in a discharge flow path arranged to discharge the cathode gas from the fuel cell; a second stepping motor that is provided in the second motor-operated valve; and a controller that is configured to control power generation by the fuel cell and to input drive pulses into the first stepping motor and the second stepping motor, so as to open the first motor-operated valve and the second motor-operated valve at a start of the fuel cell and close the first motor-operated valve and the second motor-operated valve at a stop of the fuel cell, wherein the first stepping motor is driven by input of the drive pulse to generate a torque to open and close the first motor-operated valve, and the second stepping motor is driven by input of the drive pulse to generate a torque to open and close the second motor-operated valve, wherein the controller determines whether at least one of the first motor-operated valve and the second motor-operated valve is in a frozen state at the start of the fuel cell, when it is determined that neither the first motor-operated valve nor the second motor-operated valve is in the frozen state, the controller starts power generation by the fuel cell, and when it is determined that at least one of the first motor-operated valve and the second motor-operated valve is in the frozen state, the controller performs a predetermined process that repeats, a multiple number of times, alternately inputting a first drive pulse that generates a torque in a direction of increasing a valve opening and a second drive pulse that has a higher pulse speed than a pulse speed of the first drive pulse and generates a torque in a direction of decreasing the valve opening, to a stepping motor provided in at least the motor-operated valve in the frozen state out of the first stepping motor and the second stepping motor.
US09991530B2	Solid oxide fuel cell A solid oxide fuel cell or a solid oxide electrolyzing cell, including a plurality of cathode-anode-electrolyte units, each CAE-unit having a first electrode for an oxidizing agent, a second electrode for a combustible gas, and a solid electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode and an interconnect between the CAE-units. The interconnect including oxidant inlet and outlet sides defining an oxidant flow direction of the oxidizing agent flow, a first gas distribution element. The first gas distribution element contacts the second electrode of the CAE-unit, and a second gas distribution element with oxidizing agent has channels connecting the oxidant inlet and outlet sides. The oxidizing agent channels are in contact with the first electrode of an adjacent CAE-unit, and a least one bypass channel for the oxidant flow arranged such that the bypass channel is not in contact with the first electrode.
US09991527B2	Heat exchanger, method of producing heat exchanger, and fuel cell system A heat exchanger, in which heat is exchanged between first and second mediums, includes a housing that includes a first inlet and a first outlet, an internal member that divides a space in the housing into first and second chambers, and first and second external channels, through which the first medium flows, in the respective first and second chambers. The internal member includes a diverging hole that divides the first medium into flows through the first and second external channels, a converging hole that allows the divided first medium to converge, a second inlet, a second outlet, and an internal channel through which the second medium flows. The first and second external channels each include a first bent portion bent inwardly at a peripheral portion of the first or second chamber. The internal channel includes a second bent portion bent inwardly at a peripheral portion of the internal member.
US09991524B2	Fuel cell separator, fuel cell current collector plate, fuel cell and fuel cell stack In a fuel cell separator and the like, a technology for reducing the separation of a flow path rib which rectifies the flow of a fluid is desired.A separator used in a fuel cell is provided, the separator including: a separator main body that includes a fluid flow region through which a reactive gas or a coolant flows, a through-hole through which the reactive gas or the coolant flows, and a connection portion which connects the fluid flow region and the through-hole; and a flow rectifying portion that is arranged by being adhered on the connection portion and that rectifies flow of the reactive gas or the coolant between the fluid flow region and the through-hole, where the flow rectifying portion includes a plurality of protruded portions and a coupling portion which is thinner than the protruded portions and which couples the protruded portions.
US09991520B2	Flexible secondary battery A flexible secondary battery includes an exterior member having an accommodation space inside, a cathode collector and an anode collector located in the accommodation space and spaced apart from each other, a cathode active material portion on the cathode collector, and an anode active material portion on the anode collector. The cathode collector includes a first connection portion extending in a first direction and a plurality of first leg portions protruding from the first connection portion in a second direction different from the first direction. The anode collector includes a second connection portion parallel to the first connection portion and a plurality of second leg portions protruding from the second connection portion toward the first connection portion. The first leg portions and the second leg portions are alternately arranged between the first connection portion and the second connection portion. The cathode active material portion is located only on the first leg portions. The anode active material portion is located on the second connection portion and the second leg portions.
US09991519B2	Electrolytic aluminum foil, production method therefor, current collector for electrical storage device, electrode for electrical storage device, and electrical storage device An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolytic aluminum foil having no significant difference in properties between one surface and the other surface thereof, and also a method for producing the same. Another object is to provide a current collector for an electrical storage device using the electrolytic aluminum foil, an electrode for an electrical storage device, and an electrical storage device. An electrolytic aluminum foil of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized in that both surfaces of the foil have L* values of 86.00 or more in the Lab* color space (SCI method). The electrolytic aluminum foil of the present invention can be produced, for example, employing a method for producing an electrolytic aluminum foil, which comprises applying a current between a cathode drum partially immersed in a plating solution and an anode plate immersed in the plating solution to form an aluminum film on the surface of the cathode drum, and then separating, from the cathode drum, the aluminum film raised from the liquid surface by rotating the cathode drum, and in which the dew point of a treatment atmosphere at the time of the separation of the aluminum film from the cathode drum to give an electrolytic aluminum foil is controlled to be −50.0° C. or less.
US09991512B2	Thermally conductive lithium ion electrodes and batteries A thermally conductive electrochemical cell comprises a lithium ion-containing liquid electrolyte contacting a cathode and anode. The cathode and anode are in the form of electroactive sheets separated from each other by a membrane that is permeable to the electrolyte. One or more of the cathode and anode comprises two or more layers of carbon nanotubes, one of which layers includes electrochemically active nanoparticles and/or microparticles disposed therein or deposited on the nanotubes thereof. The majority of the carbon nanotubes in each of the layers are oriented generally parallel to the layers. Optionally, one or more of the layers includes an additional carbon material such as graphene, nanoparticulate diamond, microparticulate diamond, and a combination thereof.
US09991511B2	Composite cathode active material, lithium battery including the same, and method of preparing the same A composite cathode active material includes: a core including a material capable of intercalation and deintercalation of lithium; and a first coating layer on at least one portion of the core, where the first coating layer includes zirconium oxide. A lithium battery includes a cathode including the composite cathode active material. Methods of preparing the composite cathode active material are also disclosed.
US09991509B2	Anode active material including porous silicon oxide-carbon material composite and method of preparing the same Provided are an anode active material including a porous silicon oxide-carbon material composite which includes a porous silicon oxide including pores and a line-type carbon material coated on a surface, in the pores, or on the surface and in the pores of the porous silicon oxide, and a method of preparing the anode active material.Since the silicon oxide of the anode active material according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the plurality of pores, resistance to the mechanical stress due to a volume change may be improved. Also, since the line-type carbon material is bonded to the inside of the pores, conductivity may not be decreased even in the case in which internal cracks occur in the porous silicon oxide and lifetime characteristics may be improved.
US09991508B2	Chemical synthesis route for lithium ion battery applications An exemplary embodiment of a synthesis method includes the following acts or steps: providing LiMn2O4 material as a precursor; leaching Mn from the LiMn2O4 material using an acid to form a synthesized solution; adding carbonaceous material to the synthesized solution; adding phosphoric acid to the synthesized solution with carbonaceous material to form MnPO4 composite material; and adding Li containing compound to the MnPO4 composite material to form LiMnPO4 composite material.
US09991505B2	Positive-electrode material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery, method for manufacturing the same, and nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery using said positive-electrode material Provided is a positive-electrode material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary batteries, the positive-electrode material being capable of achieving both high capacity and high output when used for a positive electrode for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary batteries. Also, provided is a method for manufacturing the positive-electrode material for nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary batteries, wherein a lithium metal composite oxide powder is mixed with lithium tungstate, the lithium metal composite oxide powder being represented by a general formula LizNi1-x-yCoxMyO2 (wherein 0.10≤x≤0.35, 0≤y≤0.35, 0.97≤z≤1.20, and M is an addition element and at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, and Al) and comprising primary particles and secondary particles composed of aggregation of the primary particles.
US09991501B2	Vent shield for a battery module The present disclosure relates generally to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in the housing. Each battery cell has a battery cell terminal and a battery cell vent on an end of each battery cell, and the battery cell vent is configured to exhaust effluent into the housing. The battery module has a vent shield plate disposed in the housing and directly along an immediate vent path of the effluent, a first surface of the vent shield plate configured to direct the effluent to an opening between the shield plate and the housing, and a second surface of the vent shield plate opposite the first surface. The battery module also has a venting chamber coupled to the opening and at least partially defined by the second surface and a vent configured to direct the effluent out of the battery module.
US09991498B2	Electrode assembly and secondary battery including the same An electrode assembly includes an electrode jelly-roll, which includes a winding including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator disposed between the first and second electrode plates; an outer surface parallel to a winding axis of the prismatic electrode jelly-roll, side surfaces perpendicular to the winding axis; a first electrode tab, which is electrically connected to the first electrode plate and extends in a winding axis direction of the prismatic electrode jelly-roll; a second electrode tab, which is electrically connected to the second electrode plate and extends in a winding axis direction of the electrode jelly-roll, wherein an end portion of at least one of the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab is bent in a direction opposite to the direction in which the corresponding electrode tab extends and faces an outer surface of the prismatic electrode jelly-roll.
US09991492B2	Separator enclosures for electrodes and electrochemical cells The disclosure provides electrochemical cells including a separator enclosure which encloses at least a portion of a positive or negative electrode. In an embodiment, the separator generates a contact force or pressure on at least a portion of the electrode which can improve the performance of the cell. The disclosure also provides methods for charging an electrochemical cell.
US09991490B2	Separators for three-dimensional batteries An electrode structure for use in an energy storage device, the electrode structure comprising a population of electrodes, a population of counter-electrodes and an electrically insulating material layer separating members of the electrode population from members of the counter-electrode population, each member of the electrode population having a longitudinal axis AE that is surrounded by the electrically insulating separator layer.
US09991489B2	Porous layer, laminated body, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery member including the porous layer, and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the porous layer The present invention provides, as a porous layer that can be used for a member for a nonaqueous secondary battery having excellent shutdown characteristics, a porous layer including a polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin, wherein, assuming that a sum of individual amounts of crystal form α and crystal form β contained in the polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin is 100 mol %, the amount of crystal form α contained in the polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin is not less than 10 mol % and not more than 65 mol %.
US09991484B2	Battery pack of electric vehicle, electric vehicle chassis and method for replacing battery modules Provided are systems and methods for configuring battery packs in electric vehicles. A battery pack may include a plurality of battery modules, a support part, and at least one opening provided on the support part. The support part may be provided with a bottom for supporting the plurality of battery modules, sides, a top, and an accommodation space formed by the bottom, the sides, and the top for accommodating the plurality of battery modules. The opening provided on the bottom of the support part may enable the plurality of battery modules to be passed through the at least one opening and be detachably mounted to the bottom of the support part so as to be supported by the bottom.
US09991482B2	Magnesium-air fuel cell Provided is a magnesium-air fuel cell in which a conductive state is achieved when a lid is fastened, and a nonconductive state is achieved when the lid is loosened, so that the power supply can be turned ON and OFF based on a fastening state of the lid. A lid includes a lower end portion that comes into contact with a main body at a time of fastening, an anode body inserted in the main body, and an electrode plate made of metal coupled to an end of the anode body. The electrode plate includes a first terminal at least positioned at the lower end portion. The main body includes a second terminal positioned on a surface that comes into contact with the lower end portion of the lid at the time of fastening the lid. Electrical conduction is achieved when the first terminal and the second terminal come into contact with each other.
US09991479B2	Sealed battery A sealed battery 10 is provided, which has a seam 45 between a case main body 21 and a lid 22 on an outer surface 22A side of the lid 22, and in which this seam 25 is laser welded. A terminal 40 connected to an electrode assembly in the battery 10 is led to the outside from a through hole in the lid 22 and is separated from the lid outer surface 22A by an outside resin member 60. The outside resin member 60 is constituted of a resin matrix 62, which is formed of a nonaromatic resin composition, and inorganic fibers 64 present dispersed in the resin matrix 62. At least 50% by mass of the inorganic fibers 64 in the outside resin member 60 is disposed such that the fiber axial direction of the inorganic fibers 64 is parallel to the outer surface of the lid 22.
US09991473B2	Organic light emitting display device An organic light display device includes a first substrate, light emitting structures, a second substrate and a reflective member. The first substrate includes a plurality of pixel regions, each pixel region including a plurality of sub-pixel regions, and a reflective region which surrounds the sub-pixel regions. The reflective region excludes the sub-pixel regions. The light emitting structures are respectively disposed in the sub-pixel regions on the first substrate. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The reflective member is disposed in the reflective region on the lower surface of the second substrate. First openings exposing the sub-pixel regions and a second opening exposing at least a portion the reflective region are located in the reflective member.
US09991472B2	Electro-optical apparatus, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic device There is provided an electro-optical apparatus including an element substrate that includes a display region in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged, and a peripheral region in which a terminal is disposed. The light-emitting element has a structure in which a reflective electrode, an optical adjustment layer, a first electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode are laminated, and the first electrode is electrically connected to a contact electrode. The terminal has a structure in which a first terminal layer that is formed by a first conductive film which is the same as the reflective electrode, a second terminal layer that is formed by a second conductive film which is the same as the contact electrode, and a third terminal layer that is formed by a third conductive film which is the same as the first electrode are laminated.
US09991465B2	Display device having crack prevention portion A display device includes: a lower substrate comprising an active area, and a peripheral area outside the active area; a thin film transistor layer on the lower substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes on the thin film transistor layer and in the active area; an encapsulating portion on the pixel electrode and encapsulating the pixel electrode; and a pattern layer comprising a plurality of patterns on the encapsulating portion, wherein the encapsulating portion covers a first area of the lower substrate and exposes a second area outside the first area, and the pattern layer comprises a crack preventing portion at the peripheral area.
US09991462B2	Organic light emitting display device An organic light emitting display device is provided according to the present disclosure. An organic light emitting display device comprising a first planarization layer configured to planarize an upper portion of a circuit element on a substrate, an inorganic layer comprising a first out-gassing pattern on the first planarization layer, a second planarization layer configured to planarize an upper portion of the inorganic layer and a metal layer comprising a second out-gassing pattern on the second planarization layer.
US09991459B2	Organic light emitting diode An organic light emitting diode, including a first electrode; a first light emitting unit on the first electrode; a charge generating layer on the first light emitting unit, the charge generating layer including a plurality of organic layers; a second light emitting unit on the charge generating layer; and a second electrode on the second light emitting unit, the plurality of organic layers of the charge generating layer including a first organic layer and a second organic layer that are respectively adjacent to the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit; and a third organic layer between the first organic layer and the second organic layer, the first organic layer and the second organic layer being one of a p-type layer or a hole transport layer, and the third organic layer being the other of the p-type layer or the hole transport layer.
US09991458B2	Nanoshell, method of fabricating same and uses thereof A method of fabricating a nanoshell is disclosed. The method comprises coating a nanometric core made of a first material by a second material, to form a core-shell nanostructure and applying non-chemical treatment to the core-shell nanostructure so as to at least partially remove the nanometric core, thereby fabricating a nanoshell. The disclosed nanoshell can be used in the fabrication of transistors, optical devices (such as CCD and CMOS sensors), memory devices and energy storage devices.
US09991456B2	Display device To provide a display device including a spacer, a flexible substrate having a wire extending from a terminal area to a display area, and a reinforcement film having a first reinforcement attached on the rear side of the display area, a second reinforcement attached on the display side of the terminal area, a bending reinforcement attached on the respective both edge portions in the width direction of the flexible substrate on the inside surface side of the bending area, and an opening surrounded by the first reinforcement, the second reinforcement, and the bending reinforcement, wherein the opening has a shape of which width becomes larger as it goes from respective end sides to center in the width direction of the reinforcement film.
US09991453B2	Electronic device, organic electroluminescent element, organic thin-film solar cell, and dye-sensitized solar cell This invention addresses the problem of providing an electronic device, organic electroluminescent device, conductive film, organic thin-film solar cell, and dye-sensitized solar cell provided with a charge-transporting thin film that exhibits excellent stability. In the presence of external disturbances, the charge-transporting thin film exhibits little in the way of fluctuations, and the resistance of the charge-transporting thin film changes little over time as current is supplied. As one of the secondary effects thereof, the charge-transporting thin film results in little in the way of changes in emission characteristics over time. This electronic device, which is provided with a charge-transporting thin film that contains one or more functional organic compounds having chiral elements, is characterized by the provision of a charge-transporting thin film wherein the total of the number of chiral elements per molecule in each type of the functional organic compounds summed over all types of the functional organic compounds is four or more.
US09991452B2	Condensed-cyclic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same A condensed-cyclic compound is represented by Formula 1: where X1 and R1 to R10 are as defined in the specification, and at least one of R1 to R10 is a group represented by Formula 2, and at least one of R1 to R10 is a group represented by Formula 3: where L1, L2, Ar1 to Ar4, a1 and a2 are as defined in the specification.
US09991451B2	Organic light-emitting device, display apparatus, image display apparatus, lighting apparatus, image formation apparatus, and exposure apparatus An organic light-emitting device is provided that is driven with a low voltage and has a high luminous efficiency and a long device lifetime. The organic light-emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, a light-emitting layer disposed between the anode and the cathode, and an organic compound layer disposed between the cathode and the light-emitting layer and being in contact with the cathode. The organic compound layer includes a complex represented by Formula [1]:
US09991449B2	Anthracene derivatives for organic light-emitting diode and organic light-emitting diode including the same The present invention relates to a novel anthracene derivative, for an organic light-emitting device, and an organic light-emitting device comprising same, the anthracene derivative enabling excellent device characteristics when used as a light-emitting material.
US09991444B2	Surface-modified organic semiconductors Surface-modified organic semiconductors and methods for making surface-modified organic semiconductors are disclosed. More particularly, surface-modified thin films are provided, the surface-modified thin films comprising a first layer comprising a polyaromatic organic semiconductor and a surface layer in direct contact with the first layer, the surface layer comprising an addition reaction product of the polyaromatic organic semiconductor with, for example, a dienophile, wherein the first layer is substantially free of the addition reaction product of the organic semiconductor with the dienophile. Also provided are surface-modified single crystals comprising a core comprising a polyaromatic organic semiconductor and a coating in direct contact with the core, the coating comprising, for example, an addition reaction product of the polyaromatic organic semiconductor with a dienophile, wherein the core is substantially free of the addition reaction product of the organic semiconductor with the dienophile.
US09991440B2	Magnetoresistive random access memory cell and fabricating the same The present disclosure provides a semiconductor memory device. The device includes a pinning layer having an anti-ferromagnetic material and disposed over a first electrode; a pinned layer disposed over the pinning layer; a tunneling layer disposed over the pinned layer, a free layer disposed over the tunneling layer and a capping layer disposed over the free layer. The capping layer includes metal-oxide and metal-nitride materials.
US09991439B2	Method for implanting a piezoelectric material A method of producing a structure made of a piezoelectric material, including: a) production of a stack including at least one metal layer and at least one conductive layer on a substrate made of piezoelectric material, wherein at least one electrical contact is established between the conductive layer and a metal element outside the stack; b) an ionic and/or atomic implantation, through the conductive layer and the metal layer; c) transfer of the substrate onto a transfer substrate, followed by fracturing of the transferred piezoelectric substrate, in an embrittlement area.
US09991435B2	Device for exhaust gas heat utilization, exhaust gas module having such a device, and method of manufacturing the device A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles has an outer housing through which exhaust gas can flow and at least one thermoelectric generator module received in the outer housing. The at least one thermoelectric generator module is fastened onto a wavelike carrier wall. The invention further relates to an exhaust gas module having such a device, and to a method of manufacturing this device.
US09991431B2	Optoelectronic component and method of producing same An optoelectronic component includes a carrier strip and an optoelectronic semiconductor chip, a first electrical connection surface formed on a front side of the chip and a second electrical connection surface is formed on a rear side of the chip, first and second electrically conductive contact regions are formed on the strip, the first region is arranged on a folding section of the strip, the rear side of the chip faces toward an upper side of the strip, the upper side faces toward the front side of the chip, the first electrical connection surface electrically conductively connects to the first region, the second electrical connection surface electrically conductively connects to the second region by a second connecting material, the strip has a second through-opening that lies next to the second region, and the second connecting material extends through the second contact opening to a lower side of the strip.
US09991430B2	Light emitting device and light emitting device package A light emitting device includes a light emitting layer, a substrate that is transparent to an emission wavelength of the light emitting layer and positioned to receive an emission wavelength from the light emitting layer, a convex pattern including a collection of a plurality of convex portions discretely arranged on a front surface of the substrate with a first pitch, an n type nitride semiconductor layer located on the front surface of the substrate to cover the convex pattern and a p type nitride semiconductor layer located on the light emitting layer. The light emitting layer is located on the n type semiconductor layer. Each of the convex portions includes a sub convex pattern comprising a plurality of fine convex portions discretely formed at the top of the convex portion with a second pitch smaller than the first pitch, and a base supporting the sub convex pattern.
US09991428B2	Optoelectronic component and method for the production thereof An optoelectronic component includes a housing having a first cavity open toward an upper side of the housing, and a second cavity open toward the upper side of the housing, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity connect by a connecting channel, an optoelectronic semiconductor chip is arranged in the first cavity, a potting material is arranged in a region of the first cavity enclosing the optoelectronic semiconductor chip, a bond wire is arranged between an electrical contact surface of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip and a bond surface of the housing, and the bond surface is arranged in the connecting channel.
US09991416B2	Method for manufacturing light emitting diode with InGaN/GaN superlattice A light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the light emitting diode are provided. The light emitting diode includes an n-type semiconductor layer, an inclined type superlattice thin film layer, an active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer. The n-type semiconductor layer is disposed on a substrate. The inclined type superlattice thin film layer is disposed on the n-type semiconductor layer and includes a plurality of thin film pairs in which InGaN thin films and GaN thin films are sequentially stacked. The active layer having a quantum well structure is disposed on the inclined type superlattice thin film layer. The p-type semiconductor layer is disposed on the active layer. Composition ratio of Indium (In) included in the InGaN thin film is increased as getting closer to the active layer. Thus, internal residual strain is reduced, and quantum confinement effect is enhanced, and internal quantum efficiency is increased.
US09991414B2	Method of forming a composite substrate In a method according to embodiments of the invention, a III-nitride layer is grown on a growth substrate. The III-nitride layer is connected to a host substrate. The growth substrate is removed. The growth substrate is a non-III-nitride material. The growth substrate has an in-plane lattice constant asubstrate. The III-nitride layer has a bulk lattice constant alayer. In some embodiments, [(\|asubstrate−alayer\|)/asubstrate]*100% is no more than 1%.
US09991413B2	Systems and methods for preparing GaN and related materials for micro assembly The disclosed technology relates generally to a method and system for micro assembling GaN materials and devices to form displays and lighting components that use arrays of small LEDs and high-power, high-voltage, and or high frequency transistors and diodes. GaN materials and devices can be formed from epitaxy on sapphire, silicon carbide, gallium nitride, aluminum nitride, or silicon substrates. The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for preparing GaN materials and devices at least partially formed on several of those native substrates for micro assembly.
US09991411B2	Multi-wafer based light absorption apparatus and applications thereof Structures and techniques introduced here enable the design and fabrication of photodetectors (PDs) and/or other electronic circuits using typical semiconductor device manufacturing technologies meanwhile reducing the adverse impacts on PDs' performance. Examples of the various structures and techniques introduced here include, but not limited to, a pre-PD homogeneous wafer bonding technique, a pre-PD heterogeneous wafer bonding technique, a post-PD wafer bonding technique, their combinations, and a number of mirror equipped PD structures. With the introduced structures and techniques, it is possible to implement PDs using typical direct growth material epitaxy technology while reducing the adverse impact of the defect layer at the material interface caused by lattice mismatch.
US09991410B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing lead wire for solar cell A method of manufacturing a lead wire for a solar cell includes heating a wire material by a direct resistance heating or by an induction heating to reduce a 0.2% proof stress of the wire material while conveying the wire material and plating the wire material that is in a heated condition obtained by the direct resistance heating or by the induction heating while further conveying the wire material. An apparatus is configured to implement the method, and includes a plating bath, a conveyor mechanism configured to convey the wire material, a heater configured to heat the wire material, and a controller configured to control the conveyor mechanism and the heater.
US09991403B2	Optical device An improved optoelectronic device is described, which employs optically responsive nanoparticles and utilises a non-radiative energy transfer mechanism. The nanoparticles are disposed on the sidewalls of one or more cavities, which extend from the surface of the device through the electronic structure and penetrate the energy transfer region. The nanoparticles are located in close spatial proximity to an energy transfer region, whereby energy is transferred non-radiatively to or from the electronic structure through non-contact dipole-dipole interaction. According to the mode of operation, the device can absorb light energy received from the device surface via the cavity and then transfer this non-radiatively or can transfer energy non-radiatively and then emit light energy towards the surface of the device via the cavity. As such, the deice finds application in light emitting devices, photovoltaic (solar) cells, displays, photodetectors, lasers and single photon devices.
US09991400B2	Collector sheet for solar cell and solar cell module employing same Provided is a collector sheet for a solar cell, wherein the collector sheet for solar cell can prevent short circuiting between a non-photoreception surface side element and a wiring section, as well as cushioning shocks. This collector sheet (2) for a solar cell has a circuit (22) on the surface of a resin substrate (21). A sealing material layer (23) is stacked on the circuit (22), and in the sealing material layer (23) on the wiring section (221) is formed a conductive recessed part (24) through which the wiring section (221) is exposed, in order to provide conductivity between an electrode (4) on the non-photoreception surface side of the solar cell element (1), and the wiring section (221) corresponding thereto, with the sealing material layer (23) therebetween.
US09991399B2	Passivation structure for semiconductor devices A Schottky diode is disclosed that includes a silicon carbide substrate, a silicon carbide drift layer, a Schottky contact, and a passivation structure. The silicon carbide drift layer provides an active region and an edge termination region about the active region. The Schottky contact has sides and a top extending between the two sides and includes a Schottky layer over the active region and an anode contact over the Schottky layer. The passivation structure covers the edge termination region, the sides of the Schottky contact, and at least a portion of the top of the Schottky contact. The passivation structure includes a first silicon nitride layer, a silicon dioxide layer over the first silicon nitride layer, and a second silicon nitride layer over the silicon dioxide layer.
US09991393B2	Semiconductor device, module, and electronic device A semiconductor device includes a first conductor, a second conductor, a first semiconductor, a second semiconductor, a third semiconductor, and an insulator. The second semiconductor is in contact with an upper surface of the first semiconductor. The first conductor overlaps with the second semiconductor. The insulator is located between the first conductor and the first semiconductor. The second conductor is in contact with an upper surface of the second semiconductor. The third semiconductor is in contact with the upper surface of the first semiconductor, the upper surface of the second semiconductor, and an upper surface of the second conductor.
US09991392B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof To provide a novel semiconductor device which includes a transistor and a metal film containing Cu for a wiring, a signal line, or the like. The semiconductor device includes a first wiring, a second wiring, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The first wiring is electrically connected to a source or a drain of the first transistor, and the second wiring is electrically connected to a gate of the second transistor. The first wiring and the second wiring each include a Cu—X alloy film (X is Mn, Ni, Cr, Fe, Co, Mo, Ta, or Ti). The Cu—X alloy film in the first wiring is connected to the Cu—X alloy film in the second wiring.
US09991382B1	Vertical field effect transistor with abrupt extensions at a bottom source/drain structure A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a vertical transport field effect transistor located on sidewall surfaces of a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor structure further includes an abrupt junction that is located between a bottom source/drain extension region and a sidewall surface of a lower portion of the semiconductor fin. The bottom source/drain extension region is present in a gap that is located adjacent the lower portion of the semiconductor fin and atop a mesa portion of a base semiconductor substrate.
US09991378B2	Trench power semiconductor device A trench power semiconductor device is provided. A trench gate structure of the trench power semiconductor device located in a cell trench of an epitaxial layer includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a gate electrode, a third dielectric layer, and a shielding layer. The second dielectric layer is interposed between the first and third dielectric layers, and the second dielectric layer is made from different material than the first dielectric layer. After performing a selective etching step on the second dielectric layer, a recess can be formed among the first, second and third dielectric layers. The gate electrode includes a conductive layer formed in the recess region, and the shielding electrode is surrounded by the third dielectric layer and insulated from the conductive layer.
US09991376B2	High voltage MOSFET devices and methods of making the devices A SiC MOSFET device having low specific on resistance is described. The device has N+, P-well and JFET regions extended in one direction (Y-direction) and P+ and source contacts extended in an orthogonal direction (X-direction). The polysilicon gate of the device covers the JFET region and is terminated over the P-well region to minimize electric field at the polysilicon gate edge. In use, current flows vertically from the drain contact at the bottom of the structure into the JFET region and then laterally in the X direction through the accumulation region and through the MOSFET channels into the adjacent N+ region. The current flowing out of the channel then flows along the N+ region in the Y-direction and is collected by the source contacts and the final metal. Methods of making the device are also described.
US09991373B1	Semiconductor device In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a Group III nitride based transistor arranged on a front surface of the substrate, and a conductive through substrate via. The conductive through substrate via includes a via extending from the front surface to a rear surface of the substrate, and conductive material extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the substrate. The via tapers from the front surface to the rear surface of the substrate.
US09991371B2	Semiconductor device including two-dimensional material A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a two-dimensional (2D) material layer formed on the substrate and having a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region, and a source electrode and a drain electrode provided to be respectively in contact with the first region and the second region of the 2D material layer, the second region of the 2D material layer including an oxygen adsorption material layer in which oxygen is adsorbed on a surface of the second region.
US09991370B2	Methods and systems for ultra-high quality gated hybrid devices and sensors High electron mobility leads to better device performance and today is achieved by fabricating “gated devices” within a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG. However, the fabrication techniques used to form these devices lead to rapid degradation of the 2DEG quality which then can limits the mobility of the electronic devices. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a process/technique which circumvents this processing and 2DEG layer damage. By exploiting a flip-chip methodology such damaging processing steps are separated to a second die/wafer which is then coupled to the 2DEG wafer. Extensions of the technique with two or more different semiconductor materials or material systems may be employed in conjunction with one or more electronic circuits to provide 2DEG enabled circuits in 2D and/or 3D stacked configurations. Further semiconductor materials providing EG elements may incorporate one or more of 2DEG, 1DEG, and “zero” DEG structures.
US09991367B1	Bipolar junction transistor A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) includes an emitter region, a base region surrounding the emitter region, and a collector region surrounding the base region. The emitter region includes a fin structures extending along a first direction, a first metal gate extending across the fin structure along a second direction, and a second metal gate disposed in parallel with the first metal gate. A spacing between the first metal gate and the second metal gate ranges between 0.2 micrometers and 0.4 micrometers.
US09991363B1	Contact etch stop layer with sacrificial polysilicon layer A contact etch stop layer includes a nitride layer formed over a sacrificial gate structure and a polysilicon layer formed over the nitride layer. During subsequent processing, the polysilicon layer is adapted to oxidize and form an oxide layer. The oxidation of the polysilicon layer effectively shields the underlying nitride contact etch stop layer from oxidation, which protects the mechanical integrity of the nitride layer.
US09991362B2	Semiconductor device including tungsten gate and manufacturing method thereof In a method of manufacturing a tungsten layer by an atomic layer deposition, a seed layer on an underlying layer is formed on a substrate by supplying a boron containing gas and a dilute gas, and a tungsten layer is formed on the seed layer by supplying a tungsten containing gas. A flow ratio of a flow amount of the boron containing gas to a total flow amount of the boron containing gas and the dilute gas is in a range from 1/21 to 1/4.
US09991361B2	Methods for performing a gate cut last scheme for FinFET semiconductor devices A method includes forming a placeholder gate structure embedded in a dielectric layer. The placeholder gate structure includes a sacrificial material. A first hard mask layer is formed above the dielectric layer. The first hard mask layer and the sacrificial material are the same material. A second hard mask layer is formed above the first hard mask layer. The second hard mask layer is patterned to define an opening therein exposing a portion of the first hard mask layer and being disposed above a portion of the placeholder gate structure. The exposed portion of the first hard mask layer and the portion of the sacrificial material of the placeholder gate structure disposed below the opening are removed to define a gate cut cavity and divide the placeholder gate structure into first and second segments. A dielectric material is formed in the gate cut cavity.
US09991358B2	Semiconductor device with metal-insulator-semiconductor structure A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a semiconductor region, a gate electrode, and a first gate insulating film provided between the semiconductor region and the gate electrode and containing a material having a chemical composition expressed by (SiO2)n(Si3N4)m (where n and m are positive integers), in the material, at least one silicon atom being bonded with at least one oxygen atom and at least one nitrogen atom.
US09991357B2	Semiconductor devices with gate electrodes on separate sets of high-k dielectric layers A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including multiple active regions having a common conductivity type and separate, respective gate electrodes on the separate active regions. Different high-k dielectric layers may be between the separate active regions and the respective gate electrodes on the active regions. Different quantities of high-k dielectric layers may be between the separate active regions and the respective gate electrodes on the active regions. The different high-k dielectric layers may include different work-function adjusting materials.
US09991355B2	Implantation formed metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contacts A method of forming a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contact, a transistor including the MIS contact, and the MIS contact are described. The method includes etching an opening for formation of the contact, the opening extending to an upper surface of a semiconductor region. The method also includes implanting metal ions at a selected depth within the upper surface of the semiconductor region and converting the upper surface of the semiconductor region to a metal oxide insulating layer. The method further includes forming a metal layer on the insulating layer.
US09991353B2	Semiconductor device Machining accuracy of an IGBT region is worsened due to a height difference caused by polysilicon. Therefore, there is a problem that characteristic variation of the IGBT increases. Provided is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate; a gate wiring layer provided on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a gate structure that includes a gate electrode and is provided on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate. The gate wiring layer includes an outer periphery portion that is a metal wiring layer and is provided along an outer periphery of the semiconductor substrate; and an extending portion that is a metal wiring layer, is provided extending from the outer periphery portion toward a central portion of the semiconductor substrate, and is electrically connected to the gate electrode.
US09991351B2	Method of making a semiconductor device using a dummy gate A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a fin mask layer on a semiconductor layer, forming a dummy gate over the fin mask layer, and forming source and drain regions on opposite sides of the dummy gate. The dummy gate is removed and the underlying fin mask layer is used to define a plurality of fins in the semiconductor layer. A gate is formed over the plurality of fins.
US09991348B2	Array substrate with reduced flickering, method for manufacturing the same and display device An array substrate includes a gate electrode and a source electrode arranged on a base substrate of the array substrate. The source electrode has a first end connected to a pixel electrode on the array substrate, and a second end opposite to the first end. A tip of the second end is provided with an extension portion, and an orthogonal projection of the extension portion onto the base substrate extends beyond an orthogonal projection of the gate electrode onto the base substrate.
US09991346B2	Semiconductor structure comprising an active semiconductor layer of the III-V type on a buffer layer stack and method for producing semiconductor structure A semiconductor structure includes a buffer layer stack comprising a plurality of III-V material layers, and the buffer layer stack includes at least one layered substructure. Each layered substructure comprises a compressive stress inducing structure between a respective first buffer layer and a respective second buffer layer positioned higher in the buffer layer stack than the respective first buffer layer. A lower surface of the respective second buffer layer has a lower Al content than an upper surface of the respective first buffer layer. An active semiconductor layer of the III-V type is provided on the buffer layer stack. The surface of the respective relaxation layers is sufficiently rough to inhibit the relaxation of the respective second buffer layer, and comprises a Root Mean Square (RMS) roughness larger than 1 nm. A method is provided for producing the semiconductor structure.
US09991345B2	Semiconductor device There is provided a semiconductor device comprising a group III nitride semiconductor layer; a gate insulating film formed on the group III nitride semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film. The gate insulating film comprises a first film that is placed on the group III nitride semiconductor layer, includes silicon and has a higher crystallization temperature than a crystallization temperature of aluminum oxide; and a second film that is placed on the first film and contains aluminum oxide. The first film has a hydrogen concentration of not lower than 1×1021 atoms/cm3, a nitrogen concentration of not lower than 1×1019 atoms/cm3 and a carbon concentration of not lower than 1×1019 atoms/cm3. This configuration prevents crystallization of aluminum oxide.
US09991341B2	Method for treating a gallium nitride layer comprising dislocations A method is for treating a doped gallium nitride substrate of a first conductivity type, having dislocations emerging on the side of at least one of its surfaces. The method may include: a) forming, where each dislocation emerges, a recess extending into the substrate from the at least one surface; and b) filling the recesses with doped gallium nitride of the second conductivity type.
US09991337B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a plurality of fin-shaped structures and a first shallow trench isolation (STI) around the fin-shaped structures on the first region and the second region; forming a patterned hard mask on the second region; removing the fin-shaped structures and the first STI from the first region; forming a second STI on the first region; removing the patterned hard mask; and forming a gate structure on the second STI.
US09991336B2	Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing the same, and power conversion system An anode electrode and a cathode electrode formed on a silicon semiconductor substrate, p-type layer formed next to the anode electrode, an n-type layer formed next to the cathode electrode by a V-group element being diffused, an n− layer formed between the p-type layer and the n-type layer, and an n-buffer layer formed between the n− layer and the n-type layer and containing oxygen are provided and an oxygen concentration in an area of a width of at least 30 μm from a surface on a side of the n-type layer of the cathode electrode toward the anode electrode is set to 1×1017 cm−3 or more and also the oxygen concentration of the n− layer in a position in contact with the p-type layer is set to less than 3×1017 cm−3.
US09991335B2	Semiconductor device having a polarization super junction field effect transistor, electric equipment, bidirectional field effect transistor, and mounted structure body having the same Provided are a semiconductor device and a bidirectional field effect transistor which can easily overcome the tradeoff relation between the high voltage resistance and high speed in the semiconductor device using a polarization super junction, realize both the high voltage resistance and elimination of the occurrence of current collapse, operate at a high speed, and further the loss is low. The semiconductor device comprises a polarization super junction region and a p-electrode contact region. The polarization super junction region comprises an undoped GaN layer 11, an undoped AlxGa1-xN layer 12 with a thickness not smaller than 25 nm and not larger than 47 nm and 0.17≤x≤0.35, an undoped GaN layer 13 and a p-type GaN layer 14. When the reduced thickness tR is defined as tR=u+v(1+w×10−18) for the thickness u [nm] of the undoped GaN layer 13, the thickness v [nm] and the Mg concentration w [cm−3] of the p-type GaN layer 14, tR≥0.864/(x−0.134)+46.0 [nm] is satisfied. The p-electrode contact region comprises a p-type GaN contact layer formed to be in contact with the p-type GaN layer 14 and a p-electrode that is in contact with the p-type GaN contact layer.
US09991330B1	Resistors with controlled resistivity The present application provides planar and stacked resistor structures that are embedded within an interconnect dielectric material in which the resistivity of an electrical conducting resistive material or electrical conducting resistive materials of the resistor structure can be tuned to a desired resistivity during the manufacturing of the resistor structure. Notably, a doped metallic insulator layer is formed atop a substrate. A controlled surface treatment process is then performed to an upper portion of the doped metallic insulator layer to convert the upper portion of the doped metallic insulator layer into an electrical conducting resistive material layer. The remaining doped metallic insulator layer and the electrical conducting resistive material layer are then patterned to provide the resistor structure.
US09991329B2	Method and structure for dual sheet resistance trimmable thin film resistors at same level An integrated circuit includes a higher sheet resistance resistor and a lower sheet resistance resistor, disposed in a same level of dielectric layers of the integrated circuit. The higher sheet resistor has a body region and head regions in a higher sheet resistance layer. The lower sheet resistor has a body region and head regions in a lower sheet resistance layer, which is thicker than the higher sheet layer. The higher sheet resistor has an upper head layer contacting the higher sheet layer at each head region of the higher sheet layer. Each upper head layer has a same composition and thickness as the lower sheet layer of the lower sheet resistor. The lower sheet resistor is free of head layers over the lower sheet resistance layer.
US09991328B2	Tunable on-chip nanosheet resistor A method of forming an integrated circuit device having a nanosheet resistor includes forming a nanosheet structure having alternating sheets of silicon and silicon germanium. An ion implantation is performed on the nanosheet structure. A thermal anneal is performed on the nanosheet structure. A dielectric oxide is placed around the nanosheet structure. A first contact and a second contact are coupled to the nanosheet structure to form a resistor between the first contact and the second contact. Other embodiments are also described herein.
US09991326B2	Light-emitting device comprising flexible substrate and light-emitting element The light-emitting device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a flexible substrate, a lower barrier layer positioned above the flexible substrate, a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element positioned above the lower barrier layer, a first upper barrier layer positioned above the first light-emitting element and including a first inorganic material, and a second upper barrier layer positioned above the second light-emitting element and including a second inorganic material. The first upper barrier layer and the second upper barrier layer are spaced from each other at least in a region between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element.
US09991320B2	Organic light emitting diode display device and organic light emitting diode thereof There is provided an organic light emitting diode display device. The organic light emitting diode display device includes a substrate divided into an emission area and a non-emission area, an overcoating layer disposed on the substrate and including a plurality of micro lenses, a plurality of first electrode patterns disposed on the overcoating layer and spaced away from each other in the emission area, an organic emission layer disposed on the plurality of first electrodes, and a second electrode disposed on the organic emission layer.
US09991319B2	Thin film transistor, method of manufacturing the thin film transistor and flat panel display having the thin film transistor A thin film transistor (TFT), method of manufacturing the TFT and a flat panel display having the TFT are disclosed. In one aspect, the TFT comprises a substrate and an active layer formed over the substrate, wherein the active layer is formed of oxide semiconductor, and wherein the active layer includes two opposing sides. The TFT also comprises source and drain regions formed at the opposing sides of the active layer, a first insulating layer formed over the active layer, a gate electrode formed over the active layer, a second insulating layer formed covering the first insulation layer and the gate electrode, and a first conductive layer formed on the source and drain regions and contacting the second insulating layer.
US09991313B2	Magnetic memory and manufacturing method of the same According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer and an underlying layer provided on an opposite side of the first magnetic layer with respect to the intermediate layer, and the underlying layer contains AlN of a hcp structure.
US09991307B2	Stacked grid design for improved optical performance and isolation A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with a dielectric grid opening having a planar lower surface is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid is arranged over the pixel sensor and defines a sidewall of a metallic grid opening. A dielectric grid is arranged over the metallic grid and defines a sidewall of the dielectric grid opening. A capping layer is arranged over the metallic grid, and defines the planar lower surface of the dielectric grid opening.
US09991303B2	Image sensor device structure An image sensor structure is provided. The image sensor device structure includes a substrate, and the substrate includes an array region and a peripheral region. The image sensor device structure includes an anti-reflection layer formed on the substrate and a buffer layer formed on the anti-reflection layer. The image sensor device structure includes a first etch stop layer formed on the buffer layer and a metal grid structure formed on the first etch stop layer. The image sensor device structure also includes a dielectric layer formed on the metal grid structure.
US09991302B1	Optical sensor with color filters having inclined sidewalls An optical sensor includes a sensing layer, a color filter, and a grid structure. The sensing layer includes a photodiode. The color filter includes a lower portion disposed on the sensing layer, and an upper portion disposed on the lower portion. The upper portion includes a bottom surface connected to the lower portion, a first inclined surface inclined relative to the bottom surface, and a second inclined surface that is opposite to the first inclined surface and inclined relative to the bottom surface. The grid structure surrounds the upper portion. Between the first inclined surface and the bottom surface is a first acute angle, and between the second inclined surface and the bottom surface is a second acute angle.
US09991294B2	Thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same, array substrate, and electronic apparatus A thin film transistor and a method for manufacturing the same, an array substrate including the thin film transistor, and an electronic apparatus including the thin film transistor or provided with the array substrate. The thin film transistor includes: a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode, the active layer is formed of a mixture including a semiconductor nano-material and a photoresist material. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor includes: preparing a mixture including a semiconductor nano-material and a photoresist material; applying the mixture over a substrate, and forming a patterned active layer by exposure and development.
US09991293B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A step for forming an island-shaped semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device used in a display device is omitted in order to manufacture the semiconductor device with high productivity and low cost. The semiconductor device is manufactured through four photolithography processes: four steps for forming a gate electrode, for forming a source electrode and a drain electrode, for forming a contact hole, and for forming a pixel electrode. In the step for forming the contact hole, a groove portion in which a semiconductor layer is removed is formed, whereby formation of a parasitic transistor is prevented. An oxide semiconductor is used as a material of the semiconductor layer in which a channel is formed, and an oxide semiconductor having a higher insulating property than the semiconductor layer is provided over the semiconductor layer.
US09991291B2	Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof and display apparatus An array substrate is disclosed, which includes a display region and a drive circuit region; the drive circuit region includes GOA units, the GOA unit including a substrate, a gate electrode layer, an insulation layer, an active layer and a source/drain electrode layer, and the drive circuit region further includes a gate wire connecting to the gate electrode layer, and a source/drain layer wire at the same layer with the source/drain electrode layer, wherein the area between the portions of the gate wire and the source/drain layer wire which intercross with each other is only formed with the insulation layer. A manufacturing method of an array substrate and a display apparatus including the array substrate is further disclosed.
US09991290B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing a breaking and poor contact, without increasing the number of steps, thereby forming an integrated circuit with high driving performance and reliability. The present invention applies a photo mask or a reticle each of which is provided with a diffraction grating pattern or with an auxiliary pattern formed of a semi-translucent film having a light intensity reducing function to a photolithography step for forming wires in an overlapping portion of wires. And a conductive film to serve as a lower wire of a two-layer structure is formed, and then, a resist pattern is formed so that a first layer of the lower wire and a second layer narrower than the first layer are formed for relieving a steep step.
US09991289B2	Pixel structure having a single side overlapping light shielding pattern An active device of a pixel structure includes a semiconductor layer, an insulation layer covering the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode disposed on the insulation layer and electrically connected to a scan line, a protection layer covering the gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to a source region and a drain region of the semiconductor layer. A channel region is disposed between the source region and the drain region. A source lightly doped region is disposed between the channel region and the source region. A drain lightly doped region is disposed between the channel region and the drain region. The light shielding pattern shields the source lightly doped region and the drain lightly doped region. The light shielding pattern is overlapped with one side of the scan line and not overlapped with another side of the scan line.
US09991284B2	Display device Layers on a resin substrate in a peripheral area include wires extending in a wiring direction, and an inorganic insulating layer. The inorganic insulating layer is formed on first regions under the plurality of respective wires and on second regions each positioned between the adjacent first regions. The inorganic insulating layer includes a first portion on each first region. The inorganic insulating layer includes a second portion on each second region. The first portion is continuous in the wiring direction. The second portion is formed in at least either one of the manners such that the second portion is formed while avoiding a part of the second region on which the second portion is disposed or that the second portion is formed thinner than the first portion, and is continuous to the first portion adjacent to the second portion.
US09991281B2	Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device is provided as follows. A tunnel insulation layer is disposed on a substrate. The tunnel insulation layer includes a first silicon oxide layer, a second silicon oxide layer, and a silicon layer interposed between the first silicon oxide layer and the second silicon oxide layer. The silicon layer has a thickness smaller than a thickness of each of the first silicon oxide layer and the second silicon oxide layer. A gate pattern is disposed on the tunnel insulation layer.
US09991280B2	Multi-tier three-dimensional memory devices containing annular dielectric spacers within memory openings and methods of making the same An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.
US09991279B2	Method for manufacturing electronic device using sacrificial layer A method for manufacturing an electronic device includes forming a first source layer including a trench, forming a first sacrificial layer in the trench, forming a first structure over the first source layer, wherein the first structure includes first material layers and second material layers which are alternately stacked over the each other, forming first openings passing through the first structure and extending to the first sacrificial layer, forming first channel layers in the first openings, forming a slit passing through the first structure and extending to the first sacrificial layer, forming a second opening by removing the first sacrificial layer through the slit, and forming a second source layer in the second opening, wherein the second source layer is coupled to the first channel layers.
US09991278B2	Non-volatile memory device According to an embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes first electrodes stacked on an underlying layer, a second electrode provided on the first electrodes, a semiconductor layer extending in a first direction from the underlying layer to the second electrode, and a memory film provided between each of the first electrodes and the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes a first portion adjacent to the first electrodes and a second portion adjacent to the second electrode. The second portion has a thickness thinner than a thickness of the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US09991275B2	Semiconductor memory device A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a laminated structure including sacrificial layers and a select gate layer on a substrate, forming a penetration region penetrating the laminated structure, forming a select gate insulating layer on a sidewall of the select gate layer exposed by the penetration region, and forming an active pattern in the penetration region. The method also includes exposing a portion of the active pattern by removing the sacrificial layers and forming an information storage layer on the exposed portion of the active pattern.
US09991268B1	SRAM cell structure A static random access memory (SRAM) cell and a SRAM cell structure are provided. The SRAM cell includes a first pull-down transistor, a first pull-up transistor, a second pull-down transistor, a second pull-up transistor, a first conductive line pattern and a second conductive line pattern. A first gate electrode pattern of the first pull-down transistor and a second gate electrode pattern of the first pull-up transistor are physically separated from each other and electrically connected to the first conductive line pattern. The second inverter includes a second pull-down transistor, a second pull-up transistor and a second conductive line pattern. A third gate electrode pattern of the second pull-down transistor and a fourth gate electrode pattern of the second pull-up transistor are physically separated from each other and electrically connected to the second conductive line pattern.
US09991267B1	Forming eDRAM unit cell with VFET and via capacitance A method is presented for forming an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) device. The method includes forming a FinFET (fin field effect transistor) device having a plurality of fins over a substrate and forming a via cap adjacent the FinFET device by forming a contact trench extending into a bottom spacer, depositing a conductive liner within the contact trench, filling the contact trench with an organic dielectric layer (ODL), etching portions of the conductive liner and a portion of the ODL, and removing the ODL. The method further includes depositing a high-k material within the contact trench and depositing a conducting material over the high-k material.
US09991261B2	Gate-all-around nanowire device and method for manufacturing such a device The disclosed technology generally relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a gate all around (GAA) semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. In one aspect, a semiconductor device has a vertical stack of nanowires formed on a substrate, wherein the vertical stack of nanowires comprises an n-type nanowire and a p-type nanowire each extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to a main surface of the substrate. The n-type nanowire comprises a first material and the p-type nanowire comprises an inner part having two sides and an outer part at each side of the inner part in the longitudinal direction, wherein one or both of the two outer parts comprises a second material different from the first material. The n-type nanowire and the p-type nanowire each comprises a channel region electrically coupled to respective source and drain regions. The channel region of the p-type nanowire comprises the inner part. The device additionally includes a shared gate structure circumferentially surrounding the channel regions of the n-type and p-type nanowires.
US09991253B2	Protection element, protection circuit, and semiconductor integrated circuit To provide a protection element in which an increase in current due to off-state leakage can be reduced while a drive current can be ensured during an ESD operation.Provided is the protection element including: a clamp MOS transistor that has a drain coupled to a power supply line and a source coupled to a ground line; and a potential increasing circuit that increases a potential of a diffusion layer at the ground line side of the clamp MOS transistor, more than a potential of the ground line. In this protection element, the potential of the diffusion layer coupled to the ground line of the clamp MOS transistor is increased from the potential of the ground line, whereby an increase in current due to off-state leakage can be reduced while a sufficient drive current is ensured during an ESD operation.
US09991252B2	Semiconductor device comprising electrostatic discharge protection structure A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having first and second opposing surfaces, a first isolation layer on the first surface of the semiconductor body, and an electrostatic discharge protection structure. The electrostatic discharge protection structure includes a diode structure on the first isolation layer, a first terminal and a second terminal. The diode structure includes a polysilicon layer having first regions and at least one second region of opposite conductivity type alternatingly arranged along a first lateral direction between the first terminal and the second terminal. The diode structure extends from an electrostatic discharge protection part into an edge termination part along a second lateral direction. A first breakdown voltage associated with the diode structure in the electrostatic discharge protection part is smaller than a second breakdown voltage associated with the diode structure in the edge termination part.
US09991245B2	Semiconductor packages with heat dissipation layers and pillars and methods for fabricating the same A semiconductor package comprising: a semiconductor chip; a connection pillar that is disposed adjacent to the semiconductor chip; a first heat dissipation layer disposed on the semiconductor chip; and a second heat dissipation layer disposed on the first heat dissipation layer, the second heat dissipation layer including a first protrusion extending beyond a perimeter of the semiconductor chip and extending towards the connection pillar.
US09991240B2	Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same A display apparatus includes: a display substrate; a light-emitting diode (“LED”) disposed on the display substrate and which emits light; a passivation layer disposed on the display substrate and surrounding the LED; a first conductive layer disposed on the LED and the passivation layer; and a capping layer disposed on the LED and which adjusts a proceeding path of light emitted from the LED, where the first conductive layer includes a first region which overlaps the capping layer and a second region which does not overlap the capping layer, and the first region and the second region of the first conductive layer have different light characteristics from each other.
US09991239B2	Method of embedding WLCSP components in e-WLB and e-PLB Embodiments of the invention include multi-die package and methods of making such multi-die packages. In an embodiment a mold layer has a first surface and a second surface that is opposite from the first surface. One or more first electrical components that each have a solderable terminal that is oriented to face the first surface of the mold layer. The mold layer may also have one or more second electrical components that each have a second type of terminal that is oriented to face the second surface of the mold layer. Embodiments may also include one or more conductive through vias formed between the first surface of the mold layer and the second surface of the mold layer. Accordingly an electrical connection may be made from the second surface of the mold layer to the first electrical components that are oriented to face the first surface of the mold layer.
US09991234B2	Semiconductor package A semiconductor package includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked on the substrate, and a plurality of bonding layers bonded to lower surfaces of the plurality of semiconductor chips. The plurality of bonding layers may be divided into a plurality of groups, each having different physical properties depending on a distance from the substrate.
US09991231B2	Stacked die integrated circuit An apparatus relates generally to an integrated circuit package. In such an apparatus, a package substrate has a first plurality of via structures extending from a lower surface of the package substrate to an upper surface of the package substrate. An die has a second plurality of via structures extending to a lower surface of the die. The lower surface of the die faces the upper surface of the package substrate in the integrated circuit package. The package substrate does not include a redistribution layer. The die and the package substrate are coupled to one another.
US09991228B2	Semiconductor device with electromagnetic shield A semiconductor device includes an electronic component and a wiring structural body located below the electronic component. The wiring structural body includes an insulation layer and a wiring layer that is connected to an electrode terminal of the electronic component. The semiconductor device also includes a wiring shield body arranged on a side surface of the wiring structural body, an encapsulation resin covering an upper surface of the wiring structural body and a side surface of the electronic component, and a component shield body covering a surface of the encapsulation resin and continuously covering an upper surface side of the electronic component. The wiring shield body is connected to the component shield body. The wiring shield body includes an exposed side surface that is coplanar with a side surface of the component shield body.
US09991227B2	Bonding pad arrangement design for multi-die semiconductor package structure A semiconductor package structure includes a base. A first die is mounted on the base. The first die includes a plurality of first pads arranged in a first tier, and a plurality of second pads arranged in a second tier. A second die is mounted on the base and includes a plurality of third pads with the first pad area, and a plurality of fourth pads with the second pad area, alternately arranged in a third tier. The second die also includes a first bonding wire having two terminals respectively coupled to one of the first pads and one of the fourth pads. The semiconductor package structure also includes a second bonding wire having two terminals respectively coupled to one of the third pads and one of the second pads.
US09991223B2	Semiconductor package alignment frame for local reflow Embodiments of the present disclosure describe package alignment frames for a local reflow process to attach a semiconductor package to an interposer. The frame may comprise a two frame system. The interposer may be on a mounting table or on a circuit board. The frame may include a body with a rectangular opening dimensioned to receive a semiconductor package to be coupled to the interposer. The frame may be to align a ball grid array of the semiconductor package with pads of the interposer. A second frame may be to receive the first frame and may be to align a ball grid array of the interposer with pads of the circuit board. A single frame may be used to couple a semiconductor package to an interposer and to couple the interposer to a circuit board. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09991222B2	Package substrate and manufacturing method thereof and package A package substrate including a carrier, a first patterned conductive layer, a second patterned conductive layer and a 3D-printing conductive wire is provided. The carrier has a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. The first surface is opposite to the second surface, and the third surface is connected between the first surface and the second surface. The first patterned conductive layer is disposed on the first surface. The second patterned conductive layer is disposed on the second surface. The 3D-printing conductive wire is disposed on the third surface and connected between the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer.
US09991221B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit device A semiconductor integrated circuit chip, in which multi-core processors are integrated, is usually mounted over an organic wiring board by FC bonding to form a BGA package by being integrated with the substrate. In such a structure, power consumption is increased, and hence the power supplied only from a peripheral portion of the chip is insufficient, so that a power supply pad is also provided in the chip central portion. However, because of an increase in the wiring associated with the integration of a plurality of CPU cores, etc., there occurs a portion between the peripheral portion and the central portion of the chip, where a power supply pad cannot be arranged. According to the outline of the present application, in a semiconductor integrated circuit device such as a BGA, etc., in which a semiconductor chip is mounted over an interposer, such as a multilayer organic wiring board, in a face-up manner, a first group of metal through electrodes, which are provided in the semiconductor chip to supply a power supply potential to a core circuit, etc., and a first metal land over the interposer are interconnected by a first conductive adhesive member film.
US09991219B2	Fan-out semiconductor package module A fan-out semiconductor package module includes: a fan-out semiconductor package including a first interconnection member having a through-hole, a semiconductor chip disposed in the through-hole, an encapsulant encapsulating at least portions of the first interconnection member and the semiconductor chip, a second interconnection member disposed on the first interconnection member and the semiconductor chip, a third interconnection member disposed on the encapsulant, first connection terminals disposed on the second interconnection member, and second connection terminals disposed on the third interconnection member, the first to third interconnection members including, respectively, redistribution layers electrically connected to connection pads of the semiconductor chip; and a component package stacked on the fan-out semiconductor package and including a wiring substrate connected to the second interconnection member through the first connection terminals and a plurality of mounted components mounted on the wiring substrate.
US09991216B2	Antenna cavity structure for integrated patch antenna in integrated fan-out packaging A method for forming an integrated fan-out package includes depositing an adhesive layer on a carrier, forming a back-side buffer layer over the adhesive layer, forming a back-side redistribution metal layer on the back-side buffer layer, wherein the back-side redistribution metal layer includes one or more ground plane structures, forming one or more through-insulator vias (TIVs) and one or more cavity sidewalls on the one or more ground plane structures, placing a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC) die on the back-side buffer layer, laterally encapsulating the RF IC die, the one or more TIVs, the one or more cavity sidewalls, with a molding compound, thus forming an interim substrate, wherein the cavity sidewalls and their associated ground plane structure define one or more antenna cavities, and forming a top-side redistribution (RDL) wiring structure on the interim substrate, the top-side RDL wiring structure including one or more integrated patch antenna structure, wherein the one or more integrated patch antenna structure is coupled to the RF IC die and each of the one or more integrated patch antenna structure is positioned over one of the antenna cavities.
US09991212B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes; a semiconductor substrate including a major surface; a first diffusion region in the major surface in a main cell region; a second diffusion region in the major surface in a terminal region; an insulating film on the major surface and having first and second contact holes on the first and second diffusion regions respectively; a first electrode in the first contact hole and connected to the first diffusion region; a second electrode in the second contact hole and connected to the second diffusion region; a semi-insulating film covering the second electrode; and a third electrode on the first electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are made of the same material, the first electrode does not completely fill the first contact hole, the second electrode completely fills the second contact hole, and the third electrode completely fills the first contact hole.
US09991208B2	Susceptor for holding a semiconductor wafer having an orientation notch, a method for depositing a layer on a semiconductor wafer, and semiconductor wafer A semiconductor wafer processing susceptor for holding a wafer having an orientation notch during deposition of a layer on the wafer, having a placement surface for supporting the semiconductor wafer in the rear edge region of the wafer, the placement surface having a stepped outer delimitation, and an indentation of the outer delimitation of the placement surface for placement of the partial region of the edge region of the rear side of the wafer in which the orientation notch is located onto a partial region of the placement surface delimited by the indentation of the outer delimitation of the placement surface. The susceptor is used in a method for depositing a layer on a wafer having an orientation notch, and wafers made of monocrystalline silicon upon which layers are deposited using the susceptor have greater local flatness on both front and rear sides proximate the orientation notch.
US09991207B2	Test key strcutures, integrated circuit packages and methods of forming the same Test key structures, integrated circuit packages and methods of forming the same are disclosed. One of the test key structures includes a first pattern over a polymer layer, and at least one second pattern covering the first pattern. Besides, the second pattern and the first pattern have substantially the same outer profile, one of the first pattern and the second pattern includes a dielectric material and the other of the first pattern and the second pattern includes a metal material.
US09991192B2	Semiconductor package Provided is a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes: a first die that is a monolithic type die, a driver circuit and a low-side output power device formed in the first die; a second die disposed above the first die, the second die comprising a high-side output power device; and a first connection unit disposed between the first die and the second die.
US09991186B2	Method of manufacture for a semiconductor device A method of manufacture for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor stack structure that includes a device terminal of a semiconductor device, and having a first surface and a buried oxide (BOX) layer attached to a wafer handle. Another step includes disposing a polymeric layer that includes a polymer and an admixture that increases thermal conductivity of the polymer onto the first surface of the semiconductor stack structure. Another step involves removing the wafer handle from the BOX layer to expose a second surface of the semiconductor stack structure, and yet another step involves removing a portion of the semiconductor stack structure to expose the device terminal.
US09991179B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device Provided is a technique capable of obtaining a satisfactory yield for a semiconductor device with an air gap. The technique includes a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) receiving a thickness information of a wiring layer formed on a substrate including: a first interlayer insulation film; and the wiring layer disposed on the first interlayer insulation film, the wiring layer including: copper-containing films used as wiring; and an inter-wiring insulation film having trenches filled with the copper-containing films and insulating the copper-containing films; (b) placing the substrate on a substrate support installed in a process chamber; and (c) etching the wiring layer using an etching gas based on an etching control value corresponding to the thickness information of the wiring layer.
US09991176B2	Non-destructive acoustic metrology for void detection Advanced interconnect technologies such as Through Silicon Vias (TSVs) have become an integral part of 3-D integration. Methods and systems and provided for laser-based acoustic techniques in which a short laser pulse generates broadband acoustic waves that propagate in the TSV structure. An optical interferometer detects the surface displacement caused by the acoustic waves reflecting within the structure as well as other acoustic waves traveling near the surface that has information about the structure dimensions and irregularities, such as voids. Features of voids, such as their location, are also identified based on the characteristics of the acoustic wave as it propagates through the via. Measurements typically take few seconds per site and can be easily adopted for in-line process monitoring.
US09991175B2	Method for estimating depth of latent scratches in SiC substrates This method for estimating the depth of latent scratches in SiC substrates includes an etching step, a measurement step, and an estimation step. In the etching step, a SiC substrate in which at least the surface is formed from single crystal SiC, and which has been subjected to machining, is subjected to heat treatment under Si atmosphere to etch the surface of the SiC substrate. In the measurement step, the surface roughness or the residual stress of the SiC substrate which has been subjected to the etching step is measured. In the estimation step, the depth of latent scratches or the presence or absence of latent scratches in the SiC substrate before the etching step are estimated on the basis of the results obtained in the measurement step.
US09991173B2	Bidirectional semiconductor device for protection against electrostatic discharges An integrated circuit is produced on a bulk semiconductor substrate in a given CMOS technology and includes a semiconductor device for protection against electrostatic discharges. The semiconductor device has a doublet of floating-gate, thyristors coupled in parallel and head-to-tail. Each thyristor has a pair of electrode regions. The two thyristors respectively have two separate gates and a common semiconductor gate region. The product of the current gains of the two transistors of each thyristor is greater than 1. Each electrode region of at least one of the thyristors has a dimension, measured perpendicularly to the spacing direction of the two electrodes of the corresponding pair, which is adjusted so as to impart to the thyristor an intrinsic triggering voltage less than the breakdown voltage of a transistor to be protected, and produced in the CMOS technology.
US09991169B2	Semiconductor device and formation thereof A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first active region having a first active region height and an active channel region having an active channel region height over a fin. The first active region height is greater than the active channel region height. The active channel region having the active channel region height has increased strain, such as increased tensile strain, as compared to an active channel region that has a height greater than the active channel region height. The increased strain increases or enhances at least one of hole mobility or electron mobility in at least one of the first active region or the active channel region. The active channel region having the active channel region height has decreased source drain leakage, as compared to an active channel region that has a height greater than the active channel region height.
US09991165B1	Asymmetric source/drain epitaxy A method includes forming a plurality of fins on a substrate and a dummy gate structure over the fins. A spacer layer is formed over the dummy gate structure and the fins. The spacer layer is recessed to form asymmetrically recessed spacers along sidewalls of each of the fins, thereby exposing a portion of each of the fins. A source/drain epitaxy is grown on the exposed portions of the plurality of fins, a first source/drain epitaxy on a first fin being asymmetrical to a second source/drain epitaxy on a second fin. A device includes a first and second fin on a substrate with a gate structure formed over the first and second fins. An epitaxy if formed over the first fin and the second fin on the same side of the gate structure, where the height of the first epitaxy is greater than the height of the second epitaxy.
US09991162B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device with a through via penetrating a semiconductor substrate, in which shorting between a wiring and a semiconductor element is prevented to improve the reliability of the semiconductor device. A liner insulating film as a low-k film, which has a function to insulate the semiconductor substrate and a through-silicon via from each other and is thick enough to reduce capacitance between the semiconductor substrate and the through-silicon via, is used as an interlayer insulating film for a first wiring layer over a contact layer. This prevents a decrease in the thickness of an interlayer insulating film in the contact layer.
US09991161B1	Alternate plating and etching processes for through hole filling A method for filling a through hole (TH) located on a substrate is provided. The TH is a continuous channel having an upper rim, a lower rim and an interior surface. In one embodiment, the method comprises steps (a)-(d). In the step (a), a conductive material (CM) is deposited over the substrate to thereby deposit a layer of the CM around the rims and on the interior surface. In the step (b), the deposited CM is etched. In particular, the etching step selectively removes more CM deposited at the rims relative to CM deposited at a mid-section of the interior surface of the channel. In the step (c), the steps (a) and (b) are optionally repeated until the channel is sealed at the mid-section by a bridge formed of CM. In the step (d), the CM is further deposited over the substrate to thereby completely fill the TH.
US09991157B2	Method for depositing a diffusion barrier layer and a metal conductive layer We disclose a method of applying a sculptured layer of material on a semiconductor feature surface using ion deposition sputtering, wherein a surface onto which the sculptured layer is applied is protected to resist erosion and contamination by impacting ions of a depositing layer. A first protective layer of material is deposited on a substrate surface using traditional sputtering or ion deposition sputtering, in combination with sufficiently low substrate bias that a surface onto which the layer is applied is not eroded away or contaminated during deposition of the protective layer. Subsequently, a sculptured second layer of material is applied using ion deposition sputtering at an increased substrate bias, to sculpture a shape from a portion of the first protective layer of material and the second layer of depositing material. The method is particularly applicable to the sculpturing of barrier layers, wetting layers, and conductive layers upon semiconductor feature surfaces.
US09991156B2	Self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) for routing layouts including multi-track jogs An interconnect structure having a pitch of less than 40 nanometers and a self-aligned quadruple patterning process for forming the interconnect structure includes three types of lines: a β line defined by a patterned bottom mandrel formed in the self-aligned quadruple patterning process; a γ line defined by location underneath a top mandrel formed in the self-aligned quadruple patterning process; and an α line defined by elimination located underneath neither the top mandrel or the bottom mandrel formed in the self-aligned quadruple patterning process. The interconnect structure further includes multi-track jogs selected from a group consisting of a βγβ jog; a βαβ jog; an αβγ jog; a γβα jog, and combinations thereof. The first and third positions refer to the uncut line and the second position refers to the cut line in the self-aligned quadruple patterning process.
US09991151B2	Chip spacing maintaining apparatus A chip spacing maintaining apparatus for maintaining the spacing between any adjacent ones of a plurality of chips obtained by dividing a workpiece attached to an expand sheet, the expand sheet being supported at its peripheral portion to an annular frame is provided. The chip spacing maintaining apparatus includes a far-infrared radiation applying unit for applying far-infrared radiation toward the expand sheet expanded in a target area between the outer circumference of the workpiece and the inner circumference of the annular frame, thereby shrinking the expand sheet in the target area, and an air layer forming unit provided adjacent to the far-infrared radiation applying unit, the air layer forming unit having a nozzle hole for discharging a gas toward the workpiece in applying the far-infrared radiation from the far-infrared radiation applying unit toward the expand sheet, thereby forming an air layer above the workpiece.
US09991148B2	Electrostatic chuck having thermally isolated zones with minimal crosstalk A substrate support assembly includes a ceramic puck and a thermally conductive base having an upper surface that is bonded to a lower surface of the ceramic puck. The thermally conductive base includes a plurality of thermal zones and a plurality of thermal isolators that extend from the upper surface of the thermally conductive base towards a lower surface of the thermally conductive base, wherein each of the plurality of thermal isolators provides approximate thermal isolation between two of the plurality of thermal zones at the upper surface of the thermally conductive base.
US09991147B2	Wafer grounding and biasing method, apparatus, and application A wafer grounding apparatus and method adaptable to a charged particle beam apparatus is disclosed. A wafer substrate is supported by a wafer mount. A pulse current pin is arranged to be in contact with a backside film formed on a backside of the wafer substrate. A grounding pulse generator provides at least one pulse to drive the pulse current pin such that dielectric breakdown occurring at the backside film leads to establishment of a current path through the backside films. Accordingly, a current flows in the wafer substrate through this current path and then flows out of the wafer substrate via at least one current return path formed from capacitive coupling between the wafer substrate and the wafer mount.
US09991142B2	Apparatus and method for decapsulating packaged integrated circuits A system for decapsulating a portion of an encapsulated integrated circuit that includes copper elements has one or more containers holding specific etchant solutions, a pump having an inlet port connected to the one or more containers holding specific etchant solutions, and an outlet port, a temperature-controlled metal block having a fluid inlet connected to the pump outlet port, and an outlet port from the block, and control circuitry enabling control of temperature of the metal block and operation of the pump, and flow and temperature sensors coupled to the control circuitry. Etchant temperature at the outlet of the metal block is controlled to be at or below ambient temperature by controlling the pump and temperature of the metal block, and etchant mixture is delivered via a delivery conduit to an encapsulation surface of an encapsulated integrated circuit, decapsulating a portion of encapsulated circuit, minimizing damage to the copper elements.
US09991140B2	Substrate heating device, substrate heating method and computer-readable storage medium A substrate heating device includes: heating modules each having a processing vessel within which a heating plate is disposed, an gas inlet port for introducing a purge gas into a processing atmosphere, and an exhaust port for exhausting the processing atmosphere; individual exhaust paths each connected to the exhaust port of the heating modules; a common exhaust path connected to downstream ends of the individual exhaust paths of the heating modules; a branch path branched from the individual exhaust paths and opened to the outside of the processing vessel; and an exhaust flow rate adjusting unit configured to adjust a flow rate ratio of an exhaust flow rate of a gas exhausted from the exhaust port into the common exhaust path and an introduction flow rate of a gas introduced from the outside of the processing vessel into the common exhaust path through the branch path.
US09991135B2	Method for fabricating a metal oxide thin film transistor A method for fabricating a metal oxide thin film transistor comprises selecting a substrate and fabricating a gate electrode thereon; growing a layer of dielectric or high permittivity dielectric on the substrate to serve as a gate dielectric layer; growing a first metal layer on the gate dielectric layer and a second metal layer on the first metal layer; fabricating a channel region at a middle position of the first metal layer and a passivation region at a middle position of the second metal layer; anodizing the metals of the passivation region and the channel region at atmospheric pressure and room temperature; fabricating a source and a drain; forming an active region comprising the source, the drain, and the channel region; depositing a silicon nitride layer on the active region; fabricating two electrode contact holes; depositing a metal aluminum film; and fabricating two metal contact electrodes by photolithography and etching.
US09991128B2	Atomic layer etching in continuous plasma Methods and apparatus for etching substrates using self-limiting reactions based on removal energy thresholds determined by evaluating the material to be etched and the chemistries used to etch the material involve flow of continuous plasma. Process conditions permit controlled, self-limiting anisotropic etching without alternating between chemistries used to etch material on a substrate. A well-controlled etch front allows a synergistic effect of reactive radicals and inert ions to perform the etching, such that material is etched when the substrate is modified by reactive radicals and removed by inert ions, but not etched when material is modified by reactive radicals but no inert ions are present, or when inert ions are present but material is not modified by reactive radicals.
US09991127B2	Method of fabricating integrated circuit device by using slurry composition A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device may include forming a polishing stop layer and a semiconductor layer on a substrate, and selectively polishing the semiconductor layer from a surface which simultaneously exposes the polishing stop layer and the semiconductor layer, by using a slurry composition including a compound composition and polishing particles. The compound composition may include a sulfonate compound and a terminal amine group-including compound.
US09991123B2	Doped protection layer for contact formation A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first doped region and a second doped region and a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a main spacer layer on a sidewall of the gate stack and a protection layer between the main spacer layer and the semiconductor substrate. The protection layer is doped with a quadrivalent element. The semiconductor device further includes an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and the gate stack and a contact formed in the insulating layer. The contact includes a first portion contacting the first doped region, and the contact includes a second portion contacting the second doped region. The first portion extends deeper into the semiconductor substrate than the second portion.
US09991122B2	Methods of forming semiconductor device structures including two-dimensional material structures A method of forming a semiconductor device structure comprises forming at least one 2D material over a substrate. The at least one 2D material is treated with at least one laser beam having a frequency of electromagnetic radiation corresponding to a resonant frequency of crystalline defects within the at least one 2D material to selectively energize and remove the crystalline defects from the at least one 2D material. Additional methods of forming a semiconductor device structure, and related semiconductor device structures, semiconductor devices, and electronic systems are also described.
US09991115B2	Directed self-assembly using trench assisted chemoepitaxy The present disclosure relates to directed self-assembly using trench assisted chemoepitaxy. An example embodiment includes a method of forming a pre-patterned structure for directing a self-assembly of a self-assembling material that includes a first and a second component having different chemical natures. The method includes providing an assembly includes a substrate, a layer of pinning material overlying the substrate, and a resist pattern overlaying the layer of pinning material. The method also includes modifying a chemical nature of an exposed part of a top surface of the layer of pinning material. The method further includes removing the resist pattern. In addition, the method includes attaching a neutral layer to the layer of pinning material.
US09991111B2	Apparatus and method of treating surface of semiconductor substrate In one embodiment, an apparatus of treating a surface of a semiconductor substrate comprises a substrate holding and rotating unit, first to fourth supplying units, and a removing unit. A substrate holding and rotating unit holds a semiconductor substrate, having a convex pattern formed on its surface, and rotates the semiconductor substrate. A first supplying unit supplies a chemical onto the surface of the semiconductor substrate in order to clean the semiconductor substrate. A second supplying unit supplies pure water to the surface of the semiconductor substrate in order to rinse the semiconductor substrate. A third supplying unit supplies a water repellent agent to the surface of the semiconductor substrate in order to form a water repellent protective film onto the surface of the convex pattern. A fourth supplying unit supplies alcohol, which is diluted with pure water, or acid water to the surface of the semiconductor substrate in order to rinse the semiconductor substrate. A removing unit removes the water repellent protective film with the convex pattern being left.
US09991109B2	Apparatus for etching high aspect ratio features Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus, such as a processing chamber, suitable for etching high aspect ratio features. Other embodiments include a showerhead assembly for use in the processing chamber. In one embodiment, a processing chamber includes a chamber body having a showerhead assembly and substrate support disposed therein. The showerhead assembly includes at least two fluidly isolated plenums, a region transmissive to an optical metrology signal, and a plurality of gas passages formed through the showerhead assembly fluidly coupling the plenums to the interior volume of the chamber body.
US09991103B2	Self-calibration of spectra using precursor mass to charge ratio and fragment mass to charge ratio known differences A method of checking or adjusting the calibration of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The method comprises fragmenting parent or precursor ions and generating fragment or product ion mass spectral data and recognizing first neutral loss ions in the fragment or product ion mass spectral data. The method further comprises determining a first mass loss difference between the parent or precursor ions and the first neutral loss ions and determining whether the first mass loss difference corresponds with an expected or pre-determined mass loss difference, wherein if it is determined that the first mass loss difference does not correspond with an expected or pre-determined mass loss difference then the method further comprises adjusting one or more calibration parameters.
US09991101B2	Magnetron assembly for physical vapor deposition chamber Methods and apparatus for a magnetron assembly are provided herein. In some embodiments, a magnetron assembly includes a shunt plate having a central axis and rotatable about the central axis, a closed loop magnetic pole coupled to a first surface of the shunt plate and disposed 360 degrees along a peripheral edge of the shunt plate, and an open loop magnetic pole coupled at a the first surface of the shunt plate wherein the open loop magnetic pole comprises two rows of magnets disposed about the central axis.
US09991100B2	Plasma processing apparatus and control method The plasma processing apparatus includes a first electrode to which high frequency power is applied, a second electrode that functions as a counter electrode with respect to the first electrode, and a controller configured to control distribution of plasma generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is, for example, an upper electrode. The second electrode includes a lower electrode, and a peripheral portion disposed around the lower electrode. The peripheral portion includes a plurality of split electrodes divided in a peripheral direction. For each split electrode, the controller controls an impedance between the plasma and a ground via the split electrode.
US09991098B2	Toroidal plasma abatement apparatus and method An apparatus for abatement of gases is provided. The apparatus includes a toroidal plasma chamber having a plurality of inlets and an outlet, and at least one chamber wall. One or more magnetic cores are disposed relative to the toroidal plasma chamber. The plasma chamber confines a toroidal plasma. A second gas inlet is positioned on the toroidal plasma chamber between a first gas inlet and the gas outlet at a distance d from the gas outlet, such that a toroidal plasma channel volume between the first gas inlet and the second gas inlet in the is substantially filled by the inert gas, the distance d based on a desired residence time of the gas to be abated.
US09991089B2	Particle beam system and method for operating a particle optical unit A method for operating a multi-beam particle optical unit comprises includes providing a first setting of effects of particle-optical components, wherein a particle-optical imaging is characterizable by at least two parameters. The method also includes determining a matrix A, and determining a matrix S. The method further includes defining values of parameters which characterize a desired imaging, and providing a second setting of the effects of the components in such a way that the particle-optical imaging is characterizable by the parameters having the defined values.
US09991085B2	Apparatuses and methods for generating distributed x-rays in a scanning manner An apparatus and method to generate distributed x-rays. A hot cathode of an electron gun is used in vacuum to generate electron beams having certain initial movement energy and speed. Periodic scanning is performed with the initial low-energy electron beams, which are thus caused to be reciprocally deflected. A current-limiting device is provided in the travel path of the electron beams along the direction of the reciprocal deflection. Through holes arranged in an array on the current-limiting device, only part of the electron beams targeting specific positions can pass to form sequential electron beam currents distributed in an array. These electron beam currents are accelerated by a high-voltage electric field to obtain high energy, bombard an anode target, and thus sequentially generate corresponding focus spots and x-rays distributed in an array at the anode target.
US09991084B2	Continuous contact x-ray source An x-ray device utilizes a band of material to exchange charge through tribocharging within a chamber maintained at low fluid pressure. The charge is utilized to generate x-rays within the housing, which may pass through a window of the housing. Various contact rods may be used as part of the tribocharging process.
US09991079B2	Circuit breaker for an electrical circuit A circuit breaker is disclosed, including a series circuit including a measuring unit for determining the electrical current or/and voltage of the electrical circuit, an exchangeable trip unit for determining when current limit values are exceeded, and a switching unit for interrupting the electrical circuit if current limit values are exceeded. A switch characteristic module is connected to the trip unit and stores characteristic data relating to the circuit breaker. If a trip unit used is at least exchanged for a new trip unit, the characteristic data are transmitted to the new trip unit. Data specific to the trip unit are transmitted from the trip unit and are stored in the further memory area of the switch characteristic module. If a new trip unit is used, the characteristic data and the data specific to the trip unit are transmitted to the new trip unit.
US09991077B2	Current limiting device of circuit breaker In present disclosure, a movable bar guide portion is formed to protrude toward a movable bar in a shaft having a movable bar, and when a fault current is applied and the movable bar is rotated due to electromagnetic repulsion force, the movable bar and the movable bar guide portion contact each other, and thus, when the movable bar is rotated through the movable guide portion, movement of a rotation center of the movable bar is minimized.
US09991071B2	Thin notebook computer mechanical keyboard A thin notebook computer mechanical keyboard includes a reinforcement iron plate, a scissor structure, a keycap, a base, a pressing stopper, a spring and a cover. The scissor structure includes first positioning parts vertically and movably clamped on clamping parts of the reinforcement iron plate, and second positioning parts. The keycap includes fastening parts fastened on the second positioning parts. When the keycap is pressed to a certain extent, an action between a hand touch and a fourth terminal produces a sound of an upward impact against the cover. When the keycap is pressed, the scissor structure maintains balance of the whole keycap without catching the keycap, which ensures a favorable touch feeling. A switch can be directly installed on a printed circuit board and pass through the reinforcement iron plate. The scissor structure maintains balance of the keycap, and balanced movement is achieved without falling short of thinning requirements.
US09991070B2	Multiple function switch with mechanical feedback This application relates to a switch that can include multiple settings for controlling multiple functions of a computing device. The switch can include multiple flexible surfaces that each includes a surface contact. When the switch is depressed, at least one of the flexible surfaces can collapse and close a connection of the switch. When the switch is further depressed, multiple flexible surfaces of the switch can collapse and close multiple connections of the switch. As a result, depending on the amount of force by which the switch is depressed, different functions of a computing device can be controlled by the switch.
US09991067B2	Method for producing an electric contact support A method for the production of an electric contact carrier includes producing a basic profile from a basic material. A contact material is applied on a contact accepting area of the basic profile. The contact material is formed into a contact of the contact carrier. Then, the contact carrier is removed from the basic material.
US09991064B2	SF6 insulated circuit breaker system with thermal capacitor A sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulated circuit breaker system has a tank constructed to hold a quantity of SF6; a circuit breaker having contacts insulated by the SF6; a heater operative to supply heat to the SF6; and a thermal capacitor in conductive engagement with the tank, and operative to store heat energy and constructed to conduct the heat energy to the SF6 in the tank. A thermal energy storage system for a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulated circuit breaker system having a tank storing a quantity of SF6 includes a thermal capacitor operative to store heat energy and constructed to engage the tank and conduct the heat energy to the SF6 in the tank.
US09991062B2	Electrical switch device Implementations of an electrical switch device are provided. In some implementations, the electrical switch device may be used to operate electrically powered firearm accessories (e.g., lasers and illumination tools). In some implementations, the electrical switch device may be conductively connected to a firearm accessory by a flexible cable having a connector thereon. In this way, the electrical switch device may be remotely positioned relative to the firearm accessory to which it is attached. In some implementations, the electrical switch device may be secured to a mounting interface (e.g., KeyMod or M-LOK® accessory mounting slots and/or a Picatinny rail) for firearm accessories. In some implementations, the electrical switch device may include user selectable programs that control the operation of connected firearm accessories.
US09991061B1	Toggle electro-mechanical assembly An assembly including: a disk spring; a plurality of normally closed contacts disposed in a plane below the disk spring; a plurality of normally open contacts disposed in a plane above the disk spring; a pivot ring supporting a lower surface of the disk spring; and an actuating pin having a shoulder in contact with an upper surface of the disk spring; where a movement of the actuating pin away from a header assembly snap deflects the disk spring to a first position to contact the plurality of normally open contacts, and a movement of the actuating pin towards the header assembly snap deflects the disk spring to a second position to contact the plurality of normally closed contacts.
US09991059B2	Electrodes for electrochemical cells The electrode (10) includes an electrically conductive surface (14) with a galvanic pellicle, or carbon nanotube mat (18), secured to the conductive surface (14). The pellicle (18) has a first surface (20) and an opposed outer surface (22) and defines an uncompressed thickness dimension (24) as a longest length of a straight axis (26) extending from the first surface (20) to the outer surface (22) of an uncompressed section (28) of the galvanic pellicle (18). Uncompressed sections (28) of the pellicle are defined between connected areas (30) and continuous connected areas (32) of the pellicle (18). Any point (35) within any uncompressed section (28) is no more distant from one of a nearest connected area (30) and/or a nearest segment (34) of a continuous connected area (32) than about ten times the uncompressed thickness dimension (24) of the pellicle (18), thereby achieving significantly reduced contact resistance.
US09991053B2	Power capacitor A power capacitor, in particular a DC link capacitor, having a capacitor housing which has a first housing wall, in particular made of metal, which is galvanically connectable to a housing of an electronics unit, in particular a power electronics unit, and planar energizing units for energizing the power capacitor. A first subregion of a first energizing unit extends in an inner space of the housing adjacent to and at a distance from the first housing wall or from a different housing wall of the capacitor housing that is conductively connected to the first housing wall. A layer made of a dielectric material other than air is situated between the first subregion of the first energizing unit and this housing wall.
US09991052B2	Biaxially stretched polypropylene film for capacitor, metallized film, and film capacitor Provided is a biaxially stretched polypropylene film for capacitors which has high withstand voltage characteristics when used as a dielectric for capacitors and which has highly suitable processability into elements. The biaxially stretched polypropylene film for capacitors has projections on both surfaces and has a thickness (t1, μm) of 4-20 μm. When one of the surfaces is expressed by surface A and the other by surface B, all of the following relationships are satisfied. 800≤SRzB≤1,300 (nm) 0.1≤SRzA/SRzB≤0.8 PBmin≥100 (nm) PBmax≤1,500 (nm) 0.4≤PB450-750/PB≤0.7.
US09991051B2	Body with magnetic film attached and manufacturing method thereof A fabrication method for fabricating a magnetic film provided body includes preparing a base body and forming a magnetic film on the base body. The magnetic film includes organic film(s) and ferrite film(s) alternately layered. The formation of the magnetic film alternately includes forming a ferrite film through a ferrite plating method, the ferrite film having a thickness of 20 μm or less and forming an organic film having a thickness of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, both inclusive, and a ratio t/E of 0.025 μm/GPa or more, where “t” indicates the thickness of the organic film while “E” indicates Young's modulus of the organic film.
US09991049B2	Correlation-evading commutated-element direct-current current transformer The present invention provides a correlation-evading commutated-element direct-current current transformer (DCCT) that offers freedom from errors caused by correlation between its commutation frequency and its input current waveform. Its commutated element, comprising a commutating switch and a current transformer generates, responsive to a commutating signal, a current in a burden, which burden generates a signal representing the DCCT input current. A drive generator generates a commutation signal that can be switched between plural frequencies. Correlation detection circuitry detects correlation between the DCCT input current waveform and its commutation frequency and issues a signal for causing the drive generator to switch commutation frequency to evade correlation.
US09991041B2	Variable coupled inductor A variable coupled inductor includes a first core, two conducting wires, a second core and a magnetic structure. The first core includes two first protruding portions, a second protruding portion and two grooves, wherein the second protruding portion is located between the two first protruding portions and each of the grooves is located between one of the first protruding portions and the second protruding portion. Each of the conducting wires is disposed in one of the grooves. The second core is disposed on the first core. A first gap is formed between each of the first protruding portions and the second core and a second gap is formed between the second protruding portion and the second core. The magnetic structure is disposed between the second protruding portion and the second core and distributed symmetrically with respect to a centerline of the second protruding portion.
US09991040B2	Apparatus and methods for magnetic core inductors with biased permeability Inductive elements comprising anisotropic media and biasing coils for magnetically biasing thereof and methods of manufacture and operation for use in applications such as microelectronics. Application of an electrical current through the bias coils generates a magnetic field that biases the magnetic material such that a desirable orientation of anisotropy is achieved throughout the magnetic core and enables modulation of the inductive response of the device. Electrical conductors coupled to interconnects are magnetically coupled to magnetic core layers to produce self and/or mutual inductors.
US09991038B2	Waveform signal output device and method for driving solenoid valve The waveform signal output device includes: a signal output unit that reads waveform data recorded in a memory and outputs a waveform signal for driving the solenoid valve according to a waveform renewal signal; a waveform generation unit that generates waveform data for driving the solenoid valve using vehicle driving information and requests renewal of a waveform by outputting the waveform data; a waveform distortion determination unit that compares a time point when the renewal of a waveform is requested and a preset communication prohibition section and determines a possibility of distortion of the waveform signal; and a driving command unit that renews waveform data of the memory using the waveform data generated by the waveform generation unit and outputs a waveform renewal signal if it is determined that there is no possibility of distortion.
US09991036B2	Soft magnetic powder, powder magnetic core, magnetic element, and electronic device A soft magnetic powder has a composition represented by Fe100-a-b-c-d-e-fCuaSibBcMdM′eXf (at %) (wherein M is Nb, W, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, or Mo, M′ is V, Cr, Mn, Al, a platinum group element, Sc, Y, Au, Zn, Sn, or Re, X is C, P, Ge, Ga, Sb, In, Be, or As, and a, b, c, d, e, and f are numbers that satisfy the following formulae: 0.1≤a≤3, 0
US09991032B2	Method for manufacturing thin film chip resistor device A method for manufacturing a thin film chip resistor device includes the steps of: disposing a magnetic fixing member on a first surface of a substrate, and disposing a magnetic shadow mask on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface, such that the magnetic shadow mask detachably and fixedly contacts the second surface of the substrate by virtue of an attractive magnetic force between the magnetic fixing member and the magnetic shadow mask; and depositing at least one resistor unit on the second surface of the substrate with the use of the magnetic shadow mask, the resistor unit including two separated first electrode elements and a resistor element that electrically interconnects the first electrode elements.
US09991030B2	High performance data communications cable Two electromagnetic interference (EMI) controlling tape application methodologies for unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable include Fixed Tape Control (FTC) and Oscillating Tape Control (OTC). In FTC, tape application angle and edge placement are controlled to maintain position of the tape edges over a base of nonconductive filler in the cable. In OTC, the tape application angle is continuously varied, resulting in crossing of the tape edges over all of the pairs of conductors with varying periodicity. In both implementations, the filler allows a cylindrical shape.
US09991026B2	Conductive cable, method for producing the same, and wiring structure for the same A conductive cable includes a single-core electric cable and a stranded electric cable. The single-core electric cable is constituted by a single conductor covered with a coating. The stranded electric cable is constituted by a plurality of stranded wires that are covered with a coating. The stranded electric cable is electrically connected to at least one of two end portions in a length direction of the single-core electric cable. The coating is stripped and the conductor is exposed at the at least one end portion of the single-core electric cable, the exposed conductor being crushed to one side in a thickness direction into a flat plate shape to form a crushed portion, and the wires of the stranded electric cable being connected to the crushed portion.
US09991025B1	Exterior end portion cap and wire harness An exterior end portion cap is configured to be attached to electrically conductive paths and an exterior member. The exterior end portion cap includes an external exposure portion having a first blocking portion and an internal insertion portion having a second block portion. The internal insertion portion has a slit. The second blocking portion has a convex portion that is fitted to a gap between the electrically conductive paths. The exterior end portion cap is configured to be divided into two divided parts. The slit is disposed in a position corresponding to a position of a divided surface of the two divided parts and is formed so as to bring the part of the outer surfaces of the electrically conductive paths into contact with an inner surface of the exterior member near the end portion of the exterior member.
US09991024B2	Aluminum alloy wire rod, aluminum alloy stranded wire, coated wire, wire harness and manufacturing method of aluminum alloy wire rod An aluminum alloy wire rod comprising 0.1-1.0 mass % Mg; 0.1-1.0 mass % Si; 0.01-1.40 mass % Fe; 0.01-0.50 mass % Zr; 0.000-0.100 mass % Ti; 0.000-0.030 mass % B; 0.00-1.00 mass % Cu; 0.00-0.50 mass % Ag; 0.00-0.50 mass % Au; 0.00-1.00 mass % Mn; 0.00-1.00 mass % Cr; 0.00-0.50 mass % Hf; 0.00-0.50 mass % V; 0.00-0.50 mass % Sc; 0.00-0.50 mass % Co; and 0.00-0.50 mass % Ni, a Mg/Si ratio being greater than 1, wherein a dispersion density of an Mg2Si compound having a particle size of 0.5 μm to 5.0 μm is less than or equal to 3.0×10−3 particles/μm2, and in the sectional structure, a concentration of each of Mg and Si other than a compound is less than or equal to 2.00 mass %.
US09991023B2	Interconnect cable having insulated wires with a conductive coating A cable assembly includes a plurality of wires. Each wire has a first end, intermediate section, and a second end. The intermediate sections of the respective wires are detached from each other. A conductive shield surrounds the respective intermediate sections of the plurality of wires. Each wire includes a conductor, an insulating layer that surrounds the conductor, and a conductive coating formed on an outside surface of the insulating layer.
US09991020B2	Rubber compound for electrostatic dissipative rubber products and method of producing the rubber compound A rubber compound for the manufacture of electrostatic dissipative products comprising a rubber component derived from poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile), an electrically conductive filler component derived from sulfonic acid doped polyaniline, and an antioxidant, wherein the mixture comprising the rubber component, electrically conductive filler and antioxidant is vulcanized by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, and the vulcanized rubber compound possesses improved conductivity and tensile strength properties. A method for producing the rubber compound above comprising of providing a rubber component derived from poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile), an electrically conductive filler component derived from sulfonic acid doped polyaniline, and an antioxidant, then mixing the rubber component, electrically conductive filler and antioxidant together. The mixture is then molded into a suitable shape and then subjected to an electromagnetic radiation to stimulate vulcanization of the rubber mixture.
US09991019B2	Conductive polymer composite and substrate A conductive polymer composite includes: a π-conjugated polymer, and a dopant polymer which contains a repeating unit of general formula (1) and having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000-500,000. The conductive polymer composite which has excellent filterability and film-formability by spin coating, and can form a conductive film having high transparency and excellent flatness. R1 represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group; R2 represents any of a single bond, ester group, and linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, the hydrocarbon group optionally containing any one or more of an ether group, ester group, and amide group; “Z” represents any of a single bond, phenylene group, naphthylene group, ether group, and ester group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and may be bonded to R2 to form a ring; and “a” is a number satisfying 0
US09991014B1	Fast positionable X-ray filter The preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention comprises rotary actuators that move one or more x-ray attenuating plates in the x-y plane (ie. image plane). These x-ray attenuating plates attenuate the x-ray beam with thin metal sheets or plates that contain one or more apertures, which fully exposes the desired region of interest (ROI) while filtering the rest of the image, reducing the radiation exposure for the procedure. The devices will typically have a selection of many attenuation profiles. A small aperture or low attenuation profile region will result in a higher total exposure reduction and a large aperture or large attenuation profile will result in a smaller exposure reduction. The x-ray attenuating plate can be rotated to select an attenuation profile using a detent wheel.
US09991011B2	Glass composition for vitrifying mixed waste product This invention relates to the vitrification of radioactive waste products. According to this invention, a glass composition that is suitable for mixed waste products, which include flammable waste products, such as gloves, working clothes, plastic waste, and rubber, and low-level radioactive waste products, and a method of vitrifying the mixed waste products using the same are provided to significantly reduce the volume of radioactive waste products and to vitrify the mixed waste products using the glass composition, which is suitable for vitrifying the mixed waste products, thereby maximally delaying or completely preventing the leakage of radioactive materials from a glass solidified body.
US09991010B2	System and method for minimizing movement of nuclear fuel racks during a seismic event A system for storing nuclear fuel, the system including a storage rack and a bearing pad. The storage rack includes an array of cells, each cell configured to receive and store nuclear fuel rods, a base plate configured to support the array of cells, and a support structure configured to support the base plate and to allow cooling fluid to circulate under and up through apertures in the base plate. The bearing pad is coupled to the support structure and is configured to limit lateral movement of the storage rack independent from lateral movement of the bearing pad. The base plate defines a base plate profile in a horizontal plane of the base plate, and the bearing pad defines a bearing pad profile in the horizontal plane of the base plate, wherein the bearing pad profile extends outside of the base plate profile.
US09991006B2	Asynchronous memory element for scanning A scan asynchronous memory element includes: an asynchronous memory element configured to receive an n-input; and a scan control logic circuit configured to generate an n-bit signal input and the n-input to the asynchronous memory element from a scan input. The scan control logic circuit outputs the signal input when a control signal supplied to the scan control logic circuit has a first bit pattern, the scan control logic circuit outputs the scan input when the control signal has a second bit pattern, and the scan control logic circuit outputs a bit pattern allowing the asynchronous memory element to hold a previous value when the control signal has a bit pattern other than the first and second bit patterns.
US09991005B2	Shift register and driving method thereof The present disclosure provides a shift register and a method for driving the shift register. The shift register includes a first input module, a second input module and an output module. The first input module includes a first transistor and a second transistor, both being connected with a first input terminal, a fourth input terminal and a fifth input terminal. The second input module is connected with a second input terminal, a third input terminal and a fourth input terminal. The second input terminal is electrically connected with the first input module at a first node. The output module being connected with a fifth input terminal, a sixth input terminal and a first output terminal, the output module being electrically connected with the first input module at the first node and the second node, and the output module being electrically connected with the second input module at the first node.
US09991003B2	Methods for reading and operating memory device including efuse The present disclosure provides a memory. The memory includes an array of memory cells arranged as a plurality of rows by a plurality of columns. A memory cell is connected to at least one redundant memory cell in series in a same row for storing same data as the memory cell; and a column of memory cells correspond to at least one redundant column of redundant memory cells wherein each redundant memory cell in the at least one redundant column stores same data as the memory cell in a same row.
US09991002B2	Methods for reading and operating memory device including efuse The present disclosure provides a memory. The memory includes an array of memory cells arranged as a plurality of rows by a plurality of columns. A memory cell is connected to at least one redundant memory cell in series in a same row for storing same data as the memory cell; and a column of memory cells correspond to at least one redundant column of redundant memory cells wherein each redundant memory cell in the at least one redundant column stores same data as the memory cell in a same row.
US09991001B2	Methods, circuits, devices and systems for sensing an NVM cell Disclosed is a non-volatile memory (NVM) device including an array of NVM cells segmented into at least a first sector and a second sector and at least one sensing circuit to sense a state of a target NVM cell in the first sector using a reference current of the second sector received from at least a dynamic reference cell.
US09991000B2	Memory with margin current addition and related methods In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a sense amplifier circuit configured to sense a difference between a first current based on a direct memory bit and a second current based on a complementary memory bit. The direct memory bit is coupled to a first input of the sense amplifier circuit, and the complementary memory bit is coupled to a second input of the sense amplifier circuit. A controller is configured to, during a sense operation, selectively add a first margin current to the first current, and during the sense operation, selectively add a second margin current to the second current.
US09990998B2	Semiconductor memory device and memory system A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, including a word line that is connected to a group of the memory cells, and a control circuit configured to execute a write operation on the memory cells of the group. The write operation includes multiple program loops including a first program loop and a second program loop that is executed at a later time than the first program loop, and for each subsequent program loop, a program voltage that is applied to the first word line is increased from that of a current program loop. The program voltage is increased by a first amount from that of the current program loop if the next program loop is the first program loop and by a second amount that is less than the first amount if the next program loop is the second program loop.
US09990990B2	Apparatuses and methods for accessing variable resistance memory device The disclosed technology generally relates to memory apparatuses and methods of operating the same, and more particularly to a memory device having a controller configured to cause a write operation to be performed on a variable resistance memory cell, which includes application of two successive access pulses having opposite polarities, and methods of using the same.
US09990987B2	Non-volatile semiconductor memory device adapted to store a multi-valued data in a single memory cell A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell and a write circuit for writing data in the memory cell, the write circuit writing a data in the memory cells by supplying a write voltage Vpgm and a write control voltage VBL to the memory cell, continuing the writing of the data in the memory cell by changing the value of the write control voltage VBL in response to an advent of a first write state of the memory cell and inhibiting any operation of writing a data to the memory cell by further changing the value of the write control voltage VBL to Vdd in response to an advent of a second write state of the memory cell.
US09990983B2	Memory control circuit unit, memory storage device and signal receiving method A memory control circuit unit, a memory storage device and a signal receiving method. In one exemplary embodiment, a memory interface circuit of the memory control circuit unit receives a first signal from a volatile memory and adjusts a voltage value of the first signal to a voltage range in response to an internal impedance of the memory interface circuit, where a central value of the voltage range is not equal to a default voltage value, and the default voltage value is one half a sum of a voltage value of a supply voltage of the memory interface circuit and a voltage value of a reference ground voltage. In addition, the memory interface circuit further generates an input signal according to a voltage correspondence between the first signal and an internal reference voltage.
US09990981B2	Synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) and memory controller device mounted in single system in package (SIP) To provide an electronic device capable of improving a signal quality, the electronic device includes a semiconductor memory device, a semiconductor device configured to access data stored in the semiconductor memory device, and a wiring substrate on which the semiconductor memory device and the semiconductor device are mounted. The wiring substrate includes first and second data wirings electrically connecting the semiconductor device with each first and second data terminal of the semiconductor memory device through first and second wiring layers. The first wiring layer is a wiring layer arranged closer to the semiconductor device than the second wiring layer, and the first data terminal is located farther from the semiconductor device than the second data terminal.
US09990980B2	Internal strobe signal generating circuit capable of selecting data rate and semiconductor apparatus including the same An internal strobe signal generating circuit may include a data rate selection circuit, a division circuit and a strobe output circuit. The data rate selection circuit may enable a data rate selection signal according to operational information. The division circuit may generate a divided strobe signal by dividing a data strobe signal in response to the data rate selection signal. The strobe output circuit may generate, in response to the data rate selection signal, an internal strobe signal based on one of the divided strobe signal and the data strobe signal.
US09990979B2	Semiconductor memory device capable of reducing peak current with respect to external power in multi-memory die structures A semiconductor memory device is disclosed that can differentially control a driving ability and current consumption of the charge pump circuit according to operation state information of other memory die. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of charge pump circuits installed on a plurality of memory dies, and a pump managing circuit installed on each of the memory dies to control the charge pump circuits and receive operation state information with respect to other memory die to generate control signals for controlling the charge pump circuits on its own memory die.
US09990976B1	Method and apparatus for storing data in a reference layer in magnetoresistive memory cells A magnetoresistive memory device that stores data in the reference portion of spin-torque memory cells provides for more robust data storage. In normal operation, the memory cells use the free portion of the memory cell for data storage. Techniques for storing data in the reference portions of memory cells are presented, along with techniques for recovering data stored in the reference portions of memory cells.
US09990975B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a semiconductor substrate, a first substrate area in the semiconductor substrate, a first cell unit in the first substrate area, the first cell unit including a first memory cell and a first transistor, and the first transistor having a control terminal connected to a first word line, using the first substrate area as a channel and supplying a read current or a write current to the first memory cell, and a substrate potential setting circuit setting the first substrate area to a first substrate potential when the read current is supplied to the first memory cell, and setting the first substrate area to a second substrate potential different from the first substrate potential when the write current is supplied to the first memory cell.
US09990974B2	Memory system having address synchronizer and operation method thereof An address generation device of a memory system includes an address generator and a synchronizer. The address generator may receive a clock and sequentially generate a first address and a second address after the first address. The synchronizer may synchronize the first address in response to the clock at a preset time point before the second address is generated by the address generator, and output the synchronized address as an output address.
US09990973B1	Systems and methods using neighboring sample points in memory subsystem calibration A method and apparatus for using neighboring sampling points in a memory subsystem calibration is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory subsystem includes a memory and a memory controller coupled thereto. A calibration unit in the memory controller is configured to perform calibrations of a data strobe signal and a reference voltage to determine eye openings for signals conveyed between the memory and the memory controller. Performing the calibration includes determining a number of different calibration points and computing initial scores for each of the calibration points. The method further includes calculating adjusted scores for each calibration point. For a given calibration point, the adjusted score includes weighted values of one or more calibration points that are adjacent thereto. The method further includes selecting a calibration point having the highest adjusted score as the calibrated value.
US09990972B1	Tracking wordline behavior Various implementations described herein are directed to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include a memory bank having an array of memory cells that are accessible via a selected wordline and a pair of complementary bitlines. The integrated circuit may include a dummy wordline coupled to each of the pair of complementary bitlines via a pair of coupling capacitors. The dummy wordline may mimic the selected wordline. During transitions of the pair of complementary bitlines between first and second logic states, the dummy wordline may receive coupling capacitance from the pair of complementary bitlines via the pair of coupling capacitors.
US09990969B2	Page buffer and memory device including the same Provided herein are a page buffer and a memory device having the same. The page buffer may include: a latch circuit comprising a first node configured to be set to a first level in response to a sense amplifier strobe signal when an operation of setting up a bit line is performed during a program operation of a semiconductor memory device; a current control circuit configured to supply an internal power to a current sensing node depending on a value of the first level of the first node; and a page buffer sensing circuit configured to couple the bit line to the current sensing node in response to a page buffer sensing signal and control a potential level of the bit line depending on a potential level of the page buffer sensing signal.
US09990967B2	Apparatuses and methods for performing corner turn operations using sensing circuitry The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing corner turn operations using sensing circuitry. An example apparatus comprises a first group of memory cells coupled to an access line and a plurality of sense lines and a second group of memory cells coupled to a plurality of access lines and a sense line. The example apparatus comprises a controller configured to cause a corner turn operation using sensing circuitry on an element stored in the first group of memory cells resulting in the element being stored in the second group of memory cells.
US09990964B1	Storage device operating differently according to temperature of memory A storage device includes memories and a controller. The controller controls first and second program operations on the memory. When a temperature of the memory is lower than a reference value, the controller controls execution of the first program operation. When the temperature of the memory is equal to or higher than the reference value, the controller controls execution of the second program operation which consumes a smaller amount of power than the first program operation. The controller adjusts an operational condition of the memory such that bandwidth on the memory remains equivalent during the first and second program operations.
US09990963B2	Word line voltage generator for multiple-time programmable memory A word line voltage generator circuit, a semiconductor device, and an electronic device are provided. The word line voltage generator circuit includes a switch circuit connected to a high-level signal and a low-level signal and configured to output the high-level signal or the low-level signal as a word line voltage signal based on an input signal, and a drive signal control circuit configured to provide a drive signal connected to the switch circuit in response to the input signal. A voltage rising speed of the word line voltage signal is controlled by the drive signal.
US09990959B1	Disk drive base with decreased thickness portion angle being less than increased thickness portion angle A base of a disk drive apparatus includes a bottom plate portion and a wall portion. The wall portion includes an increased thickness portion and a decreased thickness portion. An inner surface of the increased thickness portion includes a first slanting surface arranged to extend radially outward away from a central axis while extending axially away from the bottom plate portion. An inner surface of the decreased thickness portion includes a second slanting surface arranged to extend radially outward away from the central axis while extending axially away from the bottom plate portion, and protrude radially inward relative to the first slanting surface. An inclination angle of the second slanting surface with respect to an axial direction is arranged to be smaller than an inclination angle of the first slanting surface with respect to the axial direction.
US09990958B2	Playback apparatus, method for the same, and recording medium A playback apparatus loaded with a data recording medium including image data includes a first determining unit configured to determine whether a user stopped playing back the image data, a storage control unit configured to control a storage process so that a first set of information indicating a position where the playback of the image data was stopped is stored when the first determining unit determines that the user stopped playback of the image data, and a display control unit configured to control a screen to display a list of thumbnail images with an icon superposed on a thumbnail image corresponding to the image data stopped on the basis of the first set of information when the first determining unit determines that the user stopped playback of the image data, the icon indicating that playback of the image data is resumed from the position where the playback of the image data was stopped.
US09990954B2	Disc device A disc device of the present disclosure includes a plurality of magazine units aligned in height direction of the disc device. Each of the magazine units includes a plurality of magazine holders each storing at least one magazine, a rail that is slidable in depth direction of the disc device along a side of a housing of the disc device and has higher stiffness than the magazine holders, and a box-shaped handle mounted to a front end of the rail to extend in width direction of the disc device. The plurality of magazine holders is arranged in depth direction of the disc device. The rail holds the plurality of magazine holders at one side of the magazine holder. The handle extends from the front end of the rail toward a free-end side of the magazine holders and includes a recessed engagement portion that admits a finger in depth direction of the disc device and enables the finger to engage when each of the magazine units is pulled out in depth direction of the disc device.
US09990953B1	Non-rotating optical storage Systems and methods for long-term non-volatile non-rotating optical storage of digital information rely on storage elements that include optical storage media, an access subsystem configured to access bits of information from one of the storage elements, and a support structure configured to support multiple storage elements. A laser used to retrieve and/or record bits of digital information may be moved along two orthogonal dimensions while the storage element is non-rotating.
US09990944B1	Tunnel valve magnetic tape head for multichannel tape recording An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a tape head having: a write module, a read module, and a plurality of tunnel valve read transducers arranged in an array extending along the read module. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes: a sensor structure, an upper and lower magnetic shield, an upper conducting spacer layer between the sensor structure and the upper magnetic shield, a lower conducting spacer layer between the sensor structure and the lower magnetic shield, and electrically insulating layers opposite the sensor structure. The sensor structure includes a cap layer, a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer, a reference layer and antiferromagnetic layer. A height of the free layer measured in a direction perpendicular to a media bearing surface of the read module is less than a width of the free layer measured in a cross-track direction perpendicular to an intended direction of media travel.
US09990942B1	Write head designs with sandwich trailing shield (STS) for high data rate perpendicular recording A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter α of ≥0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer magnetic layers with an 8-16 kiloGauss (kG) saturation magnetic moment on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle hot seed layer having a 19-24 kG saturation magnetic moment, and an upper magnetic layer with a 16-24 kG saturation magnetic moment, and each having a first cross-track width. The hot seed layer, upper TS magnetic layer and an overlying PP3 trailing shield promote improved area density capability (ADC).
US09990931B2	Method for coding pulse vectors using statistical properties Improved methods for coding an ensemble of pulse vectors utilize statistical models (i.e., probability models) for the ensemble of pulse vectors, to more efficiently code each pulse vector of the ensemble. At least one pulse parameter describing the non-zero pulses of a given pulse vector is coded using the statistical models and the number of non-zero pulse positions for the given pulse vector. In some embodiments, the number of non-zero pulse positions are coded using range coding. The total number of unit magnitude pulses may be coded using conditional (state driven) bitwise arithmetic coding. The non-zero pulse position locations may be coded using adaptive arithmetic coding. The non-zero pulse position magnitudes may be coded using probability-based combinatorial coding, and the corresponding sign information may be coded using bitwise arithmetic coding. Such methods are well suited to coding non-independent-identically-distributed signals, such as coding video information.
US09990929B2	Method for reduction of aliasing introduced by spectral envelope adjustment in real-valued filterbanks The present invention proposes a new method for improving the performance of a real-valued filterbank based spectral envelope adjuster. By adaptively locking the gain values for adjacent channels dependent on the sign of the channels, as defined in the application, reduced aliasing is achieved. Furthermore, the grouping of the channels during gain-calculation, gives an improved energy estimate of the real valued subband signals in the filterbank.
US09990925B2	Privacy-preserving training corpus selection The present disclosure relates to training a speech recognition system. A system that includes an automated speech recognizer and receives data from a client device. The system determines that at least a portion of the received data is likely sensitive data. Before the at least a portion of the received data is deleted, the system provides the at least a portion of the received data to a model training engine that trains recognition models for the automated speech recognizer. After the at least a portion of the received data is provided, the system deletes the at least a portion of the received data.
US09990924B2	Speech interaction method and apparatus The present invention discloses a speech interaction method and apparatus, and pertains to the field of speech processing technologies. The method includes: acquiring speech data of a user; performing user attribute recognition on the speech data to obtain a first user attribute recognition result; performing content recognition on the speech data to obtain a content recognition result of the speech data; and performing a corresponding operation according to at least the first user attribute recognition result and the content recognition result, so as to respond to the speech data. According to the present invention, after speech data is acquired, user attribute recognition and content recognition are separately performed on the speech data to obtain a first user attribute recognition result and a content recognition result, and a corresponding operation is performed according to at least the first user attribute recognition result and the content recognition result.
US09990923B2	Automated software execution using intelligent speech recognition Methods and apparatuses are described for automated execution of computer software using intelligent speech recognition techniques. A server captures a digitized voice segment from a remote device, the first digitized voice segment corresponding to speech submitted by a user of the remote device during a voice call. The server analyzes the digitized voice segment to convert the digitized voice segment into text and extract a set of keywords from the converted text. A client computing device displays the extracted keywords in a user interface of a display device. The server determines one or more computer software applications accessible to the client computing device and selects least one of the computer software applications that include functionality responsive to the keywords. The client computing device executes the functionality of the selected computer software applications that is responsive to the keywords.
US09990922B2	Hotword detection on multiple devices Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for hotword detection on multiple devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a computing device, audio data that corresponds to an utterance. The actions further include determining a likelihood that the utterance includes a hotword. The actions further include determining a loudness score for the audio data. The actions further include based on the loudness score, determining an amount of delay time. The actions further include, after the amount of delay time has elapsed, transmitting a signal that indicates that the computing device will initiate speech recognition processing on the audio data.
US09990919B2	Methods and apparatus for joint stochastic and deterministic dictation formatting Methods and apparatus for speech recognition on user dictated words to generate a dictation and using a discriminative statistical model derived from a deterministic formatting grammar module and user formatted documents to extract features and estimate scores from the formatting graph. The processed dictation can be output as formatted text based on a formatting selection to provide an integrated stochastic and deterministic formatting of the dictation.
US09990917B2	Method and system of random access compression of transducer data for automatic speech recognition decoding A system, article, and method of random access compression of transducer data for automatic speech recognition decoding.
US09990916B2	Method to synthesize personalized phonetic transcription Technology related to improving synthesis of foreign regional nouns using personalized and culturally correct phonetic transcription is described. The technology includes systems and methods for generating personalized speech by receiving an input, the input including textual data, identifying a regional noun in the textual data, and determining a user accent classification based on a context of the input. The method may further include determining a personalized phonetic transcription of the regional noun corresponding to the user accent classification and using a phonetic inventory stored in a database and outputting the personalized phonetic transcription.
US09990915B2	Systems and methods for multi-style speech synthesis Techniques for performing multi-style speech synthesis. The techniques include using at least one computer hardware processor to perform: obtaining input comprising text and an identification of a desired speaking style to use in rendering the text as speech; identifying a plurality of speech segments for use in synthesizing the text as speech, the identifying comprising identifying a first speech segment recorded and/or synthesized in a first speaking style that is different from the desired speaking style based at least in part on a measure of similarity between the desired speaking style and the first speaking style; synthesizing speech from the text in the desired speaking style at least in part by using the first speech segment; and outputting the synthesized speech.
US09990914B2	System and method for dynamically interacting with a mobile communication device by series of similar sequential barge in signals to interrupt audio playback Audio presentations of a media content delivered onto a device are interrupted using commands not otherwise known to or programmed in to a messaging application used to present the content to the user of the device. In one embodiment, an electronic message having textual content is received at the mobile device, where it is translated into an audio stream, and presented (i.e., played back) to the user of the device within the messaging application. The user provides, and the application receives a string of identical user commands that are not specifically defined or programmed in as commands within the messaging application, and playback of the audio stream is modified according to the received string of user commands.
US09990912B2	Electronic device and method for reproducing sound in the electronic device An electronic device and a method for reproducing a sound in the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a touchscreen displaying a keyboard having a plurality of keys and a plurality of sound source buttons corresponding respectively to a plurality of different sound sources, a processor connected electrically to the touchscreen, and a memory connected electrically to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that are executed to cause the processor to perform control such that when an input to at least one key among the plurality of keys is received, the sound source corresponding to at least one sound source button selected among the plurality of sound source buttons is reproduced as a sound corresponding to the received input.
US09990908B2	Percussion instrument strainer and tuning system A strainer system includes an adjustable slide assembly that can be used as a strainer side assembly or a butt side slide assembly for tensioning a snare that will not detune due to sympathetic vibrations. The strainer system may also be configured to easily control the amount of snare contact with the bearing edge on both the strainer side and the butt side of the shell body.
US09990904B2	Pixel array suitable for slim border designs A pixel array including first signal lines, second signal lines, active elements, pixel electrodes and selection lines is provided. The second signal lines and the selection lines are intersected with the first signal lines respectively. Each first signal line has a bridge point at an intersection with the one of the selection lines. At least one of the selection lines is disposed between two neighboring second signal lines. Amounts of the first signal lines and the selection lines are larger than an amount of the second signal lines respectively, and an amount of second signal lines intersected with a connection line between the bridge point of the ith first signal line and the bridge point of the (i+1)th first signal line is one, i=1 to N, and N is the amount of the first signal lines.
US09990901B2	Method and apparatus for controlling screen An electronic device is provided. The electronic device is configured to check whether an event is generated during a first period in a state in which a screen is displayed, change a chroma of the screen when the event is not generated during the first period, check whether the event is generated during a second period, and adjust a lighting brightness of the screen when the event is not generated during the second period.
US09990900B2	Image processing device and method thereof An image processing device that converts original image data to target image data is provided. The image processing device includes: a static random access memory (SRAM); an image scaling circuit that generates scaled image data according to the original image data and stores the scaled image data to the SRAM; and a video encoding circuit that accesses the scaled image data from the SRAM and encodes the accessed scaled image data to generate the target image data. The target image data corresponds to an image frame. A part of the target image data is intra frame data encoded by an intra frame compression method, and the other part of the target image data is predicted frame data encoded by a predicted frame compression method.
US09990899B2	Image display apparatus combining three-in-one with single color light-emitting elements An image display apparatus comprising a display section provided by pixels arranged in a grid pattern, each of the pixels being formed of a light-emitting element, in which basic grids are repeatedly arranged in a grid pattern, each of the basic grids consisting of four pixels of a 2 by 2 matrix, each of the basic grids having a pattern in which one or two pixels of the four pixels being assigned a three-in-one element including three primary colors of R, G, and B and the remaining pixels being assigned a single-color light-emitting element, and the apparatus comprises processor for correcting a first color reproduction range provided by chromaticities of the three primary colors of R, G, and B to a second color reproduction range by light-emission intensity of the single-color light-emitting element and shifting chromaticity points for the three colors.
US09990898B2	Voltage supply unit and display device having the same A voltage supply unit and a display device including the voltage supply unit are provided. The voltage supply unit includes a first voltage input terminal to which a first voltage as a DC voltage is input; a second voltage input terminal to which a second voltage as an AC voltage is input; a first capacitor between a first node and the second voltage input terminal; and a current control circuit between the first voltage input terminal and the first node and controlling a current value flowing from the first voltage input terminal to the first node so as to be equal to or less than a current limit value.
US09990896B2	6bit/8bit gamma common driving circuit and method for driving the same The present invention relates to a 6 bit/8 bit gamma common driving circuit and a method for driving the same, in which a gamma voltage is changed selectively according to a number of received bits by using an R-string for using gamma in common. The 6 bit/8 bit gamma common driving circuit includes a gamma selection unit having an 8 bit receiving terminal for receiving a 6 bit or 8 bit digital data, and the gamma selection unit by passing the 8 bit data received at the receiving terminal, or adding “00” to least significant two bits of the 6 bit data received at the receiving terminal to change the 6 bit data to an 8 bit data and forwarding the 8 bit data, according to an external bit selection BSEL signal; a summing unit for summing most significant 6 bit data of the 8 bit data from the gamma selection unit and forwarding a carry signal “0 or 1”, or summing the 8 bit data from the gamma selection unit and forwarding a carry signal “0 or 1”, according to the bit selection BSEL signal; and a digital-to-analog converter for forwarding an analog signal corresponding to a R-string relevant to the data from the gamma selection unit if the carry signal from the summing unit is “0”, or forwarding an analog signal corresponding to R225 of the R-string if the carry signal from the summing unit is “1”.
US09990893B2	Pixel circuit A pixel circuit includes a first capacitor whose two terminals are coupled to a first node and a ground end respectively, a first switch whose two terminals are coupled to a second node and a fourth node respectively, a liquid crystal, a second switch, a pull-up circuit, a pull-down circuit, a second capacitor and a third switch. The first switch is coupled to the first node and a first data input end. The liquid crystal is coupled to the second and a third node. The second switch is coupled to the second node and a second data input end. The pull-up circuit is coupled to the first node and the second node and a node of a high voltage. The pull-down circuit is coupled to the second node, the fourth node and the ground end. The third switch is coupled to the fourth node and the ground end.
US09990892B2	Liquid crystal panel and driving method thereof A liquid crystal panel including a plurality of pixel units, each including sub-pixel units of a plurality of colors, the sub-pixel units included in the liquid crystal panel includes a main pixel area and a secondary pixel area. The driving method includes: acquiring a grayscale value of a picture to be displayed of each of the partial sub-pixel units; searching for a main grayscale value and a secondary grayscale value corresponding to the grayscale value of the picture to be displayed of the each of the partial sub-pixel units from a corresponding relationship between grayscale values of a color of each of the partial sub-pixel units and the main grayscale values and the secondary grayscale values; and providing the searched main grayscale value and the secondary grayscale value to areas of the main pixel unit and the secondary pixel unit of the each of the partial sub-pixel units respectively.
US09990887B2	Pixel driving circuit, method for driving the same, shift register, display panel and display device A pixel driving circuit is provided. The pixel driving circuit includes a driving transistor (M1), a storage capacitor (Cs) and a data writing unit. The data writing unit is configured to receive an nth-row scanning signal (Vscan (n)) and apply the data voltage (Vdata) to the gate electrode of the driving transistor (M1) in the case that the nth-row scanning signal (Vscan (n)) is valid. The pixel driving circuit further includes: a reverse control unit, receiving an (n−2)th-row scanning signal (Vscan (n−2)) and connected to the cathode of the OLED, and configured to control the cathode of the OLED to receive the (n−2)th-row scanning signal (Vscan (n−2)) in the case that the (n−2)th-row scanning signal (Vscan (n−2)) is valid. A voltage of the (n−2)th-row scanning signal (Vscan (n−2)) is greater than the driving voltage (Vdd), and n is an integer greater than 2.
US09990883B2	Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof An organic light emitting display comprises a display panel having data lines, scan lines, emission signal lines, and pixels. The display also comprises a data driver configured to provide a data voltage corresponding to an input image to one of the data lines connected to a pixel and a gate driver configured to provide an N-th scan pulse to an N-th scan line to charge the pixel with the data voltage during a scan period within a frame period. The display further comprises an emission driver configured to receives shift clocks and the N-th scan pulse from the gate driver to provide an N-th emission control signal to the N-th emission signal line and to control a current path through the OLED based on the N-th emission control signal during a duty driving period following the scan period within a frame period.
US09990881B2	Display device and driving method thereof A method of driving a display device includes the following steps: a step of applying a first voltage to a drain of the driving transistor from the first power supply line, while applying an initialization voltage lower than the first voltage to a gate of the driving transistor; a step of applying a voltage higher than the initialization voltage lower than the first voltage to the drain of the driving transistor, and applying a voltage based on a video signal to the gate of the driving transistor; and a step of applying the first voltage to a drain of the driving transistor from the first power supply line and supplying a current to the light emitting element while holding the voltage based on the video signal to the gate of the driving transistor.
US09990871B1	Cheering banner A banner for displaying while cheering at an event venue. The banner comprises a flexible woven fabric panel bearing indicia related to a partisan of an event taking place at the event venue, a reinforced opening and an illumination source. A handle having an enlarged head penetrates the opening and is retained by a friction fitted washer slipped over the handle. The opening is at one corner of the panel and the illumination source is a light emitting diode with battery and switch all contained in a compartment at another corner.
US09990867B1	Nameplate assembly for a bag A nameplate assembly for a bag has a base, a nameplate and at least one connecting unit, the nameplate is disposed in an accommodating recess of the base, and the at least one connecting unit is mounted in at least one connecting recess of the base. The nameplate is connected and fixed on the base by the connecting unit. The base further includes a pressing recess formed in an end of the accommodating recess, the nameplate extending to a position above the pressing recess. The nameplate can be easily mounted on the base by the magnetic force from the connecting unit and can be easily removed by being pressed into the pressing recess. Therefore, the nameplate assembly is efficient in manufacturing and is easy to use.
US09990866B2	Container tamper-proof protection by use of printed fiber optics manufacturing and integrated sensors The disclosed embodiments provide a method for tamper-proof protection of containers used for shipment of goods. An optical fiber is embedded in an Optical Shield Wallpaper which lines all interior surfaces of any size of a shipping container, package, box, barrel or other shaped container. Wallpaper is manufactured using large scale rollers that press fibers with encapsulated adhesives onto an appropriate medium. Small medicine containers are protected with a fiber optic shield and sensors manufactured using ink jet printing techniques. Light is applied to the optical fiber and a measurement of optical fiber characteristics is performed. Digital signal processing is used to generate pedigree information, which may include items such as shipping location, serial numbers and lot numbers for the goods. The status of the autonomous anti-tampering system is monitored real-time for unauthorized intrusions. Intrusions detected are relayed to an authorized recipient via a variety of communication channels.
US09990862B2	Active colonoscopy training model and method of using the same An active colonoscopy training model (10) and method of using the same with a colonoscope (60) includes an abdominal model (12), a colorectal tube (16) configured to replicate a human colon, and at least one sensor operably coupled to the colorectal tube (16). The abdominal model (12) comprises an outer body (14) having a hollow interior portion (22), and the colorectal tube (16) is operably coupled to the abdominal model (12) within the interior portion (22). The colorectal tube (16) is configured to receive the colonoscope (60), and the at least one sensor measures one or more of a tension, a force, a pressure, a light, and a position of the colonoscope (60) when the colonoscope (60) is positioned and advanced through the colorectal tube (16).
US09990860B2	Wearable blind guiding apparatus A blind guiding apparatus comprises a first wearable assembly on which a voice recognition unit, a central processing unit, a GPS unit, a voice output unit and a Braille display unit are disposed. The blind guiding apparatus provides real-time positioning and navigating functions for a blind user walking outside, wherein the Braille display unit allows the user to confirm a destination address recognized by the voice recognition unit so as to avoid error in navigation.
US09990854B1	Unmanned aerial system mission flight representation conversion techniques and traffic management scheme A system and method are provided for implementing unmanned aircraft system (UAS) deconfliction schemes by accepting representations of UAS flight plans in disparate native forms, and to converting them into a common format in support of evaluating potential conflicts, and providing flight plan approval/disapproval, and/or flight plan execution restrictions or warnings regarding potentially conflicting manned and unmanned aerial vehicle operations. The disclosed UAS Traffic Management (UTM) scheme may validate a UAS flight plan based on the provided flight plan representation, approving or disapproving the flight plan, and may provide suggestions for modification of a submitted UAS flight plan to enhance operational deconfliction without completely rejecting, through disapproval, the flight plan. Different levels of alerts and/or warnings may be provided to alert the UAS platform operators and National Airspace System operators/controllers to potential conflicts and conflict avoidance.
US09990849B2	Method and device for ascertaining a parking position for a vehicle A method for ascertaining a parking position for a vehicle, including the following: ascertaining a vehicle geometry and a maneuverability parameter of the vehicle, and selecting a parking position for the vehicle from a plurality of parking positions of a parking lot as a function of the vehicle geometry and the maneuverability parameter. Also described is a corresponding device, a parking system, and a computer program.
US09990843B2	Remote controlled device and a remote control for controlling multiple remote controlled devices By transmitting a remote controlled device identifier through an optical signal emitted by a remote controlled device to a remote control pointed at the remote controlled device, the remote control is able to address the remote controlled device via a communication network and be paired with the remote controlled device. As the remote control just has to be pointed at the remote controlled device that is to be paired the pairing is intuitive. A verification unit can be added to the remote controlled device that transmits a challenge via the optical signal to the remote control. The remote control creates a response and transmits the response to the remote controlled device for verification by the verification unit. If the verification is successful the pairing is allowed. As the challenge can only be extracted from the optical signal, access to the room in which the remote controlled device is locate dis required in order to gain control over the remote controlled device. A hack solely over the communication network is prevented as the challenge is not available on the communication network.
US09990838B1	Digital emergency signal transfer system A digital emergency signal transfer system includes a receiving terminal; the receiving terminal including at least one emergency button; when accident occurs, pressing the emergency button causing the receiving terminal to emit an emergency call to related receivers for adapting required actions; a network switch receiving signals from the receiving terminal and then converts the received emergency call into digital signals which have formats and protocol matching the protocol acceptable in the network communication; and a controller connected to the network switch by wired or wireless way; the controller serving to receive the digital signals from the network switch; then the controller emitting alert signals corresponding to the emergency signals to a plurality of electronic information device at the same time or sequentially.
US09990837B1	Intrinsic safety isolation with capacitive coupling A communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board having a thickness that complies with an intrinsic safety physical separation specification. A first pair of capacitive plates are disposed on opposite sides of the printed circuit board and are arranged to form a first capacitor having an insulating layer of the printed circuit board forming a dielectric material for the first capacitor. A second pair of capacitive plates are disposed on opposite sides of the printed circuit board and are arranged to form a second capacitor having the insulating layer of the printed circuit board forming a dielectric material for the second capacitor. A modulator is coupled to the first and second capacitors and is configured to receive an input signal having an input signal frequency and to provide a modulated signal having a frequency that is higher than the input signal. A demodulator is coupled to the first and second capacitors and configured to detect the modulated signal and provide a demodulated signal having the input signal frequency.
US09990835B2	Methods, systems, and products for security services A security system notifies of an alarm situation. The security system has two separate communications paths. When the alarm situation is determined, the security system may select one of the two separate communications paths based on performance, cost, urgency, and other factors.
US09990831B2	Home incarceration confirmation system A location confirmation platform of a home confinement location confirmation system for establishing a virtual boundary in which an incarcerated individual is authorized to occupy and polling and confirming the individual's presence within the boundary by comparing previously collected individual attribute data and comparing the collected data to corresponding data received from the individual in real time.
US09990828B2	Rescue method, rescue system, wandering person care method, and wandering person care system A rescue method for identifying and rescuing a person in question, the rescue method comprising an operation in which a user wearing a jewelry item having a serial number is encountered and the serial number on the jewelry item is recognized, an operation in which the serial number is conveyed to a data management company that stores the serial number as identification information pertaining to the user, an operation in which the identification information pertaining to the user is conveyed to a rescue organization, and an operation in which a command to rescue the user is issued at the rescue organization.
US09990821B2	Method of restoring camera position for playing video scenario An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, each of the plurality of PTZ cameras having a respective field of view that covers a respective portion of a secured geographic area, a memory that saves a plurality of surveillance scenarios, each of the plurality of surveillance scenarios including a respective pan, tilt, and a zoom position for each of the plurality of PTZ cameras, and a user interface that receives a selection of one of the plurality of surveillance scenarios from a human user and, in response, simultaneously displays respective real time video images from each of the plurality of PTZ cameras using the respective pan, tilt, and zoom positions of the one of the plurality of surveillance scenarios.
US09990820B2	Museum showcase, having detection sensors, adjustment actuators, alarms and a processing unit connected together This museum showcase comprises a display space visible to the public for receiving objects, at least a detection sensor of a parameter of the showcase and at least one of an alarm and an actuator for adjusting a parameter of the showcase. The museum showcase further comprises a processing unit and a showcase interface; the showcase interface is operatively connected between the sensor, the adjusting actuator and/or the alarm and the processing unit, in order to transmit information from the sensor to the processing unit and to transmit commands from the processing unit to the adjusting actuator and/or the alarm. The museum showcase is therefore completely controllable by means of the processing unit, which receives information from one or more dedicated sensors that is considered necessary for the specific showcase and which manages actuators and alarms so as to maintain the desired conditions and/or signal abnormal situations, according to the information received.
US09990815B2	Wearable haptic effects with permissions settings A system for generating haptic effects receives haptic permissions settings and associates the haptic permissions settings with a range of permitted haptic parameters. The system receives haptic parameters and modifies/filters the haptic parameters based on the range of permitted haptic parameters. The system then generates a haptic signal based on the modified haptic parameters and outputs the haptic signal to a haptic output device to generate the haptic effects.
US09990814B1	Automatic notification generation An electronic computing device includes a processing unit and system memory. The system memory includes instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, cause the electronic computing device to monitor audio from a conversation. One or more keywords are identified from the audio. A context of the conversation is identified from the audio. One or more alerts are displayed on a display screen of the electronic computing device. Each of the one or more alerts corresponds to the context of the conversation. Each of the one or more alerts corresponds to a notification to be communicated to an individual. One of the notifications is obtained. The notification is displayed on the display screen of the electronic computing device.
US09990812B2	Configuring point-of-sale (POS) applications based on a priority level in order to communicate with peripheral devices in a POS system A Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal in a retail environment is communicatively connected to one or more POS peripheral devices. Each POS peripheral device is associated with a configuration file that defines configuration settings for the POS peripheral device and environmental context information for the POS terminal and the POS controller. The configuration files are prioritized according to various criteria, and used to re-configure POS applications executing on the POS to operate optimally with the particular POS peripheral device. Additionally, the prioritized configuration files control the POS applications to update the configuration information.
US09990807B2	Method and system for controlling a graphical user interface of a terminal A community gaming system including a central controller and a plurality of gaming terminals each with a graphical user interface operating. The system determines that a bonus event is triggered and which of the terminals qualify. The central controller transmits a trigger signal to each of the qualified gaming terminals in the sequence in turn, in response to which each qualified gaming terminal initiates scrolling of a bonus event graphic across its respective graphical user interface such that as the bonus event graphic scrolls across the graphical user interface of one of the qualified gaming terminals to reach an edge of that graphical user interface a next one of the qualified gaming terminals in the sequence then initiates scrolling of that bonus event graphic across its graphical user interface. The bonus event graphic appears to scroll across successive graphical user interfaces of the sequence of terminals.
US09990804B2	Wagering game having interlinked progressive values with shared increment A gaming system is primarily dedicated to playing a regulated casino wagering game providing eligibility to a plurality of progressive jackpots. The gaming system comprises a secure gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, an electronic input device, a random element generator, and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry is configured to allocate a portion of the wager to at least one of a first group of progressive jackpots, direct the electronic display device to increment the value of the first group of progressive jackpots, and direct the electronic display device to increment the values of a second group progressive jackpots based on the values of the first group of progressive jackpots. And, in response to a progressive-triggering outcome, the game-logic circuitry directs the electronic display device to display a reset value for the awarded progressive jackpot and an altered reduced value for another one of the progressive jackpots.
US09990801B2	Systems and methods for gaming account funding Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. The payment vehicle can be, for example, a credit payment vehicle or a debit payment vehicle. The player can load funds from the financial account to a wagering account.
US09990800B2	Casino game download system and method of use Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for multi-tiered gaming data download. The system includes a gaming device for local play of a game. The gaming device includes a communication interface receiving and transmitting data to download a game for play at the gaming device. The system also includes a plurality of download servers communicating with the gaming device to provide game data for download to and play at the gaming device. The system further includes a middle tier server acting as a hub to communicate with the plurality of download servers to provide game data from one or more of the plurality of download servers. The middle tier server allocates download server resources and schedules a download of game data from one or more download servers to the gaming device based on resource constraints at the plurality of download servers and availability for download at the gaming device.
US09990797B2	User terminal system and method A user terminal comprises an encryption apparatus, a tamper detection system associated with the encryption apparatus and means for triggering the tamper detection system in response to tampering with the encryption apparatus, at least one further component, and further means for triggering the tamper detection system, wherein the further means for triggering the tamper detection system is configured to trigger the tamper detection system in response to tampering with the at least one further component.
US09990793B2	Media item separation The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a media item from a bunch of media items. The apparatus comprises at least one first roller located on a first side of a transport path along which a media item is transported and at least two further rollers located on a further side of the transport path opposite the first side, said at least two further rollers being spaced apart to receive a portion of said at least one first roller therebetween, wherein in an advance mode of operation said first and further rollers rotate in the same direction and in a reject mode of operation said first and further rollers rotate in opposite directions.
US09990791B2	Smart lockbox The lockbox contains a microcomputer used in the processes of validating preapproved credentials. One method of obtaining access to the lockbox is by user carrying only an identification card, the lockbox scanning the identification card and transmitting its data to the lockbox's server for validation via an internal cell phone modem's connection through cell towers. The lockbox is also capable of capturing video and audio recordings, storing and categorizing the recordings into data such as traffic or noise levels over varying periods of time; and such data can be transferred to a user's cell phone upon the owner's approval. Additionally, the lockbox is powered by a solar panel power source, making it self-sustaining.
US09990789B2	Smart key controller for vehicle routing pattern-based variable control and method thereof A smart key controller for controlling a vehicle through wireless communication with a smart key includes a control unit for including a timer and a memory, creating an operation time table regarding operation numbers by time zones based on the timer by checking an ignition signal, and storing the created operation time table in the memory, and a signal driver for generating a wireless signal for communication with the smart key according to an active signal generated by the control unit at a predetermined period in a time zone with high operation frequency by comparing operation numbers of respective time zones and a threshold operation number with reference to the operation time table, while the vehicle is parked.
US09990785B2	Access system for a vehicle and method for managing access to a vehicle An access system for a vehicle is provided. The access system includes a central rights management unit, an access control device, and a portable identification medium. The access control device makes it possible to run verification mechanisms on the identification medium with the use of input means for interacting with a user. To this effect the identification medium includes an authentication unit and also a data part that depends on it which for viral epidemic propagation of privilege data may forward this data to access control devices without its own data connection. Even in the case of an incomplete infrastructure, extensive vehicle movements and very substantial fluctuations in personnel it is nevertheless possible to achieve very high security and reliability of enabling access and vehicle functions.
US09990784B2	Dynamic identification badge A presentation of visual information relates to an accurate identity of a person. Visible data corresponding to the identity is rendered upon a wearable badge associated uniquely with the person. The rendered visible data are augmented dynamically. The augmentation includes adding a conspicuous indication to the rendered visible data, in real time, that an authorized security credential corresponding to the person is exceeded in relation to a presence of the person in a particular location.
US09990780B2	Using computed facial feature points to position a product model relative to a model of a face Using computed facial feature points to position a product model relative to a model of a face is disclosed, comprising: obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) model of a user's face, wherein the 3D model of the user's face comprises a plurality of 3D points; determining a face normal that is normal to a plane that is determined based at least in part on a first subset of 3D points from the plurality of 3D points; determining a set of computed bridge points based at least in part on a second subset of 3D points from the plurality of 3D points and the face normal; and using the set of computed bridge points to determine an initial placement of a 3D model of a glasses frame relative to the 3D model of the user's face.
US09990776B2	System and method for projected tool trajectories for surgical navigation systems The present disclosure teaches a system and method for communicating the spatial position and orientation of surgical instruments with respect to a surgical area of interest. Using a visual display of a surgical site generated by a camera feed, a computer generates a virtual overlay of the location and projected trajectory of a surgical instrument based on its current position and orientation. Position and orientation information is generated and stored using tracking markers and a tracking sensor in information communication with the computer.
US09990775B2	Methods and systems for point-to-multipoint delivery of independently-controllable interactive media content An exemplary interactive media content provider system generates overall data representative of interactive media content. The exemplary interactive media content provider system concurrently provides the overall data to both a first media player device associated with a first user and a second media player device associated with a second user by way of a point-to-multipoint media delivery protocol. The first media player device and the second media player device may each be configured to render different portions of the overall data to respective display screens of the media player devices at a particular point in time based on different user input from the first user and the second user, respectively, as the first user and the second user independently interact with the interactive media content. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.
US09990767B1	Generation of 3D models using stochastic shape distribution Described herein are a system and methods for generating 3D models using imaging data obtained from an array of camera devices. In embodiments, a stochastic shape distribution may be applied upon an object to be modeled in invisible ink. The system activates a first lighting mode which causes the stochastic shape distribution to be visible and captures a first set of images that depict the stochastic shape distribution on the object. The system then activates a second lighting mode that causes the stochastic shape distribution to be hidden and captures images of the object as it would normally appear (without the stochastic shape distribution). The images having the stochastic shape distribution may be used to determine alignment information for the images within the set of images. That alignment information may then be attributed to the second set of images and used to generate the 3D model.
US09990765B2	Apparatus and method for generating printing data for patient-specific applicator, and system for manufacturing patient-specific applicator A system for manufacturing a patient-specific applicator reconstructs a three-dimensional (3D) image by using a medical image of a patient, models an applicator structure for irradiating radiation onto a tumor tissue, based on a 3D image, generates printing data for 3D printing for manufacturing the patient-specific applicator based on the modeled applicator structure, and manufactures the patient-specific applicator based on the generated printing data.
US09990763B2	Computerized systems and methods for layering content in a user interface Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for analyzing and determining properties of virtual environments rendered on a display. The disclosed embodiments include, for example, a method for rendering a virtual environment, the method comprising operations performed with one or more processors. The operations of the method may include generating a plurality of object layers, the object layers representing permissible height values. The method may also include populating the environment with a plurality of objects, wherein each object is associated with a height value corresponding to one of the object layers. The method may also include determining whether any two objects form an occluded pair. The method may also include calculating a cast shadow index for each occluded pair reflecting a magnitude of a height differential between occluding object and the occluded object. The method may also include rendering the virtual environment in accordance with the calculated cast shadow indices.
US09990758B2	Bounding volume hierarchy generation using a heterogeneous architecture A system rapidly builds bounding volume hierarchies for ray tracing using both the CPU cores and an integrated graphics processor. The hierarchy is built directly into shared memory (between the CPU and GPU). The method starts by sorting the triangles along a space-filling curve, and then quickly sets up a number of mini-trees with a small number of triangles in them, which includes computing the bounding boxes of the mini-trees. This makes it possible to build the mini-trees using a surface-area heuristic in parallel on the graphics processor, while at the same time, the trees above the mini-trees are built in a top-down fashion using the CPU cores.
US09990756B2	Animations At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for animating a display region, windows, or views displayed on a display of a device. The method includes starting at least two animations. The method further includes determining the progress of each animation. The method further includes completing each animation based on a single timer.
US09990748B2	Corner texel addressing mode The adverse affects of using out-of-bounds texels for bilateral interpolation may be reduced by redefining the valid texel domain as having four corners defined at the centers of four corner texels. As a result, the texels around the periphery of the valid texture domain are partial texels, with the corner texels being one quarter of a texel and the edges being half of a texel.
US09990747B1	System and method for selecting and highlighting elements of a graphical representation of data with respect to one or more variables A system and method for selecting and highlighting elements of a graphical representation of data. A disclosed video display system is capable of providing, as part of a displayed image, i) a collection of data points in a first display area of a display and ii) a first graphical representation in a second display area, wherein the graphical elements in the first graphical representation are dependent on the collection of data points. The video display system can provide, for example, a scatter plot as the collection of data points and a pie chart as the first graphical representation, and can superimpose a selection window on the scatter plot, in order to enable a user to specify or select a subset of the data points. The pie chart graphically represents, for example, a breakdown of members by organization, wherein each slice in the pie chart corresponds to a different organization.
US09990742B2	Apparatus for processing medical image and method of processing medical image thereof An apparatus for processing a medical image includes an image processor including a plurality of processors, the plurality of processors configured to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of an object by performing a first operation having a first priority and a second operation having a second priority that is lower than the first priority, and a controller configured to monitor whether a malfunction occurs among the plurality of processors, and configured to assign, to at least one of the plurality of processors, at least one of the first operation and the second operation to be performed, based on a result of monitoring of the plurality of processors.
US09990739B1	Method and device for fisheye camera automatic calibration A method and device for fisheye camera automatic calibration is disclosed. A first straight line and a second straight line are respectively moved to generate a first fisheye line and a second fisheye line being straight lines. At least two symmetric points are generated on the second straight line based on an intersection of the first straight line and the second straight line as a symmetric central point, so as to correspondingly generate at least two fisheye symmetric points. The second straight line rotates until a distance between the first fisheye line and each of two fisheye symmetric points is equal. Then, central intersection coordinates, fisheye symmetric coordinates, a fisheye symmetric distance are retrieved and used to calculate fisheye parameters.
US09990738B2	Image processing method and apparatus for determining depth within an image An image processing method and apparatus for determining depth in an original image captured by a light field image capture device, in which a light field analysis algorithm is applied a plurality of times to the original image, changing the focus setting each time, so as to generate a respective plurality of scene images focused at different depths; edge detection is performed in respect of each of the scene images to generate a respective plurality of edge detected images; area identification is performed in respect of each edge detected image to generate a respective plurality of area identification images indicative of areas of respective edge detected images in which edges have been detected; and the area identification images are applied to respective scene images so as to extract from the scene images respective image segments corresponding to the areas in which edges have been detected.
US09990736B2	Robust anytime tracking combining 3D shape, color, and motion with annealed dynamic histograms Velocity controllers in accordance with embodiments of the invention enable velocity estimation for tracked objects. One embodiment includes a tracker controller, including: a processor; and a memory containing: a velocity tracker application; a state space describing relationships between measured locations, calculated locations, and changes in locations, where the calculated locations in the state space correspond to unoccluded points on the surface of the tracked object; wherein the processor is configured by the velocity tracker application to: pre-process the state space to identify a tracked object; estimate a velocity of the tracked object using a location history calculated from the measured locations of the tracked object within the state space and a motion model calculated from the state space; and return the velocity of the tracked object.
US09990734B2	Locating and augmenting object features in images A computer-implemented method and system are described for augmenting image data of an object in an image, the method comprising receiving captured image data from a camera, storing a plurality of augmentation image data defining a respective plurality of augmentation values to be applied to the captured image data, storing a plurality of augmentation representations, each representation identifying a respective portion of augmentation image data, selecting one of said augmentation image data and one of said augmentation representations based on at least one colorization parameter, determining a portion of the augmentation image data to be applied based on the selected augmentation representation, augmenting the captured image data by applying said determined portion of the augmentation image data to the corresponding portion of the captured image data, and outputting the augmented captured image data.
US09990728B2	Planar region guided 3D geometry estimation from a single image Techniques for planar region-guided estimates of 3D geometry of objects depicted in a single 2D image. The techniques estimate regions of an image that are part of planar regions (i.e., flat surfaces) and use those planar region estimates to estimate the 3D geometry of the objects in the image. The planar regions and resulting 3D geometry are estimated using only a single 2D image of the objects. Training data from images of other objects is used to train a CNN with a model that is then used to make planar region estimates using a single 2D image. The planar region estimates, in one example, are based on estimates of planarity (surface plane information) and estimates of edges (depth discontinuities and edges between surface planes) that are estimated using models trained using images of other scenes.
US09990727B2	Electronic device and method for processing image Electronic devices and methods for processing images are provided. The method includes obtaining a first image and a second image through a first image sensor, extracting depth information from at least one third image obtained through a second image sensor, applying the extracted depth information to the obtained first image and displaying the first image, and applying the extracted depth information to the obtained second image.
US09990723B2	Image based ROI tracking for MDX An apparatus (MDS) and related method for image processing. The apparatus includes a multi-modal matcher (M). The matcher (M) operates to match a first reference (RF1) image against a stream (LF) of image frames (F1, F2). Once a match is found, the current reference image (RF1) is exchanged for a matching frame from the stream. The matcher (M) then attempts matching against subsequent frames in the stream by now using said matched frame as a new reference image. Once a further frame (Fm) is found that matches said new reference image, said further frame (Fm) is output as a best match.
US09990721B2	System and method for detecting trachea Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for detecting a trachea, an exemplary system comprising an imaging device configured to obtain image data and a computing device configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) model, identify a potential connected component in a first slice image, identify a potential connected component in a second slice image, label the first slice image as a top slice image, label the connected component in the top slice image as an active object, associate each connected component in a current slice image with a corresponding connected component in a previous slice image based on a connectivity criterion, label each connected component in the current slice image associated with a connected component of the preceding slice image as the active object, and identify the active object as the trachea, based on a length of the active object.
US09990720B2	System and method for creating a decision support material indicating damage to an anatomical joint A system for creating decision support material indicating damage to an anatomical joint of a patient. The system is configured to: i) receive a series of radiology images of at least a part of the anatomical joint; ii) obtain a three-dimensional image representation of the at least part of the anatomical joint; iii) identify tissue parts of the anatomical joint using image analysis; iv) determine damage to the anatomical joint by analyzing said image representation; v) mark damage to the anatomical joint in the obtained three-dimensional image representation; and vi) generate decision support material. The analysis comprises: detecting an irregular shape of a contour of a tissue part; and/or detecting that the intensity in an area within or adjacent to bone and/or cartilage parts differs from a predetermined value; and/or comparing at least one identified tissue part with a template representing a predefined damage pattern for an anatomical joint.
US09990718B2	System and method for reconstructing ECT image The present disclosure provides a system and method for PET image reconstruction. The method may include processes for obtaining physiological information and/or rigid motion information. The image reconstruction may be performed based on the physiological information and/or rigid motion information.
US09990715B2	Radiotherapy targeted to promote a systemic abscopal effect Methods for personalized treatment of tumor lesions in subject with metastatic cancer are disclosed.
US09990712B2	Organ detection and segmentation A method of segmenting a target organ of the body in medical images, the method comprising: providing a probabilistic atlas with probabilities for a presence of the target organ at different locations relative to a bounding region of the target organ; providing one or more medical test images; for each test image, identifying, at least provisionally, a location of a bounding region for the target organ in the test image; and for each test image, using the probabilities from the probabilistic atlas to segment the target organ in the test image, with the segmenting performed by a data processor.
US09990708B2	Pattern-measuring apparatus and semiconductor-measuring system An object of the present invention is to provide a pattern-measuring apparatus and a semiconductor-measuring system which are able to obtain an evaluation result for suitably selecting processing with respect to a semiconductor device. In the present invention for attaining the object described above, there is proposed a pattern-measuring apparatus including an arithmetic device which compares a circuit pattern of an electronic device with a reference pattern, in which the arithmetic device classifies the circuit pattern in processing unit of the circuit pattern on the basis of a comparison of a measurement result between the circuit pattern and the reference pattern with at least two threshold values.
US09990705B2	Atmospheric compensation in satellite imagery Techniques for atmospheric compensation in satellite imagery that include converting an image including an array of radiance values to an array of surface reflectance values. The conversion is performed in an automated fashion by identifying one or more portions of the image for which the surface reflectance can be estimated and determining the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) by iteratively comparing the radiance value captured by the image sensor to a calculated radiance value (based on the known surface reflectance, historical values for other atmospheric parameters, and the AOD) and adjusting the AOD until the calculated radiance value is substantially the same as the captured radiance value.
US09990703B2	Visualization method and apparatus In this visualization method, for each brightness value for voxels included in a predetermined Region Of Interest (ROI) in a three-dimensional volume data, opacity is set according to an appearance frequency of the brightness value. Then, three-dimensional image data is generated for a portion on and under a cross section set for the three-dimensional volume data, by using color data that corresponds to a brightness value of each voxel included in the ROI and the opacity of each brightness value. Then, a cross section image generated from data of voxels on the cross section and the three-dimensional image data are superimposed and displayed.
US09990701B2	Image-processing apparatus, image-processing method, and computer program product According to the present disclosure, an image-processing apparatus acquires horizontal black hat image data by taking a difference between source image data and horizontal closing image data obtained by performing closing processing on each pixel row of the source image data, acquires vertical black hat image data by taking a difference between the source image data and vertical closing image data obtained by performing the closing processing on each pixel column of the source image data, and acquires logical conjunction image data where a logical conjunction of the horizontal black hat image data and the vertical black hat image data is taken.
US09990697B2	Adaptive and fast image collage creation A computer-implemented method for creating an image collage includes automatically selecting a first image from the group of images that best fits image-collage template based on predetermined criteria, placing and fitting the first image in the image-collage template, automatically selecting one or more additional images from the group of images that best fits the image-collage template including one or more already placed images that include the first image, and placing and fitting the one or more additional images image in the image-collage template by the computer system. An image collage is formed after all images in the group are placed in the image-collage template.
US09990696B2	Decimation strategies for input event processing In an embodiment, a touch sensitive device includes a touch interface having conductors and a signal generator for generating signals on the conductors. A touch processor identifies touch on the touch interface by processing touch signals present on the conductors, and outputting a stream of touch events. A decimator receives the stream of touch events and outputs a modified stream of touch events for use by the touch sensitive device, the modified stream of touch events may include predicted or estimated usable touch events.
US09990693B2	Method and device for rendering multimedia content Various aspects of a device and a method for rendering multimedia content are disclosed herein. The method determines a ratio between a first resolution of multimedia content and a second resolution of a display screen of a display device. At least one user input is received that selects a region of interest (ROI) on the multimedia content being rendered on the display screen. Based on the determined ratio, the selected ROI on the multimedia content being rendered on the display screen is dynamically modified based on the determined ratio.
US09990692B2	Systems and methods of partial frame buffer updating Aspects include a pixel source that produces data for a rendered surface divided into regions. A mapping identifies memory segments storing pixel data for each region of the surface. The mapping can identify memory segments storing pixel data from a prior rendered surface, for regions that were unchanged during rendering the rendering. Such changed/unchanged status is tracked on a region by region basis. A counter can be maintained for each memory segments to track how many surfaces use pixel data stored therein. A pool of free memory segments can be maintained. Reading a surface, such as to display a rendered surface by a display controller, includes identifying and reading the mapping to identify each memory segment storing pixel data for regions of the surface, reading such, and updating the counters for the memory segments that were read.
US09990691B2	Ray compression for efficient processing of graphics data at computing devices A mechanism is described for facilitating ray compression for efficient graphics data processing at computing devices. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes forwarding a set of rays to a ray compression unit hosted by a graphics processor at a computing device, and facilitating the ray compression unit to compress the set of rays, wherein the set of rays are compressed into a compressed representation.
US09990690B2	Efficient display processing with pre-fetching In an example, a method for tile-based processing by a display processor may include reading first foreground tile data of a foreground image from a first memory space. The method may include storing the read first foreground tile data into a second memory space. The method may include reading first background tile data of a background image from the first memory space. The method may include storing the read first background tile data into a third memory space. The method may include reading a subset of data of the first foreground tile data from the second memory space. The method may include reading a subset of data of the first background tile data from the third memory space.
US09990689B2	Multi-user virtual reality processing A multi-user virtual reality and/or augmented reality cluster system enabling the projection and tracking of users in a simulated environment is described. The disclosed cluster system enables both timely user action display in the first person and a timely view of a user's action by other participants of the simulation. The cluster system integrates motion capture cameras, distributed computing, and tracking devices to provide a simulation which seems lifelike to all participants and observers.
US09990687B1	Systems and methods for fast and repeatable embedding of high-dimensional data objects using deep learning with power efficient GPU and FPGA-based processing platforms Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing new systems and methods for using deep learning techniques to generate embeddings for high dimensional data objects that can both simulate prior art embedding algorithms and also provide superior performance compared to the prior art methods. Deep learning techniques used by embodiments of the present invention to embed high dimensional data objects may comprise the following steps: (1) generating an initial formal embedding of selected high-dimensional data objects using any of the traditional formal embedding techniques; (2a) designing a deep embedding architecture, which includes choosing the types and numbers of inputs and outputs, types and number of layers, types of units/nonlinearities, and types of pooling, for example, among other design choices, typically in a convolutional neural network; (2b) designing a training strategy; (2c) tuning the parameters of a deep embedding architecture to reproduce, as reliably as possible, the generated embedding for each training sample; (3) optionally deploying the trained deep embedding architecture to convert new high dimensional data objects into approximately the same embedded space as found in step (1); and optionally (4) feeding the computed embeddings of high dimensional objects to an application in a deployed embodiment.
US09990683B2	Systems and methods for acquiring, accessing, and analyzing investigative information Disclosed are systems and methods which provide availability of information on a network wide basis, with the network or information technology (IT) fabric spanning a wide range of institutions and other sources of information, including correctional facilities, without regard to which jurisdiction the source of information belongs, e.g. police, courts, federal investigation agencies, public databases etcetera. Embodiments provide an electronic based capability to identify useful information and for locating, collecting, compiling, aggregating, distilling, and/or reporting robust data.
US09990680B2	Identifying groups for a social networking system user based on interactions by the user with various groups A social networking system selects a set of groups for presentation to a user of the social networking system. To select groups, the social networking system determines scores for various groups representing a likelihood of the user interacting with the groups. The social networking system may identify a set of groups based on interactions between the user and various groups occurring during a specific time interval and determine scores for groups in the set. When determining a score for a group, the social networking system accounts for times associated with interactions between the user and various groups. Based on the scores, one or more groups are selected and presented to the user. Additionally, the social networking system may identify a time to present the selected one or more groups to the user based on prior user interactions with various groups.
US09990679B2	Implicit social graph connections Several embodiments include a social network system that generates an implicit social graph connection between a first social network object and a second social network object. The implicit social graph connection can be generated based on a shared profile attribute between the social network objects or a user interaction in the social network system. The social network system can store the implicit social graph connection in a social graph of the social network system. The social network system can provide a social network service that selectively presents, based on the implicit social graph connection, a content entry to a client of the social network system.
US09990677B1	System, method, and computer-readable medium for facilitating treatment of a vehicle damaged in a crash A system, method, and computer-readable medium for facilitating treatment of a vehicle damaged in a crash utilizes near real-time monitoring of the market value of a vehicle type that includes the damaged vehicle, its vehicle parts, and/or one or more arranged vehicle treatments to approximate an extent of damage to the damaged vehicle and determine a prospective vehicle treatment facility for treating the damaged vehicle. In particular, the system continually monitors the market value of a vehicle, its vehicle parts, and/or a prescribed vehicle treatment to calculate a treatment complexity level, e.g., vehicle repair, total loss; for treating the damaged vehicle.
US09990676B2	Cover-OCO for legged order A position associated with a synthetic spread order may be managed where a status of a synthetic spread order is identified as legged. The synthetic spread order may have at least one child hedge order pending at an electronic exchange and in response, a bracket order is submitted to an electronic exchange for the tradeable object associated with a filled leg of the synthetic spread. In response to execution of the bracket order, the child hedge order may be cancelled.
US09990675B2	Systems and methods for multiplier-adjusted lean levels for trading strategies Certain embodiments provide a method for trading in an electronic trading environment including receiving market data relating to a plurality of tradeable objects; sending a order to an exchange for the first tradeable object at a quoted price; receiving a fill confirmation for the quoting order at a filled price; determining a difference between the quoted price and the filled price; determining a hedge price for each of the plurality of tradeable objects other than the first tradeable object based at least in part on the difference and at least one multiplier associated with at least one leg of the trading strategy; and sending hedge orders for each of the plurality of tradeable objects other than the first tradeable object at the corresponding hedge price. The plurality of tradeable objects includes at least a first, second, and third tradeable object, which are traded as legs of a trading strategy.
US09990674B1	Card registry systems and methods A card registry system is configured to automatically identify financial card information in one or more credit files associated with a consumer and populate a card registry account of the consumer with the identified financial card information. Once the financial card information has been obtained from the credit file(s), the card registry system may transmit cancellation and/or reissuance requests to the respective card issuers in the instance that one or more cards are compromised, so that the financial cards may be easily and efficiently cancelled and/or reissued at the request of the consumer.
US09990672B2	Methods, systems and devices for user profile-based viewable images and for merging of the images An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion.
US09990667B2	Method and apparatus for providing a gift using a mobile communication network and system including the apparatus The present disclosure provides a system for providing a gift using a communication network. The system includes: a gift icon provision unit configured to provide a product list to at least one of an order terminal device and a reception terminal device, and transmit a gift icon to the reception terminal device; a product information provision unit configured to provide information about products to at least one of the order terminal device and the reception terminal device; a customer management unit configured to manage customer information; a payment processing unit configured to provide a webpage to the order terminal device, and identify a completion of a payment; a gift management unit linked with the customer management unit, and configured to provide information about a validity of the gift icon; and a control unit configured to control operations of the units included in the system.
US09990653B1	Systems and methods for serving online content based on user engagement duration An engagement time computer system for serving online content based on user engagement duration includes an output device, at least one memory, and one or more processors. The processors are configured to determine a historical engagement time of an online user and to identify a plurality of online content items. Each online content item of the plurality of online content items has a target engagement time. The processors are further configured to receive a request for a content item. The request is associated with the online user. The processors are also configured to select a first online content item from the plurality of online content items based at least in part on the historical engagement time of the online user and the target engagement time of the first online content item and to transmit the first online content item for display to the online user.
US09990650B1	Online multimedia advertising A method is performed at an electronic device with a display. The method includes initiating display of a multimedia advertisement including a question. Upon a lapse of a predetermined amount of time following initiating display of the multimedia advertisement, the device displays a plurality of affordances on the display. Each affordance in the plurality of affordances corresponds to a respective user response to the question. The device detects a user input that selects a respective affordance of the plurality of affordances, thereby selecting a respective user response to the question, and, upon detection of the user input, discontinues display of the multimedia advertisement.
US09990647B2	Methods, systems, and products for distributing digital media Digital media is distributed to a list of subscriber addresses. The digital media is stored in a memory of a client device that is dedicated to content offered by a producer.
US09990646B2	Systems and methods to provide a user interface for redemption of loyalty rewards A system includes a rule engine to determine details of loyalty reward currency redemption from one or more reward accounts as part of the processing of a payment transaction in a payment account of a user. The redemption details are determined based on user preferences and rules of the loyalty programs, and transmitted to the user during the authorization of the payment transaction. During the authorization and/or within a time window after the authorization, but before the settlement of the payment transaction, the user may provide a confirmation message that may accept, reject, or modify the redemption details. A transaction handler is configured to authorize and/or settle the payment transaction, as modified by the redemption details initially computed by the rule engine and subsequently confirmed, rejected or modified by the user via an optional confirmation message.
US09990643B2	Systems and methods to provide real-time offers via a cooperative database In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to: store transaction data recording transactions processed by a transaction handler; organize third party data according to community, where the third party data includes first data received from a first plurality of entities of a first community and second data received from a second plurality of entities of a second community; and responsive to a request from a merchant in the second community, present an offer of the merchant in the second community to users identified via the transaction data and the first data received from the first plurality of entities of the first community. In one embodiment, the first data provides permission from the merchant in the first community to allow the merchant in the second community to use intelligence information of the first community to identify users for targeting offers from the merchant in the second community.
US09990641B2	Finding predictive cross-category search queries for behavioral targeting A method and apparatus for finding predictive cross-category search queries for behavioral targeting in a networked online display advertising system. The methods include aggregating a training model dataset, the training model dataset comprising a history of clicks corresponding to historical advertisements. The training model dataset also contains plurality of targeting categories related to the history of clicks. Various techniques are disclosed for selecting a plurality of features from the training model dataset and calculating a click probability for a subject advertisement to be clicked by a user from a page, the calculating operations using features of the page that is to be presented to the user. Embodiments include mapping a particular query to one of the targeting categories and then presenting the subject advertisement selected on the basis of the value of the click probability. Normalization scales down the value of the click probabilities to filter out false positive categories.
US09990640B2	Method for detecting a disconnection of the main connector of an electronic payment terminal, corresponding computer program product, storage means and payment terminal A method is proposed for detecting a disconnection of a main connector of an electronic payment terminal. The method includes detecting a break in a connection control loop between a central control unit, housed in the terminal, and the main connector. In the event of a positive detection of a break, configuring the terminal in a blocked state.
US09990639B1	Automatic detection of fraudulent real estate listings A system for rental fraud detection comprises an input interface, a feature vector extractor, a model builder, and a predictor. The input interface is to receive a set of training data, wherein the set of training data comprises a set of rental fraud indications and to receive a set of prediction data. The feature vector extractor is to extract a first training set of feature vectors from the set of training data and to extract a first test feature vector from the set of prediction data. The model builder is to build a first model using the first training set of feature vectors and the rental fraud indications. The predictor is to predict whether the first test feature vector corresponds to fraudulent data using the first model.
US09990635B2	Methods for providing cross-vendor support services An analysis is performed on first and second product information to determine a relationship between a first product and a second product. In response to a first notification from a first backend system, a first message is transmitted to a mobile device of the user indicating that the change of a first activity is needed. It is determined whether a modification of a second activity is needed based on the relationship information of the first product and the second product and in response to determining that the modification of the second activity is needed, a second message is transmitted to the mobile device, indicating a possible modification of the second activity and offering a list of one or more options to modify the second activity. A live communications session is established between the user and a support agent of the server to discuss the possible modification of the second activity.
US09990632B1	Dynamic modification of a verification method associated with a transaction card A device may determine that a verification method associated with a transaction card is to be modified from a first verification method to a second verification method. The first verification method and the second verification method may use different types of verification information. The device may provide a set of instructions to the transaction card after determining that the verification method is to be modified. The set of instructions may cause the transaction card to modify the verification method from the first verification method to the second verification method. The device may provide information identifying a modification to the verification method to a transaction backend device to notify the transaction backend device that the verification method associated with the transaction card has been modified from the first verification method to the second verification method.
US09990631B2	Systems and methods of global identification The invention provides one or more consortia of networks that identify and share information about users and/or user devices interacting with the consortia. User devices may be identified, at least in part, by a delta of time parameter between a user device used and a reference time. Other parameters may be analyzed to identify a computer user and/or device and noteworthy transactions. The invention may be used for identity-based applications such as network security, the detection of fraudulent transactions, identity theft, ratings-based communities and law enforcement. User may be permitted to register user devices in order to control access for performing transactions.
US09990627B2	Centralized identity authentication for electronic communication networks A method of centralized identity authentication for use in connection with a communications network includes registering users of the communications network such that each registered user's identity is uniquely defined and determinable, and registering a plurality of vendors having a presence on the communications network. The registered vendors selectively transact with registered users, wherein the transactions include: (i) the registered vendor selling goods and/or services to the registered user; (ii) the registered vendor granting the registered user access to personal records maintained by the registered vendor; and/or (iii) the registered vendor communicating to the registered user personal information maintained by the registered vendor. The method also includes each user's identity being authenticated over the communications network prior to completion of transactions between registered vendors and registered users.
US09990619B2	Holding manner learning apparatus, holding manner learning system and holding manner learning method A holding-manner learning apparatus includes a storage part and a hardware processor that functions as a designating module, an acquisition module, a calculation module, a storing module, and an output module. The designating module designates a target object from storage storing therein a feature amount for recognizing an object. The acquisition module acquires an image by photographing an object. The calculation module calculates a similarity degree between the feature amount of the object in the image and the feature amount of the target object. The storing module stores, according to the similarity degree calculated, the image and similarity degree in a first table or a second table in an associated manner. The output module outputs an electronic file presenting the image and similarity degree in the first table to indicate a proper holding manner and/or the image and similarity degree in the second table to indicate an improper holding manner.
US09990618B2	Cash card system A method includes a point of sale (POS) terminal receiving transaction data indicative of a purchase transaction, and detecting, by a card interface associated with the POS terminal, the presence of an integrated circuit (IC) payment card. The process also includes the POS terminal receiving indications of a plurality of data objects stored in the IC payment card, selecting a payment application based at least in part on the transaction data and the indications of the plurality of data objects, retrieving an account number associated with the selected payment application, and then executing the selected payment application to handle the purchase transaction.
US09990617B2	Consumer opt-in to information sharing at point of sale Concurrent first and second uses of a consumer's credit card are made during a POS transaction to effect information sharing. The first use includes conventionally executing a primary transaction, while the second use includes a presentation to the consumer at POS with information sharing opt-in and/or privacy notices from the consumer's financial institution.
US09990614B2	Tactile touch screen A machine (10) is operative to carry out financial transfers responsive to data included on data bearing records including user cards. The machine includes a user interface (15) including a display (24). The user interface includes a card reader (16) which is operative to read data on user cards which identify at least one of user and a user's financial accounts. Records of the financial transfers are provided by a printer (30). A touch screen display module (608) is operative to securely receive manual inputs and/or card data. The touch screen display module includes a contact surface that can be electronically contoured to provide outputs that can be perceived through finger contact with the contact surface.
US09990613B1	Bill payment using direct funds transfer Introduced here is a technology that enables a bill payer, who is an account holder at a financial institution (e.g., a bank), to send a bill payment to a bill payee by submitting, via a financial application of the financial institution, the bill payee's identifier and a bill payment amount, where funds for the bill payment amount are transferred directly to the bill payee substantially instantaneously upon the bill payer's request. The technology involves communication between a computer system of a financial institution (“financial institution system”), a mobile financial application installed on a bill payer's mobile device, and a third-party, remote computer system of a payment service (“PSS”). Upon receiving the identifier and amount from the financial institution system, the PSS identifies payment card information of the bill payer and the bill payee, and executes, or triggers execution of, the transfer of funds for the bill payment.
US09990612B2	Machine, methods, and program product for electronic inventory tracking Machine, methods, and program product for facilitating electronic inventory tracking and management of products through messaging over a payment network, are provided. An example includes an inventory management computer in communication with a merchant POS apparatus or terminal over an existing financial services payment network and configured to receive and process purchase transaction data associated with a product being purchased, for use by a product provider. The computer can include electronic inventory management program product configured to perform various operations including receiving a purchase transaction message sent through the payment network, storing purchase transaction data, and notifying a product provider of the purchase transaction data. The purchase transaction message can include a financial services electronic payment network compatible universal product-transaction identifier, which can be received through the POS terminal in response to a consumer or merchant interfacing the product's container, or an associated purchase ticket or slip storing the transaction identifier, with the POS terminal.
US09990610B2	Systems and methods for providing suggested reminders A method for annotating a message executes at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors. A plurality of messages for a user is analyzed to determine whether a task reminder is derivable for any of the messages. In this way, task reminders are derived for at least a subset of the messages. A user interface for an electronic messaging application is provided. The interface includes a list of objects, one or more of which represents a collapsed state of a message in the message subset and comprises a summary, task reminder, and a dismissal affordance. Responsive dismissal affordance selection, the task reminder and the dismissal affordances are removed from the object.
US09990609B2	Evaluating service providers using a social network A method and system are provided for analyzing data in an online professional social network to identify, score, and match users with regard to providing professional services. A graph structure provides an efficient structure for accessing and processing data about service providers in order to create a service marketplace.
US09990606B2	Systems and methods for measuring and tracking radio-frequency identification tags Systems and methods are provided for measuring and tracking radio-frequency (RFID) tags. Inlay data, converting data, and tag scan data can be received from entities in the supply chain and stored in a database. The tag scan data, including measurement and performance data, can be stored and used for applications such as determining whether RFID tags are defective. The tag scan data, inlay data, and converting data can be analyzed to produce analytic data for reporting and failure prediction purposes. Inlay-SKU combinations of RFID tags can be validated to ensure that the correct inlays are being utilized for RFID tags intended for particular products. More accurate inventory data may be obtained and costs for re-tagging products that have defective RFID tags may be reduced. Entities in the supply chain can also be assisted to comply with various quality control, licensing, and tracking requirements related to the RFID tags.
US09990605B2	Systems and methods for labeling consumer items with unique identifiers In some embodiments, methods of tracking uniquely labeled products are provided. An item representing one unit of a consumer product may be labeled with a unique label via automatically generating a random identifier unique to the item, associating the randomly-generated identifier with the item in a record of an electronic database, creating a label comprising a substrate and the randomly-generated identifier, applying the label to the item, and tracking the item via obtaining the randomly-generated identifier from the label. Products labeled with unique identifiers via such methods are also provided.
US09990597B2	System and method for forecast driven replenishment of merchandise Systems, methods, and other embodiments are disclosed that are configured to generate replenishment parameters for use by an external replenishment system. In one embodiment, sales statistics are generated for an item based at least in part on historical sales data for the item. A determination is made as to if demand forecast data is available for the item. If demand forecast data is not available, an order-point value for the item is generated based at least in part on the sales statistics. If demand forecast data is available, demand forecast statistics are generated and the order-point value is generated based at least in part on the sales statistics and the demand forecast statistics. An order-up-to-level is generated based at least in part on the order-point value.
US09990596B2	Cloud-based global alarm annunciation system for industrial systems A cloud-based global alarm annunciation broker assist in locating and contacting suitable technical support personnel in response to detected alarm events at a plant facility. The system comprises a cloud-based framework that dynamically matches on-site alarm events to domain experts capable of addressing the alarm events. The framework uses an agent-based architecture to gather industrial data from data sources within the industrial environment, including time-series alarm data. The data is received at a cloud platform, where broker services perform a global search for suitable technical support resources in response to alarm events identified by the collected data. The brokering system can automatically generate service tickets and send notifications to both end users and system managers/supervisors, and can notify application-level experts about events and anomalies that emerge from the on-premise processes being monitored by the cloud-based broker system.
US09990594B2	Geolocation check-in system Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing a geolocation check-in system. An exemplary apparatus is configured to collect positioning data related to a user. After collecting position data the apparatus may be configure to determine, based at least partially on the positioning data that the user has crossed a threshold of a geofence associated with a merchant's location. Based at least partially on this determination the apparatus may be configured to initiate a merchant check-in associated with the user and transmit user information to the merchant.
US09990589B2	Adaptive search refinement A computer-implemented method for adaptive search refinement is provided. The method may include obtaining an indication of user engagement with an online marketplace and in response to obtaining the indication, providing visually guided search refinement to construct a search query for searching the online marketplace. Providing the visually guided search refinement may include providing search refinement options, obtaining an indication of the approval or disapproval of one or more of the search refinement options, and repeating providing the search refinement options and receiving the indication. For each iteration of providing the plurality of search refinement options, at least some of the search refinement options may be different and determined based on previously received indications of both approval and disapproval. The method for adaptive search refinement may further include providing search results based on the search query.
US09990585B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method and computer-readable storage medium for generating course information Provided is an information processing apparatus including a course setting unit that sets a course containing at least one place associated with positional information, a course information generation unit that generates first course information regarding the course on the basis of first user behavior information generated from a behavior of a first user having visited the course, and a course information provision unit that provides the first course information to a second user different from the first user.
US09990582B2	System for refining cognitive insights using cognitive graph vectors A method, system and computer-usable medium for using cognitive graph vectors to refine cognitive insights comprising storing data from a plurality of data sources within a cognitive graph via a cognitive inference and learning system; associating a first set of the data within the cognitive graph with a first cognitive graph vector of a plurality of cognitive graph vectors via the cognitive inference and learning system; associating a second set of the data within the cognitive graph with a second cognitive graph vector of the plurality of cognitive graph vectors via the cognitive inference and learning system; processing the data from the plurality of data sources to provide cognitive insights via the cognitive inference and learning system; and refining the cognitive insights based upon a limitation relating to one of the plurality of cognitive graph vectors via the cognitive inference and learning system.
US09990579B2	IC module for different connection technologies An IC module for installation in a portable data carrier and for electrical connection with an electronic device located in the data carrier supports at least two different connection technologies. It carries for this purpose contacting elements having a first set of contacting pads for a first connection technology and a second set of contacting solder areas for a second connection technology. A contacting pad of the first set of contacting pads in each case is connected electroconductively to a contacting pad of the second set of contacting pads. The connection can preferably be electively effected by a pressure-form technology or by means of connection wires as a soldered connection.
US09990576B2	Component with internal sensor and method of additive manufacture A component may be self-monitoring having a sensor assembly located on a surface of a substrate and covered by an encapsulating layer additively manufactured over the sensor assembly and thereby bonded to the substrate. The sensor may be wireless, self-powered, and embedded into the substrate such that it is unobtrusive and may not limit the performance or function of the component.
US09990574B2	Holder for RFID enabled cards A holder for cards providing RFID protection is disclosed herein. The holder comprises multiple sheaths, where each sheath has a card position adjacent a protective assembly and a means for holding the card adjacent the protective assembly. Each protective assembly comprises a conductive layer and an absorbing layer adjacent the card position. The sheaths are hingedly connected to enable the user to select a single card for desired use without the need to remove the card from the holder. Once the desired card read has been completed, the cards within the holder are shielded from unauthorized or malicious card reads.
US09990571B2	Media determining apparatus for determining transparency of a media, a media transport apparatus for detecting an end position of the medium and printing apparatus for controlling start of printing on a printing medium To provide a media determining apparatus for enabling transparency of a medium to be determined at low cost, the media determining apparatus is provided with a transport section that transports a medium, a sensor including a light emitting device and a light receiving device to detect the medium, and a control section that detects the medium transported with the transport section corresponding to an output voltage of the sensor. The control section determines transparency of the medium by comparing the output voltage A of the sensor before a front end of the medium arrives at a detection position of the sensor, the output voltage B of the sensor when the front end arrives at the detection position, and the output voltage C of the sensor after the front end arriving at the detection position.
US09990567B2	Method and apparatus for spawning specialist belief propagation networks for adjusting exposure settings A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications.
US09990564B2	System and method for optical character recognition This disclosure relates to system and method for optical character recognition. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing an image data to a plurality of customized machine learning algorithms or various customized neural networks, configured to recognize a set of pre-defined characters. The method comprises presenting one or more suggestions for the character to the user in response to negative character recognition, and training a customized machine learning algorithm corresponding to the character if one of the suggestions is identified by the user. If the suggestions are rejected by the user, the method comprises prompting the user to identify the character and determining presence of the character in the set of pre-defined characters. The method further comprises training a customized machine learning algorithm corresponding to the character if the character is present, or dynamically creating a customized machine learning algorithm corresponding to the character if the character is not present.
US09990562B2	Image processing device and method There is provided an image processing device including a motion vector detection portion that performs comparison of a substantially spherical photographic subject such that, among a plurality of captured images including the photographic subject, an image as a processing target and another image as a comparison target are compared using each of the plurality of captured images as the processing target, and which detects a motion vector of a whole three-dimensional spherical model with respect to the processing target, a motion compensation portion that performs motion compensation on the processing target, based on the motion vector of each of the plurality of captured images that is detected by the motion vector detection portion, and a synthesis portion that synthesizes each of the captured images that are obtained as a result of the motion compensation performed by the motion compensation portion.
US09990555B2	Video detection method, video detection system and computer program product The application relates to a video detection method, a video detection system, and a computer program product, which can implement liveness detection for a human body. The video detection method comprises: obtaining video data acquired by a video data acquisition device; determining a to-be-detected object based on the video data; obtaining a to-be-detected signal corresponding to the to-be-detected object; and determining whether the to-be-detected signal is a liveness physiological signal, wherein the to-be-detected signal is a frequency domain signal corresponding to the video data of the to-be-detected object.
US09990553B1	Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining degrees of risk associated with a vehicle operator Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining vehicle operator risk. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining degrees of vehicle operator risk. A degree of vehicle operator risk may be based on digital image data.
US09990552B2	Operator fatigue monitoring system A fatigue monitoring system is disclosed for use with a machine. The fatigue monitoring system may have an input device configured to generate a first signal indicative of an activity performed by a machine operator, a scanning device configured to generate a second signal indicative of a recognized characteristic of the machine operator, and a warning device. The fatigue monitoring system may also have a controller in communication with the input device, the scanning device, and the warning device. The controller may be configured to determine a time between generations of the first signal, to make a comparison of the recognized characteristic with a threshold characteristic, and to selectively activate the warning device based on the time or the comparison.
US09990551B2	Driver assistance system and method for a motor vehicle A driver assistance system (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an imaging means (11) for acquiring images from a surrounding of the motor vehicle, and a processing means (14) adapted to perform image processing of images (30) recorded by the imaging means (11) and to detect an oncoming vehicle (33) by identifying its head lights (34) as a result of the image processing. The processing means (14) is adapted to detect, in the recorded images (30), a light aura (37) originating from at least one light source (34) hidden to the imaging means (11), and to use the light aura detection in the oncoming vehicle detection.
US09990543B2	Vehicle exterior moving object detection system The vehicle exterior moving object detection system includes a surrounding-area image input section for capturing images in areas surrounding its own vehicle and delivering the captured images as surrounding-area images, a combined image constructing section for constructing a combined image including a result output from the detection of a moving object by combining the surrounding-area images, and an output section for presenting the combined image to the user. The vehicle exterior moving object detection system includes a movable-component region setting section for setting shapes and layout of movable components of the own vehicle in the surrounding-area images and calculating regions for the movable components of the vehicle, and a moving object detecting section for being supplied with the movable-component regions calculated by the movable-component region setting section and the surrounding-area images from the surrounding-area image input section, performing a process of detecting a moving object, and outputting a detection result.
US09990539B2	Method and device for recognizing image An image recognition method and device are disclosed. The disclosed device may include: a reference image storage unit configured to convert reference images into 1-dimensional vectors and store the converted 1-dimensional vectors; an image acquisition unit configured to obtain an input image; an image converter unit configured to convert the input image into a 1-dimensional vector, apply dimension reduction, and calculate coefficients for expressing the input image as a linear sum of vectors forming a reference image for each of the reference images; and a determiner unit configured to determine a reference image corresponding to the input image by performing a subtraction computation of subtracting a value obtained by applying the coefficients calculated for each reference image to a relevant reference image from the converted input image. The invention makes it possible to perform image recognition at a fast speed and lower the likelihood of the users' privacy being invaded.
US09990535B2	Pallet detection using units of physical length An image of a physical environment is acquired that comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a two-dimensional pixel location in the image plane and a depth value corresponding to a distance between a region of the physical environment and the image plane. For each pixel, the two dimensional pixel location and the depth value is converted into a corresponding three-dimensional point in the physical environment defined by three coordinate components, each of which has a value in physical units of measurement. A set of edge points is determined within the plurality of three-dimensional points based, at least in part, on the z coordinate component of the plurality of points and a distance map is generated comprising a matrix of cells. For each cell of the distance map, a distance value is assigned representing a distance between the cell and the closest edge point to that cell.
US09990534B2	Image processing device and image processing method There is provided an image processing device. A feature point acquiring unit acquires a plurality of feature points of objects of each frame image. A grouping unit performs a grouping process of dividing the feature points into groups corresponding to the individual objects. A masking unit performs a masking process of excluding feature points included in some areas of the frame image. A highlighting-image generating unit generates highlighting images for highlighting objects of the frame image corresponding to the feature point groups. A superimposed-image generating unit superimposes the highlighting images on the frame image, thereby generating a superimposed image.
US09990533B2	Self-capacitive fingerprint sensor with active amplified pixels In one aspect, a fingerprint sensor device includes a substrate and a sensor chip disposed over the substrate. The sensor chip includes an array of sensor pixels configured to generate fingerprint data by sensing ridges and valleys of a surface of a finger contacting the fingerprint sensor device. Each sensor pixel includes a single sensor electrode an amplifier having an inverting terminal electrically connected to the sensor electrode and a non-inverting terminal electrically connected to a drive signal. The drive signal generates electric fields between the sensor electrode and at least one of the ridges and valleys of the surface of the finger contacting the fingerprint sensor device to generate a variable capacitor having a variable capacitance based at least partly on a distance between the sensor electrode and the at least one of the ridges and valleys of the finger.
US09990528B2	Methods and systems for capturing biometric data A method of capturing biometric data is provided that includes activating a security application in a device. The security application is activated by an operator of the device and is configured to cause the device to display an outline image. Moreover, the method includes displaying the outline image in a stationary position on a display of the device, positioning desired biometric data proximate the device such that the desired biometric data appears as a biometric image on the device display, and monitoring the outline and biometric images shown on the device display. Furthermore, the method includes positioning the device and the desired biometric data to better align the outline and biometric images when the outline and biometric images do not align and capturing the desired biometric data from an individual after approximately aligning the outline image with the biometric image.
US09990522B2	Optical code reader An imager module for an optical code reader may include a camera comprising a lens system, and an actuator for moving the lens system operatively connected to the lens system for autofocus adjustment. The actuator for moving the lens system comprises a linear electric motor with a drive shaft, a position sensor device adapted to detect the position of the drive shaft within a predefined stroke length and a control device adapted to control the movement of the drive shaft. The control device and the position sensor device are integrated in a single PCB, the electric motor comprises a frame that supports the drive shaft, and the single PCB constitutes part of said frame. On optical code reader may include such an imager module.
US09990519B2	RFID reader-based apparatus and method A control circuit receives location information from a handheld RFID-tag reader that pertains to a scan of a location marker that correlates to a particular modular within a retail shopping facility. The control circuit also receives from that reader RFID-tag information gleaned from read RFID tags that are proximal to that location marker. The control circuit uses the location information to select specification information for a particular modular of interest and also compares the RFID-tag information with specification information for modulars other than the particular modular of interest to thereby remove some of the RFID-tag information and thereby provide filtered RFID-tag information. The control circuit then compares that filtered RFID-tag information with the specification information for the particular modular of interest to assess modular compliance.
US09990515B2	Method of re-identification risk measurement and suppression on a longitudinal dataset In longitudinal datasets, it is usually unrealistic that an adversary would know the value of every quasi-identifier. De-identifying a dataset under this assumption results in high levels of generalization and suppression as every patient is unique. Adversary power gives an upper bound on the number of values an adversary knows about a patient. Considering all subsets of quasi-identifiers with the size of the adversary power is computationally infeasible. A method is provided to assess re-identification risk by determining a representative risk which can be used as a proxy for the overall risk measurement and enable suppression of identifiable quasi-identifiers.
US09990511B1	Using encrypted backup to protect files from encryption attacks The present disclosure relates to protecting files from attacks by malicious encryption programs. According to one embodiment, an endpoint system detects access to a file by an application and creates a copy of the file in temporary storage. The endpoint system determines whether the application has encrypted the file, and upon determining that the application has encrypted the file, the endpoint system creates an encrypted backup copy of the file using the copy in temporary storage and a trusted key and stores the encrypted backup copy in a secure storage location.
US09990507B2	Adapting decoy data present in a network Disclosed are various embodiments for obtaining policy data specifying decoy data eligible to be inserted within a response to an access of a data store. The decoy data is detected in the response among a plurality of non-decoy data based at least upon the policy data. An action associated with the decoy data is initiated in response to the access of the data store meeting a configurable threshold.
US09990501B2	Diagnosing and tracking product vulnerabilities for telecommunication devices via a database Systems and methods for tracking telecom computing device vulnerabilities. The system includes a database storing a plurality of entries that describe security vulnerabilities, and a controller that receives input from a user selecting a class of telecommunication devices, e.g. a product line, and searches the database to identify pertinent entries describing a relevant security vulnerability for the class. The controller also identifies an authoritative entry that describes the relevant security vulnerability, validates pertinent entries within the database that conform with the authoritative entry, generates a report indicating a severity of the security vulnerability within the class based on valid entries within the database, and assesses a severity of the relevant security vulnerability for the class based on the conforming entries.
US09990494B2	Techniques for enabling co-existence of multiple security measures Various embodiments are directed enabling anti-malware software to co-exist with protective features of an operating system. An apparatus may include a processor component including an IDT register storing an indication of size of an IDT; a monitoring component to retrieve the indication and compare the indication to a size of a guard IDT in response to modification of the IDT register to determine whether the guard routine is to inspect the IDT and a set of ISRs; and a cache component to overwrite the IDT and set of ISRs with a cached IDT and cached set of ISRs, respectively, based on the determination and prior to the inspection to prevent the guard routine from detecting a modification by an anti-malware routine, the cached IDT and cached set of ISRs generated from the IDT and set of ISRs, respectively, prior to the modification. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09990489B2	System and method for peer to peer mobile contextual authentication The system and method of the present disclosure is a contextual authentication system, comprising: an authentication server, which comprises a memory; and an authentication application, wherein said authentication application may be configured to be run on at least a primary personal computing device and one or more secondary personal computing devices. The devices are networked with each other and each other and the authentication server. The primary device may have a resource that may be shared with the secondary devices if the users of the secondary devices are able to properly provide a contextual authentication, as required by the primary device. If the secondary users cannot properly authenticate, then they are denied access. The server may make the determination.
US09990487B1	Systems and methods for distinguishing among human users and software robots A technique for distinguishing between a human user and a software robot. The technique includes: receiving a first communication from a device different from the at least one computer; identifying, from the first communication, a request to access a web resource; generating an image that encodes a challenge text, the image comprising data stored in a plurality of channels including a transparency channel, the generating comprising: generating decoding information representing the challenge text; and storing the decoding information in the transparency channel of the image; transmitting, via the at least one network, the generated image to the device; receiving a second communication from the device; identifying, from the second communication, a response text; and providing the device with access to the web resource based on a comparison between the challenge text and the response text.
US09990486B2	IC card, IC module, and IC card system Provided are an IC card, an IC module and an IC card system that can improve the security. An IC card of embodiments has a generation unit and an authentication unit. The generation unit generates a second password that is a password for authenticating a card user based on a first password stored in a storage unit in advance, a predetermined parameter and a predetermined algorithm. The authentication unit compares a third password acquired from an external apparatus and provide second password, and determines the validity of the card user based on the comparison result.
US09990482B2	Temporal security for controlled access systems An apparatus for authenticating a user to gain access or entry. A correct final time interval count is associated with execution of a secure system act; it is revealed to or known by the user prior to ending the secure system act. A counter determines a final time interval count representing a number of time intervals from the beginning to the end of the secure system act. A validation unit validates the user as a valid user if the secure system act matches a correct secure system act and the final time interval count matches a correct final time interval count. If both determinations are affirmative the validation unit produces an authentication signal. In turn a control unit generates a control signal that permits access or entry to the user.
US09990478B2	Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to encode auxiliary data into relational database keys and methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to obtain encoded data from relational database keys Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to encode auxiliary data into relational database keys and methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to obtain encoded data from relational database keys are disclosed. An example method to encode auxiliary data into relational data includes generating a code comprising a plurality of groups and representative of auxiliary data, determining incremental values for the plurality of groups, generating a first key based on the code, and generating a subsequent key by modifying the first key based on the value of the first key and the incremental values.
US09990472B2	System and method for segmentation and automated measurement of chronic wound images Disclosed are systems and methods for automated monitoring of the size, area or boundary of chronic wound images. The disclosure includes use of a probability map that measures the likelihood of wound pixels belonging to granulation, slough or eschar, which can then be segmented using any standard segmentation techniques. Measurement of the wound size, area or boundary occurs automatically and without user input related to outlining, filling in, or making measurement lines over the image on a display.
US09990471B2	Systems and methods for facilitating integrated behavioral support The present invention includes various embodiments of a BSA system that facilitates the collection of relevant health-related data on a continuous basis, integrates such data with pertinent personal and aggregate information, enables users to purchase (directly and indirectly) health-related goods and services, and provides credit, discounts and other economic benefits in connection with such purchases that are determined dynamically based upon the nature and extent of users' interaction with the system. The BSA system facilitates a dynamic feedback process by continually monitoring user interaction and medical and financial behavior, which results in dynamic adjustments to their credit levels and offers of discounts and other promotions, which in turn incentivizes users to continue participating in the process (thereby modifying their system interactions and behavior, and thus perpetuating this feedback loop). As a result, users are incentivized to actively participate in the process and thereby enhance their wellness while reducing healthcare costs.
US09990470B2	Cardiac mapping system and method for voltage-based evaluation of electrograms Systems and methods for evaluating electrograms are described. An example method of evaluating an electrogram such as an atrial and/or ventricular electrogram containing a plurality of data samples each having a voltage includes selecting an activity interval for the electrogram, calculating an energy level for each window of a plurality of windows of the electrogram based on the voltages of the data samples in each window, assigning the calculated energy levels to a plurality of bins, and calculating an index based at least in part on a number of energy levels assigned to a particular bin of the plurality of bins.
US09990468B2	Medical instrument with remaining visits indicator A medical instrument includes a remaining visits indicator. The remaining visits indicator visually identifies a number of patient visits that can be completed before recharging the medical instrument.
US09990467B2	Electronic system with health monitoring mechanism and method of operation thereof An electronic system includes a control unit configured to generate a firmware register and store a system health information to the firmware register; and a communication unit, coupled to the control unit, configured to retrieve at least a portion of the system health information and communicate the portion of the system health information in response to a singular read request independent of an operational status of a host device.
US09990466B2	Automated system for medical item dispensing, billing, and inventory management An inventory management system provided by an inventory management service provider senses removal of medical items from inventory to be dispensed to a patient. The system processes billing information to identify the patient's medical insurance provider, to identify a medical item supplier that is the preferred biller for the patient's medical insurance provider, and to determine whether the inventory management service provider is the identified preferred biller. If the inventory management service provider is the preferred biller, the system generates an invoice from the inventory management service provider to bill the patient's medical insurance provider. If the inventory management service provider is not the preferred biller, the system sends the billing information to the medical item supplier identified as the preferred biller, and generates a billing-only invoice directed to the medical item supplier identified as the preferred biller, which invoice is remit to the inventory management service provider.
US09990464B1	Label-free biomolecular interaction analysis using a rapid analyte dispersion injection method Dispersion injection methods for determining biomolecular interaction parameters in label-free biosensing systems are provided. The methods generally relate to the use of a single analyte injection that generates a smoothly-varying concentration gradient via dispersion en route to a sensing region possessing an immobilized binding partner. The present method incorporates the use of an internal standard which provides a reference as to the dispersion conditions present which can then be used to calculate an effective diffusion coefficient for the analyte of interest based on a universal calibration function. The effective diffusion coefficient can then be incorporated into the appropriate dispersion model to provide a calibrated dispersion model. The calibrated dispersion model can then be incorporated into the desired interaction model to provide a reliable representation of the analyte concentration at the sensing region at any time during the injection. The use of the internal standard and universal calibration function permit use of a wide range of injection conditions which may not otherwise be consistent with a particular dispersion model. Thus, the present methods allow for higher flow rates and lower sample volumes thereby increasing assay speed and decreasing sample consumption.
US09990462B2	Computational wafer inspection Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented defect prediction method for a device manufacturing process involving processing a portion of a design layout onto a substrate, the method comprising: identifying a hot spot from the portion of the design layout; determining a range of values of a processing parameter of the device manufacturing process for the hot spot, wherein when the processing parameter has a value outside the range, a defect is produced from the hot spot with the device manufacturing process; determining an actual value of the processing parameter; determining or predicting, using the actual value, existence, probability of existence, a characteristic, or a combination thereof, of a defect produced from the hot spot with the device manufacturing process.
US09990457B2	Switching circuit including wire traces to reduce the magnitude of voltage and current oscillations A device includes an electrical circuit having one or more parallel layers and one or more electronic components of a switching circuit configured to operate at one or more frequencies mounted to several layers of the electrical circuit. Wire traces electrically connecting the one or more electronic components have cutouts with predetermined patterns and dimensions formed along edges where AC current flow is concentrated to increase an effective edge length of the wire traces to reduce oscillation and heat loss of the traces.
US09990453B2	Clock-domain-crossing specific design mutations to model silicon behavior and measure verification robustness Methods and apparatuses related to clock-domain-crossing (CDC) specific design mutations to model silicon behavior and measure verification robustness are described. CDC signal paths can be identified in a circuit design. Next, synchronization circuitry associated with the CDC signal paths can be identified. Design mutations can be added to the identified synchronization circuitry. The design mutations can then be used during functional verification to measure verification robustness of a circuit verification test suite.
US09990451B2	Process window optimizer Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented defect prediction method for a device manufacturing process involving processing a pattern onto a substrate, the method comprising: identifying a processing window limiting pattern (PWLP) from the pattern; determining a processing parameter under which the PWLP is processed; and determining or predicting, using the processing parameter, existence, probability of existence, a characteristic, or a combination thereof, of a defect produced from the PWLP with the device manufacturing process.
US09990448B2	Data center floor plan mapping using location-aware device A method includes performing operations as follows on a processor: receiving a geographic reference signal, generating location information responsive to the geographic reference signal, defining a portion of a floor surface area of a data center based on the location information, specifying a usage status of the portion of the floor surface area of the data center, and updating a floor plan of the data center based on the usage status of the portion of the floor surface area.
US09990446B2	Predictive shimming for flexible surfaces A method and apparatus for forming a number of filler members. The apparatus comprises a surface model generator and an analyzer. The surface model generator generates a first surface model of a surface and a second surface model of a flexible surface. The surface and the flexible surface are to be mated to form a mated surface and a mated flexible surface. The analyzer performs a structural analysis using the first surface model and the second surface model to identify a predicted final shape of the mated flexible surface. The predicted final shape of the mated flexible surface is used to form the number of filler members to fill a number of spaces between the mated surface and the mated flexible surface.
US09990445B2	Decoupled parallel meshing in computer aided design In a meshing method for use in a computer-aided design (CAD) or computer-aided engineering (CAE) system, in which one or more serial meshing units are used to carry out a decoupled parallel meshing process in respect of all parts of a CAD assembly model, input parameters for the meshing process automatically, for each part to be processed, are set using live runtime information about the meshing process for the part concerned, such as information about the outcome of previous attempts to carry out the meshing process of the part.
US09990443B2	Message passing in a distributed graph database A system executes a query associated with an application against a graph database by providing, to a first shard of the graph database, the query and a first query header that specifies the first shard. The query includes a subject, a predicate and an object, and the graph database stores a graph that includes nodes, edges between the nodes, and predicates to represent and store data. In response to the query, the system receives results and associated result headers from the first shard and a second shard, where the result headers specify that the results are partial results that are particular fractions of a total result. Furthermore, a combination of the partial results provides the total result to the query that includes a subset of the graph. Note that the subset of the graph may include desired information expressed within an associated structure of the graph.
US09990431B2	Rich web page generation A system and method for generating a rich web page based at least in part on target data for third party content file. The system includes a targeting module and a graphic user interface module (“GUI module”). The targeting module determines the third party content file for the user generated content file based at least in part on social data describing a user activity. The targeting module retrieves the target data for the third party content file. The GUI module is communicatively coupled to the targeting module for receiving the retrieved target data from the targeting module. The GUI module generates a rich web page for the third party content file based at least in part on the retrieved target data.
US09990428B2	Computerized identification of app search functionality for search engine access A search system includes a device controller that provisions a device to execute a copy of a selected mobile application. A crawler extracts content and metadata from states of the selected mobile application. A search input state classifier identifies search input states within the states based on a first set of heuristics, including recognition of user-visible search indicia and recognition of metadata that correlates with search functionality. A parameter identifier identifies, for each of the search input states, necessary input parameters. A search function data store stores a record for each identified search function. Each record includes a path to reach a corresponding search input state, an indication of required input parameters, and a mapping of the input parameters to user interface widgets. A query processing system uses the stored search functions to scrape content from the selected mobile application in response to a query.
US09990425B1	Presenting secondary music search result links Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for presenting secondary music search result links. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search query. A plurality of search results that satisfy the search query are obtained. A presentation of the plurality of search results is generated, wherein a particular search result includes one or more secondary music search result links to respective music resources identified by markup language music data in a set of identified music web pages. The presentation of search results is provided in response to the search query.
US09990421B2	Phrase-based searching in an information retrieval system An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are identified that predict the presence of other phrases in documents. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases. Related phrases and phrase extensions are also identified. Phrases in a query are identified and used to retrieve and rank documents. Phrases are also used to cluster documents in the search results, create document descriptions, and eliminate duplicate documents from the search results, and from the index.
US09990417B2	Boolean-query composer Provided is a process of refining Boolean queries, the process including: obtaining a query; searching a corpus of documents based on the query; selecting narrowing terms that pertain to respective subsets of the responsive documents; selecting broadening terms related to the query; instructing the user's computing device to present a graphical user interface comprising: graphical representations of the narrowing terms; graphical representations of the broadening terms; and one or more user inputs by which the user refines the query by adding a selected narrowing term or a selected broadening term; obtaining a user selection of a broadening term or a narrowing term; forming a refined query based on the user selection; searching at least part of the corpus based on the refined query to identify refined responsive documents; and instructing the user's computing device to present an updated graphical user interface with information about the refined responsive documents.
US09990416B2	Analysis groups for semantic layer A system may include a database of physical data tables including stored data, and an abstraction layer associated with the stored data. The abstraction layer may include a measure object associated with a measure, a plurality of dimension objects associated with respective dimensions, a first analysis group object linked to the measure object, to a first one or more of the plurality of dimension objects, and to a first portion of the stored data associating the measure with respective dimensions of the first one or more of the plurality of dimension objects, and a second analysis group object linked to the measure object, to a second one or more of the plurality of dimension objects, and to a second portion of the stored data associating the measure with respective dimensions of the first one or more of the plurality of dimension objects and of the second one or more of the plurality of dimension objects.
US09990412B2	Data driven parallel sorting system and method A data driven parallel sorting method includes distributing input data records to n partitions one by one in a circular manner. Each partition corresponds to a parallel sorting process with an allocated memory chunk sized to store m data records. The method also includes sorting, in parallel, current data records in respective memory chunks in respective partitions. The method also includes in response to distribution of data records of └m/n┘ rounds, circularly controlling one of the n partitions, and writing data records that have been sorted in the memory chunk of the partition into a mass storage as an ordered data chunk, and emptying the memory chunk. The method also includes in response to all data records being distributed, writing data chunks that have been sorted in respective memory chunks into the mass storage, and performing a merge sort on all ordered data chunks in the mass storage.
US09990409B2	Interactive format manipulation and replication Selectively applying format attributes of a source to the content of a destination. The format attributes defining the format of one or more source objects are captured, and from among the captured attributes, format attributes are selected. A destination object is formatted such that selected format attributes are copied to the content of the destination, and the copied format attributes are applied to the destination object as a destination format.
US09990405B2	Comparison of anonymized data In an approach for comparing items of anonymized data, a processor receives a plurality of items of data, each item comprising an anonymized ordered list of words, wherein each word is anonymized in one or more forms and is associated with a respective item of data. A processor compares a first set and a second set of the plurality of items of data by: comparing each of the one or more forms of each word in the first set with the corresponding form of each corresponding word in the second set, scoring each comparison of each word based on a degree of matching between each of the one or more forms of each word in the first set with the corresponding form of each corresponding word in the second set, and computing a total score for the comparison of the first item and the second item based on the scoring.
US09990404B2	System and method for identifying trending topics in a social network A system and method optionally includes an electronic data storage configured to store content items introduced to a social network by a first user and to store interactions with the content items by second user of the social network. The system further includes a processor, coupled to the electronic data storage, configured to determine an influence of the first user based, at least in part, on the interaction by the second user with at least one of the content items as introduced by the first user and a characteristic of the second user and cause an indication of the influence of the first user to be displayed on a user interface.
US09990402B2	Managing continuous queries in the presence of subqueries Techniques for managing continuous queries that include subqueries are provided. In some examples, a continuous query that includes at least a subquery may be identified. Additionally, the subquery may be processed to obtain a first result or generate a logical subquery plan. Further, in some instances, the continuous query may then be processed based at least in part on the first result from the subquery or by merging a logical continuous query plan with the logical subquery plan. This may result in obtaining a second result via querying a data source with the continuous query that is based at least in part on the first result from the subquery and/or the merged plans.
US09990401B2	Processing events for continuous queries on archived relations Techniques for counting event changes with archived relations are provided. In some examples, a query that identifies at least a data object may be identified. Additionally, the query may be evaluated against historical data associated with the data object. Additionally, in some instances, a listening service may be registered with the data object. Further, the query may be evaluated based at least in part on the data object and the historical data.
US09990396B2	Forecasting query access plan obsolescence A query is received. Based on statistics for a database, a first query access plan is generated for executing the query on the database. A first result set for the query is obtained by implementing the first query access plan on the database. Based on at least one trend in the statistics, a target time after which implementing the first query access plan will fail a set of criteria is forecasted. In response to the forecasting and based on the statistics, a replacement query access plan is generated prior to the target time. After the target time, a second result set for the query is obtained by implementing the replacement query access plan rather than the first query access plan.
US09990392B2	Distributed transaction processing in MPP databases Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for distributed transaction processing in massively parallel processing (MPP) databases. An embodiment operates by receiving a transaction including a read timestamp corresponding to a version of data of a database associated with the query. It is determined whether a locally stored portion of the data of the database has a local timestamp that is equivalent to or after the read timestamp. A lock may be requested, and if received, the data is updated.
US09990389B1	Systems and methods for generating event stream data A method includes receiving, at a processor, event stream data, the event stream data including a plurality of events associated with changes to an instance of a subject. The method further includes receiving, at the processor of the computing device, input indicating correction data. The method further includes outputting, from the processor of the computing device, modified event stream data to a storage device. The modified event stream data is generated based on the correction data by modifying an event of the event stream data, adding a first event to the event stream data, deleting a second event from the event stream data, or a combination thereof.
US09990388B2	Flexibly performing allocations in databases Allocation within a database environment is performed by processing a sequence of steps, each of which is described by an allocation processing block. The allocation processing block receives three inputs (input tables or input view) and computes a result. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US09990387B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method and non-transitory computer readable medium There is provided an information processing apparatus. For each of pieces of data each of which belongs to any of data groups constituting a tree structure, a meta-information storage unit stores an identification data string of pieces of identification data of data groups included in a path to a data group to which the piece of data belongs, as a piece of meta-information of the piece of data. A display unit displays an image representing a tree structure composed of virtual data groups corresponding to the data groups, in accordance with pieces of meta-information of the pieces of data. An update unit updates, in a case where at least one of the pieces of identification data has been specified by a user, a piece of meta-information including the specified piece of identification data among the pieces of meta-information.
US09990383B2	Constructing a data adaptor in an enterprise server data ingestion environment The present disclosure involves a method of ingesting data in an enterprise server environment. A configuration file is accessed. The configuration file specifies a blueprint for constructing a data adaptor that includes a data adaptor source, a data adaptor sink, and a data adaptor channel coupled between the data adaptor source and the data adaptor sink. The data adaptor is constructed based on the configuration file. Via the data adaptor, data is retrieved from a first entity. Also via the data adaptor, the retrieved data is written to a second entity different from the first entity. The accessing, the constructing, the retrieving, and the writing are performed by one or more electronic processors.
US09990382B1	Secure erasure and repair of non-mechanical storage media Repair and secure erasure of non-mechanical storage devices may be performed. In at least some embodiments, a non-mechanical storage device may be detected and device information may be obtained for the non-mechanical storage device. Based, at least in part, on the device information, it may be determined whether the non-mechanical storage device is eligible for secure erasure. For an eligible device, a secure erase procedure may be initiated and success or failure of the secure erasure procedure may be reported. In at least some embodiments, firmware bugs may be detected and repaired when performing the secure erasure procedure.
US09990380B2	Proximity search and navigation for functional information systems The invention includes an algorithmic method for dynamically computing complex relationships among objects of an underlying functional system. The invention includes a method to algorithmically determine a set of functional locations in n-dimensional functional space of a set of elements of a functional system by electronically representing a set of data entities in a database system, the database system comprising a logical data model for structuring data sets from which functional information can be derived, using the logical data model to associate a set of characteristics with a reference point in the functional information system, selecting a functional positioning algorithm, and wherein the functional positioning algorithm executes a set of steps that takes as input a set of characteristics and returns as output a set of locations in n-dimensional functional space.
US09990377B1	Content based systems and methods for conducting spectrum color based image search A method for dynamically displaying results of simultaneous two dimensional image search comprises: maintaining a first database comprising a set of records, each record comprising an image and an associated set of annotations describing the image, receiving an annotation criterion and a color scheme from a user, generating a target color scoring template from the color scheme, conducting a content based search by searching the first database to identify a set of pertinent images satisfying the annotation criterion, and performing the following operations for each image in the set of pertinent images: resizing a given image to a predefined size before generating an image color spectrum histogram for the given image, adding the given image to a pool of acceptable images if the generated image color spectrum histogram matches with the target color scoring template; and dynamically displaying images in the pool of acceptable images to the user.
US09990374B2	Spatial analytics extensions Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for spatial analytics. The method may include generating a query including spatial context information, the query structured to include a predicate for the query and the spatial context information, the spatial context information including at least one of feature information or geometric information; and sending the query to a spatial query processor including a database in order to generate a query response in accordance with the predicate and spatial context information. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.
US09990370B1	System and method for local file management and editing utilizing remote applications A method for editing a non-native file on a mobile device using a remote application, including establishing a connection between a local-side component and a remote-side component on a remote computer; wherein the local-side component identifies an editor on the remote computer based on parameters of the file; on the remote computer, activating an editor for a file located on the mobile device; upon selection of the editor, using the local-side component to transmit the file to the remote-side component; storing the file in a storage on the remote computer; opening the file using the editor and giving the editor control over the file using a protocol for remote connection; editing the file on the mobile device as if the editor on the remote computer were native; saving the file on the remote storage and transmitting the file to the mobile device; and replacing the file on the mobile device with the transmitted file.
US09990367B2	Distributed data set encryption and decryption An apparatus including a processor caused to: receive sizes and data block encryption data for multiple encrypted data blocks from multiple node devices, wherein data block encryption data is separately generated and used by each node device to encrypt a portion of a data set to generate one of the multiple encrypted data blocks; for each encrypted data block, generate a corresponding map entry within map data to include size and data block encryption data; and in response to receiving size and data block encryption data for all encrypted data blocks, encrypt a portion of the map data to generate an encrypted map base, wherein the portion of map data includes at least a subset of the multiple map entries, and transmit the encrypted map base to one or more storage devices to be stored within a data file along with the multiple encrypted data blocks.
US09990360B2	Method and apparatus for motion description A method, apparatus, and computer program product for describing motion. The method may include receiving a set of eventualities (114). The set of eventualities (114) may describe at least one of a domain event and a domain state. The at least one of the domain event and the domain state may be derived from a set of spatio-temporal data (102) and the set of eventualities (114) may be associated with a particular region and a particular time period. The method may include organizing the set of eventualities to generate a document plan. The method may further include generating, using a processor, a linguistic representation of the set of eventualities using the document plan.
US09990359B2	Computer-based analysis of virtual discussions for products and services A method for analyzing a virtual discussion. The method may include identifying, with a processing device, a first concept relevant to a first subdiscussion associated with an online discussion. The method may also include identifying a second concept relevant to the first subdiscussion, and determining a relation between the first concept and the second concept.
US09990355B2	Checking documents for spelling and/or grammatical errors and/or providing recommended words or phrases based on patterns of colloquialisms used among users in a social network A method, system and computer program product for checking documents using colloquialisms. Colloquialisms used in messages by users in a social network are tracked. The relationships (e.g., co-worker) between the senders and recipients of these messages are identified. A social graph is then generated to depict the relations between the users in the social network based on these identified relationships. Furthermore, usage patterns of colloquialisms (e.g., a particular colloquialism is used only with close friends as opposed to co-workers) are formulated. A rule set is generated using the social graph and formulated usage patterns. By using the rule set to check documents, documents may be more accurately checked for spelling and/or grammatical errors by taking into consideration the appropriate usage of colloquialisms based on the context (e.g., communicating with a friend). Furthermore, alternative words or phrases may be appropriately recommended based on the context using such a rule set.
US09990354B2	Information displaying apparatus, method of displaying information, information displaying system, and server apparatus and terminal device An information displaying apparatus having a touch-panel display unit is provided. An information obtaining unit obtains explanation information of a direction word specified by user, and displays the obtained explanation information of the direction word on the touch-panel displaying unit. When the user touches on the touch-panel display unit, a multi-touch detecting unit detects touch positions on the touch-panel display unit. A shift judging unit judges whether a distance between the detected touch positions has increased or decreased, when the user shifts the touch positions on the touch-panel display unit. A display-information controlling unit displays detailed explanation information of the direction word, when the shift judging unit determines that the distance between the touch positions has increased, and displays simplified explanation information of the direction word, when the shift judging unit determines that the distance between the touch positions has decreased.
US09990352B2	Chunk compression in a deduplication aware client environment Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the transmission of a data stream to a networked storage system. According to various embodiments, a data stream may be parsed to identify one or more uncompressed data chunks for transmission to a networked storage system. Each uncompressed data chunk may be compressed to produce a respective compressed data chunk. Each compressed data chunk may be transmitted to the networked storage system via a network for storage at the networked storage system.
US09990349B2	Streaming data associated with cells in spreadsheets Systems for associating streaming data 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 stream attributes, image attributes and audio attributes) may be viewed and/or manipulated by a user, providing stream processing functionality within a spreadsheet. Controls may be provided for playing the streaming data and/or playing the streaming data in response to spreadsheet data satisfying a condition. Spreadsheet operations (e.g., sort and/or filter operations) may also be performed on a range of cells based on parameters of associated streaming data.
US09990345B1	Converting RNG files to extensible and nonextensible XML schemas A regular language for XML, next generation (RNG) file referencing an RNG schema file is obtained. Subsequently, the referenced RNG schema file is stored in a file directory structure matching a reference definition of the schema in the RNG file. Based on the RNG file, a first nonextensible schema and a first extensible schema are generated each corresponding to the referenced RNG schema file. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US09990343B2	System and method for in-browser editing The present invention relates to an in-browser editor. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of editing content in a browser without having to rely on the particular in-browser editing technology, such as “contentEditable” and “innerHTML.” The system includes a parser that converts an input string representing content edits in the browser into a data structure known as an Intermediary DOM (document object model). The Intermediary DOM provides a completely accurate representation of editor content in real time and operates in tandem with the Browser DOM to render the edited content in the Intermediary DOM back into displayable content.
US09990341B2	Predictive approach to URL determination Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for suggesting uniform resource locators located at previously unknown hosts to users. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to record uniform resource locators (URLs) associated with web resources accessed by a user and usage details pertaining to the user's usage of the web resources. Responsive to receiving a request to access a hostname not stored in the recorded URLs, embodiments of the present invention can be used to receive URLs associated with web resources available at the hostname and assign weight values to the received URLs based, at least in part, on the usage details and a similarity between the received URLs and the recorded URLs. Embodiments of the present invention can then be used to generate a URL suggestion from the received URLs based, at least in part, on the assigned weight values.
US09990339B1	Systems and methods for detecting character encodings of text streams A computer-implemented method for detecting character encodings of text streams may include 1) identifying a request to identify a character encoding of a text stream, 2) dividing the text stream to identify a plurality of n-grams within the text stream, 3) identifying a plurality of vectors within a vector space, each vector representing a potential character encoding by a plurality of expected n-grams within the potential character encoding, 4) generating, based on the plurality of n-grams within the text stream and on an inverse frequency of appearance of each of the plurality of n-grams within the plurality of vectors, a representative vector describing the text stream, and 5) identifying the character encoding of the text stream based on identifying a similarity between the representative vector and a neighboring vector within the plurality of vectors representing the character encoding. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09990336B2	Contour based flow layout Various embodiments introduce the notion of a flow contour that is utilized to conduct layout processing. Flow contours are utilized to organize layout space in the presence of floating objects or geometries. In at least some embodiments, objects can float to the left and/or right in the layout space. Flow contours are abstractions that then represent collections of left-floating and/or right-floating objects.
US09990335B2	Universal and automated monte carlo method code for uncertainty propagation in metrology databases A method of providing transformed target points for integrating a component into an assembly includes collecting a set of component target points, collecting a set of assembly target points, identifying target points common to the set of component target points and the set of assembly target points; performing a specified number of Monte Carlo transformations of selected ones of the common target points to yield a set of transformed target points and vectors and an associated uncertainty value for each transformed target point and vector, and using certain ones of the transformed target points for integrating the component into the assembly based on the associated uncertainty value for each of the transformed target points.
US09990334B2	Computer system that executes hierarchical MK splines scheme for scattered data interpolation A computer system executes hierarchical MK splines for scattered data approximation. The computer system constructs an image by generating a final approximation function that approximates a scattered data set with a hierarchy of control lattice from coarsest to densest. The method includes executing MK splines approximation to the scattered data set with the hierarchy of control lattice to iteratively obtain approximation functions. The image is constructed by generating the final approximation function to construct an interpolated surface.
US09990332B2	Vehicle motion control device A vehicle motion control device includes curve shape acquisition means for acquiring a shape of a curve present in front of a currently traveling vehicle, vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring a position of the vehicle, and vehicle motion control arithmetic means for computing, on the basis of the shape of the curve and the position of the vehicle, a command value relating to longitudinal acceleration to be caused to the vehicle. During a time interval from before the vehicle reaches a near end of the curve, until the vehicle has approached the curve and traveled to a site having a constant or maximum curvature of the curve, the vehicle motion control arithmetic means computes a plurality of different negative longitudinal acceleration command values. Thus, even when there is no lateral motion, the vehicle motion control device accelerates/decelerates the vehicle while improving a driver's feeling of slowdown.
US09990330B2	Simultaneous edge toggling immunity circuit for multi-mode bus A device is provided comprising a shared bus including a first and a second line, a first subset of devices and a second subset of devices coupled to the shared bus. The first subset of devices may be configured to operate according to a first protocol mode. The second subset of devices may be configured to operate according to a second protocol mode, wherein the second protocol mode is distinct from the first protocol mode. A first device within the first subset of devices may include a receiver circuit adapted to adjust a signal transition occurring on the first line while the second line is in a first logical state so that the signal transition instead occurs when the second line is in a second logical state. The signal transition is adjusted only if it occurs within a threshold amount of time from a second transition on the second line.

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