| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10015445B1 |
Room conferencing system with heat map annotation of documents
A method includes capturing a first image at a first time using a camera; processing the first image to identify a representation of an object in the first image; storing the first image as an event forming a navigable marker in a conference room tracking system; measuring one or more of a room sound and a room activity level at a time associated with capture of the first image; generating a heat marker representing a level of the room sound or the room activity level; and storing the heat marker in association with the event. |
| US10015444B1 |
Network architecture for immersive audio-visual communications by temporary communication structures
This invention is directed to improving communication among people at remote locations, accomplished at low cost, by communication schemes involving “portal” structures, “channels” and “phonos.” The portal structures are mobile and easily deployed to the remote locations, for quick assembly and use, creating an audio-visual immersive communication experience for its users. A portal network architecture includes a plurality of portals located in different remote locations, configured to provide identical spaces that facilitate audio-video, immersive conferencing among users at the various portal sites. The portal interiors include favorable lighting and camera configurations to facilitate display of life-size, realistic, and planar images of the users while maintaining eye contact between them. The “channels” facilitate viewing of landscape from a distance and “phonos” implementations provide an unmediated aural link between different locations, enabling both real-time conversation and transmission of ambient sounds. |
| US10015431B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method including control whether or not to permit a readout request
An image processing apparatus including: a first acquisition unit configured to acquire write coordinates corresponding to a position of a pixel up to which writing is completed; a second acquisition unit configured to acquire readout coordinates corresponding to a position of a second block where readout is to be performed of a plurality of second blocks included in the image data written in the memory; and a controller configured to control whether or not to permit a readout request from a reading unit based on a positional relationship between the write coordinates acquired by the first acquisition unit and the readout coordinates acquired by the second acquisition unit, wherein the controller performs control so as not to permit the readout request from the reading unit if the positional relationship between the write coordinates and the readout coordinates does not satisfy a predetermined condition. |
| US10015417B2 |
Image pickup device and method enabling control of spectral sensitivity and exposure time
[Object] The present technique relates to an image pickup device, an image pickup method, and a program that enables pixels having 4 types of spectral sensitivities to be controlled while changing exposure times.[Solving Means] The present technique is applicable to an image pickup device including pixels having 4 types of spectral sensitivities, that include pixels having a panchromatic spectral sensitivity and are arranged on an image pickup surface, pixels that realize a first exposure and pixels that realize a second exposure different from the first exposure being arranged on the image pickup surface with respect to the 4 types of spectral sensitivities. Further, a first line in which first pixels having the panchromatic spectral sensitivity are arranged in a two-pixel cycle in a specific direction and a second line in which the first pixels are arranged while deviating by one pixel from the first line in the specific direction are arranged alternately in a direction orthogonal to the specific direction, and pixels having spectral sensitivities different from the spectral sensitivity of the first pixels are arranged in a 2- or 4-pixel cycle in the specific direction for each of the spectral sensitivities and 2-dimensionally constitute a cyclic arrangement of 4×4 pixels in which the first spectral sensitivity pixels are arranged in a checkerboard arrangement. |
| US10015415B2 |
Light field camera
A light field camera includes a lens module generating a middle image, a light field sensor having a lens array and an image sensor device, and a position adjuster adjusting a position of the light field sensor. The light field camera is between an object side and an image side. The lens array between the lens module and the image side generates a light field image according to the middle image. The image sensor device is arranged at the image side and senses the light field image. When the light field sensor is at a first or second position, the light field image includes a first or second light field sub-image. A relation of a focal length fMLA of the lens array and an exit pupil distance PEXP of the lens module satisfies 0.7 ≤ f MLA P EXP ≤ 1.3 . |
| US10015413B1 |
Conversion between aspect ratios in camera
A camera system captures an image in a source aspect ratio and applies a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio. The output image has the same field of view as the input image, maintains image resolution, and limits distortion to levels that do not substantially affect the viewing experience. In one embodiment, the output image is non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image. |
| US10015412B2 |
Video capturing system and method for imaging cyclically moving objects
An image capturing system introduces or controls an aliasing/stroboscopic effect in a cyclically moving object. The system has a camera to capture a series of images to form a video of the cyclically moving object. A sensor detects the cycling frequency of the cyclically moving object and generates a frequency reading with a control module communicably coupled to the sensor. Retro-reflective indicia are provided on the cyclically moving object. A light emitter is aligned with the camera and is operable to emit pulses of light at a controllable emission frequency, such that pulses of light which reach the retro-reflective indicia are reflected backwards towards the camera, wherein the control module is configured to control the emission frequency of the light emitter based on the frequency reading, thereby to influence the temporal aliasing of the retro-reflective indicia provided on the cyclically moving object. |
| US10015411B2 |
Digital device and driver monitoring method thereof
A method of monitoring a driver including obtaining images from the first and second camera unit, checking whether a brightness of the image obtained from the first camera unit is equal to or greater than a reference value or whether the driver is detected from the image obtained from the second camera unit, if the brightness of the image obtained from the first camera unit is not equal to or greater than the reference value or the driver is not detected from the image obtained from the second camera unit, obtaining a first comparative image from the first camera unit by turning off the second illumination unit and a second comparative image from the first camera unit by turning on the second illumination unit, checking whether a difference value between a brightness of the obtained first comparative image and a brightness of the obtained second comparative image is equal to or greater than a reference difference value, and if the difference value between the brightness of the obtained f comparative image and the brightness of the obtained second comparative image is not equal to or greater than the reference difference value, turning off the second illumination unit. |
| US10015410B2 |
Image processing device and method, program, and record medium for generating wide dynamic range images
In the combination of a wide dynamic range by combining a first image and a second image of different light exposure conditions, pixel values at which cumulative frequency proportions (B) become first and second reference values are generated as first and second index values (Sa, Lb) with regard to the first and second images, and first and second light exposure amounts (ES, EL) are controlled under first and second target conditions that the first and second index values (Sa, Lb) have predetermined relations with first and second target values (Sat, Lbt), respectively. It is possible to shorten a time taken until convergence of the light exposure amount in relation to a change of brightness of a subject. |
| US10015406B2 |
Zoom control device, imaging apparatus, control method of zoom control device, and recording medium
A subject detection unit of an imaging apparatus detects a subject image from an image. An automatic zoom control unit designates the subject image detected by the subject detection unit and cancels the designation. The automatic zoom control unit automatically selects a specific composition among a plurality of compositions and sets a reference size of the subject image used to control a zoom magnification based on the elected composition. The automatic zoom control unit controls the zoom magnification based on the reference size and a size of the subject image sequentially detected by the subject detection unit. At least one of composition selection candidates selected by the automatic zoom control unit is different according to whether the subject image is designated by the automatic zoom control unit. |
| US10015403B2 |
Image display apparatus having image-related information displaying function
An image display method displays image data obtained through a photographing operation performed at an image-capturing apparatus having a photographic optical system. The method includes: (i) image-capturing in which image data are generated by photographing a subject within a photographic image plane with the image-capturing apparatus; (ii) information collection in which subject information related to the subject is collected; (iii) correlating in which the subject information is made to correlate to a position within the photographic image plane; (iv) image display in which the image data are displayed at a display screen; (v) position specification in which a position on the display screen at which the image data are displayed is specified; and (vi) information display in which the subject information made to correlate to a position within the photographic image plane corresponding to the position specified in the position specification is displayed. |
| US10015402B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An exemplary portable electronic apparatus includes a display provided at a front surface, and an infrared camera and a distance measuring sensor which are provided at a side surface. When a user holds the portable electronic apparatus with their left hand and makes a gesture with their right hand, the portable electronic apparatus analyzes an image from the infrared camera to detect the gesture made by the user. The portable electronic apparatus displays an image corresponding to a result of detection of the gesture on the display. |
| US10015395B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus, communication method and program
A communication apparatus includes: a specifying unit configured to specify a region in an image; a determination unit configured to determine a mode used for communication of image data from a plurality of modes including a first mode for communicating image data of a region of interest specified by the specifying unit, and a second mode for communicating, in addition to the image data of the region of interest, image data of a region of no interest which has not been specified by the specifying unit; and a communication unit configured to communicate image data with other communication apparatus in accordance with a mode determined by the determination unit. |
| US10015391B2 |
Method and system for adjusting camera settings using corneal reflection
Operating a camera system that includes a forward-facing camera directed at a forward scene and a rearward-facing camera directed at a rearward scene opposite the forward scene includes analyzing a video stream containing a reflection of the forward scene in a cornea of an eye of a user of the camera system, the video stream captured with the rearward-facing camera. The analyzing includes identifying an item in the reflection moving relative to a field of view of the forward-facing camera and predicted to enter the field of view of the forward-facing camera and identifying a characteristic of the item. A camera setting of the forward-facing camera is adjusted according to the characteristic of the identified item, the adjusted camera setting selected to improve capturing a photograph or video containing the item with the forward-facing camera. |
| US10015389B2 |
Image sensor with asymmetric-microlens phase-detection auto-focus (PDAF) detectors, associated PDAF imaging system, and associated method
A PDAF imaging system includes an image sensor and an image data processing unit. The image sensor has an asymmetric-microlens PDAF detector that includes: (a) a plurality of pixels forming a sub-array having at least two rows and two columns, and (b) a microlens located above each of the plurality of pixels and being rotationally asymmetric about an axis perpendicular to the sub-array. The axis intersects a local extremum of a top surface of the microlens. The image data processing unit is capable of receiving electrical signals from each of the plurality of pixels and generating a PDAF signal from the received electrical signals. A method for forming a gull-wing microlens includes forming, on a substrate, a plate having a hole therein. The method also includes reflowing the plate. |
| US10015388B2 |
Image sensor with fast intra-frame focus
A method of focusing an image sensor includes scanning a first portion of an image frame from an image sensor a first time at a first rate to produce first focus data. A second portion of the image frame from the image sensor is scanned at a second rate to read image data from the second portion. The first rate is greater than the second rate. The first portion of the image frame is scanned a second time at the first rate to produce second focus data. The first focus data and the second focus data are compared, and the focus of a lens is adjusted in response to the comparison of the first focus data and the second focus data. |
| US10015386B2 |
Focus control apparatus, image capturing apparatus, interchangeable lens, focus control method, and storage medium storing focus control program
The focus control apparatus performs focus control of the interchangeable lens by using information obtained through detection of a focus state of an interchangeable lens and a correction value corresponding to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens is a first interchangeable lens holding unique correction value calculation data used to calculate the correction value, or a second interchangeable lens not holding the correction value calculation data. The focus control apparatus includes a first memory storing values for calculating the correction value corresponding to the second interchangeable lens. A controller calculates the correction value by using the correction value calculated based on the values read from the first memory when the second interchangeable lens is attached to the image capturing apparatus, and by using the correction value calculation data acquired from the first interchangeable lens when the first interchangeable lens is attached to the image capturing apparatus. |
| US10015384B2 |
Dual voice coil motor structure in a dual-optical module camera
Dual-optical module autofocus (AF) or AF plus optical image stabilization (OIS) cameras with reduced footprint and reduced mutual magnetic interference. Some AF+OIS cameras may include a single AF actuation assembly that moves two lens barrels in unison. Some AF cameras or AF+OIS cameras may have two AF actuation sub-assemblies and associated magnets for independent AF operation of each lens barrel, the magnets shared in a manner that cancels magnetic influences of one AF actuation sub-assembly on the other AF actuation sub-assembly, thereby allowing the two lens barrels to be positioned in close proximity, saving parts and fabrication costs. |
| US10015381B2 |
Imaging system, illumination apparatus, and controlling method
An imaging system includes an illumination apparatus and imaging apparatus, and the illumination apparatus includes a light emitting unit, a movable unit including the light emitting unit, and configured to be rotatably held to a main body unit, a driving unit configured to drive the movable unit, a calculating unit configured to calculate an illumination direction of the light emitting unit, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the imaging apparatus, information about a charged voltage of a capacitor for storing energy to cause the light emitting unit to emit light. The transmitting unit transmits, to the imaging apparatus, information indicating that the charged voltage of the capacitor is less than the predetermined value, when the driving unit is used to drive the movable unit to cause the calculating unit to calculate the illumination direction, even if the charged voltage of the capacitor is a predetermined value or more. |
| US10015378B2 |
Kinematic mount for split camera
An electronic device comprising a split camera in front and back portions, and a retaining member. The front portion of the camera includes a set of front mounting features and a light-collecting unit configured to collect light from a subject. The back portion of the camera is reversibly separable from the front portion; it includes a set of back mounting features and an imaging unit configured to image the light. The set of back mounting features is configured to contact the set of front mounting features as the front and back portions are drawn together, forming, cooperatively, a kinematic mount to hold the light-collecting and imaging units in a state of alignment. The retaining member is configured to couple the front portion to the back portion when the front and back portions are drawn together and also when the front and back portions are separated. |
| US10015375B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and endoscope including the same
An image pickup device including a vacant space portion that allows a connection electrode to be exposed to a second main surface side, the vacant space portion being formed at a position overlapping at least the connection electrode in a state where the image pickup device is viewed in plan view from a thickness direction A, and the connection electrode exposed to the second main surface side is electrically connected with a substrate at a position in the vacant space portion, the position overlapping the image pickup device in the state where the image pickup device is viewed in plan view from the thickness direction. |
| US10015374B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and photo composition method thereof
An image capturing apparatus and a photo composition method thereof are proposed. The method is adapted to an image capturing apparatus having a first lens and a depth sensor and includes the following steps. First, a preview frame of a scene is obtained by using the first lens, and depth information of the scene is obtained by using the depth sensor. Next, scene analysis is performed on the preview frame according to the depth information so as to generate a scene analysis result. Next, whether the preview frame satisfies a photo composition requirement is determined according to the scene analysis result and a corresponding photo composition rule. If yes, the first lens is controlled to capture the preview frame; if no, a photo composition suggestion corresponding to the scene is provided according to the photo composition rule corresponding to the scene analysis result. |
| US10015368B2 |
Calibration system, calibration method, and image forming apparatus
A calibration system includes an imaging device, an image forming apparatus, and a table generating section. The image forming apparatus prints a test chart containing patches of colors on a sheet. The imaging device captures images of a reference chart containing patches corresponding to the patches in the test chart and the test chart on the sheet together to generate a picture. The table generating section: calculates a weighting coefficient for each of the patches in the picture based on a color intensity of the patch; calculates, as a representative value for each of gradations of color values of the patches in the picture, a weighted average of color values of the patches in the gradation based on the weighting coefficient; and generates a gamma correction table for correcting gradation characteristics of the image forming apparatus to gradation characteristics in accordance with the reference chart based on the representative values. |
| US10015367B2 |
Color measurement device and printing apparatus
A printer includes a calibration reference object, which includes a calibration surface for performing calibration of a color measurement machine that performs color measurement of media, and a pressing force plate that determines a relative position of a media surface of the media and the calibration surface so that the media surface of the media and the calibration surface have a predetermined positional relationship. |
| US10015366B2 |
Variable resolution lookup table for accelerated color conversion
Provided is a printing system comprising a printing mechanism for applying ink to a substrate using a plurality of print colors. Also included is a computer readable media storing an image and instructions for generating entries in a variable resolution lookup table for use in performing accelerated color conversion of the image. Also included is a lookup table generator configured to divide the lookup table into a plurality of areas, and set a density of lookup table entries in each of the plurality of areas based on overprint combinations of the print colors. The density of entries is varied from one area to another. Also included is a color conversion controller configured to utilize a lookup function to retrieve one or more lookup table entries and to provide printing color space coordinates based upon the one or more lookup table entries to the printing mechanism. |
| US10015364B2 |
System and method for previewing digital content
A system for previewing protected media comprising a touchscreen display, a processor, and a memory having executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive an original image from a server over a network, generate a blurred copy of the original image, overlay the blurred image over the original image, detect user interaction on the touchscreen display, determine location of the user interaction, and apply a mask on a section of the blurred copy of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the user interaction. |
| US10015362B2 |
Image capturing apparatus for resizing raw image data and control method thereof
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor in which pixels including a correction pixel region and an effective pixel region are arrayed two-dimensionally; and a creating unit configured to create uncompressed or losslessly-compressed image data from signals acquired from the effective pixel region and the correction pixel region, wherein in the case where a resizing process is to be carried out on the effective pixel region included in the image data, the creating unit does not carry out the resizing process on the correction pixel region. |
| US10015359B1 |
Image-based field boundary detection and identification
Detection and identification a field's boundaries is performed in a workflow based on processing images of the field captured at different times, relative to a defined seed point. Images are clipped to align with the seed point and a bounding box around the seed point, and a mask is built by extracting edges of the field from the images. The workflow floods an area around the seed point that has pixels of a similar color, using the mask as an initial boundary. The flooded area is compared to threshold parameter values, which are tuned to refine the identified boundary. Flooded areas in multiple images are combined, and a boundary is built based on the combined flooded set. Manual, interactive tuning of floodfill areas allows for a separate boundary detection and identification workflow or for refinement of the automatic boundary detection workflow. |
| US10015358B2 |
Image forming system for determining if color information of print data can be changed prior to printing
An image forming apparatus capable of preventing print setting information of print data transmitted from an external apparatus from being changed into infeasible information. A CPU of the apparatus stores print data transmitted from the external apparatus. The print data includes a content to be printed and print setting information indicating whether the content is to be printed in color or in monochrome. The CPU determines whether or not the content is chromatic. The CPU receives an instruction for changing the print setting information from a user, before starting to print the print data. In a case where the print setting information indicates that the content is to be printed in monochrome, the CPU permits changing the color mode information as for a content determined to be chromatic and restricts changing the color mode information as for a content determined to be not chromatic. |
| US10015351B2 |
Instruction apparatus, processing apparatus, and processing system
An instruction apparatus that instructs a processing apparatus to perform a process includes an information acquiring unit, an apparatus-information transmitting unit, and a display. The information acquiring unit acquires information on the processing apparatus. The apparatus-information transmitting unit simultaneously transmits the information on the processing apparatus acquired by the information acquiring unit and information on the instruction apparatus to a management apparatus. Based on the information on the processing apparatus and the information on the instruction apparatus transmitted from the apparatus-information transmitting unit, an operation-screen generating unit included in the management apparatus generates an instruction-apparatus operation screen. An operation-screen transmitting unit included in the management apparatus transmits information of the instruction-apparatus operation screen to the instruction apparatus. The display displays the instruction-apparatus operation screen. |
| US10015348B2 |
Image forming apparatus that executes received jobs, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus which appropriately avoids a resource conflict in the image forming apparatus. A checking unit checks whether a type of an application program execution of which has been ordered is a specific type. A control unit allows execution of a job issued by the application program the type of which has been determined as being the specific type, and restricts execution of a job issued by the application program the type of which has been determined as not being the specific type. |
| US10015347B2 |
Information processing apparatus for acquiring and updating a retention storage for information stored in a processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes: a retention unit that retains a list of paper information and detailed information associated with the paper information; a first acquisition unit that acquires a list of paper information from a storage unit of a printer; an update unit that updates the list of the paper information retained in the retention unit by using the acquired list of paper information; a second acquisition unit that acquires, based on a difference between the list, of the paper information retained in the retention unit and the acquired list of paper information, part of detailed information associated with paper information stored in the storage unit, from the storage unit; and a generation unit that generates, based on the detailed information acquired by the second acquisition unit, data to be transmitted to the printer. The update unit updates, based on the acquired detailed information, the retained detailed information. |
| US10015346B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling a display for selecting a sheet feeding cassette source
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a setting unit configured to apply a setting selected from at least a decolorable recording agent including a decolorable color material and a non-decolorable recording agent including a non-decolorable color material, for a sheet feeding cassette; and a display unit configured to display sheet feeding cassettes whose settings match a user-selected recording agent differently from sheet feeding cassettes whose settings do not match the user-selected recording agent. |
| US10015342B2 |
Information processing apparatus and image processing apparatus with a line of sight detector
An information processing apparatus includes a controller that controls the information processing apparatus by making a transition of a state of the information processing apparatus in relation to power consumption of the information processing apparatus from a first state to a second state in which the power consumption is higher than that in the first state, and a line-of-sight detector that detects a line of sight toward the information processing apparatus. The controller makes a transition from the first state to the second state when the line-of-sight detector detects a line of sight toward the information processing apparatus. |
| US10015339B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image reading method, and recording medium therefor, that improve quality of image of document obtained by portable image device
An image reading apparatus includes an imaging unit, an image data analysis unit, and an image combination unit. The imaging unit images the document image multiple times from mutually differing angles to generate a plurality of data images each representing the document image. The image data analysis unit performs matching on the plurality of data images by matching the plurality of data images, on a per-region basis in each of the plurality of images of the document represented by the plurality of data images, so as to obtain per-region brightnesses for the plurality of data images, and comparing the obtained brightnesses among the plurality of data images to select from among the plurality of data images each data image whose region is comparatively brighter. The image compositing unit uses the data images selected on the per-region basis as comparatively bright to generate a composite data image. |
| US10015333B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes an image scanning unit that is provided with a holding portion holding a flexible flat cable. The holding portion is protruded toward an upstream side in a sub scanning direction, and provided with a second wall part. The flexible flat cable that is extended from a connector is brought into contact with the second wall part. As for the flexible flat cable, a downward movement is regulated by a lower holding portion and an upward movement is regulated by an upper holding portion. Accordingly, the flexible flat cable does not rise. |
| US10015330B2 |
Image processing apparatus with enhanced configuration of operation buttons for command inputs
An operation console used in relation to an apparatus as an object of control operated by a user operation includes: a display device having a display area for displaying information to the user; an input device for the user to input a request; and a display control device displaying, if a request for displaying specific information on said display device is input through the input device, the specific information on the display device. The input device includes a plurality of operation buttons for inputting a plurality of requests, corresponding to respective requests, arranged in the vicinity of the display area. Among the plurality of operation buttons, an operation button corresponding to the request for displaying the specific information is provided closest to the display device. |
| US10015327B2 |
Portable apparatus displaying apparatus information on electronic apparatus
A portable apparatus includes an image capturing device, a display device, an indoor image acquisition unit, an apparatus position acquisition unit, an apparatus information acquisition unit, and a display control unit. The indoor image acquisition unit acquires an indoor image of a building having a plurality of floors. The apparatus position acquisition unit acquires a position of an electronic apparatus in real space. The apparatus information acquisition unit acquires apparatus information on the electronic apparatus. The display control unit causes the display device to display a composite image formed by combining additional information based on the apparatus information with a to-be-combined image, while linking the additional information to a position of the electronic apparatus in the to-be-combined image, this position corresponding to a relationship between the position of the electronic apparatus in real space and a position of the portable apparatus in real space. |
| US10015324B2 |
Method and system for user signup by a network service provider
A system and a method for performing purchase transactions over a network are provided. The system includes a server controlled by a service provider, including a link to a network; a processor circuit, the processor circuit configured to receive purchase requests from a mobile phone, and to transfer funds from a user account to a vendor account; and a memory circuit storing a plurality of mobile phone numbers and a plurality of personal identification numbers (PINs), wherein each mobile phone number and PIN is associated with a user account. A non-transitory machine-readable medium may include a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by one or more processors of a server controlled by a service provider are adapted to cause the server to perform a method as above. |
| US10015320B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for transferring or recovering a communication between a number of participants
The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and computer-readable media for conducting communications. One method includes determining a context associated with a communication between a first participant and a second participant while the communication is occurring, determining a failure of the communication, and resuming the communication based, at least in part, on the context. |
| US10015318B2 |
Automated communications response system
In one embodiment, a system provides for end-user control over the automatic recognition of communication situations by detection of unique telecommunication event characteristics and the consequential responses to those situations by invocation of related programmatic responses. The system allows an end user to specify various patterns of telecommunication event characteristics that describe various situational aspects of incoming communications, such as the timing and originator of voice calls, the content of, timing of, and author of chat messages, etc., as well as appropriate sets of programmatic response actions to be performed in response to those communications, such as initiating conference calls, sending chat messages, routing calls to other users, etc. The system monitors incoming communications, matches characteristic patterns to recognize the situations, and then invokes the matching response actions, thereby automating many functions of the communication system that previously would have had to be performed manually. |
| US10015317B1 |
Cross-process computer telephony integration (CTI) client
A computer telephony integration (CTI) client computing device isolates call processing devices from each of a set of back-end business applications of call-center clients for which call-center services are provided. A registered call event is received from a CTI middleware server during active call processing of an incoming telephone call responsive to an interactive voice response (IVR) system storing real-time call data to an independent stand-alone database in association with a unique call-specific database key. The unique call-specific database key is retrieved from the CTI middleware server. A call database record, including the real-time call data, is retrieved from the independent stand-alone database using the unique call-specific database key retrieved from the CTI middleware server. The real-time call data is provided as output to a trusted call center agent that has separate authorization to access a back-end business application appropriate to continue the active call processing. |
| US10015314B2 |
Call collision processing method for terminal device, and terminal device
The present disclosure relates to a call collision processing method for a terminal device, and a terminal device. A state machine records that a current state of the terminal device is an incoming call state, an outgoing call state, or an idle state. When the terminal device is in the idle state, that the terminal device processes an incoming call or an outgoing call is determined according to occupation of the state machine by incoming call information or by outgoing call information, and a state of the state machine after the state machine is occupied by the incoming call or the outgoing call is protected by using a mutex lock. |
| US10015313B2 |
Electronic device for performing call reservation and method thereof
An electronic device and a method thereof area provided. The electronic device includes a communication circuit configured to communicate with at least one or more external electronic devices as a call reservation target, a processor electrically connected with the communication circuit, and a memory electrically connected with the processor. The processor determines a type of a call reservation request from information inputted through a user input requesting a call reservation and controls the communication circuit to perform at least one of transmitting schedule information of the electronic device to the at least one external electronic device and transmitting a request for schedule information of the at least one external electronic device, based on the type of the call reservation request. |
| US10015312B1 |
Automatic connection through a password protected network connection
Communication devices and network devices may be configured to automatically connect to each other over a password protected network connection without a user setting the password for the password protected network connection. The communication devices may communicate over the password protected network connection to the network device and further to a communication service for providing interpretive services for hearing-impaired users, such as text captions, during a call. Predetermined network names and associated passwords may be persistent prior to set up as well as after a hard reset in which other user defined settings may be erased. |
| US10015310B2 |
Detection of privacy breach during a communication session
A method of identifying a breach in privacy during a communication session, including communicating with a remote communication device using a local communication device, analyzing an audio signal from the remote communication device to identify an audio input/output configuration of the remote communication device, determining from the audio input/output configuration if a breach in privacy is signified. |
| US10015306B2 |
Data processing method and terminal device
A data processing method and a terminal device, where the method includes obtaining a speed of the terminal device, receiving a first communications service, disabling a preset reminder of the first communications service when the speed of the terminal device exceeds a first preset value, and enabling the preset reminder of the first communications service when the speed of the terminal device decreases to a second preset value, where the second preset value is less than or equal to the first preset value. The data processing method and the terminal device are used for a user reminder of a terminal device in a vehicle mode. |
| US10015305B1 |
Method and apparatus for notification control
Modern mobile communication devices have a number of features that enable the users to stay connected with people in their contacts list. These mobile devices also keep the users informed about various events such as calls, text messages, emails, social media postings, etc. by providing various forms of notifications. The notifications may or may not be discreet. While the notifications of various events are useful, they may cause breach of privacy, may cause uncomfortable social situations, or may cause unsafe distraction under some conditions. These undesirable notifications in some scenarios may be controlled based on the awareness of the specific scenario in which the device user may be. A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable a user to control the notifications from a mobile communication device when used inside an automobile. |
| US10015304B2 |
Electronic apparatus, audio device, and method that is performable by the electronic apparatus to set network of the audio device
An electronic apparatus that connects an audio device to an access point (AP) via a wireless fidelity (WIFI) network, and the audio device are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a communication interface including communication circuitry configured to receive a probe request, and a controller configured to provide AP connection information corresponding to the AP to the audio device in response to an indicator that indicates a network setup between the audio device and the AP, wherein the indicator is included in the probe request. |
| US10015303B2 |
Electronic device, accessory apparatus and information displaying method using the same
An accessory apparatus and an information display method are provided. The accessory apparatus include a housing, a display exposed through a first portion of the housing, a conductive pattern, a wireless communication circuit configured to support a short-range wireless communication protocol, at least one processor, and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that allow the at least one processor to control the wireless communication circuit to operate in the first mode, operate in the second mode in which the second type of external electronic device is allowed to read the second data for the second time period following the first time period, detect the existence of the second type of external electronic device at one or more points of time in the first time period, and switch into the second mode when the existence of the second type of external electronic device is detected. |
| US10015300B2 |
Apparatus and method of controlling transmission of personal information
The present disclosure provides a control method of an Audio Video Navigation (AVN) system for vehicles. The control method may include: connecting the AVN system to a terminal through a wired connection based on a first protocol, transmitting an activation signal to the terminal through the wired connection, receiving address information and acceptance information of the terminal for wireless connection with the terminal based on a second protocol through a specific application in the terminal activated based on the activation signal, automatically executing wireless connection with the terminal based on the acceptance information, and automatically requesting specific information to the terminal and receiving the specific information through wireless connection based on the acceptance information. |
| US10015291B2 |
Host network controller
Provided is a method for operating a host network controller for a network processor where the host network controller has at least one register. A restricted set of state data may be stored in at least one register. The restricted set of state data may be indicative of fewer possible states than those defined in accordance with a standardized communication protocol. The host network controller may implement a finite state machine based on the restricted set of state data stored in the at least one register such that the finite state machine may have fewer possible states than those defined in accordance with the standardized communication protocol. |
| US10015288B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method of communication apparatus
For appropriate communication control to improve throughput in TCP communication, a communication apparatus comprises: a communication unit configured to establish a TCP connection with an external communication apparatus and communicate with the external communication apparatus; a reception unit configured to receive device information including first information for specifying a hardware configuration of the external communication apparatus or second information for specifying a software configuration of the external communication apparatus, if the communication unit establishes the TCP connection with the external communication apparatus; and a control unit configured to perform control to change a re-transmission timeout (RTO) timer value of the TCP connection based on the received device information. |
| US10015279B2 |
Application assignment reconciliation and license management
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for reconciling application assignments of different types to users and devices, and associating appropriate licenses for the applications to the users from purchase accounts managed by an external application store. An example method includes identifying a change in an assignment configuration for a user, the assignment configuration including a plurality of assignments of an application to the user; determining a winning assignment from the plurality of assignments; in response to determining the winning assignment, determining that the winning assignment requires a change to an external application store; and in response to determining that the winning assignment requires a change to the external application store, instructing the external application store to perform a configuration change corresponding to the winning assignment. |
| US10015277B2 |
Communication method for transmitting useful data and corresponding communication system
A communication method is provided for transmitting useful data between a first traffic participant, at least one second traffic participant, and a central communication device. It is provided that the first traffic participant provides a data packet and transmits it to the central communication device, the data packet being assigned to a changing key that is transmitted together with the data packet, and that the first traffic participant transmits an identifier together with the key to the second traffic participant, and that the second traffic participant requests from the central communication device, using the key, the data packet assigned thereto, and assigns it to the first traffic participant. Also provided is a communication system. |
| US10015276B2 |
Discovering data network infrastructure services
A method and apparatus for providing services that are adapted to the access networks of end users (10). By providing defined information to a residential gateway (110) and/or an access network provider (12) a service provider (18) enables the access network provider (12) to open a dedicated communications channel (20) between itself and the service provider. The service provider can use this channel to request information about the capabilities of the end user's access network as well as for requesting conditioning of data streams sent to said end user. |
| US10015275B2 |
Method for automatically managing applications on digital convergence gateways, and application device and system thereof
In an embodiment, a method comprises installing at least one application in a gateway, wherein the gateway is an anchor gateway and the at least one application corresponds to a profile; generating, by the anchor gateway, a gain value of the at least one application according to the profile; and determining, according to the gain value, whether to open or close the at least one application, or whether the at least one application is executed in the gateway or in another gateway. An application managing device and a system thereof are also provided. |
| US10015273B2 |
Extensible provider connection systems, methods and architecture
A system is disclosed for delivering dynamically-rendered web experiences via implementing a provider interface in a provider framework where the interface defines supported behaviors for interfacing with external content in an external content repository, and where the interface defines at least one external object and specifies at least one method for implementing the supported behaviors for the object. The provider framework discovers supported behaviors upon instantiation of a provider implementation class embodied in implementation of the provider interface. A connection is engaged to the external repository with the supported behaviors using the interface to connect to and expose the external content. During web content delivery, the system accesses the provider connection and dynamically integrates external content with system-managed content in a delivered web page. |
| US10015272B2 |
Method and apparatus for compaction of data received over a network
Methods, apparatuses, and storage media associated with compaction of data from one or more computing devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, one or more Internet of Things (IoT) devices may transmit information to a computing system. The computing system may group together raw data received from these one or more IoT devices based on a shared attribute. The computing system may select a compaction scheme to represent the knowledge conveyed by a group of the raw data. The computing system may apply this compaction scheme to the group of raw data to generate data that is representative of the group of raw data. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed. |
| US10015271B1 |
Global sharing and access to electronic resources
A method of managing data objects at a remote computing system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request to provide a recipient associated with a recipient computing device with access to a data object, providing an identifier that references the data object, receiving a request for the data object from the recipient, and providing the recipient with access to the data object based on one or more characteristics of the recipient computing device. |
| US10015270B2 |
Transmitting notifications to users in a venue based on locations of users within the venue
To improve communication with users, a venue management system is associated with the venue and allows an administrator to configure notifications to send to users at or near the venue. To configure a notification, the administrator provides to the venue management system notification information for presentation to users, criteria describing conditions need to be satisfied for the notification to be transmitted to users, and user targeting information identifying characteristics of users to receive the notification. Based on information gathered by the venue management system, the venue management system determines whether at least a threshold amount of the criteria of the notification are satisfied. If at least the threshold amount of the criteria of the notification are satisfied, the venue management system sends the notification to users having characteristics matching at least a threshold amount of the user targeting information. |
| US10015267B2 |
Generic multichannel center for network applications and services
A server system, where a multichannel server is connected to a core network of a mobile telecommunications network through a plurality of telecommunications channels. The multichannel server comprises a telecommunications network browser server, a network gateway, an integration gateway, a carrier application server and a carrier application and add-on studio. The multichannel server provides to end user devices network services and core network services through a plurality of communications channels. The multichannel server is an application interface gateway for services exposure and provides network services and core network services as interactive applications. The multichannel server provides application as a communication channel and communication channel as an application. |
| US10015266B1 |
Live migration of massive numbers of network connections, including long lived connections
A massive number of long lived connections is migrated between a source and a destination computer. Connection state information concerning each request being processed on each connection is transferred from the source to the destination computer. The source continues to respond to requests on a given connection while transferring corresponding state information. Once state information for a specific connection has been transferred, the connection is switched from the source to the destination. Connections are kept active during the shifting. While shifting traffic on a specific connection, two versions of the connection can be open simultaneously, one to the source and the other to the destination. Traffic on the connection is routed to the source computer until the shift has been completed, after which the connection on the source computer is closed, and traffic is routed to the destination. |
| US10015264B2 |
Generalized proxy architecture to provide remote access to an application framework
Systems and method for providing remote access to service applications created within an application framework. For each of the controls in the application framework, a wrapper is provided to enable remote-access to the control. An integration component includes proxies that communicate to each the rapper, a proxy manager that communicates to the service application, and a state manager that registers views and event handlers to communicate application state information. A remote access server application receives a connection from a client remote access application executing on the client device, and state information is communicated between the service application and the client remote access application to provide a view of the service application at the client device. |
| US10015263B2 |
Apparatus and methods for multi-mode asynchronous communication
A method includes receiving at a host device a first communication associated with a transaction from at least one electronic device included in a set of electronic devices. The host device includes at least a memory, a processor, and a database. The first communication received at a first time and via a first communication mode. The method includes sending a response to the first communication at a second time after the first time and independent of the first time. The host devices receives a second communication associated with the transaction from the at least one electronic device at a third time. The first communication, the response to the first communication, and the second communication are displayable in a persistent record of the transaction regardless of a difference between the first time and the third time. |
| US10015260B2 |
Method and apparatus for advanced vehicle data delivery using secondary device
A system includes a processor configured to receive sensor data from a vehicle sensor. The processor is also configured to determine an existence of a condition for which information display has been designated. The processor is further configured to determine a non-vehicular device predesignated for receipt and display of the information and responsive to the condition determination, transfer the information to the device. |
| US10015256B2 |
Identification device, system and method
An identification system includes an identification device and a communication device. The identification device is attached to an article and including a sensor. The identification device is configured to operate in a plurality of modes and configured to switch between modes of the plurality of modes based on one or more conditions of a surrounding environment sensed by the sensor. The identification device is configured to send data to a server. The communication device of a user of the identification system is configured to receive data including location data of the identification device from the server using short message service protocols or messages through a signaling channel. |
| US10015251B2 |
Fingerprint-defined segment-based content delivery
Digital content, such as video, audio, multimedia, and similar files may be segmented at a determined frame resolution rate and analyzed to determine a fingerprint for each content segment. An identifier that uniquely identifies each content segment may be determined based on the fingerprint of the respective content segment. The identifier may be associated with data relating to the content segment and with one or more identifiers that uniquely identify other content segments of the content. The content segment identifiers may be used to construct a content segment sequencing representation that represents the playback of the content segments in playback order. |
| US10015250B2 |
Image content based prediction and image cache controller
Cache controller (120) for use in a system (180) comprising an image client (100) and an image server (140), the image client enabling a user to navigate through image data having at least three spatial dimensions by displaying views of the image data that are obtained from the image server in dependence on navigation requests of the user, and the cache controller comprising a processor (122) configured for obtaining content data indicative of a content shown in a current view of the image client (100), the current view representing a first viewpoint in the three spatial dimensions of the image data, the processor being further configured for predicting a view request of the image client in dependence on the content data, the view request corresponding to a view representing a second viewpoint in the three spatial dimensions of the image data, and a communication means (124) for obtaining the view from the image server in dependence on the view request, and for caching the view in a cache (130). |
| US10015244B1 |
Self-publishing workflow
An author using an author device may connect to a publishing network, which in turn may be connected to a number of service provider networks that provide services relating to publishing workflow (e.g., editing, typography, historical research, cover designing) and business (e.g., marketing, promotion, author events). The publishing network may provide a network portal for the author and network portals for various service providers, with graphical user interfaces for both the author and the service providers. The author can then select specific service providers based on ratings, posted service rates, special requirements such as time scheduling and genre specialization, and can hire those service providers to work with the author's on or with the author's manuscript through the publishing network. The publishing network may then generate an agreement and track its signing as well as other milestones in the working relationship. |
| US10015243B2 |
Optimized content distribution based on metrics derived from the end user
Some embodiments provide systems and methods for determining a server of a distributed hosting system to optimally distribute content to an end user. The method includes identifying an IP address of the end user. Based on the IP address, a set of servers send packets to the end user to derive performance metrics. The performance metrics are used to determine a server from the set of servers that optimally distributes content to the end user. The method modifies a configuration for resolving end user requests such that the optimal server is identified to the end user when the end user requests content from the hosting system. Some embodiments determine the optimal server by providing downloadable content that is embedded with a monitoring tool. The monitoring tool causes the end user to derive performance metrics for the hosting system when downloading a particular object from a set of servers. |
| US10015240B2 |
Method and system for interface data utilization
Methods and systems for interface data utilization are described. In one embodiment, a provider server may offer resources and an application server may offer functionality not provided by the resources of the provider server. A user request may be received through the source user interface. A determination may be made whether the user request contains a request to access a functionality that is not offered by the provider but is offered by an application that is communicatively coupled to the provider via a network. In response, an electronic communication may be established between the provider and the application via a network. A policy of the provider may be accessed from a first database, and interface definition data may be accessed from a second database different from the first database. Target interface data may be rendered based on the policy of the provider and the interface definition data. |
| US10015239B1 |
Self-organizing distributed computation grid
A self-organizing distributed network architecture is described. An example method includes, by a network node, sending via a network gateway node a DNS lookup request to a DNS service. The DNS lookup request comprises a string that at least includes a MAC address of the network gateway node that is used by the DNS service to identify a network address for the network node to access the network service of interest. The method further includes receiving via the network gateway node a DNS lookup response from the DNS service. The DNS lookup response comprises the network address for the network node to access the network service of interest. The method further includes accessing the network service of interest from another network node in the network system that is addressable by the received network address. |
| US10015238B2 |
Command processing in distributed computing systems
Distributed game commands in massive multiplayer online games. A game engine receives commands and determines the order of their execution based on a global order policy using sequencers. The sequencers dispatch the commands to appropriate game engine instances on shards hosting game states. Engine instances execute the commands according to the global order established by the sequencers. |
| US10015233B2 |
Format negotiation for media remoting scenarios
Format negotiation for media remoting involves at least one media data format. In an example embodiment, a media format negotiation for playing media data is begun between a server and a client. The media data format is transferred from the server to the client. A notification that indicates if an attempt at the client to construct a media topology responsive to the media data format was a success or a failure is transferred from the client to the server. Whether and/or how the media data is to be transferred from the server to the client may be impacted by the notification. |
| US10015230B1 |
Copying and pasting among networked devices
Systems and methods are disclosed for copying and pasting data between networked devices. Data copied on a source device and may be pasted on a destination device in response to the destination device receiving a paste command. The data from the source device may be automatically transmitted to, and available at, the destination device. The destination device may cycle through data copied from various devices based on the chronological order of when each piece of data was copied, or based on the devices' priority. The destination device may also present the user with a list of data copied at differences devices, from which the user may select which data to paste. A user may also use a special command, or may issue multiple paste commands within a predetermine period time, to indicate that the data to be pasted should be data from a different device. |
| US10015227B2 |
Method and system for replicating a communication application on an auxiliary computing device
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method and system for replicating an application on an auxiliary computing device are provided. The system includes the auxiliary computing device, a mobile computing device executing the application, and at least one server. The server provides the auxiliary computing device with a web application, and the auxiliary computing device presents a code generated using the web application on its display. The mobile computing device captures the code, and uses the code to establish a connection with the auxiliary computing device via the server. The server then routes data between the auxiliary computing device, the mobile computing device and other devices. The data includes application control data, which is routed between the mobile computing device and the auxiliary computing device; and message data, which is routed between the mobile computing device and other devices. |
| US10015226B2 |
Methods for making AJAX web applications bookmarkable and crawlable and devices thereof
Methods, devices, and computer-readable storage media that make an asynchronous JavaScript and extensible mark-up language (AJAX) application content state bookmarkable and crawlable include receiving a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request is received. The HTTP request includes an HTTP request uniform resource locator (URL) representing a current application state. When the HTTP request URL contains a first reference substring, a second substring is extracted from the HTTP request URL based upon the first reference substring. A modified URL is generated based at least in part on the extracted second substring. The modified URL represents the current application content state. |
| US10015224B1 |
Buffer reduction using frame dropping
The techniques described herein may, for example, allow a quantity of buffered video frames to be reduced, for example for use in adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming and other streaming transmissions. The quantity of buffered video frames may be reduced by dropping certain selected buffered frames from a resulting video output that is displayed to the viewer. This may reduce end-to-end latency without requiring a change in frame rate or fast forwarding of the video output, which may sometimes not be available or permitted by a resulting video player. These buffer reduction techniques may sometimes be employed upon a determination that transmission conditions have stabilized and that holding large quantities of buffered video may be unnecessary. In some examples, the disclosed techniques may be particularly advantageous for live streaming scenarios, in which end-to-end latency may be particularly problematic for the viewer. |
| US10015223B2 |
Generation of dynamic content interfaces
Example embodiments relate to generation of dynamic content interfaces based on device capabilities and user entitlements. Multiple devices associated with a user account may each request a content interface. Generation of the content interfaces may be based on capability information of the devices and a tier entitlement associated with the user account. A service included in both the content interfaces may be assigned a same virtual channel in each of the content interfaces. |
| US10015221B2 |
Content server media stream management
Mechanisms are provided to manage media stream transmissions at a content server. A content server detects that a user on a device such as a mobile device has stopped playing a live media stream. The content server maintains information associating the user with the media stream and time information. When the content server detects that a user wishes to resume playing a media stream, the user can continue viewing the media stream from where stoppage occurred. In many instances, the content server stores many hours of live media stream data and allows a user to select a particular starting point. |
| US10015220B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
The present invention proposes a method of transmitting a broadcast signal. The method of transmitting the broadcast signal according to the present invention proposes a system capable of supporting a next-generation broadcast service in an environment that supports next-generation broadcasting using a terrestrial broadcast network and an Internet protocol network. In addition, the present invention proposes an efficient signaling scheme for both the terrestrial broadcasting network and the Internet protocol network in the environment that supports next-generation broadcasting. |
| US10015219B2 |
Multicasting adaptive bitrate streams
Content providers, such as television companies, may multicast adaptive bitrate content, using playlist-oriented streaming techniques, to recipient devices (such as set-top boxes (“STBs”)). In a playlist-oriented streaming technique, segment files (e.g., segments of the content) may correspond to predetermined time segments. In order to mitigate lag time, when a channel is selected by a user of an STB, which may ordinarily be caused by the nature of playlist-oriented streaming techniques, an STB may obtain content, associated with the selected channel, via a unicast, non-playlist-oriented technique. Once the next segment file has been received by the STB, the STB may cease obtaining the content by the unicast technique, and may use the segment files received via multicast. |
| US10015217B2 |
System and method for group participation in a digital media presentation
System and method for group participation in a digital media presentation are provided that are capable of selecting digital media items for inclusion in the presentation from multiple participant's accounts thereby creating a group presentation in which digital media items of each participant are included in the presentation. Selections of digital media items for inclusion in the presentation can be made directly at the direction of the participations or inferentially according to a selection algorithm. Selections can be made during the presentation thereby allowing a participant to join the presentation after it has started and contribute digital media items to the presentation while it is running. |
| US10015216B2 |
Methods and systems for virtual conference system using personal communication devices
Systems and methods are described herein for providing a virtual conference using a master device implemented with a personal communication device (PCD), including determining, by the master device, a latency for each of a plurality of satellite devices connected to the master device. The master device then determines an uplink buffer duration based on a difference between a highest latency and a lowest latency among the plurality of satellite devices. The master device determines a processing time for an uplink data packet, the processing time being determined based, at least in part, on the uplink buffer duration. The master device then performs signal processing at the processing time for the received uplink data packets. |
| US10015215B2 |
Integrated collaborative user interface for a document editor program
An integrated collaborative user interface for a document editor is provided. The integrated collaborative user interface includes a document pane, document details pane and a section details pane. Document details and section details are obtained and provided to authors. A collaborative author views the document details, section details and provides updates to a document in the document editor. Changes are then refreshed to the authors to provide a consistent and up-to-date status of the document. |
| US10015214B2 |
Method and apparatus for sharing viewable content with conference participants through automated identification of content to be shared
A computer implemented method and apparatus for sharing the contents of a presentation in a web conference through automated identification of documents for selective sharing with web conferences comprises launching a web conference in which an application or an entire desktop view of a conference presenter is caused to be rendered as content viewable on the displays of all conference participants. The method detects that one or more documents are being accessed by application(s) executed concurrently with the desktop sharing application and identifies documents having a supported format as including viewable content available for rendering to the display of the presenter. Automatically, or after presenter confirmation, the content is uploaded to a web server and converted into a format that can be distributed to and cached at the respective participant computers. |
| US10015212B2 |
Asynchronous collaboration session linked to a synchronous collaboration session
Systems and methods are disclosed for starting both a synchronous communication session and an asynchronous communication session that overlap in time, and sending a digital link to users associated with the synchronous communication session that allows them to access the asynchronous communication session. The synchronous communication session includes real-time multimedia data transfer among the users associated with the session. The asynchronous communication session includes allowing users to add information to or retrieve information from the session. The asynchronous communication session persists after the synchronous communication session ends. |
| US10015211B2 |
Event triggered notifications for collaborative processes
Notifying a user of a collaborative process that an event of interest has occurred, includes providing a graphical user interface that graphically interacts with a user to identify electronically generated collaborative content of a corresponding computer-executed collaborative process that is to be tracked, wherein the user defines an originator of the generated collaborative content; designating at least one event that triggers a notification to the originator of the collaborative content; communicating with a collaborative process server computer to identify at least one event associated with the collaborative process to monitor; receiving an indication that at least one designated event has occurred; and modifying a visual display of the shared collaborative content when a designated event associated with the shared collaborative content is detected. |
| US10015208B2 |
Single proxies in secure communication using service function chaining
A first service node receives a message configured to set up a secure communication session between a client and a server, in which the first service node acts as a proxy. Data packets in the secure communication session are subject to multiple service functions that require decryption of the data packets. A service function chain assigns a service node to each of the service functions. A service header is generated including metadata instructing the service nodes other than the first service node not to act as proxies in the secure communication session. The message and the service header are transmitted to a second service node in the service function chain. |
| US10015207B2 |
Dynamic rate adaptation during real-time LTE communication
Methods and computing systems for dynamic rate adaption during real-time Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication are described. A real-time LTE communication session with another mobile device is established over an LTE connection. The real-time LTE communication session is established with codec rate. A monitor component receives data indicating a performance of the real-time LTE communication session, and causes the real-time LTE communication component to perform, during the real-time LTE communication session, a renegotiation of the codec rate based at least on the performance of the real-time LTE communication session. |
| US10015205B1 |
Techniques for traffic capture and reconstruction
Techniques for reconstructing application-layer traffic flowing between client devices and a cloud computing platform are provided. In an embodiment, the method allows for non-intrusive reconstructing application-layer traffic including requests and responses even in cases including packet drops, re-transmitted packets, and jittered packets. The method includes saving received packets into a zero-copy queue and analyzing the packets saved in the zero-copy memory to identify their respective sessions. Then, each identified session is reconstructed into a session window having a configurable size. In an embodiment, each reconstructed session includes application-layer requests and responses; The method further includes for, each identified session, matching each application-layer request to a corresponding application-layer response based on a matching identifier and time-interval threshold. |
| US10015204B2 |
Method, terminal, and server for restoring transmission of session content
A method, a terminal, and a server for restoring transmission of session content. The method includes, after a refresh message for a page is received, retaining a first ICE address used by a session in the page to be in an activated state, and restoring transmission of session content of the session by using the first ICE address in the activated state, so that a terminal directly establishes a connection according to the first ICE address in the activated state after receiving a refreshed page, and after receiving a refresh message for a page, the terminal does not need to perform ICE address negotiation to determine a suitable ICE address for receiving and sending the session content, which shortens waiting time for interacting the session content with a peer-end user, thereby improving user experience. |
| US10015201B2 |
Implementing application level multimedia services as a switching function
A network for delivering application level multimedia services includes simple, application-level switches and rules managers. Each application-level switch includes rules defining message edits and selections of message destinations. The rules managers operate to manage the rules. Network functions process messages on the application level, and include operation of one or more rules managers and operation of an application-level switch. The network function is performed by the switch application by performing application level message processing according to rules managed by the at least one of the plurality of rules managers. The application level switches together resolve a requested identity to one or more routable addresses, enabling the network to route a message. |
| US10015200B2 |
Communication with accessories
A plurality of connections may be established between an accessory interface and a plurality of accessories. A connection between the accessory interface and a portable electronic device may also be established. A first set of messages may be communicated via the accessory interface between the portable electronic device and a first accessory of the plurality of accessories. A second set of messages may be communicated via the accessory interface between the portable electronic device and a second accessory of the plurality of accessories. The first and second sets of messages communicated between the portable electronic device and the accessory interface may be formatted in accordance with a data exchange pattern. |
| US10015198B2 |
Synchronizing a honey network configuration to reflect a target network environment
Techniques for synchronizing a honey network configuration to reflect a target network environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for synchronizing a honey network configuration to reflect a target network environment includes a device profile data store that includes a plurality of attributes of each of a plurality of devices in the target network environment; a virtual machine (VM) image library that includes one or more VM images; and a virtual clone manager executed on a processor that instantiates a virtual clone of one or more devices in the target enterprise network using a VM image selected from the VM image library that is customized based on one or more attributes for a target device in the device profile data store. |
| US10015193B2 |
Methods and devices for identifying the presence of malware in a network
A device and a method for identifying whether a network node is infected by malware, including identifying indicator events for each of a plurality of anomaly indicators, by counting the number of occurrences of an anomaly indicator in at least one of a network node and an entire network during a predetermined time duration and if the number of occurrences of the anomaly indicator during the predetermined time duration is greater than a predetermined event threshold, identifying an indicator event associated with the anomaly indicator during the predetermined time duration and assigning an expiration duration for the indicator event, determining whether the identified indicator events fulfill at least one predetermined infection rule, and if the indicator events fulfill the at least one predetermined infection rule, identifying the network node as infected by malware. |
| US10015191B2 |
Detection of man in the browser style malware using namespace inspection
Methods and systems for detecting fraudulent activity are described. A user types in a web address in his or her browser to request a webpage from a server, and the server communicates the webpage to the user. The communicated webpage includes a document object model (DOM) inspector and/or a JavaScript (JS) namespace inspector. The DOM inspector and JS namespace inspector detect anomalous DOM elements and anomalous JS namespace elements respectively. The DOM inspector and JS namespace inspector discover objects on the rendered webpage that should not be there. |
| US10015190B2 |
Forecasting and classifying cyber-attacks using crossover neural embeddings
A first collection including a first feature vector and a Q&A feature vector is constructed. A second collection is constructed from the first collection by inserting noise in at least one of the vectors. A third collection is constructed by crossing over a feature vectors of the second collection with a corresponding feature vector of a fourth collection. The second and the fourth collections have a property similar to one another. Using a forecasting configuration, a vector of the third collection is aged to generate a changed feature vector, the changed feature vector containing feature values expected at a future time. The changed feature vector is input into a trained neural network to predict a probability of the cyber-attack occurring at the future time. |
| US10015185B1 |
Risk score aggregation for automated detection of access anomalies in a computer network
A processing device in one embodiment comprises a processor coupled to a memory and is configured to generate access profiles for respective user identifiers, to obtain data characterizing a current access for a given one of the user identifiers, to extract a plurality of features from the data characterizing the current access for the given user identifier, and to generate feature risk scores based on the extracted features and the access profile for the given user identifier. The processing device is further configured to aggregate the feature risk scores into a composite risk score. The aggregation illustratively comprises weighting the feature risk scores as a function of their relative levels of riskiness. The composite risk score is compared to a threshold, and an alert is generated relating to the current access based on a result of comparing the composite risk score to the threshold. |
| US10015183B1 |
Using new edges for anomaly detection in computer networks
Creation of new edges in a network may be used as an indication of a potential attack on the network. Historical data of a frequency with which nodes in a network create and receive new edges may be analyzed. Baseline models of behavior among the edges in the network may be established based on the analysis of the historical data. A new edge that deviates from a respective baseline model by more than a predetermined threshold during a time window may be detected. The new edge may be flagged as potentially anomalous when the deviation from the respective baseline model is detected. Probabilities for both new and existing edges may be obtained for all edges in a path or other subgraph. The probabilities may then be combined to obtain a score for the path or other subgraph. A threshold may be obtained by calculating an empirical distribution of the scores under historical conditions. |
| US10015182B1 |
Systems and methods for protecting computing resources
The disclosed computer-implemented method for protecting computing resources may include (i) computing a degree of commonality between pairs of users within a file sharing system based on which files the users accessed over a period of time, (ii) building a social graph that indicates at least one edge between members of an instance of the pairs of users, (iii) computing an anomaly score for a user within the instance of the pairs of users, (iv) detecting that the anomaly score deviates, according to a statistical measurement, from historical anomaly scores computed for the same user, and (v) performing, in response to detecting that the anomaly score deviates from the historical anomaly scores, a protective action to protect computing resources from anomalous behavior by the user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US10015180B1 |
Asynchronous domain name server resolution with automated classification of domain type
Asynchronous techniques are provided for resolving domain names and for automated classification of domain type. An exemplary method comprises asynchronously resolving at least two known domains in parallel to obtain a current domain-to-IP address resolution for the at least two known domains, wherein a schedule of the asynchronous resolution is based on a Time-To-Live attribute of a latest domain-to-IP address resolution of the at least two known domains; determining if the current domain-to-IP address resolution matches the latest domain-to-IP address for the at least two known domains; and updating the domain-to-IP address table with the current domain-to-IP address resolution and corresponding resolution time if the current domain-to-IP address resolution does not match the latest domain-to-IP address for a given known domain. In one or more embodiments, a Time-To-Live attribute of the current domain-to-IP address resolution for the given known domain is updated in the domain table. A plurality of worker processes optionally perform the asynchronous resolution. |
| US10015178B2 |
Real-time contextual monitoring intrusion detection and prevention
A configuration is received for an agent associated with an application to monitor application transactions. The agent monitors incoming and outgoing application transactions using the agent and transmits monitored transaction data to a monitoring server for anomalous transaction detection. The agent receives instructions from the monitoring server to perform an action based on the transmitted monitored transaction data and reports the status of the performed action to the monitoring server. |
| US10015175B2 |
Detecting anomalous behavior via user authentication graphs
Significant and aggregate user authentication activity may be analyzed across a population of users and computers in one or more networks to differentiate between authorized users and intruders in a network, and/or to detect inappropriate behavior by otherwise authorized users. Dynamic graphs and graph models over user and computer authentication activity, including time-constrained models, may be used for the purposes of profiling and analyzing user behavior in computer networks. More specifically, an edge-based breadth first search of graphs may be used that enforces time-constraints while maintaining traditional breadth first search computational complexity equivalence. |
| US10015173B1 |
Systems and methods for location-aware access to cloud data stores
The disclosed computer-implemented method for location-aware access to cloud data stores may include (1) obtaining a location policy that governs access to a cloud data store, the location policy specifying one or more location rules to be satisfied in order to access files in the cloud data store, (2) receiving a request, from a client system, to access one or more files in the cloud data store, (3) verifying that the request satisfies the location rule and therefore complies with the location policy, and (4) providing the client system access to the file in the cloud data store. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US10015170B2 |
Protecting delivered web distributed content from unauthorized modifications
A method of delivering web distributed content is disclosed. A set of web distributed content is received by a proxy server. The set of web distributed content is divided by the proxy server into a plurality of portions. Additional security code is added to the plurality of portions to form a modified set of web distributed content. The additional security code detects unauthorized modification of the modified set of web distributed content, wherein at least a portion of the modified set of web distributed content is different for different intended users of the set of web distributed content. The modified set of web distributed content is delivered by the proxy server to an intended user. |
| US10015169B2 |
Node-based policy-enforcement across mixed media, mixed-communications modalities and extensible to cloud computing such as SOA
A system and method are provided to monitor and prevent potential enterprise policy and/or rule violations by subscribers. |
| US10015168B2 |
System and method for secure control of resources of wireless mobile communication devices
Systems and methods for secure control of a wireless mobile communication device are disclosed. Each of a plurality of domains includes at least one wireless mobile communication device asset. When a request to perform an operation affecting at least one of the assets is received, it is determined whether the request is permitted by the domain that includes the at least one affected asset, by determining whether the entity with which the request originated has a trust relationship with the domain, for example. The operation is completed where it is permitted by the domain. Wireless mobile communication device assets include software applications, persistent data, communication pipes, and configuration data, properties or user or subscriber profiles. |
| US10015167B1 |
Extensible key management system for application program interfaces
An extensible key management system includes a developer services portal for accessing an application. The system may identify initiation via the developer services portal of an association of the application with an external API of a third party provider service and automatically obtain a sub-key for the external API from the third party provider service on behalf of a developer of the application. The sub-key may be obtained in accordance with authorization provided by a master key previously provided from the third party provider service. The system may map an association between the sub-key, the application and the external API and store the association. Upon receipt of a service call message resulting from a request from a user device executing the application, the system may identify and replace a developer API key included in the service call message with the sub-key based on the stored association. |
| US10015166B2 |
Gesture-based signature authentication
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, devices, and machine-readable mediums for implementing gesture-based signature authentication. In one embodiment, a method may involve recording a first gesture-based signature and storing the recorded first gesture-based signature. Then the method compares the first gesture-based signature with a second gesture-based signature. Then the method verifies the first gesture-based signature as authentic when the first gesture-based signature is substantially similar to the second gesture-based signature. |
| US10015164B2 |
Modules to securely provision an asset to a target device
The embodiments described herein describe technologies for Module management, including Module creation and Module deployment to a target device in an operation phase of a manufacturing lifecycle of the target device in a cryptographic manager (CM) environment. One implementation includes a Root Authority (RA) device that receives a command to create a Module and executes a Module Template to generate the Module in response to the command. The Module is deployed to an Appliance device. A set of instructions of the Module, when executed by the Appliance device, results in a secure construction of a sequence of operations to securely provision a data asset to the target device. The Appliance device is configured to distribute the data asset to a cryptographic manager (CM) core of the target device. |
| US10015159B2 |
Terminal authentication system, server device, and terminal authentication method
Provided is a terminal authentication system including a client terminal and a server device. The client terminal transmits first information based on secret information different for each client terminal and a client certificate including a hash value of the secret information which is derived from the secret information, to a server device. The server device receives the first information and the client certificate, derives a hash value from the secret information based on the first information using a unidirectional function, and authenticates the client terminal on the basis of the derived hash value and the hash value of the secret information which is included in the client certificate. |
| US10015158B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in enabling a mobile communication device with a digital certificate
In one illustrative scenario, a mobile communication device causes a communication session to be established with a host server of a communication network. The mobile device performs communication operations in the communication session for activating a communication service, such as a data synchronization service, with the host server. In the communication session, the mobile device also receives configuration information which includes information for use in constructing a request message for obtaining a digital certificate from a certificate authority (CA). After receipt of the configuration information, the mobile device constructs the request message for the digital certificate and causes it to be sent to the host server. In response, the host server requests and obtains the digital certificate from the CA on behalf of the mobile device, and thereafter “pushes” the received digital certificate to the mobile device. The mobile device receives the digital certificate and stores it for use in subsequent communications. The host server may be part of a local area network (LAN) which includes a wireless LAN (WLAN) adapted to authenticate the mobile device based on the digital certificate, so that the mobile device may obtain access to the WLAN. |
| US10015151B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling service-configurable wireless connections
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that enables service-configurable wireless connections. During operation, a local service endpoint of a service runs on a wireless device. The local service endpoint sends a request to establish a datapath with another service endpoint on another device. Meanwhile, the wireless device's service discovery module discovers a remote endpoint for the service on a remote device. In response to the request, the wireless device's service-configurable security entity configures a Wi-Fi connection's security configuration, thereby enabling the local endpoint to establish a datapath between the local endpoint and the remote endpoint over the Wi-Fi connection. |
| US10015149B2 |
Method and system for the supply of data, transactions and electronic voting
A system for supply of data, including generating a first digital certificate referred (empowerment certificate) signed with a first signing entity's electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of the described entity, information identifying the first signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate. The data may be supplied to the relying entity by a second digital certificate (custom certificate), signed with a second signing entity's electronic signature. Custom certificates may appear in custom certificate revocation lists. A system and method for transfer of ownership of electronic property from a first entity to a second entity, and a method and system for electronic voting are also provided. |
| US10015148B2 |
Physics-based key generation
In some examples, a controller is configured to generate a key based on a physics-based output of a component. The controller may, for example, use the key to authenticate communication between at least two nodes, to encrypt data, or to decrypt data, may be generated based on a physics-based output generated a component. The output generated by the component may vary over time, such that the controller is configured to generate a different key, depending on the time at which the output from the component used to generate the key was generated by the component. In some examples, the key is not stored in a memory, and is a discrete signal that only exists in real-time while the component is active and generating the detectable output. |
| US10015147B2 |
Token enrollment system and method
Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, apparatuses, computer readable media and systems for providing a token service environment that allows a token requesting party (e.g. token requestor) to specify parameters for token generation for controlling and customizing the token generation process. For example, the token requesting party may specify (e.g. select from a list or provide a list of) the accounts for tokenization. The accounts may be identified by account identifiers (e.g. account numbers) or bank identification numbers (BINs). The token requesting party may also specify encryption keys for the tokens to be generated. The token requesting party may also specify additional parameters such as notification thresholds indicating when notifications associated with the tokens are to be generated. |
| US10015141B2 |
Dispersed data storage in a VPN group of devices
A method begins when at least a consensus threshold number of devices are active in a virtual private network (VPN) group of devices. The method continues by encoding group specific data based on a consensus threshold number of devices in the VPN group of devices and a number of devices in the VPN group of devices to produce one or more sets of encoded data slices. The method continues by sending the one or more sets of encoded data slices to at least one of: the consensus threshold number of devices or a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage therein. When the at least the consensus threshold number of devices are not active in the VPN group of devices, each of the devices in the VPN group of devices are prohibited from creating the group specific data or accessing previously created group specific data. |
| US10015140B2 |
Identifying additional firewall rules that may be needed
System, method and program product for managing a security policy of a firewall. The firewall receives a message packet addressed to a specified port of a destination IP address and determines that the firewall does not have a message flow rule which permits passing of the message packet to the port. The port is tested to determine if the port is open. If so, an administrator is queried whether the firewall should have a message flow rule which permits passing of the message packet to the port. If not, an administrator is not queried whether the firewall should have a message flow rule which permits passing of the message packet to the port. There may be first and second firewalls located between the source IP address and destination IP address. Before the port is tested, a central database is checked to learn if the central database has a record of whether the first firewall should have a message flow rule which permits passing of the message packet to the port. If not, and the port is found to be open, the central database is updated to indicate that both the first and second firewalls should have a message flow rule which permits passing of the message packet to the port. Also, the security policy of the first firewall is updated with a message flow rule which permits passing of the message packet to the port. The second firewall is not updated until it encounters a message packet addressed to the port. |
| US10015139B2 |
Inter-arrival time intrusion-detection technique to provide enhanced cybersecurity
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that performs an intrusion-detection technique to differentiate between packets received from malicious remote users and legitimate local users in a networked computer system. During operation, the system determines arrival times for incoming packets at a node in the networked computer system. Next, the system determines inter-arrival times between the incoming packets from the arrival times. The system then determines a mean cumulative function (MCF) for the inter-arrival times by computing a cumulative sum of the inter-arrival times. Finally, upon detecting a change in a slope of the MCF, the system generates an alarm to indicate that a malicious remote user may be generating some of the incoming packets. |
| US10015137B2 |
Device for interconnecting communication networks with controlled security
The invention relates to a device for interconnecting at least two data-communication networks, connecting a first network qualified as a high-security network and at least one second network qualified as a low-security network, the device including a one-way channel referred to as downlink channel between the high-security network and the low-security network, and a one-way channel referred to as uplink channel between the low-security network and the high-security network, the uplink channel being configured, in accordance with at least one predetermined data model from the low-security network or a dedicated loading channel, such as to transmit a return signal towards the high-security network whenever an uplink data stream sent from the low-security network to the high-security network includes all or part of the predetermined data model, the return signal being transmitted together with a transmission of the uplink data stream or at the end of a transmission of the uplink stream towards the high-security network. |
| US10015132B1 |
Network virtualization for container-based cloud computation using locator-identifier separation protocol
At least one processing device comprises a processor coupled to a memory and implements virtualization infrastructure including a first container comprising a software agent of a locator-identifier separation protocol. The software agent is configured to communicate with a locator-identifier mapping system that associates identifiers of respective endpoints with respective locators in accordance with the locator-identifier separation protocol. The endpoints comprise respective ones of a plurality of additional containers of the virtualization infrastructure. The first container may be coupled to the plurality of additional containers via a bridge element that combines virtual interfaces of respective ones of the additional containers into a single physical network interface. The first container may additionally be coupled to a network via a router configured to operate in accordance with the locator-identifier separation protocol as an ingress tunnel router with respect to inbound packets and as an egress tunnel router with respect to outbound packets. |
| US10015128B2 |
Social content features based on user tracking
Prioritizing online comments on social network web page is disclosed. An activity of a user consuming a content presented on the social network web page is detected. Time spent by the user consuming the content is determined. Responsive to the user entering a comment on the content, a depth of consumption of the content by the user is determined based on the time spent by the user consuming the content. The comment entered by the user is ranked among a plurality of comments entered by one or more of the plurality of users based on the depth of consumption. The comment entered by the user is presented on the social network web page in the order of the ranking. |
| US10015127B2 |
Communication device and computer-readable non-transitory recording medium with communication control program recorded thereon
A communication device includes an acceptance section, a mail data generating section, and a transmission section. The acceptance section is configured to accept a plurality of destination addresses and a mail text to be sent to the plurality of destination addresses. The mail data generating section is configured to generate, for every one of the plurality of destination addresses, mail data that contains the mail text, destination information indicating the one of the plurality of destination addresses as a destination, and destination address list information which indicates a list of the plurality of destination addresses arranged in order and in which the one destination address is placed higher in order than when accepted by the acceptance section. The transmission section is configured to send the mail data generated by the mail data generating section. |
| US10015126B2 |
Crowd determined message response system
A crowd determined message response system may be provided. A message sent from a sender to at least one recipient over a communication network may be received. The message may be presented on a user interface device. A selection of a designated recipient for responding to the message may be received. A priority of the message sent to the designated recipient may be adjusted. The priority of the message sent to an unselected recipient of the message not selected as the designated recipient may be adjusted. The priority may be adjusted differently for the designated recipient and the unselected recipient. Based on the adjusting of the priority of the message sent to the unselected recipient, the order of importance in which the unselected recipient's messages are presented may be rearranged. |
| US10015122B1 |
Methods and computer program products for processing a search
In one embodiment, method is provided, comprising: creating at least a portion of an instant messaging application that is configured to cooperate with a relay that is configured to communicate with a web service, the instant messaging application configured to cause a device to: display an instant messaging interface; receive, from the relay and utilizing a communications agent, a first message; display, via the instant messaging interface, at least a portion of the first message; send, to the relay, a second message including text and an automatically determined contactee identifier, for causing the relay to: send, from the relay to the web service, a third message including the text, for causing the web service to: send, to the relay, a fourth message with at least one image that is identified based on the text, for causing the relay to: send, to the device, a fifth message including the at least one image. |
| US10015121B2 |
Smart positioning of chat heads
In particular embodiments, a client computing device of a user provides for presentation a user interface that includes one or more components. The client computing device may receive an indication of a message to the user. The client computing device may automatically modify the user interface to accommodate presentation of an interactive element associated with the message. The client computing device may modify the user interface at least in part by automatically modifying one or more of the components. The client computing device may automatically provide for presentation the user interface as modified and the interactive element associated with the message. |
| US10015120B2 |
Providing message delivery services between requestors and providers
An intermediary messaging system is provided that facilitates exchange of information between service requestor and service providers. In an embodiment, the intermediary messaging system is configured to receive a request from a client, determine one or more target services for servicing the request, communicate information regarding the request to the identified target services, and communicate responses from the target services back to the client. In certain embodiments, the intermediary messaging service enables a single request received from the client to be translated to multiple requests and to possibly multiple target services without the client having to make multiple requests. |
| US10015119B2 |
Method and system for file transfer, instant messaging terminal, and computer storage medium
A method and system for file transfer, an instant messaging terminal, and a computer storage medium are described, so as to solve the problem that in case of a poor network environment, too much manual intervention is required when file transfer through an existing instant messaging software encounters a network connection interruption, leading to a low transfer efficiency and poor user. With the present disclosure, an instant messaging terminal is provided with an option of automatic retransfer upon disconnection, an option of automatic reception upon disconnection, and an option of automatic offline-file forwarding upon disconnection, such that when transfer of a file is interrupted, an instant messaging system can automatically retransfer (or resume the interrupted transfer of) the file, thus enhancing efficiency in file transfer. |
| US10015109B2 |
Managing asset deployment for a shared pool of configurable computing resources
Disclosed aspects include managing asset deployment for a shared pool of configurable computing resources having a set of virtual machines associated with a deployment server. A set of deployment topology data is collected for the shared pool of configurable computing resources. Using the set of deployment topology data, it is determined to establish a dynamic management server communicatively connected with both the deployment server and the set of virtual machines. Based on the set of deployment topology data, the dynamic management server is established communicatively connected with both the deployment server and the set of virtual machines. |
| US10015103B2 |
Interactivity driven error correction for audio communication in lossy packet-switched networks
When packet loss is detected during a communication session, a current interactivity mode is checked to determine whether to increase the amount of received audio data stored in a buffer of the receiving device. If the current interactivity mode indicates a low level of interactivity between participants in the communication session, then the total amount of received audio data stored in the buffer is increased, in order to increase the delay between receipt of audio data by the electronic device, and outputting of the audio data by the electronic device. The increased output delay is then used to recover lost packets, so that audio quality is increased while the level of interactivity between participants is low. When the current interactivity mode subsequently indicates higher participant interactivity, the amount of received audio data stored in the buffer may be reduced. |
| US10015098B2 |
Systems and methods to create highly scalable network services
Various embodiments of the invention provide for an unparalleled scalable and reliable load distribution design for use in a large class of network applications, including cloud computing in modern data center networks and similar services, which can benefit from the invention by taking advantage of commonly available network components and systems. In particular, various embodiments of the invention extend a logical load distributor model to include distributed clusters of loosely coupled components. Certain embodiments accomplish this by combining existing silicon-based network components and functionalities with the scalability and reliability provided by virtualized processes in order to improve critical load distribution and load balancing performance without requiring costly upgrades to infrastructure and without negative structural impact on the overall network. Some embodiments take advantage of hierarchical designs to further increase scalability. |
| US10015097B2 |
Fast access telecommunication tunnel cloning
A system establishes a main tunnel between a tunneling client and a tunneling server using a first socket, the main tunnel including a corresponding tunnel identifier and Internet Protocol (“IP”) address. The system traverses the encapsulated media over the main tunnel during the telecommunication session and then determines that a cloned tunnel is needed for the telecommunication session. The system establishes a cloned tunnel between the tunneling client and the tunneling server using a second socket that has been marked as a cloned tunnel candidate, where the cloned tunnel includes the corresponding tunnel identifier and IP address of the main tunnel. The system then traverses the encapsulated media over the cloned tunnel instead of the main tunnel during the telecommunication session. |
| US10015095B2 |
Flow table-based table entry addressing method, switch, and controller
The present application provides a flow table-based table entry addressing method, a switch, and a controller. The method includes: receiving, by a switch, a packet; matching, by the switch, the packet based on a previous flow table; after matching is successful, sending, by the switch based on a write storage index instruction in a flow table entry that is successfully matched, storage index information along with the packet to a lower-level flow table, where, the storage index information corresponds to a flow table entry in the lower-level flow table, and the write storage index instruction is sent by a controller; and directly addressing, by the switch in the lower-level flow table based on the storage index information, the flow table entry corresponding to the storage index information. |
| US10015093B2 |
Communication transmission system for communication protocol failures
A communication transmission system includes a server client couple by a network. The client includes a first protocol client application that uses a first communication protocol, a client first protocol stack that communicates using the first communication protocol, and a client second protocol stack that communicates using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. The client sends a first communication payload from the first protocol client application to the server using the client first protocol stack. If an error is received sending of the first communication payload, a copy of the first communication payload is sent to the server using the client second protocol stack. A second communication payload is then received from the server using the client second protocol stack in response to sending the first communication payload, and the second communication payload is provided to the first protocol application using the client first protocol stack. |
| US10015091B2 |
Method of low-bandwidth data transport
A method is disclosed for more efficiently and economically transporting data on a network using network access links between the first switch, which is the entry point of the network, and an end-user device, which is either on a fixed link on a customer premises or is a mobile device. The method includes terminating one or more protocol sessions at the first switch and removing corresponding packet headers. The first switch creates a substitute packet, adding a substitute header that identifies the transport path and the communications connection. Removed headers are not delivered to the end-user device which processes received substitute packets into usable streams based on the substitute header. |
| US10015089B1 |
Enhanced node B (eNB) backhaul network topology mapping
A method of managing a mobile communication radio access network (RAN). The method comprises reading information about network equipment from a network equipment inventory data store by an application executing on a computer system and, based on the information about network equipment read from the network equipment inventory data store, determining a backhaul network topology by the application, wherein a plurality of donor enhanced node B (eNB) devices provide backhaul communication coupling to one or more local exchange carrier (LEC) to a plurality of eNB devices. The method further comprises analyzing a performance history of the network equipment by the application based on the backhaul network topology and adapting a build-out of new equipment being added to extend the network equipment based on the analyzing of the performance history. |
| US10015085B2 |
Packet forwarding method, controller, forwarding device, and network system
A network system includes one controller and a plurality of forwarding devices, where the forwarding devices form a plurality of virtual network topologies; the controller is configured to allocate a global label to each of the plurality of virtual network topologies, and send a binding relationship between the global labels and the virtual network topologies to the forwarding devices, where global labels allocated to different virtual network topologies are different; the forwarding devices are configured to receiving the binding relationship, and generate label forwarding entries including a mapping relationship between the global labels and forwarding information bases; and when a packet received by the forwarding device carries a global label, the forwarding device searches according to the global label, a forwarding information base of a virtual network topology corresponding to the global label, and determines that the packet is to be forwarded by using the forwarding information base. |
| US10015084B2 |
Storage area network path management
A path selection module selects at least two fiber channel paths between a fiber channel host and a fiber channel destination. A trace route module performs one or more fiber channel trace route procedures for each of the at least two fiber channel paths. The trace route module provides a set of fiber channel links between the fiber channel host and the fiber channel destination for each of the at least two fiber channel paths. A record registration module registers with one or more event servers to receive link incident records for the fiber channel links in the sets of fiber channel links. |
| US10015081B1 |
Poison-path routing policy
In one embodiment a system, method, and related apparatus are described for a router which receives notice of a route including a hijacked prefix having a hijacked prefix netmask length, searches a set of routes with equal or shorter netmask lengths that cover the hijacked prefix in order to find at least one route which has no autonomous system (AS) in common with the particular route comprising the hijacked prefix, if a specific route is found with a netmask length equal to or shorter than the hijacked prefix netmask length, then the specific route which has been found is a determined alternative route, extracts the particular route comprising the hijacked prefix from the specific route if said specific route has a netmask length covering a larger address range than the hijacked prefix netmask length, inserts the determined alternative route in a routing table, and modifies attributes of the determined alternative route in the routing table according to the determined alternative route. Related systems, methods, and apparatus are also described. |
| US10015078B2 |
Policy-based order jeopardy management
An order jeopardy manager is provided that manages order jeopardy. A jeopardy order condition to be applied to an order is received. The jeopardy order condition includes an order state transition path and a jeopardy time threshold. The order state transition path includes zero or more from-states and one or more to-states to define one or more order state transitions. The order is determined to be in jeopardy when the order fails to complete one of the order state transitions within the jeopardy time threshold. A jeopardy notification is generated, responsive to the determining, indicating that the order is in jeopardy. |
| US10015077B2 |
Forwarding current request based on, at least in part, previous request(s)
Techniques are described herein that are capable of forwarding a current request based on, at least in part, previous request(s). For instance, the current request may be received at a first forwarding server from a sending server via a network. The first forwarding server may determine that a second forwarding server is associated with (e.g., receives, causes to be forwarded, or responds to) previous request(s) from the sending system. The first forwarding server may cause the current request to be forwarded to an endpoint based on, at least in part, the previous request(s) being associated with the second forwarding server. For instance, the first forwarding server may cause the current request to be forwarded to the endpoint based on, at least in part, the second forwarding server forwarding the previous request(s) to the endpoint. |
| US10015074B1 |
Abstract stack ports to enable platform-independent stacking
In one embodiment, a stack manager of an operating system on a network device configures an egress abstract stack port and an ingress abstract stack port, where the configuring maps one or more physical ports of the network device to a corresponding abstract stack port. The stack manager then transmits platform-independent egress stack discovery messages on the egress abstract port to a remote ingress abstract stack port of an adjacent stack member, and receives platform-independent ingress stack discovery messages on the ingress abstract port from a remote egress abstract stack port of an adjacent stack member. The stack manager may then provide platform-independent stacked network device operation using connectivity between the egress abstract stack port and remote ingress abstract stack port, and connectivity between the remote egress abstract stack port and ingress abstract stack port. |
| US10015073B2 |
Automatic optimal route reflector root address assignment to route reflector clients and fast failover in a network environment
Embodiments are provided for providing optimal route reflector (ORR) root address assignment to route reflector clients and fast failover capabilities in an autonomous system, including identifying a first node in an autonomous system as a candidate root node of a first routing group, identifying a client node based on a neighbor address used in a first routing protocol, mapping the neighbor address to routing information received from the client node via a second routing protocol, and associating the neighbor address with the first routing group if the routing information includes an identifier of the first routing group. In more specific embodiments, identifying the first node as a candidate root node includes determining the first node and the first routing group are advertised in a first protocol packet, and determining the first node and the second routing group are advertised in a second protocol packet. |
| US10015072B2 |
Consolidation of network test automation tools
An automated network test system includes an integrated network switch connected to a network under test. The network switch includes a first and second plurality of network switch ports. The network switch further includes a physical layer engine coupled to the first plurality of network switch ports. The network switch also includes at least one processor having a plurality of processing cores that can each asynchronously execute a test execution context and a test engine having a plurality of dynamically configurable function modules. The test engine is coupled to the second plurality of network switch ports, the physical layer engine and at least one processor. The test engine is configured for automatic testing of the network under test. |
| US10015070B1 |
Systems and methods for extending a handover trigger point for a wireless device operating in a connected mode
Systems and methods are described for extending coverage of a wireless device. A handover trigger threshold may be established for a plurality of wireless devices located in a coverage area of an access node. An attachment request may be received at the access node from at least one wireless device having a power class different from a common power class of the plurality of wireless devices. Based on the reported power class, the access node may adjust a handover trigger threshold for the at least one wireless device. The access node may instruct the at least one wireless device to extend its coverage until the adjusted handover trigger threshold is met. |
| US10015067B2 |
Automatically verifying logic of protocol messages exchanged between devices during a communication session
A device may receive a file that includes a log of messages for messages communicated among multiple devices during a communication session. The device may analyze the file to determine information associated with the messages. The device may identify a request message from a first device of the multiple devices to a second device of the multiple devices using the information determined from the file. The device may determine whether the second device transmitted a response message based on receiving the request message from the first device. The device may determine whether the response message corresponds to the request message. The device may determine whether the response message is associated with a pass status or a fail status. The device may perform an action based on whether the response message is associated with the pass status or the fail status. |
| US10015058B2 |
Reliability evaluation system for multi-state flow network and method thereof
Disclosed are a reliability evaluation system for multi-state flow network and a method thereof. The system includes an element-gaining module and a reliability calculation module. The method includes using a GCF calculating means to calculate an initial reliability according a first and second system-state vector, comparing values of all elements in a set being composed of elements of a second grade of a third system-state vector, excluding an element with a greater value and other related thereof in all grades in the third system-state vector when only one element in the set except the element with greater values so as to obtain remaining elements, using the GCF calculating means to perform the calculation of the remaining element to obtain a calculation results, and summing the initial reliability and the calculation results so as to obtain a reliability of the multi-state flow network. |
| US10015057B2 |
Representative bandwidth calculation systems and methods in a network
Systems and methods for a representative bandwidth calculation in a network include receiving a request for representative bandwidth information; obtaining network measurements; combining, filtering, and retiming network measurements based on the request to determine the representative bandwidth information. The systems and methods convert the combined, filtered, and retimed network measurements into the representative bandwidth information which has an additive property in an algebraic domain. The additive property enables the representative bandwidth information to be used for admission control, overbooking determinations, network planning, and/or dynamic pricing in the network. |
| US10015053B2 |
Transport software defined networking (SDN)—logical link aggregation (LAG) member signaling
Disclosed herein is a transport software defined networking (SDN) controller, comprising a receiver configured to receive advertisement messages from physical layer NEs, each advertisement message indicating a mapping between a physical layer network elements (NE) port and an adjacent network layer NE, and a processor coupled to the receiver. The SDC controller is configured to determine a relationship between a logical topology and a physical topology, inspect a network layer link aggregation group (LAG) request, the request indicating a first network layer NE is requesting modification of a LAG with a second network layer NE, and modify a physical layer connection between a physical layer NE adjacent to the first network layer NE and a second physical layer NE adjacent to the second network layer NE to implement the LAG modification based on the relationship between the physical topology and the logical topology. |
| US10015052B2 |
Cross layer coordinated channel bonding
Different data communication architectures receive a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, for consumers. The architectures employ channel bonding to deliver more bandwidth than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures receive distributed video programming in the form of MPEG2 TS packets, flagged by marker packets. Channel bonding synchronization information may be present in packets defined above the data-link layer or received in fields within data-link layer frames. |
| US10015048B2 |
Programmable protocol parser for NIC classification and queue assignments
Technologies for controlling operation of a compute node coupled to a computer network via a computing device that includes communications for communicating with the computer network and persistent instructions such as firmware for providing control functions to the computing device, wherein the control functions being defined at least in part by protocol data. An update control module of the computing device may receive update data from a remote node in the computer network via the communications, wherein the update data comprising new protocol data for the persistent instructions. A protocol parser module may parse the update data and generate metadata relating to the update data. A classifier module may receive rules for the control functions, wherein the rules are based at least in part on the update data and metadata. A compiler may compile the parsed update data to the persistent instructions for providing new control functions to the computing device based at least in part on the received rules. |
| US10015047B2 |
Autonomic computer configuration based on location
A system and apparatus for noticing and creating relational settings, actions, profiles, and tasks by tying resources to a location based on user behavior. |
| US10015045B2 |
Communication apparatus that delays a start of data communication based on information obtained from another communication apparatus, method for controlling the same, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
A communication apparatus, comprises a forming unit configured to form a wireless network with another communication apparatus; and a control unit configured to control a start timing of data communication with the other communication apparatus based on role information of the communication apparatus in the wireless network. |
| US10015042B2 |
System and method for data replication using a single master failover protocol
A system that implements a data storage service may store data on behalf of storage service clients. The system may maintain data in multiple replicas of various partitions that are stored on respective computing nodes in the system. The system may employ a single master failover protocol, usable when a replica attempts to become the master replica for a replica group of which it is a member. Attempting to become the master replica may include acquiring a lock associated with the replica group, and gathering state information from the other replicas in the group. The state information may indicate whether another replica supports the attempt (in which case it is included in a failover quorum) or stores more recent data or metadata than the replica attempting to become the master (in which case synchronization may be required). If the failover quorum includes enough replicas, the replica may become the master. |
| US10015041B2 |
Providing network connectivity for a service disruption
According to some aspects, disclosed methods and systems may include receiving a message indicating a loss of connectivity to a network of a distressed device associated with a location. The method may include connecting, via one or more network devices, to the distressed device associated with the location. The method may also include transmitting information between the distressed device and the network. |
| US10015039B2 |
Systems and methods for supporting a SNMP request over a cluster
The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for supporting Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) request operations over clustered networking devices. The system includes a cluster that includes a plurality of intermediary devices and an SNMP agent executing on a first intermediary device of the plurality of intermediary devices. The SNMP agent receives an SNMP GETNEXT request for an entity. Responsive to receipt of the SNMP GETNEXT request, the SNMP agent requests a next entity from each intermediary device of the plurality of intermediary devices of the cluster. To respond to the SNMP request, the SNMP agent selects a lexicographically minimum entity. The SNMP agent may select the lexicographically minimum entity from a plurality of next entities received via responses from each intermediary device of the plurality of intermediary devices. |
| US10015038B1 |
Pulse quadrature modulator and method
A pulse quadrature modulator generates both alpha and beta binary signals, each one serial bit switched at an RF carrier frequency at a fraction of a high speed quantization clock. The alpha and beta binary signals each have respective alpha and beta pulse edges nominally occurring at two times the RF carrier frequency. The alpha and beta pulse edges alternate respectively. The alpha and beta pulse edges are each synchronized to the high speed quantization clock switched based on the baseband I and Q signal inputs. First and second switches gate a power signal using a respective of the alpha or beta binary signals to respectively produce first and second power outputs. The first and second switches differentially drive an RF load such as an antenna across the first and second power outputs having pulse edges at nominally at an integer multiple of four times the RF carrier frequency. |
| US10015025B2 |
Semiconductor device performing de-skew operation
A semiconductor device includes a first data transmitting/receiving circuit, a second data transmitting/receiving circuit, and a plurality of channels configured to couple the first and second data transmitting/receiving circuits. The first data transmitting/receiving circuit includes a Tx delay unit configured to transmit data to the plurality of channels, an Rx delay unit configured to receive data from the plurality of channels, and a de-skew control unit configured to control delay amounts of the Tx delay unit and the Rx delay unit according to phase information of reference clock signals received through the plurality of channels. |
| US10015019B2 |
Production of cryptographic signatures
A method and system configured to produce a cryptographic signature on a message, under a key, at a user computer wherein the key is shared between the user computer, which stores a first key-share, and an authentication computer, which stores a second key-share and a first authentication value. The user computer encodes the message to produce a blinded message, produces the first authentication value from a user password and a secret value, and produces a second authentication value by encoding the first authentication value and a nonce. The authentication computer uses the nonce to determine if the first authentication value is correct and, if so, encodes the blinded message using the second key-share to produce a partial signature. The user computer produces a signature on the message under the key by encoding the partial signature and the message using the first key-share and an unblinding function. |
| US10015015B1 |
Method and apparatus for verifying system log integrity
The techniques presented herein provide for verifying the integrity of an encryption key log file generated on a data storage system. Encryption key activity events associated with a storage system's back-end storage drives are identified. A unique signature is generated for each encryption key activity event. Each encryption key activity event and its corresponding signature are stored in an audit log file. An audit log hash file is generated using the contents of the audit log file. At an external location, the audit log file and the audit log hash file are retrieved from the storage system. The integrity of the retrieved audit log file is verified by generating a local audit log hash file and comparing the local audit log hash file to the retrieved audit log hash file and determining if the local audit log hash file matches the retrieved audit log hash file. |
| US10015011B2 |
Apparatus and method for secure communication on a compound channel
The anti-diversity concept for secure communication on a two-link compound channel provides secure communication over two parallel communication channels. The message is split into two separate bit sequences by a source splitter. An error correction encoder (110) is applied to the two bit sequences to provide two code words for two channels (122, 124), such that left and right halves of an error correction code matrix respectively corresponds to the two parallel signal channels (122, 124). For the left half of the error correction code matrix, an upper left matrix block is a random permutation matrix, an upper right block is the identity matrix, and the bottom right matrix block is a random matrix of column and row weight greater than or equal to one. The bottom left matrix block is a column permutation of the bottom right, random matrix block. The right half error correction code matrix is a similar, symmetric structure. |
| US10015010B2 |
SM4 acceleration processors, methods, systems, and instructions
A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of packed data registers, and a decode unit to decode an instruction. The instruction is to indicate one or more source packed data operands. The one or more source packed data operands are to have four 32-bit results of four prior SM4 cryptographic rounds, and four 32-bit values. The processor also includes an execution unit coupled with the decode unit and the plurality of the packed data registers. The execution unit, in response to the instruction, is to store four 32-bit results of four immediately subsequent and sequential SM4 cryptographic rounds in a destination storage location that is to be indicated by the instruction. |
| US10015008B2 |
Format-preserving encryption of Base64 encoded data
A computer-implemented method for encrypting binary data may include encoding raw binary data in Base64 format to generate Base64 binary data. The Base64 binary data may be encrypted, by a computer processor, using format-preserving encryption to generate Base64 ciphertext. The Base64 ciphertext may be validatable by a Base64 validator. |
| US10015005B2 |
Clock data recovery circuit, electronic device, and clock data recovery method
A clock data recovery circuit includes an oscillator that outputs a first clock and a second clock having the same frequency and a different phase, and a feedback circuit that controls the oscillator so as to synchronize input data and the first clock, the feedback circuit including a controller that controls the oscillator in response to a frequency difference signal and a phase difference signal, a first difference detector that generates a first difference signal, a second difference detector that generates a second difference signal, and a frequency detector that outputs the frequency difference signal based on the first difference signal and the second difference signal, the frequency detector including a state detector that detects one of the rising state or the falling state, and a state holder that holds a state detected in the first phase and outputs the frequency difference signal. |
| US10015001B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving system information
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving system information. The method for transmitting comprises: determining a system information repetition transmission resource area within a system information scheduling period, wherein the system information repetition transmission resource area comprises resource elements for repetitively transmitting the system information; and the receiving method comprises: a terminal detecting system information within a system information scheduling period, wherein the system information is system information transmitted on a broadcast channel and system information transmitted on a system information repetition transmission resource area, the system information repetition transmission resource area comprises resource elements for repetitively transmitting the system information. |
| US10014998B2 |
Receiving apparatus and transmitting-receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus includes: a control signal channel estimator to estimate a channel for a control signal using a pilot signal extracted from a received signal, and generate a first channel estimate value; a control signal FED unit to perform frequency domain equalization processing on the control signal by using the first channel estimate value; a control signal demodulator to demodulate the equalized control signal; a control signal encoder to encode a demodulated equalized control signal; an FFT unit to generate, from the encoded equalized control signal, a control signal replica; a data channel estimator to estimate a channel for the data signal by using the control signal replica and the first channel estimate value; and a data FDE unit to perform frequency domain equalization processing on the data signal by using the second channel estimate value. |
| US10014995B2 |
Data transmission method, data reception and detection method, base station and user equipment
The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and provides a data transmission method, a data reception and detection method, a base station and a UE on the basis of a non-orthogonal mode. Before the transmission of pieces of data on physical resources by the base station, a plurality of pieces of data is firstly mapped to the physical resources at an amount not greater than the number of the pieces of data, each piece of data in the plurality of pieces of data is mapped to at least one physical resource, and the number of the physical resources to which each piece of data is mapped is not completely the same. Then, the pieces of data on the physical resources are transmitted by the base station. According to the present disclosure, it is able to transmit more pieces of data through fewer physical resources, thereby to improve the data transmission capability for the communication system. |
| US10014991B2 |
Methods for long term evolution (LTE) transmission bursts to improve spectral efficiency in unlicensed frequency channels and indoor scenarios
Modifications to frame/subframe structure are presented herein so that a wireless device can transmit its data within a fraction of a subframe. The device obtains data to be transmitted in an unlicensed spectrum and determines whether an entire subframe is required to completely communicate the data. If the data is small enough to not require the entire subframe, then the device generates a burst transmission to minimize the time period of the subframe used to communicate the data. The device transmits the burst transmission and a parameter indicating the duration of the burst transmission. |
| US10014986B2 |
Carrier aggregation of TDD and FDD subframes for uplink HARQ feedback
Method comprises determining a first HARQ timing wherein an association determines which UL subframes in the TDD carrier that are defined for transmitting HARQ on an UL control channel for an associated set of DL subframes in the FDD carrier, determining a second HARQ timing, wherein an association determines which UL subframes that are defined for transmitting HARQ on an UL shared channel for an associated set of DL subframes in the FDD carrier, resulting in a first set of UL subframes for which the physical UL shared channel is enabled to comprise HARQ, and a second set of UL subframes is not comprising HARQ, and assigning UL channel resources for the HARQ feedback on the physical UL shared channel in said first set of UL subframes, according to said second DL HARQ timing, when there is no UL control channel assigned according to said first DL HARQ timing. |
| US10014980B2 |
Communication device and communication system
According to one embodiment, a communication device 1 operating as a publisher calculates parity of a certain size which is capable of being commonly used for each of different data units from data to be sent each time receiving a lost notification from one or more communication device 1 operating as subscribers, the lost notification indicating that one or more data units are lost, and sends the calculated parity to the one or more communication devices 1 operating as the subscribers. |
| US10014973B2 |
Wavelength indication in multiple-wavelength passive optical networks
A method and apparatus for communications in a passive optical network (PON) system are provided. An optical line terminal (OLT) generates a PON downstream Physical Layer (PHY) frame comprising a downstream physical synchronization block (PSBd) that comprises a wavelength identification (ID) of at least one downstream wavelength of the plurality of downstream wavelengths. The OLT sends the PON PHY frame comprising the wavelength ID in the PSBd to ONU for confirming the at least one downstream wavelength. |
| US10014970B2 |
Mitigation of inter-base station resynchronization loss in LTE/LTE-A networks with contention-based shared frequency spectrum
Mitigation of inter-base station resynchronization loss in wireless networks including contention-based shared frequency spectrum is discussed. Aspects of such mitigation provide for base stations entering into an idle mode when a transmission opportunity occurs in a radio frame of the next resynchronization occasion. Additional aspects provide for the base station to signal a flexible listen before talk (LBT) frame length to the user equipment (UE), either with or without explicit signaling of the downlink-uplink division. Further aspects provide for the base station to signal a reset indication to UEs that will prompt the UEs to monitor for downlink channel reserving signals prior to the current LBT frame ending by the resynchronization occasion. |
| US10014969B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing interference by using network in downlink transmission of cellular communication system using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing method
The present invention presents a method by which a base station notifies a terminal of information on a tone into which interference caused by surrounding cells greatly flows, and by which a terminal uses the information so as to efficiently remove the interference caused by the surrounding cells and to demodulate data channels, such that the method improves reception performance. Particularly, when the surrounding cells transmit cell-specific reference signals, the base station transmits, to the terminal, location information of the cell-specific reference signals transmitted by the surrounding cells, and the terminal demodulates the received data except for a data channel tone in which cell-specific reference signals of the surrounding cells greatly cause interference. The present invention can improve data reception performance by efficiently removing the interference caused by the surrounding cells. |
| US10014964B2 |
Antenna element self-test and monitoring
A method of testing a phased array antenna that includes a plurality of antenna element pairs, each antenna element pair of the plurality of antenna element pairs including a first antenna element and a second antenna element, the method including: for each antenna element pair of the plurality of antenna element pairs, performing a first cross element gain measurement from the first antenna element to the second antenna element of that antenna element pair; and determining whether there is a problem associated with the phased array antenna by examining the first cross element gain measurements for the plurality of antenna element pairs. |
| US10014959B2 |
Standing wave reduction in direct field acoustic testing
A direct field acoustic testing system includes at least two acoustical transducer groups and a signal modifier for introducing separately controllable time delays or phase shifts for each acoustical transducer group so as to provide an acoustic field conforming to a pre-determined specification with reduced deviations due to constructive or destructive interference between the acoustical transducer groups. |
| US10014955B1 |
Signal processing circuit with optical local oscillator signal
Provided are apparatus including a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit may be configured to process an input signal having an input bandwidth spanning a range of input radio frequencies, and may include a local oscillator to produce a local oscillator signal. In one embodiment, the signal processing circuit can include a staring mode of operation. In one embodiment, the signal processing circuit can include a selective mode of operation. In one embodiment, the signal processing circuit can include a staring mode of operation and a selective mode of operation. |
| US10014953B2 |
Optical receiver circuit and adjustment method for same
An optical receiver circuit includes: a substrate; and an optical waveguide device that is formed on the substrate. The optical waveguide device includes: a first optical splitter section branching the signal light into a first signal light propagation waveguide and a second signal light propagation waveguide and; a second optical splitter section branching the local-oscillator light into a first local-oscillator light propagation waveguide and a second local-oscillator light propagation waveguide; a first optical coupler section that combines the signal light propagating through the first signal light propagation waveguide and the local-oscillator light propagating through the first local-oscillator light propagation waveguide with each other; a second optical coupler section that combines the signal light propagating through the second signal light propagation waveguide and the local-oscillator light propagating through the second local-oscillator light propagation waveguide with each other. |
| US10014950B2 |
56 Gbps PAM4 driver module for mach zehnder modulator
A PAM4 driver with at least 56 Gbps speed for driving a Mach-Zehnder modulator. The PAM4 driver is configured as 2-bit CMOS digital-to-analog convertor including a drive control module for receiving a pair of incoming differential digital data and generating a first processed reference signal and a second processed reference signal. The PAM4 driver further includes a mirrored buffer circuit to produce two sets of four voltage levels. Furthermore, the PAM4 driver includes a decoder module controlled by a switch bias control module configured to decode each of the two sets of four voltage levels for generating a first output signal and a complementary second out signal with 4 independently adjustable analog levels for driving the Mach-Zehnder modulator with close ended termination resistor. |
| US10014946B2 |
Node device, repeater and methods for use therewith
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a node device includes an interface configured to receive first signals. A plurality of coupling devices are configured to launch the first signals on a transmission medium as a plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves at corresponding plurality of non-optical carrier frequencies, wherein the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves are bound to a physical structure of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US10014943B2 |
Optical source, communications network optical apparatus and method of providing an optical signal
An optical source (10) comprising: a first laser (12) arranged to generate a first optical signal (14) having a first state of polarization and a first optical frequency; a second laser (16) arranged to generate a second optical signal (18, 48, 78) having a second state of polarization, substantially orthogonal to the first state of polarization, and having a second optical frequency, different to the first optical frequency by a preselected frequency difference, Δν; a polarization beam coupler (20) arranged to combine the first optical signal and the second optical signal into a composite optical signal comprising both the first optical signal and the second optical signal having said substantially orthogonal states of polarization; and an output (22) arranged to output the composite optical signal (24). |
| US10014942B2 |
Optical splitter
A fiber optic tap system includes a first receiver module having an input port configured to receive an optical fiber. The first receiver module is operable to convert a received optical signal to an electrical signal. A first transmitter module is coupled to receive the electrical signal from the first receiver module and convert the received electrical signal to an optical signal. The first transmitter module has an output port for outputting the optical signal. A first tap module is coupled to receive the electrical signal from the first receiver module. |
| US10014940B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for visible light communication
There is provided a method of transmitting a visible light signal in visible light communication, including binarizing data to be transmitted into a binary bit representation, encoding the data for transmission by modulating one or more of a plurality of light emitting regions between a first state and a second state based on the binary bit representation of the data, and transmitting the visible light signal in the form of light emitted by one or more of the plurality of modulated light emitting regions, the visible light signal being decodable to obtain the data. There is also provided a method of transmitting a visible light signal in visible light communication which includes modulating one or more second sets of light emitting regions within the capture region between a first state and a second state based on the bit representations of one or more previous data for enabling error detection. Corresponding methods of receiving a visible light signal and systems are also provided. |
| US10014938B2 |
Optical network terminal wavelength notification
Techniques are described for indicating a wavelength at which a network interface device is configured to operate. A first controller circuit may determine a wavelength at which the network interface device is operating. The wavelength at which the network interface device is operating includes at least one of an optical wavelength at which a laser of the network interface device is transmitting optical data or an optical wavelength at which a photodiode of the network interface device is receiving optical data. A second controller circuit may cause the network interface device to output a sensory output that indicates the wavelength at which the network interface device is operating. |
| US10014937B1 |
Timing synchronization and intrusion detection via an optical supervisory channel (OSC)
A device may receive, via a first optical supervisory channel, a first timing signal from a first network node. The first timing signal may be generated by a first clock, of the first network node, and may be used to synchronize the first clock, of the first network node, and a second clock of a second network node. The device may determine a parameter value based on the first timing signal, and may determine whether the parameter value satisfies a threshold value. The device may selectively transmit, via a second optical supervisory channel, a second timing signal to the second network node based on determining whether the parameter value satisfies the threshold value. The second timing signal may be used to synchronize the second clock, of the second network node, with the first clock of the first network node. |
| US10014935B2 |
Multiple-acquisition OTDR method and device
An OTDR device and method for characterizing one or more events in an optical fiber link are provided. A plurality of light acquisitions is performed. For each light acquisition, test light pulses are propagated in the optical fiber link and the corresponding return light signals from the optical fiber link are detected. The light acquisitions are performed under different acquisition conditions, for example using different pulsewidths or wavelengths. Parameters characterizing the event are derived using the detected return signal from at least two of the plurality of light acquisitions. |
| US10014933B2 |
Transmitting communications traffic across an optical communication network
A method of transmitting communications traffic in an optical communication network comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising, at a source node: receiving communications traffic to be transmitted across the optical communication network to a target node; obtaining a path sequence defining an order in which a plurality of optical paths from the source node to the target node across the optical communication network are to be used, at least part of each optical path being spatially separate from each other optical path; and transmitting the communications traffic as a series of traffic portions, each traffic portion being transmitted for a respective preselected transmission period on a respective optical path according to the path sequence. |
| US10014926B1 |
Symbol quality estimation for adaptive beam-forming
A method for performing efficient hardware implementation of adaptive beam-forming includes: computing a threshold for a symbol describing a beam; estimate a power for the symbol; using the threshold, select a symbol having a power below the threshold; using the selected symbols, calculating an average power of the selected symbols having the second through nth highest powers; using the average power, estimating a symbol quality; transmitting a reference symbol; receiving the reference symbol; using the received reference symbol, estimating an alpha quality; and using one or more of the symbol quality estimate and the alpha quality estimate, computing a weight for one or more of the symbols. |
| US10014917B2 |
Triggered uplink transmissions in wireless local area networks
In a method for communicating in a wireless communication network a trigger frame is generated to trigger simultaneous uplink transmissions by multiple communication devices. The trigger frame includes a padding portion having a length determined based on respective time duration requirements of the multiple communication devices, the respective time duration requirements for preparing uplink transmission by the corresponding second communication devices. The trigger frame is transmitted to the multiple communication devices. The simultaneous uplink transmissions, triggered by the trigger frame, are received from the multiple communication devices. |
| US10014915B2 |
Antenna pattern matching and mounting
A technique for improving wireless communication characteristics involving matching transmitter antenna patterns to receiver antenna patterns. In a specific implementation, the transmitter antenna pattern adapts to changing parameters, such as when a smartphone is initially held in a first orientation and is later held in a second orientation. Because the transmitter antenna pattern matches receiver antenna patterns, signal quality between stations improves. In some implementations, antennas are organized and mounted to maximize spatial diversity to cause peak gains in different directions. |
| US10014914B1 |
Adaptive interference canceller for multiple reference inputs
An interference canceller and a method for canceling interference are disclosed. The interference canceller includes: a subtractor to receive a primary signal including a desired signal and multiple interferers and to generate an output signal including the desired signal; a plurality of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters, wherein each FIR filter receives a reference signal from a plurality of reference signals and outputs a filtered reference signal; and a plurality of loop filters, wherein each loop filter outputs coefficients. In the interference canceller, each of the reference signals includes signals from a subset of the multiple interferers, each loop filter corresponds to one of the FIR filters and receives the corresponding reference signal, each loop filter receives the output signal, the output coefficients of each loop filter are based on the output signal and the corresponding reference signal, the output coefficients adaptively adjust the filtered reference signal of the corresponding FIR filter, and the subtractor subtracts each of the filtered reference signals from the primary signal to generate the output signal. |
| US10014910B2 |
Method for distributed mobile communications, corresponding system and computer program product
A method of arranging exchange of signals between user terminals in a cellular communication system and at least one base station. The base station includes a central unit and a plurality of remote units. The signals are exchanged between the central unit and the remote units as aggregated signals for plural user terminals. The signals are processed at the remote units as distinct signals each associated with a respective one of the plural user terminals. |
| US10014909B2 |
Communication device, communication method, and communication system
There is provided a communication device including a transmission unit configured to transmit a modulated signal obtained by performing frequency conversion to convert a baseband signal output by a first electronic device into a signal with a higher frequency band than the baseband signal, using a waveguide as a transmission path, and a detection target mechanism corresponding to a mechanism included in a second electronic device that receives the baseband signal output by the first electronic device, the detection target mechanism being configured to be connected to the first electronic device and to be detected by the first electronic device when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected. |
| US10014903B2 |
Non-reciprocal transmission apparatus with different backward and forward propagation constants, provided for circularly polarized wave antenna apparatus
In a circularly polarized wave antenna apparatus including a non-reciprocal transmission line apparatus having forward and backward propagation constants different from each other, the non-reciprocal transmission line apparatus includes a transmission line part for a microwave, a series branch circuit equivalently including a capacitive element, and a shunt branch circuit branched from the transmission line part and equivalently includes an inductive element. The non-reciprocal transmission line apparatus is formed in a nonlinear shape and magnetized in a magnetization direction different from a propagation direction of the microwave. The non-reciprocal transmission line apparatus includes first and second reflectors provided at both ends of the non-reciprocal transmission line apparatus, respectively, and reflecting a signal; and satisfies that a phase difference between each pair of line parts located at positions opposed to each other across a substantially central part of the non-reciprocal transmission line apparatus is substantially 180 degrees. |
| US10014901B1 |
Fully integrated complete multi-band RF frontend system integrated circuit (IC) chip
According to one embodiment, an RF frontend IC device includes a first RF transceiver to transmit and receive RF signals within a first predetermined frequency band and a second RF transceiver to transmit and receive RF signals within a second predetermined frequency band. The RF frontend IC device further includes a full-band frequency synthesizer coupled to the first and second RF transceivers to perform frequency synthetization in a wide frequency spectrum, including the first and second frequency bands. The full-band frequency synthesizer generates a first LO signal and a second LO signal for the first RF transceiver and the second RF transceiver to enable the first RF transceiver and the second RF transceiver to transmit and receive RF signals within the first frequency band the second frequency band respectively. The first RF transceiver, the second RF transceiver, and the full-band frequency synthesizer are integrated within a single IC chip. |
| US10014897B2 |
Proximal user detection with measurement receiver
A method, communication device, and computer program product mitigate Specific Absorption Rating (SAR) exposure to a user proximate to a communication device. The method includes an on-device measurement receiver of a communication device detecting a first signal level corresponding to power delivered to a first antenna. The method includes a controller determining a first return loss value based on a first transmit power setting and the first signal level. The method includes the controller determining whether the first return loss value differs from a baseline value by a threshold amount. In response to the controller determining that the first return loss value differs by the threshold amount, the controller causes the communication device to reduce the power delivered to the first antenna. |
| US10014895B2 |
Receiver, radio communication device, and radio communication method
A receiver has an oscillator to output an oscillation signal, a receiver to perform reception processing of a reception signal, a phase frequency detector to output a first signal in response to a phase and a frequency of the oscillation signal so as to generate a second signal indicating a reference phase, a differentiator to generate a third signal being a difference between the first signal and the second signal, an oscillator controller to generate a fourth signal for controlling a phase and a frequency of the oscillator, a phase initializer to output an initialization signal for synchronizing a phase of the second signal with a phase of the first signal, a trigger signal generator to output a trigger signal indicating timing with which the phase initializer outputs the initialization signal, and a power supply controller to control whether to supply a power supply voltage. |
| US10014894B2 |
Down-conversion circuit
A down-conversion circuit for a receiver circuit is disclosed, the down-conversion circuit comprises a first passive switching mixer arranged to down-convert a received radio frequency, RF, signal with a first local oscillator, LO, signal (LO1) having a first duty cycle for generating a first down-converted signal at an output port of the first passive switching mixer. The down-conversion circuit further comprises a second passive switching mixer arranged to down-convert the received RF signal with a second LO signal (LO2) having the same LO frequency as the first LO signal (LO1) and a second duty cycle, different from the first duty cycle, for generating a second down-converted signal at an output port of the second passive switching mixer. In addition, the down-conversion circuit comprises a passive output combiner network operatively connected to the output ports of the first passive switching mixer and the second passive switching mixer and arranged to combine the first and the second down-converted signals such that harmonically down-converted signal content present in the first down-converted signal and harmonically down-converted signal content present in the second down-converted signal cancel in a combined output signal of the down-conversion circuit. The passive output combiner network is tunable to adjust magnitudes and phases of the first and the second down-converted signals. A related quadrature down-conversion circuit, a related receiver circuit, a related communication device, and a related calibration method are also disclosed. |
| US10014893B2 |
Receiver circuit
A receiver circuit comprising a beamformer and an MRC-block. The beamformer configured to: apply combination-weighting-values to a first-BF-input-signal and a second-BF-input-signal in order to provide a BF-combination-signal; and apply suppression-weighting-values to the first-BF-input-signal and the second-BF-input-signal in order to provide a BF-suppression-signal. The MRC-block comprising: a first-demodulator configured to demodulate the BF-combination-signal in order to provide a demodulated-combination-signal that comprises bit metrics; a second-demodulator configured to demodulate the BF-suppression-signal in order to provide a demodulated-suppression-signal that comprises bit metrics; and a combiner configured to combine the demodulated-combination-signal with the demodulated-suppression-signal in order to provide an MRC-output-signal. |
| US10014887B1 |
Outphasing transmitters with improved wireless transmission performance and manufacturability
An outphasing transmitter includes a decomposition block, first and second power amplifiers, and antennas in a phased array antenna panel. The decomposition block decomposes a composite input signal into first and second decomposed radio frequency (RF) signals. The first and second decomposed RF signals are coupled to the first and second power amplifiers respectively. First and second non-overlapping sub-arrays of the antennas may be uniquely associated with the first and second power amplifiers respectively. Alternatively, first and second groups of interleaved antenna rows may be uniquely associated with the first and second power amplifiers respectively. Alternatively, first and second random pluralities of the antennas may be randomly hard-wired to the first and second power amplifiers respectively. Alternatively, first and second pluralities of the antennas may be dynamically and selectably assigned to the first and second power amplifiers respectively. |
| US10014886B2 |
Reducing power amplifier gain drift during a data burst
A bias circuit provides additional bias current for power amplifiers during data bursts to compensate for the gain droop caused by a rise in the power amplifier temperature during the data burst. A bias circuit includes a difference amplifier and switches coupled to the difference amplifier. The switches operate the bias circuit in a first mode when a transmit data burst is detected and operate the bias circuit in a second mode after the bias circuit has operated in the first mode for a predetermined period of time. In the first mode, the bias circuit charges a storage capacitor and sets an output current to zero. In the second mode, the bias circuit outputs the output current that increases above the initial value of zero as the PA warms up, where the excursion of this increase of current is determined by a register. The switches disable the bias circuit when the transmit data burst ends. |
| US10014885B2 |
Method and apparatus for cooling a telecommunication device
An apparatus for cooling a telecommunication device includes a controller, a first cooling unit, a second cooling unit, and at least one sensor. The first cooling unit includes a heat sink that dissipates heat from the telecommunication device. The second cooling unit includes an airflow generator that, when activated, provides an airflow that dissipates heat from the telecommunication device. The at least one sensor is operably connected with the telecommunication device. The controller is configured to compare a temperature detected by the at least one sensor to a first threshold temperature specified such that a load of the telecommunication device shall be reduced when the temperature detected by the at least one sensor exceeds the first threshold temperature. The controller is configured to activate or increase the airflow provided by the second cooling unit if the temperature detected by the at least one sensor exceeds the first threshold temperature. |
| US10014881B2 |
Multiple erasure codes for distributed storage
Embodiments relate to dynamically selecting an erasure code. State data is tracked to ascertain frequency of file access. One of at least two erasure codes are selected based on the tracked state data in order to lower data recovery cost. The erasure code may be selected as either a product code or a local reconstruction code. Each erasure code includes a mode that is either a fast code or a compact code. The fast code features a low recovery cost and the compact code features a low storage overhead for less frequently accessed data. Data is encoded with one of the selected erasure codes and one of the modes of the selected erasure code. Data blocks are dynamically converted between the fast and compact codes of the selected erasure code responsive to a workload change. |
| US10014877B1 |
Multi-segmented all logic DAC
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a plurality of segments, wherein the plurality of segments includes a first segment electronically coupled to each of the plurality of segments, wherein the first segment includes a predetermined number of most significant bits (MSB), a second segment electronically coupled to each of the plurality of segments, wherein the second segment includes a first predetermined number of least significant bits (LSB), and a third segment electronically coupled with each of the plurality of segments, wherein the third segment includes a second predetermined number of LSBs. Additionally, the DAC includes an all logic implementation. |
| US10014875B1 |
Analog-to-digital converter
An analog-to-digital converter including a converter arrangement configured to provide a digital output signal as an output of the analog-to-digital converter based on an analog input signal comprising an input to the analog-to-digital converter, the analog-to-digital converter including a calibration module configured to provide calibration signalling to set one or more of a gain of one or more components of the converter arrangement and an offset of one or more components of the converter arrangement, the calibration module further configured to provide, as an output, diagnostic information based on the calibration signalling for use in determining the occurrence of a fault in the analog-to-digital converter. |
| US10014874B1 |
System and method of minimizing differential non-linearity (DNL) for high resolution current steering DAC
A current steering converter fabricated using a predetermined integrated circuit technology includes a unary portion having one or more current sources and a binary portion including a plurality of switches controlled by a decoder, the switches coupled to a converter output; and a plurality of devices commonly connected at a first end and coupled to each respective switch at a second end, wherein each device size comprises (W/L)*M, where W/L is a width and length of the device and M is an integer representing multiple number. |
| US10014873B1 |
Resistor ladder digital-to-analog converter with mismatch correction and method therefor
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a plurality of resistive elements connected together in series to form a ring of resistive elements. A node is formed by each of the connections of adjacent resistive elements of the ring. Groups of parallel-connected switches are coupled to each node. A first switch of the group of switches is for selectively coupling a first power supply voltage terminal to the node. A second switch of the group of switches is for selectively coupling a second power supply voltage to the node. A third switch of the group of switches is for selectively coupling an output terminal to the node. A differential or single-ended analog output may be provided. Mismatch induced error is removed using a mismatch error shaping technique that shapes the errors outside a pass-band. |
| US10014871B2 |
Asynchronous successive approximation analog-to-digital converter and related methods and apparatus
An ultrasound device including an asynchronous successive approximation analog-to-digital converter and method are provided. The device includes at least one ultrasonic transducer, a plurality of asynchronous successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADC) coupled to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, at least one asynchronous SAR in the plurality having a sample and hold stage, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a comparator, and control circuitry, wherein a DAC update event following at least one bit conversion is synchronized to a corresponding DAC update event of at least one other ADC in the plurality of ADCs. |
| US10014866B2 |
Clock alignment scheme for data macros of DDR PHY
A master-slave delay locked loop system comprises a master delay locked loop (“MDLL”) for generating at least one bias voltage and at least one slave delay locked loop (“SDLL”). The at least one SDLL is coupled to the MDLL, where the at least one SDLL comprises an analog to digital converter for converting the at least one bias voltage to at least one digital signal, an adder/subtractor block for adjusting the at least one digital signal based on at least one control signal, a digital to analog converter for converting the at least one adjusted digital signal to at least one analog signal, a voltage to current converter for converting the at least one analog signal to at least one bias current, delay elements for generating phase delayed signals based on the at least one bias current, and a phase detector and control logic for determining any phase difference between the phase delayed signals and for generating the at least one control signal to align the phase delayed signals. |
| US10014864B2 |
Wide operating level shifters
Aspects of wide operating range level shifter designs are described. One embodiment includes a level shifter configured to receive an input signal in a first voltage domain and generate an output signal in a second voltage domain, a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse in response to sensing a rise transition on the input signal, and a droop circuit configured to decouple at least a portion of the level shifter from the second voltage domain in response to the pulse. According to one aspect of the embodiments, the pulse can be provided to the droop circuit to decouple at least a portion of the level shifter from the second voltage domain and reduce contention between transistors in the level shifter. Using the concepts described herein, the worst case rise time delay for level shifters can be significantly reduced. |
| US10014860B2 |
On-die termination
Local on-die termination controllers for effecting termination of a high-speed signaling links simultaneously engage on-die termination structures within multiple integrated-circuit memory devices disposed on the same memory module, and/or within the same integrated-circuit package, and coupled to the high-speed signaling link. A termination control bus is coupled to memory devices on a module, and provides for peer-to-peer communication of termination control signals. |
| US10014857B2 |
Signal output circuit
A signal output circuit includes a signal conversion element, a signal output transistor, a first resistor element, a second resistor element, a diode, a malfunction-prevention transistor, and a capacitance-compensating capacitor. The signal output transistor establishes electrical conduction between two conductive terminals when an on signal is supplied to a conduction control terminal via the signal conversion element. The diode is connected in parallel to the second resistor element in a direction in which current flows between a signal output terminal of the signal conversion element and the conduction control terminal of the signal output transistor when an on signal is outputted to the signal output terminal. The malfunction-prevention transistor establishes electrical conduction between two conductive terminals when a current flows through the second resistor element in a direction opposite the direction of the diode. The capacitance-compensating capacitor is connected in parallel to the second resistor element. |
| US10014855B2 |
Electric power conversion circuit including switches and bootstrap circuits, and electric power transmission system including electric power conversion circuit
An electric power conversion circuit includes: first through fourth port terminals; a first diode having an anode connected to the first port terminal; a second diode having a cathode connected to the second port terminal; a third diode having a cathode connected to the first port terminal; a fourth diode having an anode connected to the second port terminal; first through fourth switches that are bridge-connected between a cathode of the first diode and an anode of the second diode; fifth through eighth switches that are bridge-connected between an anode of the third diode and a cathode of the fourth diode; a first bootstrap circuit that is connected to control terminals of the first through fourth switches; and a second bootstrap circuit that is connected to control terminals of the fifth through eighth switches. |
| US10014854B2 |
Reset circuit and electronic device
Provided is a reset circuit including a charging circuit, a driving circuit, and an execution circuit. The charging circuit is configured to, after a first voltage signal provided by a control port is received, generate a second voltage signal. The driving circuit is configured to amplify the second voltage signal, and output the amplified second voltage signal to an execution circuit, after it is detected that a value of the second voltage signal reaches a preset value. The execution circuit is configured to, after the amplified second voltage signal is received, generate a reset signal, and transfer the reset signal to a reset port. Further provided is an electronic device, which includes the foregoing reset circuit, a button, and a microcontroller. |
| US10014852B2 |
High-voltage stacked transistor circuit
A High-Voltage Stacked Transistor Circuit (HVSTC) includes a stack of power transistors coupled in series between a first terminal and a second terminal. The HVSTC also has a control terminal for turning on an off the power transistors of the stack. All of the power transistors of the stack turn on together, and turn off together, so that the overall stack operates like a single transistor having a higher breakdown voltage. Each power transistor, other than the one most directly coupled to the first terminal, has an associated bipolar transistor. In a static on state of the HVSTC, the bipolar transistors are off. The associated power transistors can therefore be turned on. In a static off state of the HVSTC, the bipolar transistors are conductive (in one example, in the reverse active mode) in such a way that they keep their associated power transistors off. |
| US10014851B2 |
Current sensing and control for a transistor power switch
An apparatus includes: a first power transistor having a first current conduction path coupled between an input for receiving a supply voltage and a node and a first gate terminal coupled to a first gate control signal; a second power transistor having a second current conduction path coupled between the node and an output terminal for supplying a load current to a load; and a second gate terminal coupled to a second gate control signal; and a current sense transistor having a third gate terminal coupled to the first gate control signal, and outputting a sense current. The apparatus further includes: a differential amplifier having an output signal, and a feedback transistor having a gate terminal coupled to the output signal of the differential amplifier; and a resistor coupled between a monitor node and ground. |
| US10014850B2 |
Driving stage circuit with plural clamping levels
The present invention provides a driving stage circuit, including a driving switch circuit and a conduction resistance adjusting circuit. The driving switch circuit generates an output signal according to a switch control signal. The conduction resistance adjusting circuit clamps the switch control signal to a first clamping level according to a current flowing through the driving switch circuit when the current is higher than a first current threshold, such that the conduction resistance of the driving switch circuit is not smaller than a first resistance so that a short circuit current of the driving switch circuit is not larger than a short circuit current limit, wherein a lowest level of the conduction resistance of the driving switch circuit is smaller than a second resistance and the output voltage level does not exceeds a output voltage limit when the current is lower than the first current threshold. |
| US10014847B2 |
Trigger and oscillation system
A trigger, includes: a first voltage input terminal; a bias voltage input terminal; a first bias transistor having a scaling of N to a first component of an external device; a comparator transistor having a scaling of N to a second component of the external device; a first switch transistor and a second switch transistor; a shunt transistor having a control terminal connected to the first voltage input terminal, a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch transistor, and a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the comparator transistor. The shunt transistor has an enlarging scale of M to the comparator transistor. A voltage output terminal is respectively connected to the second terminal of the first switch transistor, the control terminal of the second switch transistor, and the second terminal of the comparator transistor. |
| US10014843B2 |
Multilayer electronic structures with embedded filters
A composite electronic structure comprising at least one feature layer and at least one adjacent via layer, said layers extending in an X-Y plane and having height z, wherein the structure comprises at least one capacitor coupled in series or parallel to at least one inductor to provide at least one filter;the at least one capacitor being sandwiched between the at least one feature layer and at least one via in said at least adjacent via layer, such that the at least one via stands on the at least one capacitor, and the at least one of the first feature layer and the adjacent via layer includes at least one inductor extending in the XY plane. |
| US10014836B1 |
Open-loop linear VGA
The present invention is directed to electrical circuits. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a variable gain amplifier (VGA) device that includes a low-gain tuning section and a high-gain tuning section. The low-gain tuning section includes both resistor and transistor elements. The high-gain tuning section includes a transistor element and is activated when an output gain is greater than a predetermined threshold level. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US10014831B1 |
Audio amplifier power supply rail-balancing and anti-pumping system
A rail balancing circuit is described herein for use with a power supply, the RBC comprising: a circuit adapted to respond to over-voltage and under-voltage conditions in the power supply that comprises a positive rail voltage source and a negative rail voltage source, such that any deviation from a balanced condition between the positive rail voltage source and the negative rail voltage source is substantially instantaneously corrected to bring both the positive and negative rail voltage sources back to the balanced condition. |
| US10014829B2 |
Non-inverting amplifier circuits
Amplifier circuits comprising an input transistor, a load transistor, and a feedback resistor. In one example, one embodiment is directed to an amplifier circuit comprising an input transistor, a load transistor having a control terminal and a reference terminal, and a feedback transistor. The input transistor receives an input signal, the input transistor is electrically coupled to the load transistor and the feedback transistor, the control terminal of the load transistor is electrically coupled to a bias voltage, the feedback transistor is electrically coupled to the load transistor providing negative feedback, and the reference terminal of the load transistor serves as an output of the amplifier circuit. |
| US10014827B2 |
Power-adjustable radio frequency output circuit
A power-adjustable RF (radio frequency) output circuit is disclosed, which includes a RF frequency source transformer, wherein: one output end of the RF frequency source transformer is connected with a gate of a power amplifier module, another output end of the RF frequency source transformer is connected with a gate bias voltage control circuit; a source of the power amplifier module is connected with ground; the gate of the power amplifier module is connected with a resistor which is connected with ground, a drain of the power amplifier module is connected with a fixed voltage DC (direct current) power supply and also connected with a RF filtering network for outputting a RF power through the RF filtering network. |
| US10014824B2 |
Radio receiver for carrier aggregation
A radio receiver circuit configurable to operate in a carrier-aggregation (CA) mode and in a non-CA mode is disclosed. It comprises a first receive path arranged to be operatively connected to an antenna and a second receive path arranged to be operatively connected to the same antenna. It further comprises a control unit operatively connected to the first receive path and the second receive path. In the CA mode, the control unit controls the first receive path to receive a first component carrier (CC) and the second receive path to receive a second CC. In the non-CA mode, the control unit selectively controls the first receive path and the second receive path to both receive the same single CC. |
| US10014822B2 |
Snow removal assembly
A snow removal assembly includes a fluid that may be applied to a support surface. The fluid is comprised of an electrically conductive material. The fluid generates heat when an electrical current is applied to the fluid thereby facilitating the fluid to melt snow on the support surface. A sheet is provided and the sheet may be coupled to the fluid when the fluid is applied to the support surface. The sheet may inhibit the fluid from being abraded from the support surface. A power supply is provided and the power supply may be positioned on the support surface. The power supply is electrically coupled to the fluid when the fluid is applied to the support surface thereby facilitating the fluid to generate heat. |
| US10014814B2 |
Motor control device and method
A motor control device includes a power inverter, a phase converter, and a detector. The power inverter is configured to convert input power for a motor into a three-phase alternating current. The phase converter is configured to convert the three-phase alternating current into a two-phase alternating current having a d-axis current component and a q-axis current component. The detector is configured to detect a misconnection between current detectors which are each configured to detect the three-phase alternating current. |
| US10014813B2 |
Methods for switching on and for switching off an N-phase electric machine in a motor vehicle
A method is provided for switching on and switching off an n-phase electric machine in a motor vehicle. The n-phase electric machine includes a rotor with a rotor winding, and a stator with an n-phase stator winding. An excitation current may be applied to the rotor, and an n-phase phase voltage may be applied to the stator. The excitation current is switched on or off, a parameter which influences a synchronous generated internal voltage is determined, and the phase voltage is switched on or off when the parameter which influences the synchronous generated internal voltage reaches a certain threshold value. |
| US10014808B2 |
Rotating electric machine, rotating electric machine controller and method for controlling rotating electric machine
A rotating electric machine includes a stator, a rotor, and a stator core. The stator core includes a plurality of teeth. Each of the teeth includes at least one of a through hole axially piercing the tooth and a recess extending from one end of the tooth to another end of the tooth in an axial direction. |
| US10014807B2 |
System and method for an inverter for self-excitation of an induction machine
A capacitor is connected between the direct current voltage terminals. Switched terminals of a first switch and a second switch are coupled in series, between the direct current voltage terminals. An electric machine or generator has one or more windings and a first phase output terminal associated with the switched terminals. A first set of blocking diodes are cascaded in series and second set of blocking diodes are cascaded in series. A first voltage supply provides a first output voltage level and a second output level switchable to the first control terminal, where the first output level is distinct from the second output level. A second voltage supply provides the first output voltage level and the second output level switchable to the second control terminal. |
| US10014797B2 |
AC/DC converter with inrush current limitation
An AC/DC converter includes: a first terminal and a second terminal for receiving an AC voltage and a third terminal and a fourth terminal for supplying a DC voltage. A rectifying bridge includes input terminals respectively coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, and output terminals respectively coupled to the third terminal and fourth terminal. A first branch of the rectifying bridge includes, connected between the output terminals, two series-connected thyristors with a junction point of the two thyristors being connected to a first one of the input terminals. A second branch of the rectifying bridge is formed by series connected diodes. A control circuit is configured to generate control signals for application to the control gates of the thyristors. |
| US10014791B2 |
Distribution transformer
Among other things, a distribution transformer and a technique for regulating voltage are provided for herein. The distribution transformer comprises at least three windings and at least two ferromagnetic cores. The distribution transformer may also comprise a power electronic AC-AC converter operable to maintain the input voltage and current of the distribution transformer substantially in phase and/or to reduce fluctuation in the output voltage of the distribution transformer in the event of an increase or decrease in the input voltage, for example. |
| US10014789B2 |
Resonant converter and driving method thereof
A resonant converter includes a first switch on a primary side and a second switch coupled to the first switch, a first synchronous rectification switch on a secondary side conducted according to a switching operation of the first switch, a second synchronous rectification switch on the secondary side conducted according to a switching operation of the second switch, and a switch control circuit configured to detect a waveform of one end voltage of at least one of the first synchronous rectification switch and the second synchronous rectification switch, determine one of a below region and an above region, and differently control conduction duration of the first and second synchronous rectification switches according to a determined result. |
| US10014784B1 |
Dual primary and secondary regulating method and converter utilizing the same
A method for modulating a voltage through a primary side regulating circuit and a secondary side regulating circuit, the method includes: providing a first controller in the primary side regulating circuit; providing a second controller in the secondary side regulating circuit; exchanging messages between the first controller and the second controller thereby alternately dominating a modulation of an output voltage between the primary side regulating circuit and the secondary side regulating circuit in accordance with the messages. |
| US10014783B2 |
Switching regulator with PFC function and control circuit and control method thereof
The present invention provides a switching regulator with PFC function and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The switching regulator with PFC function includes a power stage circuit, a current sense circuit, and a control circuit. The power stage circuit operates at least one power switch therein according to an operation signal to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. When a transient voltage of the input voltage exceeds a transient voltage upper limit, or when a transient slew rate of the input voltage exceeds a transient slew rate upper limit, the control circuit adjusts a frequency response gain from a stable state frequency response gain to a transient state frequency response gain, such that a transient current of an output current does not exceed a current upper limit, and/or that a transient response time of the output current does not exceed a threshold transient time period. |
| US10014780B2 |
Multiphase switching converter
A multiphase switching converter with a plurality of phase circuits coupled with a common output node is presented. Each phase circuit has a drive signal generator to generate a separate drive signal for a switching element of the respective phase based on a feedback signal from the common output node. Multiple voltage loops with different bandwidths or hysteresis are suggested for a multiphase power converter. In embodiments, this allows a slow phase (‘Master’) with a big inductor and low switching frequency and one or multiple fast phases (‘Slaves’) with small inductors and high switching frequency. The Master phase will allow the system to have high efficiency at low output load, while the Slave phase(s) will deliver extra current during load transient and for higher loads. |
| US10014774B2 |
Power supply with low to high power transition mode
One example includes a switching power supply. The switching power supply includes a power stage, a feedback loop, and a simulated feedback error generator. The power stage provides an output signal in response to a switching signal. The feedback loop monitors the output signal and provides a feedback error signal to adjust the switching signal to regulate the output signal. The simulated feedback error generator temporarily provides a simulated feedback error signal during a transition period from the low power mode to a high power mode of the switching power supply until the feedback loop has enough time to provide the feedback error signal. |
| US10014773B2 |
Hybrid active power link module device and associated systems and methods
A hybrid active power link device includes a plurality of active power link modules (APLMs). Each APLM of the plurality of APLMs includes a plurality of switching devices including a first switching device and a second switching device coupled in series. Each APLM of the plurality of APLMs also includes at least one first-type energy storage device (ESD) coupled in parallel with both of the first switching device and the second switching device. The hybrid active power link device also includes at least one second-type ESD coupled in series with at least one APLM of the plurality of APLMs. |
| US10014768B2 |
Charge pump voltage regulator
A charge pump voltage regulator is provided. The charge pump voltage regulator includes a charge pump circuit, where an output terminal of the charge pump circuit outputs a stable voltage. The charge pump voltage regulator also includes a voltage divider circuit suitable to divide the stable voltage to output a divided voltage and a clock oscillator providing a drive clock signal for the charge pump circuit. In addition, the charge pump voltage regulator includes a first voltage comparator circuit suitable to output at least one of a first comparison result and a second comparison result. Further, the charge pump voltage regulator includes a logic control unit, where, when the charge pump voltage regulator operates in a standby mode, the logic control unit outputs a first control level to the clock oscillator according to the at least one of the first comparison result and the second comparison result. |
| US10014767B2 |
Bi-directional multi-mode charge pump
Some embodiments include apparatus and methods using a charge pump coupled to a first supply power node and a second supply power node. The charge pump is arranged to transfer charge from the first supply power node to the second supply power node during a first time interval and to transfer charge from the second supply power node to the first supply power node during a second time interval. |
| US10014762B2 |
Protection circuit
The invention provides a protection circuit applied in an inductive boost converter, the inductive boost converter includes a transmission circuit and a charging circuit, the protection circuit includes a detection circuit and a control circuit, an input terminal of the detection and an output terminal of the transmission circuit are connected, a first output terminal of the detection circuit and an input terminal of the charging circuit are connected, a second output terminal of the detection circuit and an input terminal of the control terminal are connected; the detection circuit detects whether an input current from the transmission circuit is a short-circuit current, if the circuit is shorted, the result will be sent to the control circuit, the control circuit cuts the connection of the charging circuit and ground, which can prevent charges stored in the charging circuit from flowing backward into the input terminal of the inductive boost converter. |
| US10014758B2 |
Method of assembling integrated drive generator housing and bearing
A method of assembling an integrated drive generator includes the steps of providing a bore in a center housing portion, pressing a bearing liner into the bore, with a portion of the bearing liner extending proud of a surface of the center plate, and machining the surface around and adjacent to the bearing liner to provide a machined surface parallel to the surface. |
| US10014757B2 |
Polymer-based layer structure with an oleophobic/hydrophobic surface, and electric machine comprising such a layer structure
A polymer-based layer structure with an oleophobic/hydrophobic surface for coating, sealing, and/or connecting technical components or parts of said components, comprising—a first layer which comprises a polymer, —a second layer that adjoins the first layer and comprises a polymer and particles which comprise a fluoropolymer and which are distributed in the silicone, and —an outer layer that adjoins the second layer and comprises a fluorocarbon compound with at least one reactive group and optionally particles which comprise a fluoropolymer and which are distributed in the fluorocarbon compound. The invention also relates to an electric machine which has the layer structure, said layer structure being provided in particular as a potting compound on a winding and/or on switching rings of the stator and/or as a magnet bonding adhesive of the rotor. |
| US10014751B2 |
Electrical machine cooling structure
A stator assembly that includes a graphite sheet-like element that has fold(s) so as to define at least two planar sections. The face of one of the planar section abuts a surface of a heat generating location(s) of the stator assembly and a face of another planar section abuts one the tooth or the slot bottom of the stator assembly. Also, a subassembly that includes an electrical machine stator assembly that includes a sheet-like element of a material having high thermal conductivity, wherein a portion of the element abuts the end winding(s) such that the sheet-like element conducts heat to the magnetic core, the stator housing, and/or a winding heat conduction element. |
| US10014748B2 |
Coaxial direct drive system having at least two primer movers linearly moveable along a drive support member
A coaxial direct drive system includes at least two prime movers mounted to a motor carrier member about a common axis. Each prime mover includes a stator affixed to the motor carrier member, and each prime mover further includes a rotor which can rotate about the common axis. Each rotor has a driven member affixed to it, which rotates with the respective rotor, and to which driven objects, such as aero foil blades, etc. can be affixed. The motor carrier member can be directly mounted to an object to be propelled by the coaxial direct drive system, or can be hollow to receive a support mast which is mounted to the object to be driven. The driven objects can have different rotational senses, such that when the prime movers counter rotate, the driven objects generate trust in the same direction. |
| US10014743B2 |
Electric motor
Provided is an electric motor capable of stabilizing a preload applied to a bearing by an annular spring and effectively retarding degradation of the annular spring. The electric motor includes a motor shaft, a rotor, a stator, a housing containing the rotor and the stator in a posture where the motor shaft extends vertically, an upper bearing and a lower bearing supporting the motor shaft, and an annular spring applying a downward preload to the upper bearing. The lower bearing is fixed to the motor shaft and the housing. The housing has a load-receiving surface receiving an upward thrust load overcoming the preload from the upper bearing. |
| US10014742B2 |
Drive unit, especially an actuator unit in a vehicle
A drive unit, especially an actuator unit in a vehicle, comprises an electric drive motor the motor shaft of which is rotatably mounted in bearings. A clamping ring is arranged in a housing and axially supports a bearing of the motor shaft. |
| US10014735B2 |
Permanent-magnetic direct-drive wind generator, system and stator thereof
A stator of a permanent magnet direct-drive wind power generator includes a stator support, a stator iron core, a blade side tooth pressing plate and a blade side surrounding plate. At least one comb tooth air inlet hole is provided on a side close to the rotor of the blade side surrounding plate, the comb tooth air inlet hole and the second air hole are connected respectively via an air guide pipe. A first spiral comb tooth mechanism is provided on a side, close to the rotor sealing ring, of the blade side surrounding plate, the first spiral comb tooth mechanism is in communication with the comb tooth air inlet hole. The first spiral comb tooth mechanism has first spiral comb teeth protruding into an annular gap formed by the blade side surrounding plate and the rotor sealing ring for generating an airflow with spiral motion. |
| US10014733B2 |
Temperature management in a wireless energy transfer system
Various techniques for temperature management during inductive energy transfer are disclosed. A transmitter device and/or a receiver device can be turned off during energy transfer based on the temperature of the transmitter device and/or of the receiver device. |
| US10014731B2 |
Battery charging station for wireless battery charging
A battery charging station is equipped with radio frequency power transmitters, induction power transmitters, and ultrasound power transmitters so as to concurrently charge electronic devices. The battery charging station is operable to network the electronic devices through wireless communication. In this regard, the battery charging station may coordinate or arrange the radio frequency power transmitters, the induction power transmitters and/or the ultrasound power transmitters so that the resulting power transmission from the battery charging station to one or more intended networked electronic devices may be maximized. The battery charging station may wirelessly communicate with the electronic devices for device networking. The networked electronic devices may be connected to a computer network for various network services such as, for example, network advertising and software downloading or uploading. Both direct and in-direct device-to-device communication may be supported among the networked electronic devices. The battery charging station maintains data communication during battery charging. |
| US10014727B2 |
Power transmitting device, power receiving device, power supply system, and power supply method
Provided are a power transmitting device, a power receiving device, a power supply system, and a power supply method able to supply electric power by emitting electromagnetic waves. A power transmitting device comprises: a calculating unit for calculating the maximum value for the emitted output of electromagnetic waves meeting exposure standards on the basis of a response delay time measured by the communication link between the power transmitting device and a power receiving device; a power transmitting unit for transmitting power via a power supply link with the power receiving device at an output not exceeding the maximum value; an anomaly detecting unit for detecting an anomaly in the power supply link on the basis of communication with the power receiving device via the communication link; and an output control unit for controlling the output on the basis of the detection of an anomaly in the power supply link. |
| US10014723B2 |
Power management unit and wireless power system using the same
A power management unit, adapted to a wireless power system, includes: a rectifier, converts an AC power received by an input port thereof to a direct-current (DC) voltage outputted by a rectifying output terminal thereof; a first switch, wherein a first protecting capacitor is coupled between one terminal of the input port and a channel thereof; a second switch, wherein a second protecting capacitor is coupled between the other terminal of the input port and a channel thereof; a reference voltage terminal, for providing a reference voltage; and, a comparator, including two input terminals coupled to the rectifying output terminal and the reference voltage terminal respectively, and including an output terminal coupled to both the control terminals of the first switch and the second switch. |
| US10014722B2 |
Inductively coupled ballast circuit
A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range. |
| US10014715B2 |
Power source conversion module, power supply apparatus and power supply method
A power supply apparatus including: N+m power source conversion modules, where N power source conversion modules are main power source conversion modules; a power source conversion module includes a detection and switching unit and a conversion unit, where the detection and switching unit is separately connected to an output end of a first alternating current power source and an output end of a second alternating current power source, and the detection and switching unit is configured to monitor in real time a working state of the first alternating current power source and a working state of the second alternating current power source, close a channel between the conversion unit and one power source, which is in a normal working state, of the first alternating current power source and the second alternating current power source. |
| US10014712B2 |
Methods and systems for power management control
Methods and systems for control of a power-quality measuring or monitoring device, such as a transfer switch, are provided. An example method includes a transfer-switch controller of a transfer switch receiving an input command from a user. The method further includes, in response to receiving the input command, the transfer-switch controller entering a safe state, wherein in the safe state operational settings of the transfer switch remain unchanged. Still further, the method includes, after entering the safe state, the transfer-switch controller providing, based on operational data specific to the transfer switch, information regarding a feature of the transfer switch. |
| US10014706B2 |
Model-based fast-charging method based on lithium surface concentration
Disclosed is a method of charging a battery, including determining at a first time interval a current to be applied until a second time interval such that the current charges the battery so that an anode Li-ion surface concentration at the second time interval is kept smaller than or equal to a maximum Li-ion surface concentration of the anode, applying the current to the battery, and determining at the second time interval another current to be applied until a third time interval such that the another current charges the battery so that an anode Li-ion surface concentration at the third time interval is kept smaller than or equal to the maximum Li-ion surface concentration of the anode. |
| US10014697B2 |
Control method for disconnecting switches integrated in series-connected batteries
Systems and methods of providing integrated battery protection for a plurality of series-connected batteries, in which a plurality of controllable switches are used to disconnect or otherwise isolate the respective batteries, substantially simultaneously, from an external circuit in response to certain fault or non-fault battery conditions. When the plurality of controllable switches are synchronously transitioned from a closed or “ON” state to an opened or “OFF” state, the voltages of the respective batteries become distributed among the controllable switches, allowing for the use of switches having a reduced voltage rating as well as a reduced cost. By connecting a balancing resistor across each of a plurality of series-connected battery/switch pairs, a more even distribution of the voltages of the respective batteries among the controllable switches can be achieved, providing the system with more predictable operation. |
| US10014696B2 |
Storage system and storage method
A system includes: connectors electrically connected to storage battery packs respectively; at least one of a discharger that discharges electric power of the storage battery packs through the connectors and a charger that charges the storage battery packs through the connectors; an information holder that holds identification information of the connectors; a receiver that receives information of the storage battery packs and the identification information of the connectors connected to the storage battery packs, which the storage battery packs receive from the information holder, respectively from the storage battery packs through wireless communication; and a storage that stores the received information of the storage battery packs and the received identification information of the connectors connected to the storage battery packs. |
| US10014693B2 |
System and method for reducing power consumption and improving performance based on shared regulator current supply voltage
The disclosure relates to a system including a set of subsystems sharing a voltage rail. The system includes a power controller configured to send messages, such as interrupts, to the subsystems concerning a change of state of a supply voltage on the voltage rail. Such messages may have been sent in response to requests and messages from the subsystems, respectively. In response to the messages, the subsystems may send requests to the power controller for different dynamic clock voltage scaling (DCVS) levels, respectively. In response to such requests, the power controller may set the supply voltage and frequencies of clock signals for the requesting subsystems, respectively. |
| US10014687B2 |
Grid-tied photovoltaic power generation system
The present disclosure relates to a grid-tied photovoltaic power generation system, and particularly, to a grid-tied photovoltaic power generation system including a power maintaining unit configured to maintain power of a controller during an corresponding operation time of a photovoltaic system when power supply is stopped due to a fault generated in a grid, whereby power may be stably supplied to the controller and power of the controller may be maintained, designing of the photovoltaic system and setting of a connection to the grid may be simply and easily performed, a corresponding operation of the photovoltaic system may be controlled regarding the fault generated in the grid, and the fault generated in the grid may be accurately, appropriately, and effectively handled. |
| US10014686B2 |
Commutation control method and commutation control apparatus
Provided are a commutation control method and a commutation control apparatus. The method includes: detecting whether transient disturbance in a DC transmission system satisfies a disturbance criterion condition; when the transient disturbance satisfies the disturbance criterion condition, determining a maximum trigger delay angle used in a commutation operation performed by a current converter on an inverter side of the DC transmission system, the determined maximum trigger delay angle being smaller than a maximum trigger delay angle used before the transient disturbance; and controlling the current converter on the inverter side of the DC transmission system to perform the commutation operation based on the determined maximum trigger delay angle. |
| US10014685B2 |
Method and device for regulating the charge state of a battery power plant
In a method for controlling the state of charge (SOC) of a battery power plant (1), which for controlling at least one physical quantity (P, f) is connected to an electric energy distribution network (2), the state of charge (SOC) of the battery power plant (1) is detected for at least one physical quantity (P, f) of the energy distribution network (2) with a detection speed and/or detection accuracy which are greater than specified limit values for a minimum detection speed and detection accuracy of the physical quantity (P, f), and the electric power transfer between the battery power plant (1) and the energy distribution network (2) is determined by taking account of the difference between the actual and the specified control speed and control accuracy of the physical quantity (P, f) to be controlled as well as a difference between the actual and the specified height and rate of change of the power transfer between the battery power plant (1) and the energy distribution network (2). |
| US10014682B2 |
Precision surge clamp with constant clamping voltage and near-zero dynamic resistance under various thermal, power and current levels
A system includes a voltage surge protection circuit that receives a source voltage from a source. The voltage surge protection circuit includes a reference circuit to generate a reference voltage based on the source voltage when the source voltage exceeds a clamping voltage and a feedback control circuit to receive the reference voltage and clamp an output voltage to the clamping voltage when the voltage from the source exceeds the clamping voltage. A dynamic resistance of the feedback control circuit is substantially zero. |
| US10014681B2 |
Providing electricity to essential equipment during an emergency
An approach is provided in which an emergency electrical distribution system detects an environmental alert invoked by an environmental sensor located in a particular location of building structure. The emergency electrical distribution system selects specific electrical source connections in proximity to the environmental sensor and, in turn, terminates electrical power to selected specific electrical source connections. |
| US10014679B2 |
Electrical switching apparatus including alternating current electronic trip circuit with arc fault detection circuit and power supply
An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between an input terminal and an output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a current sensor configured to sense an alternating current component of the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus further includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit including an arc fault detection circuit configured to detect an arc fault based on the sensed alternating current component. The alternating current electronic trip circuit is also configured to control pairs of separable contacts to trip open based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit or the detected arc fault. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a power supply structured to provide direct current power to the alternating current electronic trip circuit. |
| US10014678B2 |
Subsea screen connection assembly
A subsea screen connection assembly configured to electrically couple a subsea cable having an earth screen, the earth screen at least partially surrounding a cable core, to a subsea device. The subsea connection assembly has a connector body configured to be electrically connected to the subsea device and a clamping element configured to at least partially surround the earth screen of the subsea cable in a circumferential direction and to apply a clamping force in a radial direction to the at least partially surrounded earth screen of the subsea cable, the inner diameter of the clamping element being adjustable, and the clamping element configured to electrically connect the earth screen to the connector body. |
| US10014671B2 |
Wire splicing device, wire splicing method, and method for manufacturing splice structure
A wire splicing method including: disposing a tape-like first wire and a tape-like second wire in a holding base so that an end portion of the first wire and an end portion of the second wire face each other; disposing solder to straddle the first wire and the second wire; disposing a connection wire on the solder; pressing a heating body to the first wire, the second wire, and the connection wire via a pressing plate, and pressing together and heating the first wire, the second wire, and the connection wire so as to melt the solder; keeping the first wire, the second wire, and the connection wire pressed together by the pressing plate; separating the heating body from the pressing plate; and cooling the pressing plate to solidify the solder, and thereby connecting the first wire and the second wire together. |
| US10014661B2 |
Method and apparatus including improved vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers
VCSELs and methods having improved characteristics. In some embodiments, these include a semiconductor substrate; a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) on the substrate; a first electrical contact formed on the VCSEL; a second electrical contact formed on the substrate, wherein the VCSEL includes: a first resonating cavity having first and second mirrors, at least one of which partially transmits light incident on that mirror, wherein the first second mirrors are electrically conductive. A first layer is between the first mirror and the second mirror and has a first aperture that restricts the path of current flow. A second layer is between the first layer and the second mirror and also restricts the electrical current path. A multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structure is between the first mirror and the second mirror, wherein the first and second apertures act together to define a path geometry of the current through the MQW structure. |
| US10014660B2 |
Laser device and process for fabricating such a laser device
The invention relates to a III-V heterostructure laser device (1) arranged in and/or on silicon, comprising: a III-V heterostructure gain medium (3); and an optical rib waveguide (11), arranged facing the gain medium (3) and comprising a slab waveguide (15) equipped with a longitudinal rib (17), the optical rib waveguide (11) being arranged in the silicon. The optical rib waveguide (11) is oriented so that at least one Bragg grating (19, 19a, 19b) is arranged on that side (21) of the slab waveguide (15) which is proximal relative to the gain medium (3) and in that the rib (17) is placed on that side (23) of the slab waveguide (15) that is distal relative to the gain medium (3). |
| US10014658B1 |
Semiconductor optical amplifier with asymmetric mach-zehnder interferometers
Described herein are photonic integrated circuits (PICs) comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) to output a signal comprising a plurality of wavelengths, a sensor to detect data associated with a power value of each wavelength of the output signal of the SOA, a filter to filter power values of one or more of the wavelengths of the output signal of the SOA, and control circuitry to control the filter to reduce a difference between a pre-determined power value of each filtered wavelength of the output signal of the SOA and the detected power value of each filtered wavelength of the output signal of the SOA. |
| US10014652B2 |
Broadly tunable optical parametric oscillator
A novel broadly tunable optical parametric oscillator is described for use in numerous applications including multi-photon microscopy. The optical parametric oscillator includes at least one sub-picosecond laser pump source configured to output a pump signal having a wavelength of about 650 nm or less and at least one type II optical parametric oscillator in optical communication with the pump source and configured to generate a single widely tunable pulsed optical signal. In one application, an optical system is in optical communication with the optical parametric oscillator and configured to direct at least a portion of the optical signal to a specimen, and at least one analyzing device is configured to receive a signal from the specimen in response to the optical signal. |
| US10014651B2 |
Pump combiner for multi-clad fibers
Disclosed herein is a fiber pump combiner, comprising, a multi-clad fiber comprising an outer cladding layer and an inner cladding layer, a plurality of tapered trenches formed in the inner cladding layer and a plurality of pump fibers, wherein the plurality of pump fibers are tapered and fused into corresponding ones of the plurality of tapered trenches. |
| US10014649B2 |
Stabilized non-reciprocal fiber-ring brillouin laser source
A stabilized laser source includes a fiber-ring Brillouin laser that incorporates a circulator for non-reciprocal operation and for launching of a pump optical signal. Most of the pump optical signal is launched in a forward direction and drives Brillouin laser oscillation in the backward direction, a portion of which exits via an optical coupler as the optical output of the laser source. A small fraction of the pump optical signal is launched in the backward direction via the optical coupler, and a fraction of that backward-propagating pump optical signal exits via the optical coupler as an optical feedback signal. A frequency-locking mechanism receives the optical feedback signal and controls the pump optical frequency to maintain resonant propagation of the backward-propagating pump optical signal. A second pump optical signal can be launched in the forward direction to generate a second Brillouin laser oscillation. |
| US10014644B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming a wire loop
An apparatus for the formation of a wire loop comprises a wire drive for advancing a wire and a loop layer to grip a first end of the wire and to lay a wire loop. When the wire is advanced, the wire loop is formed into a selected size. The apparatus also includes a pull-out gripper and a sensor device, the pull-out gripper being configured to grasp the wire of the wire loop and, after grasping the wire of the wire loop, move relative to the loop layer, thereby tensioning the wire loop in a longitudinal direction. The sensor device can detect a twist in the wire loop. |
| US10014642B2 |
Method for manufacturing wire harness
In a method for manufacturing a wire harness, a process in which a metallic tube body is expanded in an exterior member to be an expanded state, so that an outer surface of an insulator comes into close contact with an inner surface of the exterior member is included. |
| US10014639B1 |
Electrical receptacle
An electrical receptacle provides a plurality of outlets that are in different orientations. The electrical receptacle has a housing having a plurality of openings formed therein which are also referred to as contact openings, with each outlet having three contact openings. Each such outlet has a contact opening that is common with another outlet, meaning that a contact opening of one outlet and a contact opening of another outlet are actually an individual contact opening that is common to the two outlets and is thus shared therebetween. The electrical receptacle additionally includes a thermally protected metal oxide varistor (TMOV) that employs a thermal fuse and a metal oxide varistor (MOV) in order to protect electrical devices that are connected with the electrical receptacle from damage due to extended surges and spikes. |
| US10014638B1 |
Ultra-thin USB-C connector
A USB-C connector includes a plug tip and a cable. The USB-C connector includes a single, seamless, continuous, thin housing protecting a wire termination and contacts within the housing. The housing has a uniform thickness along the entire length of the housing. The housing may provide strain relief to the cable and an aesthetically pleasing USB-C connector. The connector may include an overmold residing inside the housing and over the wire termination and contacts. |
| US10014635B2 |
Grounding clip for an airbag ignition system
The invention relates to a grounding clip for an airbag ignition system adapted to be mounted to an airbag retainer insert. The clip comprises a first grounding contact in form of a spring tongue adapted to contact a grounding contact of a squib connector and a second grounding contact adapted to contact an electroconductive part of an airbag squib. The clip comprises a flat base connecting the first and second grounding contacts with each other, wherein the spring tongue has a straight portion that extends perpendicular from the flat base and wherein the free end of the spring tongue comprises a bent portion that is not perpendicular to the base. |
| US10014632B2 |
Electrical connector for connecting external device to draw power from power source for video camera
In an aspect, a kit of parts for an electrical connector, which includes a plurality of housing portions, a first male terminal and a second male terminal, and an output device. The plurality of housing portions are mateable together to form a housing. The printed circuit board positionable in the housing. The male terminals are connected to the printed circuit board and are positioned to connect to an electrical power source. The output device is connected to the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is connectable to an electrical conduit and is configured to electrically connect the electrical conduit to the male terminals, and contains a microprocessor that is programmed to indicate via the output device at least one property of a circuit formed with the electrical connector and the electrical power source. |
| US10014628B2 |
Connector and connector assembly
A connector having a housing, a slide member, and an operation lever. The slide member slides in response to operation of the operation lever. The slide member has a guide projection and slides while the guide projection is guided in a guide groove of the housing. The slide member has a cam groove that receives a cam pin in a second connector and the slide member, by sliding, performs mating with the second connector. The slide member has a first nipping portion that nips the cam pin when it slides to a completely mated position. The housing has a second nipping portion that nips the guide projection of the slide member when the slide member slides to the completely mated position. |
| US10014626B1 |
Compression connector for terminating grounding electrodes
A compression connector including a tubular connector body with a through bore, a flange, a leading end and a trailing end for connecting ground conductors to a load center. A nose extends from the flange to the leading end and a trailing body portion extends to the trailing end. A boss on the connector body includes a threaded bore and an opening on each side of the boss. A screw within the threaded bore of the boss holds a clip to the connector body. The clip includes two legs with arcuate ends that bisect the through bore. Insertion of a grounding electrode conductor into the through bore and tightening of the clip enables a secure connection of the conductor grounding electrode to the connector body. A threaded nose and a locknut are provided on the compression connector to facilitate attachment of the leading end of the connector body to a knockout aperture in a load center. |
| US10014624B2 |
Electric connector
A connector may include a plurality of contacts electrically connected to a mating connector and separated from one another. At least one of the contacts may include a magnet, and a conductive housing for surrounding at least one side of the magnet. |
| US10014616B2 |
Electrical outlet cover with safety lock
An outlet cover for an electrical outlet. The outlet cover includes a plate having at least one opening sized and positioned to receive an electrical outlet, a lid hingedly attached to the plate so that the lid can be moved between an open position that allows access to the electrical outlet and a closed position wherein the lid is in a locked position covering the electrical outlet, and a locking assembly having a locking pin. The lid includes a latch which cooperates with the locking pin in order to lock the lid in a closed position or release the lid for opening it for access to the electrical outlet. |
| US10014601B1 |
Connector
A connector comprises a first receiving portion formed with a first opening, a second receiving portion formed with a second opening, a first contact portion located inside the first receiving portion and a second contact portion located inside the second receiving portion. The first opening is visible both when the connector is seen along a first orientation and when the connector is seen along a third orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. The second opening is visible both when the connector is seen along a second orientation opposite to the first orientation and when the connector is seen along the third orientation. The first contact portion is in contact with a first busbar which is received in the first receiving portion through the first opening. The second contact portion is in contact with a second busbar which is received in the second receiving portion through the second opening. |
| US10014599B2 |
Crimp tool for forming a form-locked and force-locked crimp connection in particular for a coaxial connector
A crimp tool for creating a crimp connection between a coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a coaxial connector having an outer conductor part, employing an anvil to hold the outer conductor part, the anvil having a recess with an arcuate face of a first radius of curvature, and anvil arm points at each end of the arcuate face, and employing a die to apply the crimping force, the die having a recess with an arcuate face of a second radius of curvature, wherein said die recess extends over an internal angle of approximately 180°, terminating in two parallel arms, where a radial force is applied from outside on the outer conductor part over at least a part of the circumference of the outer conductor part, such that a cold weld is achieved. |
| US10014598B2 |
Terminal fitting
A terminal fitting (F) includes a pressure receiving portion (20) formed by causing a part of a first top plate (13) constituting a rectangular tubular body (10) to project toward a resilient contact piece (18), a locking projection (15) flush with the first top plate (13) and projecting from an extending end edge (13E) of the top plate (13) extending in a front-rear direction and locked to a right side plate (12R), and a right side edge (22R) constituting an outer peripheral edge part of the pressure receiving portion (20) and arranged along the extending end edge (13E) of the first top plate (13). A spacing in a width direction between the extending end edge (13E) of the first top plate (13) and the right side edge (22R) is smallest in an area corresponding to the locking projection (15). |
| US10014596B2 |
Conductor terminal
A conductor terminal with an insulating housing that has a conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor and a contact pin insertion opening for inserting a contact pin, with a clamping spring for clamping an electrical conductor, wherein the clamping spring has a clamping leg with a clamping edge oriented so as to rest against the electrical conductor to be clamped, has a spring bend, and has a support leg, wherein the conductor insertion opening leads to the clamping edge in order to guide the electrical conductor to a clamping point formed by the clamping edge, and wherein the contact pin insertion opening extends into the interior of the insulating housing in the opposite direction to the conductor insertion opening and leads to the support leg in order to guide the contact pin for clamping to the support leg. |
| US10014591B2 |
Multi-frequency, multi-radiation angle, multi-polarization and multi-pattern communication antenna
An antenna is provided and includes a base antenna component, a loop antenna component, a first coupling by which the loop antenna component is pivotally attached to and selectively electrically communicative with the base antenna component, a whip antenna component, a second coupling by which the whip antenna component is pivotally attached to and selectively electrically communicative with the loop antenna component; and a transmission/reception (T/R) module. The T/R module is disposable in signal communication with at least one or more of the base, loop and whip antenna components. |
| US10014589B2 |
Method for upgrading a satellite antenna assembly having a subreflector and an associated satellite antenna assembly
A method for upgrading a dual-band antenna assembly to a tri-band antenna assembly is provided. The dual-band antenna system includes a main reflector, a strut assembly coupled to the main reflector defining an antenna feed receiving area spaced from the main reflector, and a subreflector carried by the strut assembly and also spaced from the main reflector. The subreflector includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) material that is reflective for both a first frequency band and a second frequency band and transmissive for a third frequency band. First and second antenna feeds are arranged in a coaxial relationship adjacent the main reflector and directed toward the subreflector. The first and second antenna feeds are for first and second frequency bands, respectively. The method includes positioning a third antenna feed at the antenna feed receiving area and directed towards the subreflector and the main reflector. The third antenna feed is for the third frequency band. |
| US10014587B1 |
Retroreflecting chaff for laser defense
Chaff is provided for deployment from an aerial platform for retro-reflecting electromagnetic radiation projected to the platform. The chaff includes a plurality of retro-reflecting particles, with each particle being a retro-reflector. The plurality forms a cloud having aerial buoyancy. The particles can be a corner reflector with adjacent sides substantially perpendicular to one another, and in particular a trihedral corner reflector. Alternatively, the particles can be lens reflectors, such as a cat's eye. In addition, chaff is provided for deployment from an aerial platform for retro-reflecting electromagnetic radiation projected to the platform. The chaff includes a plurality of retro-reflecting particles and a substrate. Each particle of the plurality is a retro-reflector. The substrate attaches the plurality of particles. |
| US10014586B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhanced radiation characteristics from antennas and related components
Aspect of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus producing enhanced radiation characteristics, e.g., wideband behavior, in or for antennas and related components by providing concentric sleeves, with air or dielectric material as a spacer, where the sleeves include one or more conductive layers, at least a portion of which includes fractal resonators closely spaced, in terms of wavelength. A further aspect of the present disclosure is directed to surfaces that include dual-use or multiple-use apertures. Such aperture engine surfaces can include a top (or first) layer of antenna arrays, a middle (or second) layer of a metal-fractal backplane player, and a third (or bottom) layer for solar cell or solar oriented power collection. |
| US10014583B2 |
Meander-type, frequency-scanned antenna with reduced beam squint for an automated vehicle radar system
A meander-type, frequency-scanned antenna with reduced beam squint suitable for use on an automated vehicle radar system includes a plurality of parallel sub-arrays, each sub-array equipped with a plurality of radiators. The antenna is formed by a serpentine-arrangement of a continuous-strip of material. The serpentine-arrangement configured so a first sub-array characterized by a signal propagating in a first-direction is adjacent to a second sub-array characterized by the signal propagating in a second-direction opposite the first-direction. The first sub-array and the second sub-array are each further configured to define a plurality of radiators configured such that a radar-beam emitted by the antenna in response to the signal is characterized by a direction-angle that is substantially unchanged when a frequency of the signal is varied. |
| US10014582B2 |
Antenna module and mobile terminal including same
Disclosed are an antenna module and a mobile terminal having the same. The antenna module includes: a first member and a second member configured to operate as radiators of an antenna for transmitting/receiving radio signals; a first feeding unit configured to feed the first and second members; and a transmission line configured to connect the second member to the first feeding unit so that, when the first member forms a magnetic field in a near field, the second member forms an electric field. |
| US10014580B2 |
Method of tuning an NFC antenna
A method for manufacturing and turning a near field communication antenna is provided. A method for manufacturing and tuning a near field communication antenna comprising loading one or more ferrite substrates onto a workstation, loading an antenna biscuit onto the workstation, the antenna biscuit comprising one or more interconnected antennas, stamping the antenna biscuit to form one or more individual antennas, applying the one or more individual antennas to the one or more ferrite substrates to form one or more antenna assemblies, and adjusting placement of the one or more individual antennas relative to the ferrite substrates to adjust functional properties of the one or more antenna assemblies. |
| US10014578B2 |
Body antenna system
An electromagnetic induction antenna including: a first inductor including windings; a second inductor including windings spaced apart from the first inductor; and an impedance connecting the first and second inductors; wherein the first and second inductor form a capacitor; wherein the capacitor is an electric field antenna, and wherein the inductor is a magnetic field antenna. |
| US10014577B2 |
Aerial module and mobile terminal device
The present document discloses an antenna module and a mobile terminal device, the antenna module includes an NFC antenna and a wireless charging antenna, the NFC antenna includes a flexible circuit board and an NFC antenna coil disposed thereon; the wireless charging antenna includes a flexible circuit board and a wireless charging antenna coil disposed thereon; the NFC antenna and the wireless charging antenna share one flexible circuit board, and the wireless charging antenna coil is disposed at a position without antenna wiring in the middle of the NFC antenna coil; the ends of the NFC antenna coil and the wireless charging antenna coil form contacts extending out of the flexible circuit board; the mobile terminal device includes the abovementioned antenna module; the antenna module is attached to the inner side of the housing of the mobile terminal, or the surface of the battery body facing the battery cover. |
| US10014574B2 |
Antenna device
An antenna device includes a ground conductor; a ground conductor extension that is connected to the ground conductor; and an antenna element that is connected to the ground conductor and that operates in both a first frequency band and a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, the ground conductor and the ground conductor extension having a length that is ¼ of a wavelength of a frequency included in a middle range between the first frequency band and the second frequency band and that is not a natural number multiple of ¼ of a wavelength of the first frequency band. |
| US10014572B2 |
Antenna device, wireless communication apparatus, and radar apparatus
An antenna device of the present disclosure includes: a dielectric layer; first and second conductor layers provided on both surfaces, respectively, of the dielectric layer; first and second antenna elements provided in the first conductor layer; a grounded conductor provided in the second conductor layer; and an EBG structure provided between the first and second antenna elements, wherein the EBG structure includes a first EBG portion provided in the first conductor layer, the first EBG portion including a plurality of first patch conductors electromagnetically coupled to the grounded conductor, and a second EBG portion provided in the second conductor layer, the second EBG portion including a plurality of second patch conductors electromagnetically coupled to the grounded conductor. |
| US10014570B2 |
Single transducer for data and power in wirelessly powered devices
A wireless powering and communication system is provided that includes a base unit, and an external unit that is separate from the base unit, where the base unit includes a single transducer circuit configured for uplink data communication to the external unit, where the transducer circuit is configured for power recovery from the external unit, a multiplexer circuit, a power recovery and conditioning circuit, a controller circuit, and a communication circuit, where the multiplexer circuit is configured to decouple power and data paths to enable operation with the single transducer circuit, the power recovery and conditioning circuit is configured to recover and optionally store power from power received by the single transducer circuit, the power recovery and conditioning circuit is configured to power the controller circuit and the communication circuit, the controller circuit is configured to control the multiplexer circuit, the communication circuit is configured to provide data to the multiplexer circuit. |
| US10014568B2 |
Mobile communication device
Embodiments described herein relate a mobile communication device and techniques to suppress deterioration of antenna characteristics. The mobile device includes metallic members that are disposed around, or in portions of a casing of the mobile device. The metallic member is grounded directly to a ground plane of the mobile device at a first predetermined position. The grounded metallic member forms a stub line that cancels a flow of electric current though the metallic member. Furthermore, the metallic member is also connected to the ground plane, at a second predetermined location, via a resonant circuit. The mobile device is capable of adjusting a phase of the antenna current flowing through the device, when the mobile device is being operated by a user, and thus suppresses deterioration of antenna characteristics in certain desired frequency bands. |
| US10014561B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for health monitoring of an energy storage device
A health monitoring device includes an ultrasound source and an ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at an energy storage device. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through the energy storage device and to generate a signal responsive to the detected ultrasound from the energy storage device. A control unit can be configured to determine a state of health of the energy storage device based on the signal from the ultrasound sensor. |
| US10014555B2 |
Lithium secondary battery and production method therefor
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery comprising a nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprising a phosphate compound represented by the following general formula (1): O═P(O—R1)(O—R2)(O—R3) (1), wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each alkyl group or the like or a group comprising an ether bond represented by —R4—O—R5 (R4 represents alkylene group, and R5 represents alkyl group), and at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is a group comprising an ether bond, and at least one of R1, R2, and R3 contains fluorine, and a positive electrode active material having a charge and discharge region of 4.5 V or more versus lithium. |
| US10014554B2 |
Block copolymer electrolytes containing polymeric additives
Polymer electrolytes incorporating PS-PEO block copolymers, PXE additives, and lithium salts provide improved physical properties relative to PS-PEO block copolymers and lithium salt alone, and thus provide improved battery performance. |
| US10014551B2 |
Electrode assembly having bending portions and secondary battery including the same
A secondary battery having positive and negative electrode plates inserted into the interior of a pouch, and positive and negative electrode active material layers respectively coated on the positive and negative electrode plates are arranged at a constant interval. Bending portions are provided to bend positive and negative electrode non-coating portions respectively not coated with the positive and negative electrode active material layers. |
| US10014548B2 |
Fuel cell
A fuel cell includes a power generation unit. A first resin frame member is provided in an outer portion of a first membrane electrode assembly of the power generation unit. The first metal separator has a heating portion subjected to spot heating from a surface of the first metal separator for allowing the first resin frame member to be melted partially. The first metal separator and the first membrane electrode assembly are welded together by a plurality of welding portions to form a first structural body. |
| US10014547B2 |
Flow battery
A flow battery that prevents discharge inhibition caused by lithium-containing deposits produced with chemical oxidation of mediator. Flow battery includes: anode including anode current collector having lithium element on a surface thereof; cathode including cathode current collector; separator disposed between anode and cathode; electrolyte including mediator having function as a redox couple; discharger including reductor and anode chamber, reductor being defined by separator, housing cathode and electrolyte and being configured to reduce the mediator, anode chamber housing the anode defined by separator; first flow channel and second flow channel, flow channels being connected to reductor; oxidizer connected to first and second flow channels; configured to chemically oxidize the mediator; circulator configured to circulate electrolyte to reductor, first flow channel, oxidizer and second flow channel in this order, wherein a trap configured to trap lithium-containing deposits produced with oxidation of mediator, disposed in part of the second flow channel or oxidizer. |
| US10014543B2 |
Inorganic oxide powder and electrolyte comprising sintered body of the same
The present specification provides an inorganic oxide powder and an electrolyte including a sintered body of the same. |
| US10014540B2 |
Hydrogen generator having reactant pellet with concentration gradient
A hydrogen generator is provided for generating hydrogen gas for a fuel cell stack. The hydrogen generator includes a container, and a liquid reactant storage area configured to contain a liquid including a first reactant. The hydrogen generator also includes a reaction area within the container, and a solid containing a second reactant within the reaction area and having a concentration gradient that varies along an axis such as length of the solid. The hydrogen generator further includes a liquid delivery member for delivering the liquid to the solid in the reaction area to generate hydrogen. The concentration gradient controls a reaction rate of the first and second reactants. |
| US10014532B2 |
Catalyst particle, and electrode catalyst, electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, and fuel cell using the same
An object is to provide a catalyst particle that can exhibit high activity. The catalyst particle is an alloy particle formed of platinum atom and a non-platinum metal atom, wherein (i) the alloy particle has an L12 structure as an internal structure and has an extent of ordering of L12 structure in the range of 30 to 100%, (ii) the alloy particle has an LP ratio calculated by CO stripping method of 10% or more, and (iii) the alloy particle has a dN/dA ratio in the range of 0.4 to 1.0. |
| US10014530B2 |
Electrode assembly and method for its preparation
The invention provides electrodes suitable for use as air electrodes, processes for their preparation and metal/air cells utilizing such electrodes as air cathodes. The invention relates to an electrode comprising a catalytically active layer applied on one face of a hydrophobic porous film and a conductive current collector pressed onto said catalytically active face, wherein at least a portion of the marginal area of said face is free from catalyst, and wherein a sealant is provided around at least part of the perimeter of said catalytically active layer, said sealant forming a coating onto the catalyst-free marginal area of said hydrophobic film. |
| US10014528B2 |
Conductive adhesive composition for electrochemical element electrode, collector with adhesive layer, and electrochemical element electrode
To provide a conductive adhesive composition for an electrochemical element electrode and used in forming a conductive adhesive layer that is highly uniform and is interposed between a collector and an electrode composition layer, being able to contribute to increased adhesion between the two. The conductive adhesive composition for an electrochemical element electrode is characterized by containing: conductive carbon; a particulate copolymer (A) containing a dibasic acid monomer unit; a particulate copolymer (B) containing an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid amide derivative unit; and a dispersing agent. |
| US10014524B2 |
Nonaqueous secondary battery
A nonaqueous secondary battery 100A has a negative electrode sheet 240A in which a negative electrode active material layer 243A is held by a negative electrode current collector 241A. Contained within the negative electrode active material layer 243A is a binder 730 which includes a rubber-based binder or a resin having a binder function. The rubber-based binder or the resin having a binder function is abundantly present, within the negative electrode active material layer 243A, in a surface vicinity A1 of the negative electrode active material layer 243A. |
| US10014523B2 |
Manufacturing apparatus of high purity MOx nanostructure and method of manufacturing the same
There is disclosed that a MOx nanostructure manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof can not only supply a reaction gas more effectively to the surface of a molten metal with ease by injecting a carrier gas to the surface of the molten metal above a graphite crucible as well as bringing the reaction gas in the lower side of the graphite crucible, but also maximize volatilization rates through an inflow of the reaction gas from the lower portion toward the upper of the graphite crucible. |
| US10014519B2 |
Process for producing humic acid-bonded metal foil film current collector
The invention provides a process for producing a highly oriented humic acid (HA) film-bonded metal foil current collector, comprising (a) preparing a dispersion of HA or chemically functionalized HA (CHA) dispersed in a liquid medium; (b) depositing the HA or CHA dispersion onto a primary surface of a metal foil to form a wet layer under an orientation-inducing stress; (c) removing the liquid medium to form a dried layer having hexagonal carbon planes and an inter-planar spacing d002 of 0.4 nm to 1.3; and (d) heat-treating the dried layer at a temperature higher than 80° C. to produce the current collector wherein the film contains inter-connected, merged or thermally reduced HA or CHA sheets that are substantially parallel to each other and are chemically bonded to the metal foil. The film has a thermal conductivity of at least 250 W/mK and an electrical conductivity no less than 500 S/cm. |
| US10014515B2 |
Battery
A battery includes: a battery case having a case body member and a case lid member having a through hole; a rivet that engages with the through hole; and a gasket. The through hole is hermetically sealed with the gasket interposed between the circumferential outer surface of the case lid member and an outer flange of the rivet. The case lid member is configured such that, in a state wherein a peripheral edge portion connected to an opening end portion of the case body member, the circumferential outer surface is positioned in the axial outward direction such that the circumferential outer surface faces further towards the outer side along the axis line of the through hole than the peripheral edge portion and the opening end portion. |
| US10014514B2 |
Nonaqueous secondary battery having high volume capacity density
In a nonaqueous secondary battery including a pressure-operated current interrupt device, a ratio (Vt/Cr) of a sum Vt (cm3) of an effective pore volume Vp of the positive electrode active material layer, an effective pore volume Vn of the negative electrode active material layer, and a pore volume Vs of the separator to a volume Cr (cm3) of a remaining space in the battery case is 0.92 to 1.05. The volume Cr of the remaining space in the battery case is calculated by subtracting a volume Ce of the electrode body, a volume Cna of the nonaqueous electrolytic solution, and a volume Cc of auxiliary components from a volume Ct of the battery case. The remaining space volume Cr (cm3) is 14.8 vol % or higher of the volume Ct (cm3) of the battery case. |
| US10014511B2 |
Battery module and electrode tab ultrasonic wave welding method
Provided are a battery module and an electrode tab ultrasonic wave welding method. The present invention relates to a battery module and an electrode tab ultrasonic wave welding method by forming the electrode tab in a zigzag form in which the electrode tab extending upwardly is bent downwardly and then, again bent upwardly to allow the electrode tab formed in the zigzag form to absorb vibrations even when a welding portion formed in parallel with a battery cell is fused by ultrasonic wave vibrations, thereby minimizing damage to the battery cell. |
| US10014505B2 |
Separator having high heat resistance, manufacturing method thereof and secondary battery including the separator
Provided are a separator having high heat resistance, a manufacturing method thereof and a secondary battery including the separator, which provides excellent dispersibility and reduced thermal shrinkage. The separator includes separator includes a porous base layer, and a coating layer formed on at least one surface of the base layer, wherein the coating layer includes inorganic particles and a binder, and the binder includes one selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyacrylate or a mixture of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyacrylate, having a molecular weight of 100,000 to 1,000,000, as a first binder. |
| US10014504B2 |
Separator, battery, battery pack, electronic device, electric vehicle, power storage device, and power system
Provided is a separator including a first layer of a porous substance and a second layer that is provided on at least one face of the first layer and that includes a resin material and particles. The second layer has an agglomeration network structure of the particles. |
| US10014503B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery laminated separator, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery member, and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator including a porous film containing, as a main component, polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 500,000, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator having an MD orientation ratio of 58% to 80%, a degree of MD orientation of 70% to 80%, and a degree of TD orientation of 65% to 85%, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator having a film thickness of not more than 14 μm, and the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator being excellent in shutdown temperature and puncture strength. |
| US10014499B2 |
Battery pack housing structure, and electronic equipment
An electronic device and a battery pack housing structure capable of housing a battery pack without use of a contour width of the battery pack for positioning. The battery pack housing structure includes a battery-pack lower-surface protruding portion protruding from a lower surface of the battery pack and the housing portion including a housing-portion bottom-surface groove portion, which is formed in a bottom surface of the housing portion and capable of being fitted to the battery-pack lower-surface protruding portion. |
| US10014498B2 |
Prismatic battery cell having battery case comprising two or more members
Disclosed herein is a prismatic battery cell wherein a cap plate is mounted at an open top of a prismatic cell case in a state in which an electrode assembly configured to have a structure in which a separator is disposed between a cathode and an anode is mounted in the prismatic cell case, the cap plate is provided with an anode terminal or a cathode terminal as a protruding terminal, and the prismatic cell case is configured to have a structure in which two or more case members divided in a major axis direction, in a minor axis direction, or in the major axis direction and the minor axis direction based on a horizontal sectional shape of the cap plate with respect to the protruding terminal are coupled to each other. |
| US10014497B2 |
Pouch-type secondary battery including sealed part having recess
Disclosed herein is a battery cell configured such that an electrode assembly having a positive electrode/separator/negative electrode structure is received in an electrode assembly receiving part formed in a pouch-type battery case in a sealed state together with an electrolyte, wherein the battery case is provided with sealed parts, formed by thermally welding the outer edge of the battery case in the state in which the electrode assembly is received in the battery case together with the electrolyte, one or more recesses are formed in opposite side sealed parts adjacent to an upper end sealed part, at which electrode terminals are located, and/or a lower end sealed part in a state in which the recesses are formed from outsides of the side sealed parts toward a vertical middle axis of the battery cell so as to prevent wrinkles from being formed in the sealed parts of the battery case when the battery cell is bent, and portions of the side sealed parts in which the recesses are located are sealed at a higher sealing temperature than the remaining portions of the side sealed parts. |
| US10014496B2 |
Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly having first and second electrodes of different polarities; a finishing tape that covers a side and a lower end of the electrode assembly with respect to a virtual longitudinal center line perpendicular to a bottom face of the electrode assembly; a case that holds the electrode assembly and has an opening; a cap assembly coupled to the opening and sealing the case; a first current collecting member and a second current collecting member located within the case and connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively; and a first terminal and a second terminal located on top of the cap assembly and connected to the first current collecting member and the second current collecting member, respectively. |
| US10014493B2 |
Heating source and evaporator of organic light emitting diode
The present invention discloses a heating source, applied in an evaporator of organic light emitting diode to heat a heating container in the evaporator, wherein the heating source comprises a heating coil and a protective component, and the protective component is insulation material, and two ends of the heating coil are connected to a power source to receive voltages to generate heat, and the protective component is located on the heating coil to restrict a deformation range of the heating coil for restricting contact of two adjacent heater strips in the heating coil and preventing the short circuit the two adjacent heater strips. Therefore, the present invention reduces the possibility of the heating coil short circuit and raises the stability of the heating coil, and thus, the stability of the evaporator applied with the heating coil can be provided. |
| US10014492B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescent device includes a substrate, an organic electroluminescent element, and a gas barrier film in this order, in which the organic electroluminescent element is sealed by bonding the substrate and the gas barrier film with an adhesive layer, the gas barrier film includes a base film and a barrier layer that includes at least one inorganic layer, the barrier layer is arranged closer to the organic electroluminescent element than to the base film, a barrier protective layer is arranged between the adhesive layer and the barrier layer, the barrier protective layer is a layer formed of a barrier protective layer forming material that includes organic particles and a binder, and the binder contains inorganic fine particles and a polyfunctional acrylic monomer. |
| US10014490B2 |
Flexible display panel, fabrication method, and flexible display apparatus
A flexible display panel and a flexible display apparatus are provided. The flexible display panel comprises a flexible substrate, an organic light-emitting layer disposed on a side of the flexible substrate and having a first side facing the flexible substrate and an opposing side, and a thin-film-encapsulation layer disposed on the opposing side of the organic light-emitting layer and including at least one organic encapsulation layer and at least one inorganic encapsulation layer. The flexible display panel includes at least one bending area. The at least one organic encapsulation layer has a first side facing the flexible substrate and an opposing side. In the at least one bending area, at least one groove is formed on the opposing side of the at least one organic encapsulation layer. A bottom width W of the at least one groove is configured to be W ≥ n 180 ° π R . |
| US10014487B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescent device comprising at least two organic layers including a light emitting layer (5) and a delayed fluorescent exciplex layer (7) containing a donor compound and an acceptor compound, between a pair of electrodes (2, 9) is highly efficient in formation of a singlet excited state and enables high light emission efficiency. |
| US10014483B2 |
Organic thin film transistor having patterned interface modification layer, display substrate and display apparatus having the same, and fabricating method thereof
The present application discloses a method of fabricating an organic thin film transistor comprising providing a substrate; forming a patterned interface modification layer on the substrate; and forming an organic semiconductor layer on a side of the interface modification layer distal to the substrate, wherein the patterned interface modification layer having a pattern of micro structure. |
| US10014482B2 |
Electronic device assembly and protection member
An electronic device assembly 10 includes: an electronic device 20 having flexibility; and a protection member 50 bonded to the electronic device 20. The protection member 50 includes a metal foil 53 that is supported by a support member 51 having flexibility and an adhesive layer 54 formed on the metal foil 53. The metal foil 53 included in the protection member 50 is bonded to the electronic device 20 via the adhesive layer 54. |
| US10014478B2 |
Indenotriphenylene-based diamine derivative and organic electroluminescence device using the same
The present invention discloses an indenotriphenylene-based diamine derivative is represented by the following formula (1), the organic EL device employing the derivative as hole transport layer, electron blocking layer and fluorescent emitting dopant of emitting layer can display good performance like as lower driving voltage and power consumption, increasing efficiency and half-life time. wherein Ar1, Ar2, L, X, m, n, p, q, r and R1 to R5 are the same definition as described in the present invention. |
| US10014476B2 |
Pyrene derivative, organic light-emitting medium, and organic electroluminescent element containing pyrene derivative or organic light-emitting medium
An organic light-emitting medium including a pyrene derivative represented by the following formula (1) and a phenyl-substituted anthracene derivative represented by the following formula (2): wherein Ar1 to Ar4 are independently a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 30 ring carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group having 5 to 20 ring atoms. |
| US10014470B2 |
Organic light emitting diode substrate and method for manufacturing the same
The present disclosure discloses an organic light emitting diode substrate and a method for manufacturing the same. In one embodiment the present disclosure, an organic light emitting diode substrate includes a display region in which an organic film layer that is formed by curing an ink layer is provided, and a border region located outside the display region and including an exposed area in which no organic film layer is provided. The organic light emitting diode substrate further includes: a barrier structure located in the border region and adapted for preventing the ink layer from coming into contact with a surface of the exposed area. |
| US10014466B2 |
Semiconductor devices with magnetic and attracter materials and methods of fabrication
A magnetic cell includes an attracter material proximate to a magnetic region (e.g., a free region). The attracter material is formulated to have a higher chemical affinity for a diffusible species of a magnetic material, from which the magnetic region is formed, compared to a chemical affinity between the diffusible species and at least another species of the magnetic material. Thus, the diffusible species is removed from the magnetic material to the attracter material. The removal accommodates crystallization of the depleted magnetic material. The crystallized, depleted magnetic material enables a high tunnel magnetoresistance, high energy barrier, and high energy barrier ratio. The magnetic region may be formed as a continuous magnetic material, thus enabling a high exchange stiffness, and positioning the magnetic region between two magnetic anisotropy-inducing oxide regions enables a high magnetic anisotropy strength. Methods of fabrication and semiconductor devices are also disclosed. |
| US10014459B2 |
Light-emitting diode device
A light-emitting diode device is specified, comprising at least one carrier and a light-emitting diode arranged thereon. The carrier comprises a plurality of polymer layers arranged one above another. At least one polymer layer has a cutout, in which an electrical component is embedded. |
| US10014457B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes light emitting elements. A substrate includes electrically conductive layers each having a first region in which the light emitting elements are arranged and a second region connected to the first region and provided at a position higher than the first region. An electrically conductive wire electrically connects the light emitting elements arranged on the electrically conductive layer and the second region of the adjacent electrically conductive layer. A resin molded portion is formed of a light-transmissive resin that seals the light emitting elements and the electrically conductive wire. The resin molded portion has a shape in which centrally projected cylindrical lens portions is aligned, and in each of the cylindrical lens portions, the light emitting elements is arranged in a line shape. The second region is arranged between the light emitting elements in the light emitting element array. |
| US10014450B1 |
Method for manufacturing a light emitting diode device and the light emitting diode device so manufactured
The invention provides a light emitting diode device that comprises a light emitting diode die. The method for manufacturing the light emitting diode device comprises positioning a first stencil over a carrier, printing a phosphor material onto the carrier through at least one aperture of the first stencil to form a phosphor material piece on the carrier, and attaching the light emitting diode die onto the printed phosphor material piece. |
| US10014445B2 |
Light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a light-emitting device is disclosed. The method includes: providing a semiconductor wafer, including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a semiconductor stack on the first surface; removing a portion of the semiconductor stack to form an exposed region; forming a first reflective structure on the exposed region; and providing a radiation on the second surface corresponding to a position of the first reflective structure. |
| US10014444B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor chip
An optoelectronic semi-conductor chip is disclosed in which an encapsulation layer, which is an ALD layer, completely covers a first mirror layer on the side thereof facing away from a p-conductive region, and is arranged to be in direct contact with said first mirror layer in some sections. |
| US10014442B2 |
Method for manufacturing vertical type light emitting diode, vertical type light emitting diode, method for manufacturing ultraviolet ray light emitting diode, and ultraviolet ray light emitting diode
A vertical type light emitting diode includes a nitride semiconductor having a p-n conjunction structure with a transparent material layer formed on a p type clad layer, the transparent material layer having a refractive index different from that of the p type clad layer and having a pattern structure of mesh, punched plate, or one-dimensional grid form, etc. A reflective metal electrode layer is formed on the transparent material layer as a p-electrode. A stereoscopic pattern is formed in the transparent material layer and the p-electrode deposited, and thereby forming the pattern in the p-electrode. Depositing the p-electrode on only 10 to 70% of the upper portion of the p type clad layer in an ultraviolet ray light emitting diode such that an area where the p type clad layer is exposed is wide increases the transmittance of ultraviolet rays through an area where the p-electrode is not deposited. |
| US10014440B2 |
Graphene display devices and the display driving methods thereof
A graphene display device includes a graphene display unit and a display control unit electrically connected with the graphene display unit. The graphene display unit includes a plurality of graphene light emitting structures constituting dynamic sub-pixels of the graphene display unit. The graphene display unit is configured for dividing pixel gamut of multiple base colors of pixels of the graphene display unit. A relationship between the pixel gamut and a pixel gamut coordinate is configured, and the graphene display unit controls the dynamic sub-pixel to display corresponding light in accordance with the pixel gamut coordinate of the inputted pixel. In addition, a display driving method of graphene display devices is disclosed. The graphene display device may accomplish multiple base colors display with fewer pixels such that wider color gamut coverage may be provided, and the aperture rate of the display device is enhanced and the power consumption is reduced. |
| US10014439B2 |
System and method for providing an electron blocking layer with doping control
Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a system and method for providing an electron blocking layer with doping control. The electron blocking layer is included in a semiconductor assembly. The electron blocking layer includes a lithium aluminate layer. The lithium aluminate layer promotes reduced diffusion of magnesium into a layer stack of the semiconductor assembly. |
| US10014438B2 |
Light emitting device including semiconductor nanocrystals
A light emitting device includes a semiconductor nanocrystal and a charge transporting layer that includes an inorganic material. The charge transporting layer can be a hole or electron transporting layer. The inorganic material can be an inorganic semiconductor. |
| US10014435B2 |
Method for manufacturing metallic reflector for LED package
A metallic reflector manufacturing method for an LED package. The method includes preparing a metal plate, and processing a stamping reflector that includes a lower body and an upper body that is extended from an upper side of the lower body and is integrally formed with the lower body. A reflection surface that is slanted by a predetermined angle is formed at a central portion of the upper body and the lower body to reflect the light of the LED chip to the outside. A fixation portion is formed to fix the lower body on a substrate that the LED chip is mounted on. The method further includes sequentially plating Ni and Ag on the reflection surface or the stamping reflector surface. The stamping processing includes a piercing step, a drawing step, a first noting step, a half etching step that forms the fixation portion, and a second notching step. |
| US10014431B2 |
Thin film solar cell and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed is a thin film solar cell including a substrate, a first electrode, a light absorbing layer, a buffer layer, a window layer, and a second electrode, wherein a compound layer of MxSy or MxSey (here, M is metal, and x and y each are a natural number) is present in an interface between the first electrode and the light absorbing layer, the thickness of the compound layer of MxSy or MxSey being 150 nm or less. |
| US10014429B2 |
Semiconductor structures including bonding layers, multi-junction photovoltaic cells and related methods
A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes the formation of a first bonding layer at least substantially comprised of a first III-V material on a major surface of a first element, and formation of a second bonding layer at least substantially comprised of a second III-V material on a major surface of a second element. The first bonding layer and the second bonding layer are disposed between the first element and the second element, and the first element and the second element are attached to one another at a bonding interface disposed between the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer. Semiconductor structures are fabricated using such methods. |
| US10014428B2 |
Solar cell module and solar cell module manufacturing method
A solar cell module is provided with: a plurality of solar cell elements each having a surface; a light diffusion portion provided in an outer peripheral area of the surface; and connection members which connect the plurality of solar cell elements. The outer peripheral area has restricted areas where formation of the light diffusion portion is restricted, in a part thereof, and the restricted areas are provided in positions where the outer peripheral area and the connection members intersect. The solar cell element may have, on the surface, bus bar electrodes which extend along the connection members. The restricted areas may be provided in the vicinity of ends of the bus bar electrodes. |
| US10014425B2 |
Spacer formation in a solar cell using oxygen ion implantation
A solar cell is disclosed. The solar cell has a front side facing the sun during normal operation, and a back side facing away from the sun. The solar cell comprises a silicon substrate, a first polysilicon layer with a region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the substrate. The solar cell also comprises a second polysilicon layer with a second region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the silicon substrate. The second polysilicon layer at least partially covers the region of doped polysilicon. The solar cell also comprises a resistive region disposed in the first polysilicon layer. The resistive region extends from an edge of the second region of doped polysilicon. The resistive region can be formed by ion implantation of oxygen into the first polysilicon layer. |
| US10014418B2 |
Conductive thick film paste for solar cell contacts
The present invention relates to an inorganic reaction system used in the manufacture of electroconductive pastes. The inorganic reaction system comprises a lead containing matrix forming composition and a tellurium oxide additive. Preferably the lead containing matrix forming composition is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system, and the tellurium oxide additive is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system. The lead containing matrix forming composition may be a glass frit, and may comprise lead oxide. Another aspect of the present invention relates to an electroconductive paste composition that comprises metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system as previously disclosed, and an organic vehicle. Another aspect of the present invention relates to an organic vehicle that comprises one or more of a binder, a surfactant, a solvent, and a thixatropic agent. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a solar cell printed with an electroconductive paste composition as disclosed, as well as an assembled solar cell module. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of producing a solar cell. |
| US10014417B2 |
Solid state imaging apparatus, production method thereof and electronic device
A solid state imaging apparatus includes an insulation structure formed of an insulation substance penetrating through at least a silicon layer at a light receiving surface side, the insulation structure having a forward tapered shape where a top diameter at an upper portion of the light receiving surface side of the silicon layer is greater than a bottom diameter at a bottom portion of the silicon layer. Also, there are provided a method of producing the solid state imaging apparatus and an electronic device including the solid state imaging apparatus. |
| US10014415B2 |
Semiconductor device has an oxide semiconductor layer containing a C-axis aligned crystal
A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer including a crystalline region over an insulating surface, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer covering the oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layer, and a gate electrode layer over the gate insulating layer in a region overlapping with the crystalline region. The crystalline region includes a crystal whose c-axis is aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US10014413B2 |
Semiconductor device
To provide a semiconductor device that includes an oxide semiconductor and is miniaturized while keeping good electrical properties. In the semiconductor device, an oxide semiconductor layer filling a groove is surrounded by insulating layers including an aluminum oxide film containing excess oxygen. Excess oxygen contained in the aluminum oxide film is supplied to the oxide semiconductor layer, in which a channel is formed, by heat treatment in a manufacturing process of the semiconductor device. Moreover, the aluminum oxide film forms a barrier against oxygen and hydrogen, which inhibits the removal of oxygen from the oxide semiconductor layer surrounded by the insulating layers including an aluminum oxide film and the entry of impurities such as hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor layer. Thus, a highly purified intrinsic oxide semiconductor layer can be obtained. The threshold voltage is controlled effectively by gate electrode layers formed over and under the oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US10014411B2 |
Modulating germanium percentage in MOS devices
An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is overlying the first silicon germanium region, wherein the second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage higher than the first germanium percentage. A metal silicide region is over and in contact with the second silicon germanium region. |
| US10014409B1 |
Method and structure to provide integrated long channel vertical FinFET device
A vertical fin field effect transistor includes a semiconductor fin disposed over a well region and a gate conductor layer disposed over a sidewall of the fin, and extending laterally over a top surface of the well region adjacent to the fin. The extension of the gate conductor over the bottom source/drain effectively increases the channel length of the vertical FinFET device independent of the fin height. A bottom source/drain region is laterally adjacent to the well region such that the portion of the well region covered by the laterally extended gate stack is between the bottom source/drain region and the portion of the well region immediately under the fin. A top source/drain region is located above the fin. The device is operated in circuits by use of electrical contacts to the bottom source/drain, the gate conductor, and the top source/drain. |
| US10014407B2 |
Semiconductor device having asymmetric active region and method of forming the same
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes an active region defined by an isolation layer. A source region portion, a drain region portion and a channel region are located in the active region. The channel region includes a first portion located close to the source region portion and a second portion having a higher threshold voltage than the first portion. |
| US10014405B1 |
Semiconductor device with extended electrically-safe operating area
In at least some embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises a source region is formed within a well. The source region comprises a first dopant type, and the well comprises a second dopant type opposite the first dopant type. A termination region is formed within the well, the termination region being aligned with the source region and having an end adjacent to and spaced apart from an end of the source region. The termination region comprises a semiconducting material having the second dopant type. A preselected concentration value of the dopant in the termination region is greater than a concentration value of the second dopant type in the well. |
| US10014404B2 |
MOS-gated power devices, methods, and integrated circuits
MOS-gated devices, related methods, and systems for vertical power and RF devices including an insulated trench and a gate electrode. A body region is positioned so that a voltage bias on the gate electrode will cause an inversion layer in the body region. Permanent electrostatic charges are included in said insulation material. A conductive shield layer is positioned above the insulated trench, to reduce parasitic capacitances. |
| US10014399B1 |
Hetero-junction bipolar transistor and electric device
This hetero-junction bipolar transistor includes a first n-type GaN layer, an AlxGa1-xN layer (0.1≤x≤0.5), an undoped GaN layer having a thickness of not less than 20 nm, a Mg-doped p-type GaN layer having a thickness of not less than 100 nm, and a second n-type GaN layer which are sequentially stacked. The first n-type GaN layer and the AlxGa1-xN layer form an emitter, the undoped GaN layer and the p-type GaN layer form a base, and the second n-type GaN layer forms a collector. During non-operation, two-dimensional hole gas is formed in a part of the undoped GaN layer near the hetero interface between the AlxGa1-xN layer and the undoped GaN layer. When the thickness of the p-type GaN layer is b [nm], the hole concentration of the p-type GaN layer is p [cm−3], and the concentration of the two-dimensional hole gas is Ps [cm−2], p×b×10−7+Ps≥1×1013 [cm−2] is satisfied. |
| US10014393B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of sacrificial layers and a plurality of semiconductor layers repeatedly and alternately stacked on a substrate, partially removing the sacrificial layers, forming spacers in removed regions of the sacrificial layers, and replacing remaining portions of the sacrificial layers with a gate electrode. Each of the sacrificial layers includes first portions disposed adjacent to the plurality of semiconductor layers and a second portions disposed between the first portions. The second portion having a different composition from the first portions. |
| US10014391B2 |
Vertical transport field effect transistor with precise gate length definition
Techniques relate to a gate stack for a semiconductor device. A vertical fin is formed on a substrate. The vertical fin has an upper portion and a bottom portion. The upper portion of the vertical fin has a recessed portion on sides of the upper portion. A gate stack is formed in the recessed portion of the upper portion of the vertical fin. |
| US10014390B1 |
Inner spacer formation for nanosheet field-effect transistors with tall suspensions
Structures for a nanosheet field-effect transistor and methods for forming a structure for a nanosheet field-effect transistor. A body feature is formed that includes a first nanosheet channel layer, a second nanosheet channel layer, and first, second, and third sacrificial layers that are vertically arranged between the first and second nanosheet channel layers. The first, second, and third sacrificial layers are laterally recessed relative to the first and second nanosheet channel layers to form a cavity indented into a sidewall of the first body feature. The second sacrificial layer is laterally recessed to a lesser extent than the first sacrificial layer or the third sacrificial layer such that an end of the second sacrificial layer projects into the cavity between the first and third sacrificial layers. A dielectric spacer is formed in the first and second portions of cavity between the first and second nanosheet channel layers. |
| US10014389B2 |
Methods of forming IC products comprising a nano-sheet device and a transistor device having first and second replacement gate structures
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming channel semiconductor material for a nano-sheet device and a transistor device, forming a device gate insulation layer on both the nano-sheet device and on the transistor device, and forming first and second sacrificial gate structures for the nano-sheet device and the transistor device. In this example, the method also includes removing the sacrificial gate structures so as to define, respectively, first and second gate cavities, wherein the device gate insulation layer is exposed within each of the gate cavities, removing the device gate insulation layer for the transistor device from within the first gate cavity while leaving the device gate insulation layer in position within the second gate cavity, and forming first and second replacement gate structures in the first and second gate cavities, respectively. |
| US10014388B1 |
Transient voltage suppression devices with symmetric breakdown characteristics
The present disclosure relates to a symmetrical, punch-through transient voltage suppression (TVS) device includes a mesa structure disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The mesa structure includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity-type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity-type disposed on the first semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer of the first conductive-type disposed on the second semiconductor layer. The mesa structure also includes beveled sidewalls forming mesa angles with respect to the semiconductor substrate and edge implants disposed at lateral edges of the second semiconductor layer. The edge implants including dopants of the second conductive-type are configured to cause punch-through to occur in a bulk region and not in the lateral edges of the second semiconductor layer. |
| US10014381B2 |
Semiconductor power devices manufactured with self-aligned processes and more reliable electrical contacts
This invention discloses semiconductor power device that includes a plurality of top electrical terminals disposed near a top surface of a semiconductor substrate. Each and every one of the top electrical terminals comprises a terminal contact layer formed as a silicide contact layer near the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The trench gates of the semiconductor power device are opened from the top surface of the semiconductor substrate and each and every one of the trench gates comprises the silicide layer configured as a recessed silicide contact layer disposed on top of every on of the trench gates slightly below a top surface of the semiconductor substrate surround the trench gate. |
| US10014379B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor device with self-aligned contact elements and the resulting device
One method disclosed includes forming a final gate structure in a gate cavity that is laterally defined by sidewall spacers, removing a portion of the sidewall spacers to define recessed sidewall spacers, removing a portion of the final gate structure to define a recessed final gate structure and forming an etch stop on the recessed sidewall spacers and the recessed final gate structure. A transistor device disclosed herein includes a final gate structure that has an upper surface positioned at a first height level above a surface of a substrate, sidewall spacers positioned adjacent the final gate structure, the sidewall spacers having an upper surface that is positioned at a second, greater height level above the substrate, an etch stop layer formed on the upper surfaces of the sidewall spacers and the final gate structure, and a conductive contact that is conductively coupled to a contact region of the transistor. |
| US10014377B2 |
III-V field effect transistor on a dielectric layer
An electrical device comprising a base semiconductor layer of a silicon including material; a dielectric layer present on the base semiconductor layer; a first III-V semiconductor material area present in a trench in the dielectric layer, wherein a via of the III-V semiconductor material extends from the trench through the dielectric layer into contact with the base semiconductor layer; a second III-V semiconductor material area present in the trench in the dielectric layer wherein the second III-V semiconductor material area does not have a via extending through the dielectric layer into contact with the base semiconductor layer; and a semiconductor device present on the second III-V semiconductor material area, wherein the first III-V semiconductor material area and the second III-V semiconductor material area are separated by a low aspect ratio trench extending to the dielectric layer. |
| US10014376B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device having a trench with side walls and method for manufacturing same
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes: a silicon carbide off substrate including a main surface having an off angle relative to a basal plane, the main surface being provided with a trench, the trench having a plurality of side walls and a bottom portion; a gate insulating film covering the side walls and the bottom portion; and a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film, each of the side walls having an angle of more than 65° and not more than 80° relative to the basal plane in the trench, opening directions of the plurality of side walls being all at a silicon plane side or a carbon plane side. |
| US10014369B2 |
Super-junction semiconductor device
A super junction semiconductor device is provided. The super-junction semiconductor device includes a substrate, a drift layer disposed on the substrate, an insulating layer, a lightly-doped region, and a main loop-shaped field plate. The drift layer includes a plurality of n- and p-type doped regions alternately arranged in parallel to form a super-junction structure, and defines a cell region and a termination region surrounding the cell region. The lightly-doped region is formed in the drift layer and connected to a surface of the drift layer. The lightly-doped region has a first end portion closer to the cell region and a second end portion farther away from the cell region. The insulating layer disposed on the drift layer covers the termination region. The main loop-shaped field plate is disposed on the insulating layer and covers the second end portion. |
| US10014368B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
An IGBT region includes a collector layer, a first drift layer, a first body layer, an emitter layer, and a trench gate reaching the first drift layer through the first body layer from a front surface side of a semiconductor substrate. A diode region includes a cathode layer, a second drift layer, and a second body layer. A lifetime control region which includes a peak of a crystal defect density is provided in the first drift layer and the second drift layer that are located between a depth of a lower end of the trench gate and surfaces of the first drift layer and the second drift layer. A silicon nitride film is further provided above the trench gate on the front surface side of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US10014367B2 |
Semiconductor device including an edge construction with straight sections and corner sections
A semiconductor device includes a transistor cell area with active transistor cells including source zones electrically connected to a first load electrode. The source zones have a first conductivity type. An edge area surrounds the active transistor cell area and includes an edge construction that includes straight sections and a corner section connecting neighboring straight sections. A second dopant ratio between a mean concentration of dopants of a complementary second conductivity type and a mean concentration of dopants of the first conductivity type in the corner section exceeds a first dopant ratio between a mean concentration of dopants of the second conductivity type and a mean concentration of dopants of the first conductivity type in the straight sections by at least 0.2% in relation to the first dopant ratio. |
| US10014366B1 |
Tapered polysilicon gate layout for power handling improvement for radio frequency (RF) switch applications
A radio frequency (RF) switch includes a plurality of series-connected silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS transistors, including a plurality of parallel source/drain regions, a plurality of channel regions located between the plurality of source/drain regions, and a polysilicon gate structure located over the plurality of channel regions. The polysilicon gate structure includes a plurality of polysilicon gate fingers, wherein each polysilicon gate finger extends over a corresponding one of the channel regions. The polysilicon gate structure also includes a polysilicon base region that connects first ends of the polysilicon gate fingers. The polysilicon gate structure also includes triangular polysilicon extension regions coupled to the polysilicon gate fingers. The triangular extension regions can be located at the first ends of the polysilicon gate fingers (abutting the polysilicon base region), or at second (opposing ends) of the polysilicon gate fingers. |
| US10014364B1 |
On-chip resistors with a tunable temperature coefficient of resistance
Device structures and fabrication methods for an on-chip resistor. A first Seebeck terminal is arranged to overlap with first and second resistor bodies of the on-chip resistor. A second Seebeck terminal is also arranged to overlap with the first and second resistor bodies. The second Seebeck terminal has a spaced relationship with the first Seebeck terminal along a length of the first and second resistor bodies. The temperature coefficient of resistance of the on-chip resistor is based at least in part on a Seebeck coefficient of first and second Seebeck terminals. |
| US10014363B2 |
Semiconductor device having resistance elements and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor device includes as a resistance element a first polycrystalline silicon and a second polycrystalline silicon containing impurities, such as boron, of the same kind and having different widths. The first polycrystalline silicon contains the impurities at a concentration CX. The second polycrystalline silicon has a width larger than a width of the first polycrystalline silicon and contains the impurities of the same kind at a concentration CY lower than the concentration CX. A sign of a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the first polycrystalline silicon changes at the concentration CX. A sign of a TCR of the second polycrystalline silicon changes at the concentration CY. |
| US10014360B2 |
Array substrate comprising a power wire layer and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The array substrate of the present invention comprises multiple pixel units arranged in an array, each pixel unit comprising a substrate, an active layer, a source layer and a drain layer arranged in the same layer, and a gate layer; wherein each pixel unit further comprises a power wire layer connected to the source layer via a via hole. Since the power wire layer of the present invention is separately provided as a layer, the area of the projection of the power wire layer on the substrate may be larger, that is, the conductive cross-sectional area of the power wire layer may be larger, and thus the resistance of the power wire layer is decreased. Therefore, difference among currents of different pixel units is reduced, and thus the mura phenomenon generated in displaying is alleviated. |
| US10014355B2 |
Pixel circuit and display device, and a method of manufacturing pixel circuit
The display device including a pixel circuit has a first line, a transistor, a light emitting element, and a second line. The transistor is located between the second line and an electrode of the light emitting element. Either the first line or the second line is wired in a region that overlaps a light emitting region of the light emitting element in a lamination direction of layers. The second line intersects the first line outside of the light emitting region and overlaps a non-light emitting region of the light emitting element. |
| US10014350B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device and manufacturing method thereof
There is provided a solid-state image pickup device that includes a functional region provided with an organic film, and a guard ring surrounding the functional region. |
| US10014349B2 |
Solid state image sensor, production method thereof and electronic device
A solid state image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate where photoelectric conversion regions for converting light into charges are arranged per pixel planarly arranged; an organic photoelectric conversion film laminated at a light irradiated side of the semiconductor substrate via an insulation film and formed at the regions where the pixels are formed; a lower electrode formed at and in contact with the organic photoelectric conversion film at a semiconductor substrate side; a first upper electrode laminated at a light irradiated side of the organic photoelectric conversion film and formed such that ends of the first upper electrode are substantially conform with ends of the organic photoelectric conversion film when the solid state image sensor is planarly viewed; and a film stress suppressor for suppressing an effect of a film stress on the organic photoelectric conversion film, the film stress being generated on the first upper electrode. |
| US10014346B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first interconnect, a second interconnect, a first fringe and a second fringe. The first interconnect is connected to a first memory cell. The second interconnect is connected to a second memory cell and is arranged at a first interval from the first interconnect in a first direction. The first fringe is formed on one end of the first interconnect. The second fringe is formed on one end of the second interconnect. The first fringe and the second fringe are arranged at the first interval in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. |
| US10014338B2 |
Image sensor
An image sensor includes multiple unit pixels defined by a pixel isolation layer on a substrate, at least a pair of photoelectric converters in each of the unit pixels and at least an optical divider on a rear surface of the substrate at each of the unit pixels. The photoelectric converters are separated by at least a converter separator in each of the unit pixels and generate photo electrons in response to an incident light that is incident to an incident point of the respective unit pixel. The optical divider is overlapped with the incident point and divides the incident light into a plurality of split lights having the same amount of light such that each of the photoelectric converters receives the same amount of light from the split lights. |
| US10014333B2 |
Back-side illuminated pixels with interconnect layers
An imaging pixel may be provided with an upper substrate layer, a lower substrate layer, a floating diffusion region in the upper substrate layer, and a photodiode in the upper substrate layer that is coupled to the floating diffusion region. The imaging pixel may also include a source follower transistor in the lower substrate layer and an interconnect layer in between the upper substrate layer and the lower substrate layer. The interconnect layer may couple the floating diffusion region directly to the source follower transistor. The imaging pixel may include a reset transistor in the upper substrate layer. The imaging pixel may include a metal layer in the lower substrate layer, a transfer transistor in the upper substrate layer, and an interconnect layer that couples the transfer transistor to the metal layer. |
| US10014332B2 |
Pixel circuit, semiconductor photodetection device, and radiation counting device
In a photoelectric changing unit, a photoelectric conversion unit converts light into electric charge, and an electric charge accumulation unit accumulates the electric charge in a polygonal area whose plurality of sides are adjacent to the photoelectric conversion unit on a light receiving surface. A voltage generation unit accumulates the electric charge and generates a voltage according to an amount of the accumulated electric charge. A first transfer unit transfers the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the electric charge accumulation unit when an instruction on a transfer to the electric charge accumulation unit is issued. A second transfer unit transfers the electric charge from the electric charge accumulation unit to the voltage generation unit when an instruction on a transfer to the voltage generation unit is issued. |
| US10014327B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate, display panel and display device
A thin film transistor array substrate for a display device generally includes: a substrate; a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines arranged on the substrate intersecting with and insulated from each other; and a plurality of pixel elements arranged in areas defined by the gate lines and the data lines. At least one of the pixel elements includes: a switch element; an insulation layer located on the switch element; and a pixel electrode located at the insulation layer. The insulation layers of the pixel elements define a plurality of vias. The pixel electrodes of two adjacent pixel elements are electrically coupled with the corresponding switch elements of the two adjacent pixel elements through a common via defined by the insulation layers of the two adjacent pixel elements. The two adjacent pixel elements are disposed along extensions of the plurality of the gate lines. |
| US10014321B2 |
Radio-frequency switches having silicon-on-insulator field-effect transistors with reduced linear region resistance
Disclosed are devices and methods related to radio-frequency (RF) switches having silicon-on-insulator (SOI) field-effect transistors (FETs). In some embodiments, an RF switch can include an FET with shaped source, drain, and gate selected to yield a reduced per-area value of resistance in linear operating region (Rds-on). In some implementations, a plurality of such FETs can be connected in series to allow use of SOI technology in high power RF switching applications while maintaining a relatively small die size. |
| US10014318B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, structure and methods
A multilevel semiconductor device, including: a first level including a first array of first memory cells; a second level including a second array of second memory cells, the first level is overlaid by the second level, where at least one of the first memory cells includes a vertically oriented first transistor, and where at least one of the second memory cells includes a vertically oriented second transistor, and where the first transistor includes a first single crystal channel, and where the second transistor includes a second single crystal channel, and where the first transistor is self-aligned to the second transistor. |
| US10014314B2 |
Semiconductor device and methods of manufacture thereof
The invention provides a method for use in forming a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device comprising a primary area and a periphery area, the method comprising: providing a substrate on which is situated: a stack in the primary area, the stack comprising a first oxide layer on the substrate, an oxynitride layer on the first oxide layer and a second oxide layer on the oxynitride layer; and a third oxide layer in the periphery area, the method further comprising: substantially removing the second oxide layer from the primary area and the third oxide layer from the periphery area; forming a fourth oxide layer in at least the primary area by an in situ steam generation (ISSG) process; and thereafter forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer on the fourth oxide layer without any intervening oxidation process steps. Embodiments of the invention, when applied to, for example, the manufacture of SONOS devices, have the advantages that batch-to-batch variation of the thickness of the top blocking oxide of the ONO stack is reduced or eliminated, and ONO line width variation is reduced or eliminated. |
| US10014313B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided herein is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include conductive layers each including a line, and a pad which is coupled with the line and has a thickness greater than that of the line, the conductive layers being stacked such that the pads are exposed; insulating layers interposed between the conductive layers; first spacers each of which is interposed between the pad of the corresponding upper conductive layer and the pad of the corresponding low conductive layer; and second spacers covering the respective first spacers. |
| US10014310B1 |
Memory cell structure and operation method thereof
A method for operating a memory cell structure includes providing a memory cell. An erasing process is performed by applying an erasing voltage to a first gate electrode, a source region and a drain region simultaneously to attract a plurality of electrons from a substrate and to store the plurality of electrons in a first spacer and a second spacer. Afterwards, a programming process is performed by applying a pull-out voltage to the source region or the drain region to remove the plurality of electrons stored in the first spacer or the second spacer, and a read process is performed to determine whether the plurality of electrons is stored in the first spacer and stored in the second spacer. |
| US10014309B2 |
Methods of forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprising a programmable charge storage transistor and arrays of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprising a programmable charge storage transistor
An array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells, where the memory cells individually comprise a programmable charge storage transistor, comprises a substrate comprising a first region containing memory cells and a second region not containing memory cells laterally of the first region. The first region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of insulative material and control gate material. The second region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of different composition insulating materials laterally of the first region. A channel pillar comprising semiconductive channel material extends elevationally through multiple of the vertically-alternating tiers within the first region. Tunnel insulator, programmable charge storage material, and control gate blocking insulator are between the channel pillar and the control gate material of individual of the tiers of the control gate material within the first region. Conductive vias extend elevationally through the vertically-alternating tiers in the second region. An elevationally-extending wall is laterally between the first and second regions. The wall comprises the programmable charge storage material and the semiconductive channel material. Other embodiments and aspects, including method, are disclosed. |
| US10014306B2 |
Memory structure and manufacturing method for the same
A memory structure and a manufacturing method for the same are disclosed. The memory structure comprises memory segments. Each of the memory segments comprises a memory array region, a memory selecting region adjacent to the memory array region, a semiconductor gate electrode, a semiconductor channel connecting to the semiconductor gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer, a gate electrode layer, and channel layer. The gate electrode layer and the semiconductor channel are in the memory selecting region. The gate electrode layer and the semiconductor channel are separated from each other by the gate dielectric layer. The channel layer and the semiconductor gate electrode are in the memory array region. The channel layer and the semiconductor gate electrode are separated from each other by the gate dielectric layer. |
| US10014300B2 |
Integrated circuit devices having inter-device isolation regions and methods of manufacturing the same
An integrated circuit device as provided herein may include a device region and an inter-device isolation region. Within the device region, a fin-type active region may protrude from a substrate, and opposite sidewalls of the fin-type active region may be covered by an inner isolation layer. An outer isolation layer may fill an outer deep trench in the inter-device isolation region. The inner isolation layer may extend away from the device region at an inner sidewall of the outer deep trench and into the inter-device isolation region. There may be multiple fin-type active regions, and trenches therebetween. The outer deep trench and the trenches between the plurality of fin-type active regions may be of different heights. The integrated circuit device and methods of manufacturing described herein may reduce a possibility that various defects or failures may occur due to an unnecessary fin-type active region remaining around the device region. |
| US10014298B1 |
Method of forming field effect transistors with replacement metal gates and contacts and resulting structure
In a method for forming an integrated circuit (IC) structure, which incorporates multiple field effect transistors (FETs) with discrete replacement metal gates (RMGs) and replacement metal contacts (RMCs), gate cut trench(es) and contact cut trench(es) are formed at the same process level. These trench(es) are then filled at the same time with the same isolation material to form gate cut isolation region(s) for electrically isolating adjacent RMGs and contact cut isolation region(s) for electrically isolating adjacent RMCs, respectively. The selected isolation material can be a low-K isolation material for optimal performance. Furthermore, since the same process step is used to fill both types of trenches, only a single chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is needed to remove the isolation material from above the gate level, thereby minimizing gate height loss and process variation. Also disclosed herein is an IC structure formed according to the method. |
| US10014292B2 |
3D semiconductor device and structure
A 3D semiconductor device, the device including: a first die including a first transistors layer and a first interconnection layer; and a second die overlaying the first die, the second die including a second transistors layer and a second interconnection layer, where the second die thickness is less than 2 microns, and where the first die is substantially larger than the second die. |
| US10014288B2 |
Ultra high voltage electrostatic discharge protection device with current gain
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. A first semiconductor region is over a portion of the semiconductor substrate to a first depth. A second semiconductor region is in the first semiconductor region. A third semiconductor region is in the first semiconductor region. A fourth semiconductor region is outside the first semiconductor region. A fifth semiconductor region is outside the first semiconductor region to a fifth depth, the fifth semiconductor region being adjacent the fourth semiconductor region. A sixth semiconductor region is below the fifth semiconductor region and to a sixth depth. The sixth depth is equal to the first depth. A first electrode is connected to the third semiconductor region. A second electrode is connected to the fourth and fifth semiconductor regions. The fifth semiconductor region is configured to cause an increase in a current during a cathode to anode positive bias operation between the first and second electrodes. |
| US10014286B2 |
Stackable electronics package and method of fabricating same
An electronic package includes a first layer having a first surface, the first layer includes a first device having a first electrical node, and a first contact pad in electrical communication with the first electrical node and positioned within the first surface. The package includes a second layer having a second surface and a third surface, the second layer includes a first conductor positioned within the second surface and a second contact pad positioned within the third surface and in electrical communication with the first conductor. A first anisotropic conducting paste (ACP) is positioned between the first contact pad and the first conductor to electrically connect the first contact pad to the first conductor such that an electrical signal may pass therebetween. |
| US10014284B2 |
Power semiconductor module for an inverter circuit and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor chip, a conductive member for supporting the semiconductor chip, a joint material provided between the conductive member and the semiconductor chip, and a release groove formed on the surface of the conductive member and arranged away from the semiconductor chip with the one end and the other end of the release groove connected to the peripheral edges of the conductive member, respectively. |
| US10014282B2 |
3D semiconductor device and structure
An Integrated Circuit device, the device including: a base wafer including a single crystal layer, the base wafer including a plurality of first transistors; at least one metal layer providing interconnection between the plurality of first transistors, where the base wafer includes a memory bit-cell array including the first transistors and control bit-lines and word-lines; and a second layer including a plurality of second transistors, the second layer overlying the at least one metal layer, where the second layer includes a connecting via to the bit-lines or the word-lines, the connecting via has a diameter of less than 200 nm, and where the second layer includes control circuits to control the memory bit-cell array, the control circuits include the second transistors. |
| US10014281B2 |
Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device package including a controller element
Semiconductor device packages include a stack of semiconductor memory devices positioned over an interposer substrate, a controller element, and a redistribution substrate positioned laterally adjacent to the controller element. At least a portion of the controller element is positioned directly between the stack and the interposer substrate. The controller element is operatively connected to the semiconductor memory devices of the stack through the redistribution substrate and the interposer substrate. Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device package include positioning a redistribution substrate laterally adjacent to a controller element and attaching the redistribution substrate and the controller element to an interposer substrate. A stack of semiconductor memory devices is positioned over the controller element and the redistribution substrate. The controller element is operatively connected to the semiconductor memory devices of the stack through the redistribution substrate and the interposer substrate. |
| US10014279B2 |
Methods of forming 3-D integrated semiconductor devices having intermediate heat spreading capabilities
In a method of forming a three-dimensional semiconductor device, a first chip is provided that includes a first substrate, a first device layer positioned on and covering the first substrate, and a first metallization system positioned on and covering the first device layer, wherein the first device layer includes a plurality of first transistor elements. A second chip is also provided and includes a second substrate, a second device layer positioned on and covering the second substrate, and a second metallization system positioned on and covering the second device layer, wherein the second device layer includes a plurality of second transistor elements. The second chip is attached to the first chip so that a heat spreading material is positioned between the first chip and the second chip and covers at least a portion of the first metallization system. |
| US10014274B2 |
Optimized solder pads for microelectronic components
A multi-chip system includes a top chip stack element comprising a top chip having two major surfaces and top solder pads arrayed along a plane of one of the major surfaces; a bottom chip stack element comprising a bottom substrate having two major surfaces and bottom solder pads arrayed along a plane of one of the major surfaces; one or more solder reservoir pads connected to one or more of the top solder pads or of the bottom solder pads; and solder material; and wherein at least one of the top solder pads is connected to one of the bottom solder pads by one of the solder material. |
| US10014272B2 |
Die bonding with liquid phase solder
A method of bonding a die comprising solder bumps to a substrate comprising bond pads, the method comprising the steps of heating the die from a first temperature to a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is below the melting point of the solder bumps, and the second temperature is above the melting point of the solder bumps; moving the die relative to the substrate to a first height, whereat the solder bumps contact the bond pads; moving the die further away from the substrate to a second height, while maintaining contact between the solder bumps and bond pads; and thereafter cooling the die from the second temperature to a third temperature to allow the solder bumps to solidify so as to bond the die to the substrate. |
| US10014269B2 |
Method for wafer dicing
The semiconductor die includes a base body, protruding portions and bonding pads. The base body has sidewalls. The protruding portions are laterally protruding from the sidewalls respectively. The bonding pads are disposed on the protruding portions respectively. The wafer dicing method includes following operations. Chips are formed on a semiconductor wafer. Bonding pads are formed at a border line between every two of the adjacent chips. A scribe line is formed and disposed along the bonding pads. A photolithographic pattern is formed on a top layer of the semiconductor wafer to expose the scribe line. The scribe line is etched to a depth in the semiconductor wafer substantially below the top layer to form an etched pattern. A back surface of the semiconductor wafer is thinned until the etched pattern in the semiconductor wafer is exposed. |
| US10014264B2 |
Hyperfrequency housing occupying a small surface area and mounting of such a housing on a circuit
A package, able to encapsulate at least one component, forming a closed cavity of Faraday cage type having side walls resting on a base and that are surmounted by a cover, wherein at least one of the side walls includes exterior electrical connection elements linked electrically to the interior of the cavity, the exterior connection elements able to interconnect with an exterior circuit such that the side wall faces the exterior circuit when the exterior connection elements are interconnected with the circuit. |
| US10014262B2 |
Method of wafer dicing for backside metallization
Method embodiments of wafer dicing for backside metallization are provided. One method includes: applying dicing tape to a front side of a semiconductor wafer, wherein the front side of the semiconductor wafer includes active circuitry; cutting a back side of the semiconductor wafer, the back side opposite the front side, wherein the cutting forms a retrograde cavity in a street of the semiconductor wafer, the retrograde cavity has a gap width at the back side of the semiconductor wafer, and the retrograde cavity has sidewalls with negative slope; depositing a metal layer on the back side of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the gap width is large enough to prevent formation of the metal layer over the retrograde cavity; and cutting through the street of the semiconductor wafer subsequent to the depositing the metal layer. |
| US10014261B2 |
Microchip charge patterning
A method of forming a charge pattern on a microchip includes depositing a material on the surface of the microchip, and immersing the microchip in a fluid to develop charge in or on the material through interaction with the surrounding fluid. |
| US10014260B2 |
Package structure and method for forming the same
Package structures and methods for forming the same are provided. A method for forming a package structure includes providing a carrier substrate. The method also includes forming a conductive layer over the carrier substrate. The method further includes forming a passivation layer over the conductive layer. The passivation layer includes openings that expose portions of the conductive layer. In addition, the method includes bonding integrated circuit dies to the portions of the conductive layer through bumps. There is a space between the integrated circuit dies and the passivation layer. The method also includes filling the space with a first molding compound. The first molding compound surrounds the bumps and the integrated circuit dies. The method further includes forming a second molding compound capping the first molding compound and the integrated circuit dies. The passivation layer has a sidewall that is covered by the second molding compound. |
| US10014257B2 |
Apparatus and method for placing stressors within an integrated circuit device to manage electromigration failures
An integrated circuit device includes a first line in a first metal layer of the integrated circuit device, wherein the first line forms at least a portion of an interconnect, a second line in a second metal layer of the integrated circuit device, and a first via that couples the first line to the second line. The integrated circuit device further includes a first stressor disposed at a first area of the interconnect, wherein the first area at least partially overlaps the first via, wherein the first stressor alters an electromigration stress profile for the interconnect by altering a stress at the first area to be less tensile. |
| US10014251B2 |
Semiconductor device with self-protecting fuse and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device with the metal fuse is provided. The metal fuse connects an electronic component (e.g., a transistor) and a existing dummy feature which is grounded. The protection of the metal fuse can be designed to start at the beginning of the metallization formation processes. The grounded dummy feature provides a path for the plasma charging to the ground during the entire back end of the line process. The metal fuse is a process level protection as opposed to the diode, which is a circuit level protection. As a process level protection, the metal fuse protects subsequently-formed circuitry. In addition, no additional active area is required for the metal fuse in the chip other than internal dummy patterns that are already implemented. |
| US10014249B2 |
Circuit board and smart card module and smart card utilizing the same
A circuit board and a smart card module and a smart card employing the circuit board are provided. The circuit board includes a substrate and a pad region provided on the substrate. The pad region is configured for mounting an electronic component. The pad region comprises a plurality of pads spaced from each other and traces connected to their respective pads. At least one of the traces comprises an extension which extends along a perimeter of the pad region. The present invention provides a reliable adhesion between the chip and pad region. |
| US10014243B2 |
Interconnection substrates for interconnection between circuit modules, and methods of manufacture
An interposer (110) has contact pads at the top and/or bottom surfaces for connection to circuit modules (e.g. ICs 112). The interposer includes a substrate made of multiple layers (110.i). Each layer can be a substrate (110S), possibly a ceramic substrate, with circuitry. The substrates extend vertically. Multiple interposers are fabricated in a single structure (310) made of vertical layers (310.i) corresponding to the interposers' layers. The structure is diced along horizontal planes (314) to provide the interposers. An interposer's vertical conductive lines (similar to through-substrate vias) can be formed on the substrates' surfaces before dicing and before all the substrates are attached to each other. Thus, there is no need to make through-substrate holes for the vertical conductive lines. Non-vertical features can also be formed on the substrates' surfaces before the substrates are attached to each other. Other embodiments are also provided. |
| US10014242B2 |
Interposer substrate and method of fabricating the same
The invention provides an interposer substrate and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes: etching a carrier to form a recessed groove thereon; filling a dielectric material in the recessed groove to form a first dielectric material layer, or forming a patterned first dielectric material layer on the carrier; forming a first wiring layer, a first conductive block and a second dielectric material layer on the carrier and the first dielectric material layer sequentially, with the first wiring layer and the first conductive block embedded in the second dielectric material layer; and forming a second wiring layer and a second conductive block on the second dielectric material layer. A coreless interposer substrate having fine pitches is thus fabricated. |
| US10014240B1 |
Embedded component package and fabrication method
An array includes a substrate having a frontside surface and a backside surface. A backside cavity is formed in the backside surface. Backside through vias extend through the substrate from the frontside surface to the backside surface. Embedded component through vias extend through the substrate from the frontside surface to the backside cavity. An embedded component is mounted within the backside cavity and coupled to the embedded component through vias. In this manner, the embedded component is embedded within the substrate. By embedding the embedded component within the substrate, the overall thickness of the array is minimized. Further, by electrically connecting the embedded component to the embedded component through vias, which are relatively short, the impedance between active surface ends of the embedded component through vias and the bond pads of the embedded component is minimized thus providing superior power management. Further, routing space on the frontside surface and/or the backside surface is preserved. |
| US10014235B2 |
Underfill material, laminated sheet and method for producing semiconductor device
An underfill material having sufficient curing reactivity, and capable of achieving a small change in viscosity and good electrical connection even when loaded with thermal history, a laminated sheet including the underfill material, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The underfill material has a melt viscosity at 150° C. before heating treatment of 50 Pa·s or more and 3,000 Pa·s or less, a viscosity change rate of 500% or less, at 150° C. as a result of the heating treatment, and a reaction rate represented by {(Qt−Qh)/Qt}×100% of 90% or more, where Qt is a total calorific value in a process of temperature rise from −50° C. to 300° C. and Qh is a total calorific value in a process of temperature rise from −50° C. to 300° C. after heating at 175° C. for 2 hours in a DSC measurement. |
| US10014232B2 |
Packaging shell and a power module having the same
The present invention provides a packaging shell and a power module having the same. The packaging shell mainly comprises an accommodating recess for receiving a substrate disposed with a plurality of electronic devices/components, so as to make the substrate be further assembled with a heat sink through the support of the packaging shell. Most importantly, in the present invention, the accommodating recess has a stepped surface for contacting with the substrate, and the stepped surface is a curve surface having a flatness difference. By such design, the compressional force generated when assembling the packaging shell, the heat sink and the system circuit board can be uniformly transmitted to substrate via the curve surface structure; such that the compressional force is avoid from being concentrated to a certain point on the substrate, and then the substrate is protected from being ruptured due to the action of the concentrated compressional force. |
| US10014231B1 |
Method and apparatus to model and monitor time dependent dielectric breakdown in multi-field plate gallium nitride devices
A first set of test structures for a gallium nitride (GaN) transistor that includes N field plates is disclosed, where N is an integer and X is an integer between 0 and N inclusive. A test structure TSX of the first set of test structures includes a GaN substrate, a dielectric material overlying the GaN substrate, a respective source contact abutting the GaN substrate and a respective drain contact abutting the GaN substrate. The test structure TSX also includes a respective gate overlying the substrate and lying between the respective source contact and the respective drain contact and X respective field plates corresponding to X of the N field plates of the GaN transistor, the X respective field plates including field plates that are nearest to the GaN substrate. |
| US10014227B2 |
Semiconductor device having strained fin structure and method of making the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, at least a first fin structure, at least a second fin structure, a first gate, a second gate, a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. The semiconductor substrate has at least a first active region to dispose the first fin structure and at least a second active region to dispose the second fin structure. The first/second fin structure partially overlapped by the first/second gate has a first/second stress, and the first stress and the second stress are different from each other. The first/second source/drain region is disposed in the first/second fin structure at two sides of the first/second gate. |
| US10014223B2 |
Multi-gate devices with replaced-channels and methods for forming the same
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, isolation regions in the semiconductor substrate, and a Fin Field-Effect Transistor (FinFET). The FinFET includes a channel region over the semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric on a top surface and sidewalls of the channel region, a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, a source/drain region, and an additional semiconductor region between the source/drain region and the channel region. The channel region and the additional semiconductor region are formed of different semiconductor materials, and are at substantially level with each other. |
| US10014220B2 |
Self heating reduction for analog radio frequency (RF) device
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of semiconductor fins from an upper semiconductor layer located on a first region of a bulk semiconductor substrate of a structure and then forming at least one gate structure straddling a portion of semiconductor fins. A portion of the lower semiconductor layer from beneath the upper semiconductor layer is then removed to form a vertical semiconductor portion which contacts the bulk semiconductor substrate and at least one of the semiconductor fins. A dielectric layer (e.g., a spacer layer) is then deposited over the structure and laterally surrounds the vertical semiconductor portion such that semiconductor fins and the at least one gate structure are partially isolated from the first region of the bulk semiconductor substrate by the dielectric layer. |
| US10014219B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a structure on a substrate and a plurality of gate-all-around devices on the structure. The structure includes a plurality of sacrificial layers and a plurality of active layers alternately stacked on one another. The sacrificial layers have different widths and the active layers have different widths to form multiple stepped layers on the substrate. The gate-all-around devices are on respective ones the multiple stepped layers. |
| US10014217B2 |
Method of singulating semiconductor wafer having a plurality of die and a back layer disposed along a major surface
De are singulated from a wafer having a back layer by placing the wafer onto a first carrier substrate with the back layer adjacent the carrier substrate, forming singulation lines through the wafer to expose the back layer within the singulation lines, and using a plate structure to apply a pressure to the wafer to separate the back layer in the singulation lines. The pressure can be applied through the first carrier substrate proximate to the back layer, or can be applied through a second carrier substrate attached to a front side of the wafer opposite to the back layer. |
| US10014215B2 |
Method and apparatus for placing a gate contact inside a semiconductor active region having high-k dielectric gate caps
A method provides a structure having a FinFET in an Rx region, the FinFET including a channel, source/drain (S/D) regions and a gate, the gate including gate metal. A cap is formed over the gate having a high-k dielectric liner and a core. Trench silicide (TS) is disposed on sides of the gate. The TS is recessed to a level above a level of the gate and below a level of the cap. An oxide layer is disposed over the structure. A CB trench is patterned into the oxide layer within the Rx region to expose the core and liner at an intermediate portion of the CB trench. The core is selectively etched relative to the liner to extend the CB trench to a bottom at the gate metal. The CB trench is metalized to form a CB contact. |
| US10014213B2 |
Selective bottom-up metal feature filling for interconnects
A method for selective bottom-up filling of recessed features with a low resistivity metal for semiconductor devices is described in several embodiments. The method includes providing a substrate containing a patterned dielectric layer having a recessed feature with dielectric layer surfaces and a metal-containing surface on a bottom of the recessed feature, reacting the dielectric layer surfaces with a reactant gas containing a hydrophobic functional group to form hydrophobic dielectric layer surfaces, and at least substantially filling the recessed feature with a metal in a bottom-up gas phase deposition process that hinders deposition of the metal on the hydrophobic dielectric layer surfaces. According to one embodiment, the metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium (Ru), cobalt (Co), aluminum (Al), iridium (Ir), iridium (Ir), rhodium (Rh), osmium (Os), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), and a combination thereof. |
| US10014211B2 |
Methods of forming one or more covered voids in a semiconductor substrate
Some embodiments include methods of forming voids within semiconductor constructions. In some embodiments the voids may be utilized as microstructures for distributing coolant, for guiding electromagnetic radiation, or for separation and/or characterization of materials. Some embodiments include constructions having micro-structures therein which correspond to voids, conduits, insulative structures, semiconductor structures or conductive structures. |
| US10014209B2 |
Methods, apparatus and system for local isolation formation for finFET devices
At least one method, apparatus and system are disclosed for forming a fin field effect transistor (finFET) while reducing oxidization and fin critical dimension loss. A plurality of fins of a transistor are formed. A hard mask layer is formed on top of the fins. A first liner layer is formed over the fins and the hard mask layer. A partial deposition process is performed for depositing a first insulation material in a first portion of a channel between the fins. A second liner layer is formed above the fins, the first insulation material, and the channel. A second insulation material is deposited above the second liner layer. A fin reveal process is performed for removing the second insulation material to a predetermined height. An etch process is performed for removing the hard mask layer and the first and second liner layers above the predetermined height. |
| US10014208B2 |
Semiconductor device having a device isolation layer
A semiconductor device includes a fin protruding from a substrate and extending in a first direction, first and second gate structures intersecting the fin, a recess formed in the fin between the first and second gate structures, a device isolation layer which fills the recess, and which has an upper surface protruded outwardly from the fin and disposed to be coplanar with upper surfaces of the first and second gate structures, a liner formed along a side walls of the device isolation layer protruded outwardly from the fin and a source/drain region disposed at both sides of the recess and spaced apart from the device isolation layer. |
| US10014203B2 |
Pick and place device comprising pick arm correction module
A semiconductor die pick and place device comprising a handing mechanism comprising a pick arm movable between a placement location and a pick-up location. A reference feature is located on the pick arm, and a light reflecting module is carried by the pick arm. The light reflecting module is operable to reflect an image of the reference feature to an image capturing module such that the reference feature appears to the light reflecting module to be in focus at a virtual position that is equivalent to a position at the pick-up location and/or the placement location. |
| US10014197B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method
The present invention provides a semiconductor device manufacturing method that can sense the atmospheric air leakage more precisely and that can prevent too many defective products from being manufactured.The semiconductor device manufacturing method according to the embodiment includes the steps of: forming a barrier layer over an interlayer insulating film over a semiconductor substrate; forming a wiring layer over the barrier layer; forming a mask having an opening and configured by a photosensitive organic film over the wiring layer; patterning the wiring layer by etching the wiring layer through the opening; and removing the mask by a plasma processing using an ashing gas. The step of removing the mask includes the step of sensing an atmospheric air leakage that is mixture of the atmospheric air into the ashing gas by measuring an emission intensity of nitrogen in the ashing gas using an ultraviolet photometer. |
| US10014191B2 |
Systems and methods for treating substrates with cryogenic fluid mixtures
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for treating the surface of a microelectronic substrate, and in particular, relate to an apparatus and method for scanning the microelectronic substrate through a cryogenic fluid mixture used to treat an exposed surface of the microelectronic substrate. The fluid mixture may be expanded through a nozzle to form an aerosol spray or gas cluster jet (GCJ) spray may impinge the microelectronic substrate and remove particles from the microelectronic substrate's surface. In one embodiment, the fluid mixture may be maintained to prevent liquid formation within the fluid mixture prior to passing the fluid mixture through the nozzle. The fluid mixture may include nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, xenon, krypton, carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof. |
| US10014185B1 |
Selective etch of metal nitride films
Processing methods comprising oxidizing a metal nitride film to form a metal oxynitride layer and etching the metal oxynitride layer with a metal halide etchant. The metal halide etchant can be, for example, WCl5, WOCl4 or TaCl5. Methods of filling a trench with a seam-free gapfill are also described. A metal nitride film is deposited in the trench to form a seam and pinch-off an opening of the trench. The pinched-off opening is subjected to a directional oxidizing plasma and a metal halide etchant to open the pinched-off top and allow access to the seam. |
| US10014183B2 |
Method for patterning a thin film
A method for producing at least one pattern in a layer resting on a substrate, including: a) making amorphous at least one first block of an upper layer of crystalline material resting on a first amorphous supporting layer, while the crystalline structure of a second block of the upper layer that adjoins and is juxtaposed with the first block is preserved; b) partially recrystallizing the first block by using at least one side surface of the second block that is in contact with the first block as an area for the start of a recrystallization front, the partial recrystallization being carried out to preserve a region of amorphous material in the first block; c) selectively etching the amorphous material of the upper layer with respect to the crystalline material of the upper layer to form at least one first pattern in the upper layer. |
| US10014179B2 |
Methods for forming cobalt-copper selective fill for an interconnect
Methods for processing a substrate include: (a) depositing a cobalt layer to a first thickness within a first plurality of features and a second plurality of features formed in a substrate, wherein each of the first plurality of features and each of the second plurality of features comprises an opening, and wherein a width of the openings of the first plurality of features is less than a width of the openings of the second plurality of features; and (b) heating the substrate to a first temperature to fill the first plurality of features with cobalt material while simultaneously depositing a fill material on the substrate to fill the second plurality of features. |
| US10014176B2 |
SiC substrate treatment method
Provided is a SiC substrate treatment method for, with respect to a SiC substrate (40) that has, on its surface, grooves (41), activating ions while preventing roughening of the surface of the substrate. In the method, an ion activation treatment in which the SiC substrate (40) is heated under Si vapor pressure is performed to the SiC substrate (40) has, on its surface, an ion implantation region (46) in which ions have been implanted, and has the grooves (41) provided in a region including at least the ion implantation region (46), thereby ions that are implanted in the SiC substrate (40) is activated while etching the surface of the substrate. |
| US10014174B2 |
Conformal strippable carbon film for line-edge-roughness reduction for advanced patterning
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to deposition of a conformal organic material over a feature formed in a photoresist or a hardmask, to decrease the critical dimensions and line edge roughness. In various embodiments, an ultra-conformal carbon-based material is deposited over features formed in a high-resolution photoresist. The conformal organic layer formed over the photoresist thus reduces both the critical dimensions and the line edge roughness of the features. |
| US10014171B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Described herein is a technique capable of improving the productivity of manufacturing of a semiconductor device in a method of processing a film by repeating different processes. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include: (a) loading a substrate into a process vessel; (b) forming a first layer by supplying a first gas into the process vessel by a gas supply unit while maintaining the substrate at a first temperature by a temperature control unit; and (c) forming a second layer different from the first layer by supplying a second gas different from the first gas into the process vessel by the gas supply unit while maintaining the substrate at a second temperature different from the second temperature by the temperature control unit. |
| US10014167B2 |
Ion optical apparatus and mass spectrometer
An ion optical apparatus and a mass spectrometer are provided. The ion optical apparatus includes at least one planar insulating substrate which is covered with metal patterns to form an electrode array including a plurality of cell electrodes, wherein each of the cell electrodes is arrayed according to a first direction to form a geometric pattern distribution of the electrode array, wherein cell electrodes are applied with radio frequency (RF) voltages having different phases to confine ions, a direct current (DC) voltage gradient is applied along at least part of the cell electrodes in the electrode array to drive ions to move in the first direction along the electrode array, and a corresponding electric field distribution is formed by the geometric pattern distribution to drive ions to move in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, thereby realizing ion deflection, focusing or defocusing. |
| US10014163B2 |
Application of coating materials
The invention relates to apparatus and a method for applying coatings to substrates such as, for example, a lens or electronic component. The apparatus includes a coating chamber in which there is provided one or more magnetrons which include, typically, an at least partially oxidized metal or metal alloy. A carrier is provided for the substrates to be moved and held in the coating chamber and the carrier is formed from a plurality of units on which the substrates are positioned and the units can be brought together to form the carrier. |
| US10014157B2 |
Method for acquiring image and ion beam apparatus
A method for acquiring an image, in which an image of an image acquiring region is acquired by radiating an ion beam to a sample having a conducting part with a linear edge on a dielectric substrate, includes performing an equal-width scan of the ion beam in a first direction that obliquely intersects the linear edge and sweep in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The ion beam is sequentially scanned in different patterns on different scan regions of parallelogram shape, each of which includes the image acquiring region. Secondary charged particles are detected to generate image data of all the scan regions, and image data of the scan regions are calculated to generate image data of the image acquiring region. The image data of the image acquiring region are synthesized to display the image data of the image acquiring region. |
| US10014156B2 |
Calibration method and charged particle beam system
There is provided a method capable of calibrating a sample stage easily. This method is for use in a charged particle beam system having the sample stage for moving a sample and an imaging subsystem for capturing a charged particle beam image and obtaining a final image. The method includes the steps of obtaining the final image from the imaging subsystem (step S100), obtaining correlation information that associates a given position in the final image with a position of the sample stage assumed when the final image was taken (step S102), obtaining length information about a length per pixel of the final image at a final magnification (step S106), and finding a correction between coordinates of the final image and coordinates of the sample stage on the basis of the correlation information and of the length information (step S110). |
| US10014152B2 |
Method of aberration correction and charged particle beam system
There are disclosed an aberration correction method and a charged particle beam system capable of correcting off-axis first order aberrations. The aberration correction method is for use in the charged particle beam system (100) equipped with an aberration corrector (30) which has plural stages of multipole elements (32a, 32b) and a transfer lens system (34) disposed between the multipole elements (32a, 32b). The method includes varying the excitation of the transfer lens system (34) and correcting off-axis first order aberrations. |
| US10014149B2 |
X-ray radiation source and X-ray tube
In an X-ray radiation source, a counter wall made of alkali-containing glass, out of walls of a housing of an X-ray tube, is sandwiched between a filament and an electric field control electrode to each of which a negative high voltage is applied. This configuration prevents an electric field from being generated in the counter wall and thus suppresses precipitation of alkali ions from the glass. Therefore, it prevents change in potential relationship between electrodes at different potentials such as the filament, grid, and target and enables stable operation to be maintained, without occurrence of a trouble of failure in maintaining a desired X-ray amount. |
| US10014146B2 |
Electron beam emission device
Disclosed is an electron beam emission device comprising a housing which defines a space in which electron beams are accelerated, and has an opening at the other side thereof through which the electron beams are emitted; a cathode which is disposed at one side in the housing, and emits the electrons; an anode which is positioned in the housing so as to be spaced apart from the cathode toward the other side, and accelerates the electrons emitted from the cathode; and an insulation holder which insulates a portion between the cathode and the housing, and fixes the cathode, wherein the cathode has a surface which faces the anode and is formed concavely to have a gradient, and a rim of the surface of the cathode, which has the gradient, is formed to be rounded. |
| US10014145B2 |
Vacuum exhaust method
A vacuum exhaust method is for decreasing a pressure in a processing chamber in which a mounting table configured to mount thereon a substrate is provided by using a gas exhaust unit. The vacuum exhaust method includes mounting a non-evaporated getter (NEG) on the mounting table, and adsorbing an active gas in the processing chamber on the NEG mounted on the mounting table. In the adsorbing the active gas, the NEG is maintained at a predetermined temperature. |
| US10014142B2 |
Adjustable thermal trip mechanism for circuit breaker
An adjustable thermal trip mechanism for a circuit breaker is provided which can improve the reliability of over-current tripping by minimizing an influence upon thermal tripping even if an assembly error such as skewing or twisting occurs during assembly of bimetallic strips. The adjustable thermal trip mechanism for the circuit breaker comprises: a crossbar that is rotatable and has at least one power receiving portion for receiving rotary power; a bimetallic strip that can bend towards the power receiving portion when an over current occurs on the circuit; and an adjustment screw installed to face the power receiving portion, wherein the power receiving portion comprises a plurality of planar portions which are at different distances from the adjustment screw. |
| US10014137B2 |
Acoustical electrical switch
An electrical switch responds to acoustic inputs. A microphone integrated into the electrical switch generates electrical signals in response to the acoustic inputs. A network interface integrated into the electrical switch provides addressable communication with controllers, computers, and other networked devices. The electrical switch may thus be installed or retrofitted into the electrical wiring of all homes and businesses. Users may thus speak voice commands, which are received by the electrical switch and sent for voice control of appliances and other automation tasks. |
| US10014133B2 |
Keyboard and backlight module
A keyboard includes a base plate, key switches and a backlight module. The base plate has posts. The backlight module includes a masking plate, a light guiding plate, a light emitting unit, a reflective plate and an attaching layer. A plurality of upper through holes are formed on the masking plate. An upper attached area is defined by a periphery of each of the upper through holes. A plurality of penetrating holes are formed on the light guiding plate. A plurality of lower through holes are formed on the reflective plate. A lower attached area is defined by a periphery of each of the lower through holes. The attaching layer attaches the lower attached area with the upper attached area. The lower attached area is attached to the upper attached area via the corresponding penetrating hole, so as to block side walls of the corresponding penetrating hole. |
| US10014129B2 |
Battery disconnection circuit
The invention is related to an apparatus comprising a switch configured to variably connect a device circuit of an electronic device to a battery, a cutout control circuit connected to the switch and comprising a supply power input and a cutout activation input, wherein the cutout control circuit is configured to turn the switch on when a supply voltage is connected to the supply power input. The invention is further related to a drug delivery device for delivering at least one drug agent comprising an apparatus of the aforementioned kind, a charging connector for a drug delivery device of the aforementioned kind and a method for manufacturing a drug delivery device of the aforementioned kind. |
| US10014128B2 |
Portable power tool with trigger switch, trigger release and lock-on mechanism combination
A power tool includes a housing, a motor enclosed within the housing, and a work element configured to be driven by the motor. A trigger is movably secured to the housing for controlling power to the motor. A locking assembly is provided that includes a lock-OFF mechanism configured to lock the trigger in the OFF position and a lock-ON mechanism configured to lock the trigger in the ON position. |
| US10014125B2 |
High voltage EDLC cell and method for the manufacture thereof
A method of manufacturing an electrode includes printing an electrode ink on a portion of a substrate using a rotary lithographic printer. The electrode ink is allowed to dry on the substrate. A separator material is printed on the portion of the substrate using the rotary lithographic printer. A sealant wall is printed around the portion of the substrate using the rotary lithographic printer. |
| US10014123B2 |
Overcoming variance in stacked capacitors
In one embodiment of the invention, a method of forming an energy storage device is described in which a porous structure of an electrically conductive substrate is measured in-situ while being electrochemically etched in an electrochemical etching bath until a predetermined value is obtained, at which point the electrically conductive substrate may be removed from the electrochemical etching bath. In another embodiment, a method of forming an energy storage device is described in which an electrically conductive porous structure is measured to determine the energy storage capacity of the electrically conductive porous structure. The energy storage capacity of the electrically conductive porous structure is then reduced until a predetermined energy storage capacity value is obtained. |
| US10014121B2 |
Solar cells with enhanced solar capture
An oxadiazole dye for use as an organic photosensitizer. The oxadiazole dye comprising donor-π-spacer-acceptor type molecules in which at least one of an oxadiazole group acts as a π-conjugated bridge (spacer), a naphthyl unit acts as an electron-donating unit, a carboxyl group act as an electron acceptor group, and a cyano group acts as an anchor group. An optional thiophene group acts as part of the π-conjugated bridge (spacer). The dye for use as organic photosensitizers in a dye-sensitized solar cell. The dye for use in photodynamic therapies. Computational DFT and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) modeling techniques showing Light Harvesting Efficiency (LHE), Free Energy for Electron Injection (ΔGinject), Excitation Energies, and Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) indicate that the series of dye comprise a more negative ΔGinject and a higher LHE value; resulting in a higher incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE). |
| US10014117B2 |
Electricity storing/discharging device with single-layer folding covering and packaging single input/output electric conductive interface having electrode plate pair with multiple-sided electric conductive terminals
The present invention provides an electricity storing/discharging device with single-layer folding covering and packaging single input/output electric conductive interface having electrode plate pair with multiple-sided electric conductive terminals, which is applied in a specified single-layer folding covering and packaging structure having electrode plate pair with multiple-sided electric conductive terminals, so the electrode plate pair with multiple-sided electric conductive terminals after being covered and packaged is able to be structured as a single input/output electric conductive interface through single input/output electric conductive terminal having positive and negative polarity for transferring electric energy to the exterior. |
| US10014116B2 |
Conductive polymer composition with a dual crosslinker system for capacitors
A capacitor with improved electronic properties is described. The capacitor has an anode, a dielectric on said anode and a cathode on the dielectric. The cathode has a conductive polymer defined as —(CR1R2CR3R4—)x— wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3 or R4 comprises a group selected from thiophene, pyrrole or aniline with the proviso that none of R1, R2, R3 or R4 contain —SOOH or COOH; a organofunctional silane; and an organic compound with at least two functional groups selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid and epoxy. |
| US10014112B2 |
Capacitor and module
The capacitor includes a dielectric body portion including ceramic layers and internal-electrode layers laminated in an alternating manner, and a cover portion provided in a periphery of the dielectric body portion. The cover portion includes pores. A part of the cover portion located in a position in a direction perpendicular to a lamination direction of the ceramic layers and the internal-electrode layers is a side surface cover portion. When the side surface cover portion is divided into three equal regions in a width direction, the regions being a dielectric body portion-side region, a central region, and a surface-side region, the number of the pores is higher in the dielectric body portion-side region than in the central region and the surface-side region. |
| US10014110B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes an external electrode that is unlikely to be peeled. First and second external electrodes each include base layers provided over a ceramic body and including a metal and glass, and Cu plated layers provided over the base layers. The multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a reactive layer. The reactive layer contains about 5 atomic % to about 15 atomic % of Ti, about 5 atomic % to about 15 atomic % of Si, and about 2 atomic % to about 10 atomic % of V. |
| US10014107B2 |
Rare-earth permanent magnet, method for manufacturing rare-earth permanent magnet and system for manufacturing rare-earth permanent magnet
There are provided a rare-earth permanent magnet, and a method for manufacturing a rare-earth permanent magnet and a system for manufacturing a rare-earth permanent magnet, capable of achieving improved shape uniformity. Magnet material is milled into magnet powder, and the milled magnet powder is formed into a formed body 40. The formed body 40 is calcined and then sintered using a spark plasma sintering apparatus 45, so that a permanent magnet 1 is manufactured. A die unit 46 included in the spark plasma sintering apparatus 45 that performs spark plasma sintering at least includes in one direction an inflow hole 50 configured to receive inflow of part of the pressurized formed body. |
| US10014104B2 |
Coil arrangements in wireless power transfer systems for low electromagnetic emissions
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer. In one aspect the disclosure provides an apparatus for wirelessly communicating power. The apparatus includes a first conductive structure, with a length greater than a width, configured to wirelessly receive power via a magnetic field. The first conductive structure includes two substantially co-planar loops. The first conductive structure has a first edge and a second edge each intersecting a geometric line along the length of the first conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a second conductive structure, with a length greater than width, positioned between the first conductive structure and a magnetic material and configured to wirelessly receive power via the magnetic field. The length of the second conductive structure is substantially equal to at least a distance along the geometric line between the first edge and the second edge of the first conductive structure. |
| US10014102B2 |
Inductor and manufacturing method thereof
An inductor may include: a body, and a first and a second external electrode formed on end surfaces of the body. The body may include a coil support layer, a conductive coil formed on at least one surface of the coil support layer, a lamination part formed in a gap of the conductive coil and on an upper surface thereof, an insulating coating part formed to enclose an overall surface of the conductive coil on which the lamination part is formed, and upper and lower cover layers covering the overall surface of the conductive coil on which the insulating coating part is formed. |
| US10014098B2 |
Surge protection device, comprising at least one surge arrester and one short-circuit switching device which is connected in parallel with the surge arrester, can be thermally tripped and is spring-pretensioned
The invention relates to a surge protection device, comprising at least one surge arrester and one short-circuit switching device which is connected in parallel with the surge arrester, can be thermally tripped and is spring-pretensioned, wherein the abovementioned means form one physical unit. The thermal tripping means is arranged in the region where heating of the surge arrester is expected when it is overloaded, and operating or surge current does not flow through said thermal tripping means. The thermal tripping means is in the form of a stop part which releases an unlocking slide of the switching device in the event of thermal overload. The switching device has two opposite contact pieces, wherein at least one of the contacts is of moveable design and is under spring pretension in the closing direction of the switching device. The opening state of the switching device is maintained by the unlocking slide, which is released by the thermal tripping means to close the switching device. |
| US10014094B2 |
Cable and method for the production thereof
A cable having an electrical conductor, a silicone sheath surrounding the conductor, and a separation layer between the conductor and the silicone sheath. Said cable is characterized in that the separation layer is made of a silicone material that is less adhesive to the conductor than the material of the silicone sheath. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a cable of said type. |
| US10014093B2 |
Cable protection device and system
A cover is provided for protecting cables. The cover includes a first cover member and a second cover member. The second cover member is configured to mate with the first cover member to define conduits that enclose and permit passage therethrough of one or more cables. Plural covers are couplable to form an articulating cover system operable to enclose a selected length of cable(s). The covers may be employed to protect hoses, pipes, ducts and the like. |
| US10014092B2 |
Electrical line and method for manufacturing an electrical line
An electrical line has a core and an insulating sheath that is extruded onto the core. A structured surface having a plurality of structural elements stamped into it is formed over the entire surface of the insulating sheath. The stamped structure is a microstructure, wherein the individual structural elements have a stamping depth of at most 0.15 mm. |
| US10014090B2 |
High-density carbon nanotube-based monolith and related materials, methods, and devices
Disclosed here is a composition comprising at least one high-density carbon-nanotube-based monolith, said monolith comprising carbon nanotubes crosslinked by nanoparticles and having a density of at least 0.2 g/cm3. Also provided is a method for making the composition comprising: preparing a reaction mixture comprising a suspension and at least one catalyst, said suspension is a carbon nanotube suspension; curing the reaction mixture to produce a wet gel; drying the wet gel to produce a dry gel, said drying step is substantially free of supercritical drying and freeze drying; and pyrolyzing the dry gel to produce the composition comprising a high-density carbon-nanotube-based monolith. Exceptional combinations of properties are achieved including high conductive and mechanical properties. |
| US10014089B2 |
Liquid precursor compositions, preparation methods thereof, and methods for forming layer using the composition
Liquid precursor compositions are provided, along with methods of preparing the liquid precursor compositions, and methods for forming layers using the liquid precursor composition, for example in vapor deposition processes such as CVD and ALD. In some embodiments, the liquid precursor compositions comprise a metal compound of the formula M(DAD)2, where M is Co or Ni and DAD is a diazadiene ligand. |
| US10014086B2 |
Integrated method and apparatus for remediation of uranium-contaminated soils
Apparatus and method are provided for the treatment of uranium-contaminated soil by using comprehensive joint technology. The apparatus include the pumping system, the electrokinetic remediation system, elution system, remediation-separation system and recharge system. The remediation technologies (i.e. chemical, photolysis and electrokinetic) are used to remedy the uranium-contaminated soil. First, extract uranium from the contaminated areas and make the ionized uranium extract from the soil phase to the solution phase. Then, use the electrokinetic remediation technology to drive uranium enrichment electromigrate to near the anode. Finally, return the repaired-soil and groundwater back to anode area and recharge well, respectively. This comprehensive joint apparatus can reduce the uranium volume in the contaminated soil or water, and recycle the obtained uranium, which are cleaning processes and have no secondary pollution. |
| US10014084B2 |
Systems and methods for nuclear reactor vessel segmenting
Nuclear reactor vessel segmenting utilizing improved arc saw systems and methods. |
| US10014076B1 |
Baggage system, RFID chip, server and method for capturing baggage data
A baggage system includes a plurality of RFID tags affixed to baggage items, a data collection engine, client devices and backend devices. The backend devices include trained machine learning models, business logic, and attributes of a plurality of events. A plurality of data collection engines and baggage terminal systems send attributes of new events to the backend devices. The backend devices can track the baggage items and predict particular outcomes of new events based upon the attributes of the new events utilizing the trained machine learning models. |
| US10014074B2 |
Failure analysis and repair register sharing for memory BIST
A built-in self-test (BIST) system comprising repair logic structured to share state logic of failed memories across local registers located in a shared registry which services multiple memories, wherein each of the local registers is associated with a different memory. |
| US10014072B2 |
Diagnosis method for diagnosing memory, transmission apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium
A diagnosis method executed by a processor includes receiving signal data at a timing of a first clock signal; setting a diagnosis period to perform a diagnosis of a memory with a predetermined period; executing a write operation and a read operation of the signal data on the memory at a timing of a second clock signal that is higher in rate than the first clock signal within the diagnosis period; executing at least one of operations included in the diagnosis of the memory using diagnosis data at a timing of the second clock signal during a period responsive to a difference between a number of first clock pulses of the first clock signal within the diagnosis period and a number of second clock pulses of the second clock signal within the diagnosis period; and diagnosing the memory by repeating the diagnosis period by a plurality of times. |
| US10014064B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array having memory cell capable of holding N-bit data; and a sense amplifier comprising a first latch holding information on a threshold distribution, a second latch holding write data, and a third latch holding lower information of the N-bit data, and supplying a first to a fourth voltages to the memory cell to write the data to the memory cell using the first to fourth voltages. The sense amplifier supplies the first to third voltages to the memory cell based on information in the second and the third latches, and based on a result of transfer of the information held by the first latch to the second latch, supplies the fourth voltage or the first voltage to the memory cell. |
| US10014060B2 |
Memory system and method for reducing read disturb errors
A memory system and method for reducing read disturb errors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory system is provided comprising a plurality of blocks of memory and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a read disturb error in a block, identify data that caused the read disturb error, and move the data that caused the read disturb error to a block with a higher read endurance. This can be done by assigning read counters to blocks to determine frequently-read data, and storing that data in a separate block until it is less frequently read and will likely not cause additional read disturb errors. |
| US10014059B2 |
Memory controller, memory control method, and coefficient decision method
According to one embodiment, a distribution of threshold voltages of a plurality of memory cells is acquired from a nonvolatile memory which includes the plurality of memory cells, a malfunction state occurring in the nonvolatile memory is identified based on a shape of the distribution, and a read voltage when data is read out of the nonvolatile memory is set to a voltage value corresponding to a type of the malfunction state. |
| US10014055B2 |
Split memory bank
A split memory bank may comprise a number of memory matrices forming a memory bank and a shift register in which the shift register physically separates the matrices. An integrated circuit may comprise a number of shift registers and a plurality of memory matrices forming a memory bank in which the matrices are spatially separated by the shift register. An integrated printhead may comprise a number of memory banks each comprising a plurality of memory matrices and a number of shift registers in which each shift register spatially separates a number of the matrices. |
| US10014054B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device of an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with peripheral circuits, a memory cell array, upper bit lines, and first and second connecting parts. The memory cell array is disposed above the peripheral circuit, and includes at least first and second regions. The upper bit lines extend in a first direction and are above the memory cell array. The first and second connecting parts are respectively provided with contact plugs, and one of these connecting parts is formed between first and second regions. The upper bit lines includes a first group of upper bit lines which are connected to the peripheral circuits via the first connecting part, and a second group of upper bit lines which are connected to the peripheral circuits via the second connecting part. |
| US10014053B2 |
Methods for backup sequence using three transistor memory cell devices
Methods for a backup sequence includes reading first data from a first data memory to a page buffer, copying the first data from the page buffer to a backup page comprising three transistor memory cell devices, erasing the first data memory, programming the first data from the page buffer to a second data memory, and erasing the backup page. |
| US10014044B2 |
Semiconductor device, battery monitoring system, and address setting method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, which is daisy-chain connected with other semiconductor devices, includes a first communication section that receives reception data; a determining section that determines a type of the reception data, and that outputs a first and a second control signal according to the determination; a setting processing section that sets an address value based on the reception data and the second control signal, and that outputs a third control signal according to the setting of the address value; and a second communication section that includes a first input terminal to which the reception data is input, and an output terminal to which a communication line, that transmits transmission data to the other semiconductor devices, is connected, and that causes the first input terminal and the output terminal to be in connected or non-connected state based on the first or the third control signal. |
| US10014039B2 |
Method and circuit for self-training of a reference voltage and memory system including the same
A semiconductor device, includes at least a first memory chip, which includes at least a first buffer connected to receive an input signal and a reference voltage; at least a first reference voltage generator configured to output a reference voltage based on a first control code; and at least a first self-training circuit for determining an operational reference voltage to use during a normal mode of operation of the semiconductor device. An output from the first buffer is input to the first self-training circuit, the first control code is output from the first self-training circuit into the first reference voltage generator, and the first buffer, the first self-training circuit, and the first reference voltage generator form a loop. |
| US10014038B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for chip identification in a memory package
Apparatuses, methods, memory packages, and semiconductor chips are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a semiconductor chip including a layer identification setting path circuit configured to receive respective input signals from a plurality of input layer identification setting paths. The layer identification setting path circuit is further configured to change a value of at least one of the respective input signals to generate respective output signals and to provide the respective output signals to a plurality of output layer identification setting paths. The apparatus further includes a identification circuit configured to determine identification information based on the respective input signals and to compare the identification information to received access layer identification information. The identification circuit is configured to process received command signals based on the comparison between the identification information and the access layer identification information. |
| US10014035B2 |
Control device for controlling semiconductor memory device
A control device includes: a dummy memory cell group; a transistor having a first terminal, a grounded second terminal and a control terminal; an adjustor providing a resistance between the dummy memory cell group and the first terminal of the transistor; an inverter generating, based on a voltage at the first terminal of the transistor, a sense start signal that is associated with switching of a sense amplifier circuit of a semiconductor memory device from a disabled state to an enabled state; and a controller generating, based on the sense start signal, a control signal for controlling the transistor such that switching of the transistor from conduction into non-conduction is associated with the sense start signal. |
| US10014034B2 |
Shifting data in sensing circuitry
The present disclosure is related to shifting data using sensing circuitry. An example apparatus can include a first sensing component and a second sensing component. The first sensing component can include a first sense amplifier coupled to a first pair of complementary sense lines and a first compute component comprising a number of first pass transistors. The second sensing component can include a second sense amplifier coupled to a second pair of complementary sense lines. The second sensing component can include a second compute component comprising a number of second pass transistors. The first pair of complementary sense lines can be coupled to the number of first pass transistors and the number of second pass transistors. |
| US10014033B2 |
Apparatus for power management
Apparatus include an array of memory cells, a controller to perform access operations on the array of memory cells, a clock signal node, a counter having an input selectively connected to the clock signal node, and a clock generator having an output connected to the input of the counter. |
| US10014032B2 |
Memory module including battery
A memory module may include a module substrate having first and second surfaces facing away from each other, a plurality of first memories mounted over one or more of the first and second surfaces, one or more second memories and a controller each mounted over one of the first and second surfaces of the module substrate, and a plurality of batteries mounted over one or more of the first and second surfaces of the module substrate. |
| US10014029B2 |
Video processing apparatus and method
Provided is a video processing method and apparatus. The video processing method includes acquiring an input video including a plurality of video frames and audio frames; dividing the input video into one or more sections; determining a representative video frame from among the plurality of video frames with respect to each of the one or more sections; and acquiring a slide video that includes the representative video frames. |
| US10014027B2 |
Bimodal modulation
Apparatus and method contemplating an in-situ test method for a head gimbal assembly (HGA). The method includes individually exciting a pair of opposing-effect microactuators supporting the read/write head adjacent a data storage media; summing the outputs from the microactuators to derive a spectral frequency response of the HGA; determining a resonant frequency from the spectral frequency response; driving the microactuators at the resonant frequency; and varying the read/write fly height apart from the data storage media to correlate contact with a maximum response of the microactuators. |
| US10014025B1 |
System and method for tape layout optimization
A tape layout module for determining a tape layout allocation strategy for laying out data on tape, the data being organized into a plurality of fixed-size subdata sets with each of the plurality of subdata sets including a plurality of codeword interleaves, the tape including a plurality of media defect characteristics, includes a tape layout optimization system including a processor that receives information on the plurality of media defect characteristics. The tape layout optimization system determines the tape layout allocation strategy based at least in part on at least one of the plurality of media defect characteristics. Additionally, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy further based on distance spectra between pairs of the plurality of codeword interleaves. Further, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy by selectively utilizing at least one tape layout parameter. |
| US10014013B2 |
L10-ordered MnAl thin films with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and structures and devices made therewith
A stacked-thin-film structure that includes an Llo-ordered MnAl layer having high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). In some embodiments, the Ll0-ordered MnAl layer has an Mn content in a range of about 35% to about 65%, a thickness less than about 50 nm, a saturation magnetization of about 100 emu/cm3 to about 600 emu/cm3 and a magnetocrystalline anisotropy of at least 1×106 erg/cm. In some embodiments, the high-PMA Llo-ordered MnAl material is incorporated in magnetic tunneling junction stacked-film structures that are part of magnetoelectronic circuitry, such as spin-transfer-torque magnetoresistive random access memory circuitry and magnetic logic circuitry. In some embodiments, the high-PMA Llo-ordered MnAl material is incorporated into other devices, such as into read/write heads and/or recording media of hard-disk-drive devices. |
| US10014009B1 |
Magnetic disk drive and recording head control method
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive records and reproduces referential data and measures a referential characteristic value in a state in which supply of a STO voltage is stopped, executes control of reducing a temperature set value of a heater at a recording operation, based on the referential characteristic value, records and reproduces corrected data and measuring a corrected characteristic value in a state of supplying the STO voltage with a polarity opposite to a polarity at a general operation, while varying the temperature set value at a recording operation, compares the referential characteristic value with the corrected characteristic value and obtaining a difference, and corrects the temperature set value based on the difference. |
| US10014005B2 |
Harmonicity estimation, audio classification, pitch determination and noise estimation
Embodiments are described for harmonicity estimation, audio classification, pitch determination and noise estimation. Measuring harmonicity of an audio signal includes calculation a log amplitude spectrum of audio signal. A first spectrum is derived by calculating each component of the first spectrum as a sum of components of the log amplitude spectrum on frequencies. In linear frequency scale, the frequencies are odd multiples of the component's frequency of the first spectrum. A second spectrum is derived by calculating each component of the second spectrum as a sum of components of the log amplitude spectrum on frequencies. In linear frequency scale, the frequencies are even multiples of the component's frequency of the second spectrum. A difference spectrum is derived subtracting the first spectrum from the second spectrum. A measure of harmonicity is generated as a monotonically increasing function of the maximum component of the difference spectrum within predetermined frequency range. |
| US10014004B2 |
Electronic notebook system
An electronic notebook system is described that comprises a housing, a computing device, wireless interfaces, antennas, sensors, a touch display configured to receive input via a stylus and/or human digit input, the stylus comprising a pressure and/or an inclination sensor, a microphone, camera, the notebook system configured to provide a user condition interface, receive a user selection of a first user condition, provide an interface configured to receive user details, receive audible user details via the microphone, convert the audible user details received via the microphone to text, perform natural language processing to identify text keywords utilizing sentence segmentation, part-of-speech tagging, paraphrase recognition, and/or co-reference resolution, identify a condition based at least in part on the identified one or more keywords, dynamically generate an alert based at least in part on the identified condition, wirelessly transmit the generated alert to one or more destinations via at least a first wireless interface and antenna. |
| US10013998B2 |
Sound signal processing device and sound signal processing method
A device and a method for determining a speech segment with a high degree of accuracy from a sound signal in which different sounds coexist are provided. Directional points indicating the direction of arrival of the sound signal are connected in the temporal direction, and a speech segment is detected. In this configuration, pattern classification is performed in accordance with directional characteristics with respect to the direction of arrival, and a directionality pattern and a null beam pattern are generated from the classification results. Also, an average null beam pattern is also generated by calculating the average of the null beam patterns at a time when a non-speech-like signal is input. Further, a threshold that is set at a slightly lower value than the average null beam pattern is calculated as the threshold to be used in detecting the local minimum point corresponding to the direction of arrival from each null beam pattern, and a local minimum point equal to or lower than the threshold is determined to be the point corresponding to the direction of arrival. |
| US10013991B2 |
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. |
| US10013989B2 |
Frame error concealment
A frame error concealment method based on frames including transform coefficient vectors including the following steps: It tracks sign changes between corresponding transform coefficients of predetermined sub-vectors of consecutive good stationary frames. It accumulates the number of sign changes in corresponding sub-vectors of a predetermined number of consecutive good stationary frames. It reconstructs an erroneous frame with the latest good stationary frame, but with reversed signs of transform coefficients in sub-vectors having an accumulated number of sign changes that exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US10013987B2 |
Speech/audio signal processing method and apparatus
The present invention discloses a speech/audio signal processing method and apparatus. In an embodiment, the speech/audio signal processing method includes: when a speech/audio signal switches bandwidth, obtaining an initial high frequency signal corresponding to a current frame of speech/audio signal; obtaining a time-domain global gain parameter of the initial high frequency signal; performing weighting processing on an energy ratio and the time-domain global gain parameter, and using an obtained weighted value as a predicted global gain parameter, where the energy ratio is a ratio between energy of a historical frame of high frequency time-domain signal and energy of a current frame of initial high frequency signal; correcting the initial high frequency signal by using the predicted global gain parameter, to obtain a corrected high frequency time-domain signal; and synthesizing a current frame of narrow frequency time-domain signal and the corrected high frequency time-domain signal and outputting the synthesized signal. |
| US10013986B1 |
Data structure pooling of voice activated data packets
Systems and methods of voice activated thread management in a voice activated data packet based environment are provided. A natural language processor (“NLP”) component can receive and parse data packets comprising a first input audio signal to identify a first request and a first trigger keyword. A direct action application programming interface (“API”) can generate a first action data structure with a parameter defining a first action. The NLP component can receive and parse a second input audio signal to identify a second request and a second trigger keyword, and can generate a second action data structure with a parameter defining a second action. A pooling component can generate the first and second action data structures into a pooled data structure, and can transmit the pooled data structure to a service provider computing device to cause it device to perform an operation defined by the pooled data structure. |
| US10013985B2 |
Systems and methods for audio command recognition with speaker authentication
The present application discloses a method, an electronic system and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for recognizing audio commands in an electronic device. The electronic device obtains audio data based on an audio signal provided by a user and extracts characteristic audio fingerprint features from the audio data. The electronic device further determines whether the corresponding audio signal is generated by an authorized user by comparing the characteristic audio fingerprint features with an audio fingerprint model for the authorized user and with a universal background model that represents user-independent audio fingerprint features, respectively. When the corresponding audio signal is generated by the authorized user of the electronic device, an audio command is extracted from the audio data, and an operation is performed according to the audio command. |
| US10013979B1 |
Expanding a set of commands to control devices in an environment
The present disclosure contemplates a variety of methods and systems for enabling users to automatically expand the set of commands a user can issue. An assistant device can receive a user instruction via microphone and determine a voice activatable command and device description. The assistant device can then identify that no adapter associated with the voice activatable command and device description is available. The user can be prompted to provide a second voice activatable command or a second device description which can then be used to identify an adapter. The assistant device can store the voice activatable command or the device description in association with the identified adapter. |
| US10013978B1 |
Sequence dependent operation processing of packet based data message transmissions
Optimization of sequence dependent operations in a voice activated data packet based computer network environment is provided. A natural language processor component can parse an input audio signal to identify a request and a trigger keyword. A prediction component can determine a thread based on the trigger keyword and the request that includes a first action, a second action subsequent to the first action, and a third action subsequent to the second action. A content selector component can select, based on the third action and the trigger keyword, a content item. An audio signal generator component can generate an output signal comprising the content item. An interface can transmit the output signal to cause a client computing device to drive a speaker to generate an acoustic wave corresponding to the output signal prior to occurrence of at least one of the first action and the second action. |
| US10013974B1 |
Compact HCLG FST
Compact finite state transducers (FSTs) for automatic speech recognition (ASR). An HCLG FST and/or G FST may be compacted at training time to reduce the size of the FST to be used at runtime. The compact FSTs may be significantly smaller (e.g., 50% smaller) in terms of memory size, thus reducing the use of computing resources at runtime to operate the FSTs. The individual arcs and states of each FST may be compacted by binning individual weights, thus reducing the number of bits needed for each weight. Further, certain fields such as a next state ID may be left out of a compact FST if an estimation technique can be used to reproduce the next state at runtime. During runtime portions of the FSTs may be decompressed for processing by an ASR engine. |
| US10013972B2 |
System and method for identifying speakers
An electronic challenge system is used to control access to resources by using a spoken test to identify an origin of a voice. The test is based on a series of questions posed during an interactive dialog session with the entity attempting access. |
| US10013966B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive active noise cancellation for multiple-driver personal audio device
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a processing circuit may implement an adaptive filter, a first signal injection portion which injects a first additional signal into a first frequency range content source audio signal, and a second signal injection portion which injects a second additional signal into a second frequency range content source audio signal, wherein the first additional signal and the second additional signal are substantially different. The adaptive filter may have a response that generates the antinoise signal from the reference microphone signal to reduce the presence of the ambient audio sounds at the acoustic output, wherein the response of the adaptive filter is shaped in conformity with the reference microphone signal and the error microphone signal by adapting the response of the adaptive filter to minimize the ambient audio sounds in the error microphone signal, wherein the antinoise signal is combined with at least the first frequency range content source audio signal. |
| US10013961B1 |
Musical notation system for piano
A new method of written music using a color coded keyboard to show the player which octave on the keyboard to use, which note in the octave to play and the finger of the hand used to play the note. The phrasing of the melody and chord progressions are indicated by the spacing of the notes in the tablature. |
| US10013960B1 |
Go drum
A compact drum kit comprising a body having a hollow interior defined by a top, a bottom, and three or more sides connecting the top and bottom, a sound hole, a plurality of component mounting shafts mounted in the hollow interior of the body and protruding through a plurality of openings in the top, a plurality of leg shafts mounted in the hollow interior of the body and protruding through a plurality of openings in the bottom, one or more percussion modules that attach to one or more of the plurality of component mounting shafts, wherein each percussion module produces a sound in response to being struck or scraped, and a kick pedal including a beater positioned to strike a first side of the three or more sides and produce a sound. |